Heaven-Defying Divine Ability

"Little Yan, open the Brocade Box and let me take a look at this pill that dares call itself Divine."

After seeing Xiao Zhan off, Old Man Yao emerged impatiently.

Xiao Yan did as he was told and opened the Brocade Box. At once, a refreshing fragrance filled his nostrils.

"There's something wrong with this pill." Old Man Yao's expression turned grave. He snatched the pill from Xiao Yan's Brocade Box and examined it closely.

The longer he inspected it, the deeper his white brows furrowed.

"Teacher, what is it? Is the pill fake?" Seeing Old Man Yao so solemn, Xiao Yan grew nervous as well.

This pill had cost his father, Xiao Zhan, sixty thousand gold coins. Having spent that sum without authorization, the Three Great Elders were probably criticizing Xiao Zhan right now.

"The pill is not fake. It truly is a pill beyond the Top Grade. I spent my entire life believing Top Grade was the limit of pills. Who would have thought that above Top Grade, there was actually a Divine grade? I've practically lived my whole life in vain."

Divine!

There had naturally never been such a pill before. The energy within this pill was exceptionally pure, even purer than pills refined with Heavenly Flames. The aura it gave off seemed utterly natural, without any trace of human handiwork.

Even Old Man Yao had broadened his horizons today.

"Then, Teacher, can I really use this pill?" Whether it was Top Grade or Divine, Xiao Yan had little interest in that. All he wanted now was to increase his cultivation, and he only cared whether this pill could bring him a massive surge in strength.

Old Man Yao closed his eyes and briefly sensed the pill's aura. When he opened them again, his expression was even graver. "You can. This pill was also refined from three Purple Leaf Orchid Grasses, two Bone Washing Flowers, and one Wood Element Magic Core. But your meridians are too weak. Without a Vein Protecting Pill, it must still be dissolved into medicinal liquid for a medicinal bath. Otherwise, you simply won't be able to withstand the impact of its energy."

"Mm." Xiao Yan nodded. After putting away the pill, he saw that Old Man Yao was still frowning deeply in thought and asked curiously, "Teacher, do you have any doubts?"

"I'm very curious about how that brat Xiao Han came up with this pill formula. Back then, I experimented with this formula countless times and failed countless times. Could it really be such a coincidence that he also knows a formula I know?" This was what Old Man Yao truly cared about.

To an Alchemist, a pill formula was like a second life.

Xiao Han also knew this pill formula, so Old Man Yao could not help being wary and curious about it.

Thinking of how Xiao Han could refine Divine Pills, Old Man Yao fixed his gaze on Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan touched his face and asked, "Teacher, what is it? Is there dirt on my face?"

Old Man Yao shook his head slightly and sighed. "Xiao Han can actually refine Divine Pills. To be honest, I'm even a little conflicted. Was it right or wrong for me to choose you and abandon Xiao Han back then?"

Xiao Han's cultivation had risen continuously. In just a few days, he had already advanced from the Seventh Stage of Dou Qi to the realm of a Dou Zhe.

What was worse, Xiao Han could even refine pills beyond the Top Grade.

Even Venerable Yao, Yao Chen himself, could only look up at such an ability in admiration.

Xiao Yan was not bad either. In just two months, his cultivation had risen from Three Stages of Dou Qi to Five Stages of Dou Qi. His soul perception was also exceptionally strong. But compared to Xiao Han, could he even compare? There was simply no comparison.

If he could do it all over again, Old Man Yao might choose Xiao Han and abandon Xiao Yan.

Old Man Yao also understood perfectly well that there was no medicine for regret in this world.

"Teacher!" Xiao Yan pursed his lips, his face somewhat unhappy. Stubbornly, he lightly clenched his fists. His determination to surpass Xiao Han grew even firmer.

"Hehe..." Realizing that he had spoken carelessly and failed to consider Xiao Yan's feelings, Old Man Yao laughed awkwardly. "Little Yan, it's getting late. Wash up and sleep first."

"No. Teacher, I must surpass Xiao Han. In three years, I will personally go to the Misty Cloud Sect. It's still early. Let's train a while longer."

"Fine."

Seeing Xiao Yan so driven, the faint regret in Old Man Yao's heart over not choosing Xiao Han gradually faded.

Xiao Yan removed his shirt and stood facing Old Man Yao.

One second passed. Ten seconds passed. One minute passed.

Seeing that Old Man Yao made no move, Xiao Yan asked in confusion, "Teacher, why haven't you started? I'm ready. We can begin!"

"Begin? Begin what?" Old Man Yao looked at Xiao Yan in confusion.

"Hit me!"

"Hit you?" Old Man Yao was even more confused. He cursed irritably, "Why would I hit you for no reason? Is something wrong with your brain? Do you enjoy being abused?"

"Uh..."

Xiao Yan stared speechlessly at Old Man Yao.

A few days ago, Old Man Yao had taught him a Mysterious Tier Advanced Dou Technique—Eight Extremes Collapse.

Although this Dou Technique had reached the Mysterious Tier, using it required a sound and powerful physique capable of withstanding the recoil force of Eight Extremes Collapse.

To enable Xiao Yan to meet that requirement, Old Man Yao would whip Xiao Yan's body, using the fastest and most painful method to increase his body's resistance to blows.

That was why the earlier scene had occurred.

Seeing Old Man Yao's puzzled expression and realizing he was not joking, Xiao Yan explained what had happened.

Eight Extremes Collapse

Following Old Man Yao's instructions, Xiao Yan threw a punch at a vase.

Bang!

The powerful gust from his fist had only just touched the vase when it exploded from the force, shattering into pieces.

"You weren't wrong. This fist technique is extremely domineering. Without a powerful physique, one would likely be injured by its recoil before even killing the enemy." After analyzing Xiao Yan's Dou Technique, Old Man Yao still questioned, "Did I truly teach you this Dou Technique?"

"Yes, Teacher." Xiao Yan was rendered utterly speechless by Old Man Yao. Confused, he asked, "You were perfectly fine yesterday. How did you forget after only one day?"

One day!

Old Man Yao froze. The image of a young man surfaced in his mind, and he could not help shuddering.

That was it!

Old Man Yao lightly clapped his hands. After coming into physical contact with Xiao Han today, he had felt that he had forgotten something. Yet he had never been able to figure out what it was. Now, he finally knew. He had forgotten everything related to the Dou Technique—Eight Extremes Collapse.

In his memories, he vaguely remembered beating Xiao Yan, but he could not understand why he had beaten him.

"What a terrifying divine ability!"

After figuring it all out, Old Man Yao could not help shuddering again.

Xiao Yan fell into thought as well and asked, "Teacher, could Xiao Han have taken this Dou Technique from you today?"

"Mm." Old Man Yao nodded gravely.

"Uh..." After understanding the full sequence of events, Xiao Yan felt a chill run down his spine.

Just by shaking hands, he could take something from another person.

Wasn't that far too heaven-defying, far too terrifying?

"You needn't be afraid." Old Man Yao reassured him solemnly. "If my guess is correct, that brat Xiao Han possesses some kind of divine ability that can take things from others. However, this divine ability has a weakness."

"What weakness?"

"It seems that he needs direct physical contact with the other person before he can use that bizarre divine ability." The more Old Man Yao thought about it, the more certain he became.

That was right. Xiao Han had lured him into shaking hands today, which was how Xiao Han had succeeded in the end.

Thinking of this, Old Man Yao solemnly warned, "Little Yan, from now on, you must never let Xiao Han get close to you. Of course, you needn't fear him too much either. I'll teach you a Dou Technique that will keep him from approaching you."

"What Dou Technique?"

"Mysterious Tier low-grade Dou Technique, Fire Blowing Palm!"