Taboo

"That's right."

Xiao Han admitted, "Even if Xiao Yan had a year, he still wouldn't be able to catch up to me. If he can't catch up to me, he won't accept my challenge, much less challenge me himself. That way, I won't have a chance to obtain high-level Dou Techniques."

Of course, Xiao Han had also considered taking them by force. But after the previous incident, Xiao Yan would not be foolish enough to give Xiao Han another chance to get close.

Moreover, Xiao Han even felt that after taking benefits from them twice in a row, Xiao Yan and Old Man Yao might already know the weakness of his divine ability.

Therefore, even if he took them by force, not only would he gain no benefits, he would also invite trouble. If Old Man Yao decided to go all out and attack him, his current realm would put him at a severe disadvantage.

"Still, Master, you could have simply given him a Top Grade Vein Protecting Pill. Why did you give him a Divine Grade pill instead?" Xiao Ai voiced the doubt in her heart.

Xiao Han was different from ordinary Alchemists. He possessed the divine abilities Extract and Merge. To refine a Top Grade pill, he only needed to use Heavenly Flames to temper the medicinal ingredients, obtain attribute droplets, and then use Merge once. But to refine a Divine Grade pill, aside from using Merge once, he also needed to use Extract several times.

The Extract divine ability could extract an object's attributes and thereby strengthen himself. To Xiao Han, this was also a waste.

"That's because I'm afraid something might happen to him. With the Divine Grade Vein Protecting Pill and the gentle medicinal properties of the Foundation Establishment Pill, he should be able to directly swallow the pill his father gave him."

"With his talent, it won't be long before he breaks through to the Dou Zhe realm. At that point, he will be qualified to challenge me. That will also be my chance to extract Dou Techniques again."

Xiao Han paused, then added, "Besides, even if Xiao Yan doesn't challenge me in the future, I've still left a good impression on Xun Er. It's killing two birds with one stone!"

Xiao Han's actions were not a momentary impulse, but something he had done after careful consideration.

Elsewhere, as Xiao Xun'er walked down a dim corridor, she became more cautious. She said calmly to the empty air, "Ling Ying, can you tell if there is anything wrong with this pill?"

The moment Xiao Xun'er finished speaking, a black shadow took form beside her. It did not stir even the slightest fluctuation of Dou Qi.

Perhaps even Xiao Yan did not know that a Shadow Guard of unfathomable strength had been hidden at Xiao Xun'er's side at all times.

The Shadow Guard took the pill from Xiao Xun'er's hand. With a thought, he absorbed the energy on the pill. After a while, he respectfully returned it, his eyes filled with reverence. Bowing his head and not daring to meet Xiao Xun'er's gaze, he said, "Miss, this subordinate senses nothing unusual about this pill. If there is anything noteworthy, it is that its energy is extremely pure. It is truly rare. For Xiao Han to possess a Divine Pill... Miss, this youngster is no simple person!"

"Mm." Xiao Xun'er nodded and said, "It seems I was overthinking it. I nearly wronged Brother Xiao Han."

Xiao Xun'er waved her hand. Ling Ying moved and vanished from where he stood, as though he had never existed.

"Girl, since you're here, come out!"

Xiao Yan, who was cultivating in the courtyard, looked in a certain direction. As for Old Man Yao, he had already hidden inside the ring on Xiao Yan's hand the moment he sensed Xiao Xun'er's arrival.

"Brother Xiao Yan's senses truly are sharp." The girl smiled sweetly from a dark corner.

"Xun Er, it's so late. Did you need something from me?" Xiao Yan asked curiously.

"This is for you!" Xiao Xun'er took out the pill Xiao Han had given her.

"This is...?"

"This is a Vein Protecting Pill. It can protect your meridians from harm. And it is a second-tier Divine Grade Vein Protecting Pill."

"A Divine Grade Vein Protecting Pill?" Xiao Yan raised a brow and asked warily, "Was this pill given to you by Xiao Han?"

"Yes." Xiao Xun'er was secretly surprised. She had not even said anything, so how did Xiao Yan know this pill had been sent by Xiao Han? Of course, Xiao Xun'er did not know that after what had happened during the day, Xiao Yan already knew that Xiao Han could refine Divine Grade pills. Even if Xiao Han could not, the old grandfather behind him could.

"You should take it back." Xiao Yan's expression darkened, and his tone became somewhat cold.

"Why?" Xiao Xun'er asked in confusion. "You obtained the Foundation Establishment Pill Uncle Xiao Zhan bought for you. With this Vein Protecting Pill, you can protect your meridians while taking the Foundation Establishment Pill without worrying that the pill's energy will damage them."

"That may be true. But Sister Xun'er, Xiao Han is my enemy. How do I know what he is plotting? If he tampered with the pill in some way, the consequences would be unimaginable."

"Brother Xiao Yan, Brother Xiao Han said that he only wants to bury the hatchet with you. This pill is his show of sincerity. Besides..."

"Besides what?"

"Besides, he wasn't wrong about that matter. Handling it that way did not affect the Xiao Clan, the Nalan Family, or the Misty Cloud Sect. Why must you continue to dwell on it?"

"Hmph. You weren't involved, so naturally you can say that." Having suffered setbacks at Xiao Han's hands time and again, Xiao Yan did not know why, but the mere mention of Xiao Han filled his heart with an inexplicable hostility.

"Brother Xiao Yan, Brother Xiao Han truly means you no harm!"

"Brother Xiao Han... Brother Xiao Han... What kind of bewitching potion did he give you? Since when did you start calling someone else brother so intimately? Don't tell me you like him?" Xiao Yan lost control and blurted out the accusation.

Perhaps even Xiao Yan himself did not know when Xiao Han had seemingly become a taboo in his heart.

"You..." Xiao Xun'er gazed at Xiao Yan resentfully and said unhappily, "You've wronged me. I'll leave the pill here. Use it or not, I don't care!"

After saying that, Xiao Xun'er directly placed the pill in her hand on the stone table in the courtyard. Then she left without looking back.

"Sister Xun'er!"

Xiao Yan realized he had lost his composure and wanted to chase after her. But Xiao Xun'er had already run out of sight.

"Another Divine Grade pill!"

At that moment, Old Man Yao drifted out of the ring in a wisp of white mist. He picked up the pill and examined it, his brows slightly furrowed. "Since when have Divine Grade pills become so easy to refine?"

"Teacher, is there anything unusual about this pill? Does Xiao Han have ulterior motives? Is he planning to use some scheme again?" Having suffered repeated losses, Xiao Yan was instinctively on guard.

"This time, you truly are mistaken. This pill is indeed a Vein Protecting Pill, and it has reached Divine Grade. There is nothing unusual about it." After sensing it for a while, Old Man Yao gave his honest assessment.

"Is that so? Then I wrongly blamed Sister Xun'er." Thinking of his earlier behavior, Xiao Yan deeply regretted it. He could only think of coaxing Xiao Xun'er later.

"With this Vein Protecting Pill, you can indeed begin taking and refining that Foundation Establishment Pill." Old Man Yao tossed the pill to Xiao Yan, then added, "But I don't understand what Xiao Han and the mysterious person behind him are trying to do. They are clearly enemies, yet they sent you a pill to help raise your cultivation?"

"What, even Teacher can't figure out the reason?"

Old Man Yao shook his head gravely, then said, "Unless he thinks his opponent is too weak and not worthy of his amusement. I have seen experts with twisted minds and extreme arrogance like this before."

"Is that so?" Hearing that this was a possibility, intense fury flashed through Xiao Yan's eyes. He said, "If that's the case, then I'll grant him his wish. I, Xiao Yan, swear here that one year from now, I will make him pay the price for his arrogance!"

Old Man Yao ignored Xiao Yan's words and sank into thought. Xiao Han had produced two Divine Grade pills in succession, which was enough to show how terrifying the alchemy talent of that old grandfather behind him was.

However, Old Man Yao was deeply puzzled. There were no more than five Alchemists who could compare with him. He also knew clearly that even those few could only refine Top Grade pills.

Could it be some great expert from ancient times, or even the primordial era?

As Old Man Yao pondered, that seemed to be the only explanation for the doubts in his heart.