Black Rock City!

The Seven-Colored Heavenly Swallowing Python's attributes were complex, but the Seven-Colored Heavenly Swallowing Python evolved from Medusa herself was unquestionably a fire-attributed Magical Beast.

"Among Seventh-tier Magical Beasts, the Seven-Colored Heavenly Swallowing Python is practically at the pinnacle. Even the Ancient Void Dragon Clan would fear a Seven-Colored Heavenly Swallowing Python of the same rank. This flame is quite good!"

Chen Yang raised his hand, and a flickering multicolored flame appeared in his palm, radiating terrifying power.

"As a transitional flame for a Fifth-grade Alchemist, this Colored Flame suits me perfectly."

Chen Yang smiled slightly, put away the flame, got out of bed, and headed outside to the water's edge. With a wave of his hand, he took out the Medicine Cauldron, intending to refine a batch of medicinal pills and test the results!

When Xiao Yi Xian at the door saw that Chen Yang intended to refine pills, she waved her hand and stored her poisons in her Storage Ring. Then she skipped over to him, took out a small stool and sat down, propping her chin on both hands as she watched him refine pills with a serene expression.

"Won't you get bored always being like this?"

As Chen Yang used the Colored Flame to heat the cauldron, he asked Xiao Yi Xian.

"Of course not. I love watching you refine pills the most." As Xiao Yi Xian spoke, her chin rested on her palms, making her little head bob up and down adorably.

"Besides, didn't you say that once I fuse with a Heavenly Flame, I'll be able to learn Alchemy too? So, Teacher, please teach your apprentice well..." Xiao Yi Xian covered her mouth and giggled sweetly, making Chen Yang want to demonstrate his riding techniques again.

"Just wait until I'm done!" Chen Yang glared at Xiao Yi Xian, prompting the girl to stick out her tongue at him before beckoning to the Amethyst Winged Lion King Cub in the distance.

The Amethyst Winged Lion King Cub had successfully broken through to become a Fourth-order Magical Beast during this period, delighting the Amethyst Winged Lion King so greatly that it seemed to have already seen the day it restored the glory of the Amethyst Winged Lion King Clan.

Its Master was an Alchemist, and one who possessed pill recipes capable of allowing the Amethyst Winged Lion King Clan to grow stronger without end.

At this moment, the Amethyst Winged Lion King only wanted to follow Chen Yang devotedly and carry the identity of pet and mount through to the end.

Meanwhile, Little Amethyst Winged Lion King had also been well cared for by Xiao Yi Xian during this time. Xiao Lan, the Blue Eagle, had already become little more than a floor tile in the pet family's hierarchy.

Seeing Xiao Yi Xian beckon to it, Little Amethyst Winged Lion King fluttered its wings and flew over, landing before her and extending its lion head for her to pet.

Chen Yang's days were incomparably comfortable.

Xiao Yan's side, however, was anything but easy.

Although Medicine Elder was watching over him while he devoured Purple Flame, and his physical body was comparable to that of a Third-tier Magical Beast,

Purple Flame had, after all, originated from the Amethyst Winged Lion King, a Sixth-order Magical Beast. Moreover, Xiao Yan had swallowed an entire bottle of Companion Purple Crystal Source this time.

Still, Xiao Yan had long since grown accustomed to this level of pain.

And although the process had been agonizing, the result was excellent.

"Teacher!"

"Fen Jue really evolved! This Cultivation Method really can evolve!"

"You can be saved! You can be saved!"

Feeling the changes in his Dou Qi and endurance, Xiao Yan excitedly called out to Medicine Elder, who floated in the air.

"Good child, good child!"

"You've suffered!"

Medicine Elder looked at Xiao Yan with both gratification and heartache. This brat had truly tested the edge of life and death this time.

But effort brought rewards, and Xiao Yan's reward this time was exceptionally gratifying.

Not only had Fen Jue evolved to a level comparable to a Yellow-tier High-grade Cultivation Method, his strength had also increased dramatically!

"Xiao Yan, look at your dantian!"

After praising him, Medicine Elder stroked his beard and smiled with satisfaction.

Xiao Yan hurriedly sank his consciousness into his dantian and saw a diamond-shaped Dou Crystal.

"With Chen Yang's medicinal pills, you leaped directly from a Seven-star Fighter to a Da Dou Shi this time—and a Three-Star Dou Grandmaster at that!"

"Good thing you raised your physical body to the level of a Third-tier Magical Beast, making your foundation incredibly solid. Otherwise, you could forget about increasing your strength at all for the next half year!"

Medicine Elder looked at Xiao Yan, full of emotion.

In the original story, after Xiao Yan consumed the Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill in the Imperial Capital, he leaped from a Seven-star Fighter into the Da Dou Shi realm. If he had not previously devoured the Green Lotus Core Flame, his foundation would likewise have been unstable.

But Xiao Yan naturally had no such issue now.

Among the medicinal pills Chen Yang had left behind after emptying out Xiao Yan's savings was one with effects even better than the Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill. Combined with the Companion Purple Crystal Source and Purple Flame, it allowed him to leap directly into the Three-Star Dou Grandmaster realm.

"If not for the medicinal pills Brother Yang left behind, the Companion Purple Crystal Source and Purple Flame probably would have been enough just to push me to Nine-star Dou Shi!"

"I can never repay Brother Yang's kindness!"

Feeling the surging Dou Qi within his body, Xiao Yan rose and stretched his limbs before speaking to Medicine Elder.

"I wonder which Ancient Clan that boy belongs to. He actually has so many miraculous pill recipes!"

"I even feel that many of the pills he took out seem specially tailored to your constitution. Some of them even bear traces of my Alchemy techniques. How strange."

Medicine Elder was completely baffled.

However, his alchemy style was not something he had created entirely on his own. He had studied the Alchemy techniques and pill recipes of the Yao Clan, the Pill Tower, and several other alchemy clans across the Dou Qi Continent. Thus, he assumed that as the descendant of an Ancient Clan, Chen Yang's elders might have had experiences similar to his own.

"Who cares? My Brother Yang is invincible. Do we need to worry over such a trivial matter?"

Looking utterly unconcerned, Xiao Yan waved his hand and took out the Heavy Black Ruler from his Storage Ring, strapping it to his back. Now that he had broken through to Da Dou Shi, the Heavy Black Ruler was still extremely heavy to him, but it was far easier to wield than before.

"Get ready. Stay in the Monster Mountain Range a while longer, gather enough medicinal materials, refine some Qi Replenishing Pills, healing pills, and the like before leaving."

"You're only one step away from Third-grade Alchemy now. Your Dou Qi endurance and flame were what had been holding you back before. Now that your Cultivation Method has evolved and you have Purple Flame, reaching Third-grade will come naturally!"

Medicine Elder smiled and nodded. He no longer discussed Chen Yang, instead making plans for the final stretch of Xiao Yan's journey through the Monster Mountain Range.

"Alright!"

Xiao Yan nodded, spread his Green Swallow Wings, and leaped into the air, flying out of the valley. Medicine Elder had already slipped into the Bone Ring.

"Teacher, do you think Nalan Yanran has broken through to Three-star Dou Master yet?"

As Xiao Yan flew, he suddenly asked Medicine Elder.

"Hahaha..."

"Even with a Sixth-grade Alchemist assisting her, it would already be impressive if she had Da Dou Shi strength by the time of the Three-Year Agreement!"

"Now..."

"Hehehe..."

Medicine Elder chuckled merrily. Xiao Yan had long surpassed the strength he had originally planned for him. Nalan Yanran was no different from Alchemist King Gu He—utterly insignificant!

"Hahaha..."

Xiao Yan laughed freely at those words. At that moment, the shackles of the Three-Year Agreement completely vanished.

Back in the valley, Chen Yang effortlessly completed the pill refinement, then dragged the provocative Xiao Yi Xian away and thoroughly taught her riding techniques twice.

"Xiao Yi Xian, it's time for us to leave this place too!"

Chen Yang gently stroked Xiao Yi Xian's long black hair as he spoke softly.

"Sure! I've wanted to see the outside world for a long time!"

"This counts as us traveling the Dou Qi Continent together, right?"

Xiao Yi Xian spoke with a delighted expression.

Chen Yang was somewhat startled as he looked at her. He had thought Xiao Yi Xian would be a little reluctant to part with their life in the valley, but she was unexpectedly carefree.

"What are you looking at me for?"

"Wherever you are is my home..."

Xiao Yi Xian leaned against Chen Yang's chest and spoke softly.

"Alright..."

"With you, there is home!"

Three days later, Chen Yang sorted through the necessary items, then left the Monster Mountain Range with Xiao Yi Xian and the two Amethyst Winged Lion Kings, heading straight for Black Rock City.

At the flight speed of a Sixth-order Magical Beast like the Amethyst Winged Lion King, even flying leisurely all the way, they arrived within roughly fifty li of Black Rock City in half a day.

"You two should find somewhere outside the city to stay for now. I'll see whether there's a way to shrink your bodies later, then I can keep you with me."

Chen Yang looked at the Amethyst Winged Lion King and instructed it.

"Yes, Master!"

The Amethyst Winged Lion King nodded, found a quiet valley nearby, drove out the Third-tier Magical Beast that had originally lived there, and settled in itself.

Chen Yang memorized the Amethyst Winged Lion King's location, then headed toward Black Rock City with Xiao Yi Xian...