Battle Through the Heavens: Obtaining the Extraction System at the Start — Chapter 13

Shaking his head, he stopped thinking about it. He was simply too tired and needed a good rest.

After taking a bath and drinking a glass of cola, Xiao Ling finally drifted off to sleep.

The next morning.

A beam of sunlight shone through the window into the room, falling across Xiao Ling's sleeping face.

Frowning slightly, Xiao Ling groggily woke from his dreams.

He stretched and let out a huge yawn, muttering inwardly, It's been a long time since I slept this comfortably.

Glancing at the sunlight outside, Xiao Ling rolled out of bed and began washing up.

"Xun Er should still be asleep at this hour. That girl never cultivates at night. I'll study Alchemy Art for a while, then go find her."

"Ring, ring. Ring, ring."

Xiao Ling, who was reading Secrets Alchemists Must Tell beside his desk, heard the bell in his room ring. The bells came as a pair and could sense each other's condition. One was in Xiao Ling's room, while the other hung at the entrance to the courtyard. He could not help wondering, Who's coming to see me so early? Could Xun Er have found out I'm back?

He placed the book back on the shelf and headed outside.

Opening the courtyard gate and looking out, he saw a young woman in a purple dress. She was tall and slender. Though her cheeks were slightly thin, her face was exceptionally beautiful, her skin as fair as snow and her features delicate as a painting. What was even more striking was her waist-length hair, an uncommon silver. Her silver hair paired with her purple dress gave her an aloof aura that kept others at a distance, making her seem fit to be admired from afar but not trifled with. Especially her arms and beautiful legs wrapped in black stockings—even Xiao Ling, who had seen countless edited beauties in his past life, could not help taking a few extra looks.

Before Xiao Ling could recover, a gentle, melodious voice reached his ears. "Good morning, Junior Brother Xiao Ling. I heard that you usually cultivate instead of sleeping, so I came to see you this early. I didn't disturb you, did I?"

Hearing this, Xiao Ling immediately came back to his senses. Looking at Han Yue, who was half a head taller than him, he promptly replied, "You didn't disturb me. It's been a week since I last saw you, Senior Sister Han Yue. We can have a proper chat today." With that, he pointed toward the pavilion in the courtyard and walked over first.

Han Yue said nothing more. Swaying her alluring figure, she followed Xiao Ling toward the pavilion.

Once they were seated, Xiao Ling took out two sets of tea ware and poured each of them a cup of fragrant tea.

Glancing at Han Yue in purple clothes, Xiao Ling could not help muttering inwardly, Xu Gao was right. Purple really has a special charm.

After taking a sip of hot tea, Xiao Ling spoke first. "Senior Sister Han Yue, did you come to me because you need help with something? If it's within my ability, I'll certainly do my best."

Han Yue did not hesitate for long before saying, "I came today to ask you to refine two Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pills for me. I also wanted to discuss our cultivation insights. Although you haven't cultivated as long as I have, your talent is exceptional, and you often have different understandings of cultivation. They may benefit my own cultivation as well. In return, I'll share my cultivation insights from all these years with you, so we can both improve together."

Rubbing his chin, Xiao Ling pondered, Han Yue is from the Central Plains, after all. I can ask her about the Central Plains and gain a better understanding of the place. I can't be completely ignorant of everything beyond the factions mentioned in the original story.

Having made up his mind, Xiao Ling smiled warmly at Han Yue. "I'm already a Fourth-Rank Alchemist. Refining this kind of pill will be effortless for me. Of course, exchanging cultivation insights is no problem. You've cultivated longer than I have, so it would be good for you to teach me some of your experience."

Upon hearing this, Han Yue revealed a faint smile. "Then I'll have to trouble you with refining the pills first, Junior Brother. I've already prepared six sets of ingredients. As for payment, tell me what you need, and I'll see whether I have it on me."

Xiao Ling shook his head. "As for payment, after I finish refining the pills, just tell me some things about the Central Plains. I'll definitely travel there someday."

Han Yue nodded. "That won't be a problem. I'll tell you everything I know later. It's just that my family isn't considered a powerful faction in the Central Plains, so I may not know very much."

With that, she took several dozen jade boxes from her Ring. They all contained ingredients for refining Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pills, and she handed them to Xiao Ling.

Taking the ingredients, Xiao Ling waved his hand and said casually, "Just some common knowledge is enough. In the end, I'll still have to see it for myself. For now, watch me refine your pills."

"Then I'll be watching your performance, Junior Brother," Han Yue replied.

Finding an open patch of grass, Xiao Ling took a four-legged medicine cauldron from Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlight Night, infused it with Beast Fire, sat cross-legged on the ground, emptied his mind, and began refining pills.

Han Yue sat in the pavilion nearby, watching Xiao Ling's movements with great interest.

On the lush lawn, blue-pink flames flickered amid the green shade, turning the forest that had originally carried a hint of coolness unbearably hot.

Xiao Ling calmly watched the Beast Fire rapidly rising within the medicine cauldron. With a sweep of his hand, herbs on the ground slowly floated into the air before flying directly into the cauldron.

The moment those herbs entered the cauldron, the flames swallowed them whole. In an instant, they rapidly withered.

As they gradually shriveled, countless tiny droplets seeped from their surfaces, slid downward, and hovered above the flames, constantly tumbling and rolling.

Once the herbs had completely turned a withered gray, all the pure medicinal power contained within them had been forced out by the flames. Their bodies had thoroughly become useless waste.

Xiao Ling used Soul Power to throw the withered herbs out of the medicine cauldron. They landed on the nearby grass and instantly turned into piles of gray ash that scattered in the wind.

Han Yue, seated in the pavilion, kept her gaze fixed on Xiao Ling. He skillfully handled herb after herb, his clear blue-gold eyes seemingly transparent to the bottom. His blue-silver hair fell over his shoulders without looking out of place. His slightly youthful face remained as calm as an ancient well, radiating the confidence of someone who had everything under control.

Remembering the way Xiao Ling had secretly glanced at her earlier, Han Yue's pretty face reddened. For some inexplicable reason, she felt a trace of delight. Shaking her head, she stopped overthinking it and continued watching Xiao Ling.

Yet even she had not noticed that a faint tenderness had already appeared in her eyes.

Time flew by, and soon it was noon.

By then, Xiao Ling had already refined one Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill and was refining the next one.

Before the medicine cauldron at the center of the lawn, Xiao Ling's hand seals changed continuously. He let out a low shout. "Condense!"

The medicinal liquid within the cauldron began to merge, slowly forming an uneven Pill Prototype.

As time passed, the pale white Pill Prototype, whose shape had initially been somewhat irregular, gradually became round and smooth. Brilliant light radiated from it, making it resemble a white gemstone.

At the instant the pill erupted with dazzling light, rings of nearly tangible energy ripples spread continuously in every direction from the medicine cauldron. The surrounding grass bent beneath the gusts, and Xiao Ling's soft blue-silver hair fluttered in the wind.

Xiao Ling ended his hand seals and extinguished the Beast Fire inside the medicine cauldron. Taking out a Jade Bottle, he lightly activated the Suction Palm, and the Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill fell into it.

After refining the pill, Xiao Ling felt exhausted all over. His Dou Qi had been completely depleted. Without another thought, he lay flat on the soft grass.

Seeing this, Han Yue panicked and hurried over. Squatting before Xiao Ling, she asked with concern, "Junior Brother Xiao Ling, are you all right? Do you feel unwell anywhere?"

Xiao Ling's heart warmed at the sight. He shook his head and said, "I just used up too much Dou Qi. I'll be fine after resting for a while."

Although my Soul Power is enough to refine pills, my Dou Qi cultivation is still too low, and the level of Fen Jue isn't high enough either. I still need to get out there and find Heavenly Flames to absorb as soon as possible.

Seeing Han Yue's worried expression, Xiao Ling's eyes shifted as he suddenly said, "Senior Sister Han Yue, could you help wipe my sweat? I'm too exhausted right now, so it's inconvenient for me."

Han Yue hesitated upon hearing this, but seeing Xiao Ling's weak appearance and the beads of sweat covering his forehead, she muttered inwardly, Junior Brother Xiao Ling became this weak because he refined pills for me. It's only right that I help wipe his sweat.

Thus, she took out the handkerchief she usually used from her Ring, bent down, and began wiping the sweat from Xiao Ling's face.

Looking at Han Yue's stunning face and feeling her gentle touch on his forehead, Xiao Ling suddenly felt his heart pounding.

Damn it, this young master's heart is in turmoil again.

Sensing Xiao Ling's somewhat burning gaze, Han Yue stopped moving and met his eyes.

For a moment, an ambiguous atmosphere spread between them, and the air seemed filled with hormones.

Looking at Han Yue's slightly flushed face, Xiao Ling swallowed and could not help saying, "Senior Sister Han Yue, you're really beautiful."

Hearing this, Han Yue's pretty face grew even hotter. Her head felt a little dizzy, and her heartbeat suddenly quickened, as though it were about to leap from her chest.

Seeing such a tempting sight, Xiao Ling desperately wanted to bite her cheek. But he still held himself back.

The time isn't right yet. I can't make a move now. I still need to nurture this a while longer before harvesting the fruit.

With a thought, a jade box appeared in his hand. Flipping his palm, he opened it to reveal a milky-white pill inside. Xiao Ling said to Han Yue, "Senior Sister Han Yue, this is a gift for you. There's a pill inside called the Youth Retention Pill. Its effect is to freeze a person's appearance at the age when they take it, never changing again. I hope you can always remain this beautiful."

Han Yue was greatly shocked upon hearing this. Having lived for so many years, she had never heard of such a miraculous pill. She felt somewhat embarrassed about accepting it, but the temptation of never aging was too great to resist.

Seeing Han Yue's hesitant expression, Xiao Ling immediately guessed what she was thinking. He directly grabbed her right hand, stuffed the jade box into it, and said seriously, "Senior Sister Han Yue, you don't want to become an old granny a hundred years from now, do you?"

Hearing Xiao Ling's words, Han Yue imagined herself growing old. She tightened her grip on the jade box and replied, "Then I'll thank you, Junior Brother Xiao Ling."

Seeing that she had accepted the gift, Xiao Ling withdrew his hand from Han Yue's and held the Jade Bottle containing two Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pills before her. Smiling, he said, "Senior Sister Han Yue, your pills. Don't forget to take them."

Han Yue snatched the Porcelain Bottle and shot Xiao Ling a charming glare. Recalling everything that had just happened, she realized that Xiao Ling had teased her from start to finish. Her pretty face flushed again, while the hand he had held still retained a trace of warmth.

Feeling Xiao Ling staring directly at her, Han Yue did not dare stay any longer. Leaving behind the words, "I'll refine the pills first. Come to my courtyard tomorrow at noon, and I'll tell you about the Central Plains," she ran toward the courtyard exit.

Watching Han Yue's graceful figure leave the small courtyard, Xiao Ling smiled helplessly. He took out a pill for restoring Dou Qi from his belt, swallowed it, and sat cross-legged to recover his Dou Qi.

Back in her room, Han Yue breathed slightly heavily, the blush on her face not yet completely gone.

Looking at the pill Xiao Ling had pressed into her hand and recalling his burning gaze, she could not help muttering inwardly, Xiao Ling really does like me. Not only did he let me ride his Void Dragon before, but he also gave me such a precious Youth Retention Pill. He must like me. Otherwise, he wouldn't treat me so specially.

As the thought flashed through her mind, the blush on Han Yue's face deepened. She immediately buried her head beneath the blankets.

Actually, if it's Xiao Ling, then it might not be impossible.

Time passed like a white steed racing through a gap. In the blink of an eye, half a year had gone by.

Xiao Ling's cultivation had also reached the Three-Star Dou Grandmaster realm. He was only one step away from becoming a Four-Star Dou Master.

Jia Nan Academy's annual Inner Academy Selection Tournament was set to begin today.

At that moment, six young men and women had gathered in Xiao Ling's courtyard.

They were Xiao Ling, Xiao Xun'er, Han Yue, Lin Xiuyai, Lin Yan, and Liu Qing.

Xiao Ling said to everyone, "Let's all do our best. There's no problem with the few of us taking the top five. Xun Er, just perform normally. With your cultivation as a five-star Dou Master, entering the Inner Academy will be effortless." As for why Xiao Xun'er was only a five-star Dou Master, perhaps the Young Lady of the Ancient Clan did not care for the opportunity to choose treasures in the Library Pavilion, nor did she want to reveal her true strength.

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded, confidence shining in their eyes.

Lin Yan, meanwhile, could barely suppress his battle intent. He declared passionately, "I can't wait for the battle to begin. My Li Huo Axe has been thirsty for far too long."

Lin Xiuyai, however, spoke from the side. "Don't let your guard down. Although our strength is already ahead of most students, there's still Han Xian. His cultivation isn't much weaker than ours."

Hearing this, the fierce-tempered Liu Qing said disdainfully, "He's just a guy who knows how to refine pills. Not every Alchemist is as powerful as Xiao Ling. Trash like that can be knocked flat with a single thrust of my spear."

Lin Yan agreed, "That little speck of dust isn't even worth half of me. He usually acts so arrogant, but he only behaves himself when he sees us." He then turned to Xiao Ling. "Back when you had only been in the Outer Academy for a year, didn't he mock you because Elder Huo of the academy favored you? Why didn't you teach him a lesson then?"