Battle Through the Heavens: Obtaining the Extraction System at the Start

Zi Yan nodded vigorously, raised her little head, and said in a somewhat comical manner, "Don't worry, don't worry. I'll be fine." With that, she took out a pill from the Porcelain Bottle, tossed it into her mouth, and darted into the next room.

Seeing this, Xiao Ling could only shake his head helplessly. What else could he do? All he could do was spoil her. With Xiao Ling's status as a Sixth-grade Alchemist, raising one Zi Yan with pills refined from Fifth-grade Medicinal Herbs was more than affordable.

Walking over to the table, Xiao Ling pulled out a chair and sat down. He took the Distraction Control Method he had extracted from the system out of his Ring, carefully read through its contents from beginning to end, then began practicing according to the steps recorded within.

The cultivation method for the Distraction Control Method was not complicated. Different people had different ways of practicing it. As long as one could control oneself to focus on several tasks at once, one had entered the beginner stage.

To master the Distraction Control Method, one first needed exceptionally strong Soul Perception. For Xiao Ling, whose soul had already broken through to the Spirit Realm, that was effortless. However, mastering this technique essentially meant being able to control multiple directions while keeping one's attention focused.

This was indeed somewhat difficult for Xiao Ling. Everyone had their habits. When doing something before, he had always focused all his attention on that single matter. Now that he had to control several directions simultaneously, he found it quite unfamiliar.

Xiao Ling raised both hands and opened his clenched palms. At the same time, he activated the fused Beast Fire within his body and the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame. "Puff..." Blue-pink Beast Fire appeared over his left hand, while the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame leaped up from his right.

Xiao Ling began using his Soul Power to control the two flames simultaneously, shaping them into different forms in order to train his ability to divide his attention.

At the beginning, Xiao Ling would instinctively focus his attention on one flame. After several failures, however, he quickly became capable of controlling both flames at once with his powerful Soul Perception. He then split another flame off from the Beast Fire and began controlling three flames simultaneously, gradually increasing the difficulty and making the flames perform increasingly complex movements...

In less than an hour, Xiao Ling had reached the realm of the Three Orifice Control Heart. Using one mind for three purposes had become easy for him. However, the difficulty would multiply at higher realms. If Xiao Ling wanted to attain the Seven Orifice Exquisite Heart, he would still need to continue practicing.

Cultivating this Secret Art not only allowed one to divide one's attention, but also improved one's control over Soul Perception. It enabled Soul Perception to achieve better results, making it quite a useful technique for an alchemist. When refining low-grade medicinal pills, one could refine several at once. When extracting medicinal liquid, one could temper several medicinal herbs at the same time. This could greatly speed up pill refinement. As long as one concentrated all attention during the pill-condensing stage, the success rate of pill refinement would not be affected.

During the following journey through the air, Xiao Ling's days settled into a routine. Every day, he cultivated the Distraction Control Method, practiced his Alchemy Art, cultivated his Dou Qi at night, chatted and played around with Zi Yan, and teased his Magical Beast, Void Dragon. With Zi Yan and Void Dragon accompanying him, this not-so-short journey became quite enjoyable, making Xiao Ling certain that bringing Zi Yan along had been a wise choice.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

Inside the room, Xiao Ling sat cross-legged. Seven fourth-grade medicinal herbs lay before him, and he was tempering them with the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame.

Zi Yan watched intently from the side, her eyes fixed on Xiao Ling's movements. She was terrified that he might accidentally burn the medicinal herbs she had only just snatched from several Magical Beasts.

After the herbs had all been refined into medicinal liquid, Xiao Ling took several specially made sugar pills from his Ring and tossed them in. He then condensed the medicinal liquids into smooth, lustrous pills.

The moment Zi Yan noticed this, her eyes lit up. She took out a Porcelain Bottle from her Ring, pulled out its stopper, and waved it at Xiao Ling.

Xiao Ling's mouth twitched at the sight. As expected, this girl cared most about whether there was something to eat. With a wave of his hand, the pills flew one after another into the Porcelain Bottle in Zi Yan's hand.

When the final pill was about to enter the bottle, Zi Yan opened her mouth wide and swallowed it in one bite, making Xiao Ling laugh despite himself.

After sealing the Porcelain Bottle with its stopper and storing it in her Ring, Zi Yan smiled at Xiao Ling. "Thank you, Xiao Ling. Your method is pretty good. The speed of refining these pills is much, much faster than before."

Xiao Ling replied, "It's a method for controlling Soul Perception that I've been practicing recently. It's very helpful for pill refinement."

Zi Yan nodded and stopped discussing the matter. She then asked, "Can we reach the Jia Ma Empire today? I really want to see what your and Xun Er's family are like."

Xiao Ling picked up the map in his hand and examined it. "At the Griffon Beast's speed, we'll reach Town Ghost Pass in another hour. That's the southernmost edge of the Jia Ma Empire. There are still many cities between there and the Xiao Family in Wutan City."

After putting the map back into his Ring, Xiao Ling looked toward the Jia Ma Empire and pondered, First, I'll send a letter to the Xiao Family and have the clan move to the Imperial Capital. That way, even if the Misty Cloud Sect wants to make a move against the Xiao Family in secret, with my identity as a Sixth-grade Alchemist, they'll have to think twice in a place as crowded and complicated as the Imperial Capital.

He looked toward the Tagor Desert. There was still an old man there whom he could pull out to work for him. Having that man help look after the Xiao Family should be more than enough. By doing this much, Xiao Ling would have fulfilled his duty to the Xiao Family. If things became impossible, he could only protect himself. His own safety was the most important thing.

After more than an hour of continued flight, Xiao Ling and the others drew ever closer to their destination. According to the map, they would soon arrive at the border of the Jia Ma Empire...

Time passed amid the monotonous flight. When the endless, distant route crossed another towering mountain range, the faint outline of a massive fortress suddenly appeared at the edge of their vision.

The fortress had been built against the mountain, like a fierce tiger guarding the main route leading out of the empire. Anyone wishing to leave the empire had to pass through this enormous fortress. Over the years, this heavily defended stronghold had devoured an unknown number of souls from the battlefield, causing many nearby empires to fear it as if it were a tiger.

Thus, the fortress bore a rather fierce and ominous name.

Town Ghost Pass!

Under Xiao Ling's gaze, the outline of a colossal fortress appeared in the distance. Even from so far away, it radiated a powerful Killing Intent. Clearly, many wars had taken place here, and no one knew how many people had lost their lives upon this ground.

As they gradually approached the massive fortress, the soldiers atop it noticed the Griffon Beast.

Although they were at least several hundred meters above the ground, and the soldiers below could only see the silhouette of a flying beast rather than Xiao Ling and Zi Yan standing atop it, Xiao Ling could clearly take in every movement on the ground with his eyesight.

The soldiers had already formed up in battle formation. It seemed that the moment the Magical Beast drew near, they would draw their bows and shoot the flying beast from the sky.

Inside the command office of Town Ghost Pass, a middle-aged man was handling official duties. This man was Mu Tie, the Grand Commander of Town Ghost Pass. He came from the Mu Family, one of the Jia Ma Empire's three great families, and his strength had reached the peak of the Dou Ling realm.

Suddenly, an armored soldier entered. He first gave a military salute, then reported, "Grand Commander, a fourth-grade flying Magical Beast has appeared in the sky. It seems to be a Griffon Beast from Jia Nan Academy."

Hearing the report, Mu Tie frowned and said in confusion, "There are still more than six months until Jia Nan Academy begins recruitment. Why have they come now? Let's go take a look first." With that, he rose from his seat and headed outside.

By the time Mu Tie and the soldier reached the fortress wall, the Griffon Beast in the sky had already stopped advancing and hovered in midair.

Two figures stepped onto the Griffon Beast's head. The one in front was a young man who appeared to be around fifteen or sixteen years old. His blue hair fell over his shoulders, and his features were quite handsome. His fair skin did not diminish his masculine air, while his tall, upright frame and approachable demeanor made him seem particularly amiable. Behind him followed a little girl who looked to be around eleven or twelve. She wore a White Dress, and her soft purple hair was tied into twin ponytails, making her look exceptionally adorable.

Under the shocked gazes of Mu Tie and the soldiers, both the young man and the little girl behind him spread a pair of Dou Qi Wings and slowly flew toward the fortress.

At this sight, the soldiers on the fortress wall all sucked in cold breaths and cried out in alarm.

"Gasp, Dou Wang experts!"

"Two Dou Wang experts have appeared at once. What on earth is happening?"

"That little girl is a Dou Wang expert too? How is that possible?"

Even Mu Tie, the strongest person present, was greatly shocked. He muttered to himself, "Such young Dou Wang experts... What faction could have produced such monsters? And what business do they have in the Jia Ma Empire?"

After Xiao Ling and Zi Yan flew down from the Griffon Beast, it flew back in the direction from which it had come. Seeing this, Mu Tie confirmed that the two were indeed coming to the Jia Ma Empire, though he had no idea whether this would prove fortunate or disastrous. He hurried forward and asked, "I am Mu Tie, Grand Commander of Town Ghost Pass. What brings you two here? Are you visiting the Jia Ma Empire?"

Since the other party had introduced himself and asked about their purpose, Xiao Ling did not beat around the bush. "I am Xiao Ling, an elder of Jia Nan Academy in the Black Corner Region, and also a member of the Xiao Family of Wutan City in the Jia Ma Empire. The one behind me is my traveling companion. Rest assured, I bear no ill will toward you or the Jia Ma Empire."

Upon hearing the name "Xiao Ling," Mu Tie thought for a moment. A name that had spread throughout the Imperial Capital several years ago resurfaced in his mind: "Xiao Ling, the greatest genius the Jia Ma Empire had seen in a thousand years." According to information gathered by the major factions, this person had begun cultivating Dou Qi at four and a half, broken through to the Dou Zhe realm at eight, and then gone to Jia Nan Academy for further studies, after which there had been no more news of him. At the time, all the major factions and families of the Jia Ma Empire had wanted to invite Xiao Ling into their ranks, but they could no longer find any trace of him. According to his Clan Leader, even the imperial family's guardian had wanted to marry the imperial family's little princess to him, hoping to draw him into the imperial family. Then, once he grew stronger, they would not need to worry that no one could suppress the increasingly powerful Misty Cloud Sect after that guardian passed away. Yet no one had expected that in merely seven years, the little Dou Zhe of that time had become a Dou Wang expert. Such talent truly deserved the title of "the greatest genius the Jia Ma Empire had seen in a thousand years."

No longer dwelling on these matters, Mu Tie hurried forward and said with a smile, "Hahaha, so you're Master Xiao Ling, the genius renowned throughout the Jia Ma Empire. I've long admired your name. Now that I've seen you today, you truly are an outstanding young man. You've already become a Dou Wang at such a young age—far more impressive than this old man, who has cultivated for most of his life."

By then, the two had already landed atop the city wall. Xiao Ling waved his hand and said, "I won't waste words on pleasantries. I need to find someone first. Help me deliver a letter to the Xiao Family in Wutan City. Then have the imperial family escort my clan members to the Imperial Capital and arrange a place for the Xiao Family to live there. Once this is done, as long as the imperial family can gather the materials for three Sect Breaking Pills, I can help Jia Lao refine one Sect Breaking Pill. If you handle this well, I'm sure the imperial family will credit you for the achievement." After speaking, Xiao Ling took an alchemist badge from his Ring.

As a Sixth-grade Alchemist certified by Jia Nan Academy, Xiao Ling naturally possessed his own alchemist badge.

However, Xiao Ling generally did not show off before others. He kept a low profile and rarely wore it on his person.

Due to Danta's immense influence, alchemist badges across the Dou Qi Continent differed somewhat in appearance, but the distinctions were mostly in color. In the Northwest Continent, they featured a medicine cauldron with silver ripples.

The number of silver ripples on the medicine cauldron indicated the alchemist's grade.

The alchemist badge Xiao Ling had just taken from his Ring bore six flowing ripples atop its medicine cauldron, and it seemed rather spirited.

Such alchemist badges were extremely difficult to forge, and those capable of forging them would not bother doing so.

Forging a badge was not only highly disgraceful, but once exposed, it could easily offend an alchemist. On the Dou Qi Continent, alchemists were an exceptionally proud group.

After hearing Xiao Ling's words, Mu Tie shifted his gaze to the alchemist badge in Xiao Ling's hand and began counting the ripples on it.

"One, two, three, four, five, six... He's actually a Sixth-grade Alchemist."

Mu Tie was thoroughly shocked. It would have been one thing if Xiao Ling's cultivation talent was monstrous, but his Alchemy Art was no less astounding. In all these years, the Jia Ma Empire had only produced one Sixth-grade Alchemist: Gu He, the Guest Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect. And judging by Xiao Ling's tone, he was a Sixth-grade Alchemist capable of refining Sect Breaking Pills. Master Gu He could not even refine Imperial Pills, yet Xiao Ling could refine Sect Breaking Pills, which were even more difficult. Didn't that mean Xiao Ling's Alchemy Art was unmatched within the Jia Ma Empire? He had spent seven years surpassing the efforts Master Gu He had put in for half a lifetime. Hiss... this talent was truly terrifying.

Releasing a faint trace of the heat from the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame, Xiao Ling waved his hand and said, "Just luck. I obtained a Heavenly Flame, which is why my Alchemy Art improved so quickly."

Xiao Ling was spreading word of his Heavenly Flame because he wanted the Nalan Family to come begging him to remove Nalan Jie's Branded Poison. Only then could he obtain that Seven Illusory Azure Spirit Saliva. Xiao Ling had no desire to eagerly go to their door and offer his help himself. Besides, no one in the Jia Ma Empire could snatch the Heavenly Flame from his hands. Even if the Jie Jie Monster wanted to capture him, with Void Dragon's speed, escaping would be effortless.

Feeling that heart-palpitating, terrifying temperature, Mu Tie was shocked once again. Xiao Ling was actually an alchemist who possessed a Heavenly Flame. Master Gu He had searched for most of his life without finding even the slightest clue about one, yet this man had obtained one while still so young. Such luck was truly impossible to envy.

Mu Tie hurriedly clasped his hands and said in an even more respectful tone, "I was somewhat discourteous earlier. I never expected Master Xiao Ling to be a Sixth-grade Alchemist. Please accept my apologies."

Waving his hand, Xiao Ling put away the alchemist badge in his Ring, took out a letter, and handed it to Mu Tie. He added, "There's no need for that. If you handle this matter properly, then when you need a Dou Ling Pill to break through to Dou Wang in the future, as long as you prepare the medicinal ingredients, I can refine a batch for you whenever I have time."

Hearing this, Mu Tie was delighted. He was only one step away from Dou Wang now, and once he broke through, he would certainly need a Dou Ling Pill. Perhaps then he would even earn himself a place among the Jia Ma Empire's Ten Strongest. He would have to start collecting ingredients for several batches of Dou Ling Pills.

Taking the letter, Mu Tie said solemnly, "Mu Tie will certainly not fail your trust. Master Xiao Ling, please go and find your person without worry."

Xiao Ling nodded, then took Zi Yan's hand and flew toward the Tagor Desert. Before long, they vanished from Mu Tie's sight.

After seeing the two leave, Mu Tie hurriedly handed the letter to one of his personal guards and ordered him to deliver it to the Xiao Family in Wutan City. He himself immediately sprang into action and went to report the matter to the imperial family.

As Xiao Ling flew through the air, he could not help looking forward to meeting Ice Emperor Hai Bodong. Back when he had read novels in his previous life, Xiao Ling had rather liked Hai Bodong as a character. Now that he was about to meet the man himself, it was truly a strange feeling.

PS: Just read the free chapters for fun.

Under the same sky of the Dou Qi Continent, who wouldn't offer Brother Dong a cigarette upon meeting him?

That's right, this was Ice Emperor Hai Bodong—the number one Angel Investor, who stepped on Dou Zongs at two stars, fought peak experts at five stars, grew stronger against the strong, and died whenever he met snakes.

Don't ask why Elder Hai's investments were so successful while Dugu Bo next door failed in his investments.

The answer could be summed up in one sentence: "Better to rely on Yan than on San."

And in Elder Hai's hands, not a single map was ever sold for nothing.

Back then, he suffered because he had no sense of direction and accidentally wandered into the territory of the Snake People Race. Luckily, Queen Medusa sealed his strength, and only afterward did he meet the Flame Emperor.

The Flame Emperor not only removed the Seal on Elder Hai, but also gave him a job as his guard for one year.

It was just that this job provided neither food nor lodging, and he had to work himself to the bone to keep the household running.

Back at the Alchemist Conference, when Elder Hai heard Jia Lao say, "Yo~ Hai Bodong, when did you start making friends with someone this cowardly?"

Hai Bodong thought, I'm a dignified Angel Investor. How could I misjudge someone? But now that you mention it, I do remember making a friend this cowardly. Whenever he met someone stronger, he turned into a commentator; whenever a fight started, he turned into an injured patient.

When the Flame Emperor was hunted down by the Misty Cloud Sect, Elder Hai, who had long known how the script would unfold, fearlessly stood in front of the Flame Emperor.

Waving the banner that his own life could be forfeited, but the Flame Emperor must be protected.

Seeing this, Jia Lao uttered a line that would have been utterly explosive even in the history of the entire Great Thousand World: "Looks like Xiao Yan is quite tempting to Hai Bodong~"