Battle Through the Heavens: Obtaining the Extraction System at the Start — Section 36

Remembering what Xiao Ling had said before, Qing Lin could not help muttering to herself, So Young Master really didn't lie to me. His companion really is lively, and she doesn't bear Qing Lin any ill will at all. It looks like Qing Lin is about to gain another family member. How wonderful.

The thoughts in her mind lasted only an instant before Qing Lin quickly returned her attention to reality.

"Young Master, I've already prepared everything. I can leave the Desert Iron Mercenary Group with you at any time," Qing Lin said, greeting Xiao Ling first.

Then she looked at Zi Yan and spoke in a soft, timid voice. "Hello, Sister Zi Yan. My name is Qing Lin. Please take care of me from now on."

Zi Yan was quite pleased with Qing Lin's attitude. She walked up to Qing Lin, lightly patted her shoulder, and said with a smile, "Now that you're leaving this tiny Desert Iron Mercenary Group with Xiao Ling and me, I'll show you more of the world. It'll be far more fun than staying in this little place."

"Sister Zi Yan, where is your favorite place? Qing Lin would like to see it someday too."

"Jia Nan Academy. Do you know Jia Nan Academy? There are far more people there than in this tiny Stone Desert City. In the Inner Academy, just about anyone could easily defeat your little group leader."

"Jia Nan Academy? Young Master mentioned it to me before as well. He said he would take Qing Lin there to cultivate someday..."

Perhaps because they looked about the same age, and because Zi Yan had the personality of a teenage girl, the two quickly began chatting away, seemingly having completely forgotten Xiao Ling beside them.

Xiao Ling smiled helplessly. Finding an opportunity just as Zi Yan was about to speak again, he interrupted them. "You can chat later. Let's set off first. Once we reach Hai Bodong's Map Shop, you can talk as much as you want. If we don't get back to Desert City soon, that old man Hai won't be able to wait any longer."

Seeing that the two girls had taken his words to heart, Xiao Ling nodded in satisfaction. He was the first to leave the room and head toward the open space outside.

Seeing Xiao Ling walk out the door, the two girls exchanged a glance and followed in his footsteps out of the room.

Once he saw that both of them were ready, Xiao Ling nodded slightly and said to Qing Lin, "Your cultivation is still too shallow. You can't yet form Dou Qi Wings and fly on your own, so I'll carry you."

Hearing this, Qing Lin lowered her head shyly and nodded faintly.

Seeing that Qing Lin had agreed to his suggestion, Xiao Ling walked over to her and gathered her into his arms.

Before Qing Lin could react, Xiao Ling had already spread his Dou Qi Wings and flown toward Desert City.

Seeing that Xiao Ling had set off, Zi Yan also unfolded a pair of purple Dou Qi Wings and closely followed after them.

Their figures became a streak of golden light and a streak of purple light, swiftly cutting across the sky.

Some pedestrians walking along the streets of Stone Desert City saw the sight and cried out in alarm.

"Hiss! Dou Wang experts!"

"I can't believe two Dou Wang experts appeared in Stone Desert City at once!"

"Did those two Dou Wangs fly out from the Desert Iron Mercenary Group just now?"

"What? Those two Dou Wangs were resting at the Desert Iron Mercenary Group?"

"What? Those two Dou Wangs joined the Desert Iron Mercenary Group?"

As he flew through the air with Qing Lin in his arms, Xiao Ling felt the soft, fragrant warmth in his embrace and smiled indulgently.

Because Xiao Ling had circulated his Dou Qi to block the rushing air ahead, Qing Lin, held in his arms, was not affected in the slightest.

Qing Lin opened her eyes and looked at the scenery below. As they sped through the air, buildings and shops retreated through her field of vision. As they rose farther and farther from the ground, Stone Desert City became increasingly tiny in her sight.

This was Qing Lin's first time being so high in the air, but with Xiao Ling beside her, she did not feel afraid at all.

Feeling the warm touch of Xiao Ling's embrace, Qing Lin narrowed her eyes, somewhat intoxicated by the sensation, and unconsciously pressed herself a little closer against him.

Within those emerald-green pupils, the three tiny white dots also became clearer.

Feeling a little tired, Qing Lin slowly closed her eyes and fell asleep.

Since Stone Desert City was not very far from Hai Bodong's Map Shop, Xiao Ling did not summon Void Dragon.

With Xiao Ling and Zi Yan flying at full speed, the outline of Desert City soon appeared in their sight.

Ignoring the astonished gazes of the soldiers on the city walls and the residents within Desert City, Xiao Ling and Zi Yan flew straight over the city gate and sped toward Hai Bodong's Map Shop.

Hai Bodong, who had been drawing intently behind the counter, suddenly trembled. A drop of ink landed on the paper, making it impossible for him to continue drawing.

"Why hasn't Xiao Ling returned yet? Could he have fallen into the hands of that woman Medusa?" The moment Medusa came to mind, Hai Bodong shook his head and shuddered.

He narrowed his eyes again, stroked his beard, and muttered, "If that brat really did fall into Medusa's hands, then this will be troublesome. Still, Xiao Ling went to find that Sand Mandala for my sake. Though it was only a transaction, I can't let him die there."

After letting out a long sigh, Hai Bodong spoke to himself. "These old bones of mine can take a gamble. With my past ties to the Snake People Race, perhaps if that brat offers enough benefits, Queen Medusa might let him go."

Suddenly, golden light flashed in Hai Bodong's eyes as he said solemnly, "What child cries every day? What gambler loses every day? At worst, I'll gamble with these old bones of mine. If I win, Central Plains beauties; if I lose, I'll work for the Snake People Race!"

At that moment, Hai Bodong sensed two somewhat familiar Dou Wang auras rapidly approaching.

Walking over to the window, Hai Bodong looked outside and saw two streaks of golden and purple light flying toward the shop.

Seeing this, Hai Bodong exclaimed, "Could those two be back? Does that mean I can restore my strength soon?"

Hai Bodong grew extremely excited, and a delighted smile appeared on his face. Yet for some reason, he always felt slightly uneasy inside.

As they gradually approached Hai Bodong's shop, Xiao Ling and Zi Yan slowed down. In front of the Map Shop, they both withdrew their Dou Qi Wings and landed from the air.

Qing Lin had woken up some time earlier. Feeling Xiao Ling land, she reluctantly jumped down from his arms.

At that moment, a hearty laugh rang out.

"Hahaha! Master Xiao Ling, now that you've returned, it seems you have obtained the Sand Mandala."

The three turned toward the source of the voice and saw an old man radiating icy coldness stride out from the Map Shop.

Looking toward the voice, Xiao Ling saw Hai Bodong's delighted face. He smiled and greeted Hai Bodong. "Although it took quite some time, I managed to exchange for a Sand Mandala from Queen Medusa without any mishaps. Now I can refine a Po E Dan for Elder Hai."

Hearing Xiao Ling's confirmation, Hai Bodong stroked his beard and urged him somewhat anxiously, "Since Master Xiao Ling has acquired the Sand Mandala, can you refine a Po E Dan for this old man as soon as possible? I have been trapped at the Dou Ling realm for several decades now. I truly miss the feeling of being a Dou Huang expert."

Seeing Hai Bodong's impatient appearance, Xiao Ling nodded and replied, "Please wait a moment, Elder Hai. My companions and I have just flown for some time, and my Dou Qi has not yet returned to its peak. If I begin refining now, it will affect my condition. Once I rest briefly, I'll begin refining that Sixth-grade Po E Dan for you."

After pausing slightly, Xiao Ling continued, "First, give me the prescription and the three portions of ingredients you prepared. I need to familiarize myself with the refining method for this pill."

The first time he had collected ingredients and the prescription from Hai Bodong, the Sand Mandala had still been missing, so Hai Bodong had not handed them over. Now that they were about to begin refining the pill, Hai Bodong should bring out these necessities.

"Sometimes, I find Alchemists like you truly enviable... Sigh, I went through untold hardships to obtain this prescription for breaking the Seal. Once you look at it, it naturally has to change owners..." Hai Bodong helplessly took out a large number of medicinal ingredients from his Ring. Holding a yellowed, ancient parchment in his hand, the pained expression on his face was not feigned. He did not know how much effort he had expended for this prescription.

Xiao Ling maintained a gentle smile, though he was secretly rather pleased. Although he had already mastered the prescriptions within Jia Nan Academy, the value of a prescription capable of breaking Seals was difficult to estimate. Even Jia Nan Academy did not possess such a prescription.

Though the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame Fragment Map was what he wanted most, obtaining a prescription for refining a Sixth-grade Pill along the way was naturally even more perfect...

Smiling, Xiao Ling accepted the ancient prescription that Hai Bodong handed over with extreme reluctance. After sweeping his eyes over it, the smile on his face immediately became even more brilliant.

The three faintly black, slightly blurred words "Po E Dan" were written upon the ancient parchment, faintly exuding an aura of antiquity.

With amusement in his eyes, Xiao Ling's gaze slowly swept across the parchment. When he saw the effects of the pill recorded on it, the smile on his face grew even wider.

"Classified as Sixth-grade. Possesses the miraculous effect of breaking most Seals. After taking it, it can also form resistance within the body against this type of Seal. Should one encounter the same type of Seal again in the future, there will be a certain chance of becoming immune to it."

"Tsk tsk, this really is good stuff..." After examining the ancient parchment back and forth, Xiao Ling could not help clicking his tongue. He had not expected that it could not only break Seals, but also grant those afflicted by a Seal some resistance against the same Seal. That alone was enough to prove it deserved the title of a Sixth-grade Pill.

"Of course it's good. The price I paid to obtain this prescription back then still makes my heart ache whenever I think of it..." Hai Bodong said with a bitter smile, gazing eagerly at Xiao Ling.

"Hehe, no matter the price, compared to restoring your Dou Huang strength, it is nothing worth mentioning," Xiao Ling comforted him. Then, right in front of Hai Bodong, he unceremoniously stored the ancient prescription in his Ring.

There were certain unwritten rules in the world of alchemy. If someone wished to ask an Alchemist to refine a relatively uncommon pill, they not only needed to provide the prescription themselves, but also prepare the ingredients. Furthermore, the prescription had to be left entirely to the Alchemist's disposal. Even if the Alchemist chose to claim it as their own, that was considered normal.

Generally speaking, the standard fee was three portions of medicinal ingredients, along with payment for refining the pill. After all, ordinary Alchemists did not possess Soul Power that far surpassed their Alchemy Art like Xiao Ling did, so their success rate could not be guaranteed. A fifty-percent chance of successfully refining the pill was already considered quite good.

In the world of alchemy, creating a prescription was not as simple as casually writing it down with a pen. When making a prescription, an Alchemist had to use their own Soul Power as ink and a brush as the conduit in order to successfully create a proper prescription.

When using a prescription, an Alchemist needed to use Soul Power to penetrate it in order to obtain certain essential alchemical data hidden within, such as the required quantities of ingredients, the intensity of the heat, and so on... These were all matters that required the utmost attention during pill refinement. Without such information, no matter how outstanding an Alchemist's Alchemy Art was, they would still need to conduct many experiments before they could possibly refine the pill recorded in the prescription. However... during those experiments, many precious medicinal ingredients would likely be ruined. That was an enormously costly loss.

That was why the Fourth-grade prescription Xiao Ling had previously sent to Xiao Zhan had been enough to hire Mitchell, the Vice President of the Jia Ma Empire Alchemist Guild, to travel thousands of miles from the Imperial Capital to remote Wutan City and examine Xiao Yan's body.

Therefore, although Hai Bodong had possessed this prescription for some time, he still had no way to copy it. Seeing Xiao Ling's action now, the corner of his mouth could not help twitching. After a long while, he could only shake his head in frustration and let this fellow confiscate the thing he had obtained through so much hardship for free.

Xiao Ling smilingly put away the prescription containing the refinement method for the "Po E Dan" in his Ring, then held out his hand toward Hai Bodong and asked expectantly, "Now that I have the prescription, where are the ingredients for refining the Po E Dan?"

Hai Bodong shook his head helplessly and pointed his aged arm toward the Map Shop behind him. "The ingredients for refining the Po E Dan are stored in the warehouse inside the Map Shop. I'll take you to get them now."

After saying this, Hai Bodong did not bother checking whether Xiao Ling had followed him and simply entered the Map Shop first.

Seeing Hai Bodong enter the shop first, Xiao Ling waved toward Qing Lin and Zi Yan, who were chatting behind him. "Don't stand outside in the sun. Come rest in the Map Shop for a while." After speaking, Xiao Ling headed toward the Map Shop.

Zi Yan and Qing Lin exchanged a glance, then both nodded and closely followed Xiao Ling.

After following Hai Bodong through the Map Shop for several minutes, Xiao Ling and the others arrived before a wall and stopped.

The moment they stopped, before Hai Bodong could react, Zi Yan asked curiously, "Old man Hai, why did you bring us to this wall? Do we need to smash it open to reveal some hidden passage? This young lady can help you with that easily."

Hearing Zi Yan's violent words, Hai Bodong's mouth twitched. He replied helplessly, "Little girl, this isn't a wall that needs to be broken open. It is merely a concealed stone door mechanism. I'll go open the stone door first. Then we can enter my Treasure Vault directly."

Under the curious gazes of the three, Hai Bodong walked up to the wall, reached out, and tapped several spots on it in succession before stepping back a few paces.

Rumble...

As the wall began to shake, the barrier blocking their way split apart from the middle, revealing a passage inlaid with Moonlight Stones.

Once the mechanism opened, Hai Bodong entered first. Seeing this, Xiao Ling and the others followed closely behind him.