Battle Through the Heavens: Obtaining the Extraction System at the Start — Chapter 40

Shaking his head, Xiao Ling thought helplessly, As long as the Soul Clan remains standing, the Xiao Family will never truly be safe. But for now, this is all I can do. I'll deal with the future when it comes.

Since he had no desire to remain in Desert City as a map-selling merchant, Hai Bodong left the city alone early the next morning after their discussion, flying toward the Imperial Capital.

Hai Bodong did not take a single thing from the small shop where he had spent several decades. As he put it, perhaps one day, once he grew weary of conflict, he would return here and peacefully spend the rest of his days.

Standing atop a small hill, Xiao Ling and the two girls watched the direction Hai Bodong had departed in until his figure vanished from sight.

Drawing back his gaze, Xiao Ling patted the heads of the two girls beside him and said with a smile, "Now that Elder Hai has left, it's time for us to get on with our own business."

After a brief pause, Xiao Ling continued to Zi Yan and Qing Lin, "We can't set out to search for the Heavenly Flame just yet. I used up the pills I prepared for refining Heavenly Flames when I devoured the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame. To suffer a little less, I still need to spend some time preparing a few more pills. I'll refine them in Elder Hai's shop shortly. It won't take long to get everything ready. Once I'm done, we can set out to find the Heavenly Flame."

Xiao Ling had now devoured a Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame Child Flame and possessed a skill that could heal his injuries. With the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame suppressing the Green Lotus Core Flame, along with the effect of "Wildfires cannot burn it all; spring winds blow and it grows again," he should be able to safely devour the Green Lotus Core Flame. Still, Xiao Ling was somewhat afraid of pain. Since it would take only a few days at most to sort out, there was no harm in making some preparations.

The two girls nodded. Zi Yan asked curiously, "Then while you refine pills, are Qing Lin and I supposed to stay in the shop and cultivate until you're finished?"

Hearing this, Xiao Ling replied, "Zi Yan, while I'm refining pills, take Qing Lin to capture some snake-type Magical Beasts. With your strength, subduing a few fourth- or fifth-order Magical Beasts should be easy. Once they can no longer fight, Qing Lin can use her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils to tame them. But don't be gone for more than two days. Just search nearby. There should be plenty of Rock Snakes and Sand Pythons around the edge of the Tagor Desert, more than enough for Qing Lin to awaken her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. If she directly tames snake-type Magical Beasts far stronger than herself, I'm afraid it could harm her body."

After patting Qing Lin's little head again, Xiao Ling took out the copy of the Heavenly Snake Tome he had previously obtained from the system, a secret art of Heavenly Snake Mansion, and handed it to her.

Xiao Ling had already skimmed some of its contents. Regarding the first use of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils to tame Magical Beasts, the First Generation Heavenly Snake Mansion Master's advice was that it was best to tame snake-type Magical Beasts no more than two major realms above one's own. If the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils were used on snake-type Magical Beasts beyond that limit, there was a chance of failure. Even if it succeeded, it would cause some damage to the user's mind.

That was why Xiao Ling intended for Zi Yan to bring Qing Lin to capture a few low-level Magical Beasts to awaken her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. In the original story, Qing Lin had directly used her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils on the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake. Although she successfully tamed it, she had immediately fallen unconscious. Though he did not know whether that had any lasting effects, it was better to awaken her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils in a gentler way.

"This tome was something I acquired by chance," Xiao Ling told Qing Lin. "It is the secret art passed down by Heavenly Snake Mansion and contains the First Generation Heavenly Snake Mansion Master's lifelong learning and cultivation insights. The First Generation Heavenly Snake Mansion Master was a possessor of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils just like you. With this tome's help, you can avoid many detours in developing your Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. When we search for the Heavenly Flame, we may need your help too."

Hearing Xiao Ling's words, Qing Lin reached out and accepted the Heavenly Snake Tome, then carefully placed it in the Ring Xiao Ling had previously put on her finger.

After putting it away, Qing Lin nodded earnestly and said softly, "Rest assured, Young Master. Qing Lin will cultivate diligently and will definitely be able to help you when the time comes."

Xiao Ling smiled and nodded noncommittally. With Qing Lin's help, he could use the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils to control that Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake and have it lead him to the Green Lotus Core Flame. According to the original story's description, blindly searching for the Green Lotus Core Flame in the magma would not be easy. With the help of the local resident, the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake, the efficiency of finding the Heavenly Flame would certainly increase greatly.

After making the arrangements, Xiao Ling spread his Dou Qi Wings and flew toward Hai Bodong's shop. As for the place where he would refine the pills, he planned to use the Secret Chamber where he had previously refined the Po E Dan for Hai Bodong.

Zi Yan, meanwhile, took Qing Lin to the edge of the desert as Xiao Ling had instructed, searching for a few low-level snake-type Magical Beasts for Qing Lin to use in awakening her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils.

Before long, Xiao Ling arrived before Hai Bodong's shop. Since Hai Bodong had not taken anything with him, other than the closed front door, none of the place's furnishings had changed in the slightest.

Knowing that Xiao Ling still intended to search for a Heavenly Flame in the Tagor Desert, Hai Bodong had told him how to open the shop. It could serve as a decent temporary base.

Taking a somewhat worn key from his Ring, Xiao Ling walked to the shop entrance and unlocked the lock. With a creak, it sprang open.

Xiao Ling gently pushed open the shop door, stepped inside, and casually shut it behind him.

Following the route he remembered, Xiao Ling made his way through the shop and arrived at the Secret Chamber where he had previously refined the Po E Dan.

He took out his Medicine Cauldron from his Ring and placed it in the center of the room. Then he took out the medicinal ingredients needed for pill refinement and arranged them on a table beside it.

Shaking his head, Xiao Ling could not help muttering to himself, "Fortunately, I considered the possibility of obtaining a Heavenly Flame outside the plan. I collected several sets of medicinal ingredients at Jia Nan Academy for pills that could help with devouring Heavenly Flames."

This time, Xiao Ling intended to refine the fifth-grade Blood Lotus Pill that Xiao Yan had used to devour the Green Lotus Core Flame in the original story, as well as a Sixth-Grade Peak Pill called the Cold Soul Pill. Its effect was to lower the temperature inside the body while devouring a Heavenly Flame. It could also suppress the sentience of a Heavenly Flame that had developed intelligence before it was refined within the body, making it easier to refine.

Shaking his head, Xiao Ling pondered, The Green Lotus Core Flame hasn't been used by Queen Medusa yet, so it must contain far more energy than when Xiao Yan refined it in the original story. There's no harm in making more preparations. Besides, with my status as an Alchemist, obtaining resources is fairly easy. I don't need to be stingy when it's time to use them.

Clearing the stray thoughts from his mind, Xiao Ling extended his fair palm and pressed it against the cauldron's fire vent. The Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame within his body flowed into it.

After using the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame to raise the Medicine Cauldron's temperature, he released the Soul Power from between his brows, opening the wooden boxes containing medicinal ingredients on the table. One medicinal herb after another, each emitting an enticing fragrance, was exposed to the air.

Soul Power wrapped around the herbs and placed seven of them into the Medicine Cauldron. With a thought, the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame divided into seven separate flames and began burning the precious medicinal ingredients, extracting their medicinal essence.

In Xiao Ling's view, as his Soul Power gradually improved, he could use the training method in the Distraction Control Method as a foundation to derive more advanced realms, allowing him to divide his attention into even more parts at once. Once his Soul Perception became strong enough, perhaps even using one mind for a hundred tasks would not be impossible.

At the edge of the Tagor Desert, Zi Yan led Qing Lin through the boundless sands.

"Big Sister Zi Yan, have you found any snake-type Magical Beasts nearby?" Qing Lin asked curiously, shielding herself from the blazing sun with one hand.

Zi Yan, who had her eyes closed as she sensed the surroundings, opened her violet crystal-like eyes upon hearing Qing Lin's question. "There's the aura of a second-order Magical Beast not far away. It's most likely a Sand Python. Based on the conditions you mentioned, it should be quite suitable for awakening your Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils."

Qing Lin's eyes lit up at Zi Yan's answer. She said eagerly, "Then let's hurry over, Big Sister Zi Yan. It looks like I'll soon tame my first Snake Pet."

Zi Yan nodded with a smile. "Sure. I'm also curious about how your Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils tame snake-type Magical Beasts."

With that, Zi Yan took Qing Lin's little hand and flew toward a small hill.

Upon reaching their destination, the two landed on the ground.

Zi Yan stretched out her hand toward the Sand Python's location and shouted, "Suction Palm, pull!"

Complex Dou Qi energy circulated through Zi Yan's hand, and a powerful pulling force erupted. The Sand Python, which had been sleeping within a sand dune, suddenly felt an immense force dragging at it. Its body was yanked helplessly out of the dune and pulled toward Zi Yan.

Seeing this, Zi Yan nodded in satisfaction and said with a smile, "The Suction Palm Xiao Ling taught me really is convenient. No wonder he uses it so often."

Once Zi Yan had dragged the Sand Python before them, she dispersed the suction force in her palm and instead began controlling a portion of the surrounding Space Power.

Though her control over Space Power was not yet particularly proficient, with Zi Yan's cultivation at the Dou Wang level, restraining a second-order Sand Python was more than easy enough.

No matter how the Sand Python struggled, it could not move in the slightest. It could only stare at Zi Yan and Qing Lin with wide, terrified eyes.

After restraining the Sand Python, Zi Yan raised her chin toward it and said to Qing Lin, "This fellow is under my control now. Qing Lin, quickly use your Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils to tame it."

Hearing Zi Yan, Qing Lin nodded and turned her gaze toward the restrained second-order Sand Python.

Closing her eyes, Qing Lin recalled the method recorded in the Heavenly Snake Tome for awakening the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. She took a deep breath, cast aside every distracting thought, and Xiao Ling's gentle smile appeared in her mind, stirring intense emotions in her heart.

Suddenly, Qing Lin's tightly closed eyes flew open. Within those emerald-green pupils, as clear and crystalline as green jade, three green specks abruptly emerged...

The three green specks that appeared this time were clearer than ever before. On closer inspection, they even seemed like three tiny flower buds.

Under Zi Yan's curious gaze, the three green specks in Qing Lin's eyes suddenly radiated a brilliant eerie light. In an instant, they transformed into three extremely tiny green flowers...

As those strange green flowers appeared, a powerful beam of eerie light shot forth from them and enveloped the Sand Python before them.

The moment it was struck by that unsettling light, the Sand Python's fiercely struggling body abruptly stiffened. Its eyes, filled with terror, stared at the little girl before it.

The eerie light slowly moved across the Sand Python's body before finally stopping at the center of its forehead... Once it stopped moving, it began to shrink slowly. Yet as its range narrowed, the light contained within it grew brighter and brighter.

The range of the eerie light became smaller and smaller until it was only about the size of a palm. When it reached that size, it stopped shrinking. With another burst of eerie light, a tiny green flower was branded onto the Sand Python's forehead.

Once the flower appeared, the eerie light gradually faded. Moments later, the tiny flowers in Qing Lin's eyes rapidly receded, and in an instant, her eyes returned to their usual emerald color...

After her eyes returned to normal, Qing Lin rubbed her brow. She felt exhausted, as if she had gone a full day and night without sleep.

She took out one of the pills Xiao Ling had prepared from her Ring and popped it into her mouth. The exhaustion in her body faded by more than half.

After the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupil Mark had been branded onto the Sand Python, Zi Yan also removed the spatial restraint binding it.

The Sand Python dropped from the air onto the sand, yet it remained dumbly frozen in place. However, whenever its gaze swept over Qing Lin, the panic and fear in its eyes would swiftly vanish on their own, replaced instead by an unexpected gentleness...

Seeing this, Zi Yan clicked her tongue in amazement. "I never expected such a strange constitution to exist. The moment this fellow sees you, it becomes obedient."

Qing Lin first smiled at Zi Yan and said, "Thank you for your help, Big Sister Zi Yan."

Then she called out toward the Sand Python, "Come here."

Hearing Qing Lin's call, the Sand Python flicked out its tongue, gave Zi Yan a somewhat fearful look, then twisted its slender body and came to Qing Lin's side.

The Sand Python wore a gentle expression and rubbed its head against Qing Lin's little hand to show affection.

Qing Lin smiled in satisfaction. With a thought, the Sand Python gradually shrank and coiled around her fair wrist like a yellow bracelet.

Seeing that Qing Lin had tamed the Sand Python, Zi Yan asked curiously, "Qing Lin, how do you feel now? Can you continue taming more snake-type Magical Beasts?"

Hearing Zi Yan's question, Qing Lin shifted her attention away from the Sand Python she had just tamed, looked at Zi Yan, and replied with a smile, "I feel pretty good. At first, I expended some physical strength and Soul Power, but with the help of the pill that restores Dou Qi, there's no serious problem now. As for continuing to tame Snake Pets, it feels like I could probably tame a few more without much trouble."

Hearing this, Zi Yan smacked her lips and replied enviously, "You've only been cultivating Dou Qi for a short while, yet you can already control snake-type Magical Beasts several major realms stronger than yourself. Xiao Ling said you can even absorb the Dou Qi within the snake-type Magical Beasts you tame to improve your cultivation. If you catch more snake-type Magical Beasts in the future, won't your cultivation rise like crazy?"

Shaking her head, Zi Yan put her hands on her slim waist and spoke in the manner of an adult. "But your own strength is still far too weak. If you have any questions about cultivation in the future, you can come ask me."

Qing Lin nodded. She did not feel that Zi Yan was wrong at all. Zi Yan truly was very strong, and Qing Lin longed for such strength herself. "Then I'll be relying on Big Sister Zi Yan's guidance from now on."

Having received a satisfactory answer, Zi Yan nodded happily. "Let's go. Xiao Ling will probably need one or two days to refine his pills. I'll catch a few more snake-type Magical Beasts for you."

With that, Zi Yan spread her Dou Qi Wings and continued searching for snake-type Magical Beasts with Qing Lin...

Within the Secret Chamber, Xiao Ling sat cross-legged, staring intently at the ice-blue pill embryo within the Medicine Cauldron as it was nourished by the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame.

Watching the uneven pockmarks on the pill gradually become smooth and lustrous, Xiao Ling nodded in satisfaction.

Since this was his first time refining the Sixth-Grade Peak Cold Soul Pill, Xiao Ling was especially serious. Fortunately, thanks to Soul Perception far beyond his current level of Alchemy Art, although his refining techniques were somewhat unpracticed, he had not made the slightest mistake. He had now entered the stage of nurturing the pill embryo, and the pill would soon be complete.

As time slowly passed, the pitted pill embryo gradually transformed into a flawless, round pill.

Once the Heavenly Flame finished tempering it, a thumb-sized pill, entirely ice-blue and emanating an icy chill even while inside the Heavenly Flame, spun within the Medicine Cauldron and appeared before Xiao Ling's eyes.

After easily dispersing the energy ripples emitted by the pill refinement, Xiao Ling beckoned with his hand. The pill radiating icy energy landed in his palm.

Xiao Ling examined the Sixth-Grade Peak Cold Soul Pill from top to bottom and nodded in satisfaction.

Rubbing his chin, he muttered, "It's a pity this Cold Soul Pill did not form pill patterns. According to the pill formula, the best-quality Cold Soul Pill must be refined using flames with an ice attribute. Otherwise, the pill's quality cannot reach its peak, and the refining difficulty will increase greatly. If my Soul Perception had not been strong enough, I might not have been able to refine it at all. Yao Chen's Bone Spirit Cold Flame must be very suitable for refining pills with icy attributes like this."

Xiao Ling shook his head and cleared the various thoughts from his mind. He took out a high-quality Jade Bottle from his Ring and stored the Cold Soul Pill inside. A flash of white light passed through his hand, and the Porcelain Bottle containing the Cold Soul Pill entered his Ring.

Xiao Ling took out a pill that restored Dou Qi and placed it in his mouth. After refining pills nonstop for the past two and a half days, the Dou Qi he had consumed was also restored by more than half.