Power Increase, One-Star Dou Zong!

Xiao Chen withdrew his hand, and the Shadow Black Ape's corpse collapsed to the ground, motionless.

He turned and walked toward Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin.

"Let's go."

Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin nodded and followed behind him.

The three continued searching for medicinal herbs in the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

Xiao Chen walked ahead, his gaze sweeping across the surrounding bushes and rock walls.

The depths of the Magical Beast Mountain Range were rich in medicinal herbs, but they were not scattered everywhere.

They needed to search patiently.

After walking for about half an hour, Xiao Chen stopped beneath a rock wall.

Several entirely emerald-green herbs grew from the cracks in the rock wall.

A second-tier medicinal herb, Green Spirit Grass.

It could help those below the Dou Zhe realm speed up their cultivation.

Xiao Chen picked the Green Spirit Grass and stored it in his Storage Ring.

The three continued onward.

Not long after, Xiao Chen found another medicinal herb beside a dead tree.

A second-tier medicinal herb, Red Essence Fruit.

It was entirely crimson and gave off a faint fragrance.

Consuming it directly could raise one's Dou Qi cultivation.

Xiao Chen put away the Red Essence Fruit as well.

Watching him gather the herbs, Xiao Yi Xian could not help asking.

"Xiao Chen, what are these herbs meant to refine?"

"Second-tier pills," Xiao Chen said.

Xiao Yi Xian froze for a moment.

Second-tier pills.

With Xiao Chen's strength as a Tier 7 Alchemist, refining second-tier pills was a complete waste of his talents.

"What are you planning to do by refining second-tier pills?" Xiao Yi Xian asked.

"They're for you two," Xiao Chen said.

Hearing that, warmth filled Xiao Yi Xian's heart.

So he had gathered these herbs for her and Qing Lin.

Qing Lin stood to the side. Upon hearing Xiao Chen's words, her eyes too brimmed with emotion.

Third Young Master is so good to me...

Xiao Chen made a round through the Magical Beast Mountain Range and found several auxiliary medicinal herbs.

Clear Spirit Leaf.

Qi Gathering Flower.

Dew Condensing Grass.

They were all medicinal herbs of roughly the second tier.

He put away the herbs one by one, making sure nothing had been missed.

"That should be enough. Let's head back."

Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin nodded.

Xiao Chen activated his Dou Qi and took the two of them out of the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

Behind the Xiao Clan.

Xiao Chen withdrew his Dou Qi and landed beside a waterfall.

The surroundings were tranquil, with the gentle sound of flowing water.

A flat rock lay beneath the waterfall, just right for pill refinement.

Xiao Chen sat down cross-legged and took out the herbs he had gathered earlier from his Storage Ring.

Green Spirit Grass, Red Essence Fruit, Clear Spirit Leaf, Qi Gathering Flower, and Dew Condensing Grass.

He arranged them before him one by one.

Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin stood nearby, watching him.

"Is Young Master Xiao Chen... going to refine pills?" Qing Lin asked softly.

Xiao Yi Xian nodded, her eyes full of anticipation.

She had never seen Xiao Chen refine pills before.

What would it look like when a Tier 7 Alchemist refined pills?

Qing Lin looked at Xiao Chen's back, her eyes filled with admiration.

"Young Master Xiao Chen is amazing."

The two spoke quietly, their gazes fixed on Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen paid no attention to their conversation.

He raised his right hand, and a ball of crimson flame appeared in his palm.

Fallen Heart Flame.

The flame burned slowly in his palm, radiating terrifying heat.

Xiao Chen cast the flame toward the ground before him, where it hovered steadily in midair.

He picked up a stalk of Green Spirit Grass and tossed it into the flame.

Under the scorching flame, the Green Spirit Grass slowly melted into a mass of emerald-green liquid.

Xiao Chen controlled the flame's temperature, keeping the liquid in its liquid state.

He picked up the second herb and tossed it into the flame.

The herb melted once more, becoming another mass of liquid.

The two masses of liquid slowly drew together within the flame and fused.

Xiao Chen's expression remained calm, and his movements flowed as smoothly as drifting clouds and running water.

Refining second-tier pills posed no challenge to him whatsoever.

Watching Xiao Chen refine pills, Xiao Yi Xian's eyes were full of amazement.

Although she did not understand alchemy, she could tell that Xiao Chen's technique was extraordinarily skilled.

The timing of every herb he added was perfect.

He controlled the flame's temperature with incomparable precision.

"So amazing," Xiao Yi Xian murmured.

Qing Lin was equally engrossed.

Time passed little by little.

Xiao Chen tossed the last herb into the flame.

The herb melted and merged with the other medicinal liquids.

The flame's temperature began to change.

Now high, now low; now strong, now weak.

Enveloped by the flame, the medicinal liquid slowly rotated and gradually condensed into shape.

A moment later, Xiao Chen closed his hand.

The flame dispersed, and an entirely emerald-green pill floated in midair.

The pill was round and smooth, giving off a faint medicinal fragrance.

A second-tier pill, the Green Spirit Pill.

It could help those below the Dou Zhe realm speed up their cultivation.

Xiao Chen put away the pill without stopping.

He activated the Fallen Heart Flame once more and began refining a second pill.

The Red Essence Fruit entered the flame and slowly melted.

The auxiliary herbs were added one by one.

The flame's temperature changed continuously.

Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin watched silently from the side.

After another brief while, Xiao Chen closed his hand.

The second pill was complete.

It was entirely crimson and gave off a faint fragrance.

A second-tier pill, the Red Essence Pill.

It could directly raise one's Dou Qi cultivation by three stages.

Xiao Chen held the two pills in his hand and rose to his feet.

He turned around and walked over to Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin.

The Green Spirit Pill was for Xiao Yi Xian.

The Red Essence Pill was for Qing Lin.

Xiao Yi Xian accepted the Green Spirit Pill. Looking at the emerald-green pill in her hand, her eyes were full of gratitude.

"Xiao Chen, thank you..."

Xiao Chen waved his hand.

Qing Lin accepted the Red Essence Pill and carefully held it in her palm.

"Young Master Xiao Chen, is this pill really for me?"

Xiao Chen nodded.

Qing Lin's eyes reddened slightly.

From childhood until now, no one had ever treated her so well.

"Take it quickly," Xiao Chen said.

Qing Lin nodded and placed the Red Essence Pill into her mouth.

The pill melted as soon as it entered her mouth, and a warm medicinal power spread through her body.

She quickly sat cross-legged and began refining the medicinal power.

Xiao Yi Xian also swallowed the Green Spirit Pill and sat cross-legged nearby.

The medicinal power flowed through her body as she began circulating the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture.

Time passed little by little.

Qing Lin was the first to open her eyes.

Her face was full of delight.

"Young Master Xiao Chen, I... I've advanced to Fourth-Stage Dou Qi?"

Xiao Chen nodded.

Qing Lin was so excited that she did not know what to say.

Xiao Yi Xian opened her eyes as well.

Her aura was much stronger than before.

"Ninth-Stage Dou Qi."

Xiao Yi Xian's voice trembled slightly.

She had advanced to Ninth-Stage Dou Qi in one go.

She was only one step away from becoming a Dou Zhe.

"Xiao Chen..." Xiao Yi Xian looked at him, her eyes full of gratitude.

Xiao Chen waved his hand.

"Cultivate well. In a few days, you'll be able to break through to Dou Zhe."

Xiao Yi Xian nodded heavily.

Xiao Chen was about to leave when the system's voice suddenly sounded in his mind.

"Ding. Detected that the host has helped Qing Lin improve her strength."

"Qing Lin's current level: Fourth-Stage Dou Qi."

"Detected that the host has helped Xiao Yi Xian improve her strength."

"Xiao Yi Xian's current level: Ninth-Stage Dou Qi."

"The host has obtained an opportunity for doubled feedback."

"Use it immediately?"

Xiao Chen froze for a moment.

Helping Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin increase their strength could also earn him feedback?

He had previously thought that only Xiao Yan's increase in strength could earn him feedback.

He had not expected Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin to count as well.

The system's voice rang out again.

"System explanation: Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin are both confidantes of the bound target, Xiao Yan."

"The host has successfully intercepted them, and can therefore obtain feedback rewards."

Hearing this, the corners of Xiao Chen's lips rose slightly.

So that's how it is!

The women connected to Xiao Yan were basically his harem.

So the system gave feedback for them too.

"Use it immediately," Xiao Chen said inwardly.

"Ding, calculating rewards..."

"Congratulations, Host: cultivation increased, breakthrough to one-star Dou Zong."

"Congratulations, Host: sixth-grade medicinal formula, Marrow Cleansing Pill."

"Congratulations, Host: fourth-grade medicinal formula, Qi Gathering Powder."

Xiao Chen felt a vast surge of power well up within him.

That power was even stronger than when he had previously broken through to the peak of Dou Emperor.

Dou Zong.

He had finally broken through to Dou Zong.

One-star Dou Zong.

In the entire Jia Ma Empire, the number of Dou Zong experts could be counted on one hand.

And now, he was one of them!