Xiao Chen returned to his residence.
A mechanical voice sounded in his mind.
[New task issued: Help Yao Yue advance her alchemist rank. Reward: one Multi-Child Multi-Blessing.]
Xiao Chen accepted immediately.
Early the next morning.
Xiao Chen went to Yao Yue's residence.
Yao Yue was sitting in her room, fiddling with her medicine cauldron.
When she saw Xiao Chen push open the door, she stopped what she was doing.
"Why are you here?"
Yao Yue asked.
"Come with me."
Xiao Chen turned and headed outside.
Yao Yue quickly set everything down and followed him out.
The two of them arrived at an open space in the tribe.
Yao Yue looked around.
"What did you bring me here for?"
Yao Yue asked.
"To teach you how to refine a fourth-rank pill."
Xiao Chen said.
Yao Yue's eyes lit up.
"Really?"
Her face was full of excitement.
"To be honest, I've wanted to break through to the fourth rank for a long time."
Xiao Chen's lips curved slightly.
"I'll teach you how to refine Qi Gathering Powder."
Yao Yue nodded emphatically.
Xiao Chen took some medicinal ingredients from the System Inventory and arranged them in front of him.
Yao Yue looked at the ingredients.
"This is Qi Recovery Grass, this is Dew Condensing Flower, and this is Three-Leaf Green Vine."
She named them one by one.
"You recognize all of them?"
Xiao Chen asked.
"Mm."
Yao Yue nodded.
"I can't refine fourth-rank pills yet, but I do know these ingredients."
Xiao Chen raised his right hand and activated his Dou Qi.
A cluster of green flames gathered in his palm.
The Green Lotus Core Flame.
Yao Yue looked at the flames, envy flashing in her eyes.
Xiao Chen tossed the first ingredient into the flames and began refining it.
Yao Yue stood to the side, watching without blinking.
A short while later.
The pill was done.
Xiao Chen put it away and looked at Yao Yue.
"Did you understand?"
Yao Yue nodded, then shook her head.
"I understood what you did, but I don't know if I can manage it myself..."
"I've tried several times on my own, but I failed every time."
"You'll find out if you try."
Xiao Chen said.
Yao Yue took a deep breath and stepped forward.
She raised both hands and activated the Dou Qi within her body.
A cluster of ordinary flames gathered in her palms.
Yao Yue took the ingredients and tossed the first one into the flames.
The ingredient began to melt.
Yao Yue focused intently, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
She successfully refined the first ingredient.
She let out a breath and continued with the second.
The second succeeded, too.
The third.
When she reached the third ingredient, Yao Yue's hands began to tremble slightly.
The flames started to waver.
The ingredient burned to a crisp.
She had failed.
Yao Yue's face paled.
"I failed again."
She spoke softly.
"I always get stuck at this step."
Xiao Chen looked at her and said calmly,
"The flame is too strong."
"The third ingredient is Three-Leaf Green Vine. It's cold in nature, so too much heat will scorch it."
Yao Yue froze for a moment.
"Lower the flames?"
"Right."
Xiao Chen said.
"When you add the Three-Leaf Green Vine, lower the flames by thirty percent."
Yao Yue understood.
"So that's how it is."
"I never paid attention to the ingredients' hot and cold properties before."
Xiao Chen took out another set of ingredients and handed them to her.
"Try again."
Yao Yue took the ingredients and drew a deep breath.
She raised both hands and summoned flames once more.
This time, she paid close attention to the heat.
The first ingredient succeeded.
The second succeeded.
When she reached the third, Yao Yue lowered the flames by thirty percent in advance.
The Three-Leaf Green Vine slowly melted in the flames.
It didn't burn.
Yao Yue felt a surge of joy.
She continued by adding the fourth ingredient.
Several pools of medicinal liquid floated in the flames.
Yao Yue began to fuse them.
Her hands trembled slightly, but the flames remained steady.
The pools of liquid slowly drew close and touched.
There was no rejection.
Yao Yue kept the heat steady and continued guiding them.
The pools gradually merged into one.
Yao Yue abruptly withdrew the flames.
The medicinal liquid solidified in midair, contracting into a pill.
The Qi Gathering Powder was successfully refined.
Yao Yue held the finished pill and looked down at her palm.
Her hand was still trembling slightly.
"I did it."
Yao Yue murmured.
"Oh my god, I actually did it!"
Yao Yue looked up at Xiao Chen, her eyes full of excitement.
Xiao Chen's lips curved slightly.
"Not bad."
Yao Yue held the pill, unable to suppress her smile.
She looked at Xiao Chen, her heart full of admiration.
"Thank you..."
Yao Yue said.
"If you hadn't told me about the heat, I might not have broken through to the fourth rank anytime soon."
Xiao Chen was about to speak when the system's voice sounded in his mind.
[Task complete: Help Yao Yue advance to fourth-rank alchemist.]
[Reward issued: Cultivation increased by one star.]
A surging force poured into his body.
Feeling the power within him grow fuller, Xiao Chen's lips curved slightly.
Eight-Star Dou Zong.
Awesome!
He murmured to himself.
Then he pulled his thoughts back.
"Let's go."
Xiao Chen said.
Yao Yue nodded and followed behind him.
Along the way, Yao Yue kept looking down at the pill in her hand.
"I really refined a fourth-rank pill."
She muttered softly.
Yao Ye was sitting in her room, reading animal hide.
When she saw her younger sister rush in, beaming, Yao Ye looked up.
"What's wrong?"
Yao Ye asked.
Yao Yue sat beside her sister and opened her palm.
A pale green pill lay in it, with a faint Pill Pattern on its surface.
"This is Qi Gathering Powder, a fourth-rank pill."
Yao Yue said.
Yao Ye took the pill and brought it closer to inspect it.
A look of surprise flashed in her eyes.
"You made this?"
Yao Ye asked.
"Xiao Chen just taught me today."
Yao Yue nodded emphatically.
"I failed the first time, but he told me what I did wrong, and I succeeded on the second try."
Yao Ye examined the pill carefully.
It was indeed a fourth-rank pill.
Yao Ye was somewhat astonished.
Her younger sister had still been a little short of the fourth rank.
I hadn't expected her to break through after Xiao Chen guided her just once.
"How long had you been stuck at the third tier?"
Yao Ye asked.
"Two years."
Yao Yue replied.
"Today, Xiao Chen spotted my problem at a glance."
Yao Ye was even more shocked.
A bottleneck she hadn't been able to overcome for two years—and after one bit of guidance from Xiao Chen, she'd improved?
"Xiao Chen taught you?"
Yao Ye asked.
"Mm."
Yao Yue's eyes sparkled.
"He's especially impressive when he's refining pills."
"And he can spot my problems at a glance."
Yao Ye watched her sister, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
"Your opinion of him now, compared to when you first arrived... the difference is huge."
Yao Ye said.
Yao Yue's cheeks warmed slightly.
"No, it isn't."
She lowered her head, her voice growing softer.
"I just think... he really is quite impressive."
Yao Ye didn't call her out. She just smiled.
"It's no small feat to win over a willful little princess like you."
Yao Yue blushed even harder.
"Stop teasing me, Sister."
Yao Ye gently patted her sister's head.
"I'm not teasing you."
"Xiao Chen really is something."
Yao Yue nodded.
She put away the pill and leaned against her sister's shoulder.
She couldn't hide her smile.
Her heart was filled with a happiness she couldn't put into words.
The Jia Ma Empire.
Jia Xingtian and the others returned to the Imperial Capital in a sorry state.
Everyone gathered in the main hall.
Jia Xingtian sat at the head of the hall, his injuries still far from healed.
Yun Shan stood to one side, his expression grim.
Nalan Jie and Nalan Su were there too.
"Two Dou Zongs."
Jia Xingtian spoke, his voice hoarse.
"The Snake-People Tribe actually has two Dou Zong powerhouses..."
Yun Shan clenched his fists.
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