Copying the Dou Emperor Bloodline

Xiao Chen looked at the system prompt, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

[Use the copy opportunity now?]

"Use it now," Xiao Chen said in his heart.

[Copy target: Xiao Xun'er.]

[Copy successful.]

[Congratulations, host. You have obtained Xiao Xun'er's faint Dou Emperor Bloodline.]

The moment the system notification sounded, Xiao Chen felt something change inside him. A warm force welled up from his dantian and flowed along his meridians to every part of his body.

The feeling was wondrous, as if something had awakened within him.

He closed his eyes and sensed the changes within. Though the Dou Emperor Bloodline was faint, it was already more than enough for him.

With the Dou Emperor Bloodline boosting him, his cultivation speed would be several times faster than before.

He opened his eyes, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

"Brother Xiao Chen?" Xiao Xun'er's voice came from beside him.

Xiao Chen came back to himself and looked at her.

"What are you thinking about?" Xiao Xun'er asked.

"Nothing," Xiao Chen said.

Xiao Xun'er lowered her head and looked at the Qi Gathering Powder in her hand, a flicker of confusion in her eyes.

Fourth-grade pills were exceedingly rare in the Jia Ma Empire. The alchemists capable of refining them could be counted on one hand. Where had Brother Xiao Chen gotten this?

"Brother Xiao Chen, this Qi Gathering Powder..." Xiao Xun'er raised her head and looked at him. "Where did you get it?"

Xiao Chen didn't answer.

Seeing that he had nothing to say, Xiao Xun'er grew even more curious.

Did Brother Xiao Chen know some powerful alchemist? But she knew the Xiao Clan's situation well. They didn't even have a Second-Rank Alchemist, let alone a fourth-grade one.

She murmured to herself.

Though she was curious, Xiao Chen clearly didn't want to say, so she didn't press him.

"Thank you, Brother Xiao Chen," Xiao Xun'er said.

"You're welcome," Xiao Chen replied.

Just as he was about to leave, a system notification suddenly popped up before his eyes.

[Task triggered: Refine a Second-Rank Energy Storage Pill and give it to Xiao Yan.]

[Complete the task to receive one opportunity to copy Xiao Yan.]

Looking at the system panel before him, Xiao Chen's heart stirred.

A chance to copy Xiao Yan? Xiao Yan was the protagonist of Battle Through the Heavens, with Heavenly Flames and the Flame Mantra. His talent was monstrously exceptional. If he could copy that talent...

He thought it over.

But the Energy Storage Pill was a Second-Rank pill, and he didn't have the ingredients on hand.

He closed the system panel and said to Xiao Xun'er, "I'll head back first."

Xiao Xun'er nodded. "All right."

He turned and left the courtyard, heading for the Xiao Clan's main gate.

He needed to visit the Mittel Auction House, the largest auction house in Wutan City, where all kinds of medicinal ingredients were available.

Second-Rank ingredients weren't especially precious, but he couldn't just take them without paying.

He patted his pocket and realized he didn't have many gold coins on him.

But that was fine. He still had a Fifth-Tier Magic Core, dug out of the Black Scale Python's head yesterday.

Fifth-Tier Magic Cores were rare treasures in the Jia Ma Empire. It was worth at least several hundred thousand gold coins, more than enough to buy a few Second-Rank ingredients.

The Mittel Auction House.

Xiao Chen walked through the entrance and saw the crowded hall bustling with activity.

He glanced around, then fixed his gaze on a woman behind the counter.

The woman wore a red dress. She was strikingly beautiful, with a voluptuous figure and a pair of slightly upturned, seductive peach-blossom eyes. It was Ya Fei, the person in charge of the Wutan City branch of the Mittel Auction House.

"Can I help you with anything?" Ya Fei said with a smile as Xiao Chen approached.

"I need a few medicinal ingredients," Xiao Chen said.

"Which ones?" Ya Fei asked.

"Second-Rank Energy Storage Grass, Poria Flower, and Blood Coagulation Fruit," Xiao Chen replied.

Ya Fei nodded at that.

"Our auction house has all of those. Just a moment."

She turned and instructed one of her subordinates to fetch the ingredients, then turned back to Xiao Chen.

Ya Fei gave him a once-over, a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

Energy Storage Grass, Poria Flower, Blood Coagulation Fruit—those were all ingredients for an Energy Storage Pill, a Second-Rank pill.

Was this young gentleman buying them to have someone refine an Energy Storage Pill?

"The ingredients are ready," one of Ya Fei's subordinates said as he brought over several medicinal ingredients.

Ya Fei took them and handed them to Xiao Chen.

"That'll be three hundred gold coins."

Xiao Chen took out the Black Scale Python's Magic Core and placed it on the counter.

The smile on Ya Fei's face froze the moment she saw the Magic Core.

She picked it up and examined it closely, shock flickering in her eyes.

"Is this... a Fifth-Tier Magic Beast's Magic Core?" Ya Fei asked.

"Yes," Xiao Chen replied with a nod.

She drew in a deep breath.

A Fifth-Tier Magic Core could only come from a Dou Wang-level Magic Beast. In the entire Jia Ma Empire, only a handful of experts could hunt one.

And this young gentleman had simply taken one out as if it were nothing.

"Sir, this Magic Core is worth far more than these ingredients," Ya Fei said. "Are you sure you want to use it to pay?"

"Yes," Xiao Chen said.

"Very well. After deducting the three hundred gold coins for the ingredients, I'll pay you the rest in gold," Ya Fei said.

"No need," Xiao Chen replied. "Keep the rest on my account at your auction house. Next time I need anything, just deduct the cost from it."

Ya Fei nodded.

"Rest assured, sir. I'll take care of everything."

Xiao Chen picked up the ingredients, turned, and left the auction house.

Watching him leave from behind the counter, Ya Fei's eyes held a flicker of curiosity.

After leaving the Mittel Auction House, Xiao Chen found a quiet place.

He glanced around to make sure no one was there, then sat down cross-legged.

He raised a hand and channeled the Dou Qi inside him. A flame gathered in his palm, burning at an extremely high temperature.

He took out a stalk of Energy Storage Grass and tossed it into the flame. Under its heat, the ingredient slowly melted into a pool of green liquid.

The Poria Flower.

The Blood Coagulation Fruit.

One ingredient after another went into the flame, each melting into liquid.

The liquids slowly fused together under the flame's heat. Their color shifted from green to deep brown, and a faint medicinal fragrance wafted through the air.

After an unknown amount of time, the flame in his hand suddenly drew inward.

A pill floated in midair, perfectly round and a deep, rich color.

The Energy Storage Pill was a Second-Rank pill that could temporarily increase the strength of whoever took it.

He put the pill away, stood up, dusted off his clothes, and headed back to the Xiao Clan.

The Xiao Clan.

Xiao Yan lived in a secluded little courtyard.

When Xiao Chen arrived at the courtyard entrance, he saw Xiao Yan sitting in the yard, cultivating.

He wore a black training outfit and sat cross-legged on the ground with his eyes closed. Fine beads of sweat dotted his forehead, and his face was somewhat pale.

"Xiao Yan," Xiao Chen called.

Xiao Yan opened his eyes and saw Xiao Chen. A flicker of surprise crossed his face.

"Xiao Chen? What brings you here?"

Xiao Chen walked up to him and held out the Energy Storage Pill.

"It's for you."

Xiao Yan took the Energy Storage Pill and looked down at it, shock appearing on his face.

A Second-Rank Energy Storage Pill.

"This is... where did you get it?" Xiao Yan looked up at Xiao Chen.

[Task complete.]

[Received one opportunity to copy Xiao Yan.]

[Use it now?]