Returning the Favor, Dou Skill Reward!

Returning to the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan had barely stepped through the gate.

Inside a VIP room at the Miteer Auction House, a maidservant walked in carrying tea.

"Sister Ya Fei, did that Xiao Yan really kill someone from the Misty Cloud Sect?"

Ya Fei took a sip of tea and set the cup down.

"He admitted it himself; how could it be false?"

"But he is only fifteen years old."

The maidservant could not believe it.

A fifteen-year-old killing a seven-star Dou Grandmaster—who would believe such a thing if it were told?

"Age does not mean everything."

Ya Fei stood up and walked to the window.

The street was bustling with people, but Xiao Yan had long since walked away.

"In a few more days, the news will spread."

"Then is he not afraid of the Misty Cloud Sect's retaliation?"

Turning around, Ya Fei looked at the maidservant.

"To be able to kill Ge Ye, he must have his methods; otherwise, he would not dare to be so brazen."

The maidservant nodded and asked no more.

Ya Fei remained silent, her mind occupied by another matter.

Did Xiao Yan have a faction backing him?

To reach this level at fifteen by his own merits was impossible.

If there truly were a faction, how terrifying would they be?

She dared not think further.

As the maidservant tidied the tea set, she could not help but speak again.

"Sister Ya Fei, what kind of person do you think the Misty Cloud Sect will send?"

Ya Fei sat back in her chair and pondered for a moment.

"Ge Ye was a seven-star Dou Grandmaster; to kill him, one must be at least a Dou Ling."

"If the Misty Cloud Sect sends someone, it will at least be an elder of Dou King rank."

"A Dou King?"

The maidservant gasped.

Ya Fei picked up her teacup, realized the tea had gone cold, and set it down again.

"Without the resources of a major faction piled upon him, it is impossible to reach this level at such an age."

"Then, Sister Ya Fei, what faction do you think is behind him?"

She shook her head.

"The factions in the Jia Ma Empire capable of cultivating such a genius can be counted on one hand."

Ya Fei stood up and walked to the window.

"Regardless of who is behind him, this is a person we cannot afford to offend, and it is best that we do not."

The maidservant nodded vigorously.

Behind the Xiao Clan.

Passing through a bamboo forest, he arrived at his usual training spot.

It was a flat, massive boulder, well-hidden by the surrounding trees.

Sitting cross-legged, he took the medicinal herbs from his Storage Ring.

Snow Spirit Ginseng, Purple Spirit Ganoderma, Thousand Spirit Grass.

One by one, the grade five medicinal herbs were laid out on the ground.

He had to refine the Spirit Speed Pill as soon as possible.

The Misty Cloud Sect would not let this go; the next ones to come would not be trash like Ge Ye.

He took a deep breath.

A ball of flame condensed in his palm.

It was cyan in color and possessed an extremely high temperature.

He picked up the Snow Spirit Ginseng and tossed it into the fire.

The medicinal herb slowly melted within the flames, transforming into a glob of emerald-green liquid.

The impurities were burned away by the flames, leaving behind only the purest medicinal liquid.

He controlled the heat with extreme caution, not daring to be the slightest bit careless.

One by one, the medicinal ingredients were cast into the flames.

Each ingredient required a different refining time and temperature.

The experience in his mind told him exactly what to do, and every step was executed with precision.

Deep within the bamboo forest, on another small path.

Xiao Xun'er walked with light steps, originally intending to find a quiet place to spend some time.

She looked up inadvertently and saw the figure on the boulder in the distance.

Her footsteps halted.

She did not approach, merely standing behind a tree.

He held flames in his palm, casting a medicinal ingredient into them.

She could feel the temperature of the flames even from far away.

Her eyes widened slightly.

She stood where she was, not moving.

She even held her breath.

She understood the principle that one must not be disturbed while refining pills.

Moreover, she did not want Brother Xiao Yan to discover her presence here.

She did not know how much time had passed.

All the medicinal ingredients had been refined.

Several clusters of medicinal liquid of varying colors hovered above the flames.

Fine beads of sweat seeped from his forehead.

The most critical step: fusion.

He slowly brought the clusters of liquid together, his consciousness locked onto the fusion progress of each one.

The slightest mistake would cause the cauldron to explode, wasting all the materials.

The medicinal liquids fused bit by bit, their colors gradually shifting from variegated to pure white.

The temperature of the flames was constantly adjusted, rising and falling.

Finally, all the medicinal liquids were completely fused.

The flames retracted abruptly.

A pill hovered in mid-air.

It was perfectly round, emitting a faint white glow.

Spirit Speed Pill, refining successful.

He reached out and grasped it in his hand.

[Host has helped Xiao Yan refine the Grade 5 Spirit Speed Pill; feedback reward obtained.]

[Reward: Profound Tier Advanced Dou Technique, Mountain Crushing Palm.]

[When cultivated to perfection, a single palm can shatter mountains.]

A massive amount of information flooded into his mind.

The circulation path of the palm technique, the techniques for exerting force, and the method of operating Dou Qi.

Everything was etched into his memory.

It felt as if he had practiced it thousands of times.

The corners of his mouth curled up, and he smiled.

A Profound Tier Advanced Dou Technique was already considered top-tier in the Jia Ma Empire.

Combined with his current strength, he would have the power to fight even a peak Dou King.

She had watched from beginning to end, standing behind the tree the entire time.

The condensation of flames, the addition of ingredients, the formation of the pill.

She had not missed a single step.

She made no sound, suppressing even her breathing to the lightest level.

Her heart was already in a state of turmoil.

The aura emitted by that pill could absolutely not be of a low grade.

Grade five? Or perhaps even higher?

Fifteen years old.

Brother Xiao Yan is only fifteen years old.

Across the entire Dou Qi Continent, how many people are capable of refining medicinal pills of this grade at fifteen?

Which of those people is not a core disciple of a major power?

They have the best teachers to instruct them, endless resources piled upon them, and have been groomed since childhood.

But what about Brother Xiao Yan?

The Xiao Clan is merely a small family.

They don't even have a decent alchemist.

No teacher, no resources, and he has never left Wutan City since he was born.

How on earth did he learn to refine pills?

And to produce such a high grade on his very first attempt.

This defies logic; it is completely against common sense.

Xiao Xun'er has seen many geniuses.

Within her clan and in the Central Plains, she has heard of all sorts of monsters.

Yet, none are like Brother Xiao Yan.

Three years as a waste, only to rise in a single day.

Not only did his strength recover, but he also became an alchemist.

And his grade is ridiculously high.

This kind of leap, this kind of speed, is unheard of even among the top powers in the Central Plains.

Xiao Xun'er bit her lip, remaining silent.

She stayed behind the tree, not stepping out.

On the boulder, he stored the medicinal pill into his Storage Ring.

He jumped down from the boulder and brushed the dust off his clothes.

He glanced toward the bamboo forest.

He saw nothing.

He turned and left the back mountain.

The sound of his footsteps gradually faded away.

After waiting a while longer, Xiao Xun'er finally stepped out from behind the tree.

She watched the direction Xiao Yan had left in, remaining silent for a long time.

Her mind was still racing.

She turned to leave the back mountain and headed in another direction.

Her steps were light; she had alerted no one when she arrived, and the same was true when she left.

As Xiao Xun'er walked back to her quarters, her heart held not only shock but also an indescribable emotion.

She reached the entrance of her quarters, pushed the door open, and stepped inside.

She sat on a chair, picked up the teapot, and poured a cup of water.

She took a sip and set the cup down.

Her gaze remained somewhat dazed.

Her mind was still replaying the scene she had just witnessed.

The aura that radiated when that medicinal pill was suspended in mid-air.

That was the aura only a grade five medicinal pill could possess; as this thought crossed her mind, Xiao Xun'er immediately gasped, feeling a sense of shock.