Suspicion, Battle, Questioning
Xiao Yan felt a sense of amusement that he hadn't experienced in a long time.
It seems like it's been a long time since he's encountered a standard 'villain' like Yin Yuan, waiting for him to slap his face.
Xiao Yan's extensive experience in getting his face slapped allowed him to maintain the most composed demeanor, his tone as if he were discussing something utterly ordinary. "I am naturally not one of the three giants of the Pill Tower."
"However, if one goes all out, it is possible to refine a pill with Nine-Colored Pill Lightning."
Upon hearing this, even the elders, including Cao Feng, showed a hint of doubt in their eyes, though they didn't reveal it on their faces.
Although he found Xiao Yan's words somewhat ridiculous, he didn't refute them.
Yin Yuan, however, already knew that the antagonistic relationship between herself and Yun Yun was essentially irreconcilable, so she spoke more freely, letting out a mocking laugh, "Heh, Yan Xiao certainly knows how to joke."
"I've never heard of you in Central Plains before, which means you've only grown up in the Northwest Continent."
"And the Northwest Continent..." Yin Yuan shook her head, her eyes filled with disdain. "I hope Master Yan Xiao won't be angry. That Northwest Continent is truly incredibly barren."
"Normally speaking, it is already extremely difficult to raise even one ordinary Eighth-Rank Alchemist."
As for High Eighth-Tier Alchemist capable of refining Seven-Colored Pill Lightning, or even Eighth-Rank Peak Alchemist capable of refining Nine-Colored Pill Lightning, it's simply impossible to cultivate such individuals.
"Master Yan Xiao, please think twice before you make your next boastful statement."
Xiao Yan knew that Yin Yuan's words were actually correct. Logically speaking, a barren land like the Northwest Continent could not possibly produce High Eighth-Tier Alchemist.
In fact, if we don't count himself, the Northwest Continent hasn't even produced a single ordinary Eighth-Rank Alchemist.
Unfortunately, things didn't go as expected.
Xiao Yan remained unperturbed and continued, "I wonder if Elder Yin Yuan is aware of the Nine-Colored Lightning Cloud that appeared in Burning Flame Valley almost a month ago?"
Yin Yuan's expression changed, and she sneered, "Master Yan Xiao, are you implying that the Nine-Colored Lightning Cloud was attracted by your pill-refining?"
Xiao Yan remained noncommittal. "What does Elder Yin Yuan think?"
Seeing that Xiao Yan showed no sign of fear, Yin Yuan couldn't help but feel a little uncertain.
She had already investigated and found that when the Nine-Colored Lightning Cloud appeared, the three giants of the Pill Tower were all in the Pill Region and had not left. Therefore, the person who refined the Nine-Colored Pill Lightning was indeed a newly Eighth-Rank Peak Alchemist.
But... such a coincidence is unlikely to happen.
Still disbelieving, Yin Yuan subconsciously toned down her imposing manner and instead asked:
"How do you intend to prove this, Yan Xiao?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan was about to take out the Fire Token to prove himself when he suddenly stopped.
He suddenly realized that he wasn't without important matters to attend to; why would he be so idle as to play this game of pretending to be weak while actually being strong with Yin Yuan?
Even if he proves his alchemy skills, all he'll get in the end is a chance to refine pills for Music Valley for free?
Isn't that just stupid?!
Suddenly realizing his mistake, Xiao Yan immediately lost interest and waved his hand, saying, "If Elder Yin Yuan doesn't believe me, then so be it."
"Since you don't think I'm capable of refining High-Grade Tier 8 Medicinal Pill, you're free to find other Alchemist yourselves."
Yin Yuan was stunned when Xiao Yan said this.
Something doesn't seem quite right about how things are developing.
She won the debate, but it seems... she gained nothing?
"Yun'er, bring me the Heavenly Flames you collected." Xiao Yan got straight to the point, no longer wasting time with Yin Yuan.
Upon hearing this intimate address, Yun Yun felt a tingling sensation rise up her tailbone, and her body went slightly limp. "It's... it's in my Storage Ring."
Yun Yun touched the High-Tier Storage Ring she had inherited, her voice soft and gentle.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan nodded and said, "Then come with me. Let's find a place to catch up and I'll see which Heavenly Flames you've collected."
"Okay~" Yun Yun was extremely compliant.
At this point, the elders of Music Valley could see that Yin Yuan's constant questioning had directly caused Yan Xiao, an Eighth-Rank Alchemy Grandmaster, to give up the thankless task of refining pills for them.
Immediately, angry gazes were directed at Yin Yuan, as if to say, 'What are you questioning? Now look what's happened, they won't refine it for you anymore, and you have to spend your own resources to find Alchemist.'
Yin Yuan was under pressure, and her resentment grew even stronger.
Seeing that Xiao Yan was about to leave with Yun Yun, she immediately shouted, "Don't go!"
When Xiao Yan and Yun Yun looked over, she said with an extremely firm attitude, "Today, the matter of alchemy must be resolved!"
"Yun Yun, either you take out your Heavenly Flames and ask Alchemist to refine High-Grade Tier 8 Medicinal Pill for the Valley Master."
Or, Yan Xiao, you can refine the pills!
Xiao Yan glanced at her and cursed, "Who do you think you are, trying to morally blackmail me?"
"What a ridiculous thing."
After saying that, he ignored Yin Yuan, took Yun Yun's hand, and was about to leave.
Yin Yuan was stunned for a moment, then her face flushed red instantly. The words "ridiculous thing" were too insulting to someone as strong as her.
As the Grand Elder of Music Valley, she had never allowed herself to be humiliated like this!
"Yan Xiao, how dare you!" Yin Yuan gathered her Dou Qi and grabbed at Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan's eyes instantly turned cold. He didn't even use his Dou Qi; relying solely on his brute, unreasonable physical body, he casually swung his hand behind him.
Bang!
Xiao Yan effortlessly brushed aside Yin Yuan's grasping hand, the terrifying force transmitted to Yin Yuan's forearm, instantly producing a crisp cracking sound.
"Ah!" Yin Yuan covered her forearm with her other hand, her eyes filled with disbelief.
She was Nine-Star Dou Venerate Zun, so even if she didn't go all out immediately, she shouldn't have been able to have her bones fractured by a casual strike from Xiao Yan.
"Don't cause any more trouble. I didn't intend to kill anyone today since we've met again," Xiao Yan said coldly.
"Arrogant!" Yin Yuan attacked again, this time gathering Dou Qi protection on her arm beforehand, and reaching out to grab Xiao Yan with her claw-like hand.
Xiao Yan's eyes showed impatience. He clenched his fist and punched Yin Yuan directly.
Claw and fist collided, and Yin Yuan's Dou Qi struck Xiao Yan, leaving only a faint white mark on his skin.
The force of Xiao Yan's punch caused Yin Yuan's expression to change.
The protective Dou Qi on her arm shattered instantly, and then that brute force surged wildly through her forearm.
The next second...
"Puff!"
Yin Yuan's entire arm exploded open.
Everyone stared in shock at Xiao Yan, who remained calm.
Xiao Yan was not surprised at all.
His physique has been enhanced to a level comparable to Nine-Star Dou Venerate, meaning he is comparable to Nine-Star Dou Venerate in terms of combat power.
This combat power naturally includes the Dou Skill used by Nine-Star Dou Venerate.
Yin Yuan only uses Dou Qi to attack, rather than Dou Skill. In addition, it seems that the Dou Skill she cultivates are sonic Dou Skill that are biased towards the soul, so naturally she is no match for him.
"Yun'er, let's go." Xiao Yan took Yun Yun's hand again, secretly thinking that he would find a time to secretly deal with Yin Yuan.
Xiao Yan and Yun Yun turned to leave, but a voice came from behind them, a... somewhat aged voice.
"Wait a minute, Yan Xiao injured my Music Valley Great Elder, and you think you can just walk away as if nothing happened?" The usually quiet Music Valley Master questioned.