Tager Desert. Xiao Jie and the other two were flying through the air.
"Brother Shi, to determine whether the Snake-People Tribe might truly attack the Jia Ma Empire regardless of the consequences, and to prevent those high-ranking snake people from launching a sneak attack, Brother Hai and I plan to stay with you for a while, just in case. We'll have to impose on you during this time."
Xiao Jie spoke to Shi Jian. After all, this trouble had been caused by him. If Queen Medusa were to secretly come and launch an attack because of this, it would be far from ideal.
"Haha, what are you saying, Brother Xiao? I'd be more than happy for you and Brother Hai to stay here. How could I think of it as an imposition?"
Upon hearing that Xiao Jie and Hai Bodong, two Dou Emperors, would be stationed here for some time, Shi Jian immediately broke into a smile and replied cheerfully.
"Mm, there's one more matter I need you to handle. Help me gather some medicinal ingredients. While I'm here, I intend to refine some pills for future use. Consider this Emperor-Breaking Pill your payment. Brother Hai, as the Supreme Elder of the Mittel Family, help me gather some high-grade medicinal ingredients as well. This Ancestor-Breaking Pill will be your payment."
Xiao Jie spoke to the two of them. Since he would be leaving the Jia Ma Empire for extended periods in the future, he would need them to protect the Xiao Clan. There was nothing wrong with being generous.
For the time being, while staying in Shi-Mo City, he would not need to spend much time cultivating. He could devote most of his time to improving his alchemy, raising his alchemist rank as soon as possible. The high-grade pills in his possession were already nearly depleted, so he had to refine them himself. This was imperative.
Hai Bodong was somewhat shocked by Xiao Jie's lavish offer. Before he could say anything, he heard Xiao Jie ask him to collect medicinal ingredients and even offer him an Ancestor-Breaking Pill. He immediately said excitedly,
"Rest assured, Brother Xiao. I already contacted the Mittel Family. They should be arriving soon. When the time comes, you may freely use any medicinal ingredients our Mittel Family possesses. As for those we do not have, I will do everything in my power to find them for you!"
"Haha, it's enough that you have the intention, Brother Hai. Just do your best."
Early morning, Shi-Mo City, City Lord's Mansion.
Xiao Jie was meditating and cultivating in his room when a few soft knocks sounded at the door. Then, a timid voice came from outside.
"Young Master, are you awake? I've come to help you wash up."
Xiao Jie opened his eyes at Qing Lin's words and spoke toward the door.
"Come in. The door isn't locked."
"Yes, Young Master."
The door opened softly, and Qing Lin timidly entered carrying a basin of water. After setting it down, she spoke to Xiao Jie again.
"Young Master, I've prepared warm water for you. Please allow Qing Lin to help you wash up."
Xiao Jie watched what Qing Lin was doing but did not try to stop her. He simply let her help him wash up. He understood the unease in her heart; only by letting her do things within her ability could she feel more at ease.
Just over ten days ago, she had merely been a snake-person half-blood despised by everyone in the slums. Only after he brought her to his side had everything changed. She no longer had to go hungry because she had no money, leaving her twelve-year-old body thin and skeletal. Nor would she be despised, bullied, and beaten for being a snake-person half-blood. The people here respected and envied her because of him, so she was deeply grateful to him. She was also terrified of losing everything she had now and returning to those bleak, sunless slums.
"Qing Lin, in a few days, go cultivate under Old Hai. Once I finish my business here, I'll take you away with me."
"Ah? Yes, Young Master, but... can I cultivate too?" Qing Lin still looked timid as she spoke softly.
"Haha, of course. Your constitution is quite good. Cultivate properly, and one day you'll become a strong expert." Seeing her timid appearance, Xiao Jie could not help patting her head as he spoke with a smile.
"Really!? Can I really become strong? Can I become as strong as you, Young Master?"
Qing Lin was so excited that she forgot the unease in her heart and fired three questions at Xiao Jie in succession.
"Of course. You should trust your young master's judgment. Your Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils are a rare constitution in this world and can grant you extraordinarily powerful abilities in certain areas. Have you forgotten? You were able to control that giant snake precisely because of your special constitution. Ordinary people cannot control a fourth-tier magical beast when they are not even Dou Zhes. Now you understand how special you are, right?"
Xiao Jie answered her doubts and explained the power of her constitution, easing some of the unease in her heart.
"Mm! I'll become as strong as you, Young Master. Then I'll be able to help you." Qing Lin said excitedly after understanding.
"Mm, then you'd better grow stronger quickly. Your young master won't wait for you to catch up. All right, go find Old Hai and begin cultivating. If you need anything, just tell the servants. You don't need to do it yourself, understand?"
"Okay, I understand, Young Master. I'll go find Old Hai first."
"Mm, go on."
After Qing Lin left, Xiao Jie sent his consciousness into the Crimson Flame Ring on his hand, a high-grade Storage Ring. Looking at the few high-grade pills he had obtained from the Simulator, he sighed and muttered,
"I didn't expect the pills obtained from those eight years of simulation to be used up so quickly. There are fewer than ten Sixth-grade pills left, along with six Seventh-grade pills. I'll start refining Sixth-grade pills today."
Ten days earlier, at Hai Bodong's summons, Mite'er Tengshan, the head of the Mittel Family, had personally delivered medicinal ingredients. Over the past few days, the Mittel Family had also gradually brought over many of the ingredients Xiao Jie needed from their various branches, while Shi Jian had taken out supplies from his stores and actively helped Xiao Jie search for ingredients.
They had now gathered several complete sets of materials for Sixth-grade pills, including the materials for the Sixth-grade mid-tier Vitality Pill Xiao Jie intended to refine. This pill had an immediate effect on those seriously injured, and calling it an extra life would not be an exaggeration. Xiao Jie planned to refine one and keep it on hand, just in case he suffered severe injuries.
He also needed to refine the peak Sixth-grade Emperor-Extreme Pill and Ancestor-Breaking Pill. He had only one Ancestor-Breaking Pill left, one Emperor-Extreme Pill, two Emperor-Breaking Pills, and five Dou Ling Pills. Those were all the Sixth-grade pills Xiao Jie had remaining. As for Seventh-grade pills, he had one Yin Yang Profound Dragon Pill, three Ancestor Origin Pills, and two Primordial Blood Origin Pills.
Fortunately, he had gathered five sets of materials for Emperor-Extreme Pills, four sets for Ancestor-Breaking Pills, and six sets for Vitality Pills. That should be enough for him to practice with. Although he was only a peak fifth-grade alchemist at present, his soul had already reached the peak of the Mortal Realm.
With a soul at the peak of the Mortal Realm, there would be no bottlenecks before the eighth grade. What he lacked were merely medicinal ingredients and pill formulas. With his fire-controlling technique, even though it was his first time refining Sixth-grade pills, his success rate should not be too low.
Having made up his mind, Xiao Jie headed to the secret chamber, preparing to refine a Sixth-grade mid-tier Vitality Pill to get a feel for it.
Before long, Xiao Jie sat cross-legged in the center of the secret chamber. A fifth-tier medicinal cauldron that he had used for a long time floated before him as he thought,
This medicinal cauldron should be replaced. A fifth-tier cauldron truly doesn't suit me anymore. I wonder whether Han Feng's Myriad Beast Cauldron is any good?
Then Xiao Jie waved his right hand, and flames immediately surged within the cauldron. He began tossing medicinal ingredients into it, refining them and extracting their essences.
Repeating this process, Xiao Jie finished refining all the ingredients needed for the Vitality Pill. He then began fusing the various ingredients and condensing the pill. This step required extraordinarily powerful soul control; the slightest mistake would result in the cauldron exploding. Time passed second by second, while a rich pill fragrance already filled Xiao Jie's secret chamber, making one feel refreshed and brimming with vitality.
Dark clouds gathered above the City Lord's Mansion. This was the phenomenon that accompanied the formation of a Sixth-grade pill. A pillar of light shot from the secret chamber into the sky, its tremendous impact blasting a great hole through the clouds, as though the heavens had split open. Although Sixth-grade pills would not draw down Pill Lightning, the sight was still truly magnificent.
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