Refining the Vitality Pill

In the Tager Desert, Xiao Jie and his two companions were in the midst of their journey.

"Brother Shi, to determine if 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, I intend to stay here with Brother Hai for a while longer as a precaution. I hope you don't mind the intrusion."

Xiao Jie spoke to Shi Jian. After all, he was the one who had stirred up this trouble; if Queen Medusa were to sneak in for an ambush because of this, it would be far from ideal.

"Haha, Brother Xiao, what are you saying? I couldn't ask for more than having you and Brother Hai stay here. How could I possibly consider it an intrusion?"

Upon hearing that two Dou Emperors like Xiao Jie and Hai Bodong would be stationed here for a period, a smile immediately bloomed on Shi Jian's face as he spoke.

"Well, there is one more thing I must ask of you: please help me collect some medicinal herbs. I intend to refine some pills while I am here. This Emperor-Breaking Pill shall be your reward. Brother Hai, as the Supreme Elder of the Mite'er Family, please also help me gather some high-grade herbs I require. This Ancestor-Breaking Pill is your reward."

Xiao Jie addressed the two men. Since he would be away from the Jia Ma Empire for long periods in the future, he would need them to protect the Xiao Clan, so being generous was of little consequence.

He wouldn't need to focus much on cultivation while staying in Shi-Mo City for the time being. He planned to spend most of his time improving his alchemy, as his stock of high-grade pills was running low and he had to refine more himself. This was an absolute necessity.

Hai Bodong was shocked by Xiao Jie's immense generosity. Before he could even respond, he heard Xiao Jie ask for his help in gathering herbs, and to his surprise, he was gifted an Ancestor-Breaking Pill. He replied with great excitement.

"Brother Xiao, rest assured. I have already contacted the Mite'er Family, and I believe they will arrive shortly. When they do, you may take whatever herbs you need from our family's stores, and for those we lack, I will do everything in my power to find them for you!"

"Haha, it is enough that you have the heart, Brother Hai. Just do your best."

Early morning, Shi-Mo City, City Lord's Mansion.

Xiao Jie was sitting in meditation in his room when a few light knocks sounded at the door, followed by a timid voice from outside.

"Young Master, are you awake? I have come to serve you with water for washing."

Hearing this, Xiao Jie opened his eyes and spoke to Qing Lin outside the door.

"Come in, it's unlocked."

"Yes, Young Master."

The door pushed open gently. Qing Lin walked in timidly, holding a washbasin, and after setting it down, she spoke to Xiao Jie again.

"Young Master, I have prepared the warm water for you. Please let Qing Lin serve you."

Seeing her actions, Xiao Jie did not try to dissuade her and allowed her to help him wash. He understood the insecurity in her heart; only by doing what she could would she feel at ease.

Just over ten days ago, she had been nothing more than a half-blood Snake-Person in the slums, despised by everyone. It was only after he took her in that everything changed. She no longer had to worry about where her next meal was coming from—which was why, at twelve years old, she was still skin and bones—nor would she be bullied or beaten for being a half-blood. The people here treated her with respect and envy, so she was deeply grateful to him and terrified of losing everything and returning to that dark, hopeless slum.

"Qing Lin, in a few days, you will go and follow Old Hai to begin your cultivation. Once I finish my business here, I will take you with me when I leave."

"Ah? Yes, Young Master, but... am I allowed to cultivate?" Qing Lin asked in her usual timid, soft-spoken manner.

"Haha, of course. Your constitution is excellent. Cultivate well, and one day you will become a powerhouse." Xiao Jie looked at her timid expression, couldn't help but pat her head, and smiled.

"Really!? Can I really become a powerhouse? Will I become as strong as you, Young Master?"

Qing Lin was so excited that she forgot her inner anxiety, firing three questions at Xiao Jie in rapid succession.

"Of course. You must trust my judgment. Your Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils are a rare constitution in this world, granting you extremely powerful abilities in other areas. Have you forgotten? You were able to control that large snake precisely because of your special constitution. Ordinary people wouldn't be able to control a Tier 4 Magical Beast when they aren't even a Dou Practitioner. Do you see your uniqueness now?"

Xiao Jie answered her doubts and explained the power of her constitution, which helped dispel some of her inner unease.

"Yes! I want to become as strong as Young Master, so I can help you!" Qing Lin said excitedly after understanding.

"Well then, you must hurry and grow stronger. I won't be waiting for you to catch up, you know. Alright, go find Old Hai and start your training. If you need anything, just tell the servants; you don't need to do everything yourself, understand?"

"Yes, I understand, Young Master. Then I will go find Old Hai now."

"Go on."

After Qing Lin left, Xiao Jie focused his consciousness into the Crimson Flame Ring on his finger. Seeing that the high-grade pills he had obtained from the Simulator were running low, he sighed and muttered to himself.

"I didn't expect the pills I obtained from the previous eight years of simulations to be consumed so quickly. With less than ten Tier 6 pills and six Tier 7 pills left, I must start refining Tier 6 pills today."

Ten days ago, responding to Hai Bodong's summons, the Mite'er Family head, Mite'er Tengshan, had personally arrived to deliver herbs. Since then, the Mite'er Family had continuously brought in many of the herbs Xiao Jie required from their various branches, and Shi Jian had also opened his own inventory to actively assist him.

He had now collected several complete sets of materials for Tier 6 pills, including the ingredients for the Tier 6 intermediate Vitality Pill he intended to refine. This pill was said to have an immediate effect on those suffering from severe injuries—it was no exaggeration to say it could save a life. Xiao Jie planned to keep one on hand; after all, what if he were to be gravely wounded?

There were also the Tier 6 peak Emperor-Extreme Pill and the Ancestor-Breaking Pill that needed refining. He only had one Ancestor-Breaking Pill left, one Emperor-Extreme Pill, two Emperor-Breaking Pills, and five Dou Ling Pills; these were all the Tier 6 pills he had remaining. As for Tier 7, he had one Yin Yang Profound Dragon Pill, three Ancestor Origin Pills, and two Primordial Blood Origin Pills.

Fortunately, he had collected five sets of materials for the Emperor-Extreme Pill, four for the Ancestor-Breaking Pill, and six for the Vitality Pill, which should be enough for him to practice. Although he was currently only a peak Tier 5 Alchemist, his soul realm had already reached the perfection of the Mortal Realm.

With a soul at the perfection of the Mortal Realm, there were no bottlenecks until the Tier 8 stage; all he lacked were herbs and pill formulas. Given his fire-control techniques, even though this was his first time refining Tier 6 pills, his success rate shouldn't be too low.

With that thought, Xiao Jie headed to the secret chamber, ready to refine the Tier 6 intermediate Vitality Pill to get a feel for the process.

Before long, Xiao Jie sat cross-legged in the center of the chamber, a Tier 5 medicine cauldron he had used for a long time appearing before him. He thought to himself:

I really should replace this cauldron; a Tier 5 one is truly beneath me now. I wonder if that Myriad Beast Cauldron of Han Feng's is any good?

With a wave of his right hand, flames surged within the cauldron. Xiao Jie then tossed the herbs inside to refine them and extract their essence.

Repeating this process, once Xiao Jie had finished extracting the essence from all the herbs needed for the Vitality Pill, he began the fusion and pill-forming stage. This step required extremely powerful soul control; the slightest carelessness would result in a furnace explosion. Time ticked away second by second, and soon the secret chamber was filled with a rich, medicinal fragrance that left one feeling refreshed and invigorated.

Dark clouds gathered over the City Lord's Mansion—the phenomenon of a Tier 6 pill being formed. A pillar of light shot from the secret chamber straight into the sky, its immense impact tearing a massive hole through the clouds as if the sky itself had been split open. While this Tier 6 pill would not trigger pill lightning, the spectacle was truly magnificent.