Fourth-Rank Alchemist

The Humanoid Transformation Pill was a seventh-grade pill, and it was not easy to refine.

This pill held an immense attraction for magical beasts, especially those at the sixth rank.

For humans, advancing from Dou Emperor to Dou Zong was a major watershed, bringing a tremendous change in strength.

It was the same for magical beasts: advancing from the sixth rank to the seventh was just as significant. Magical beasts placed greater importance on their bloodline potential.

If they could not break through the limits of their bloodline, then no matter how much time passed, they might never achieve the goal of reaching the seventh rank.

If they could swallow a Humanoid Transformation Pill, however, they could take human form and cultivate as humans did, avoiding the limits imposed by their bloodline.

"Thank you, Master." After a moment of stunned silence, the Amethyst Winged Lion King was overcome with excitement.

Ever since becoming Xiao Yu's enslaved magical beast, the Amethyst Winged Lion King had been despairing, uncertain about what the future held.

But as Xiao Yu revealed his mastery of alchemy, and especially after the Heavenly Stars Qi Gathering Array appeared, its thoughts began to change.

Its master, Xiao Yu, seemed different from other people. He was special and capable!

Now Xiao Yu had promised it a Humanoid Transformation Pill, and the Amethyst Winged Lion King's loyalty deepened considerably.

The newly captured Blue Scale Python's eyes gleamed with envy, the feeling practically spilling out of them.

A Humanoid Transformation Pill... It needed one too!

"As long as you work hard and do what I ask, I won't treat anyone unfairly."

Xiao Yu's expression was calm as he cast a glance toward the Blue Scale Python.

He had already learned from the Blue Scale Python what lay beneath the pool. Six or seven hundred meters down, there was a spring, and the pool water flowed from it.

Near the spring grew a pale-blue herb, brimming with water-attribute energy.

The Blue Scale Python had accidentally wandered into the pool and been drawn in by the water-attribute energy below. After consuming the pale-blue herb, it had settled beneath the pool to cultivate.

It absorbed water-attribute Dou Qi to strengthen itself, and the Water Element Stones had formed as a result of its cultivation.

Until he found other Water Element Stones, Xiao Yu needed it to keep cultivating and produce more.

That was also why he was willing to reward the Amethyst Winged Lion King with a Humanoid Transformation Pill.

He needed to give the Blue Scale Python something to look forward to: as long as it obediently worked for him, Xiao Yu, there would be plenty of benefits.

Sure enough, when the Blue Scale Python felt Xiao Yu's gaze, it needed no instructions. It dove back into the pool and carried one Water Element Stone after another to the shore.

The night passed quickly. After taking stock, Xiao Yu found that he had obtained a total of one hundred and twenty Water Element Stones.

He only needed four to build an array, so he had enough to construct thirty Teleportation Arrays.

"Little Blue, keep refining Water Element Stones in the deep pool from now on." Xiao Yu put away the stones and prepared to leave the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

Already unable to resist because of its restraints, and having seen the Amethyst Winged Lion King receive a reward, the Blue Scale Python hurriedly nodded. "Please rest assured, Master. I'll keep refining them nonstop."

Xiao Yu nodded slightly and leaped onto the Amethyst Winged Lion King's head. The latter conjured a pair of wings and flew into the sky.

"Master, are we going back to Wutan City?" the Amethyst Winged Lion King asked.

"No. Head toward Jia Ma Imperial Capital." Xiao Yu had promised Ya Fei, and he did not intend to break his word.

According to the token Yun Yun had given him, Xiao Yu did not need to go all the way to Jia Ma Imperial Capital; that would take too long. He only needed to find a city with an Alchemist Guild.

Cities like that were generally located relatively close to the Imperial Capital.

The Amethyst Winged Lion King found the right direction, then shot off like a streak of purple light.

Soon, the man and beast reached the edge of the Magical Beast Mountain Range. They would be out in another kilometer or two.

Suddenly, the Amethyst Winged Lion King said, "Master, there are people fighting below."

In a valley, five or six figures were battling a magical beast.

It was a Fourth-Order Magical Beast, a Red-Striped Tiger. It was as big as a small cargo truck, its body pitch-black and covered in red stripes. With every breath, the markings across its body flickered.

Flames burned in the Red-Striped Tiger's eyes. Its jaws gaped wide, and tongues of fire could be seen surging inside.

Six people stood opposite it. Four wore guard uniforms and gripped weapons, their expressions grave and tense.

The other two were a middle-aged man and a young woman.

They wore similar outfits, with badges resembling medicine cauldrons pinned to their chests.

The middle-aged man's badge was carefully marked with four silver ripples.

"Master Otto, Miss Lin Fei, this is a Fourth-Order Red-Striped Tiger! We'll hold it off. You two run for it! We're not far from the edge of the Magical Beast Mountain Range. Once you're out, you should be safe!"

A guard's face was tense. Sweat soaked the palm gripping his weapon, and fine beads had appeared on his forehead.

"Good. If I, Otto, survive, I swear I'll take care of your families."

The middle-aged alchemist took a deep breath and made his solemn promise.

"That's all we need to hear from Master Otto."

The guard's gaze hardened. With a roar, Dou Qi swirling around him, he charged straight at the Red-Striped Tiger.

At the same time, several of his companions followed with weapons in hand.

"Lin Fei, let's go."

Otto grabbed his disciple by the arm and pulled her with him. Her expression was panicked, her face pale, and her lips tightly pressed together.

She had only accompanied her teacher into the Magical Beast Mountain Range to gather medicinal herbs. They had never intended to venture deep inside.

But the weather was unpredictable.

Though their group had not gone far into the Magical Beast Mountain Range, they had still run into a Fourth-Order Magical Beast, which had chased them the whole way.

They had started with more than ten guards. Now only four remained.

The strongest among them was only a Da Dou Shi. Against a Fourth-Order Magical Beast, the fact that they had not run away already counted as impressive.

"Teacher, can we get away?" Having felt death draw so close for the first time, Lin Fei's voice trembled.

Otto replied in a low voice, "Don't let your thoughts run wild. They're risking their lives to give us a chance to survive. We're not far from the edge of the mountain range. We still have a chance!"

Although he said this to encourage his disciple, his heart was bitter.

The Red-Striped Tiger was incredibly fast, especially in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, where it moved as easily as if it were on flat ground.

They were different. The rough, uneven mountain paths, choked with branches, slowed them down considerably.

Worse still, Lin Fei was so hopeless and dispirited that she couldn't reach her full speed, dragging him down badly.

But Otto could not abandon his disciple, so he could only gently encourage her.

Otto's words seemed to help. Lin Fei rallied, gathering the Dou Qi inside her body and picking up a little speed.

"Keep going, Lin Fei!" Otto's heart lifted, and he encouraged her again.

The two of them ran with all their might. Soon, they saw brilliant light in the distance. If they could just reach it, they would be out of the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

Once they were out, other people would be nearby. The Fourth-Order Magical Beast was certainly powerful, but it would not easily venture beyond the mountain range.

"Teacher, we're saved!" Lin Fei saw the exit too, and joy appeared on her face.

Just then, the sound of trees snapping suddenly rang out behind them.

Blood stained the Red-Striped Tiger's jaws. It shot through the trees like a red bolt of lightning, rapidly closing the distance between them.

"Ah, it's here! Teacher, it's catching up!" When Lin Fei saw its shape, she let out a panicked scream.

"Don't stop! The exit is just ahead. Hurry, hurry!" Otto didn't dare look back. He yanked his disciple along as they ran.

In her panic, Lin Fei suddenly tripped over a tree root. She lost her balance and pitched forward.

Otto was caught off guard when she pulled him, and he lost his balance too.

They tumbled across the ground several times. Before they could get back up, a gust of wind thick with the stench of blood swept over them.

The pungent reek of blood battered Lin Fei's already fraying nerves.

"Roar!"

The Red-Striped Tiger stopped five paces away. Its forelegs dug into the ground, and its roar shook the mountain forest.