Utterly Ordinary

"Surprised?"

Yao Yan was not surprised by their reactions. He smiled and continued, "The world outside is vast, with countless powerful experts and even more monstrous geniuses. I'm merely one of the most ordinary among them. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come to the Black-Corner Region to train."

Ordinary?!

Medusa Queen and Hai Bo Dong remained silent. This was too high-end a topic for them to join, nor could they.

If even a Fifth-Rank Alchemist like Yao Yan, not yet seventeen, counted as ordinary, then what did that make President Fa Ma, who had one foot in the grave in the Jia Ma Empire?

Perhaps he had found the joy of showing off.

Yao Yan actually took out Yao Ding from his Storage Ring. Under the control of his Soul Power, it drifted lightly to the ground without making the slightest sound. Then, he summoned the Illusory Gold Flame and lit the cauldron. Before their astonished eyes, he took out three sets of ingredients for refining Tier 3 Qi Recovery Pills and tossed all of them into the cauldron in one go.

His posture made it seem as though he were stir-frying vegetables.

As he controlled the Illusory Gold Flame to refine the essences from the medicinal ingredients, he did not forget to say, "This place is a little unsuitable, but refining Tier 3 Qi Recovery Pills is simple enough. It'll be done in a moment. Help me keep watch around us."

His Soul Power enveloped every herb. Under the scorching heat of the Illusory Gold Flame, they rapidly withered, drop after drop of essence extracted and transformed into pellets of Flora Essence that floated within the flames before gathering together under Yao Yan's control.

Hai Bo Dong's lips moved. He had originally wanted to stop him, but Yao Yan had moved too quickly. Then he froze, because the alchemy technique was smoother than that of any alchemist he had ever seen. Grand and unrestrained, it possessed a unique beauty, like that of an alchemy grandmaster.

Even if he did not understand alchemy, he still had enough experience to know what this meant.

At this moment, he completely Believed Yao Yan's words. The other party truly was a Fifth-Rank Alchemist; even Fa Ma, whom he knew, might not measure up to him.

At the very least, none of the alchemists he had seen in the Jia Ma Empire could be as relaxed and effortless as Yao Yan, as though alchemy was not a delicate task at all, but as simple and easy as eating and drinking for an ordinary person.

Medusa Queen watched Yao Yan with a complicated gaze. She knew there was no longer any need to verify anything. An alchemist with such skill clearly had no need to tell lies to deceive her, especially at his age. A Fifth-Rank Alchemist not yet seventeen—what kind of talent was that? It could no longer be described merely as terrifying.

Beyond that.

There was also his clan and his teacher.

What level must his teacher have been to raise such a disciple?

In that short span of time, countless thoughts surfaced in Medusa Queen's mind. In the end, her gaze fell upon her younger sister sleeping soundly beside Yao Yan. Her face was a complete mess, making her look rather comical, yet Medusa Queen's eyes softened somewhat. The girl slept peacefully while hugging Yao Yan's arm, and Yao Yan had taken very good care of her. Even after everything that had just happened, he still wrapped a thread of Soul Power around her, isolating the surrounding noise so that she would not be awakened.

Perhaps letting her leave was the best choice... Medusa Queen pondered inwardly. She had already inherited the throne and could bear the responsibility of the tribe herself. There was no need to bind her younger sister to the tribe as well, much less make her sacrifice for it. Her sister had always longed for freedom and the world outside. Perhaps it would be better to let her follow this human youth.

As Yao Yan displayed his alchemy skills, every last trace of doubt vanished.

In less than half an hour.

As the medicine cauldron opened, three pills of exceptional quality floated out, drifting before the three of them in turn. Yao Yan directly tossed one into his mouth and swallowed it, then smiled at the two of them. "Since we've only just met, I have no precious gifts to offer. One Qi Recovery Pill each."

Tier 3 Qi Recovery Pills were not particularly rare, but they were still quite valuable. For example, if two Dou Emperors fought until all their Dou Qi was exhausted, whoever possessed a Tier 3 Qi Recovery Pill at that moment would undoubtedly become the final victor.

This was also why alchemists had become the most esteemed profession on the Dou Qi Continent.

"I'll accept the pill."

Before Hai Bo Dong could speak, Medusa Queen had already stored it in her Storage Ring. She then looked at Yao Yan and her younger sister beside him. After hesitating for a moment, her tone softened slightly. "My younger sister will be entrusted to you, Young Master. From this day onward, you will be the Snake-People Tribe's most honored guest. If you ever need anything, the Snake-People Tribe will give you its full support!"

After saying that, she took out a Gold Token from her Storage Ring. A blood-red gemstone was set into it, and within the gemstone swam a tiny purple energy snake, as though it were a Living Thing.

This was Medusa Queen's token!

"If the Snake-People Tribe encounters trouble, you can also come to me for help."

Yao Yan caught the Gold Token drifting toward him. Looking into her alluring purple eyes, he replied softly.

"I only hope that you will take good care of my younger sister."

Medusa Queen shook her head slightly to indicate that it would not be necessary. Then she put on her mask, and her tone turned cold once more, filled with icy Killing Intent as she warned, "If you ever harm her, no matter what status you possess, I will pursue and kill you to the ends of the earth—an Endless Battle!"

She and her younger sister were identical twins, their hearts connected. Even from an enormous distance, she could sense her sister's condition.

Medusa Queen did not tell Yao Yan this. If he truly dared to mistreat her younger sister, she would make him regret ever coming into this world!

Whoosh

She reluctantly cast one last glance at her sleeping younger sister before withdrawing her gaze. Blood-colored Dou Qi Wings unfolded from her back as she shot into the sky, transforming into a crimson streak of light that vanished into the night.

What a proud queen... Yao Yan watched her leave and sighed inwardly. Given Medusa Queen's personality, perhaps even if the Snake-People Tribe were headed toward destruction, she would never ask him for help, much less actively seek benefits from him. If this had not involved her younger sister, she would never have compromised.

Of course, everything was going according to his plan. Familiar with the plot, he understood Medusa Queen's character very well. The only person she truly cared about in this life was her younger sister. As for the tribe... that was her responsibility as Medusa Queen, unrelated to her personal wishes.

She was still that infamous Medusa Queen!

Hai Bo Dong watched Medusa Queen depart, glanced at the Tier 3 Qi Recovery Pill in his hand, and ultimately chose to store it in his Storage Ring. Then he cupped his hands toward Yao Yan and said, "If you have no further business, Young Master, I shall take my leave as well."

"She has a tribe to take responsibility for. Do you?"

Yao Yan put away Yao Ding and stared at Hai Bo Dong with a smile as he asked in return. He had no intention of letting Hai Bo Dong leave. He was quite interested in befriending Old Hai, a man with such overwhelming personal charm. After all, on this Dou Qi Continent filled with so many beasts, figures like Old Hai were rare.

"...I still have several missions to carry out."

Hai Bo Dong pondered for a moment, then coolly declined. He did not wish to have too much contact with the mysterious youth before him, because the unknown was generally full of trouble. Moreover, he clearly did not dare invest in the opportunity that was Yao Yan, nor could he afford to!

He could not hold on to a Fifth-Rank Alchemist who was not yet seventeen!

Yao Yan asked outright, firing off several questions in succession. "Do you have a map of the Jia Ma Empire? Also, I'd like to know the route from the Jia Ma Empire to the Black-Corner Region, and how many powerful experts the Jia Ma Empire has..."

After a pause.

He looked at Hai Bo Dong with bright eyes and smiled. "Today, I was thrown here by a Space Crack. I'm unfamiliar with this place, and you just accepted my gift. You wouldn't be so heartless as to leave me alone in the Tagor Desert, would you?"

That punch sent Hai Bo Dong's half-raised backside right back down.