Though the Tree Desires Stillness, the Wind Will Not Cease

Before Xiao Yan and Old Yao stood a massive square cauldron taller than a person.

The cauldron was entirely bronze in color, vastly different in appearance from Old Yao's Black Demon Cauldron. Rather than the usual round shape, it was square, supported by four pillar-like legs, its surface engraved with coiling dragon patterns and taotie beast motifs.

"What is this... Master, what kind of cauldron is that?"

"There is no such strange square cauldron on the Heavenly Cauldron Ranking. That girl's family must be absurdly wealthy, specially preparing this cauldron for her."

Old Yao's eye was naturally sharp, and he saw through the peculiarities at once.

"Only..."

"Only what?"

"This cauldron has too few fire vents. It does not seem to be solely a cauldron for refining pills."

After observing it for a moment, Old Yao gave his assessment.

"Not solely a pill-refining cauldron?"

Ham's eyes immediately widened. Amid the overlapping shadows of the trees ahead, a slender figure seemed to be waiting for them.

"At the very least, it is a peak fourth-tier pill, perhaps even a fifth-tier pill. But it is difficult to say exactly which pill known to the world it is."

"Refining all at once? She really is bold because she is skilled."

Old Yao glanced at the figure that flashed past amid the trees, then spoke.

Xiao Yan murmured subconsciously, but he could not make sense of it now and could only shake his head.

"Good luck. Out here in the wilderness, we actually came across someone refining pills."

Old Yao's expression turned solemn as he spoke.

Xiao Yan nodded and immediately drew the Heavy Black Ruler from his back. After stomping heavily forward, he rushed toward the forest road.

"Probably hyenas who prey on travelers between the two empires. Their strongest is a Da Dou Shi? Fine, leave them to me."

The leading Da Dou Shi shouted, drawing a chorus of responses from those behind him.

Several streaks of light flew from her Storage Ring. Before Xiao Yan could even see what they were, Yao Wan had tossed them all into the bronze square cauldron.

Old Yao explained, "Throwing seven medicinal ingredients into the Medicine Cauldron at once requires exceptionally strong Soul Power to control them. Otherwise, one mistake in such a reckless move would ruin all seven ingredients together."

As master and disciple spoke, Yao Wan quickly entered the stage of fusing the extracted medicinal essences.

"A Dou Zhe fighting a Da Dou Shi? Brat, why are you so brave today?"

If she could earn Old Yao's praise, Miss Wan's pill-refining skill must have been nothing short of miraculous.

Xiao Yan watched the girl controlling two kinds of flames, continuously adjusting the output of her Dou Qi to make up for the fine operations impossible due to the Medicine Cauldron's insufficient fire vents.

In a place like this, one only needed to learn who could not be provoked and who was easy prey to thrive.

It was precisely because of this that he had become the leader of a bandit faction in such an ungoverned region.

Ham was the leader of a bandit faction along the border between the two empires. Because the two nations often clashed, the area had become a gray zone occupied by various criminal forces.

One of Ham's Dou Shi subordinates could not help asking.

The newcomers quickened their pace and charged toward where Yao Wan, Xiao Yan, and the others were.

At such a young age, she already possessed a Heavenly Soul... Such talent was far greater than any ordinary cultivation talent.

He undoubtedly understood how immense an alchemist's influence could be. Yet if he wished to advance further in cultivation, then with his current circumstances, it was not quite impossible—but hardly any different.

For some reason, Ham instinctively felt that the temperature nearby was fluctuating between hot and cold.

Old Yao stroked his beard as he spoke.

"Master?"

Just as Old Yao said this, a medicinal fragrance drifted over.

Xiao Yan leaped onto a branch with the Heavy Black Ruler in hand and spotted the figure darting through the trees. He could not help calling out to Old Yao.

Old Yao teased him, a faint smile appearing on his face. But seeing how serious Xiao Yan was, he also wanted to see how the boy would handle it.

Such a lineup was absolutely a local power not to be trifled with on this border.

With the powerful control granted by her Heavenly Soul, this was no difficult task for Yao Wan.

The empires' forces mostly controlled only the areas near their border passes, leaving the long, uninhabited borderlands naturally in the hands of people like them.

"Master, these people..."

Old Yao raised an eyebrow.

"No, how about this? I'll go test them first. If I can't handle them, then Master can step in. How about it?"

"This girl is an exception. Rather, it is because she is completely confident in refining seven medicinal ingredients simultaneously that she dares to do it. That is why I said she is bold because she is skilled."

"An alchemist must never be disturbed while refining pills. We'll go deal with those people."

"Yes!"

At that moment, Old Yao suddenly spoke up.

Xiao Yan spoke subconsciously, though his hand had already reached for the Heavy Black Ruler on his back.

Xiao Yan wrinkled his nose. "It smells wonderful... Master, do you know what grade of pill Miss Wan is refining?"

"This is bad. Someone is approaching. They are probably coming for the girl refining pills."

"Fine, then let you give it a try."

What is going on...?

Could the weather have changed...?

"Wait... Something isn't right!"

Its successful refinement was merely a matter of time.

He therefore hurriedly gathered everyone he could bring. No matter what, he had to capture that alchemist.

"Hm?"

After all, cultivation could ultimately be improved through many methods, but Soul Power was different. There were far too few ways to enhance it.

"Boss, what is it?"

Thus, a group consisting of one Da Dou Shi, three Dou Shi, and seventeen Dou Zhe, Ham included, immediately rushed toward the alchemist.

When he saw the phenomenon of pill refinement light up the wilderness like a candle in the darkness, Ham realized that perhaps the only opportunity of his life had arrived.

Old Yao could only make a vague judgment of the pill's grade based on its fragrance. At the same time, considering that girl's peculiar temperament and innate talent, he guessed that she might even have developed the Pill Recipe herself.

"Move quickly! Judging by this commotion, the pill being refined is probably of no low grade, and that alchemist must be extraordinary!"

Xiao Yan seemed to think of something and could not help taking the initiative to suggest it.

Then he saw the Living Flame leave Yao Wan's hand and coil around the square cauldron. Only afterward did the deep crimson Dou Qi flame ignite the Medicine Cauldron.

"Something like this actually happens...? Then what about Miss Wan now?"

"Why would there be anyone in such a desolate wilderness?"

That figure needed no introduction—it was Xiao Yan.

"See for yourself."

Ham jerked his chin toward the figure at the end of his gaze.

"Who is that? I can't sense any Dou Qi...?"