Alchemy

"Since you have refined the Purple Flame, Xiao Yan, it is time for you to properly learn alchemy from me," Yao Lao mused.

"Understood, Teacher." The thought of finally beginning to learn the mysterious art of alchemy filled Xiao Yan with excitement.

"Xiao Yi, come here. I have a task for you," Yao Lao suddenly said to Xiao Yi, who was struggling to hide his massive body in the shadows of the cave, attempting to make his presence vanish.

"Hehe, what is it? Just give the order, Yao Lao," Xiao Yi said, acting like a sycophant the moment he realized hiding was futile.

"Since you are the beast king of this region, you must have a vast army of subordinates. Go, fetch these medicinal herbs for me," Yao Lao said, handing over a piece of paper.

"Phew." Xiao Yi let out a sigh of relief, realizing he wouldn't be used for bloodletting anymore.

"Yes, yes, Yao Lao, right away."

"Roar!" Xiao Yi took the paper, glanced at it, and strode out of the cave. He transformed back into his seven-to-eight-meter-tall beast form, flew into the air, and let out a thunderous roar.

Rustle, rustle, rumble, rumble, rumble.

Instantly, powerful Magical Beasts within a twenty-mile radius of the cave began rushing frantically toward Xiao Yi's lair. They smashed through mountains and uprooted trees along the way, resembling a miniature beast tide. If this were near a border city of the Jia Ma Empire, the garrison commander would likely be sending an urgent distress signal to the Imperial Capital.

A cup of tea's time later, nearly a hundred powerful Magical Beasts sat gathered around the entrance of Xiao Yi's cave. The weakest were at the initial stage of Dou Ling, while the strongest included five Rank 5 Magical Beasts comparable to peak Dou Kings. There were land-dwellers, flyers, and even two giant snakes that had likely just crawled out of a water pool.

Xiao Yi nodded in satisfaction and spoke in human tongue: "Go, find these herbs and bring them to me."

Moments later, the herd scattered with a "whoosh," all setting off to hunt for the herbs.

By evening, Yao Lao looked at the pile of herbs stacked at the cave entrance—several times the amount he had requested, including other rare ingredients he hadn't even mentioned—and felt a pleasant surprise.

"You have been thoughtful, Xiao Yi," Yao Lao said.

"Hehe." Xiao Yi rubbed his massive head and chuckled.

"Alright, Xiao Yan. Now that the herbs are ready, let us begin refining. Today, we shall start with this Energy Accumulation Pill. Watch my movements: first, add the Starlight Grass, then..." Yao Lao instructed.

"Come, try doing it once yourself," Yao Lao said after finishing the demonstration.

"Yes, Teacher," Xiao Yan replied.

A moment later, with a loud "bang," the Medicine Cauldron exploded. Xiao Yan stopped his movements and stared speechlessly at the pill he had attempted to refine.

The surface was riddled with pits and bumps, and its shape was entirely irregular. The luster was a patchy mix of green and purple. It looked like a bizarre, jagged object, nothing like the round and glossy finished pills.

Yao Lao's eye twitched as he watched the scene.

"Heh, it's your first time. Practice makes perfect. Try again," Yao Lao comforted him.

Xiao Yan's face flushed red. He silently cleaned the ordinary Medicine Cauldron he had brought from Wutan City, took another portion of herbs for the Energy Accumulation Pill, and began again.

One month later.

"This is the refining technique for the Rank 2 Bone Growing Pill." Not far from Xiao Yi's cave, Yao Lao and Xiao Yan sat cross-legged, each with a Medicine Cauldron. Yao Lao stored a round, smooth white pill into a jade bottle and spoke to Xiao Yan.

"Understood, Teacher," Xiao Yan replied steadily. He tapped his left hand against the cauldron in front of him, causing a purple flame to rise, and used his right hand to toss a Bone-Setting Fruit inside.

In a short while, a white pill took shape rapidly above the cauldron. Having only watched Yao Lao's process once, Xiao Yan was now able to independently refine the Bone Growing Pill. His progress was truly rapid, and his talent was terrifying.

"Good, very good, Xiao Yan. You have basically mastered the refining of Rank 1 and Rank 2 pills; now you just need to practice to gain proficiency. It has been a month, and it is time for us to leave," Yao Lao remarked with a sigh.

"Indeed, Teacher. We have stayed in the Magical Beast Mountain Range for nearly half a year. It is time to set off for the Tager Desert," Xiao Yan said.

But where is Xiao Yi Xian? Wasn't one of my main purposes for coming to the Magical Beast Mountain Range to bring her back? Xiao Yan suddenly recalled the frail, beautiful woman from his memories.

Three days later.

"Xiao Yi, after this tempering and the consumption of the Human-Shaping Pill, the path to the Dou Emperor realm will be smooth for you. We won't be taking you to the Tager Desert this time; strive to break through the barrier and advance to a high-level Dou Emperor soon. Also, integrate the forces of the Magical Beast Mountain Range; I will have great use for them later. My family is in Wutan City of the Jia Ma Empire—the Xiao Clan. I will contact you if there is a need." After saying this, Xiao Yan unfurled his Purple Cloud Wings and flew toward the outskirts of the Magical Beast Mountain Range without looking back.

"Phew, finally got rid of those two disasters," Xiao Yi cheered, watching Xiao Yan in the distance.

"Oh, right, Xiao Yi, don't you dare miss us," Xiao Yan suddenly flew back to say to Xiao Yi, who was standing at the cave entrance.

"Ah, Master, I don't—no, I mean, I do!" Xiao Yi, not expecting Xiao Yan to double back, turned pale with fright and stammered.

Xiao Yan left the Magical Beast Mountain Range, looked back once, and then accelerated forward. When his Dou Qi was exhausted, he landed to rest in a nameless village near Green Mountain Town. There, he saw a frail, lonely little girl crying by the roadside over a cat that lay on the ground, bleeding from its seven orifices and no longer breathing.

"Wuwuwu, kitty, wake up, please. I was trying to save you. I just accidentally poisoned you to death, I didn't mean to," the little girl continued to cry to the cat.

Xiao Yan crouched down and said softly, "Little sister, this cat is already dead. What is your name?"

"Big brother, I know a little medicine, and they all call me Xiao Yi Xian. Big brother, did you come to take me away? My father and mother are both gone," the little girl looked up, appearing pitiful.

"Xiao Yi Xian? Good, that is a good name," Xiao Yan laughed heartily upon hearing this.

"Xiao Yi Xian, hello. I am Xiao Yan. Long time no see," Xiao Yan suddenly reached out both hands toward her.

"Xiao Yan brother? Long time no see?" Xiao Yi Xian wiped away her tears and cautiously extended her hand toward him.

"Let's go, come with me," Xiao Yan said, taking the little girl—or rather, Xiao Yi Xian's—hand.

"Big brother, aren't you afraid? I can poison people to death," Xiao Yi Xian said, tears still hanging on her eyelashes.

"I'm not afraid. Let's go." With that, Xiao Yan pulled Xiao Yi Xian's small hand and walked toward Green Mountain Town.