Alchemy

"Now that you've refined the Purple Flame, Yan, it's time you properly learned alchemy from your master," Yao Lao said thoughtfully.

"Yes, Teacher." The thought of finally learning the mysterious art of alchemy filled Xiao Yan with excitement.

"Xiao Yi, come here. I have something for you to do," Yao Lao suddenly said to Xiao Yi, who was desperately trying to hide his huge body in the cave's shadows and erase any sense of his presence.

"Hehe, what is it? Just give the order, Elder Yao," Xiao Yi said obsequiously when he saw that hiding was hopeless.

"Since you're the Beast King of this area, you must have a large number of subordinates. Go and find these medicinal ingredients for me." Yao Lao handed him a sheet of paper.

"Huff." Xiao Yi let out a breath of relief when he saw that they finally did not need to drain his blood again.

"Alright, alright, Elder Yao. I'll go right away."

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

"Rustle, rustle." "Rumble!" "Rumble!" "Rumble!"

At once, powerful magical beasts within a radius of twenty li around the cave began rushing madly toward Xiao Yi's cave. Any obstacles in their path were smashed apart—mountains broken, trees uprooted—as though it were a small beast tide. If this had happened near a border city of the empire, its defending general would likely have sent an urgent plea for aid to the Imperial Capital.

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, nearly a hundred powerful magical beasts had gathered near Xiao Yi's cave. The weakest had just entered the Dou Ling realm, while the strongest included five fifth-tier magical beasts comparable to peak human Dou Wangs. There were beasts on the ground, beasts in the sky, and even two enormous snakes that appeared to have just crawled out of a nearby pool.

Xiao Yi nodded in satisfaction, then spoke in human language. "Go. Find these medicinal ingredients and bring them to me."

Before long, the beast herd scattered with a roar, all of them setting off to search for medicinal ingredients.

By evening, Yao Lao looked at the several times the amount of medicinal ingredients he needed piled outside the cave entrance. There were even some precious medicinal ingredients he had not mentioned, which gave him a pleasant little surprise.

"You've put thought into this, Xiao Yi," Yao Lao said.

"Hehe." Xiao Yi scratched his enormous head and chuckled.

"Alright, Yan. Now that the medicinal ingredients are ready, we can begin refining pills. Today, we'll start with the Energy Accumulation Pill. Watch carefully. First, add the Starlight Grass, then..." Yao Lao said.

"Come, try making one yourself first," Yao Lao told Xiao Yan after demonstrating.

"Yes, Teacher," Xiao Yan said.

A moment later, with a bang, the medicine cauldron exploded. Xiao Yan stopped what he was doing and stared speechlessly at the pill he had refined.

Its surface was covered in pits and bumps. Its shape was completely irregular, and its luster was mottled with patches of green and purple. It looked like some strange object covered in sharp angles, nothing like the smooth, lustrous finished pills.

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

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

Xiao Yan's face flushed red. He silently cleaned the ordinary medicine cauldron he had brought from Wutan City, took out another set of ingredients for refining an Energy Storage Pill, and began again.

One month later.

"This is the refining method for the second-tier Bone Growing Pill." Not far from Xiao Yi's cave entrance, Yao Lao and Xiao Yan sat cross-legged before their own medicine cauldrons. Yao Lao stored a round, smooth white pill in a jade bottle as he spoke to Xiao Yan.

"Yes, Teacher," Xiao Yan answered steadily. Then, with a light slap of his left hand against the medicine cauldron before him, a purple flame rose from within. With his right hand, he picked up a Bone-Setting Fruit and tossed it into the cauldron.

Before long, a gleaming white pill rapidly took shape above the medicine cauldron. Xiao Yan had watched Yao Lao refine a pill only once, yet he was already able to independently and successfully refine a Bone Growing Pill. His progress was advancing by leaps and bounds; his talent was truly terrifying.

"Good, very good, Yan. You've basically mastered the refining of first- and second-tier pills. What you need now is practice. It's been a month. It's time for us to leave," Yao Lao said with feeling.

"Yes, Teacher. We've spent roughly half a year in the Magical Beast Mountain Range this time. It's time to set off for the Tager Desert," Xiao Yan said.

But where was Xiao Yi Xian? Wasn't one of my main reasons for coming to the Magical Beast Mountain Range to take Xiao Yi Xian home? Xiao Yan suddenly thought of the frail, breathtakingly beautiful woman from his memories.

Three days later.

"Xiao Yi, after this period of training and taking the Human-Shaping Pill, the Dou Emperor realm will be an easy road for you. We won't be taking you to the Tager Desert this time. Try to break through your bottleneck soon and advance to a high-level Dou Emperor. Also, consolidate the forces of the Magical Beast Mountain Range. I'll have great use for them in the future. My family is the Xiao Clan in Wutan City, Jia Ma Empire. I'll contact you if anything comes up." After saying this, Xiao Yan spread his Purple Cloud Wings and flew toward the outer reaches of the Magical Beast Mountain Range without looking back.

"Huff, I've finally sent those two disasters away." Xiao Yi cheered jubilantly as he watched Xiao Yan in the distance.

"Oh, right. Xiao Yi, make sure you don't miss us." Xiao Yan suddenly flew back and spoke to Xiao Yi, who stood at the cave entrance.

"Ah, Master, I won't miss you—no, I mean, I will!" Xiao Yi's face turned pale with fright. He had not expected Xiao Yan to return and spoke in a panicked rush.

After leaving the Magical Beast Mountain Range, Xiao Yan turned back for one final look before accelerating onward. When his Dou Qi ran out and he landed to rest near an unnamed village under Green Mountain Town, he saw a frail, lonely little girl crying beside a cat lying by the roadside, bleeding from all seven orifices and no longer breathing.

"Waaah, kitty, wake up. I wanted to save you. I just accidentally poisoned you to death. I didn't want this," the little girl continued crying to the kitten.

Xiao Yan crouched down and gently asked, "Little sister, this cat is already dead. What's your name?"

"Big brother, I know a little medicine. Everyone calls me Xiao Yi Xian. Big brother, are you here to take me away? My father and mother are already gone." The little girl looked up pitifully.

"Xiao Yi Xian? Good, what a good name." Xiao Yan laughed freely after hearing that.

"Xiao Yi Xian, hello. I'm Xiao Yan. Long time no see." Xiao Yan suddenly held out both hands toward Xiao Yi Xian.

"Brother Xiao Yan? Long time no see?" Xiao Yi Xian quietly wiped away her tears and cautiously reached out her hand to Xiao Yan.

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

"Big brother, aren't you afraid? I can poison people to death." Tears still hung from Xiao Yi Xian's eyelashes.

"I'm not afraid. Let's go." As he spoke, Xiao Yan took Xiao Yi Xian's small hand and led her toward Green Mountain Town.