Battle Through the Heavens: I Can Solidify All Talents

Xiao Zhan's hands clenched unconsciously, his nails nearly digging into his palms.

Could the son of a mere Da Dou Shi like Xiao Zhan truly bear the favor of Xiao Lin, a Dou Wang?

Would the other party show him, Xiao Zhan, that much respect?

Forget it... no matter what, I have to try.

A tremendous sense of helplessness rose within Xiao Zhan. In the end, he could only place his hopes on that slim possibility.

I'll write a letter first thing tomorrow morning and have the merchants send it by fast horse... whether it succeeds or fails, I can only leave it to fate...

Xiao Zhan closed his eyes again wearily, trying to drive away the chaotic thoughts in his mind. Yet his anxiety clung to him like a disease in the bones, impossible to dispel.

The long period of insomnia and mental torment had pushed Xiao Zhan's body to its limits. Amid that extreme exhaustion and silence, his consciousness gradually blurred, slowly sinking into a drowsy state.

Just as Xiao Zhan's consciousness was about to be swallowed by sleep—

"Xiao Zhan!"

An aged yet vigorous voice, carrying inexplicable majesty and abundant vitality, suddenly exploded beside Xiao Zhan's ear like thunder!

"Who?!"

Xiao Zhan was instantly jolted fully awake, all drowsiness vanishing as he sprang up from his chair.

The Dou Qi of a Da Dou Shi within him began circulating instinctively. His gaze was as sharp as a hawk's as he scanned the empty main hall with uncertainty, his expression incomparably grave.

He had not sensed anyone approaching at all!

This filled Xiao Zhan with horror. He knew the visitor's strength was far beyond anything he could imagine—at the very least, a Dou Ling, perhaps... even stronger!

A chill shot up his spine to the top of his head. Every muscle in Xiao Zhan's body tensed, and his Dou Qi began to circulate instinctively.

Enemy or friend?

"This old man was passing through this place and sensed that your clan possesses a fine talent, a piece of uncut jade. It delighted me greatly!"

The voice rang out again, with what seemed to be a trace of genuine appreciation and pleasure.

Xiao Zhan's expression changed repeatedly upon hearing this, and the shock in his heart deepened.

Not only had the other party infiltrated the Xiao Family's important grounds without a sound, but judging from his tone, he seemed to have taken a liking to one of the clan's disciples?

Xiao Zhan did not dare slight him. He hurriedly withdrew his aura, clasped his fists toward the empty air, and bowed respectfully. In a cautious yet clear voice, he said, "May I ask which senior has come to the Xiao Family? This junior, Xiao Zhan, failed to welcome you properly. I ask Senior to show yourself!"

As soon as his words fell, the air in the center of the hall twisted slightly, and a figure silently emerged like a ghost.

The newcomer was completely shrouded in a large black robe. Even his head was deeply concealed beneath the hood, revealing no trace of his face—only a patch of profound darkness.

He merely stood there quietly, yet seemed to meld with the surrounding shadows, emanating an unfathomable aura.

Xiao Zhan's pupils suddenly contracted. He had not seen how this person had appeared at all!

It was as though he had been standing there from the very beginning.

Such means were far beyond Xiao Zhan's comprehension. This was definitely an unimaginable powerhouse!

"G-Greetings, Senior!"

Xiao Zhan's heart shook violently. He immediately lowered his head, not daring to look any further. Keeping his posture extremely humble, he bowed deeply once more, his voice carrying an almost imperceptible reverence.

The black-robed figure moved slightly, and the aged, imposing voice came from beneath the hood. "No need for such formalities. This old man can be considered a somewhat experienced alchemist. I have traveled across the land, and not long ago, I happened to pass through your Wutan City. By chance, I accepted a disciple..."

He deliberately paused. The shadows beneath his hood seemed to sweep over Xiao Zhan with two tangible gazes before he slowly continued, "Come to think of it, that disciple is from your clan."

"What?!" Xiao Zhan abruptly raised his head, his face instantly filled with shock and immense joy!

A member of the clan had been accepted as a disciple by such a mysterious senior, someone who was very likely a high-ranking alchemist?

What an opportunity!

"May I ask, Senior, which clan disciple was fortunate enough to..."

Xiao Zhan eagerly wanted to ask, but the black-robed man raised a hand and interrupted him.

"Which disciple it is, you will learn in time. That little fellow has a kind heart and cares deeply for the clan... Upon hearing that one of the clan elders had fallen ill, the child specially begged this old man..."

As the black-robed man spoke, he flicked his sleeve. Several exquisite, lustrous jade bottles appeared out of thin air in his hand, each one seemingly surrounded by faint energy fluctuations.

"This old man was asked to bring you these pills. Perhaps they can resolve your urgent need."

Without any visible movement from him, the jade bottles were supported by an invisible, gentle force and steadily flew toward Xiao Zhan.

Caught off guard, Xiao Zhan hurriedly reached out and caught them. The bottles felt cool and warm in his hands, and he could sense the immense medicinal potency contained within. They were definitely no ordinary items!

"Senior! These are far too precious! This junior cannot accept them! May I ask which clan disciple it is? This junior..."

Xiao Zhan was both shocked and anxious. He hurriedly looked up, wanting to refuse and get to the bottom of this.

However, the instant Xiao Zhan raised his head, his words came to an abrupt halt.

Before him was nothing but empty space!

The mysterious black-robed senior had vanished without a sound, just as he had arrived. There was not even a trace left behind, as though he had never appeared at all.

Only the several heavy jade bottles in his arms, giving off an enticing medicinal fragrance, proved that what had just happened was not an illusion.

Xiao Zhan was left standing alone in the main hall, holding the jade bottles. His face was filled with disbelief, confusion, and the overwhelming shock of surviving a desperate situation.

The night wind swept past outside the hall, bringing a trace of coolness, but it could not calm the raging waves in Xiao Zhan's heart!

Pills Enough to Break Through to Dou Ling!

Xiao Zhan stood there blankly for a long time, his body rigid, like a statue that had suddenly had its soul ripped away.

Everything that had just happened was too fast and too bizarre, leaving Xiao Zhan unable to fully process all the information.

Xiao Zhan slowly lowered his head. His gaze seemed drawn by a magnet as he stared fixedly at the jade bottles in his hands, which still retained a trace of mysterious warmth.

He could even vaguely feel the faint yet pure energy fluctuations emitted by the pills within, trembling gently as though they possessed life.

Xiao Zhan forcibly calmed himself and carefully recalled every word the mysterious black-robed man had directly conveyed into his mind.

Accepting a disciple, pleading, pills...

These words continuously combined and unfolded in Xiao Zhan's mind.

Who was it?

Who could possibly persuade such a mysterious and powerful alchemist?

And who was the old man's disciple?

Who would beg a teacher they had only just acknowledged to bestow such incomparably precious pills for the sake of the Xiao Family and Xiao Zhan himself?

Suddenly, Xiao Zhan froze. An unbelievable light burst forth from his eyes, and all his previous helplessness, confusion, and anxiety were completely washed away by an overwhelming surge of ecstasy and hope!

It's Qing'er! It must be Qing'er! That mysterious alchemist senior accepted him as a disciple!

Xiao Zhan's heart pounded wildly, nearly leaping from his chest.

He recalled Xiao Qing's diligent cultivation over the past few months and his composure that far exceeded that of ordinary people...

Everything now seemed to have a reasonable explanation!

Qing'er must have encountered an extraordinary opportunity and taken this master as his teacher. Now that he had achieved something in his studies, perhaps he had even played a crucial role in persuading his teacher to send such precious pills!

Xiao Zhan hesitated no longer. With trembling hands, he carefully pulled the stopper from one of the jade bottles.

At once, an indescribably rich medicinal fragrance rushed toward him. It was not pungent; instead, it carried a gentle, mellow scent of herbs and vegetation.

Merely inhaling a trace of it made the exhaustion, anxiety, and pent-up gloom that Xiao Zhan had accumulated over many days seem to be brushed away by a spring breeze, vanishing in an instant!

His entire spirit was invigorated, and his eyes regained the sharpness and vitality befitting the head of the clan!

The instant the stopper was opened, a faint yet exceptionally clear stream of information containing special Soul Power precisely entered Xiao Zhan's brow and consciousness.

This was a common method of preserving information in high-grade pills, intended to let the user clearly understand the pill's name and effects!

Xiao Zhan subconsciously closed his eyes, focused his mind, and accepted the foreign yet harmless stream of information.

A moment later, Xiao Zhan suddenly opened his eyes. A near-substantial radiance of ecstasy burst from them, and even his voice trembled with excitement.

"A Grade 4 Foundation Solidifying Pill?! It really is a Grade 4 Foundation Solidifying Pill! And one of such superior quality at that!"

Immense joy crashed over Xiao Zhan. This usually dignified clan leader was so excited that he nearly began dancing with joy, like a child who had received his most beloved toy.

Only then did Xiao Zhan truly confirm that the disciple the mysterious alchemist powerhouse had mentioned was Xiao Qing.

Otherwise, who else would know that what Xiao Zhan needed most urgently was a Foundation Strengthening Pill?

The greatest problem that had troubled Xiao Zhan for so long had actually been resolved in such an unexpected manner!

Then... what about the other jade bottles...? Suppressing his excitement over the Foundation Strengthening Pill, Xiao Zhan's trembling hand reached for the remaining bottles, receiving their information one by one.

A Tier 4 pill, the Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill!

It was not an ordinary Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill, but a supreme-grade pill containing three distinct Pill Patterns!

The information clearly stated that when consumed by a Da Dou Shi, it could directly raise one's strength by one star, with an extremely high chance of raising it by two stars!

Even more terrifying was that its medicinal effect could be repeated. One could take it once again at the Dou Ling stage, without any backlash from the medicine's effects!

What kind of heaven-defying pill was this?

A peak Tier 4 pill, the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill!

It was likewise a treasured pill prepared for Da Dou Shi to raise their cultivation. Its medicinal nature was mild, and most importantly—it had almost no drug resistance!

Two could be taken in succession. This meant Xiao Zhan could directly raise his cultivation by two stars with this pill!

A peak Tier 4 pill, the Spirit Cleansing Pill!

Xiao Zhan had heard a little about this pill. It was a supreme treasure dreamed of by countless peak Da Dou Shi experts!

After consuming it, it could cleanse one's marrow and forge one's bones, greatly increasing the chance of successfully breaking through to the Dou Ling realm. It was practically a golden key to opening the gates of Dou Ling!

This... this was no longer like sending charcoal in the snow. It was simply handing him a smooth road to the heavens!

Xiao Zhan felt a rush of hot blood shoot to his head, and his entire body trembled faintly with excitement.

These pills could not only cure his beloved wife's chronic illness, but also completely free Xiao Zhan from the shackles of Da Dou Shi, allowing him to aim for Dou Ling—and perhaps even higher!

This favor was too great!

So great that Xiao Zhan felt endless gratitude toward Xiao Qing and that mysterious teacher, along with a sense that none of this was real.

Hiss—exhale—

Xiao Zhan took several deep breaths, forcibly suppressing the hot blood that was nearly boiling over and his body trembling with excitement.

He inhaled and exhaled over and over again. Only after repeating this many times, until fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, did he finally barely suppress his wild joy and regain outward calm.

Once he had calmed down, the wisdom and caution expected of a clan leader regained the upper hand.

That senior is so mysterious. He chose to come alone in the dead of night and deliver the pills in this manner, without revealing his disciple's name...

Xiao Zhan's eyes flickered as his thoughts raced.

He clearly does not wish to reveal his identity or draw too much attention and trouble!

Xiao Zhan instantly understood the other party's intentions.

An alchemist who could casually produce so many high-grade, even supreme-quality pills had to be at least a Tier 5 Alchemist!

If word of his whereabouts spread, it would definitely cause an enormous uproar throughout the Jia Ma Empire!

Who knew how many factions would move upon hearing the news? When that happened, fortune and disaster would be impossible to predict.

For the currently weak Xiao Family, too much attention often meant tremendous danger.

Handling the matter discreetly and keeping it secret was the best choice.

"This matter must absolutely not be spread outside!"

Xiao Zhan tightly gripped the jade bottles in his hands. His gaze became incomparably resolute as he spoke in a voice so soft that only he himself could hear it.

"Everything that happened tonight must be buried in my heart. I cannot mention it to anyone, including Qian'er, Ding'er, and Li'er!"

Xiao Zhan buried this immense surprise and gratitude deep within his heart. His face regained its usual steadiness, but in the depths of his eyes burned an unprecedented fire of hope and soaring fighting spirit.

Xiao Zhan knew that the fate of the Xiao Family might be about to change completely from this very night onward!

And all of it stemmed from that previously obscure youth of the clan who had silently obtained a heaven-shaking opportunity—Xiao Qing!

Heaven Rank Dou Technique—Ghost Possession!

Xiao Family Back Mountain—