"A cultivation technique? It can evolve?"
"That's right. Although it starts at the low Yellow tier, it really can evolve."
"Have you cultivated it before?" Xiao Yan asked.
"Uh, no."
"Then has someone else cultivated it?" Xiao Yan asked again.
"Probably not." Yao Chen thought of his treacherous disciple, Han Feng.
The other man might have cultivated an incomplete Flame Mantra, but Yao Chen did not know the results. Besides, that definitely did not count as cultivating the genuine version.
"No one has cultivated it, so how do you know it can evolve?" Xiao Yan's mouth twitched.
If Zhang Yuan had not said that Old Yao had once been a Dou Zun and the greatest alchemist on the continent, Xiao Yan would have suspected him of running a scam.
"That's how the cultivation technique describes itself." Old Yao smiled awkwardly.
Xiao Yan became interested and asked, "Can I take a look?"
"Well, let's forget about that for now." Old Yao changed the subject. "Even if I gave it to you now, you wouldn't be able to cultivate it. Wait until you become a Dou Zhe. Your most important task now is reaching the seventh stage of Dou Qi within a year."
Xiao Yan immediately clicked his tongue. "With Cousin helping me, that won't be a problem."
Yao Chen was rather speechless. He felt that this disciple of his trusted Zhang Yuan blindly.
"My cheap disciple, you must not tell anyone about the cultivation technique, not even Zhang Yuan, because—"
Yao Chen began preparing Xiao Yan for what was to come.
Meanwhile, elsewhere, Zhang Yuan encountered Xiao Zhan and the Xiao Clan's three elders, who had arrived together.
"Uncle, Great Elder, Elders." Zhang Yuan cupped his fists in greeting.
"Yuan'er, why be so formal with family?" A smile bloomed across the Great Elder's aged face.
Xiao Zhan was speechless beside him.
This was his nephew, not theirs.
However, he had no mind to bother with such trivial matters now. He asked expectantly, "Yuan'er, has Yan'er's physical problem been resolved?"
Zhang Yuan nodded lightly. "I invited a Fourth-grade Alchemist to examine Yan's body. His inability to cultivate has been successfully resolved. Moreover, that alchemist said Yan has talent for alchemy and wishes to take him as a disciple."
"What?!"
Xiao Zhan and the three elders all revealed shocked expressions.
At the Xiao Clan's level, a third-rate force in the Jia Ma Empire, it was difficult even to establish a connection with a Second-grade Alchemist. A Fourth-grade Alchemist, however, would be treated as an honored guest even by first-rate forces.
Who could have imagined that Zhang Yuan could invite a Fourth-grade Alchemist to act?
More importantly, Xiao Yan's talent had recovered, and he had even been accepted as a disciple by a Fourth-grade Alchemist.
With that connection, even clans guarded by Dou Lings would have to treat the Xiao Clan politely.
"Yuan'er, quickly invite that esteemed alchemist out. We shall immediately hold a banquet in his honor," the Great Elder said impatiently. Xiao Zhan did not mind him overstepping his authority.
"I'm afraid that won't be possible." Zhang Yuan shook his head. "That esteemed alchemist has an eccentric temperament. Back then, I happened to obtain a special medicinal ingredient he needed to refine pills, and only then was I able to ask him to examine Yan's body."
"Although he has accepted Yan as a disciple, Yan is still only a nominal disciple. He has set a rule that Yan must not reveal that he is his disciple until he becomes a Second-grade Alchemist."
"Nor can he possibly come meet all of you elders. If you insist, it may backfire and offend him."
Hearing this, the four of them immediately looked disappointed.
Every alchemist held an esteemed status, and they were all famously eccentric. Thus, they did not doubt Zhang Yuan's words. Besides, Zhang Yuan had no reason to fabricate such a lie to deceive them.
They had latched onto a golden thigh, but not quite completely.
They could only hope that Xiao Yan would become a Second-grade Alchemist soon. Then the Xiao Clan would have a true backer.
"Then make sure to host that alchemist well. Tell us if he lacks anything, and we will not publicize this matter," Xiao Zhan stated solemnly. The three elders also voiced their agreement; they understood the importance of the matter.
Seeing that his purpose had been achieved, Zhang Yuan handed Xiao Zhan the note he had prepared long ago. "Uncle, these are the medicinal ingredients that alchemist requires. He wants to refine some pills."
Foundation Building Spirit Liquid was precious to a force because it could lay an excellent foundation for Body Tempering Realm cultivators, accelerate their path to becoming Dou Zhes, and benefit their future cultivation.
In the novel world Zhang Yuan had read about, Xiao Yan could not reveal Old Yao's identity because of Old Yao's warning. He could only procure medicinal ingredients himself. Since he lacked money, he even had to sell Foundation Building Spirit Liquid in exchange for funds to continue buying ingredients and refining more, repeating the cycle over and over.
But now that Zhang Yuan was here, they could fully mobilize the clan's resources. There was no need for such trouble.
"Just these?" Xiao Zhan immediately accepted the note and found that it listed only some relatively inexpensive medicinal ingredients, along with a First-order Wood-elemental Magical Beast Core.
Although the Xiao Clan had no alchemist, it was an old-established clan with some reserves, including several Third-grade Pill Formulas.
Just from the ingredients, Xiao Zhan could tell that this pill would not be of a high grade.
"This is a special pill—or rather, medicinal liquid—for Yan's use," Zhang Yuan explained. "After years of research, that esteemed alchemist created this exclusive medicinal liquid. If Body Tempering Realm cultivators bathe in it while cultivating, their rate of condensing Dou Qi can increase by at least twice."
"That esteemed alchemist intends to help Yan recover his Dou Zhe strength within a year so that he can begin learning alchemy under him."
"Hiss..."
Upon hearing Zhang Yuan's words, Xiao Zhan and the other three began breathing rapidly.
Foundation Building Spirit Liquid was useless to them, but it held immense value for the clan's younger generation.
If this could be widely used, the entire Xiao Clan would benefit. The younger generation's strength and foundation would soar, affecting the whole clan. This was a generous gift.
"That esteemed alchemist said this is a meeting gift for Yan. He will teach the refining method once Yan becomes an alchemist. For now, he will personally refine it, and can also make some for the Xiao Clan. However much medicinal material you provide, he will refine that much," Zhang Yuan added.
Another heavy blow landed. Xiao Zhan and the other three nearly fainted from happiness.
"The ancestors have shown their favor! The ancestors have blessed us!" The three elders were all moved to tears.
They had all witnessed the Xiao Clan's former glory. They belonged to the same generation as Xiao Zhan's Dou Wang father, yet now they could only huddle in Wutan City, their hearts filled with dreams of rising again.
Thus, they placed immense importance on nurturing the clan's talented disciples. They had been exceptionally tolerant of Xiao Yan and had spared no effort in raising Zhang Yuan as well.
At last, their hardships were beginning to bear fruit.
"We will definitely provide as much as he needs," Xiao Zhan said.
Seeing how excited they were, Zhang Yuan could not help reminding them, "Uncle, Wutan City does not only have our Xiao Clan. If we make large-scale purchases, it will inevitably be noticed and exploited by those with ulterior motives—for example, they could manipulate the market."
Xiao Zhan immediately calmed down and said approvingly, "Yuan'er, you truly are more thoughtful. Your uncle nearly made a mistake."
As he spoke, he took out a jade box. "These are the three Qi Gathering Powders you did not take earlier. Keep them safe."
"There's no need." Zhang Yuan shook his head. "These were originally gifts from me to the clan. Uncle, you can announce to the clan's disciples that they will be awarded to the first people to reach the ninth stage of Dou Qi. It will be perfect for motivating their cultivation."
Hearing this, the three elders immediately began rubbing their hands together, prepared to return and properly urge their direct descendants onward.
Even with the Xiao Clan's financial resources, three Qi Gathering Powders could not be produced lightly. If they failed to seize such an opportunity, they deserved a beating.
"Since you put it that way, your uncle won't stand on ceremony. We'll convert them into clan contribution points. You can exchange them for money or other things whenever you wish," Xiao Zhan said with a face full of gratification.
He felt that the wisest thing he had ever done in his life was treating Zhang Yuan as his own son and raising him as such.
"I won't stand on ceremony with Uncle either." Zhang Yuan took out another note. "Uncle, the medicinal ingredients listed here are rather precious. I hope you can help me obtain them."
Xiao Zhan took it and gave it a glance. He immediately let out a soft exclamation. "Yuan'er, these seem to be the ingredients needed to refine the Three-pattern Green Spirit Pill?"
Like the Qi Gathering Powder, the Three-pattern Green Spirit Pill was a Fourth-grade pill. The three patterns represented three different qualities. A One-pattern Green Spirit Pill could help a Dou Master break through and advance to Da Dou Shi, while Da Dou Shis who consumed it had a small chance of increasing by one star.
A Two-pattern Green Spirit Pill could not be consumed by Dou Masters. It could increase a Da Dou Shi's cultivation by two stars, with a certain chance of increasing it by three.
A Three-pattern Green Spirit Pill had a certain chance of increasing a Da Dou Shi's strength by three stars, but it also had a chance of backlash, lowering cultivation by roughly one to two stars. However, it posed no threat to one's life and could also help Dou Lings increase by two stars.
On the Dou Qi Continent, the precise refining methods in pill formulas were secrets, but the medicinal ingredients required to refine pills were not. This was because making them widely known made it easier for people to gather them, then pay an alchemist to refine the pills.
Different alchemists charged for their services in different ways.
The Xiao Clan had once been a Dou Wang clan, so they naturally knew the ingredients required for the Three-pattern Green Spirit Pill.
"That's right, it is the Three-pattern Green Spirit Pill." Zhang Yuan nodded. "That esteemed alchemist has agreed to refine it for me."
Xiao Zhan and the other three immediately drew deep breaths, their eyes blazing. "Can we ask him to refine a few more?"
The four of them were all Da Dou Shis and had never consumed a Three-pattern Green Spirit Pill. If each of them could obtain one, they could increase their strength.
Zhang Yuan nodded decisively and smiled. "Of course. That esteemed alchemist is very generous."
"Achoo!"
Old Yao, who was explaining the Flame Mantra and Heavenly Flames to Xiao Yan, sneezed.
Xiao Yan asked doubtfully, "Can ghosts sneeze too?"
Old Yao: "..."
(End of Chapter)
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