Heading to the Medicinal Herb Storage

Ye Xian said with a bitter smile, "He actually has Heavenly Flames. I was careless."

Old Man Fire steadied himself and said nothing. After all, Xiao Yan had never mentioned that he could refine pills, while quite a few respected elders already knew about his Heavenly Flames.

Xiao Yan was quite familiar with the Bone-Growing Pill, though he had only refined third-grade ones before. Still, he was somewhat confident in refining a fourth-grade Bone-Growing Pill.

Seeing Xiao Yan's movements, Lin Yan was finally completely reassured. Xiao Yan placed the medicinal ingredients into the medicine cauldron one stalk at a time, his movements extremely practiced.

Old Man Fire nodded. Just from those movements alone, he could tell that Xiao Yan had some attainments in pill refining.

Elder Yao said within Xiao Yan's mind, "Xiao Yan, I recall that you only recently came out of seclusion. A few days ago, your success rate in refining fourth-grade pills was still quite low. How did you become so proficient now?"

Xiao Yan gave a strained explanation. "Teacher, perhaps wandering around for a few days put me in a better mood, and I suddenly gained insight into some things?"

Elder Yao did not say anything more after hearing that. In any case, he was no longer surprised by Xiao Yan's situation.

Xiao Yan poured all of his Soul Power into the medicine cauldron. The medicinal ingredients were slowly refined, then gradually fused together.

Old Man Fire muttered, "This kid is about to condense the pill!"

All the students from the Alchemist Department cried out in surprise. Successfully refining a fourth-grade pill in one attempt was not something someone who had just become a fourth-grade alchemist could accomplish.

It seemed Xiao Yan's attainments in pill refining were not inferior to Ye Xian's at all. They might even be higher.

Moreover, Xiao Yan was far younger than Ye Xian.

At that moment, Ye Xian's forehead was covered in sweat, and his hands unconsciously clenched his clothes.

Lin Yan sniffed. He could already clearly smell the pill fragrance, and it was of exceptionally high quality.

A smile appeared on Xiao Yan's face. The pill was finally about to be completed. It seemed the support Heavenly Flames provided to alchemists was truly extraordinary.

With a bang, a loud explosion rang out, and a plump, round pill flew out of the medicine cauldron.

It then landed in Xiao Yan's hand.

The pill was complete!

The news immediately spread from inside to outside, and the people outside began rushing around to tell one another.

Lin Yan happily patted Ye Xian's shoulder, then leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Ye Xian, now that Xiao Yan is here, your status won't be as high as before. And with all the things you've done around here, plenty of people would love to deal with you."

After hearing those words, Ye Xian shuddered. When he looked at Xiao Yan again, there was added viciousness in his eyes. Then he shoved Lin Yan aside and left.

Lin Yan watched Ye Xian's departing figure. These alchemists usually loved looking down on others, especially Ye Xian. If not for their wariness of his status as an alchemist—

Someone like Ye Xian, with no social awareness whatsoever, would have long been dragged into some alley and beaten up.

After Ye Xian left, Xiao Yan carried the pill over to Old Man Fire and said, "Elder Huo, please take a look. Does this pill meet your requirements?"

Old Man Fire took the pill and gave it a hard sniff.

"Xiao Yan, your pill-refining skills could be called unmatched among all the students in the Alchemist Department. I underestimated you. However, regarding your use of the Medicinal Herb Storage, I still need to consult First Elder Su Qian." Old Man Fire's attitude had suddenly become much friendlier. Many students had never seen him be so polite to a student in their entire lives.

Xiao Yan nodded and said, "Then I'll have to trouble Elder Huo. I've truly disturbed you this time."

"There's no need. From now on, the Medicinal Herb Storage will be open to Xiao Yan anytime!" An aged voice came from nearby as First Elder Su Qian slowly walked in through the door.

When everyone saw First Elder Su Qian enter, they all made way for him. Su Qian looked at Xiao Yan with satisfaction and said with a smile, "Jia Nan Academy has not had such an outstanding student in a long time. I hope you can reach even greater heights in the future."

Xiao Yan said happily, "Thank you, First Elder Su Qian! I merely wish to consolidate my pill-refining skills. I will not waste medicinal ingredients."

"Those medicinal ingredients would only gather dust sitting there, but in the hands of alchemists like you, they can become pills. I am quite reassured about that." After saying this, Su Qian left.

Old Man Fire walked over to Xiao Yan and asked, "Who exactly taught you pill refinement? To reach this level at your age, you must have begun identifying medicinal ingredients from a very young age, right?"

Xiao Yan thought for a moment, then could only nod.

Old Man Fire nodded as well, then said with a smile, "No wonder. To bring both cultivation and pill refinement to such heights, you must have put in a hundred times more effort than ordinary people!"

That remark made Xiao Yan blush. He truly could not accept such praise.

However, seeing the admiring gazes of all the students present, Xiao Yan forced himself to nod. Even when Lin Yan looked at him now, there was a trace of reverence in his eyes.

Only then did Xiao Yan realize he had overdone the act. The name Xiao Yan would probably become even more famous than the young genius he had been before!

Xiao Yan was not even seventeen yet. He was truly far too young. Yet his current achievements might be things others could never reach in an entire lifetime.

His starting point might well be the endpoint others struggled toward for their entire lives.

Old Man Fire tossed a key to Xiao Yan. It was the key to Jia Nan Academy's Medicinal Herb Storage. Xiao Yan nodded.

"Thank you, Elder Huo, and all the senior brothers. I won't disturb you any longer," Xiao Yan said with a smile, offering his farewell.

Old Man Fire also said, "Xiao Yan, if you have any questions about pill refinement in the future, you can always come discuss and learn with me."

Xiao Yan gave a sound of acknowledgment and thanked Elder Huo for his concern. Then he left with Lin Yan.

"Not bad, kid. I thought you were bragging before, but I didn't expect you to be hiding your talents so well." Lin Yan slung an arm around Xiao Yan's neck as he spoke.

Xiao Yan forcefully pulled Lin Yan away and said with difficulty, "Enough, enough. I already gave you the pills to cure your fire poison. Go back and refine them properly. I'm heading to the Medicinal Herb Storage first!"

Lin Yan curled his lips and said, "They all say I'm a cultivation maniac, but I think you're the one who truly deserves that title. You just came out, and now you're going to cultivate again. Forget it, I won't bother with you."

Lin Yan waved his hand and left. Xiao Yan looked at the key in his hand, then headed toward the Medicinal Herb Storage.

Xiao Yan said with a smile, "I wonder whether that little girl Zi Yan is in the Medicinal Herb Storage right now. It would be interesting if I ran into her. After all, she is the Empress of the Ancient Void Dragon clan."

Before long, Xiao Yan saw an ancient-looking building. An old man was guarding the entrance, and Xiao Yan could tell at a glance that the old man's strength was definitely above that of a Five-Star Dou King.

The old man guarding the door glanced at Xiao Yan, then waved his hand. "Come back tomorrow. No medicinal ingredients are being collected today."

Xiao Yan coughed, then slapped the key in his hand onto the table.

That elder's eyes immediately lit up!