Battle Through the Heavens: The Rise Begins at Canaan Academy Part 25

A Deal Reached

Qin Chen chuckled. "Thank you, Senior. But before that, may this junior ask a question first?"

"What question?"

"As the number one alchemist on the Battle Qi Continent, Senior has surely heard of the Woeful Poison Body. I would like to ask whether you have a cure for it. One of my friends suffers greatly because of it."

Qin Chen naturally knew that Yao Lao possessed the Poison Pill Method, but it was inconvenient for him to say so directly.

"The Woeful Poison Body?"

Hearing that familiar name once more, an imperceptible flicker passed through Yao Lao's eyes, and he began speaking at greater length.

"Yes. I once had a friend with the Woeful Poison Body. When it comes to understanding it, I fear no one could compare to her. Before she died, she created a Poison Pill Method that could control the Woeful Poison Body."

"But what are you planning to offer in exchange this time?"

Qin Chen had long been prepared. "This junior happens to possess a heavenly treasure that is extremely suitable for Brother Xiao Yan in his current state."

As he spoke, he took out a small jade bottle from his storage ring and opened it.

"Earth Core Tempering Milk?" Yao Lao was exceptionally knowledgeable and quickly recognized the origin of the jade-green viscous liquid within the bottle.

Xiao Yan was currently at the crucial stage of building his foundation. If he could use such a spiritual treasure of heaven and earth to cleanse his marrow and temper his bones, not only would his strength soar in a short time, but his path toward becoming a Dou Wang would also be unobstructed in the future.

"Precisely."

Qin Chen smiled. "I believe it should satisfy Senior."

"You certainly have quite a few treasures on you," Yao Lao said meaningfully.

Aside from his own cultivation talent, he also had so many heavenly treasures supporting him. No wonder this boy had reached the Dou Wang realm at such a young age.

"You flatter me, Senior. I was merely lucky."

Qin Chen uttered that timeless truth, then asked, "Then this deal?"

"Deal." Yao Lao smiled gently.

Yao Lao had some private considerations regarding this transaction.

The Poison Pill Method required three kinds of Heavenly Flame to perform. Although it could be accomplished through the method of borrowing flames, Heavenly Flames were already scarce, and finding people willing to lend theirs was even more difficult.

In the end, Qin Chen would most likely still need the help of him and his disciple. With Qin Chen's talent, so long as he did not perish midway, he would surely gain a foothold in the Central Plains someday.

Together with the person who possessed the Woeful Poison Body, Xiao Yan would be able to make two powerful experts owe him favors at once.

The path of cultivation was not solely about fighting and killing. Sometimes, personal connections mattered even more. Forming good ties at the right time often brought unexpected help to one's future development.

"Thank you, Senior. The fragment map and the Earth Core Tempering Milk are yours." Qin Chen laughed and handed the yellowed piece of parchment and jade bottle to the master and disciple.

Taking the map and jade bottle, Yao Lao lightly waved his illusory hand. The Ancient Flame Ring on Xiao Yan's finger trembled slightly.

Immediately afterward, an exquisite jade slip and a large pile of scrolls flew toward Qin Chen, hovering before him.

"That gray scroll is the Poison Pill Method," Yao Lao added.

Qin Chen opened the scroll and saw that it indeed recorded the Poison Pill Method.

"The Woeful Poison Body, a rather strange special constitution..."

Suppressing the excitement in his heart, he stored all the scrolls before him into his storage ring.

"I'm going to begin studying alchemy now. Please make yourselves at home, Senior." With that, Qin Chen released Xiaocai from his sleeve.

He then sat cross-legged, pressed the jade slip against his brow, and began receiving the immense inheritance within.

Seeing this, Yao Lao called for Xiao Yan to leave the valley.

He needed to properly study this fragment map!

An hour later, Qin Chen slowly opened his tightly shut eyes.

Yao Lao truly was a high-tier alchemist who had been famous for many years. This inheritance covered everything from the most basic identification of medicinal ingredients and analysis of their properties to various fire-control techniques and alchemical insights. Every detail was recorded with extraordinary precision.

Looking at the empty valley, Qin Chen took a deep breath. "Xiao Yan, I hope you won't remain fixated on the Flame Mantra. That way, I can still lend you a hand."

The potential to evolve into a Heaven-tier technique, Xun'er's unfathomable background, and the necessary conditions for Yao Lao's resurrection—these three factors built upon one another, ultimately driving Xiao Yan to resolve himself to cultivate the Flame Mantra.

Qin Chen had revealed his own Heavenly Flame not only to draw Xiao Yan and his master here, but also to dispel their ambitions.

If Xiao Yan wanted to cultivate the Flame Mantra, he had to find and devour Heavenly Flames. At present, the only two Heavenly Flames the master and disciple knew of in the northwest were one unknown Heavenly Flame in the Tagore Desert and Fallen Heart Flame at Canaan Academy.

As long as they could see no hope of obtaining multiple Heavenly Flames, they would naturally give up on the Flame Mantra.

The Flame Mantra was the cultivation technique of Tuoshe Ancient Emperor. No one could predict whether, once his cave abode was opened, he would ignore both the Void Pure Lotus and their Battle Qi cultivation and directly grant the inheritance to Xiao Yan.

After all, in the eyes of a true Dou Di expert, a Nine-Star Dou Sheng and a Dou Zhe were not all that different.

If Xiao Yan truly refused to give up on the Flame Mantra, then force would be the only solution in the future!

To be honest, Qin Chen did not want things to reach that point.

Over the following days, Qin Chen refined pills in the valley day after day, constantly tempering his Battle Qi as he improved his alchemy.

As for Xiao Yan, besides his daily cultivation, he would occasionally come watch Qin Chen refine pills. Several times, Yao Lao had dragged him over himself. Learning Battle Techniques was probably too exhausting...

During this time, Yao Lao would also occasionally offer Qin Chen guidance.

Qin Chen was more than happy to accept it.

And so, more than a month quickly passed.

One day, in the small valley where Qin Chen lived.

"Come!"

Qin Chen slowly raised his arm. A powerful suction force suddenly erupted from his palm, precisely drawing out the pill concealed within the pillar of light. He then carefully placed it into a jade bottle.

The alchemy techniques he had exchanged from Yao Lao were indeed useful. Although he had been able to refine Dou Ling Pills before, he absolutely could not do so with such effortless fluidity.

Once he broke through to the Dou Huang realm, he could attempt to refine seventh-tier pills.

"Hiss!"

Seeing that Qin Chen had finished refining the pill, Xiaocai, who had been waiting nearby, immediately darted over.

Its slender snake body coiled around Qin Chen's forearm, while its little head affectionately rubbed against his wrist. Its snake eyes were full of yearning.

"You greedy little thing."

Qin Chen smiled faintly and took out an Earthfire Lotus Seed, placing it into Xiaocai's mouth.

"An Earthfire Lotus Seed?"

Not far away, Yao Lao's astonished voice rang out in Xiao Yan's mind.

"Earthfire Lotus Seed?"

Xiao Yan looked utterly confused. "Teacher, what is an Earthfire Lotus Seed?"

Yao Lao sighed softly and explained, "The Earthfire Lotus Seed is known as the essence of fire spirits. One forms every hundred years, and it contains incredibly pure energy. Even Dou Huang experts would fight bitterly over it."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan understood why his teacher was so astonished.

A treasure that even Dou Huang experts would fight over was being fed to the Seven-Colored Heaven-Devouring Python as food by Qin Chen without even batting an eye.

Rumble!

At that moment, a sudden change occurred.

A violent energy fluctuation, accompanied by a savage lion's roar, exploded in the distant sky, shaking the soul.

Hearing that deafening commotion, the three of them instinctively looked toward its source.

Yun Yun Arrives

The distant sky was no longer its usual azure blue. Instead, it had been largely obscured by two powerful masses of green and red energy.

"She's finally here!" Qin Chen's gaze narrowed as he watched the graceful figure faintly visible in the distance.

With a thunderous boom from the heavens, Yun Yun made a dazzling entrance!

As for how she would make her exit, don't worry about that just yet...

"What terrifying power!" Seeing such horrifying might, Xiao Yan felt like a tiny ant and immediately revealed a look of shock.

"You're making a fuss over nothing." Qin Chen shrugged and glanced indifferently at Xiao Yan.

Then fiery wings burst from his back. With a flap of his green wings, he flew toward the center of the battle.

Watching Qin Chen's departing back, Xiao Yan scratched his head awkwardly. He was still not steady enough, and his reaction had indeed been somewhat excessive.

"Hehe, I told you long ago that the Battle Qi Continent is a wonderful place. There are quite a few people stronger than Dou Huang experts. Cultivate diligently. When you reach that level someday, you will naturally discover the wonders of this world." At that moment, Yao Lao spoke with a smile.

"Yes, Teacher. I will walk this path steadily and never aim too high," Xiao Yan said with a smile.

Hearing this, Yao Lao stroked his beard in satisfaction and smiled. "Do you want to go take a look as well?"

"I really do want to witness a battle between experts." Xiao Yan looked expectant.

"It would be good to broaden your horizons and relax your mind."

Yao Lao chuckled, then transformed into a streak of light and entered Xiao Yan's body. Using the Heaven-tier secret technique—Ghost Possession—he sped toward the center of the battle.

A quarter of an hour later, Xiao Yan spotted Qin Chen hidden atop a towering ancient tree.

Yao Lao swept his gaze around and found no better foothold. He then controlled Xiao Yan's body and landed on the same giant tree as Qin Chen.

In the vast sky, green and red energy clashed and eroded each other, neither side gaining the upper hand. Lion roars and sword cries continuously rang out from within, carrying overwhelming pressure in every direction.

"It's actually the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King!" Xiao Yan exclaimed after clearly seeing the enormous magical beast.

It was a lion-shaped magical beast about two zhang long, its body covered in a layer of purple crystals that shone brilliantly. Under the sunlight, dazzling purple flames burned across them.

A fiery-red spiral horn grew from its lion head. Its limbs were thick and powerful, while a pair of broad fleshy wings extended from its back. With every flap, clusters of purple flame ignited across them.

Opposite it stood a female expert in a plain dress, wielding a strange longsword. Her long black hair was arranged into a noble phoenix-shaped coiffure. Her fair, delicate features and dignified, graceful bearing remained utterly calm even in the face of such a formidable sixth-tier magical beast.

The green wind-attributed Battle Qi swirling around her prevented the violent energy nearby from harming her in the slightest.

"Human woman, why have you come to disturb this king's rest?" After finishing their probing exchange, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King spoke first.