Intimidation / Changes

He smiled slightly, stroked his chin, and said, "This junior has no master. As for my pill-refining skills, I learned them from a mysterious senior."

"Ah!"

Fa Ma shook his head helplessly. He had originally thought Qin Chen was a student of that existence, but now it seemed the boy was of the same path as himself.

No! The other party's talent was far better than his!

With countless thoughts swirling in his mind, Fa Ma cupped his fists toward Qin Chen. "Thank you for letting me know, sir."

"There is no need for such courtesy, President." Qin Chen smiled.

"Mr. Qin!"

As soon as the two finished conversing, Jia Xing Tian also stepped forward, his tone carrying a hint of solemnity and anticipation. "I wonder if we might step aside to speak?"

Seeing this, a flash of understanding crossed Qin Chen's eyes, and he smiled. "Of course."

Fear

Inside a secluded room.

Looking at the solemn-faced Jia... cough, Jia Xing Tian, along with Yao Ye, Qin Chen wore a smile. "Senior..."

"You flatter me, sir."

Jia Xing Tian waved his hands repeatedly, his tone carrying a trace of humility. "Before you, sir, how could this old man dare to use the word 'senior'? If you do not mind, sir, simply calling this old man 'Jia Lao' will do."

Qin Chen did not decline either, nodding smoothly. "Then this junior will be bold. Since Jia Lao sought me out specifically, you must have an important matter to discuss, correct?"

"Indeed so."

Jia Xing Tian took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "Mr. Qin, to not keep you in the dark, this old man is currently plagued by numerous problems. With your miraculous pill-refining skills, you can surely help my imperial family tide over this crisis."

"This old man wishes to ask for your help, sir, to refine a few pills. If successful, the Jia Ma Empire is willing to go all out to repay you."

Princess Yao Ye stood to the side. She was also well aware of the current predicament facing the empire, and she immediately followed up to supplement, "Mr. Qin, as long as you are willing to help us, whatever demands you have—so long as we can achieve them—we will not refuse."

"As for this..."

Qin Chen's gaze shifted back and forth between the two, and after a moment, he slowly spoke, "Since the two of you are asking with such sincerity, naturally I will not sit idly by. It's just that I don't know what kind of pills the two of you require?"

Hearing this, a trace of joy appeared on Jia Xing Tian's old face, and he hurriedly said, "To be frank, my imperial family possesses a guardian beast. Due to battles in its early years, it contracted many hidden injuries within its body. Over the many years, countless heavenly treasures have been used to treat it, yet they have never been able to cure it completely."

"According to President Fa Ma, if one wishes to completely treat its injuries, a Tier 6 pill called the Primordial Bone-Sculpting Pill is required. I wish to ask for your assistance, sir."

"In addition, this old man has been trapped at the peak Dou Emperor stage for many years, utterly unable to make any progress. Therefore, this old man wishes to ask you, sir, to refine an additional Sect-Breaking Pill for our imperial family."

After all, this was their first cooperation, and fearing that he might incur Qin Chen's displeasure, Jia Xing Tian did not list out all the pills the imperial family needed, mentioning only the two most urgent ones for now.

He had been stuck at the peak Dou Emperor stage for many years, yearning to break through to Dou Zong every single moment. However, breaking through to Dou Zong came with immense danger; if he were even slightly careless, he would end up with his strength regressing.

It was not that he lacked the opportunity to break through, nor was it that he lacked the probability of success—he simply dared not break through.

Right now, the Jia Ma Empire was troubled by internal and external woes. Once his breakthrough failed, the entire Jia Ma Imperial Family would be finished.

"No problem." Qin Chen nodded lightly. "I can refine both of these pills."

"Thank you, sir." Jia Xing Tian instantly grew excited, cupped his fists, and said, "Just name whatever reward you need, sir, and my imperial family will definitely do our utmost."

Princess Yao Ye followed closely behind, bowing solemnly.

Qin Chen waved his hand to signal that the two need not stand on ceremony, then slowly said, "As for this Primordial Bone-Sculpting Pill, the reward I require is very simple. You need only accompany me on a trip to the Misty Cloud Sect when the time comes, Jia Lao."

"Everything shall be as you command, sir." Jia Xing Tian agreed without the slightest hesitation.

If the Nether Sea Flood Dragon's injuries could fully recover, then his imperial family wouldn't need to be overly wary of the Misty Cloud Sect.

"As for the Sect-Breaking Pill..."

Qin Chen's gaze lingered on Jia Xing Tian for a moment, and he said in a deep voice, "From my observation, even if Jia Lao obtains the Sect-Breaking Pill, the success rate of breaking through to Dou Zong remains slim."

"Ah?"

Hearing this, the smile on Jia Xing Tian's face instantly froze.

Princess Yao Ye's expression also changed slightly; Qin Chen's words were undoubtedly a basin of cold water poured over them.

However, Jia Xing Tian was, after all, an old monster who had ruled the empire for many years, and his state of mind had long since been tempered to be extremely "steady." After a brief lapse in composure, he quickly recovered his calm.

He took a deep breath and cupped his fists. "Does sir perhaps have a way to increase my success rate in advancing to Dou Zong?"

Princess Yao Ye also held her breath, a pair of beautiful eyes fixed tightly on Qin Chen. Could this grandmaster alchemist truly have a method to step into Dou Zong?

"I do indeed have a way." Qin Chen smiled mysteriously.

"I ask sir to enlighten me." Jia Xing Tian hurriedly pursued the question.

Qin Chen's gaze slowly swept across the two, and only after a moment did he leisurely speak, "Jia Lao might not know this, but if one wishes to break through shackles, aside from personal talent and sufficient resources, a high-grade cultivation method is also indispensable. From what I observe, the cultivation method Jia Lao currently practices merely lingers at the Xuan Grade, whereas I happen to have an Earth Grade earth-attribute cultivation method in my hands right now."

"Aside from that, I also possess a Tier 6 pill formula called the Azure Nether Longevity Pill. Not only can it increase a person's lifespan by ten years, but it can also rejuvenate the human body."

As Qin Chen's words continuously entered his ears, Jia Xing Tian, who had been forcefully maintaining his composure, instantly lost his defense, and even his breathing grew hurried.

Seeing this, Qin Chen chuckled inwardly and continued, "If these two items are used together with the Sect-Breaking Pill, it will be sufficient to make Jia Lao's breakthrough success rate reach over sixty percent."

This Earth Grade cultivation method naturally came from that cave.

After a good while, Jia Xing Tian finally managed to calm his turbulent emotions.

He looked at Qin Chen and said solemnly, "Mr Qin, I wonder what price Jia must pay if he wishes to obtain these things?"

"Right now, the medicinal herbs in my hands are extremely scarce. I wonder if Jia Lao can gift me some rare herbs?" Qin Chen smiled.

"That is naturally possible. As long as this matter succeeds, the mister may freely choose any herbs within the Jia Ma Empire."

To satisfy Qin Chen, Jia Xing Tian added, "Starting from today, the Imperial Family will issue orders to every province of the Jia Ma Empire, having them deliver the herbs to the Holy City at the very first moment."

"Jia Lao truly is a straightforward man."

Qin Chen nodded with satisfaction, then his tone suddenly shifted. "Aside from that, I have one other small request."

"Please speak, mister."

Qin Chen did not directly state his request outright, instead bringing up another matter. "Jia Lao surely understands that if we look across the entire Northwest Region, the status of the Jia Ma Empire is not considered very high."

"Mm."

Hearing this, Jia Xing Tian nodded slightly.

As the ruler of the empire, he knew all too well about the plight of the Jia Ma Empire in the Northwest Region.

Even if he truly broke through to Dou Zong, the empire's status would still not rise by much because of it.

Not to mention anything else, just looking at the several empires bordering the Jia Ma Empire, which one lacked Dou Zong battle power?

"Therefore, I suggest that Jia Lao had better find an ally. As for the candidate..."

A meaningful smile appeared on Qin Chen's face as he slowly spoke, "The Snake-People Tribe is a rather good choice."

"The Snake-People Tribe?"

Jia Xing Tian's brows instantly furrowed tightly, clearly not expecting Qin Chen to say such a thing.

The Snake-People Tribe and the surrounding humans were in a state of hostility. How could they ally with a human empire? It was simply an Arabian Night.

Jia Xing Tian was just about to say something, but right at that moment, a seductively charming voice suddenly sounded in the room, "What? Old fellow, could it be that you hold a prejudice against my Snake-People Tribe?"

"Queen Medusa!?" Looking at the peerlessly beautiful brocade-robed woman who had suddenly appeared, Jia Xing Tian's pupils constricted, and when he caught sight of Medusa's slender and fair jade legs, a chill instantly surged from his spine straight to the top of his head:

"Dou Zong!!!"

At the edge of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, a secluded cave.

Inside the cave, a cluster of flames several feet high continuously rose, emitting an exceptionally scorching temperature that baked the surrounding rock walls until they turned slightly red, while the sound of crumbling stones falling echoed from time to time.

It did not have a single color like ordinary flames often seen, instead displaying a gorgeous array of crimson, orange, yellow, and white hues, as if multiple different flames were tightly intertwined together.

Yet if one looked closely, they would discover that although these flames clung closely to each other, they each maintained a unique form and temperature tier.

The trace of white flame among them was like their emperor, emitting an extremely tyrannical might, and while the other colored flames each possessed their own liveliness, they did not dare to overstep even slightly.

A quarter of an hour later, the gorgeous flames slowly dissipated, revealing a thin, red-robed teenager.

"Teacher..."

As he usually did, Xiao Yan called out to his teacher in his mind.

However, no familiar response from Yao Lao came from his mind, only an unfamiliar silence.

Xiao Yan refused to give up. His Adam's apple rolled, and he softly opened his mouth to call out once more, "Teacher..."

"Teacher."

No matter how Xiao Yan called out, he never received any response whatsoever from Yao Lao.

Seeing this, his heart abruptly sank, and his brows tightly knitted together.

"Nalan Yanran..." Suddenly, Xiao Yan thought of that young girl with whom he had a "deeply entangled fate".

Never had he anticipated that coming to such a remote Magical Beast Mountain Range to cultivate in seclusion, he would actually encounter her.

He had originally thought Nalan Yanran was an overbearing, spoiled, and pampered young miss, but now it seemed that was not the case. She also went out for trials, and moreover, life-and-death trials just like him!

It was precisely at that time that Yao Lao saw through her strength.

Da Dou Shi!

Nalan Yanran had already reached Da Dou Shi, whereas Xiao Yan at present was merely a low-star Dou Shi, coupled with the drag of a Xuan Grade cultivation method. Even if he had preliminarily mastered an Earth Grade Dou Technique, he could not possibly be the former's match.

Therefore, Yao Lao made a difficult decision.

He separated a wisp of branch flame from his own Bone-Chilling Spirit Flame and handed it to Xiao Yan, letting the latter use the Flame Mantra to devour and absorb it in hopes of letting the Flame Mantra evolve into a Xuan Grade cultivation method this way.

Separating a branch flame would cause no small consumption to himself, adding frost to snow for his soul that was already extremely weak from searching for beast flames, but for this disciple upon whom he placed high hopes, he had no other choice.

After all, since even the soul cultivation method had already been given away, how could he give up halfway because of this?

Facts proved that Yao Lao's idea was right. After the Flame Mantra devoured the Bone-Chilling Spirit Flame branch flame, it truly succeeded in evolving into a Xuan Grade cultivation method.

Perhaps because it was merely a branch flame, the other beast flames within Xiao Yan's body were not expelled by the Bone-Chilling Spirit Flame, but instead coexisted with each other in a subtle balance.