Father, I Can Cultivate Again!

He put the ring away in his storage ring, then took out a jade bottle and handed it to Xiao Yan. "Drink the medicinal liquid in this bottle first."

Xiao Yan accepted the jade bottle and opened it. A rich medicinal fragrance immediately wafted out. Without hesitation, he tipped his head back and drained the liquid in one gulp.

The medicinal liquid melted the moment it entered his mouth, turning into a warm current that spread from his lower abdomen and slowly flowed along his meridians. Wherever it passed, the walls of his meridians seemed to be soaked in warm water, soothed and gently nourished.

What Su Zhao had given Xiao Yan was a medicinal liquid specially meant to nourish the meridians, which he had found within the inheritance of the Alchemy Emperor: the third-grade Meridian-Warming Body-Tempering Liquid.

It could be taken even during the Dou Qi stage. Its effects were simple: it could strengthen the toughness of one's meridians, improve one's physique, and increase cultivation speed during the Dou Qi stage to a certain extent. It could be considered an upgraded version of Foundation-Strengthening Liquid.

Xiao Yan had never suffered from any hidden ailment. The true reason his Dou Qi had disappeared was that Yao Lao had unconsciously absorbed the Dou Qi he cultivated while asleep.

Now that the ring had been removed, that invisible shackle had been broken. Su Zhao had given him this bottle of medicinal liquid merely so Xiao Yan could personally feel the effects of being cured.

"Alright, Young Master Xiao. Try cultivating now."

Xiao Yan immediately sat cross-legged and closed his eyes, circulating his cultivation technique.

Over the past two years, every time he cultivated a wisp of Dou Qi, it would vanish the instant it entered his dantian, like a clay ox sinking into the sea.

But this time, when he cultivated another wisp of Dou Qi and guided it into his dantian, it remained there steadily. It did not disappear!

It really had not disappeared!

Xiao Yan abruptly opened his eyes and looked down at his hands in disbelief. The feeling that had been gone for more than two years had finally returned!

"Father! I can cultivate again!"

His voice trembled uncontrollably.

Xiao Zhan was also trembling slightly with excitement, tears glimmering in his eyes. "Good! Good! Wonderful!"

He turned and gave Su Zhao a deep bow.

"Master Su, Xiao Zhan truly does not know how to thank you."

Xiao Yan also rose to his feet and solemnly performed a respectful bow. "Master Su, I will never forget your kindness in restoring my talent for the rest of my life. Should you ever require anything of me, simply command it! I, Xiao Yan, will never refuse!"

Su Zhao smiled and waved his hand. "There is no need for this. I took your ring as well."

After thinking for a moment, he took out two more jade bottles from his storage ring and handed them over.

"These are two bottles of Foundation-Strengthening Liquid. Consider them my congratulations on your restored cultivation talent. May you regain your former brilliance soon."

Xiao Yan accepted them with both hands and carefully tucked them into his robe. "Thank you, Master Su."

Su Zhao did not keep them any longer and promptly had the two leave.

After the door closed and their footsteps gradually faded away, Su Zhao took the black ring from his storage ring and placed it in his palm for a careful inspection.

The ring was entirely black, neither metal nor jade. Its surface was smooth and unmarked, plain and unassuming. Who would have thought that the former greatest alchemist of the Central Plains was now hiding within this ring?

Su Zhao tossed the ring in his hand, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

The Poison Pill Method would finally be his.

Su Zhao closed the door and held the black ring in his palm, studying it carefully for a moment before slowly releasing a wisp of soul power.

The space within the ring was not large. His soul power slowly swept through it and soon touched a sleeping soul body. It was curled up in the depths of the ring, its outline blurred and aura weak, immersed in a deep slumber.

Medicine Venerable, Yao Chen!

The former greatest alchemist of the Central Plains, a ninth-grade grandmaster alchemist, was now hiding inside this tiny ring.

Su Zhao withdrew his soul power, one brow lifting slightly.

He truly had not expected this. He had thought Yao Lao should have awakened by now, yet he was still asleep.

Judging from the state of the soul body he had sensed earlier, Yao Lao would likely need another four or five months before truly awakening. In other words, if he had not intervened, Yao Lao would have needed to absorb Xiao Yan's Dou Qi for another four or five months before accumulating enough strength to awaken.

So I intercepted this opportunity ahead of time.

Su Zhao rubbed the surface of the ring. He did not feel particularly guilty about taking Xiao Yan's ring. As for Yao Lao's opportunity... he could simply compensate Xiao Yan in some way later.

He put away the ring and pushed open the side room's door.

Su Zhao asked, "Old Hai, how long has it been since you returned to the Mittel Family in the imperial capital?"

Hai Bo Dong opened his eyes and fell silent for two seconds. A trace of complicated nostalgia flashed through his gaze. "Almost twenty years, I suppose... I wonder how that brat Teng Shan is doing now."

Su Zhao smiled. "Perfect. We will head to the imperial capital next, and we may need Old Hai to help receive us then."

Hai Bo Dong was first stunned, then burst into hearty laughter. "Hahaha! As you say, Young Master! If Teng Shan learns that a sixth-grade alchemist is willing to stay temporarily with his Mittel Family, he will probably wake up laughing in his sleep."

Su Zhao smiled and nodded, then turned toward Ya Fei, who was nearby giving instructions to the attendants. "Miss Ya Fei."

Ya Fei gave a slight curtsy. "What are your instructions, Master Su?"

"Your talents are wasted in this small Wutan City. Would you be willing to return to the imperial capital with us?"

Though Ya Fei's cultivation talent was ordinary, she was indeed a rare talent in business and management.

Although Su Zhao had no plans to establish a faction at present, he might do so in the future. He had no intention of letting such talent slip away.

Ya Fei paused slightly, then quickly understood. She gave a charming smile and a graceful bow. "Then I must thank Master Su. Ya Fei has wished to return to the imperial capital for quite some time. It seems I will be catching a ride with Master Su this time."

Su Zhao waved his hand. "It is nothing."

He looked at the sky, then at everyone in the courtyard, and considered for a moment. "No time to lose. We will set out today."

As he spoke, he beckoned Qing Lin over. The little girl had filled out considerably since they first met. She trotted over and looked up at him, her blue-green eyes sparkling.

Su Zhao took out the fourth-grade Qi-Gathering Powder he had long since refined from his storage ring and held it before her. "Little Qing Lin, this is Qi-Gathering Powder. You have already cultivated your Dou Qi stage to its limit. Once we reach the imperial capital, take this pill and break through to become a Dou Practitioner. Then, I will find a suitable cultivation technique for you."

Qing Lin accepted the warm, lustrous pill with both hands, carefully cradling it against her chest as she nodded firmly. "Hehe, thank you, Young Master!"

Su Zhao rubbed her little head and rose to his feet.

Little Doctor had already walked over from beneath the corridor and stood beside him. Su Zhao naturally reached out and took her soft hand. Little Doctor had long grown accustomed to it during these past days, allowing him to hold it. She tilted her head slightly to look at him, a faint smile on her lips.

Su Zhao leaned a little closer and lowered his voice beside her ear. "The Poison Pill Method is already in hand."

Little Doctor paused in surprise, then joy welled up in her beautiful eyes. She nodded gently.