Medicine Elder

Xie Tianxiao looked at Xiao Yan's bewildered expression, a mysterious smile curling at his lips. "You'll understand someday. For now, watch carefully."

"Someday?"

Xiao Yan scratched his head with his left hand, completely at a loss.

Following Xie Tianxiao's gaze, he lowered his head and looked at the ancient ring on his right hand, pressed tightly against the seven-colored dewdrop.

The ancient, somber black ring, which had always remained unchanged, actually lit up faintly!

Under Xiao Yan's gaze, the seven-colored dewdrops seemed to be swallowed by the ring, rapidly dimming at a speed visible to the naked eye.

As the seven-colored glimmer weakened, the black radiance grew increasingly intense.

In the end, it was like a bottomless black hole, completely absorbing the seven-colored dewdrops.

Watching the changes in the ring on his right hand, Xiao Yan's eyes widened even further. What was going on now?

"Still not coming out? Medicine Venerable, Yao Chen."

Facing the utterly unresponsive black ring, Xie Tianxiao narrowed his eyes slightly and spoke calmly.

"Hm? Is someone there?"

Hearing this, Xiao Yan hurriedly looked around, but he did not see a single figure.

"You absorbed someone else's Dou Qi for over two years. Shouldn't you come out and explain yourself?"

Seeing that the black ring remained completely still, Xie Tianxiao glanced at Xiao Yan and said.

"Who are you? How do you know this old man's name?"

A transparent, elderly figure suddenly floated out of the ancient black ring, staring warily at Xie Tianxiao.

"Heh, you needn't concern yourself with that for now."

"Xiao Yan, weren't you wondering why your Dou Qi vanished? The culprit is standing right before you. Why not ask him yourself?"

Xie Tianxiao looked at Xiao Yan and chuckled, a hint of teasing in his eyes.

Xiao Yan's heart jolted. He immediately turned his gaze toward the elderly phantom and asked in confusion, "Old man, was it you who made my Dou Qi disappear?!"

"Heh, you little brat really have no manners."

The elderly phantom gave a light rebuke, then said, "Ahem, you may call me Medicine Elder. As for my origins, it is better not to tell you yet."

"Originally, this old man would have needed to absorb your Dou Qi for another year. But the one beside you used a Seven Illusory Azure Spirit Saliva to replenish my soul power, allowing me to recover ahead of time."

"As for the two years of Dou Qi I absorbed from you, this old man had no choice."

At the end, the elderly figure let out a sigh.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan was stunned beyond measure. Then his rage erupted as he cursed, "So it really was you, you old bastard!"

"Do you know how much humiliation you brought me by absorbing my Dou Qi for two years?!"

"You old turtle bastard!"

"Y-you, pay back my Dou Qi!"

Although Xiao Yan did not know the origins of the elderly figure before him, the fact that he had silently absorbed his Dou Qi for two whole years was more than enough to fill him with fury!

If not for this old fellow, his strength might have already reached the five-star or six-star Dou Practitioner level!

"Heh, little one, don't get so worked up. Though this old man absorbed your Dou Qi for two years and made you endure cold stares and insults during that time..."

"Through those two years of abuse, you also saw through some aspects of human nature and matured considerably, didn't you?"

Listening to Xiao Yan's furious curses, the old man was quite thick-skinned. He did not take offense in the slightest, merely smiling noncommittally as he spoke calmly.

Xiao Yan frowned, and his emotions gradually settled. Yet he still snorted coldly, folded his arms, and said with an icy gaze, "I admit that you're right, but that still doesn't change the fact that you absorbed my Dou Qi!"

Although the old fellow was not wrong, Xiao Yan still felt deeply displeased!

After all, someone had absorbed his Dou Qi without a sound—and that someone was an old man. No one would feel good about that!

"Oh? You've got quite the temper, little fellow."

Medicine Elder shook his head and chuckled. "It was only a few stages of Dou Qi."

"How about this? Little one, do you want to become stronger? Do you want the respect of others?"

"As long as you acknowledge this old man as your master, I guarantee that within one year, you will return to the seventh stage of Dou Qi. You may even reach the Dou Practitioner level at your coming-of-age ceremony the year after next!"

After saying this, Medicine Elder stared at Xiao Yan with a flash of anticipation in his eyes.

"Take you as my master?"

"Are you very strong?"

"Now that I know why my Dou Qi disappeared, with my talent, do I still need you to become stronger?"

Xiao Yan slowly drew a breath and spoke calmly. He knew that there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. This old fellow definitely had some ulterior motive.

"Little one, you can't put it that way. You know the Misty Cloud Sect of your Jia Ma Empire, right?"

Medicine Elder was not angered by Xiao Yan's words and merely smiled.

"I know it."

"But what does that have to do with you?" Xiao Yan nodded, his expression puzzled.

The Misty Cloud Sect was the strongest sect in the Jia Ma Empire, and its sect leader was a genuine Dou Emperor! Xiao Yan knew at least that much.

"Hehe, though the Misty Cloud Sect has a Dou Emperor and is one of the greatest sects in the Jia Ma Empire, in my eyes, it's nothing but a fart." Medicine Elder curled his lip and spoke disdainfully.

"You..."

Xiao Yan was rendered speechless by the arrogant old man's words. For a moment, he did not know what to say, and could only glare resentfully at Medicine Elder.

"Haha, don't look at this old man like that. Let me tell you this: if you cultivate on your own with your aptitude, at best you'll only become a Dou Emperor. You might establish a tiny force like the Misty Cloud Sect."

"If you take me as your master, not only will I help you surpass the Dou Emperor level and witness the splendor of the entire continent, I will also teach you supreme alchemy, allowing you to become a respected alchemist!"

"Tch, who knows whether you're lying?"

Xiao Yan spoke disdainfully, clearly not believing the old fellow's words.

"Lying to you? Do you know how many experts across the continent once begged this old man to accept them as disciples?!"

Seeing that Xiao Yan did not believe him, Medicine Elder could not help but choke with anger.

"I don't believe you anyway. But are you really an alchemist?"

Xiao Yan's eyes rolled as he spoke with some excitement.

"Nonsense. Do you think this old man has been saying all this just to amuse you?"

Medicine Elder rolled his eyes and replied irritably.

"But doesn't becoming an alchemist require many harsh conditions?"

Xiao Yan pondered for a moment. Then, as if he had suddenly thought of something, he abruptly raised his head, his mouth falling open. "Then that means I meet them!"

"Correct. To become an alchemist, one's natural attribute must be fire, with a trace of wood energy mixed within it to serve as a catalyst. You happen to possess such conditions." Medicine Elder nodded.

"Damn!"

Hearing this, Xiao Yan could not help blurting out a curse. He said excitedly, "Fine, I'll take you as my master. Teach me alchemy!"

Although he did not truly believe the old fellow's claims that countless experts had begged to become his disciple, or that he could reach and surpass the Dou Emperor level...

Alchemy was different!

After all, alchemists were extremely rare and highly respected throughout the Battle Qi Continent.

At the very least, once he became an alchemist, he would no longer need to worry about money!