Nalan Yanran, Should I Thank You or Hate You?

After respectfully bowing to Yao Chen and becoming his disciple, Yao Chen finally nodded in satisfaction.

His attitude toward the two of them also softened somewhat.

"My name is Medicine Elder. As for my origins, I won't tell you for now, lest it distract you. You only need to understand that that so-called Pill King is... is nothing but a fart."

"As for you two, Yu, you're a little older than Yan, so from now on, you'll be the senior brother, and Yan will be your junior brother. You must take good care of him in the future and keep your sincere heart."

As he spoke, Medicine Elder grew even more satisfied. He had originally only thought highly of Xiao Yan, yet unexpectedly gained another promising seedling in Xiao Yu. His talent was quite good, and he was upright by nature. Even when facing a love rival, he would not easily abandon his companion. Thinking of this, Medicine Elder felt immensely pleased.

After becoming disciples, Xiao Yan also bowed to Xiao Yu. "Greetings, Senior Brother. I must also thank you for all your guidance and support earlier."

"You don't need to be so polite with me. I simply couldn't stand the looks on their faces. How could they have even a shred of family loyalty? As your senior brother, I'll definitely take good care of you in the future." With that, Xiao Yu gave a mysterious smile.

He turned and asked, "Master, you said just now that you had a way to let Xiao Yan... let Junior Brother surpass Nalan Yanran within three years. What exactly is this method?"

Hearing Xiao Yu's words, Medicine Elder said, "You brat, just relax. There's no need to rush cultivation. You must understand that these three years of tempering have instead made Yan's Dou Qi more solid and his mindset more composed. It'll be greatly beneficial to him in the future!"

"Then, Master, quickly teach us how to become alchemists!" Xiao Yan called out as well.

"Do you think becoming an alchemist is so easy? The prerequisite for becoming an alchemist is first becoming a Dou Zhe, as well as cultivating a fire-attribute Dou Qi technique!"

"Oh? A fire-attribute technique? Hehe, Master, since we're already your disciples, just casually give us a Heaven Tier technique to practice!" Xiao Yan grinned and stretched out his palm expectantly.

"Nonsense. Do you think Heaven Tier techniques are cabbages sold everywhere on the street?" Medicine Elder laughed as he scolded him.

"I do not have a Heaven Tier technique, but I do possess a technique even stranger than a Heaven Tier technique!"

At that, Xiao Yu's thoughts stirred. The strange technique Medicine Elder spoke of must be the Flame Mantra! But he already had the Radiant Sun Formula. If he cultivated the Flame Mantra as well, wouldn't he be competing with Xiao Yan for Heavenly Flames? It seemed he needed to think this through carefully.

"Really? A technique even stranger than a Heaven Tier technique?"

Xiao Yan's heart burned with excitement. He swallowed and asked, "Then what rank is this technique?"

"A Yellow Rank low-grade technique!"

"You old bastard, you aren't fooling me, are you?!" Xiao Yan shouted furiously.

Medicine Elder felt quite accomplished as he watched Xiao Yan's furious, twisted expression. After three years of settling down, Xiao Yan's mentality had changed greatly. Being able to anger him this much was rather entertaining.

Xiao Yu glanced at the dissatisfied Xiao Yan, then turned to Medicine Elder and asked, "Master, what is so strange about this technique?"

Hearing Xiao Yu's question, Medicine Elder turned to Xiao Yan. "Look at how steady your senior brother is."

"The strange thing about this technique is that it can level up and evolve!"

"There really is such a technique? Then Master... could you let us take a look?" Seeing Medicine Elder's solemn expression, Xiao Yan hesitated before asking.

"Of course... not." Medicine Elder gave Xiao Yan a strange grin. "Enough. There's no use in looking at it now. We'll talk about it once you become Dou Zhe!"

"For now, your task is to raise your Dou Qi to the seventh stage within a year!"

Xiao Yan forcibly suppressed his curiosity about that technique, gritted his teeth, and asked, "Master, do you have a method?"

"For the early stages of Dou Qi, its purpose is to strengthen the body's meridians and prepare one to become a Dou Zhe in the future. Yu, you are already at the seventh stage of Dou Qi, while Yan has also accumulated three years of foundation. You can skip that step directly and use certain external items as stimulation." Medicine Elder looked at the two of them and spoke seriously.

"Even the lowest-grade Qi-Gathering Powder is more than you can endure. Although Yu can withstand it, those medicinal liquids would be useless for improving your strength!"

"Then... do you have a way?" Xiao Yan took a deep breath, slightly furrowed his brow, and asked softly.

Medicine Elder smiled faintly. "Prepare three complete stalks of Purpleleaf Orchid Grass tomorrow—the older, the better—two Bone-Washing Flowers, any age will do, and one first-tier wood-attribute magical beast core. These are all low-grade materials, so I assume they won't be a problem for you... Someone is coming. I'll return to the ring first. Also, neither of you must reveal my existence to anyone, not even those closest to you."

As soon as he finished speaking, Medicine Elder ignored the shocked expressions on Xiao Yan and Xiao Yu's faces and instantly flew into the black ring—more precisely, the ring worn on Xiao Yan's finger.

Xiao Yu and Xiao Yan stood there staring at each other, utterly at a loss. The money they had between them was nowhere near enough to buy the materials Medicine Elder had mentioned!

Xiao Yu pondered for a moment and said to Xiao Yan, "I haven't had much money left over after cultivating these past few years. I'm afraid I only have a dozen or so gold coins..."

Even if I had more, I couldn't give it to you! Otherwise, how would you take Xun'er shopping?

As the two spoke, they sensed someone behind them. Turning around, they saw Xun'er lightly tap the mountain rock with the tip of her foot and leap onto the mountaintop as gracefully as a purple butterfly. She tilted her head toward the two standing by the cliff.

Seeing this, Xiao Yu looked at Xiao Yan and smiled. He raised a hand and patted Xiao Yan's shoulder, then turned to leave. As he passed Xun'er, he greeted her. Xun'er actually returned his smile. Sure enough, as long as he maintained a good relationship with Xiao Yan, Xun'er's favor toward him would keep rising.

Xiao Yan stared blankly at Xiao Yu's departing figure. Remembering Xiao Yu's thoughtful smile from earlier, his face reddened. He glanced at Xun'er, hesitated for a moment, then lifted his head to look at her.

After three years, the most dazzling halo surrounding the young man seemed to have returned once more!

At that moment, only Xiao Yan and Xun'er remained beside the cliff.

Xun'er looked at Xiao Yan, tilted her head, and smiled. "It seems Brother Xiao Yan no longer needs Xun'er to comfort him?"

"When people suffer setbacks, they have to grow, don't they? Besides, there are so many people who care about me. There's Mas... Big Brother Xiao Yu, Xun'er, and Father!" As he spoke, Xiao Yan could not help reaching out and pinching the girl's fair, tender cheek.

Feeling Xiao Yan's intimate gesture, which she had not experienced in a long time, Xun'er thought, Nalan Yanran, I truly don't know whether I should thank you or hate you...

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