Problem Child, Zi Yan

Inside the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, in a low-level cultivation room on the first floor.

Xiao Yun did not sit on the Black Stone platform that could summon the Heart Flame. Instead, he sat cross-legged directly on the ground, because he had not come here to cultivate Dou Qi, but to refine pills.

With a wave of his hand, a medicinal cauldron appeared on the ground before him. After setting it in place, Xiao Yun had just closed his eyes to review the formula and refining method for the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill when he heard a somewhat impatient voice.

"Hey, hey, why are you closing your eyes? Hurry up and refine my pills." Opening his eyes, he saw Zi Yan's impatient expression and the large pile of medicinal herbs in her hands.

"You only gave me one stalk. Why did you take out so many herbs?" The corners of Xiao Yun's mouth twitched. Looking at the rare medicinal herbs in Zi Yan's hands, he barely suppressed an immature thought in his mind.

"Hmph, who knows whether you'll still want that little flower later? Can't I take them out in advance?" Zi Yan rolled her eyes adorably and huffed.

Xiao Yun said nothing more. He had originally planned to refine the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill first, but seeing Zi Yan's impatient look, he decided to help her refine her pill pellets first.

"Find somewhere to sit. Don't make a sound and disturb me."

After giving the instruction, Xiao Yun took out the Taiyi Bamboo Vine she had given him earlier. With a flick of his palm, a wisp of purple flame appeared at his fingertips.

At the sight of the purple flame, Zi Yan, who had wanted to watch from up close, hurriedly backed away and sat in the corner of the cultivation room. Xiao Yun was not surprised by her reaction. Magical beasts without fire affinity naturally rejected flames, and his was even a sixth-tier Beast Flame. It was perfectly normal for Zi Yan to feel uncomfortable.

"Just wait there. Don't worry, I'm really good at playing with fire. I won't burn you." After casually reassuring her, Xiao Yun did not wait for an answer. With a flick of his finger, he shot the flame from his fingertip into the medicinal cauldron.

Boom!

The instant the flame entered the cauldron, it flared up fiercely into a raging blaze, rapidly raising the temperature inside. Once it was about right, Xiao Yun waved his hand and tossed the Taiyi Bamboo Vine into the flames.

Sizzle, sizzle!

The moment the Taiyi Bamboo Vine entered the fire, its outer skin rapidly withered, while green liquid continuously seeped out from its surface and floated within the flames.

This refining method was not difficult. It could not even truly be called pill refinement. Refining pills involved extracting the essence from many different medicinal ingredients, fusing them all together, and finally forming them into a pill. Such pills were not only more effective than the ingredients themselves, but were also easier to absorb.

Refining herbs for Zi Yan merely meant extracting their essence and directly condensing it into small spherical pellets. The medicinal power within had not been made gentler. An ordinary person would only explode and die after consuming one. Only a magical beast with a powerful body like Zi Yan could endure such wild medicinal power.

Therefore, Xiao Yun did not need to expend much effort. He only needed to maintain the proper heat.

As he refined the herb, Xiao Yun suddenly thought of Zi Yan's special ability. He looked up at Zi Yan in the corner and saw her staring intently at the cauldron. He could not help laughing. "You're watching so seriously. Want to come over and learn?"

"No." Zi Yan hurriedly shook her head and replied in a clear voice.

"Have you ever encountered a Snow Demon Sky Ape in the back mountain of the Inner Academy?"

"Snow Demon Sky Ape? You mean a big white-furred monkey?" Zi Yan thought for a moment, frowning as she spoke.

"Yes, probably that big monkey you mentioned. Do you know where it is?" Xiao Yun's spirits rose at Zi Yan's answer. He remembered that, in the original story, that Snow Demon Sky Ape guarded a treasure known as Earth Core Tempering Milk.

Earth Core Tempering Milk was born beneath the earth, formed through the compression of pure earth energy over countless years. It possessed the miraculous effect of cleansing the marrow and purging impurities, and could even help those at the peak of a rank break through the barrier of their limits.

Although Xiao Yun did not have bottlenecks, the greatest effect of Earth Core Tempering Milk was cleansing the marrow and purging impurities. If he could obtain even a single drop, it would bring immeasurable benefits to his future cultivation.

"I don't know. That monkey runs all over the place, so it's hard for me to find it too. Why are you asking?" As she spoke of it, Zi Yan seemed to have been bullied by that ape before, and her tone rose slightly.

"It has a good treasure hidden away. If you find it later, remember to tell me. I'll go beat it up with you." Xiao Yun waved his hand, sending the completely withered Taiyi Bamboo Vine out of the fire. Only the green liquid remained in the cauldron.

He took out some seasonings from his Storage Ring and tossed them directly into the cauldron, where they fused with the green medicinal liquid. His hands moved rapidly, continuously forming seals. As the seals changed, the liquid in the cauldron swiftly separated, eventually turning into dozens of tiny liquid clusters.

"Condense!" Xiao Yun shouted softly. The liquid rapidly solidified, instantly becoming dozens of green pill pellets. With a wave of his hand, the pellets were supported by Dou Qi and all flew into a jade bottle.

Seeing that the pills had been successfully refined, Zi Yan, who had been waiting in the corner, hurried over and reached for the jade bottle in Xiao Yun's hand.

"Don't rush. Eat them slowly. They taste much better than eating raw herbs directly, right?" Seeing Zi Yan's movements, Xiao Yun handed her the jade bottle with a smile.

"Mm-hmm, these taste much better." Zi Yan nodded repeatedly, eagerly pouring out a green pill pellet and stuffing it into her mouth, chewing hard.

"Then bring me the other herbs too. I'll refine them all for you."

"Okay, here." Zi Yan hurried back to the corner and handed Xiao Yun the four herbs she had left there. Then she ran back, sat cross-legged, and stared at Xiao Yun without even blinking.

A short while later, Xiao Yun repeated the process, refining the other four herbs into pill pellets, adding a little of his secret seasoning as well.

"There, they're all done. Take them." After extinguishing the flames, Xiao Yun waved his hand, and all the pill pellets flew out of the cauldron and into a jade box.

He tossed the jade box to Zi Yan in the corner and smiled. "These pills should be enough to last you for a while. When you run out, you can come find me to refine more."

"Mm-hmm, thank you. You're such a good person." Taking the jade box, Zi Yan's large dark eyes crinkled with joy. She finally would not have to eat those awful herbs anymore. From now on, she could eat delicious pill pellets.

"All right, I'm going to properly refine pills now. You should leave." Xiao Yun waved his hand, swallowed a pill to restore his Dou Qi, and spoke.

"Kid, are we friends now?" Hearing Xiao Yun chase her away, Zi Yan, who had been smiling moments ago, suddenly lowered her head. Like a sunflower deprived of sunlight, she looked gloomy and listless.

She really was a problem child.

Seeing Zi Yan like this, Xiao Yun understood and sighed inwardly.

Zi Yan was originally a magical beast. She had lived in the back mountain of the Inner Academy since childhood, without her parents by her side. Though she had later accidentally eaten Transformation Grass and been brought back to the Inner Academy by the First Elder, he had largely left her to fend for herself and rarely looked after her. Before Xiao Yun entered the Inner Academy, there had been almost no children her age here. The other Inner Academy students feared her brute strength, leaving no one in the Inner Academy willing to play with her.

So although Zi Yan possessed formidable strength, she was still a child starved of affection. He was probably the first peer she had ever interacted with.

Xiao Yun stretched out his arm and vigorously ruffled her hair, smiling. "Of course we're friends. Also, don't call me kid. My name is Xiao Yun."

"Don't touch my head. I won't grow taller." Zi Yan pushed Xiao Yun's hand away, her face filling with smiles again. "My name is Zi Yan. Then we're friends from now on!"

"Xiao Yun, I'll remember your name! If anyone in the Inner Academy dares to bully you in the future, tell me. I'll stand up for you. There isn't anyone in the Inner Academy I don't dare to beat up." Zi Yan spoke domineeringly. Today was truly a good day. Not only could she eat delicious pills from now on, she had also made her first friend in life. Her heart leaped with joy.

"Okay, I'll definitely come find you then." Looking into the little girl's eyes and sensing her delight, Xiao Yun went along with her words, even though no one in the Inner Academy would dare bully him.

Having received Xiao Yun's response, Zi Yan finally stood up in satisfaction. She gave him a cheeky grin, then turned and left the cultivation room.

"Remember to tell me when you find the Snow Demon Sky Ape," Xiao Yun called after her retreating figure.

Zi Yan did not turn back. She merely waved a hand to show that she understood.

"She's still just an immature child." Xiao Yun shook his head helplessly. Although Zi Yan might be much older than him, her mental age was just like her appearance—she was still an ungrown child.

No longer thinking about Zi Yan, Xiao Yun took out the medicinal ingredients needed for the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill and refocused on alchemy. "Ah, I forgot to ask her for another Purple Spirit Flower." He had been too focused on the Snow Demon Sky Ape and had forgotten that he had only taken one Purple Spirit Flower.

The Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill was a peak fourth-tier pill. Based on his previous alchemy skills, his chance of success was a pitiful less than thirty percent. But now that things had come to this, he had no idea where he could find another Purple Spirit Flower. He could only try once first. I don't really need this pill that badly anyway. It won't matter if I fail.

With a bitter smile, Xiao Yun comforted himself inwardly. Then he summoned the Purple Crystal Lion Flame once more and tossed it into the medicinal cauldron. His mind gradually calmed, and he began refining with complete focus...