Fifth Grade Soul Liquid

A few days later, Xiao Yao took out the herbs he had gathered over the past two years from his Storage Ring: two Fifth Grade Spirit Stream Grass plants, one Fifth Grade Soul-Returning Grass, one Fifth Grade Netherworld Grass, and a Fifth Grade wood-element beast core...

Xiao Yao looked at the medicinal ingredients, closed his eyes, and pondered how to extract their essences.

After a while, he opened his eyes and gave a light wave of his right hand. A Black Demon Cauldron appeared out of thin air before him.

With a thought from Xiao Yao, a small cluster of invisible flame appeared in his palm. The surrounding temperature rapidly rose, and a scorching aura rushed toward him.

Xiao Yao waved his hand, and the invisible flame instantly surged into the Medicine Cauldron. Fierce flames immediately rose and burned within it.

Using Dou Qi with his left hand, Xiao Yao tossed the two Spirit Stream Grass plants into the Medicine Cauldron. His right hand hovered over it as he controlled the invisible flames within to envelop the two herbs. The temperature emitted by the flames fluctuated between high and low.

Xiao Yao cautiously used his Soul Force to extract their essence and remove impurities. As he watched the two Spirit Stream Grass plants condense into a small mass of emerald-green liquid, he successively dropped the Soul-Returning Grass, Netherworld Grass, and other medicinal ingredients into the Medicine Cauldron, where they were ultimately swallowed by the invisible flames.

Xiao Yao stared solemnly at the Medicine Cauldron, using his right hand to control the heat as he refined them one by one. Finally, he looked at the dozen or so auxiliary herbs beside him, meant to aid fusion and strengthen the soul. He tossed them into the air, and they fell in arcs directly into the Medicine Cauldron, swallowed whole by the flames.

Five minutes later, Xiao Yao saw that the essences refined from all the medicinal ingredients in the Black Demon Cauldron had fused into a mass of jade-green liquid. He continued purifying the medicinal liquid further. As the flames refined it, the jade-green liquid gave off a rich medicinal fragrance, while surging ripples of energy burst forth from it and spread outward in wave after wave.

Seeing this, Xiao Yao used his Soul Force to surround the medicinal liquid, further compressing the originally large mass into a small, ping-pong-ball-sized droplet. Even the energy ripples it emitted could not break through the encirclement of Soul Force.

After a while, the small mass of jade-green liquid completely restrained its aura and floated quietly inside the Medicine Cauldron, wrapped in invisible flames.

Xiao Yao removed the liquid from the Medicine Cauldron. Looking at the small mass of jade-green liquid floating above his palm, he poured it into a jade bottle beside him.

The Fifth Grade medicinal liquid that could strengthen the soul had been successfully refined. It was time for Yao Lao to appear and let Little Flame resume his Dou Qi cultivation.

Xiao Yao then came to Xiao Yan's room and knocked on the door.

"Little Flame, are you in there? Your Brother Yao has come to see you."

At that moment, Xiao Yan was sitting cross-legged on his bed with his eyes closed in cultivation. Upon hearing Xiao Yao's voice, his eyes snapped open, and a faint white gleam flashed through his dark pupils. He looked at the Dou Qi he had worked so hard to cultivate, only for it to vanish again for no reason.

Xiao Yan gave a bitter shake of his head. Exhausted in body and mind, he got out of bed, slowly walked to the door, and opened it to let Xiao Yao in.

"Brother Yao, why did you come to see me? Is something the matter?"

Seeing Xiao Yan's bitter smile, Xiao Yao revealed a mysterious smile of his own and turned to close the door.

He looked at Xiao Yan and smiled lightly. "Little Flame, I found a way to solve the abnormality in your body."

Xiao Yan froze for a moment. Once he recovered, he joyfully grabbed Xiao Yao's shoulders, his voice trembling slightly. "Brother Yao... is... is that true? What exactly caused it? Tell me what I need to do to resume cultivating Dou Qi."

Xiao Yan noticed that Xiao Yao's gaze had remained fixed on the ancient black ring on the finger of his right hand. Doubt immediately rose in his heart. This ring was a keepsake Mother left me. How could it possibly be the reason for my Dou Qi Regression?

Xiao Yan stared at Xiao Yao in shock, his tone hesitant. "Brother Yao, you've been staring at my ring. Could it be... that there's really something wrong with the ring on my hand?"

Xiao Yao took out the Soul Liquid he had just refined from his Storage Ring and poured it into the Storage Ring on Xiao Yan's right hand. The Storage Ring absorbed the Soul Liquid, and he called out in a deep, magnetic voice, "Come out. You've been hiding in the Storage Ring and sucking away Dou Qi for more than two years. It's about time you came out and gave an explanation."

After a short while, Xiao Yan saw that the Storage Ring on his right hand showed no reaction. He asked softly, "Brother Yao, did you make a mistake? This ring was left to me by my mother. I've worn it with me all this time and never noticed anything unusual."

A cold smile curved at the corner of Xiao Yao's lips. He opened his right hand, and a small cluster of invisible flame appeared in his palm. He spoke icily, "Heh. If you still won't come out, I'll burn this ring with this Heavenly Flame. This Heavenly Flame is specially effective against Soul Bodies."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Storage Ring on Xiao Yan's hand suddenly trembled.

"Ah, little fellow, how did you discover me? This old man hid so carefully inside the Storage Ring, yet you still noticed me."

An aged voice came from the Storage Ring, followed by a transparent, elderly figure drifting out.

At the sight of it, Xiao Yan fell to the floor in panic with a sharp cry.

"G-Ghost! Brother Yao, w-what is this?" Xiao Yan shouted as he pointed at the figure before him in terror.

Xiao Yao looked at Yao Lao before him and smiled faintly. "Don't worry. It's not a ghost, just a Soul Body."

Yao Lao looked at the two of them with a grin and slowly said, "Hehe, you two little brats have pretty good talent. Especially you, little fellow. Your Soul Force is particularly formidable. No wonder you were able to discover my existence. At such a young age, you've already mastered such a Heavenly Flame. I truly wonder how many secrets you have."

After speaking, Yao Lao shifted his gaze to Xiao Yan, who was sprawled on the floor. Stroking his beard, he said, "Little fellow, there's no need to be so frightened. Come to think of it, I have to thank you for the offerings you've provided over the past two years, allowing me to awaken. Tsk, this is the first time in all these years that I've been so fortunate as to encounter two people whose Soul Force was strong enough, and both of you possess fire-and-wood-attribute Dou Qi."

Xiao Yan forcibly suppressed the fear in his heart. After hearing Yao Lao's words, he froze for a moment before coming to his senses. His face abruptly darkened, and he said coldly, "Offerings? Then the Dou Qi that has been mysteriously disappearing from my body over the past two years was all your doing."

"Hehe, I had no choice, little fellow."

The fear in Xiao Yan's heart gradually faded, replaced by boundless rage. His small face twisted with fury as he directly tore the ring from his finger and threw it away.

Xiao Yao watched the thrown ring float in the room. Above it drifted a transparent, pale figure. He said coolly, "Old man, you've absorbed my little brother's Dou Qi for over two years. You can't possibly get away without some compensation. And there's also the Fifth Grade medicinal liquid I refined for you to strengthen Soul Force. You should give us something, at least. Otherwise, you know what this flame in my hand can do."

After hearing Xiao Yao's words, Xiao Yan realized that the cause of his disappearing Dou Qi had been found. Didn't that mean he could cultivate normally from now on? Still, he could not let this hateful old man off so easily.

He sneered, "Old man, you've devoured my Dou Qi for two years. How do you think you should compensate me? How about starting with a few Heaven Tier cultivation methods or Dou Skills? Don't worry, I'm not picky. Any attribute will do." After saying that, Xiao Yan rubbed his hands together, his eyes burning as he stared at the figure before him.

Yao Lao said irritably, "Little fellow, do you think Heaven Tier cultivation methods are wild vegetables growing by the roadside, sold in piles? You really dare to ask. This old man indeed has no Heaven Tier cultivation methods, but I am an alchemist. As for what grade I am... it's been too long, so I've forgotten."