Alchemy

Xiao Xun'er was slightly taken aback, then gave a soft laugh and avoided the subject.

"Xun'er had merely heard it from others."

Though she said she had merely heard it from others, she was secretly astonished.

That little probe just now—when ordinary people heard of somewhere beyond the Jia Ma Empire, they would at least show some curiosity or shock. Yet this Elder Xiao showed not the slightest ripple on his face!

Either he truly was ignorant and uninformed.

Or... he had already known everything perfectly well and simply did not show it!

Xiao Xun'er's intuition told her it was the latter.

After the two chatted a little longer, Xiao Chen suddenly took a warm jade bottle from his robe and handed it to Xiao Xun'er.

"What is this?"

Xiao Xun'er accepted it curiously.

"A Calmheart Pill," Xiao Chen said with a smile.

"I noticed that Miss's aura occasionally became unstable between her brows. You must have been somewhat too hasty in your cultivation. This pill can nourish your bloodline and calm your mind. Take it once every three days after you return, and it will naturally benefit you."

Xiao Xun'er held the jade bottle, lightly stroking it with her fingertips as the look in her eyes gradually grew more complicated.

She had lain low in the Xiao Clan since childhood and seen countless people, yet few had ever given her such an unfathomable feeling.

This Elder Xiao was clearly only a collateral elder at the Dou Zhe Peak, but the bearing in his every gesture made her feel that he was far more than he appeared to be.

"Was this Calmheart Pill specially refined for Xun'er, Elder?" she asked softly.

"It was done in passing."

Xiao Chen smiled and waved a hand. "This old man saw that Miss's complexion was poor, so naturally I could not help but worry."

Xiao Xun'er lowered her eyes.

She had borne the mission of the Gu Clan Saintess since childhood and was accustomed to treating others with a calculating heart. Yet every word of concern from this elder before her carried not the slightest hint of self-interest, as though he truly were merely an elder caring for a junior.

"Elder Xiao..."

Xiao Xun'er suddenly spoke, her voice carrying a trace of seriousness.

"There are some things Xun'er does not know whether she should say."

"Miss, please speak freely."

"Elder just said that you did not know of any remarkable factions."

Xiao Xun'er raised her eyes and looked directly at Xiao Chen.

"But Xun'er has always felt that Elder knows far more than you have said. Elder, just who... are you?"

At her words, Xiao Chen's heart skipped a beat, but his face still bore a gentle smile.

He slowly set down his teacup and fell silent for a moment before speaking softly. "Little Xun'er, knowing too much is not necessarily a blessing. This old man can only tell you one thing: protecting yourself is more important than anything else."

"As for who this old man is..."

He smiled, rose to his feet, and stood before the window with his hands behind his back.

"Just an old man who wants to live peacefully in Wutan City."

Xiao Xun'er stared blankly at Xiao Chen's back.

After a long while, she suddenly smiled brightly, carefully put away the Calmheart Pill, and rose. "Elder is truly unfathomable. Xun'er admires you. I have troubled you today, so Xun'er will take her leave."

"Take care. I will not see you off."

Only after the slender figure in pale green had gone far away did Xiao Chen slowly let the smile fade from his face.

"That girl Xun'er really is clever. She noticed something was wrong so quickly!"

"But... with one little probe, she thinks she can sound out my depths?"

He shook his head.

"If it were not for that brat Xiao Yan being in the Author Realm, then Xun'er's future achievements would surely surpass Xiao Yan's."

Just then, the system notification suddenly rang out in his mind—

"Ding! The Gu Clan Saintess's favorability has increased!"

"Investment target: Xiao Xun'er"

"Reward obtained: Return [Ancient Clan Cultivation Manual Fragment—Corner] ×1!"

"Reward description: This fragment contains a portion of the essence of the Gu Clan's foundational cultivation manual. Though incomplete, it already far surpasses ordinary Xuan Tier cultivation manuals!"

Xiao Chen's pupils contracted slightly, then the corner of his mouth lifted into a satisfied smile.

"Good heavens, one Calmheart Pill in exchange for a fragment of the Gu Clan cultivation manual..."

"System, you really are too authoritative!"

Xiao Chen immediately began studying it.

Though the cultivation manual recorded on that fragment was incomplete, its every line carried an ancient and majestic aura far beyond that of ordinary cultivation manuals.

This was an inheritance from one of the Dou Qi Continent's most powerful factions!

"If I could gather the complete Gu Clan cultivation manual..."

The next day.

The Xiao Clan Medicine Hall was bustling with people.

This was because Elder Xiao Chen had announced that he would publicly refine a batch of pills in the Medicine Hall and let everyone broaden their horizons.

Once the news spread, not only did dozens of medicine apprentices and stewards from the Medicine Hall gather together.

Even several clan elders who normally lived in seclusion came upon hearing the news. They gathered around the pill furnace, wanting to see just how capable this newly promoted elder with real authority truly was.

"Elder Xiao Chen, this way!"

The Medicine Hall elder personally led Xiao Chen over and arranged stalk after stalk of medicinal herbs on the table.

He watched Xiao Chen with blazing eyes, his gaze holding both anticipation and scrutiny. In alchemy, heat control and technique mattered most. One slight error could ruin everything.

He wanted to see whether this elder could refine a respectable batch of pills before everyone's eyes.

Xiao Chen smiled faintly and said nothing. With a sweep of his sleeve, a pale cyan Dou Qi flame rose from his palm.

"Ordinary flame?!"

"He... he actually intends to refine pills with ordinary flame?!"

The crowd immediately erupted in uproar.

In alchemy, the flame source was of utmost importance. Ordinary alchemists all needed to find a good flame source before they could fully bring out the medicinal power of their ingredients.

Yet Elder Xiao Chen actually intended to refine pills with the most ordinary of flames.

This was simply dancing on a knife's edge!

"Could Elder be... overestimating himself?" a steward muttered quietly.

"Shh—keep watching!"

An older medicine apprentice beside him glared at him.

"Can't you see how calm and composed Elder is? He is clearly confident!"

The steward curled his lips, obviously unconvinced.

Refining pills with ordinary flame—throughout the Medicine Hall's decades of history, no one had ever dared to do such a thing!

Xiao Chen turned a deaf ear, his expression focused.

With a flip of both hands, he cast the medicinal herbs on the table into the pill furnace one after another—controlling the fire, purifying the ingredients, condensing the pills...

Every step flowed as smoothly as drifting clouds and running water, without the slightest hesitation.

The ordinary flame danced and churned in his palms, yet it remained under his precise control at all times—not a fraction too much, not a fraction too little.

The air in the Medicine Hall suddenly grew hotter, and a rich medicinal fragrance gradually spread through the room.

"What a strong medicinal scent!"

"T-This heat control is not the least bit disordered?!"

The onlookers gradually began breathing heavily.

At first, some had whispered among themselves, but as time passed, the Medicine Hall slowly fell silent.

Everyone had been deeply captivated by Xiao Chen's exquisite alchemy technique.

To their horror, they discovered that the pills in the furnace were truly taking shape at a speed visible to the naked eye!

"H-How is this possible?! Ordinary flame can produce pills of such quality?!"

"What exquisite technique! Even veteran alchemists who have immersed themselves in the Dao of alchemy for decades might not be able to achieve such fire control!"