Refining a Sixth-Grade Pill

Xiao Yan watched the expressions flicker across her face—touched one moment, embarrassed the next, then gritting her teeth. He had no idea what was going through her head.

He shook his head, said goodbye to Xiao Yu, and turned to leave.

Since he had promised Xiao Yu, he would keep his word.

He had no ready-made Qi Gathering Powder on hand, but he had all the Medicinal Herbs he needed.

He might as well make a few extra while he had the furnace going, so the clan members stuck at the Ninth Stage of Dou Qi could break through with peace of mind.

With Xiao Yan's current Dou Qi cultivation and Soul Power, aided by the Tiger Talisman's balancing effect, refining a few Fourth-Grade Qi Gathering Powders was easy.

In just one night, he refined several perfect Qi Gathering Powders and packed them separately.

Xiao Yan rose, stretched, and pushed open the door.

Daylight had arrived. The early morning air still carried the crisp scent of grass and trees.

He began doing the Eighth Set of Radio Calisthenics in the courtyard, expanding his chest, kicking his legs, and twisting his torso. Every movement was meticulous.

Yao Lao watched the strange routine from inside the ring. No matter how closely he looked, he could make no sense of it. Could this be some long-lost, mysterious body-tempering Dou Technique?

Deciding it was better to be safe than sorry, he quietly memorized every movement, intending to try it himself later.

Xiao Yan had barely finished the routine when a knock sounded at the door.

He relaxed his stance, walked over, and pulled it open.

Standing outside was Xiao Yu, who had come to collect the medicine as promised.

His gaze swept over her before he could stop himself, and his eyes lit up.

Xiao Yu had clearly dressed with care today. Not a strand of her dark hair was out of place, and her outfit suited her perfectly.

Most striking were her long, straight legs, so pale they almost dazzled, fully exposed to the morning light like fine white jade.

"I... I'm here for the Qi Gathering Powder." Under his undisguised stare, Xiao Yu's cheeks grew hot, and her words came out in a stammer.

"Ahem. Sorry." Xiao Yan coughed twice and looked away, then took the Qi Gathering Powder he had prepared from his Storage Ring and handed it to her.

Xiao Yu took the pill, her face brightening at once, and carefully put it away.

But instead of leaving, she glanced outside the courtyard like a thief, her face red, then swiftly reached back and shut the gate tight.

Her furtive behavior left Xiao Yan utterly baffled.

He was about to ask what she was doing when Xiao Yu drew a deep breath, as though she had made an agonizing decision.

Eyes shut, she extended one of the long legs she took such pride in toward him. Her face was crimson, and her voice trembled with embarrassment and indignation as she said:

"Go on! Touch it!"

Xiao Yan's eyelid twitched hard at the sight of her smooth, pale leg so close to him.

Was this how she tested a man's self-control?

After a brief struggle with himself, he suddenly adopted a solemn expression. "Sister Xiao Yu, do you think I'm that kind of person? Put your leg down!"

He spoke with righteous conviction, even as his hand swept across her leg and gave it a firm stroke.

Her skin was soft and smooth to the touch. What a rare delight.

The feel of his warm hand brushing over her leg made Xiao Yu blush even harder.

Xiao Yan's blatant mismatch between words and deeds gave Xiao Yu a firsthand lesson in true shamelessness.

She snatched her leg back, called him a "Little Pervert," and fled without looking back.

Other Xiao Clan members she passed along the way stared after her in bewilderment as she hurried off, red-faced and flustered.

What had happened to Cousin Xiao Yu, who was usually so blunt and quick to throw a punch? Why was she acting so shy today?

Watching Xiao Yu flee, Xiao Yan could not keep the corners of his mouth from rising. An inexplicable satisfaction welled up inside him.

In the days that followed, Xiao Yan settled into a comfortable routine at the Xiao Clan: cultivating, refining medicine, teasing Xun'er and Xiao Yi Xian, and occasionally visiting the Mittel Auction House. Life could hardly have been more pleasant.

Hai Bodong had also put the Mittel Family's affairs in the Imperial Capital in order.

On his personal instructions, Ya Fei received unprecedented attention from the family. Her standing rose, and permissions previously closed to her were granted.

She was now solely responsible for dealing with Xiao Yan. Whatever he needed, one word from Ya Fei would put the entire Mittel Family's resources at his disposal first.

Hai Bodong himself used the Mittel Auction House's extensive network to gather every Medicinal Herb on Xiao Yan's list and brought them all back to Wutan City.

With the Medicinal Herbs in hand, Xiao Yan could finally begin refining higher-grade pills.

The list he had given Hai Bodong included not only every ingredient needed for the Emperor's Extreme Pill, but also the primary and supplementary ingredients for the Sect Breaking Pill and other pills.

The Sect Breaking Pill, of course, was meant for Little Purple.

Only once Little Purple broke through and the Xiao Clan had a Dou Zong-level fighter to guard it could he truly leave for Jia Nan Academy with peace of mind.

At Xiao Yan's current level of Alchemy, refining Sixth-Grade Pills was no longer a problem.

That very night, he announced that he was going into seclusion.

Several days later, the door that had remained shut for so long finally opened again.

Xiao Yan held several Jade Boxes, unable to hide the smile on his face.

"Teacher, how would you rate my Alchemy now?" He turned a smooth Jade Box over in his hands, showing a rare trace of boyish pride.

A thirteen-year-old Sixth-Grade Alchemist—even Xiao Yan, usually so composed, could not help feeling proud.

"That's my disciple." For once, Yao Lao boasted right along with him.

After spending so long with Xiao Yan, he had caught the boy's habit without realizing it. Every now and then, he wanted to show off too.

Xiao Yan merely smiled.

He took the pills to Hai Bodong and solemnly placed the Emperor's Extreme Pill in his hand.

Hai Bodong's entire hand trembled slightly as he accepted it.

Then Xiao Yan went alone to the man-made cave that had been specially carved into the Xiao Clan Back Mountain.

Little Purple was accustomed to living in caves and did not much like human houses, so Xiao Zhan had ordered a spacious Cave Abode built for her in the Back Mountain.

Xiao Yan had only just reached the entrance when Little Purple sensed his presence and darted out before he could call to her.

As she landed before Xiao Yan and came to a stop, her full, mature figure swayed gently.

"Master!" Little Purple bowed respectfully to Xiao Yan, genuine admiration in her voice.

After spending this time among humans, she had grown increasingly familiar with their customs and etiquette.

Xiao Yan nodded in satisfaction, produced a Jade Box, and held it out to her. "This is the Sect Breaking Pill. With your talent, taking it should make your breakthrough to Dou Zong all but certain."