Jade Marrow Golden Body Pill

"Ow!"

Outside the Mittel Auction House, Jia Lie Ao and Liu Xi had been beaten and thrown out, but aside from losing face, neither had suffered any real injury.

After all, some respect still had to be shown to the Jia Lie Family and the Fourth-Rank Alchemist backing Liu Xi.

Yet the two screamed miserably without pause, as though they had been stabbed three times through and carved apart by a thousand blades, making it sound as if they had suffered grievous wounds.

Liu Xi touched his face, which had swollen into a pig's head. His features had never been handsome, and now they barely looked human.

Their commotion drew the attention of quite a few passersby, who turned to look.

Some spectators eager for entertainment even gathered around, pointing at the bedraggled pair and sizing them up with mocking looks.

It was just like watching performing monkeys.

"Huh, that fellow looks a bit like Young Master Jia Lie Ao of the Jia Lie Family. What happened? Why did they throw him out of the Mittel Auction House?"

"Who knows? And that fellow beside him looks unfamiliar."

"I remember now! That fellow you mentioned is Liu Xi, the First-Rank Alchemist the Jia Lie Family hired two years ago. He holds a very high position in their family."

"So he's Liu Xi?"

"I've heard of him too. They say he lusts after women like his life depends on it and needs several women to warm his bed every night. Apparently, he's already had his way with all the Jia Lie Family's maids."

"No wonder he looks so drained. He's as skinny as a bamboo pole."

"..."

The jeers and laughter around them dealt a vicious blow to Liu Xi's pride.

He stared venomously at the entrance to the Mittel Auction House and muttered through gritted teeth, "Damn the Mittel Auction House! Damn that bitch! This isn't over. I, Liu Xi, will have my revenge!"

Jia Lie Ao had been standing quite close to Liu Xi, but upon hearing those nearly deranged words, he immediately edged away without drawing attention.

Father was right. Aside from refining pills, this fellow is a complete and utter idiot. He hasn't a scrap of sense.

Jia Lie Ao shot Liu Xi a contemptuous glance and silently mocked him.

You actually want revenge on the Mittel Auction House?

Who the hell do you think you are, picking a fight with the Mittel Auction House?

You really don't fear the Mittel Family at all!

Jia Lie Ao freely ridiculed Liu Xi's ignorance in his mind, unaware that the Xiao Clan, whom his family regarded as a rival, was even more terrifying than the Mittel Family.

Just then, Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er emerged from the Mittel Auction House.

Both noticed the utterly bedraggled Jia Lie Ao and Liu Xi amid the crowd, but after a single glance, they looked away and ignored them.

Jia Lie Ao noticed this and gave a cold smile.

I can't afford to provoke the Mittel Auction House, but surely I can handle your Xiao Clan?

Fortunately, Father had the foresight to send the first elder to other cities to purchase medicinal ingredients in secret, while buying them openly from the Mittel Auction House.

The first elder should be back soon.

In that case, I'll let your Xiao Clan enjoy its triumph a little longer!

The night was pitch-black, with a silver moon hanging high overhead.

Inside a secluded chamber in the Xiao Clan's rear courtyard, Xiao Yan stood before a pitch-black Medicine Cauldron. Pale-yellow, fire-attribute Dou Qi covered its base, burning like a roaring flame.

Cold sweat beaded on Xiao Yan's forehead, but his concentration remained razor-sharp as he placed medicinal ingredients into the Medicine Cauldron one after another.

He was currently refining a Peak Third-Tier Pill, the Jade Marrow Golden Body Pill.

This was the pill Yao Lao had said would suit Xiao Yan.

Though it was only at the peak of the third tier, refining it was no easier than refining certain fourth-tier pills.

Naturally, Xiao Yan had hoped Yao Lao would refine it for him, but Yao Lao had flatly refused.

His reason was that Xiao Yan's alchemy had gone far too long without improving.

If the disciple of the illustrious Venerable Yao was no good at alchemy, where would that leave his dignity?

Bang!

Several hours later, Xiao Yan raised his hand and slapped the Medicine Cauldron, jolting a perfectly round pill out of it.

The moment Xiao Yan saw the pill, delight lit up his eyes.

"Teacher, I did it!"

Even with Xiao Yan's talent, his first attempt at refining the Jade Marrow Golden Body Pill had involved two outright failures.

Yao Lao glanced indifferently at the Jade Marrow Golden Body Pill and shook his head.

"You failed twice, only to produce a Jade Marrow Golden Body Pill of middling quality.

Little Yanzi, it seems you really have been neglecting your alchemy lately.

Though I know you place greater value on strength, I must tell you that alchemy and cultivation complement each other.

You still have me to refine pills for you now, but what if one day I'm no longer here?

Or what if, as you grow stronger, even Eighth-Tier Pills can no longer meet your cultivation needs? When that happens, even I won't be able to help you. What will you do then?

Little Yanzi, your talent for alchemy is unlike anything I've ever heard of. The eighth tier is by no means your limit, so I sincerely hope you'll take your gift seriously."

Yao Lao offered his earnest counsel.

Xiao Yan fell silent for a moment. With Yao Lao around, he had never been as enthusiastic about alchemy as he was about advancing his cultivation.

Yet Yao Lao's words today had brought him to a sudden awakening.

That's right. Yao Lao can still refine pills for me now, but what about later?

I can't expect him to reach the ninth rank, or even become an Emperor-Grade Alchemist, just to keep refining pills for me, can I?

Although... actually, that might not be impossible.

But that would be a little inhuman of me.

That was only a joke, of course. Xiao Yan would never truly be so heartless.

He bowed to Yao Lao and said solemnly, "Your disciple has learned his lesson."

Only then did Yao Lao stroke his beard and smile.

"You're worth teaching!"

Inwardly, however, he breathed a sigh of relief. Now he could finally take things a little easier.

That brat Little Yanzi really does work his teacher like an ox or a horse.

He has me refine every piece of rubbish he needs. Is the continent's foremost Alchemist really worth so little?

Naturally, Xiao Yan knew nothing of Yao Lao's thoughts and began another round of pill refining.

With one success under his belt, Xiao Yan grew increasingly adept at refining the Jade Marrow Golden Body Pill.

He refined it four more times in succession without a single failure.

The Jade Marrow Golden Body Pill from his final attempt even reached perfect quality.

This alone revealed Xiao Yan's terrifying talent for alchemy.

Looking at the Jade Marrow Golden Body Pills in the five jade bottles before him, Xiao Yan smiled in satisfaction.

"This lowest-quality one can be auctioned at the Mittel Auction House in the Xiao Clan's name. It'll help bolster our reputation too."

As for the other four, even the worst was of superior quality, so he would naturally keep them for himself.

A short while later, in the Xiao Clan's main hall.

Xiao Zhan and the Xiao Clan's three elders gazed curiously at the round pill in the jade bottle, which gave off wafts of delicate fragrance.

"Yan'er, did your master refine this pill too?" Xiao Zhan asked.

Xiao Yan shook his head.

It was time to let his father learn a little of his true capabilities.

A fifteen-year-old Third-Rank Alchemist might be shocking, but it would be fine as long as word did not spread.

Though the Xiao Clan's three elders each had their own selfish interests, their loyalty to the clan was absolute.

Even if they learned of Xiao Yan's true capabilities, they would never divulge them.

"No. I refined this pill myself."

In an instant, the Xiao Clan's main hall fell utterly silent, as though time itself had stopped.