Refining Medicine

Several days later!

Xiao Zhan came up to Xiao Yan with a purple-gold card in hand and said with feigned ease, "Yan'er, there are a hundred thousand gold coins on this card. Spend them however you need. If you run out, just ask your father for more."

Xiao Yan looked at the relaxed expression on his father's face, but knowing the temperaments of the clan elders, they clearly wouldn't have let his father obtain those hundred thousand gold coins so easily.

There must have been plenty of wrangling along the way.

Still, he didn't stand on ceremony. Those hundred thousand gold coins were crucial to him right now.

"You have a good father!"

After Xiao Zhan had gone, Yao Lao couldn't help remarking with feeling.

Xiao Yan grinned proudly. "Of course I do."

Then he asked, "Teacher, now that the money is here, just tell me which medicinal ingredients you need. I'll go buy them."

Yao Lao smiled faintly and teased, "Little Yanzi, having money really does make a difference. Even your words carry more weight now."

The corners of Xiao Yan's mouth lifted as he waved the Purple Gold Card in his hand.

"Naturally. Money gives a man courage."

"Hahaha! Since you've got the money, it's time for your teacher to show his skills.

"Listen carefully. Three intact stalks of purple leaf orchid grass, at least fifty years old. The older, the better.

"Two bone-washing flowers, at least twenty years old.

"Besides those, we'll need the bones of a second-tier Tiger-Type Magical Beast, three stalks of scarlet blood ganoderma of any age, and..."

Yao Lao rattled off a long list of medicinal ingredients. At first, Xiao Yan could still maintain his smile, but the farther down the list they went, the stiffer it became.

"Finally, prepare one first-tier Wood-Type Magic Core and two first-tier Fire-Type Magic Cores."

Xiao Yan's mind raced. Aside from the purple leaf orchid grass and bone-washing flowers, which were low-grade ingredients, none of these medicinal ingredients came cheap.

Adding everything up, sixty or seventy thousand of the hundred thousand gold coins he'd just received would probably be gone in the blink of an eye.

That was far more than in the original story.

Still, you got what you paid for. Xiao Yan accepted it.

With an expression of aching reluctance, he said, "All right. I'll get those ingredients ready tomorrow."

Seeing this, Yao Lao couldn't help teasing him. "Enough. Look at that penny-pinching face of yours. Once I've refined the pills, you can just sell one or two. Won't that earn all the money back?"

Xiao Yan's mouth twitched at that.

He really was an idiot. How had he forgotten that?

The next day!

Xiao Yan threw on a black robe and headed for the marketplace.

After he left, Xiao Xun'er appeared in his empty room, her little lips pouting.

Though she was only a ten-year-old girl, she somehow gave the impression of a neglected wife languishing in her chambers.

"Hmph! Brother Xiao Yan has been getting more and more mysterious lately. He won't even play with me."

"Elder Ling, have you noticed anything while watching from the shadows?"

As soon as she finished speaking, a dark shadow silently appeared behind Xiao Xun'er.

It was none other than Ling Ying, the Gu Clan's strongest Dou Huang expert.

It was rather remarkable. The Gu Clan had countless experts, yet its patriarch had shown a discerning eye for talent, picking out an unremarkable Dou Emperor like him at a glance and entrusting him with an important mission.

Ling Ying said gravely, "Young miss, my investigations suggest that a powerful soul entity is present around Young Master Xiao Yan."

At this, Xiao Xun'er's brows furrowed slightly.

But then Ling Ying continued, "However, that soul entity doesn't seem to harbor any hostility toward Young Master Xiao Yan. In fact, Young Master Xiao Yan has accepted him as his teacher."

Even after hearing that, Xiao Xun'er remained unhappy. She gave a soft huff. "Then he's a mediocre teacher. Brother Xiao Yan reached the Ninth Stage of Dou Qi two years ago, yet he still hasn't broken through to Dou Zhe."

Although Ling Ying felt that Xiao Yan wasn't as simple as he appeared, he was also perceptive enough to speak up on Yao Lao's behalf.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yan had already visited several marketplaces across Wutan City and bought all the medicinal ingredients he needed.

The total came to sixty-seven thousand gold coins.

Such extravagant spending, all on medicinal ingredients at that, caused a small stir.

After all, marketplaces were unlike auction houses. They might only see a handful of transactions that large in an entire year.

After returning to the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan chuckled and said, "Teacher, it's your turn to act."

Yao Lao's illusory, translucent figure appeared beside him.

"Little Yanzi, watch closely."

Yao Lao narrowed his eyes slightly, his expression calm and composed.

A moment later, a pale flame suddenly rose from his left palm.

In an instant, Xiao Yan distinctly felt the surrounding temperature rise considerably.

Is this the Bone Spirit Cold Flame?

Xiao Yan thought as he watched the pale flame dancing nimbly in Yao Lao's palm.

Then Yao Lao beckoned with his right hand.

The purple leaf orchid grass, bone-washing flowers, and first-tier Wood-Type Magic Core flew out of the Bone Flame Ring and entered the Bone Spirit Cold Flame one after another.

An hour later, as the Bone Spirit Cold Flame gradually receded, a drop of emerald-green liquid, crystal-clear as glass, appeared above Yao Lao's palm.

Even without touching it, Xiao Yan could clearly sense the abundant energy contained within that emerald droplet.

"This is Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, a formula I created myself."

"As everyone knows, the meridians of those at the Dou Qi stage are fragile and cannot withstand the immense energy contained in medicinal pills. But the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid I created breaks that rule, allowing even those at the Dou Qi stage to use it."

"Of course, I've improved this particular batch further. Since your meridians are far stronger than those of an ordinary person at the Dou Qi stage, I used older ingredients to make the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid more potent."

After hearing this, Xiao Yan couldn't help feeling moved.

This was the difference a good teacher made!

Compared with that fellow over in Douluo, I really am incredibly lucky.

"Thank you for your hard work, Teacher," Xiao Yan said sincerely.

Yao Lao glanced at him and smiled faintly. "You're saying that too soon. It seems you'll have to say it again in a little while."

As he spoke, Yao Lao flicked a finger, sending the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid into a jade bottle prepared beforehand.

Then he beckoned with his right hand, and the remaining medicinal ingredients and Fire-Type Magic Cores appeared above his palm.

Whoosh!

As the Bone Spirit Cold Flame surged upward, the medicinal ingredients in Yao Lao's palm gradually melted into a mass of crimson liquid.

Another four to six hours passed before a sharp gleam flashed through Yao Lao's eyes. Vast soul power surged outward, instantly enveloping the Bone Spirit Cold Flame.

The pills were complete!

When the Bone Spirit Cold Flame dispersed, four perfectly round crimson pills floated above Yao Lao's palm, their appearance exquisite.

A rich medicinal fragrance spread at that moment, refreshing the mind and lifting the spirits.

"Four pills. Not too bad."

Yao Lao looked at his handiwork above his palm and nodded in satisfaction.

"These are Tiger Bone Body-Tempering Pills. Their medicinal properties are fairly gentle. Used alongside the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, they can temper your body more effectively."

"Over time, they'll also help prepare you to devour heavenly flames in the future."

Xiao Yan took the pills from Yao Lao and grinned.

"Then what are we waiting for? I can't wait another moment."

"Teacher, is this Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid meant for a medicinal bath?"

Looking at the impatient Xiao Yan, Yao Lao said irritably:

"What else?

"If you aren't afraid of dying, you can swallow it directly. But you'll probably die a very ugly death that way-your body might explode, for instance.

"After all, this is an enhanced version of Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid made specifically for you. The energy it contains is absolutely beyond your imagination."

Xiao Yan was quick to act and immediately fetched a tub of clean water.

As he poured in the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, the clear water in the tub instantly turned green.

Smiling, Yao Lao pointed at the wooden tub before them.

"Little Yanzi, what are you standing around for? Get in!"