Once Xiao Yan finished refining the Purple Flame, Yao Lao floated back over to him.
"That... that's it?"
Yao Lao's face was filled with shock.
He had already expected this outcome.
But actually watching Xiao Yan refine the Purple Flame without the slightest danger or pain still left Yao Lao deeply shaken!
"You little brat, you've done something extraordinary!
If this method of refining flames outside the body spreads, the strength of the Dou Qi Continent's Alchemists will rise to a whole new level!
Previously, devouring flames was so dangerous that only a tiny handful of Alchemists ever took that path.
But now that you've reduced the risk to practically nothing, I can already imagine almost every Alchemist on the Dou Qi Continent finding a way to refine a flame of their own.
After all, using a Dou Qi flame for alchemy is nowhere near as effortless as using a refined flame!"
At this, Xiao Yan smiled. "If you wish, Teacher, I can share this method.
But I certainly won't give it away for nothing. I'd have to receive enough benefits in return."
Yao Lao laughed heartily.
"You brat! I knew it!"
After a pause, Yao Lao continued, "Although I do want to advance alchemy on the Dou Qi Continent, I'm no fool. Naturally, I wouldn't give it away for nothing.
Hmm, let's wait for now. When you have a chance to visit the Central Plains, I'll introduce you to the Pill Tower.
For something this valuable, only a deal with the Pill Tower will bring the greatest returns."
Xiao Yan laughed. "Teacher, you've learned some bad habits too! You're starting to scheme!"
Yao Lao shot Xiao Yan a displeased glare and stroked his beard.
"What bad habits? How can an Alchemist's business be called scheming?"
With a cough, Yao Lao continued, "Release your Purple Flame. Let me see how powerful it is."
Xiao Yan smiled. With a thought, a tuft of Purple Flame rose from his fingertip.
The flame was small, but its temperature was extremely high. The heat it radiated even made the stone walls throughout the cave begin to glow faintly red.
Yao Lao's soul form floated around the docile wisp of Purple Flame, his expression excited, as though he were admiring an unparalleled work of art.
"Seventy percent! Definitely seventy percent!"
Yao Lao's voice carried excitement he could barely contain!
"Judging by my experience, this Purple Flame you've refined has retained at least seventy percent of its original power!
Heavens! With the traditional devouring method, retaining ten percent is normal. Anyone who retains twenty percent is a genius among ten thousand!
But you... you've increased that by more than threefold!
In terms of power, the Purple Flame in your hand wouldn't fall far short even compared to those Heavenly Flames at the bottom of the Heavenly Flame Ranking!
After all, those lowest-ranked Heavenly Flames are weak to begin with, and the devouring method retains so little of their power. They really wouldn't be much stronger than your Purple Flame!"
Xiao Yan was quite pleased as well.
He had another trump card!
After celebrating for a while, the two began preparing for the next task.
Evolving the Flame Mantra!
Xiao Yan sat cross-legged on the ground again, focused his mind, and began circulating the Flame Mantra.
As the cultivation technique circulated, the newly born Purple Flame began surging through his meridians along a specific route.
One cycle.
Two cycles.
As the ninth cycle finished, Xiao Yan's entire body suddenly trembled!
The previously fixed circulation route had actually expanded into several other meridians on its own!
This greatly increased the Flame Mantra's Dou Qi circulation speed, storage capacity, and purity!
The Flame Mantra had evolved!
From its original yellow tier low grade, it had leaped straight into Profound Tier Low Grade!
Feeling the more abundant and purer Dou Qi within him, Xiao Yan rose to his feet, his expression brimming with excitement.
This evolution had not only proven the Flame Mantra's viability, but also ensured that his cultivation technique would finally stop holding him back!
The gains were enormous!
Yao Lao approached with a broad smile.
"You really do have some talent and luck, brat.
You've been in the Magical Beast Mountain Range for less than three months, yet your strength has risen from a Seven-Star Great Dou Master to a Three-Star Dou Ling.
As for your cultivation technique, you've evolved the Flame Mantra.
In alchemy, you've invented a new method of refining flames and refined a Dou Emperor-level Purple Flame.
As for connections, you've enticed both a girl with the Woeful Poison Body and the Dou Emperor sect leader of the Misty Cloud Sect into coming along with you.
Brat, most people never experience anything as exciting in their entire lives as you have in these three months!"
Xiao Yan was also very satisfied with his gains. But after thinking for a moment, he added:
"Teacher, now that I've reached Dou Ling, acquired this Purple Flame, and attained a sufficient soul realm, perhaps... I can start trying to advance to a fifth-tier Alchemist."
Alchemy was an important avenue for him to accumulate resources in this world.
Once his strength was sufficient, advancing was naturally the first thing on his mind!
Yao Lao stroked his beard with a smile and agreed. "Indeed. With your current strength, you can certainly begin refining fifth-tier pills.
It's just that... most of the medicinal ingredients we have are below the fourth tier, and we have practically no fifth-tier ingredients in reserve.
We'll have to find somewhere to buy more."
Xiao Yan nodded.
"I think I've had enough training in the Magical Beast Mountain Range by now. Let's move somewhere else.
To the east of here is a city called Black Rock City. It's considerably larger than Wutan City, and not only does it have plenty of medicinal ingredients, it also has an Alchemist Guild.
We can go there to buy ingredients and, while we're at it... take my Alchemist certification exam."
Yao Lao nodded.
"Very well. It is indeed time you took the Alchemist certification exam."
Ending his cultivation and rising to his feet, Xiao Yan called Yun Yun inside.
"Miss Yun Yun, I've finished everything I needed to do in the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
Next, I plan to visit Black Rock City to buy some medicinal ingredients and take the Alchemist qualification exam while I'm there.
What are your plans?"
The two had only spent a little over a month together. Although Yun Yun had finished her business and ought to return to her sect, she had no desire whatsoever to part with Xiao Yan.
Her face flushed slightly as she said, "I have nothing else to do. I can accompany you to Black Rock City and have a look around."
Xiao Yan smacked his lips.
He had not forgotten his promise to return and visit Xiao Yi Xian every three months.
Exactly three months had passed now.
Moreover, he did not intend to return to Qingshan Town after this, so he would have to take Xiao Yi Xian with him on this visit.
Naturally, however, he could not let Yun Yun know about that.
That involved his other identity.
After some thought, Xiao Yan said, "Miss Yun Yun, I still have some private matters to handle back in Qingshan Town, so it wouldn't be convenient for us to travel together. How about we meet in Black Rock City in five days?"
With Xiao Yan having put it so plainly, Yun Yun was naturally too embarrassed to keep stubbornly tagging along. She could only say, "That works too. I'll wait for you in Black Rock City, then."
The two prepared to part.
Before leaving, Yun Yun still felt uneasy. She turned back, fixing Xiao Yan with an earnest gaze.
"Mister Li, you will come to Black Rock City, won't you?"
There were no convenient communication tools in this world, and Yun Yun was genuinely a little worried that Xiao Yan would disappear without a trace once he left.
Yet the beautiful woman's concern only made Xiao Yan feel guilty.
Although his conscience was as clear as the breeze and bright as the moon, appearances suggested that he was about to meet another woman behind her back.
It made him seem like a faithless lover!
Ah, once we reach Black Rock City and they're both in the same place, who knows what other trouble might crop up?
Please don't let it turn into some romantic battlefield. That would be far too much to bear!
Before you continue