The history of alchemy

"Looks like this little bastard is pretty interested in Cao Ying." Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow and glanced at Cao Ying beside him, who looked eager to stir up trouble.

"Heh, wicked woman."

Compared with the innocent Dan Chen, Cao Ying was clearly no angel. Now she was plotting to torment Xiao Yan again.

Keep making trouble. Once I trick you into bed, you'll have plenty to cry about. Xiao Yan sneered inwardly, but his words were quite amiable. "Since little sister Cao Ying is willing to sit beside me, I must be quite blessed with the company of beauties."

With that, he ignored Song Qing's murderous glare and turned toward Dan Chen, who had already sat down a short distance away. "Hey, come sit beside me."

Dan Chen's little face remained perfectly calm, as though she hadn't realized he was calling her.

"If you don't come over, don't force me to go drag you here," Xiao Yan called loudly.

"Well, well, the little lady's jealous." Watching Dan Chen continue to sit there like a block of wood, Xiao Yan shouted, "I'll count to three. If you still don't come over, I'll get angry."

"Three!" Dan Chen's frail frame stiffened slightly.

"Two!" Her smooth, pale calves trembled a little.

"One!" Xiao Yan's tone grew heavier, as though he was getting angry.

Clack! Dan Chen abruptly rose from her stool, then walked over in small steps, a trace of hurt and resentment on her little face.

She wore a snow-white floral dress that hugged her waist, slender enough to encircle with a hand. The hem fell a little below her knees, leaving a stretch of delicate, jade-like calf exposed.

As she approached, Xiao Yan caught a refreshing fragrance that soothed both heart and mind.

She even put on a little perfume. Xiao Yan smiled inwardly and patted the chair beside him. "Sit!"

Dan Chen still wanted to resist a little, but seeing Xiao Yan's rather stern face, she sat down anyway, her little lips involuntarily puckering into a pout.

"That's more like it." Seeing her looking so aggrieved, Xiao Yan couldn't resist pinching her cheek.

"Th-there are people here." Dan Chen blushed.

Only then did Xiao Yan withdraw his hand, thinking he had to find a way to withstand that terrifying suction from her soul as soon as possible. Otherwise, how would they ever be intimate?

"Hmph." Cao Ying's cold snort sounded beside them.

"I'm being affectionate with my little wife. What the hell are you snorting for?" Xiao Yan gave Cao Ying a displeased look.

"Little wife???" Cao Ying's beautiful eyes suddenly widened, and an inexplicable fury rose from the depths of her heart.

"Little sister Dan Chen, did this lecher threaten you? You've only known each other a few days. He must have forced himself on you. Tell me, and I'll stand up for you," Cao Ying asked, feigning concern.

At her words, Dan Chen blushed again. Yet she seemed to sense another meaning beneath Cao Ying's words, and, as though moved by some unseen impulse, she shook her head.

"What's gotten into you today, girl?" Cao Ying froze for a moment, then a faint, concealed hostility crept into her gaze as she looked at Dan Chen.

Well, well, the palace intrigue's already starting? Xiao Yan was inwardly delighted.

Unfortunately, neither of you is the empress. The real empress is probably close to becoming a Dou Zong by now. Xiao Yan recalled the exquisite face he had seen flying over the Xiao Realm that day, as beautiful and otherworldly as a blue lotus.

Apart from himself, there was probably no one on this continent whose backing was stronger than Xun'er's.

Judging by the current situation, however, Dan Chen definitely couldn't win against Cao Ying. He would have to give her a little help and knock Cao Ying down a peg along the way.

"Big words from someone I've already beaten. Watch out-you might fail to rescue your little sister and lose yourself in the bargain. Still, although you're a little stupid, you're fairly pretty. I suppose you could be my bed-warming maid."

Xiao Yan began working his mind games on Cao Ying.

"You!" At Xiao Yan's words, Cao Ying's willow brows first shot up in anger, but then she broke into a peal of giggles.

"Of course, of course! Ying'er couldn't ask for anything better than to be Young Master Xiao Yan's bed-warming maid!"

Holy shit, what's catching fire?!

Even someone as mature and composed as Xiao Yan nearly had the legendary wicked fire in his lower belly kindled by Cao Ying.

"Hmph, then wash yourself clean and be ready to attend me in bed at any time!" Xiao Yan sneered.

"Quiet!" A gloomy voice rang throughout the classroom. The students looked over and discovered that Teaching Assistant Song Qing's face was as black as the bottom of a pot.

The two of them hadn't bothered to conceal their conversation at all. Though the students their age envied and resented Xiao Yan, his terrifying strength naturally kept them from saying anything.

But Song Qing couldn't hold it in any longer. He regarded Cao Ying as a woman reserved for him alone. Though she was still young, in a few more years she would be old enough to marry.

I'm so outstanding. Who would Cao Ying marry if not me?

Yet Xiao Yan, who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere today, gave him a strong sense of danger. He had talent and powerful backing, and, most importantly, Cao Ying was very interested in him.

"Hehe, Senior Brother Song is angry." Cao Ying smiled like a little enchantress.

Xiao Yan stopped talking as well. Instead, he glanced at Dan Chen, who had blushed again at their brazen words. Enduring the electric-shock sensation, he squeezed her hand, then obediently settled down to listen to the lesson.

Seeing him behave this way, Song Qing thought he had intimidated the boy, and couldn't help feeling a little smug.

So what if you're a genius, brat? This is the Pill Tower, not your home, where you can run wild however you please. I'll take this opportunity to humiliate you properly today and make Ying'er lose interest in you.

With that thought, he cleared his throat.

"Students, today is the first day of the Youth Class. Since most of the early lessons cover general knowledge about the alchemy world, there is no need to trouble the elders of our Pill Tower. Having me teach in their place will suffice."

At this point, he narrowed his eyes and fixed his gaze on Xiao Yan. "Student Xiao Yan, your alchemy is the most advanced of anyone here. Why don't you explain the history of alchemy?"

Just as expected, this fellow... Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly. Seeing Cao Ying gloating beside him, he couldn't help having a wicked idea.

Without a word, he reached out and lightly patted Cao Ying's rounded, full bottom before slowly standing up.

Cao Ying, who had been covering her mouth and smiling, stiffened, and a rosy flush spread across her face.

That scoundrel! How dare he?!

Fortunately, she was far more composed than Dan Chen and soon recovered. His action had been quite discreet, so Song Qing hadn't seen it. Had he noticed anything, he probably would have gone mad on the spot.

"Alchemy originated in ancient times. Its precise beginnings could probably be traced back fifty thousand years or even longer, but the oldest verifiable records only go back fifty thousand years.

It is said that ancient alchemy possessed the power to reach the heavens. The legendary Emperor Grade Pills had all manner of inconceivable, heaven-defying effects.

And on the ancient Dou Qi Continent, besides Dou Qi and alchemy, there were also immensely powerful traditions such as the formation Dao and the soul Dao.

However, these traditions suffered certain unforeseen events around fifty thousand years ago, which ultimately led to their decline. After these ancient schools declined, Dou Qi gradually became the continent's dominant theme.

After countless years of development, the Dou Qi school reached its peak and became virtually the continent's only mainstream path.

Since the path of alchemy complemented Dou Qi cultivation, it ultimately became the continent's second major mainstream school as well.

And because becoming an alchemist placed considerable demands on both one's constitution and soul, alchemists remained rare. This, in turn, made alchemy the most prestigious profession on the continent."

Xiao Yan spoke confidently and fluently, while everyone else wore looks of utter bewilderment.