The Emperor's Extreme Pill Xiao Yan had prepared for himself was naturally the finest of all the pills he had refined. The better its quality, the greater the chance of gaining two stars. Moreover, he had refined this particular pill with the Spirit of the Deep Sea Cauldron, using alchemy that rivaled a Seventh-Rank Alchemist's. Its quality could definitely be considered exceptional.
If he took the Emperor's Extreme Pill after breaking through to Three-Star Dou Emperor, he might reach Five-Star Dou Emperor directly with a little luck. Refining the sea heart flame afterward should allow him to break through smoothly to Dou Zong. Even if he only reached Four-Star Dou Emperor, he could simply swallow another earth fire lotus seed to achieve the same result.
It was worth mentioning that Xiao Yan was not the only one who had entered seclusion. Qing Lin had also shut herself away to cultivate after returning. The battle at the Ruins of Return had made her painfully aware of her lack of strength, so she had begun training diligently soon after her return. She was so absorbed that she forgot to eat and sleep, leaving even Hai Bodong feeling he could not match her dedication.
While Qing Lin was in seclusion, Xiao Yan paid her a visit and fed a Dou Ling Pill to the Drywater Demon Snake she had just subdued, raising his strength by another star. The Fifth-Rank Magic Beast felt overwhelmed by the unexpected favor. Was the treatment here really this good? He failed to notice the look the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake cast his way.
Having experienced this several times already, and with his cultivation about to drop to that of a four- or five-star Da Dou Shi, the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake naturally knew that Xiao Yan was not