"...You can't judge everything by appearances. It isn't convenient for me to explain everything right now, but you'll understand in time. I'm definitely not acting on impulse..."
After much coaxing and persuasion, Xiao Yan finally soothed the sulking Xun'er.
For some reason, she felt as though she were "coaxing a sulky little wife"... Ahem, it was all an illusion.
After seeing Xun'er off, Xiao Yan went straight to her father, Xiao Zhan, intending to have him buy her some beast flame first.
There was no helping it. The Flame Mantra was far too lousy right now.
How lousy? Even after she had begun practicing a cultivation method, she absorbed the energy of heaven and earth barely any faster than when she had done so without one.
-The improvement was less than ten percent.
Heavenly flames were hard to find, and with Xiao Yan's current paltry Dou Zhe cultivation, she couldn't refine one even if she found it.
Even if Apothecary separated an exceedingly tiny wisp of child flame from the Bone Spirit Cold Flame, with its core strength at the Dou Zhe level, the current Xiao Yan still wouldn't be able to refine it.
Even a tiny wisp of heavenly flame was enough to burn her to ashes.
Moreover, a heavenly flame's core "flame seed" was a complete, unified whole that couldn't be casually divided.
Even trying to separate a single "leaf" from its "trunk" would damage its integrity.
Once that balance was broken, the heavenly flame would inevitably "run riot."
If Apothecary had still possessed a body and been at her peak, separating a wisp of child flame would have been harmless. But now that she was only a Soul Body, dividing her flame would inevitably cause a backlash.
For all these reasons, Apothecary hadn't given Xiao Yan any child flame.
With no heavenly flame available and no way to obtain a child flame either, she could only try a couple of beast flames first and see whether the Flame Mantra could actually evolve.
Actually, it wasn't impossible to obtain beast flames from the Mittel Auction House under a certain "White Robe" identity.
However, once she refined a beast flame, she couldn't possibly keep it hidden as long as she remained in the Xiao Clan. Not only would her disguise be exposed, but explaining it to her clansmen would also be difficult.
So having her father buy them directly would save her the trouble.
After all, her talent was now "terrifying indeed," and after acquiring the Jia Lie Family's marketplace, the Xiao Clan wasn't short of money. Buying some beast flame shouldn't be a problem.
As for her cultivation method... she could just say she hadn't had time to switch yet. Her father should be easier to "hoodwink" than Xun'er anyway...
"Oh, right, Teacher," Xiao Yan said on her way to find her father, as though something had suddenly occurred to her. "Do you have any useless 'junk' I could help you get rid of?"
Apothecary: "..."
Well, this damned girl was still eyeing that little stash of hers... those things.
"I do, but have you thought about how you'll explain them to your father and the others?" Apothecary asked.
"Hehe~"
Xiao Yan gave a "bashful" smile. "Teacher, you said yourself that I don't need to hide being an alchemist. Doesn't that make things simple...?"
This and that, such and such.
"Fine, do as you like. Those things are only gathering dust with me anyway."
After hearing her out, Apothecary nodded casually, then tossed a huge pile... a small pile of cultivation-method scrolls out of her storage ring.
"Hehe, Teacher, you're so beautiful~"
Xiao Yan found a bundle, stuffed everything into it haphazardly, then scampered off happily to find her father.
"Ah..."
Watching Xiao Yan's cheerful figure, Apothecary sighed softly and shook her head helplessly before "muting herself" to rest.
Xiao Zhan and the Xiao Clan's Three Great Elders were in the meeting room, discussing how to nurture Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan's recent progress had been astonishing. In less than a year, she had risen from three-stage dou qi to nine-stage dou qi. (They didn't yet know she had just broken through to Dou Zhe.)
Thus, despite her "past record," Xiao Yan had once again gained the Xiao Clan's attention-more attention, in fact, than she had received three years ago.
Even with the risks, the Three Great Elders were investing in this "project," because the returns would be far too tempting if their "investment" succeeded.
And although Nalan Jie had already solved the Xiao Clan's need for a Mystic Tier Cultivation Method, the clan's "quality of instruction" was still inferior to that of some major powers.
The strongest person in the Xiao Clan was only a Da Dou Shi and probably couldn't teach Xiao Yan for long. Besides, Xiao Zhan wasn't necessarily skilled at "teaching."
It would be better to find someone more professional.
Thus, Xiao Zhan felt they should send Xiao Yan to the continent-renowned Jia Nan Academy for training, and the Three Great Elders thought he was absolutely right.
Just then-
"Father!"
Ignoring the guards at the entrance-though they wouldn't have dared stop her anyway-Xiao Yan cradled her bundle in one arm and pushed open the meeting room door with her other hand.
"Yan'er, what brings you here?" Xiao Zhan immediately dropped the subject.
The Three Great Elders turned to look as well, their aged faces blooming with smiles as radiant as chrysanthemums. "Third Young Miss." "Miss Yan'er is here..."
To the Three Great Elders, a mere pretty face was "Xiao Yan," while a genius was "Yan'er." They addressed her more affectionately than their own grandsons-how very pragmatic.
Of course, Xiao Yan didn't care about any of that.
"Father, two pieces of good news!" Xiao Yan walked up to the table and tossed her bundle onto it.
"First, I've broken through to Dou Zhe, and I can become an alchemist. Second, I just met an alchemist teacher. She thought my aptitude was decent and took me as her disciple."
"Teacher gave me all these treasures. Just take them for the clan to use-oh, right, Father, buy me two beast flames later."
"???"
Xiao Zhan and the Three Great Elders all looked utterly bewildered. Xiao Yan's words simply contained too much information.
And that was precisely the effect Xiao Yan wanted.
Under these circumstances, even if there were a few holes in her story, Xiao Zhan and the others would easily overlook them, making it simpler to "hoodwink" them.
"Ha, 'all these treasures'? That isn't what you called them when you asked me for them." Apothecary's teasing voice sounded in Xiao Yan's mind.
"Didn't you say, 'Teacher, do you have any useless trash I could help you get rid of'?"
"Teacher, you're so powerful that anything leaking through your fingers is a treasure to our Xiao Clan!" Xiao Yan paid no mind whatsoever to Apothecary's mockery.
Begging... ahem, there was nothing shameful about a disciple asking her master for things her master didn't need.
"Cheeky girl!" Apothecary lightly "scolded" Xiao Yan, though she was in a good mood herself.
Apothecary had also personally agreed to let Xiao Yan "spill the beans" about her existence to the Xiao Clan.
After all, the Xiao Clan would learn sooner or later that Xiao Yan could become an alchemist, so there was no need to keep it concealed.
With the Xiao Clan's support, Xiao Yan's cultivation would become easier, and the clan would benefit directly as well.
As for Apothecary herself, so long as her identity remained hidden, it wouldn't affect her much.
Of the four, Xiao Zhan reacted fastest. "Yan'er, you... what did you say?"
Honestly, Xiao Yan's breaking through to Dou Zhe without a word had left Xiao Zhan somewhat... extremely delighted. But compared with the other news, that delight hardly counted for much.
Yan'er could become an alchemist, and an alchemist had taken her as a disciple?
Not only had that alchemist waived any apprenticeship gift, but she had even given Yan'er things out of her own pocket to "help support the family"?
Even storybooks wouldn't dare write something like that!
Xiao Yan nodded unhurriedly, then continued speaking while the four were still reeling:
"Teacher is an alchemist traveling the continent. She didn't tell me her rank or cultivation level. She only said she wouldn't even want the likes of Pill King Gu He as her herb boy."
"Teacher said she came looking for heavenly flames. She thought my talent was decent and took me as her disciple, then told me to practice a secret method first to improve my fire control ability-so my cultivation will progress more slowly for now, but this is laying the foundation for me to become an alchemist later."
"Once I become an alchemist, cultivation won't be a problem at all. I'll just refine a few more pills and eat them."
As she spoke, Xiao Yan pushed the things on the table forward. "Father, Elders, take a look at these and you'll know whether I'm telling the truth."
Xiao Yan spun her tale off the cuff, leaving her father and the Three Great Elders thoroughly bamboozled.
Half believing and half doubting, Xiao Zhan took the bundle from the table and began inspecting its contents:
"A Mystic Rank High Grade cultivation method, the Earthfire Mantra, and its matching Dou Technique, Earth-Splitting Strike."
"A Mystic Rank High Grade cultivation method, the Thousand Astral Mantra, and its matching Dou Technique, Astral Wind Break."
"Mystic Rank High Grade........."
To Apothecary, Mystic Rank items were "chicken ribs"—of little use, merely "taking up space." Still, Mystic Rank High Grade ones with matching techniques did have some value.
Thus, she had effectively used Xiao Yan's hands to give the Xiao Clan some "good things."
She hadn't brought out anything Earth Tier. After all, Earth Tier items were no longer "common goods," and the current Xiao Clan couldn't stomach Earth Tier Cultivation Methods and Combat Skills anyway.
Mystic Rank High Grade items would suffice for the Xiao Clan for a while.
With only a couple of glances, Xiao Zhan had already spotted two Mystic Rank High Grade cultivation methods and their matching Dou Techniques. The intense excitement sent waves of dizziness through his head.
"Mystic Rank High Grade cultivation methods and Dou Techniques?!" The Three Great Elders couldn't remain seated, each rushing forward for a closer look.
But Xiao Zhan stood up and raised a hand to stop them. "Yan'er, are all these cultivation methods and Dou Techniques for our Xiao Clan? Will your teacher be displeased?"
Xiao Yan paused briefly, then understood Xiao Zhan's concern.
"Don't worry, Father! I can't teach you the secret method for improving fire control ability, but Teacher doesn't care about these Mystic Tier Cultivation Methods and Dou Techniques."
"Oh... oh, good. Then go back and rest for now. Consolidate your cultivation."
Xiao Yan nodded without saying much more, then quietly withdrew, concealing her deeds and fame.
In the Xiao Clan's meeting room.
After seeing Xiao Yan off, Xiao Zhan and the Three Great Elders stared at one another, a bundle of Mystic Tier Cultivation Methods and Dou Techniques sitting on the table.
"...How credible do you think Yan'er's words were?" Xiao Zhan took a moment to recover, then looked at the Three Great Elders and asked.
"Yan'er has always cultivated quietly and hasn't read any reference texts. Naturally, she shouldn't have had any opportunity to learn about things like heavenly flames," the First Elder said.
"These cultivation methods and Dou Techniques... don't look fake either. How could she have obtained them unless an expert gave them to her?" The Second Elder picked up a scroll, unrolled it, and carefully examined it with his senses as he spoke.
"Then... it could only have been an alchemist who happened to pass by while searching for heavenly flames and told Yan'er about them, right?"
"But that secret method for improving fire control ability..."
"It's perfectly normal for alchemists to have secret methods for improving fire control ability. Besides, someone who can produce so many good things shouldn't have any need to deceive Yan'er."
"Pill King Gu He is a Sixth-Rank Alchemist. If that esteemed master looks down on Gu He, she must at least be... seventh rank, right?"
"A seventh-rank alchemist has taken Yan'er as her disciple..."
"Our Xiao Clan has struck it rich!"
"Wait, didn't Yan'er say she wanted us to buy beast flames?"
"Yes, let's hurry over to the Mittel Auction House and ask!"
"..."
The Xiao Clan-or rather, the Mittel Auction House-acted quickly. Xiao Zhan soon obtained a... second-tier beast flame for Xiao Yan.
There was no helping it. Wutan City only sold beast flames of that grade.
After all, a Tier 2 Magical Beast's strength was comparable to that of a human Dou Shi, while a third-tier magical beast was comparable to a Da Dou Shi.
In a "small place" like Wutan City, almost nobody bought beast flames. Under ordinary circumstances, a Dou Shi couldn't kill a Tier 2 Magical Beast alone; a Da Dou Shi had to act.
Thus, even the Wutan City Mittel Auction House only had second-tier beast flames in stock. For higher-quality beast flames, one either had to wait or try one's luck in other, larger cities.
At first, Xiao Zhan thought that since Xiao Yan was only a Dou Zhe, a second-tier beast flame would suffice for now. She might even need him to stand guard while she refined it.
But after he returned, Xiao Yan took the beast flame and swallowed it in one gulp along with a "Body-Protecting Pill from Teacher," then sat cross-legged on the spot and quickly refined it.
Then came, "Not enough."
This left Xiao Zhan delighted, worried, and reproachful of himself all at once.
He was delighted that Yan'er's talent far exceeded his imagination. His worry and self-reproach came from the fact that she had only just broken through to Dou Zhe, yet he already seemed somewhat unable to "afford to raise her."
"Yan'er, wait here. I'll make a trip to the nearest Alchemist Guild and see whether I can buy..."
"Father," Xiao Yan interrupted Xiao Zhan, "why not assign an elder to handle this? As clan leader, you still have clan affairs to attend to."
After acquiring the Jia Lie Family's marketplace, the Xiao Clan had continued squeezing out the Jia Lie Family's room for survival. The Mittel Auction House had helped push the boat along with the current, while the Ao Ba Family chose to protect itself wisely, watching without acting.
At this rate, it wouldn't be long before the Xiao Clan unified all of Wutan City under its rule.
And as the Xiao Clan "expanded," there were more matters to handle. Having Xiao Zhan "drop everything" for her would be somewhat inappropriate.
Thus, Xiao Yan gave Xiao Zhan a gentle reminder.
After considering it briefly, Xiao Zhan agreed with Xiao Yan's suggestion.
He therefore drew a little over a million gold coins from the Xiao Clan's liquid funds and handed them to the First Elder, who had Da Dou Shi cultivation, sending him and the Second Elder with guards to visit the nearest Alchemist Guild.
He and the Third Elder would remain to "hold the fort" at the Xiao Clan-Wutan City had no Alchemist Guild, and someone had to stay in charge of the clan.
Upon learning that Xiao Yan had swallowed a second-tier beast flame in one gulp and now needed higher-quality beast flames for cultivation, the Three Great Elders all sucked in a breath of cold air.
Neither the First Elder nor the Second Elder objected. Taking the gold and a group of guards, they left Wutan City.
Xiao Zhan personally made another trip to the Mittel Auction House, spending over four hundred thousand more gold coins on a medicine cauldron and a large pile of basic medicinal herbs for Xiao Yan.
The herbs were purchased according to a prescription Xiao Yan had provided, which Apothecary had casually made up.
Xiao Yan began trying her hand at pill refining under Apothecary's guidance, while Xiao Zhan and the other senior members of the Xiao Clan began switching to the Mystic Rank High Grade cultivation methods Xiao Yan had obtained.
And so, the Xiao Clan flourished with each passing day (in the good sense).
Before you continue