Yan Xiao Makes His Debut, Pill Refining Shocks the City

Having dealt with the Liu Clan, Xiao Yan followed Xiao Ding back to the Xiao Clan residence.

Three years later, he stepped into the familiar courtyard once more. Seeing the surprise and joy on his parents' faces and feeling his brothers' concerned gazes, Xiao Yan felt a warmth well up in his heart. He gave a brief account of his experiences over the past three years, concealing the secrets of his rebirth and the system. The Xiao Clan members listened with both heartache and relief.

"It's good to have you back, good to have you back." Xiao Zhan patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder, his eyes reddening. "I knew it! No son of the Xiao Clan would ever be a coward!"

That night, the Xiao Clan held a feast to welcome Xiao Yan home. During the meal, Xiao Yan learned that Xun'er had returned to the Gu Clan, but often sent people with letters asking after him. He could not help feeling a little more concerned about her.

[Ding! Side quest "Starting on the Pill Path" triggered!]

[Quest requirements: Open a pharmacy in Wutan City under the name "Yan Xiao," refine the first healing pill, "Blood Coagulation Powder" (mortal-tier intermediate), and make the first sale.]

[Quest rewards: Peak of the Ninth Stage of Dou Qi cultivation, 500 points, and one "Mortal-Tier Advanced Pill Formula: Rejuvenation Powder."]

"Blood Coagulation Powder?" Xiao Yan understood. A mortal-tier intermediate pill was as easy as turning over his hand for him now. Acting under the name "Yan Xiao" would allow him to avoid unnecessary trouble while secretly amassing wealth and influence for the Xiao Clan.

The next day, Xiao Yan used the valuables seized from the Black Wind Stronghold to take over a storefront on Wutan City's busiest street. After making a few simple repairs, he hung up a sign reading "Yan Pharmacy."

He activated his "Yan Xiao" identity disguise. His features became somewhat more ordinary, and he concealed his Qi at the Fifth Stage of Dou Qi, making it impossible for others to gauge his true strength.

On its first day of business, the pharmacy was so deserted that sparrows could have gathered at its door. Most people in Wutan City put their faith in long-established pharmacies and did not trust this new shop that had suddenly appeared.

It was not until the afternoon that a middle-aged man rushed into the pharmacy carrying an injured child. "Doctor! Doctor! Please save my son! He was bitten by a venomous snake!"

The child's lower leg was swollen and black, and his breathing was faint. Clearly, he had been badly poisoned.

Xiao Yan stepped forward to examine him. "It's the venom of a Black-Tailed Poison Python," he said gravely. "Ordinary antidotes won't work. I need to refine Blood Coagulation Powder immediately to neutralize the poison."

"Blood Coagulation Powder?" The middle-aged man was stunned. "That's a mortal-tier intermediate pill. Only the Mittel Family's pharmacy has it in Wutan City, and it's extremely expensive and often out of stock..."

"I have it here," Xiao Yan said mildly. "But my Blood Coagulation Powder is more effective, and it costs a little more: fifty gold coins. Do you want it?"

"Fifty gold coins?!" The man's face went pale, but when he saw his son's pain, he gritted his teeth. "Yes! As long as it can save my son, I'll pay any price!"

Xiao Yan said no more. He took a beginner pill furnace from the system space, an additional reward for completing a quest, along with several medicinal ingredients, and began refining in front of everyone.

His movements were practiced and his control over the fire precise. Using the Burning Heaven Art alongside the beginner pill-refining technique unlocked by the system, he controlled the flame's temperature perfectly. The ingredients rapidly melted and fused inside the furnace, giving off a faint medicinal fragrance.

The whole process flowed like drifting clouds and running water. In just a quarter of an hour, the furnace lid lifted slightly, and three plump, perfectly rounded pills flew out, giving off a faint red glow as they landed in Xiao Yan's hand.

"Blood Coagulation Powder, done!"

The middle-aged man stared in disbelief. He had never seen anyone refine pills so quickly and easily!

Xiao Yan took one of the Blood Coagulation Powder pills, dissolved it in clean water, and gave it to the child. Within moments, the black swelling on the child's lower leg receded at a speed visible to the naked eye, and his breathing became much steadier.

"It... it really works!" Overjoyed, the man hurriedly pulled out fifty gold coins and handed them over. After thanking Xiao Yan profusely, he left with his son in his arms.

News of the incident quickly spread through Wutan City. People flocked to Yan Pharmacy, curiously sizing up the mysterious Apothecary "Yan Xiao."

"Have you heard? The apothecary at that new pharmacy can refine Blood Coagulation Powder, and it's even more effective than the Mittel Family's!"

"I saw him just now. He refined pills frighteningly fast. He must be an expert!"

"Come on, let's go take a look! Maybe he can cure this aching old back of mine!"

The pharmacy was instantly bustling with visitors. Xiao Yan attended to the customers unhurriedly, selling medicine and refining pills, and soon used up all the medicinal ingredients he had brought.

[Ding! Side quest "Starting on the Pill Path" complete!]

[Rewards issued: Cultivation raised to the Peak of the Ninth Stage of Dou Qi, 500 points credited, and "Mortal-Tier Advanced Pill Formula: Rejuvenation Powder" deposited in the system space.]

Just as Xiao Yan was preparing to close for the day, a group of people barged in aggressively. At their head was an old man in luxurious robes, followed by several pharmacy assistants.

"So you're the one who dares steal the Mittel Family's business in Wutan City?" The old man fixed Xiao Yan with a hostile stare. He was the manager of the Mittel pharmacy, one of Master Fa Ma's disciples, and his strength was at the Ninth Stage of Dou Qi.

The Mittel Family was a long-established power in Wutan City, controlling most of the city's medicinal ingredient trade. Now that Yan Pharmacy had risen so suddenly, the family would naturally not stand by and do nothing.

"In business, everyone relies on their own abilities," Xiao Yan replied mildly. "What advice do you have for me?"

"Our own abilities?" The old man sneered. "Some nobody from who knows where dares call himself an apothecary? I bet you refined this Blood Coagulation Powder using some crooked method! Today, I'll tear down this lousy shop of yours and show you who rules Wutan City!"

With that, the assistants behind him moved to smash up the shop.

Xiao Yan's gaze turned cold. He shifted slightly, blocking their way in front of the counter. "If you want to smash my shop, you'll have to get past me first."

"Oh? You dare resist?" A trace of surprise flashed in the old man's eyes before he said disdainfully, "A piece of trash without even a stage of Dou Qi dares act so wildly in front of me? Beat him!"

Two assistants at the Seventh Stage of Dou Qi lunged forward with vicious grins, their fists crashing toward Xiao Yan with a fierce wind.

Xiao Yan neither dodged nor evaded. He quietly used Suction Palm, unleashing an invisible pulling force that caused both men's fists to veer involuntarily off course. At the same time, his figure flickered, and he appeared behind them like a ghost, giving them a light bump with his elbows.

"Ow!"

With a scream, the two flew out like kites with their strings cut, slammed into the wall, and passed out.

The exchange had been as swift as a hare darting and a falcon swooping, clean and decisive. The old man's pupils contracted slightly. "You've got some skill! Looks like I misjudged you!"

He stepped forward himself, unleashing the pressure of his Ninth Stage Dou Qi. "Kid, I didn't expect you to be a trained fighter! But you're still no match for me!"

The old man threw a punch, Dou Qi gathering around it as it drove straight for Xiao Yan's face with a fierce, powerful wind.

A sharp glint flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes. Ninth Stage Dou Qi? Just the chance to test my current strength!

He no longer held back. Dou Qi at the peak of the ninth stage burst forth, and an iron ruler appeared in his hand. He met the attack with Flame Splitting Wave Ruler, accompanied by the faint illusory image of a Heavenly Flame.

Bang!

Fist and ruler collided. The old man felt an overwhelming force surge toward him, and pain shot through his arm as the impact sent him staggering backward. His face was filled with disbelief. "Peak of the ninth stage?! You were hiding your strength?!"

Xiao Yan did not answer. Pressing his advantage, he swung the iron ruler, sending scarlet ruler shadows raining down like a violent storm.

The old man was beaten into a fluster. He had never imagined that an apothecary so young could be such a formidable fighter! His Dou Technique was bizarre, his strength tyrannical, and the scorching heat coming from the iron ruler in particular made him uncomfortable all over.

Bang!

Another heavy blow landed. The iron ruler struck the old man in the chest, and he spewed a mouthful of blood as he flew backward, crashing into the pharmacy entrance and falling unconscious.

[Ding! Defeated the Mittel pharmacy manager (Ninth Stage of Dou Qi). Awarded 80 points!]

The onlookers stared openmouthed. None of them had expected the seemingly ordinary Apothecary "Yan Xiao" to be an expert at the peak of the ninth stage!

Xiao Yan put away his iron ruler and swept a cold gaze over the remaining assistants. "Why aren't you carrying him away? Do you want me to do it myself?"

Scared out of their wits, the assistants hurriedly picked up the old man and fled the pharmacy in disarray.

After that battle, the names "Yan Pharmacy" and "Yan Xiao" resounded throughout Wutan City. People both feared his strength and marveled at his pill-refining skills, and business at the pharmacy grew ever more prosperous.

Xiao Yan stood at the pharmacy entrance, gazing out at the streets of Wutan City, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

Using the pharmacy as a base and the name "Yan Xiao" to accumulate strength and wealth was his first step toward restoring the Xiao Clan.

And he knew that there were stronger people behind the Mittel Family. Wutan City's peace was only temporary.

But he feared nothing, because the legend that belonged to him had only just begun to write a new chapter.