Brewing Pills for Dugu Yan

When Dugu Bo saw that Lan Hong was neither flushed nor out of breath, he knew the boy was still holding back.

"Kid, perhaps in a few years, this old man won't be your match anymore! What are your plans for the future?"

"For now, I'll cultivate to level 50, then return to Heaven Dou Royal Academy to continue reading. Once I've finished the books in the Heaven Dou Royal Academy library, I'll leave Heaven Dou City to gain experience."

"Why are you so obsessed with reading? Wouldn't it be better to spend that time cultivating?"

"No! Knowledge is important! What I want to do in the future requires knowledge!"

"Forget it! I can't control what you want to do. As long as you can help Yanzi, that's enough!"

"Mm! I will!"

After some more time passed, early one morning, Lan Hong finally completed his Soul Power cultivation and reached level 50.

"Phew! I've finally reached level 50! I'm still full of energy. Brother Cat, Hong Mao, let's Condense the Fifth Spirit Ring right away!"

"No problem!"

"No problem on my end either!"

Condensing a Spirit Ring at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was even easier than before. After all, the energy here was abundant. When the Fifth Spirit Ring finally took shape, it was still white.

However, Lan Hong summoned the Thunderclap Sword from within the Fifth Spirit Ring. The Thunderclap Sword fell into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, endured the cleansing of ice and fire energy, and then returned to the Spirit Ring.

Lan Hong's Fifth Spirit Ring turned yellow, the color represented by the Thunderclap Sword.

The Thunderclap Sword's inheritance contained not only a complete set of Thunderclap Swordplay, but also a set of Water Fire Staff Technique!

That was all normal enough. What left Lan Hong rather speechless was that the inheritance even contained Da Ben's gambling techniques.

"Didn't Da Ben quit drinking and gambling? Why did he stuff gambling techniques into the inheritance?"

"Gambling techniques don't necessarily have to be used for gambling. Being able to see through other people's little tricks is important too! Moves themselves are neither good nor evil—the key lies in the person using them."

"Mm! Hong Mao, you're right! Now it's time for me to fulfill my promise!"

Lan Hong had said that after reaching level 50, he would refine pills to improve Dugu Yan's strength.

The main ingredient Lan Hong chose was the immortal herb Earth Dragon Golden Melon, with Nine-grade Purple Ganoderma as the supporting ingredient, along with several other supplementary materials.

Using the Fire Spring of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well as the furnace fire, he first added the supplementary ingredients into the cauldron to refine and extract their essence, then added the main ingredient, the Earth Dragon Golden Melon.

As the furnace fire extracted the Earth Dragon Golden Melon's essence, Lan Hong used Rain Flower True Qi to fuse it with the essences of the supplementary ingredients, finally adding the Nine-grade Purple Ganoderma.

The medicinal properties of the Nine-grade Purple Ganoderma were neutral and gentle, effectively balancing the Earth Dragon Golden Melon's domineering medicinal power.

In the end, Lan Hong withdrew his true qi. A smooth, round pill that glimmered with golden light flew out of the cauldron and landed in his hand.

"Looks like my pill-refining skills have improved again. Hong Mao, how do I compare to Dou Dou?"

"Lan Hong, I don't want to discourage you, but you're still far behind Dou Dou."

"Hehe! That was within my expectations. I never thought I could catch up to Divine Doctor Dou Dou's level in such a short time."

By then, Dugu Yan had only just gotten out of bed.

"You got up so early again? You're working way too hard!"

"You're just too lazy! Hurry up and wash up, then eat. I have something for you."

"What is it?"

"I've already refined the pill that improves your strength, the one I promised you before!"

"What! Really? Didn't you say you had to cultivate to level 50 first?"

"That's right! I'm level 50 now!"

"So fast!"

"Instead of standing there being surprised, hurry up and wash up so you can take this pill sooner!"

"Okay! Okay! I'm going now!"

Dugu Yan quickly washed up and ran over. Dugu Bo also arrived with a solemn expression.

Lan Hong took out the pill he had refined. At the sight of the glittering golden pill, Dugu Yan felt a craving rise from deep within her heart.

"This old man can actually sense Dragon Might from this pill!"

"Mm! It was refined with Earth Dragon Golden Melon as the main ingredient and Nine-grade Purple Ganoderma as the supporting ingredient. Among Martial Souls, snakes are beneath dragons, so this medicine is highly compatible with Yanzi."

"Then could there be any danger?"

"I can't guarantee it, but there's a ninety percent chance it'll be safe! Whether to take it is Yanzi's own choice!"

"I'll take it!"

Dugu Yan made her choice without hesitation. Lan Hong nodded and handed her the pill.

Dugu Yan immediately swallowed it, then sat down cross-legged to meditate. Before long, the pill took effect, and a layer of golden aura enveloped her.

"Grandpa Dugu, there's no need to worry. Just wait patiently!"

"Yanzi is my own granddaughter. I'm not as big-hearted as you!"

Lan Hong did not argue with Dugu Bo and sat down cross-legged to cultivate as well.

As he cultivated the Thunderclap Heart Method, threads of lightning flickered around his body. Lightning was supremely hard and strong, gathering the intangible into the tangible—this was the profound meaning of the Thunderclap Heart Method.

The Thunderclap Sword's size, however, was rather thought-provoking. The sword was not long, but it was huge! It was clearly the size of a two-handed sword, yet all its sword techniques were for a one-handed sword.

For a polar bear like Da Ben, wielding it naturally made no difference from wielding a one-handed sword. But when Lan Hong held it, it looked extremely out of place.

It was not that Lan Hong could not lift it. It was simply that if he wanted to display the Thunderclap Sword's oppressive force of crushing others with sheer momentum, he would have to put in more effort.

"Why does this kid have lightning attributes now? Could he have already obtained a Spirit Ring? Forget it, I won't worry about him. Yanzi is more important!"

A full day later, the golden aura around Dugu Yan dissipated, and she opened her eyes.

"Yanzi, how do you feel?"

"I feel amazing! I've reached level 40!"

"What! So fast! Hey, kid, come take a look. Yanzi leveled up so quickly—there won't be any hidden issues, right?"

"No! But Yanzi needs to stabilize this rapidly increased Soul Power herself. She should wait for a while before absorbing a Spirit Ring."

"Mm! Good, good!"

"Yanzi, summon your Martial Soul!"

"Oh!"

At Lan Hong's words, Dugu Yan summoned her Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul. However, the Jade Phosphorous Serpent was now different, with a single horn growing from its head.

"This is Martial Soul Evolution! But it isn't the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor—it's a Seclusive Dragon!"

"This shouldn't count as a dragon. Seclusive Serpent Dragon would be more fitting!"

"If this old man says it's a dragon, then it's a dragon! Hahaha!"

"Hehe! As long as you're happy!"

"Lan Hong, thank you!"

"No need to thank me. This was the deal we agreed on before."

"Do you have to be so distant?"

"A gentleman's friendship is light as water! True friends don't need to be overly close!"

"Hmph! Everything you say makes sense! What are you going to do next?"

Lan Hong wiped his face and returned to Xue Zhi's appearance.

"Next, I'll return to Heaven Dou Royal Academy to read!"

"You're still reading? You're so powerful, so why not join the Heaven Dou Royal Team?

With Grandpa protecting you, you won't have to worry about anyone causing you trouble!"

Lan Hong merely shook his head.

"Grandpa Dugu is indeed intimidating, but I have no interest in team battles! Rather than taking part in those exhibition-style competitions, I'd rather read a few more books."

Here is the first chapter. It's raining this weekend and so cold. Please support me more—add it to your collection and send some recommendation votes my way, please!