Chapter 194: Don't Want Your Eyes Anymore?
Refining the pill for Zi Yan to eat like candy wasn't difficult.
Although the Blood Python Branch was a sixth-tier medicinal ingredient, with the aid of his Heavenly Flame, Xiao Yuan was able to easily refine it.
In fact, worried that Zi Yan might get tired of the taste, he thoughtfully crafted it in two fruit flavors.
Still, the task took him the entire night.
"Here, try them out. Should taste better than chewing the herb raw," Xiao Yuan said with a smile, handing over two jade bottles filled with small pills to the eager Zi Yan.
"Mhm!"
Zi Yan nodded obediently, quickly popped a dark red pill into her mouth—ignoring its residual heat—and started chewing vigorously.
"Yum!"
After chomping down and swallowing it, she licked her lips and stared at the jade bottle in her hand with lingering desire.
"Refining pills isn't hard," Xiao Yuan said casually, "but someone like you, chewing raw herbs, is pretty rare. A normal person wouldn't survive that. You're a magical beast, right?"
Zi Yan blinked at the sudden question. After a brief pause, she nodded. "Yeah, I am. I turned like this 'cause I accidentally ate a Form-Changing Grass when I was little."
Her eyes dimmed as she spoke, a trace of sadness flashing through them.
Xiao Yuan sighed and gently patted her head. "Sounds like your past wasn't easy. But don't worry. If you ever want pills, just bring me the herbs. I'm the president of the Lionheart Society—just come to me directly."
"You said it! Don't regret it later," Zi Yan's eyes lit up with joy as she smiled sweetly.
"I said it," Xiao Yuan chuckled and nodded.
"Alright then. I'll let it go this time that you stole the Earth Core Body Milk from the Snow Demon Ape."
Her words made Xiao Yuan's pupils contract sharply.
How did she know?
Watching him closely, Zi Yan grinned. "I didn't know there was Earth Core Body Milk there before—but I figured he was guarding something good. You've still got a lingering scent of him. It's faint, but I fought him before. No way I'd mistake it!"
Seeing her smug little smile, Xiao Yuan blinked in disbelief.
Two months had passed—and she still picked up the scent?
"Hmph! Too bad I was late. Otherwise, I'd have pried the Earth Core Body Milk from your teeth myself!" she huffed, pouting.
Xiao Yuan didn't respond. Where does this little monster get these terrifying lines from?
"Well, you did good. If anyone bullies you, come find me. I'll deal with them. There's no one in the Inner Academy I don't dare mess with!" Zi Yan slapped his shoulder with a heroic grin, acting like a big sister.
Xiao Yuan laughed and nodded. "Sure, I'll come to you."
After sending Zi Yan off, Xiao Yuan finally returned to the Lionheart Society.
This time, everyone—Xiao Yan included—was at the lodge.
Seeing Xiao Yuan back after a two-month closed-door session, the group welcomed him warmly with a meal together.
The Lionheart Society had developed steadily and was now considered a top-tier faction in the Inner Academy. Lin Xiuya and others had even approached to discuss cooperation. Xiao Yuan, the relaxed "hands-off" leader, was living quite comfortably.
Xiao Yan had also made significant progress. A month and a half ago, after successfully mastering the Buddha's Fury Lotus Flame, he returned and accepted Han Xian's invitation for an alchemy contest.
As expected, Xiao Yan refined a fifth-tier pill and made a name for himself in one go.
The Lionheart Society's affordable, high-quality pills had already made Xiao Yan well known. Now, as a freshman fifth-tier alchemist, his reputation was soaring.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yuan, who possessed combat strength comparable to a seven-star Dou Ling, had once again gone into seclusion—fueling curiosity across the academy.
Last time, he said he was recovering—then came out and defeated the 17th-ranked Yao Sheng.
Now, two months of closed-door training? Everyone eagerly speculated how much stronger he'd become.
Some insiders even believed Xiao Yuan might soon challenge for the top of the Strong Ranking.
Lin Xiuya, feeling the pressure, was pushing himself hard. He was now close to breaking through to Dou Wang. One more round of Heart Flame Tempering, and he felt confident he could do it.
Afterward, he might stay as a temporary elder or travel the continent.
Still, he wasn't sure he could beat Xiao Yuan.
That blistering speed—how could anyone forget?
Even Lin Xiuya had begun increasing his time in the training tower.
As for Xiao Yuan…
He didn't need Heart Flame Tempering to become a Dou Wang.
But he did need a fifth-rank water-type magic core and matching herbs. Herbs were easy. The core?
Hmm?
In a secluded spot behind the mountain, Xiao Yuan waved his hand. A massive white corpse appeared.
It was the Snow Demon Ape.
While it wasn't water-element, its ice-type core was close enough to work.
He raised an eyebrow. Good thing his storage ring was high-grade—it still preserved the body's freshness after two months.
After some thought, Xiao Yuan summoned a golden long blade with metallic Dou Qi. He extracted the magic core and began dissecting the corpse with practiced ease.
Soon, piles of meat and bones were neatly separated.
Then he brought out his cauldron to refine the essence blood.
As for manipulating the bloodline… that would still require his old ancestor's expertise. For now, he'd ask Yao Lao—surely he'd know what to do.
Elsewhere in the Inner Academy…
In a quiet tower, two figures stood by a window. One was draped in black robes, hair and beard white, his face ancient and unreadable.
After a long silence, the elder spoke: "Qin Xuan, how is the Fallen Heart Flame behaving in the Blazing Refining Tower?"
"Grand Elder, it grows more unstable. It flares up almost every two weeks. If not for the joint efforts of the elders reinforcing the seal, many students might've been injured."
"So… it's accelerating." Su Qian sighed. "The dean warned us long ago. Sealing it might buy time, but the backlash will be terrifying. Judging by this, the eruption could destroy the entire Inner Academy."
"Should we summon the dean?" the yellow-robed elder asked worriedly.
"How?" Su Qian shook his head. "He wanders like a dragon—seen but unreachable."
"Effective immediately, cancel all elder leave. All tower guards must return to their posts. If the Fallen Heart Flame stirs again, suppress it at once. We must not let it break free."
"Yes, Grand Elder!"
"Also, prepare for evacuation. If sealing fails, evacuate all students. No one is to remain in the tower."
Su Qian's voice turned grim. "Notify the Outer Academy too. All our experts must be ready. If the flame breaks loose, the spatial barrier around the Inner Academy will collapse. The Dark Corner Region's rats will sense it. And if they come sniffing…"
"You're thinking of… the Pill Emperor, Han Feng?"
The yellow-robed elder fell silent for a moment before speaking again.
Su Qian's eyes flickered slightly as he slowly nodded and said,
"Han Feng is an alchemist. His desire for Heavenly Flames is beyond compare. Back then, he suspected the Inner Academy harbored a Heavenly Flame, but he couldn't be certain—so he didn't dare act recklessly. After all, our Jia Nan Academy isn't something just anyone can provoke."
"But this time, the Fallen Heart Flame is more violent than ever. If the seal is broken, with Han Feng's unnaturally sharp soul perception, he'll definitely sense the flame's activity. When that happens... he won't hesitate to come and seize it."
"If he were just a peak Dou Huang, we wouldn't be concerned. But… that man's other identity is that of a sixth-tier alchemist. His skill in alchemy far surpasses even Elder Huo of our alchemy division. Over the years in the Black-Corner Region, he's built an extensive network of influence. Many forces are tied to him. If he wants to grab the Heavenly Flame, he'll definitely use them. You know what kind of terrifying influence a sixth-tier alchemist commands. And from what I've heard, Han Feng already possesses a Heavenly Flame himself…"
Su Qian's voice grew heavier by the end.
"What? That guy has a Heavenly Flame too?"
The yellow-robed elder's expression shifted dramatically. For someone like Han Feng, having a Heavenly Flame would be like wings on a tiger. After all, even Xiao Yan could refine fifth-tier pills with just Dou Ling strength thanks to his flame. That alone showed how tremendous a boon it was to alchemists.
Su Qian nodded slightly, then asked,
"By the way, how are those two little brats with Heavenly Flames doing lately?"
"Hehe, both of them are terrifying in their own ways," the yellow-robed elder said with admiration.
"Four months ago, Xiao Yuan defeated Yao Sheng and reached 17th on the Strong Ranking. Two months ago, he teamed up with Lin Xiuya and others to explore the back mountain—seems they found something valuable. Since then, even Lin Xiuya has acknowledged his strength. He's been in closed-door training for the past two months. I believe he might now have what it takes to challenge the top five!"
"As for Xiao Yan, he broke through to Dou Ling two months ago and refined a fifth-tier pill during his match with Han Xian. Many elders have started looking at him differently."
"Oh?"
Su Qian's expression changed slightly, a flicker of light in his eyes. He nodded and said calmly,
"Looks like the academy has unearthed some real gems. Pass the word: do not make things difficult for these two. Let them do as they please. In the future, we might need their help to deal with the Fallen Heart Flame. Only a flame can subdue another flame."
The yellow-robed elder nodded again. Previously, they might have dismissed these young ones. But after Xiao Yan's fifth-tier pill, even the elders saw him in a new light. A fifth-tier alchemist holds far more prestige than a mere Dou Wang.
If you had to choose between inviting a Dou Wang or a fifth-tier alchemist, anyone with sense would pick the latter. Alchemists could create value that sheer strength never could.
"All right... go,"
Su Qian waved his hand after a moment of silence, dismissing the elder.
Once the room was quiet, Su Qian muttered thoughtfully to himself,
"Last time I saw that kid, he seemed to be holding back. I wonder how strong he really is now? And has he been practicing the dean's techniques properly?"
Should I go have a look?
Su Qian's eyes narrowed. A moment later, his figure dissipated like smoke.
"Whew! Finally done!"
Xiao Yuan let out a sigh of relief as he stared at the basketball-sized sphere of refined essence blood within the cauldron.
His lack of alchemy experience made refining blood especially exhausting. And since this essence came from a Snow Demon Ape that had died in a berserk state, the blood was highly unstable. Without strong soul power, the cauldron might've exploded.
Even now, the cauldron was covered in cracks.
"Sigh. Normal cauldrons really can't handle too many high-temp sessions with Heavenly Flames."
Xiao Yuan shook his head, put the blood in a jade bottle, and stored the cracked cauldron away.
The Snow Demon Ape's blood carried traces of berserker bloodline. Xiao Yuan didn't dare recklessly mess with it—one wrong step and he might blow himself up.
But then again… he knew someone who could handle that.
He took out a single drop of blood and summoned the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python.
"Little one, can you eat this?"
The snake blinked its cute round eyes, flashed over to the floating blood, and flicked its tongue to analyze it.
After a moment of thought, it simply swallowed the drop.
Xiao Yuan's heart tensed.
Normally, it wouldn't be a problem—magical beasts devouring each other's flesh and blood wasn't uncommon. But this blood had an active berserk trait...
Still, she seemed fine—no signs of discomfort.
He started to relax a bit.
Then he saw a flicker of crimson in her eyes.
Suddenly, her seven-colored glow flared wildly. In the blink of an eye, the tiny snake transformed into a massive beast dozens of meters long!
Xiao Yuan froze.
That fanged mouth alone could probably swallow him whole!
And yet—although her huge body writhed in pain—the aura emanating from her was growing even stronger.
She's… evolving?
Xiao Yuan stood ready, Dou Qi swirling inside him, though outwardly calm.
The python's aura surged to the Dou Huang level, then slowly faded. Her glow dimmed, and she seemed exhausted.
Xiao Yuan quickly fed her some of the companion amethyst source to help her recover.
But before he could say anything, her gentle gaze turned into a piercingly seductive one. The seven-colored light surged again.
And then—
A stunning, curvaceous woman emerged from the light.
Fair skin, full curves, only faintly covered...
Xiao Yuan's face turned bright red.
Then came a cold, sultry voice that cut through the air like a knife.
"Don't want your eyes anymore?"
(END CHAPTER)
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