Half a month later.
On the mountain where Lin Yuan refined pills, after a series of swift movements, Lin Yuan lightly tapped Zi Yan's forehead, who was panting heavily, and chuckled, "Zi Yan, this is the seventh time, isn't it?"
Hearing this, Zi Yan flopped down onto the grass, resting for a moment. She looked at Lin Yuan with some dejection and muttered, "How are you so strong? And you just keep getting stronger. Clearly, my cultivation should be higher than yours."
"Cultivation isn't the only factor that decides victory in a fight. Environment and tactics are also important. Your fighting style is too straightforward; relying only on your cultivation and physical strength works against those weaker than you, but against someone slightly stronger or similarly skilled but experienced in combat, it's very dangerous," Lin Yuan commented.
During the past half month, Lin Yuan had spent his time refining pills, helping Zi Yan make medicinal pills and snacks, and sparring with her.
Zi Yan, unwilling to accept defeat in their first encounter, believed she had lost due to carelessness and wanted to win back her pride. She kept challenging Lin Yuan. In the past two weeks, they had sparred multiple times, with Lin Yuan defeating her easily each time. Today was already the seventh time.
"What should I do then?" Zi Yan asked, somewhat confused.
"Two options: one, increase your cultivation to overwhelm opponents with absolute strength. When the power gap is large, you don't need to worry about these things. Two, learn a few combat techniques suitable for you and refine your fighting style. For now, you should focus on increasing your cultivation!" Lin Yuan advised.
"So basically, eat more pills and advance faster. Got it! Brother Lin Yuan, I've finished my pills. Make me some more! I want to eat a lot and level up quickly!" Zi Yan said, suddenly grinning mischievously as she got up.
"Normally, it's 'Lin Yuan,' and now it's 'Brother Lin Yuan' or 'Brother Lin'? You little rascal, I really can't handle you," Lin Yuan said, rubbing his forehead in resignation. He then ruffled Zi Yan's small head a few times. Although he complained, he obediently walked toward the pill furnace to refine more pills for Zi Yan.
Zi Yan watched Lin Yuan refine the pills, her eyes slightly narrowed, and a faint curve appeared on her lips.
Ten days later.
"Finished." With the last batch of pills complete, Lin Yuan let out a sigh of relief under the starlight. The Fourth-grade and lower pills assigned by Elder Huo were all finished, and the pills meant for submission to the academy had been completed, even exceeding the required quantity. Due to Lin Yuan's extremely high success rate, there were still many leftover herbs, which naturally belonged to him.
Lin Yuan had originally planned to spend two to three months completing this task. After all, the quantity of pills to refine was significant. But thanks to optimized techniques and improved experience—he could now use the Green Spirit Flame to simultaneously refine dozens of herbs in one furnace—the efficiency of his pill refining had skyrocketed, allowing him to finish ahead of schedule.
After putting away the pills, Lin Yuan thought, After submitting this batch, the higher-ups will definitely recognize my refining skills. With such a high success rate and excellent quality, it'll be natural to get the materials for Fifth-grade pills next.
Suddenly, Lin Yuan's expression changed as he felt a loosened bottleneck in his body. He immediately sat cross-legged, channeling his cultivation to break through the barrier.
The next morning, as the sun rose, a surge of powerful Dou Qi burst from Lin Yuan's body. Sitting cross-legged, he opened his eyes with a trace of satisfaction.
"Three-Star Dou King, accomplished."
Zi Yan, awakened by the commotion, yawned and sleepily looked at Lin Yuan. "So early… what are you doing?"
"Get ready, Zi Yan. We're heading back to the academy!" Lin Yuan said, turning to her.
Zi Yan immediately became fully awake. "Why go back? Isn't it fine here?"
She had been living comfortably recently, with Lin Yuan refining various delicious pills for her. After eating, she could just lie down and digest without sneaking around for herbs. She could freely act spoiled toward Lin Yuan, and when bored, spar with him. Lin Yuan pampered her a lot.
"It's not that it isn't fine here, but your daily routine of eating and sleeping like this is going to bankrupt me if it continues. I can't afford it," Lin Yuan said, pinching Zi Yan's small face. Half of the extra pills from refining for the academy had been turned into snacks for Zi Yan.
Zi Yan touched the back of her head and shyly smiled.
Over the past days, the two had grown closer, their interactions increasingly like a pair of siblings with a deep bond.
"Let's go!" Lin Yuan said. He spread his azure wings and shot into the sky toward the academy. Zi Yan followed, opening her violet wings.
Upon returning to the academy, Lin Yuan headed straight to the First Elder's office. Outside the building, Zi Yan suddenly realized and turned to run.
Space twisted, and a figure appeared in front of her, blocking her path. The person was visibly angry. "You little girl, running off after being out so long—do you want to drive me crazy?" It was First Elder Su Qian.
Seeing the Elder blocking her, Zi Yan jumped behind Lin Yuan, sticking out her tongue. "I only tried to run because I knew you'd scold me when you saw me! Hmph."
First Elder Su Qian seemed momentarily speechless, his face turning red. After taking a few deep breaths, he calmed himself.
Lin Yuan watched the scene with amusement. The interaction between them was entertaining—clearly a mischievous granddaughter and a lecturing grandfather. Though their words had heat, the underlying sense of closeness was genuine. Likely, only Zi Yan could make the usually composed First Elder show such expressions.
Once composed, Su Qian looked at Lin Yuan. "Lin Yuan, is there something you need? And how did you two get mixed up together?"
Lin Yuan replied, "I've come because the pill refining task assigned by Elder Huo has been completed—all Fourth-grade and lower pills are finished and ready to submit to the First Elder. The pills are in this Spatial Ring." He then handed the ring to Su Qian.
Su Qian took the ring and checked its contents. Inside were a large number of high-quality Third and Fourth-grade pills. Even without being a pill master, he could tell at a glance that the pills were of excellent quality. He couldn't help but exclaim, "Although I've heard from Elder Huo about your talent in pill refinement, I didn't expect you to produce so many top-quality pills in just two months. It seems Fifth-grade pills will be no problem for you now. Truly a promising young talent!"
"First Elder, you overpraise me. It's all thanks to the academy's guidance," Lin Yuan said modestly, nodding slightly. He then continued, "As for Zi Yan, here's the situation."
Lin Yuan proceeded to recount the events of the past days with Zi Yan, emphasizing one point: he genuinely liked this little girl and had always wished for a younger sister like her.
Su Qian listened without suspicion. After all, Lin Yuan had only recently arrived at the Inner Academy and had no reason or motive to scheme against Zi Yan. And his fondness for the little girl matched Su Qian's own feelings—although he liked to scold her occasionally, he genuinely cared for Zi Yan, this clever and mischievous little girl.
Looking at Zi Yan, who was kicking the ground in apparent boredom, Su Qian couldn't help but straighten his face and scold her, "You troublesome girl! Haven't I taught you not to take other people's things without permission? Luckily, this time it was Lin Yuan. What if it had been someone else with a bad temper and greater strength—what would you have done?"
As he spoke, he couldn't help but worry. He knew this little girl's ability to cause trouble well. In the Inner Academy, he could manage her, but outside…? After a moment of thought, he looked at Lin Yuan. Thinking of Zi Yan's obsession with the pills Lin Yuan refined, his eyes lit up with an idea. He took a scroll from his Spatial Ring and handed it to Lin Yuan.
Lin Yuan accepted the scroll, looking at Su Qian in confusion. Su Qian cleared his throat and explained, "I have something I'd like your help with. I heard you're skilled in researching Dou Techniques, and this is a high-level movement Dou Technique I've collected. I want you to teach Zi Yan this technique. That little girl loves the pills you refine, doesn't she? If she doesn't train seriously, don't make any more pills for her—let her see if she's willing to learn."
"Old man, don't meddle! I don't want to learn any Dou Techniques—it's such a hassle! Lin Yuan, don't listen to him!" Zi Yan exclaimed, glaring at Su Qian, who was trying to take away her food.
"You're so prone to causing trouble. If you don't learn Dou Techniques, you won't even be able to escape when you cause mischief! Now that you've been told to practice, you're impatient. Let's see what you do this time," Su Qian retorted, shooting Zi Yan a warning glance. Then he looked at Lin Yuan seriously. "Lin Yuan, you are sensible and understand this little girl. You should know what's best for her."
"Don't worry, First Elder. I'll take care of it," Lin Yuan said, nodding in agreement with the First Elder's request. Zi Yan, upon hearing Lin Yuan's agreement, immediately showed a look of despair.
"Good, thank you. Do you need any assistance?" Seeing the little girl sulking, Su Qian knew he had her cornered and was in high spirits. He asked Lin Yuan.
After a moment of thought, Lin Yuan cupped his hands and asked Su Qian, "First Elder, could you keep an eye out for any secret techniques that temporarily enhance strength and high-level body-refining Dou Techniques?"
"Ah? Secret techniques for temporary strength enhancement and Earth-Class body-refining Dou Techniques? I will keep a lookout," Su Qian said, stroking his beard thoughtfully. Then he turned to Zi Yan. "Zi Yan, study hard. You'll understand later that it's all for your own good! I must go now." With that, he vanished before Zi Yan could react.
"Dou Ancestor level?" Lin Yuan murmured as he watched the figure disappear. He looked at the scroll in his hand and used his soul-sensing ability to examine it. High-Tier Black-class Movement Dou Technique: Cloud Dragon Dance.
Looking at the sulking Zi Yan beside him, Lin Yuan patted her head. "Let's go, Zi Yan."
"I don't want to go anywhere!" Zi Yan stomped the ground, pouting.
Seeing the little girl sulking like this, Lin Yuan couldn't help but chuckle. As expected, she's still a child. Then he teased her, "Don't want to eat something more delicious, more energy-filled, and even tastier? Then I'll leave first."
"I want to eat!" Zi Yan immediately replied, her expression instantly changing to one of anticipation. Seeing her change so quickly, Lin Yuan realized he had been played by the little rascal.
"Let's go! We're heading to the wild beast habitat behind the mountain," Lin Yuan said, spreading his fire wings.
"What are we doing there? Weren't you going to make me something to eat?" Zi Yan asked, confused, but she also spread her Dou Qi wings.
"Of course, we're going to 'borrow' some things from the wild beasts behind the mountain. To make your delicious treats, we need high-quality ingredients," Lin Yuan said with a smile. With a flap of his wings, he shot forward, and Zi Yan followed, flapping her own wings.
A streak of blue and a streak of violet cut through the sky as they headed toward the wild beast region behind the Inner Academy.