The Origin of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings had already made his Physical Body strength far exceed that of ordinary people; ordinary toxins and physical attacks could not harm him in the slightest.
"This is impossible!" Dugu Bo's eyes widened.
Even a Titled Douluo would be somewhat wary of his Jade Phosphor Serpent Venom, yet it was actually withstood by a youth using only his Physical Body?
In the moment he was dazed, Xu Yuan's wings suddenly spread, and his figure appeared before him like Gui Mei, his pure Physical Body strength gathering in his fist as he smashed it toward his chest with a force that seemed to crack the air.
"Bang!"
With a dull thud, Dugu Bo felt as if he had been hit by a heavy hammer, flying backward like a kite with a broken string and slamming hard into a giant boulder. The boulder shattered upon impact, and he felt a sweetness in his throat as he spat out a mouthful of poisonous blood.
"Your Physical Body..." Dugu Bo struggled to stand, his gaze toward Xu Yuan filled with horror, "Are you a human or a Spirit Beast?"
Xu Yuan landed in front of him and approached step by step: "Senior, do you think that killing me can truly solve the problem for you and your granddaughter?"
"Seventh Spirit Ability: Jade Phosphor Serpent Avatar!"
"Hiss—"
A deafening hiss echoed through the heavens and earth as Dugu Bo's body rapidly expanded.
Dark green scales instantly covered his entire body, his head transformed into a hideous serpent head, and a thick serpent body dozens of meters long trailed behind him.
His pupils narrowed into thin vertical slits, locking onto Xu Yuan; viscous venom dripped from his flicking tongue, corroding deep, smoking pits into the ground where it fell.
"Brat, you have successfully enraged me!" In his Jade Phosphor Serpent Avatar state, Dugu Bo's voice carried an ear-grating hiss, "Today, I will let you know the true terror of a Titled Douluo!"
The massive serpent body suddenly rose, blotting out the sun, and then slammed down toward Xu Yuan like a giant python pouncing on its prey, the resulting gale sweeping the surrounding debris into the air.
Instead of retreating, Xu Yuan advanced, his Ice and Fire wings behind him suddenly flapping as his figure charged toward the serpent body like an arrow from a bow.
He did not use his Spirit, clashing head-on with pure Physical Body strength.
His body, tempered by the Origin of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings, was currently craving a hearty collision.
"Bang!"
The collision between fist and serpent body produced a dull, massive sound, and Xu Yuan felt a surge of immense force.
But the power of ice and fire swirling around his fist also suddenly erupted; deep blue ice crystals spread along the serpent scales, while crimson-gold flames scorched them with a sizzling sound.
A fierce light flared in Dugu Bo's eyes as his eighth spirit ring suddenly lit up, and a strange, eerie light flashed in his serpent pupils: "Eighth Spirit Ability—Time Freeze!"
The moment the words fell, with Xu Yuan as the center, the space within thousands of square meters seemed to have been paused.
Debris hung suspended in mid-air, the poisonous mist solidified into green crystals, and even the power of ice and fire spreading from Xu Yuan's fist ceased its flow.
The torrent of time was suddenly frozen here, and an invisible pressure descended, as if it wanted to freeze Xu Yuan's Soul in this very moment.
"Brat, taste the flavor of frozen time!" Dugu Bo's voice carried a crazed laugh as his ninth spirit ring simultaneously bloomed with a piercing black light, "Ninth Spirit Ability: Jade Phosphor Annihilation!"
The poisonous mist instantly gathered into a giant sphere dozens of meters in diameter, within which rolled a terrifying energy capable of corroding even a divine soul.
This was his ultimate move, combining Time Freeze with extreme poisonous power, capable of easily destroying a city.
Within the solidified space, Xu Yuan was not completely paralyzed.
The remnant Souls of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings awakened within his body, their ancient Dragon might countering the temporal imprisonment.
He could feel his body being firmly locked in place, but deep within his Soul, two extreme powers were roaring.
"Break!"
Xu Yuan gave a low roar as the Origin power of ice and fire broke through the limits of his Physical Body, transforming into two pillars of light that soared into the sky.
The deep blue and crimson lights intertwined into a spiral, slamming hard against the barrier of the Time Freeze.
"Crack—"
A sound like shattering glass rang out as spiderweb-like cracks appeared in the solidified space.
The debris fell once more, the poisonous mist resumed its flow, and Xu Yuan's figure broke free from the constraints within the light, charging toward the giant sphere of poisonous mist like a cannonball.
"Impossible!" Dugu Bo's eyes nearly split from their sockets.
He had never imagined that someone could break free from Time Freeze.
Xu Yuan punched through the giant sphere, his figure piercing the poisonous mist and carrying a current of intertwined ice and fire, pouncing toward the serpent head like a streak of light.
Dugu Bo felt fear in his heart the moment the giant sphere was blown apart, and his massive serpent body instinctively recoiled.
He wanted to avoid this fatal blow, but Xu Yuan's speed was simply too fast, so fast that he had no time to mount a complete defense.
Xu Yuan's fist carried the whistle of the ice and fire extremes, reflecting two intertwined light trails in Dugu Bo's serpent pupils.
Before the curve of the serpent body's recoil was complete, the wind from the fist had already torn through the air like a sharp blade, slamming heavily into the scales on the side of the serpent's head.
"Boom!"
Dugu Bo felt a roar in his mind as intense pain caused his vision to go black, and his serpent pupils suddenly lost focus.
Xu Yuan is definitely not human; he is a Reincarnation of a God!
The massive serpent body shook violently and then, like a puppet with its strings cut, stopped writhing and fell heavily from the air, crashing into the ground with a tremor that sent debris flying.
The serpent head slumped powerlessly to one side, its pupils—previously thin slits—now dilated into circles, as dark green venom mixed with blood leaked from the corner of its mouth, spreading into a pool of corrosive stains on the ground.
Within a few breaths, the Spirit Avatar could no longer be maintained, and the dozens-of-meters-long serpent body rapidly shrunk, finally returning to human form.
Dugu Bo lay on the ground with his eyes tightly closed, his brow furrowed in pain, his chest rising and falling with weak breaths; he had already lost consciousness.
Xu Yuan sighed: "Why bother?"
After speaking, he took Dugu Bo back into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Back inside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Xu Yuan used a Spirit Ability to heal Dugu Bo and then, according to God King Tang San's request, began to pick herbs.
Before long, Xu Yuan had picked all the herbs that God King Tang San needed.
"Lord Martial Soul, what do we do next?"
"Alchemy."
Hearing God King Tang San's words clearly, Xu Yuan was completely stunned.
Alchemy?
God King Tang San actually knew Alchemy; he remembered that in the novel, God King Tang San had never shown such a skill.
One must know that when God King Tang San obtained a Heaven And Earth Treasure, he would consume it directly.
However, this Tang San was God King Tang San; he had presumably studied it specifically.
Xu Yuan nodded and said, "Lord Martial Soul, but I don't know how."
God King Tang San was unfazed: "It's fine, I'll teach you. However, we don't have a Pill Furnace, so we need to make one. But there's no rush; wait for Dugu Bo to wake up, and we'll take Dugu Bo for our own use."
Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow: "Take him for our own use? He just tried to kill me."
"That was then, this is now." God King Tang San's voice carried an unquestionable certainty, "Although Dugu Bo has a perverse temperament, he is extremely protective of his own, especially his granddaughter. Since you have already demonstrated strength that crushes him, and then throw out the bait of solving the serpent venom for both him and his granddaughter, I'm not afraid he won't bow his head."
Xu Yuan understood.
To put it bluntly, it was still an exchange of strength and interests.
He glanced at Dugu Bo lying on the stone platform not far away; the other's breathing had stabilized significantly, and he would likely wake up before long
After a while, Dugu Bo slowly regained consciousness.
Dugu Bo felt as if he had a nightmare—a nightmare where he was defeated by a twelve-year-old brat.
More importantly, the opponent hadn't used any Spirit Abilities, winning using only his fists.
Seeing Dugu Bo wake up, Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow and said, "You're awake. How do you feel?"
Dugu Bo propped himself up on the stone platform and sat up, looking down at his perfectly intact palms.
The burn marks from the power of ice and fire had vanished without a trace, and the familiar cold snake venom within his body had settled down significantly.
Dugu Bo abruptly looked up at Xu Yuan, his gaze as complex as a spilled palette of colors.
"You saved me?" Dugu Bo's voice was still tight. Recalling that earth-shattering punch before he lost consciousness, his Adam's apple couldn't help but bob.
Xu Yuan looked at Dugu Bo and said indifferently, "That's right. Now I give you two choices. The first choice is to submit to me. The second choice is death."
Dugu Bo stared at Xu Yuan for a long time, his knuckles turning white from the force of his grip.
He had lived for most of his life; when had he ever faced such coercion?
But remembering the power of that punch, the now-docile snake venom in his body, and his Granddaughter far away at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy... ultimately, Dugu Bo let out a heavy sigh.
"Fine..." Dugu Bo slowly unclenched his fists, his voice carrying an unspeakable exhaustion. "I, Dugu Bo, have dominated the continent for a lifetime. I didn't expect to end up falling at the hands of a brat like you."
He stood up. Though his back remained straight, he clearly lacked some of his former arrogance.
"If I must submit, then so be it," Dugu Bo looked up at Xu Yuan with a complex gaze. "But you must promise me to treat my Granddaughter well. Otherwise... even if I have to stake this old life of mine, I won't let you have it easy."
After saying this, he bowed slightly, effectively acknowledging his new master.
Xu Yuan nodded slightly. "I will resolve the poison in you and your Granddaughter. You will do one thing for me."
Dugu Bo performed a salute and said, "Lord, please speak."
Xu Yuan told Dugu Bo to head to Saint Spirit Village and bring Ah Yin to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Dugu Bo indicated his understanding and departed from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
The reason he submitted to Xu Yuan wasn't just because he couldn't beat him, but because he had thought it through carefully.
Now, Xu Yuan could fight a Titled Douluo at Level 41. Xu Yuan was one hundred percent a Reincarnation of a god. By following such a powerhouse, he might even have a chance to become a god in the future.
Even if he couldn't become a god himself, his Granddaughter would have the opportunity.
If he served Xu Yuan diligently before he became a god, Xu Yuan would surely give him some guidance out of Face for his service.
Watching Dugu Bo's departing figure, Xu Yuan had a bad premonition regarding God King Tang San's actions.
Mainly, he knew from God King Tang San's inner thoughts previously that Ah Yin possessed God King Tang San's Origin.
For the sake of his own Origin, God King Tang San truly dared to do anything.
The incident with Liu Erlong had shown him that God King Tang San truly didn't care about anything else.
Xu Yuan seriously suspected that once Ah Yin was resurrected, God King Tang San might even want him to sleep with Ah Yin to obtain the Origin within her.
Wouldn't that make him God King Tang San's stepfather?
He and God King Tang San would have their own separate relationships; God King Tang San would call him 'Dad', while he called God King Tang San 'Lord Martial Soul'?
Thinking of this image, Xu Yuan almost couldn't keep a straight Face.
At this moment, God King Tang San inside the Sea of Spirit had no idea what Xu Yuan was thinking. If he did, he would likely try to kill Xu Yuan.
Xu Yuan flew away from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, heading rapidly toward Heaven Dou City.
In just a few hours, Xu Yuan returned to the Blue Tyrant Academy.
Upon returning to the school, Xu Yuan went straight to Liu Erlong's dormitory.
"Knock, knock, knock—"
"Who is it?"
"Teacher, it's me, Xu Yuan."
Liu Erlong pulled open the door, wearing loose silk pajamas. Her hair was casually tied back, with a few stray strands hanging by her cheeks.
The moment she saw it was Xu Yuan, the sleepiness in Liu Erlong's eyes was instantly replaced by pleasant surprise. Without waiting for Xu Yuan to speak, she pulled him into her arms, holding him tightly.
"You brat, where did you go?" Liu Erlong asked while hugging Xu Yuan.
Over the past few days, she had been truly worried about Xu Yuan's safety.
Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing had asked her several times, and she had just made up an excuse to brush them off.
Seeing Liu Erlong's concern, Xu Yuan felt a warmth in his heart and joked, "Teacher, you care about me so much. Have you already fallen in love with me?"
Liu Erlong was stunned for a moment, then raised her hand to give him a light tap on the forehead. A flush of red rose to her Face as she scolded, "Don't be so disrespectful! I'm your teacher. If I don't care about you, who will?"
Liu Erlong let go of Xu Yuan, the worry in her eyes not yet faded. "I'm being serious. Where exactly have you been these past few days?"
Looking at Liu Erlong's reddened earlobes, Xu Yuan's playful mood dimmed. He said seriously, "I just went into the depths of the Sunset Forest to find some things and improve my strength."
"Even if you're improving your strength, you can't just run off without a word," Liu Erlong glared at Xu Yuan, though her tone softened. "If you do this again, I'll lock you in the academy and make you copy the Spirit Master Code every day."
As Liu Erlong spoke, she turned and walked into the room, her steps much lighter. She was clearly relieved that Xu Yuan had returned safely.
"Come in. It's cold outside. I'll make you something to eat."
Xu Yuan followed her inside. Looking at Liu Erlong's busy back, he felt that Yu Xiaogang was truly an idiot.
After a while, Liu Erlong prepared a sumptuous dinner for Xu Yuan.
Xu Yuan looked at the feast and began to eat heartily, finishing it in no time.
"Teacher, whoever marries you must have saved the World," Xu Yuan couldn't help but sigh as he patted his stomach.
Liu Erlong's hand, which was clearing the dishes, paused. The flush on her Face deepened as she gave Xu Yuan a reproachful look. "You and your sweet talk. Now get out of here and go rest. You have training early tomorrow morning."
Though her words were stern, the smile in her eyes couldn't be hidden.
Liu Erlong turned her back to Xu Yuan to wash the dishes. The rushing water was loud, but it couldn't drown out the sound of her heartbeat.
This brat is getting more and more disrespectful.
Looking at Liu Erlong's back, the warmth in Xu Yuan's heart became even clearer.
He knew that while Liu Erlong seemed boisterous, she was actually quite delicate in her feelings. Her worry over the past few days was definitely not fake.
After a while, Liu Erlong finished the dishes. Seeing that Xu Yuan hadn't left, she came over to him.
Just as Liu Erlong was about to say something, Xu Yuan stood on his tiptoes and kissed her.
Being kissed by Xu Yuan, Liu Erlong froze completely. She had never expected Xu Yuan to take the initiative to kiss her.
After kissing Liu Erlong, Xu Yuan planned to make a run for it, but in the next second, he was pulled into Liu Erlong's embrace.
"Brat, you think you can run after just kissing me?"
"Teacher, I was wrong. I shouldn't have teased you."
"Hmph, you must satisfy me properly tonight
The next morning, as the first ray of sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains and into the room, Liu Erlong was still deep in sleep.
Her brow was slightly furrowed, and her usually straight back was now relaxed against the bedding, revealing a rare trace of vulnerability.
Last night's indulgence was like a storm that had swept through her entire body, leaving behind only a lazy fatigue; even the strength to lift her hand seemed to have been mostly drained away.
On the floor beside the bed, a few pieces of clothing were scattered, silently speaking of the heat of the previous night.
Xu Yuan had long since woken up and was sitting on the edge of the bed, watching Liu Erlong as she slept soundly.
Having a body tempered by the Ice and Fire Origin, his energy far surpassed that of ordinary people; at this moment, far from feeling the slightest bit of weariness, he felt his whole body brimming with vigorous power, and even the flow of his spirit power was smoother than usual.
Xu Yuan reached out and gently brushed away the messy strands of hair from Liu Erlong's forehead; when he touched her warm skin, her eyelashes fluttered, but she did not wake.
Liu Erlong only subconsciously shrank further into the bedding, like a lazy cat.
Xu Yuan gave a low chuckle, stood up, and tiptoed to put on his clothes before quietly walking out of the bedroom and toward the kitchen.
He thought it was time for him to do something.
By the time Liu Erlong was finally woken by the chirping of birds outside the window, the sun was already high in the sky.
She propped up her aching waist and sat up; the soreness throughout her body made her gasp, and a crimson flush instantly rose to her face as the scenes from last night that made one's face burn and heart race flooded uncontrollably into her mind.
"Stinky brat..." Liu Erlong scolded playfully.
There wasn't the slightest bit of anger in her eyes; instead, they held a trace of indulgence that she hadn't even noticed herself.
Just as she got out of bed, she smelled a fragrance wafting from the kitchen.
Liu Erlong followed the scent to the kitchen door, only to see Xu Yuan wearing her apron, busy in front of the stove.
"Awake?" Xu Yuan turned around with a smile on his face. "I've just finished making breakfast, come and try it."
Liu Erlong walked over, gently hugged Xu Yuan's waist from behind, and pressed her cheek against his back, her voice raspy from just waking up: "You certainly have good energy."
Xu Yuan patted the back of Liu Erlong's hand and said with a smile, "Who told Teacher to be so charming? Quickly let go, the porridge is about to burn."
Liu Erlong gave a huff, let go of him, and sat down at the dining table.
Seeing Xu Yuan bring a bowl of steaming millet porridge and a plate of exquisite side dishes to her, the slight resentment she felt from her fatigue instantly vanished.
After finishing breakfast, Liu Erlong went back to bed to continue resting, while Xu Yuan left the room to find Xiao Wu and the others.
As soon as Xu Yuan walked onto the training field, he was met with a pink figure crashing into his arms.
"Brother Xu! You're finally back!" Xiao Wu hugged Xu Yuan's arm, her large eyes sparkling with joy. "Where did you go? We've been looking for you for several days!"
Zhu Zhuqing followed closely behind, her eyes filled with concern: "It's good that you're back."
Tai Long and the others expressed their concern for Xu Yuan's return, while also curious about where he had been during this time.
Xu Yuan's arm felt numb from Xiao Wu's shaking, and he smiled as he reached out to rub her hair: "I just went to the Sunset Forest for some training and got delayed by a few things."
Tai Long leaned in and scratched the back of his head, asking in a muffled voice, "Brother Xu, did you have a Breakthrough during this training? I feel like your aura is even more powerful than before!"
Huang Yuan and the others also nodded, their eyes full of curiosity.
They all knew that Xu Yuan was exceptionally gifted, and there was no telling what kind of fortuitous encounters he might have had on this trip.
Xu Yuan smiled and, thinking of something, said, "I have some things to buy. I'll be in the dormitory for the next few days, so don't disturb me."
Xiao Wu blinked, reluctantly letting go of Xu Yuan's arm: "Buying things? Do you need us to go with you? We happen to want to go out for a stroll too."
Zhu Zhuqing also nodded slightly, clearly agreeing with Xiao Wu's suggestion. Tai Long even patted his chest: "Brother Xu, what do you need to buy? Is it heavy? I'll carry it for you!"
Xu Yuan smiled and waved his hand: "No need, I can go by myself."
He didn't say exactly what he was going to do; after all, the matter of Alchemy was simply too incredible, so it was better to let them know as little as possible for the time being.
After saying goodbye to Xiao Wu and the others, Xu Yuan left the Blue Tyrant Academy alone and headed towards the Myriad Treasures Pavilion.
The Myriad Treasures Pavilion sold many rare items, so perhaps they would have a Pill Furnace for sale.
Not long after walking out of the academy, the sound of carriage wheels suddenly came from the street corner, accompanied by the steady footsteps of attendants.
Xu Yuan instinctively stepped aside to yield; when he looked up, he saw a luxuriously decorated carriage stopped not far away. The curtain was lifted, and a young man dressed in a moon-white silk robe stepped down.
The young man had a handsome face, and his brow carried a gentle, jade-like temperament; he was none other than the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe.
He was followed by several guards with steady auras, clearly indicating his extraordinary status.
Xue Qinghe seemed to have noticed Xu Yuan as well. His gaze lingered on Xu Yuan for a moment before he revealed a gentle smile and proactively cupped his hands, saying, "This lady looks unfamiliar. Are you a student of the Blue Tyrant Academy?"
Looking at Xu Yuan before him, he felt an inexplicable sense of goodwill in his heart.
Xu Yuan felt somewhat speechless and said to Xue Qinghe, "Greetings, Your Highness. I am a student of the Blue Tyrant Academy, but I am a man."
Xue Qinghe was stunned upon hearing this and took a careful look at Xu Yuan.
He really couldn't tell; if Xu Yuan hadn't spoken, he truly wouldn't have been able to tell if Xu Yuan was male or female.
A trace of apology flashed across Xue Qinghe's face, and he laughed heartily: "My apologies, my apologies, I was impetuous. You have an extraordinary air, little brother, which led me to mistake you."
His attitude of frankly admitting his mistake made Xu Yuan's wordlessness fade a little.
Xu Yuan nodded slightly: "It's no matter."
Xue Qinghe's gaze fell on the jade pendant at Xu Yuan's waist that Liu Erlong had given him, and a flash of surprise crossed his eyes: "This jade pendant is quite unique. I wonder where you got it, little brother?"
Xu Yuan instinctively pressed the jade pendant and said calmly: "A gift from my teacher."
"So it is your teacher's item." Xue Qinghe smiled and didn't ask further, instead saying, "The Blue Tyrant Academy has recently risen to fame in the Spirit Master's world. Since you are a Blue Tyrant student, little brother, your strength must be extraordinary, right?"
Xu Yuan was neither humble nor arrogant: "I know a little bit of the basics."
As they were speaking, a crisp laugh suddenly came from behind the carriage, and a young girl in a pink dress came running over, skipping and jumping.
The girl took hold of Xue Qinghe's arm: "Big brother, why are you here chatting with someone? Didn't you say we were going to the Myriad Treasures Pavilion to buy that Glazed Hairpin for me?"
The girl was about fifteen or sixteen years old, with lively eyes; she was Xue Qinghe's younger sister, Princess Xue Ke of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Xue Ke's gaze swept over Xu Yuan, and her eyes lit up: "Wow, this sister is so beautiful! Are you from the Blue Tyrant Academy? I heard there's a very powerful female student named Xiao Wu, is it you?"
Xu Yuan: "..."
Xu Yuan took a deep breath and patiently repeated: "I am a man. Also, I am not Xiao Wu."
Xue Ke let out an "ah," stuck out her tongue, and scratched her head in embarrassment: "I'm sorry, I couldn't tell
The three of them chatted for a while before walking together toward the Myriad Treasures Pavilion.
The lintel of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion was extraordinary, with dozens of fist-sized night-luminescent pearls embedded in the vermilion gates, shining brightly even in the daytime.
Just as they reached the entrance, a shopkeeper dressed in a brocade robe led his workers out to greet them with a bow. When he saw Xue Qinghe, the wrinkles on his face smoothed out into a wide smile: "The Crown Prince's presence brings light to my humble shop!"
Xue Qinghe nodded slightly and stepped aside to let Xu Yuan go first: "Little brother, please."
Xu Yuan didn't stand on ceremony and stepped into the store.
The shelves were filled with all kinds of treasures, each one of great value.
"What would Little Brother Xu like to buy?" Xue Qinghe asked with a smile.
His gaze swept over the dazzling array of goods, clearly showing his familiarity with the place.
"I need a Pill Furnace," Xu Yuan said bluntly.
His eyes scanned the store, searching for an item that met his requirements.
The shopkeeper was stunned for a moment, then realized and laughed: "So little brother knows how to refine pills? My apologies for my lack of manners! The shop just happened to receive a few good Cauldrons; please, this way."
At this time, Alchemy actually existed, but it was very rare and had not yet reached the level seen in douluo ii; additionally, the major powers kept it strictly hidden.
Xue Qinghe looked at Xu Yuan with some surprise, his mind filled with unknown thoughts.
He led everyone to a quiet cubicle on the second floor, where seven or eight Cauldrons of various sizes were displayed.
The materials ranged from bronze to dark iron, carved with various runes that faintly pulsed with flowing energy.
Princess Xue Ke leaned curiously toward a bronze furnace carved with a Phoenix pattern, reaching out to touch it: "This furnace is so beautiful; the Phoenix on it looks like it's about to fly."
The shopkeeper quickly introduced it: "The Princess has a good eye! This is the phoenix pattern furnace, and it has a very long history."
Xu Yuan's gaze passed over the phoenix pattern furnace; although he felt the craftsmanship was exquisite, God King Tang San was not satisfied with it.
Xu Yuan's eyes circled the cubicle, scanning everything from the ancient bronze tripods to the cold-glinting dark iron furnaces.
Princess Xue Ke was marveling at the phoenix pattern furnace, while Xue Qinghe stood aside, observing his expression with great interest.
When Xu Yuan's sight landed on the unremarkable black pottery furnace at the innermost part of the cubicle, Tang San's voice suddenly rang out in his mind: "That's the one."
That furnace looked ordinary and completely black without any complex decorations. Placed among the radiant Cauldrons, it looked like an interloper that had wandered in by mistake.
"Shopkeeper, what is the origin of this Cauldron?" Xu Yuan asked, pointing at the black pottery furnace.
The shopkeeper froze, clearly not expecting Xu Yuan to notice it. He scratched his head and said, "This... it was collected from an abandoned ancient kiln. It doesn't look like much, it's just quite hard."
Xue Qinghe also leaned over to look, his brow furrowing slightly: "This black pottery furnace looks ordinary; could there be something special about it?"
Xu Yuan pointed at the black pottery furnace and said, "I'll take this one."
Princess Xue Ke's eyes widened in surprise: "This one? Is it better to use than the phoenix pattern furnace?"
"Yes," Xu Yuan nodded, looking at the shopkeeper. "How much?"
Seeing Xu Yuan's persistence, the shopkeeper didn't ask much and quoted a low price: "The origin of this furnace is unknown. If little brother doesn't mind, one thousand gold coins will do."
Xue Qinghe spoke up at this point: "Brother Xu, this one is on me."
After saying that, he took out a card and gave it to the shopkeeper.
This was something created by the Myriad Treasures Pavilion for the convenience of their guests; those who didn't want to carry large amounts of money could swipe a card, though only the powerful and influential could enjoy such treatment.
Xu Yuan cupped his hands toward Xue Qinghe: "Then I thank Your Highness."
He knew clearly that Xue Qinghe wanted to build a good relationship with him and then win him over.
"It's just a small matter." Xue Qinghe smiled, his gaze lingering on the black pottery furnace for a moment longer. "Brother Xu, you must have your reasons for choosing this furnace. I just wonder what exactly is special about it?"
Remembering Tang San's instructions, Xu Yuan said vaguely, "Just intuition. Sometimes refining medicine is about destiny."
Princess Xue Ke curled her lip to the side: "I think it's just an ordinary black jar."
Despite her words, she still curiously circled the furnace for half a turn, trying to find something special.
The shopkeeper asked Xu Yuan: "Do you need us to deliver the item to your home?"
Xu Yuan thought for a moment and said, "Send it to Blue Tyrant Academy, to a young girl named Xiao Wu."
The shopkeeper quickly replied: "No problem! Blue Tyrant Academy, right? Miss Xiao Wu, right? I guarantee it will be delivered safely!"
As he spoke, he called over the workers to carefully pack the black pottery furnace, even wrapping it in three layers of soft cloth for fear of any bumps.
After buying the item, Xu Yuan accompanied Xue Qinghe and the princess as they browsed the Myriad Treasures Pavilion.
Since the other party had bought him something, he couldn't exactly leave immediately, could he?
After browsing for a while, the three of them emerged from the Myriad Treasures Pavilion.
Xue Qinghe said to Xu Yuan, "Brother Xu, I will visit Blue Tyrant Academy another day. At that time, we must have a good talk about the ways of refining medicine."
Xu Yuan nodded in agreement and watched the siblings board their carriage.
"Xue Qinghe certainly knows how to conduct himself." In the Sea of Spirit, God King Tang San's voice carried a hint of amusement. "But don't let your guard down; the waters of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family are deeper than you think."
Xu Yuan didn't respond and turned to walk toward the academy.
He had no interest in imperial family disputes; he wanted to go back and improve his strength.
When he returned to the dormitory, Xu Yuan saw Xiao Wu standing at the door with the black pottery furnace beside her.
Xiao Wu pointed at the black pottery furnace and said, "Brother Xu Yuan, is this something you bought?"
Xu Yuan nodded and said, "That's right. The item was too big, so I had them deliver it to you."
Xiao Wu said with a giggle, "Then Brother Xu Yuan, shouldn't you treat me to a reward?"
Xu Yuan lightly flicked Xiao Wu's forehead and said, "Fine, I'll treat you in a while. I have things to do these next few days."
Xiao Wu covered her forehead and pouted with feigned grievance: "In a while... then I'll have to remember that. No backing out!"
After bidding farewell to Xiao Wu, Xu Yuan took the black pottery furnace into the dormitory.
Xu Yuan took out the Immortal Herbs and various medicinal herbs, asking God King Tang San: "My Lord, how should I refine pills?"
God King Tang San appeared beside Xu Yuan and said, "First use those ordinary herbs to refine pills, and then use the Immortal Herbs. I will teach you throughout the process."
Xu Yuan nodded, placed the black pottery furnace on the stone table in the center of the dormitory, and then sorted the ordinary herbs into categories.
"First, guide your spirit power into the furnace to preheat the body." Tang San stood aside, his voice steady. "Pay attention to controlling your strength; this furnace responds to gentleness rather than force. If your spirit power is too restless, it will damage the core of the furnace."
Following the instructions, Xu Yuan raised his hand, and pale blue spirit power slowly flowed into the black pottery furnace.
The fine patterns were like hidden channels; as the spirit power flowed through them, the black pottery furnace gradually emitted a warm white light, and a faint humming sound even came from the bottom of the furnace.
"Not bad," Tang San nodded. "Now add the herbs. First, put in the Congealing Grass and Dew Leaf, in a three-to-one ratio
In the blink of an eye, a month passed. During this month, Xu Yuan ceaselessly practiced Alchemy.
Under the guidance of God King Tang San this past month, his Alchemy skills advanced by leaps and bounds. He had already used quite a few Immortal Herbs to refine Medicinal Pills.
"Phew, finished."
Xu Yuan took a deep breath, opened the black pottery furnace, took out seven Medicinal Pills, placed them into a bottle, and then stored it away.
God King Tang San nodded slightly and said, "Not bad. You have about one-thousandth of the talent I possessed in my youth."
Hearing God King Tang San's shameless words, Xu Yuan felt utterly speechless inside.
One-thousandth of the talent?
If I remember correctly, you, this guy, directly ate the Immortal Herbs you got back then.
Thinking this, Xu Yuan pretended to be admiring and said, "Lord Martial Soul is so amazing. I will definitely work hard."
God King Tang San was soothed by the flattery, his brows and eyes relaxing, yet he still maintained a lofty air: "It's good you know how amazing I am. Back in the day, at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, I casually plucked some herbs and refined an antidote pill. My technique then was much more deft than yours is now."
Xu Yuan lowered his head, his shoulders trembling slightly.
Half from stifling laughter, half from speechlessness at God King Tang San.
God King Tang San boasted for a while longer before returning to the Sea of Spirit.
Xu Yuan left his room and arrived at Liu Erlong's room door.
"Knock knock knock—"
"Come in."
Xu Yuan pushed the door open and entered, seeing Liu Erlong sitting and reading a book.
Seeing Xu Yuan arrive, Liu Erlong asked curiously, "What brings you here suddenly? Do you have time now?"
Xu Yuan explained, "I've refined some Medicinal Pills. Could you please call Xiao Wu and the others over, Teacher?"
Liu Erlong put down the book scroll, a flicker of surprise in her eyes, then stood up with a smile: "Oh? It seems this month of seclusion wasn't wasted."
After saying that, she left the room to find Xiao Wu and the others.
After a while, Xiao Wu and the group arrived in Liu Erlong's room.
Xu Yuan took out a bottle of pills and gave it to Xiao Wu: "Xiao Wu, take this. It was prepared specifically for you."
Xiao Wu took the jade bottle, curiously opened it. A fresh, sweet fragrance instantly filled the air. Inside lay five Medicinal Pills.
"What is this? It smells so good!" Xiao Wu inquired curiously.
Xu Yuan explained the effect of each pill, then gave a bottle to each of Tai Long and the others.
Everyone who received the pills was extremely happy. With these pills, their strength could improve by a large margin.
After seeing Xiao Wu and the others off, Xu Yuan turned around and saw Liu Erlong standing with her arms crossed, looking at him with an expectant expression.
Xu Yuan deliberately tidied the empty bottles on the table at a leisurely pace. From the corner of his eye, he glimpsed Liu Erlong's feigned composure, unable to hide her anticipation, and couldn't help but stifle a laugh.
Xu Yuan cleared his throat, turned around empty-handed, and said with a straight face: "Teacher, the pills have all been distributed."
Liu Erlong tightened her crossed arms, the curve of her mouth stiffened slightly as she deliberately put on a stern face: "Oh? So this teacher doesn't even get a sample to try?"
"That's not it," Xu Yuan suddenly produced a small, exquisite jade bottle from behind his back. The bottle was carved with intricate flame patterns, precisely the one he had specially polished for Liu Erlong. "It's just that this bottle of pills is too potent. I'm afraid you, Teacher, might not be able to handle it."
Liu Erlong raised an eyebrow and reached out to snatch it: "Don't try to scare me. What pill could be more domineering than my Fire Dragon Spirit?"
Her fingertips had just touched the jade bottle when Xu Yuan gently pressed down on her hand.
Xu Yuan leaned close to Liu Erlong's ear: "Teacher, shouldn't you reward me then?"
Liu Erlong rolled her eyes at Xu Yuan: "You little pervert."
After saying that, Liu Erlong crouched down... After a while, Xu Yuan emerged from Liu Erlong's room and headed towards his own.
After returning to his room, Xu Yuan sat cross-legged on the bed and began taking the pills he had prepared for himself.
Xu Yuan estimated that this improvement could raise his Rank by over ten levels.
In the blink of an eye, several days passed.
"Hah."
Xu Yuan let out a long breath and slowly opened his eyes.
After taking the pills, his Rank had risen from level 41 to level 67.
When he broke through to level 50, a spirit ring spontaneously formed within his body. Upon breaking through to level 60, another spirit ring formed.
Xu Yuan surmised it was due to the Origin of the Ice Dragon King and Fire Dragon King that allowed spirit rings to generate within his body. Regardless, it was a good thing for him.
With his current Rank and strength, he was practically unprecedented and likely to remain unmatched.
God King Tang San nodded slightly: "Not bad. Reminds me of my former self."
Xu Yuan: "..."
He had seen shameless people before, but never one this shameless.
Xu Yuan rolled his eyes, too lazy to pay attention to the God King in the Sea of Spirit who had started boasting about himself again.
He felt the surging spirit power within his body. The strength of level 67 felt substantial and full. Every breath carried the peculiar energy of fused ice and fire. With every movement, he seemed able to stir the elemental fluctuations around him.
"Now this is more like it." Xu Yuan clenched his fist, his knuckles emitting crisp sounds, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
Just then, a series of knocks sounded at the door.
Xu Yuan got off the bed and saw Xiao Wu and the group standing at the door. Even Liu Erlong had come.
"Come in."
Xu Yuan stepped aside to let Liu Erlong and the others enter.
Liu Erlong and the group filed in, each finding a seat.
Xiao Wu spoke first: "Brother Xu Yuan, those pills of yours are amazing. My Rank has already risen to level 46. More importantly, every aspect of my body has been enhanced."
Now, she could fight several of her former selves.
Tai Long said with immense excitement: "Big Brother, my Rank has risen to level 40. If it weren't for the lack of a spirit ring, I could have risen several more levels. More importantly, my Spirit has evolved from a Great Ape into a Titan Giant Ape. Also, I feel my body is somewhat different, as if it's indestructible like diamond."
His physical toughness was several times stronger than before; calling it diamond-like indestructibility wasn't wrong.
Xu Yuan nodded, not surprised in his heart.
He had given everyone a Vajra Pill. The Vajra Pill was refined from the Odd Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum and the Water Immortal Jade Muscle Bone, greatly enhancing the body.
It was perfectly normal for Tai Long's Spirit to evolve and for him to possess diamond-like indestructibility.
Seeing Tai Long finish, Huang Yuan hurriedly spoke up: "Boss, my Rank has also reached level 40, and my Spirit has evolved into the Howling Wind Wolf King."
Xu Yuan nodded to show he understood. He wasn't surprised that several people's Spirits had evolved.
After all, Huang Yuan and Tai Long's Spirits weren't top-tier. It was normal for their Spirits to evolve after taking pills refined from Immortal Herbs.
God King Tang San nodded slightly, thinking to himself that this fellow named Huang Yuan had potential worth nurturing.
Although his age was a bit advanced, he could let him try for the Wind God position.
God King Tang San internally estimated that Tai Long and these others should probably be able to reach around level 50 or so.
After Huang Yuan finished, Jing Ling spoke up: "Me too. My Rank has also reached level 40, and my Spirit has evolved into the Lord of the Dead."
Upon hearing the name of Jing Ling's Spirit, Xu Yuan couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
Lord of the Dead