Chapter 60: The Limitations of Current Materials, Future Romantic Interests

“No, do you have Devil Fruits here? Isn’t this a parallel Earth? Do anime things exist here too?”

Xiao Yan spun around sharply to look at Ye Xuan, speechless.

With the revival of spiritual energy, even things from anime can be revived?

“Because it’s not just spiritual energy that’s reviving.”

Ye Xuan shook his head, offering no further explanation on the point, and pointed at the items.

“Can these be used as alchemical ingredients?”

“They can, yes—but since the worlds are different, I’ll need to study them.”

Xiao Yan, seeing Ye Xuan wouldn’t elaborate, nodded without pressing further.

Though the worlds and herbs differ, an alchemist isn’t bound to fixed formulas; I often use materials with similar properties to brew pills with effects I imagine—like Spring Cough Pill, cough cough.

Overall, while the ingredients differ, they’re not impossible to use.

The only problem is—

“Pills made from these materials can at best be second-rank. I don’t know your strength, but it’s certainly higher than mine.”

“They’re useless to me, and even less useful to you.”

Though Xiao Yan didn’t know what level Ye Xuan corresponded to on the Battle Qi Continent, he was certainly above him; Xiao Yan himself was a Grand Battle Master, while Ye Xuan was at least a Battle King, possibly even a Battle Emperor.

What would someone of that power need with second-rank pills? Completely useless.

“Besides, you can manifest me—why not manifest a version of me with higher strength?”

“If it were my Battle King self, I might be able to brew third-rank pills from them—but right now I’m only a Grand Battle Master, so second-rank is the limit.”

These materials aren’t outstanding, but theoretically, producing second-rank pills is already the best outcome; yet some of the liquids inside resemble the product of multiple herbs refined together.

Though their properties haven’t fused, their quality is surprisingly high.

If they could be perfectly fused with other ingredients, brewing a third-rank pill isn’t impossible.

But the problem is, I can’t do this yet.

My Battle King self probably could—back then, my alchemy should’ve been far stronger than it is now.

As for why I’m so certain I’ll reach Battle King in the future—

I already know I’m the protagonist of a novel; how could I possibly think I won’t reach Battle King? I even believe I might become a Battle Emperor someday.

Otherwise, how could I be the protagonist?

But why did Ye Xuan manifest me as my Grand Battle Master self instead of my Battle King self?

“Because the Rat Talisman requires a figurine to manifest, and your figurine was modeled after your Grand Battle Master form, so that’s the level it manifested.”

“As for Battle King—”

Honestly, the Battle King model from the anime didn’t match Ye Xuan’s aesthetic, and he hadn’t even considered that possibility at the time.

“Anime? My story was made into an anime?”

“So my story is popular in your world?”

“Then the author who created my story must’ve made a fortune off me?”

Xiao Yan found it hard to believe.

No way—this story of a waste who gets broken off from his engagement, you guys actually like it?

No wonder Ye Xuan said he pioneered a genre and became its greatest master.

If he were unknown, nobody would’ve cared at all.

So the author who wrote my story made me get humiliated, suffer, endure hardship—then took the money and lived lavishly in the real world?

“Yes. One book, divine status.”

“Battle Breaker” is just as popular on Earth as it is on Blue Star—it’s Tu Dou’s masterpiece.

So Xiao Yan’s claim that the author made a fortune off him is entirely accurate.

Novels, comics, anime, physical books, even poorly adapted films.

“.”

Xiao Yan couldn’t help but feel speechless.

“If he’s living so well in reality, why couldn’t he make my life a little easier?”

“You’ve had it easier than most people.”

Ye Xuan shook his head at Xiao Yan’s words.

“You began Qi Condensation at four, reached Ninth Stage Battle Qi at ten, formed a Battle Qi vortex at eleven, advanced to Battle Initiate, becoming the youngest in the Xiao Clan in a hundred years.”

“At fifteen, Master Ya absorbed your Battle Qi, dropping you to Third Stage Battle Qi, enduring the humiliation of broken engagement, and setting a three-year vow.”

“At sixteen, you regained Battle Initiate and broke through to Four-Star; at seventeen, advanced to Battle Master, then swiftly to Grand Battle Master; at nineteen, reached Battle King; at twenty, broke through to Battle Emperor.”

“At twenty-three, Battle Ancestor; at twenty-four to twenty-nine, Battle Sovereign; at twenty-nine to thirty-three, Battle Saint.”

“At thirty-six, you received the Legacy of the Ancient Emperor of the Infinite Flame, fused twenty-two Strange Flames, and ascended to Battle Emperor, ending the Dual Emperor War, sealing Hun Tian Emperor, and earning the title Emperor Yan.”

“From Battle Initiate at eleven to Battle Emperor at thirty-six—just twenty-five years. Though you endured countless trials, which great warrior hasn’t faced hardship on their path?”

“The trials you endured might be the very things others long for but can never attain.”

Ye Xuan didn’t see Xiao Yan’s story as mere wish-fulfillment, like many did; in truth, Xiao Yan suffered no less than anyone else—others would’ve died from such trials, but Xiao Yan endured them and grew stronger.

Yet he also didn’t think Xiao Yan’s life had been unfair.

In just twenty-five years, rising from Battle Initiate to Battle Emperor—if others knew his trials, countless would envy him and wish to take his place.

“Twenty-five years to Battle Emperor? Am I really that strong?!”

Xiao Yan froze upon hearing Ye Xuan’s words—Battle Emperor at thirty-six? Was he really that powerful?

Though he’d accepted he was the protagonist and might one day reach Battle Emperor, he never imagined it would happen so fast.

It seemed he’d misjudged his author.

“But compared to your strength, your romantic interests are even more numerous.”

“Huh?!”

“No, I didn’t, you’re not saying that—I’m devoted to Xun’er, my loyalty is undeniable.”

The word “romantic interest” triggered Xiao Yan’s instinctive denial—he blurted it out without thinking.

Ye Xuan watched him silently; Xiao Yan’s eyes darted away, and finally he hung his head in silence.

“Only Yun Yun, right?”

He didn’t mention Xiao Yixian—at least not now, since he truly saw her only as a friend.

Yun Yun, however, was different.

“Ya Fei, Xiao Yixian, Meidusha, Zi Yan.”

“Meidusha?!”

Never mind who Zi Yan was—Meidusha? The Queen? She became one of my future romantic interests?

How is that possible?!

“Not just a romantic interest—she’s also one of only two wives you brought to the Infinite Flame Realm and bore you a daughter.”

“Huh?”

Xiao Yan panicked—marriage and children were far too distant for his current self, let alone with Meidusha the Queen.

(End of Chapter)