Chapter 137: Wang Du of the Jia Ma Empire

A month passed in the blink of an eye; during this time, Xiao Yan finally enjoyed rare leisure, no longer scrambling across the world in search of Strange Fires, but like a graduate on the verge of graduation, he spent each day refining his invented Buddha Fury Lotus, immersed in spirit refining, or cultivating cultivation methods and Dou Techniques.

In the end, Xiao Yan created a Fourth-Rank Pill Formula with Earth Core Fire Lotus Seeds as the main medicinal material, which not only removed internal fire poison and cleared the mind, but also elevated his cultivation realm by one star, reaching the Four-Star Essence Refining level.

Regrettably, Xiao Yan's pill alchemy only met the minimum expected goal—he reached Fourth-Rank Peak but failed to attain Fifth-Grade.

Now, when refining Fourth-Rank Pills, with the aid of Strange Fire and Black Demon, he achieved nearly one hundred percent success, often producing multiple pills per furnace.

But he had never succeeded in refining a Fifth-Grade Pill, not even the weakest one.

The medicinal materials obtained from the Cave in the Poison Scripture and from Xiao Yixian's valley had already been exhausted by Xiao Yan; fortunately, he had earlier taken the opportunity to plunder YaoLi's storage ring and Mei Du Sha's treasure vault, or else he would now be so destitute he couldn't even afford medicinal materials for practice.

Alchemists are indeed a profession that both makes and loses money—earning faster than robbery, losing so fast you must rob to recover.

Night fell, darkness enveloping the earth; above, the silver moon hung high, its faint lunar glow thinly spilling down, slowly dispelling the shadows.

Over the past month, the Mo Tie Mercenary Corps had been fully rebuilt, a grand pavilion standing tall in Shimo City.

In the quiet courtyard, the three brothers lay on comfortable soft chairs, gazing up at the star-strewn sky, occasionally lifting their wine cups to pour and drink for each other, chatting casually.

The three brothers, as if sharing a telepathic bond, knew Xiao Yan would depart the next day.

Xiao Yan drained his wine cup, turned his head to look at his two slightly intoxicated older brothers, and slowly rose to his feet.

From his storage ring, he took out four scrolls and gently placed them on the small tables beside Xiao Ding and Xiao Li.

Xiao Ding smiled and shook his head; Xiao Li looked puzzled.

Xiao Yan explained: "Here are two Heavenly Grade Advanced cultivation methods—one Wood-element, one Thunder-element—and two Heavenly Grade Mid-Rank Dou Techniques—one Body Technique, one Defensive Dou Technique—perfect for you two."

Xiao Yan gave no offensive Dou Techniques; he only wished his two brothers to remain safe—even if they couldn't win, they could at least escape.

Upon hearing this, even Xiao Ding and Xiao Li's slightly drunken eyes suddenly brightened, and they sat up straight.

A single Heavenly Grade Advanced cultivation method was already a priceless treasure in the Jia Ma Empire; consider how Xiao Zhan had bought the Scroll of Whirling Wind at auction for hundreds of thousands of Gold Coins—it was only sold in Wutan City because it had severe drawbacks.

Add two Dou Techniques to this, and these four ancient scrolls alone could buy the entire Mercenary Corps!

Had it not been for helping Xiao Ding and Xiao Li consolidate the entire Shimo City Mercenary Corps, Xiao Yan would never have given them such precious items.

Under the lure of such rare treasures, even Xiao Ding's calm demeanor showed traces of longing; beside him, Xiao Li snatched the silver scroll the moment Xiao Yan finished speaking, handling it lovingly, turning it over and over.

That wasn't all—Xiao Yan took out over a dozen brocade boxes, each containing elixirs that stirred the soul.

"These are Fourth-Rank Spirit-Storage Pills—they allow Nine Star Dou Shi to break through to Essence Refining without side effects, prevent spiritual energy from becoming unstable, and increase the chance of advancing to Dou Ling by ten percent."

"These are Fourth-Rank Detoxification Pills; these Fourth-Rank Da Huan Xue Dan are for healing wounds; these Fourth-Rank Beast Strength Pills temporarily enhance the user's physical strength."

"These are Fourth-Rank Peak Soul-Breaking Pills—they raise the chance of breaking through to Dou Ling by thirty to forty percent; combined with Spirit-Storage Pills, they may reach fifty to sixty percent. Unfortunately, I haven't reached Fifth-Grade yet, or else I could refine Fifth-Grade Spirit-Rising Pills, which directly enable Nine-Star Essence Refining to break into Dou Ling."

Xiao Yan felt regretful—he had used up all the medicinal materials for Spirit-Rising Pills and still hadn't succeeded once.

Listening to Xiao Yan's explanation, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li's mouths hung open wide enough to swallow a duck egg.

They had thought the cultivation methods and Dou Techniques were already outrageous—yet this was even more outrageous!!!

Just these Fourth-Rank Pills, if one were taken out, could spark chaos throughout Shimo City!

There were five types of pills here: six boxes of Da Huan Xue Dan, and two boxes each of the other functional elixirs—fourteen brocade boxes in total!!!

A small Buddha Fury Lotus was stored in this vial; when faced with an enemy too powerful to handle, pour in Battle Qi and throw it out—it should unleash the full force of a high-level Spirit Battle. Two vials containing red, green, black, and white Fire Lotuses sat on the table.

To preserve it, the flame inside was kept minimal—only enough for refining a Two-Rank Pill—but it contained all four Strange Fires!

"You've got more?!!!" Xiao Ding and Xiao Li shouted in unison. "Enough already!"

Xiao Yan smiled and took out two more items: "These two things aren't valuable."

"This small vial contains a miniature Buddha Fury Lotus—when facing an enemy you can't handle, inject Dou Qi and throw it out; it should unleash a full-strength attack equivalent to a High-Level Dou Ling." Two vials, each holding red, green, black, and white fire lotuses, were placed on the table.

To preserve them, the flames inside were minimal—only enough for refining Two-Rank Pills—but they contained all four Strange Fires!

"Lastly, these two Soul Communication Jade Pendants—crush them to send a Soul Communication."

Although Xiao Ding and Xiao Li did not directly help Xiao Yan obtain a Strange Fire, Xiao Yan knew that without his two elder brothers remembering his offhand words, he might never have acquired the Lotus Earth Core Fire.

Seeing these two items—priceless yet brimming with heartfelt intent—Xiao Ding and Xiao Li picked them up reverently; in their hearts, these were more precious than the scrolls or elixirs.

"I truly feel ashamed—I, as the eldest brother, have nothing to give you," Xiao Ding sighed.

Suddenly, a pale green flame rose slowly from Xiao Yan's palm, illuminating the three brothers' faces.

Xiao Yan said: "This is your gift to me—I've already received it."

Though Xiao Ding and Xiao Li had not directly helped Xiao Yan obtain a Strange Fire, Xiao Yan knew that without them remembering his offhand words, he might never have acquired the Green Lotus Earth Core Fire.

They chatted all night.

The next morning, Xiao Yan silently flew away from Shimo City, traveling with Hai Bodong straight toward the Wang Du of the Jia Ma Empire.

Except for occasional landings at major cities along the way to check for Spirit Replenishing Purple Pill medicinal materials, the two spent nearly all their time flying.

Several days later, gazing down at the magnificent city emerging beneath the clouds—that was Jia Ma Sheng Cheng.

Xiao Yan's gaze suddenly shifted toward the northern direction of Wang Du.

There lay a colossal mountain range, majestic as a coiled dragon, faintly radiating overwhelming Spiritual Energy.

That was the location of Yun Lan Sect—the colossal power of the Jia Ma Empire!

Whether the Jia Ma Empire or Yun Lan Sect mattered little—what truly stirred Xiao Yan's anticipation was the hidden Hun Dian within the Jia Ma Empire.

Xiao Yan had not forgotten: Hun Xu Zi had known of the Xiao Clan only because news of him had reached the Hun Dian in Wang Du.

【53】 Xiao Yan suspected that someone from the Hun Dian in Jia Ma Sheng Cheng had come to investigate the Xiao Clan, discovered something, dared not act rashly, and thus notified higher-ups, prompting Hun Xu Zi's arrival.

【54】 As for more specific details, Xiao Yan would have to go to the Hun Dian in Jia Ma Sheng Cheng himself to find out.

【55】 "Jia Ma Empire's Hun Dian—I'm coming. Hehehe."

【56】 "Why are you laughing so strangely?"

【57】 "You wouldn't understand—it's tradition."

【58】 (End of Chapter)