Breaking the Masked Man

Yao Yan raised his hand and summoned the Fusion Flame, enveloping the Dou Sheng's remains and refining the death energy within. At the same time, he said to Yao Lao, "Didn't you tell me before that when it comes to feelings, you should act decisively and not hesitate? Why are you so cowardly when it comes to yourself?"

"Relationships aren't that simple," the old doctor said with a wry smile, sounding quite helpless.

“I once heard a saying: even if you choose the wrong answer to a multiple-choice question, you shouldn’t leave it blank. Besides, there’s a 50/50 chance of choosing the wrong answer. If you don’t choose, it’s definitely a 100% mistake… You’ve been single for so many years, it’s time to find a companion. I think Aunt Xuan is a good choice. She’s beautiful and kind-hearted, and most importantly, she’s waited for you for so many years, and her feelings for you haven’t diminished. What are you hesitating for?” Yao Yan said slowly, maintaining the temperature of the flame.

The old man looked at Yao Yan with a strange expression, somewhat speechless. He was hundreds of years old; when did it become the turn of this little kid, Yao Yan, to teach him?

However, to be fair, this brat is indeed very decisive when it comes to matters of the heart.

If you like something, just go for it without hesitation.

Even if you don't like someone, you can still force yourself on someone who is pretty.

Most importantly, he can distinguish right from wrong and not be entangled in matters of men and women. In this respect, Yao Lao was indeed not as good as Yao Yan when he was young, and even now, he seems to be less decisive than this brat.

"Alright, alright, let's not talk about it anymore. Let's take it one step at a time." The old apothecary shook his head and stopped worrying about the matter. It was impossible for him to have any feelings for Xuan Yi. He just hadn't been interested in that before. Women were not as interesting as alchemy. As for offspring... he had treated Han Feng like his own son back then.

But now everything has changed. If I succeed in breaking through to the Dou Sheng realm this time, why not agree to Xuan Yi's request?

Reaching this level in one's battle qi cultivation is considered the pinnacle.

As for Dou Di... it's been countless years since such a person appeared on the Dou Qi Continent. Time has almost buried this level. How many people have the ambition to pursue this realm? Yao Lao certainly doesn't have that confidence.

At that time, that brat Yao Yan might be able to catch up with him in the future.

"Don't just take things one step at a time, unless you want to be an irresponsible man... She's already personally prepared the materials to refine your body. In other words, after you're resurrected, everything in this body belongs to Aunt Xuan, except for your soul," Yao Yan said with a smile.

"...You brat, whose side are you on?" Yao Lao said through gritted teeth, feeling inexplicably betrayed by Yao Yan, and with no choice at all.

"Of course it's Aunt Xuan. She's one of the three giants of the Pill Tower. Following Aunt Xuan will definitely be more promising than following you, old man." Yao Yan joked, then took out a jade bottle from his storage ring. As he opened it, a cloud of blood mist spread out, and the terrifying energy fluctuations even caused ripples in the surrounding space.

At the same time, a strong sense of vitality rushed towards us.

Sensing the terrifying power of a ninth-tier magical beast's essence blood, Yao Yan's casual expression turned serious. He stopped chatting idly with Yao Lao to ease his mind, took out the Life and Death Reincarnation Pill from his storage ring, threw it over, and then said in a deep voice, "Please get ready, Elder!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he poured out the blood essence of a ninth-tier magical beast from the jade bottle and poured it onto the remains of the Battle Saint.

The blood essence of the ninth-tier magical beast was like magma, radiating light and heat. When it came into direct contact with the skeleton of the Battle Saint, it caused the skeleton to sizzle. The immortal jade bones were stained with a red blush, which instantly spread to other parts of the body.

Yao Yan took a deep breath, and Xuanji sat down cross-legged. The soul power between his brows, which had just broken through to the Heavenly Realm level, emanated out. He began to manipulate the blood essence of the ninth-order magical beast and the jade bone to fuse together. At the same time, he used the fusion of strange fire to temper the two and stimulate their vitality.

"This kid's soul power..." Yao Lao looked at Yao Yan in shock. He didn't expect that this kid's soul power would also change during the process of breaking through to the Dou Zong realm, with one foot already in the Tian Jing realm.

This kid is so young, yet his soul power seems to be growing at almost no limit, increasing rapidly.

It's important to understand that there are basically no shortcuts to increasing soul power; one can only cultivate diligently and slowly, increasing it as one's strength breaks through.

Ordinary alchemists who can break through to the Spirit Realm are already considered one in ten thousand geniuses, qualified to refine eighth-grade pills, but Yao Yan's soul power has directly entered the next stage, which can no longer be described as monstrous.

"Monster" is not even an adequate description.

At this moment, Yao Lao suspected that Yao Yan's Dou Di bloodline had reverted to its ancestral form. Perhaps this kid's bloodline had already advanced to the divine level, otherwise there would be no way to explain the speed at which his soul power was increasing.

Time slowly passed. Under the control of Yao Yan's soul power, the essence blood of the ninth-order magical beast in the bottle merged with the bones of the Dou Sheng, turning the original jade bones into blood red. A rich vitality was brewing in the jade bones, as if it was about to burst out at any moment, but this stage was suppressed by Yao Yan.

"Master Yao, swallow the pill and go inside!" Yao Yan slowly opened his eyes and said in a solemn tone.

"Hmm." The old doctor nodded, then opened the jade bottle, took out the black and white pills inside, swallowed them into his soul, and then turned into a wisp of green smoke and disappeared into his bones.

With the infusion of the old medicine master's soul, the jade bone, which already contained vitality, instantly gained a touch of spirituality. At the same time, a black and white halo began to spread across the jade bone, stimulating its regeneration. Countless buds emerged, beginning to construct meridians, flesh, hair, and so on.

The whole process is just like the gestation of a newborn.

Yao Yan, on the other hand, manipulated the strange fire to temper it and maintain the gestation process.

Time passed swiftly... (End of Chapter)

Chapter 223 Nine-Turn Immortal Pill

"Chichi~"

Azure flames, tinged with a white halo, enveloped a mangled, bloody body, burning fiercely. The terrifying heat distorted the surrounding space, yet the mangled body showed no signs of being destroyed by the intense heat. In fact, as time passed, the mangled body gradually began to recover.

A crimson glow mixed with black and white energy coursed through the body's limbs and bones, causing the flesh and blood to grow continuously, a process akin to the gestation of a newborn.

As the last skin was formed, the original skeleton had completely transformed into a human form, its appearance exactly the same as that of the old man in life. However, its eyes remained closed, but it exuded an indescribable terrifying pressure. Even with Yao Yan's soul power at the initial stage of the Heavenly Realm, he felt waves of repulsion, as if he were facing a being of a higher status.

"Everything went smoothly. Now it's up to Yao Lao himself." Yao Yan felt the gestation process come to an end, and the soul power that had covered his body was withdrawn.

If it were just about restoring the physical body, with Yao Lao's original soul power, the fusion process would be almost effortless.

However, Yao Lao was clearly not satisfied with restoring his physical body. He wanted to try to take this stage to the next level and break through the barrier of Dou Sheng. With the resources provided by Xuan Yi, one of the three giants of the Pill Tower, this possibility became a reality.

Whether it's the remains of a two-star Dou Sheng, the Life and Death Reincarnation Pill, or the essence blood of a ninth-order magical beast.

These items alone are enough to allow a peak Nine-Turn Dou Zun expert to attempt a breakthrough. Moreover, the combination of the three items almost gave Yao Lao a perfect body comparable to a Dou Sheng. Coupled with his original Heavenly Realm level soul power, the chances of him breaking through to Dou Sheng are definitely not low.

Now it all depends on whether Elder Yao can seize the opportunity to perfectly integrate his soul with this body and break through!

"Once Elder Yao succeeds in his breakthrough, I can finally do my own thing." Yao Yan's eyes flickered slightly, his gaze seemingly piercing through space to see the purple dragon lying in the endless starry sky. He was extremely interested in the Three Thousand Burning Flames.

The Three Thousand Burning Flames are known as the immortal flames, as they can provide a continuous source of regenerative power as long as the starlight remains.

Its abilities are almost a perfect match for Yao Yan's physical body.

However, refining and devouring it is obviously not an easy task. In the original work, if it weren't for several Dou Zun from the Soul Palace forcing the Three Thousand Burning Flames to expose its true form, Xiao Yan probably wouldn't even have the qualifications to get close. This shows how much the Three Thousand Burning Flames has grown.

With only a dozen years until the next Pill Gathering, the strength of the Three Thousand Burning Flames is clearly not much weaker than in the original story.

It's clear that Yao Yan alone can't tame it. If Yao Lao can break through to the Dou Sheng level, with the other party's talent in alchemy, he might be able to directly step into the ninth rank. At that time, his status in the Pill Tower will definitely not be low. With Yao Lao's help, refining the Three Thousand Burning Flames will become easier.

There's also the Dragon Seal, which is controlled by the Ancient Dragon Clan of the Void!

"My strength is still growing too slowly..." Yao Yan sensed the battle qi in his body and thought to himself that perhaps in the next period of time, he would have to use the power of the Devouring Spirit Clan to speed up his breakthrough and break through to the Dou Zun level as soon as possible. In this way, he could go to the Soul Clan and enjoy the resources of the Emperor Clan!

Compared to the cultivation resources outside, the cultivation resources within the Soul Clan are obviously much more extravagant, which may allow Yao Yan to break through to the Dou Sheng level in a short period of time.

He slowly closed his eyes and entered a state of cultivation.

Time also flows forward rapidly.

……

……

Half a year passed in the blink of an eye. Yao Yan slowly opened his eyes. The space around him trembled slightly, and the fighting spirit in his body surged wildly like a tide, causing his aura to surge instantly. In an instant, he broke through to the level of a five-star Dou Zong, and only stopped when he reached the peak of the five-star level.

"It seems that the Yan Clan woman wasn't very strong when she was alive..." Yao Yan made a judgment in his mind. He spent half a year digesting everything about that Yan Clan woman and making it his own, and his battle qi naturally increased as a result.

Yao Yan always remembered Hun Xuzi's words: he could use the Devouring Spirit Clan's talent to increase his strength, but he must not let this power go to his head. Only power that can be used perfectly belongs to him.

Half a year was enough time for Yao Yan to thoroughly examine his body. There was no point in continuing his seclusion now. He glanced at the still motionless Yao Lao and decided to come out of seclusion.

The fusion of the old medicine master is now in a very perfect state, and the pressure emanating from his body is becoming more and more terrifying, to the point that it can affect him.

This place is clearly no longer suitable for Yao Yan to stay.

After all, the process of integrating the medicine and the old medicine may take several years, or even longer.

He can't stay here forever.

Cultivating step by step is far too slow in terms of improving strength. It would take at least two years to raise one's Dou Qi cultivation to the peak of Dou Zong. Rather than cultivating at such a slow pace, it would be better to find a few seventh-tier magical beasts or Dou Zongs and have them 'assist' one in cultivation.

As for Yao Lao's safety, Yao Yan believed that Xuan Yi would keep an eye on him. If even Xuan Yi couldn't stop him, it wouldn't matter whether Yao Yan stayed or not.

"You'd better put in a little more effort!"

Yao Yan left the secret room after uttering a single sentence.

……

Outside the secret room, the scenery remained sunny and peaceful.

Yao Yan stretched and lightly stepped into the void. With a faint ripple in the space, his figure disappeared from the spot and reappeared in the bamboo forest courtyard. His appearance also startled Venerable Tianhuo and Xuan Yi.

The two hadn't gone out for some time, waiting for news in this place. When they saw Yao Yan appear, they were both taken aback.

"Everything is going smoothly. Now it depends on whether Elder Yao can break through successfully. It doesn't matter whether I stay there or not. If Aunt Xuan is worried, she can keep an eye on things. I plan to go out and gain some experience, and also see where there are any strange fires." Yao Yan explained with a light laugh.

Hearing this, Xuan Yi breathed a sigh of relief. She was really afraid that something unexpected might happen. Now that everything was going smoothly, she was in a great mood and said with a smile, "Before you go out to train, you might as well take the alchemist rank test. With an alchemist badge recognized by the Pill Tower, you can save a lot of trouble when you go out... As for the strange fire, the Three Thousand Burning Flames is a bit too difficult for you at the moment. It's not too late to consider it when your strength reaches the Dou Zun level."

"Thank you for your concern, Aunt Xuan. I know what's important and I don't plan to get involved with the Three Thousand Burning Flames at the moment," Yao Yan nodded slightly and said softly.

Seeing that Yao Yan hadn't been blinded by his strength, Xuan Yi became increasingly satisfied with him. Compared to Han Feng back then, Yao Yan was far superior. At the same time, she looked forward to Yao Yan's next assessment.

"Are you confident about passing the alchemist exam?" she asked with a smile.

"Let's try the eighth grade. The seventh grade is no longer difficult for me." Yao Yan's tone was calm, and his whole body exuded confidence, obviously without any doubt about his alchemy skills.

Xuan Yi was not surprised by this. She thought for a moment and said, "Wait a moment, I will have Xuan Kongzi accompany you."

As soon as she finished speaking, she didn't allow Yao Yan to refuse. She closed her eyes and a powerful soul force emanated from between her brows, spreading towards the endless void. The level of that soul force had clearly reached the Heavenly Realm, and it was much stronger than Yao Yan's soul force, which was only at the initial stage of the Heavenly Realm.

After a while, a figure suddenly appeared in the space to the side of Yao Yan.

Xuan Kongzi smiled wryly, looked at Xuan Yi, and said, "Why make me make this trip myself? Just have Yao Yan take your token and go."

"To avoid trouble, you can conduct the assessment yourself," Xuan Yi said succinctly.

Xuan Kongzi's expression froze, then he looked helplessly at Yao Yan and said, "Boy, what grade of alchemist are you planning to take the exam for?"

"Eighth grade, I guess... I also want to test my current limits."

Yao Yan's eyes flashed with a hint of shrewdness as he said softly that since breaking through to the Dou Zong level, he had not yet refined any pills with all his might. With his current Dou Qi and soul power, seventh-grade pills obviously could no longer pose any difficulty for him.

"...Show me your soul power and let me feel your limits." Xuan Kongzi stroked his white beard, looked at Yao Yan calmly, and said indifferently.