In Battle Through the Heavens, lying down makes you stronger.

Chapter 16 First Encounter with the Medicine Master

The old doctor rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"There are some things you'd better be careful about!"

However, he also knew Xiao Ran's character.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have shown himself while Xiao Ran was still there.

After a moment's thought, Yao Lao turned to Xiao Yan and said,

"Your fighting spirit has been declining over the past three years."

"But that's precisely why, Aba Aba..."

The master and disciple were delighted to see each other and discussed many things about Xiao Yan's future cultivation.

Finally, the old medicine master gave some instructions.

"If you want to become a true alchemist, you must possess fire-based battle aura."

"Therefore, you must first become a fighter and cultivate a fire-attribute technique."

"Fire-attribute cultivation technique?"

"Then, teacher, could you give me a Heaven-Rank cultivation technique to practice with first?" Xiao Yan stretched out his hand and asked without any hesitation.

The old doctor's eyebrows twitched, and he scolded in an annoyed tone.

"You little brat, do you really think Heaven-rank cultivation techniques are as common as cabbages? There aren't that many!"

Xiao Yan curled his lip.

"Didn't you say that the Pill King is nothing but a fart in front of you?"

"They don't even have a Heavenly Rank cultivation technique. Are they just making empty promises to trick me into becoming their disciple?"

"Our Xiao family's highest fire-attribute cultivation technique is only at the advanced Yellow Rank. If it were to get out, it would be too embarrassing for your disciple to be like this."

The old apothecary rolled his eyes helplessly and said...

"I don't have any Heavenly Rank cultivation techniques, but someone right in front of us does!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan was taken aback.

"A Heaven-Rank cultivation technique? Does anyone have one?"

Then, following Yao Lao's gaze, Xiao Yan turned his head to look at Xiao Ran behind the big rock.

"Ran-ge?"

"That's right!" The old doctor nodded.

He stroked his beard and said in a profound and enigmatic manner,

"Although this young man spends most of his time lying down or sleeping, his martial arts techniques are incredibly profound."

"You're just a nobody who hasn't even become a fighter, so naturally you wouldn't be able to tell."

"However, judging from Master's perspective, a technique that allows one to steadily build up their battle qi in the initial stages without affecting cultivation speed must undoubtedly be a Heaven-rank technique!"

Xiao Yan stared at Yao Lao in astonishment.

"Teacher, are you telling the truth?"

Old Master Zheng nodded and said.

"You're just a nobody who hasn't even reached the level of a Fighter, so naturally you wouldn't be able to see the power of his technique."

Xiao Yan swallowed hard and said in astonishment,

"No, how could Brother Ran possess a Heaven-Rank cultivation technique? Is it a treasured technique from our Xiao family?"

The old apothecary curled his lip and said disdainfully,

"Your Xiao family? Bah!"

"Don't even mention your tiny Wutan City, you probably can't find a single Heaven-rank cultivation technique in the entire Gama Empire, or even the entire Northwest Continent."

"ah?!"

Xiao Yan swallowed hard, clearly stunned.

Her gaze as she turned to look at Xiao Ran was filled with envy, and a hint of resentment.

We all agreed to be good-for-nothings together, but you secretly cultivated a Heaven-rank technique?

How could Xiao Yan remain calm in this situation?

It took him a while to come to his senses, and he swallowed hard.

Then he looked longingly at the old doctor.

"Teacher, if I want to cultivate a Heaven-rank technique, could you perhaps discuss it with Brother Ran...?"

"I wish I could cultivate while sleeping!"

Seeing that Xiao Yan's saliva was about to fall on him and the abacus was about to jump onto his face, Yao Lao disgustedly pushed Xiao Yan's head away.

"Go away, just like Ran said, dreaming of getting married, you're only thinking about the good things!"

Xiao Yan touched his head, looking somewhat aggrieved.

The old doctor's tone softened as well.

He then spoke earnestly,

"Your sworn brother's martial arts technique is quite ingenious. He sleeps every day in order to practice his technique."

"If it were anyone else cultivating, they might just fall into a deep sleep and never wake up again!"

"real?"

Xiao Yan couldn't help but shiver.

This was the first time he had ever heard of a cultivation technique that could cause someone to die in their sleep.

"Otherwise, why do you think that since that kid and his girlfriend have such a good relationship, they shouldn't let her lie down and cultivate too? Wouldn't that be much better?"

Seeing Xiao Yan's deep shock, Yao Lao shook his head slightly without offering any further explanation.

There are some things that Xiao Yan shouldn't know right now.

He sighed softly and slowly began to speak.

"Some things that are good for others may not be suitable for you. You have your own path to walk, and your teacher has planned everything out for you."

"Although I don't possess any Heavenly Rank cultivation techniques, I do have one that's perfect for you, even more bizarre than a Heavenly Rank technique..."

Before he could finish speaking, a yawn was heard.

On the other side of the large rock, Xiao Ran poked his head out and was stretching.

Suddenly, the atmosphere became strange.

Xiao Ran and Yao Lao Xiao Yan stared at each other, wide-eyed.

"Hey, Ran, Brother Ran, you're awake?"

Xiao Yan stretched out his hand and forced a smile as he greeted Xiao Ran.

He dared not let Xiao Ran know that he had just been eyeing his cultivation technique.

Xiao Ran rolled his eyes and said irritably,

"Pah! Pah! I'm never sleeping here again!"

"It's so noisy and annoying!"

Then Xiao Ran looked at the old medicine master beside the big rock with a half-smile and said,

"Oh, it's you! You've finally shown up."

Looking at the transparent soul on the big rock, with an old face and white hair and beard, this was the world-famous Ring Grandpa, Yao Lao!

He certainly has the air of a handsome and refined gentleman; in his youth, he must have been quite the ladies' man!

The old apothecary had no idea how Xiao Ran viewed him, and shook his head with a smile.

"As expected of the Xiao family's renowned genius! He's not even surprised to see me, an old man?"

Xiao Ran secretly scoffed, "I knew all along that you were in the ring, didn't I?"

The old apothecary continued with a smile: "I was saying that three years ago, there was a faint, ever-present soul force probing the ring I was residing in."

"I suppose it wasn't until later that I realized it was you, kid."

Xiao Ran clasped his hands in a fist salute to the old medicine master and said,

"I was also worried about Emperor Yan's safety, please forgive me, sir."

The old doctor curled his lip.

"That's called judging a gentleman by your own petty standards! Xiao Yan is now my last disciple, aren't you envious?"

"Fang Ran, if you're willing to kowtow and become my disciple, I might consider it..."

"Hey, where are you going?"

Xiao Ran didn't even turn his head before saying, "I'm going back to my room to sleep!"

Yao Lao and Xiao Yan rolled their eyes almost simultaneously.

"Don't go, don't go! We can talk this over! I still have some questions I want to ask!" the old medicine master said.

Xiao Ran stopped and turned to look at Yao Lao and Xiao Yan.

"Old sir, you are Xiao Yan's teacher, so naturally you should instruct him. We have no connection whatsoever, so what is there to discuss?"

"By the way, sir, I still prefer your previous arrogant and superior demeanor. Please revert to that."

(End of this chapter)