Battle Through the Heavens: Oh no, I've become the succubus Xiao Yan!

News of the destruction of the Galie family spread throughout Utan City and also reached the Alchemist Guild of the Gama Empire.

But the reason Fama came was not to the Galley family—it was for the elixir.

In the past year, the quality of pills circulating in Wutan City has suddenly improved significantly. Pills like the Qi-Nourishing Pill, the Foundation-Strengthening Pill, the Qi-Gathering Pill, and the Qi-Condensing Pill… each one far surpasses the quality of other alchemists in Wutan City. More importantly, all of these pills have been distributed through the Xiao family's channels.

Fa Ma was the president of the Alchemist Guild, a peak fourth-grade alchemist, and a leading figure in the alchemy world of the Jia Ma Empire. He couldn't possibly have missed this unusual circulation of pills.

"There must be a high-level alchemist behind the Xiao family," Fa Ma thought on his way to Wutan City. "At least a fourth-grade alchemist, or even a fifth-grade alchemist."

Half a month later, Fa Ma appeared at the Xiao family's door.

He was a thin, gaunt old man with a white beard that reached his chest. He wore a simple gray robe and looked no different from any other old man. But his eyes were sharp, possessing a keenness that came from having seen it all.

Xiao Zhan personally greeted them.

"President Fa Ma, your presence is an honor to our humble abode," Xiao Zhan said, bowing respectfully.

Fa Ma waved his hand: "Clan Chief Xiao, you're too kind. I've come today to ask you something."

"Please speak."

"The pills recently circulating in the Xiao family are of extremely high quality, far surpassing those of other alchemists in Wutan City. I'm curious, who made these pills?"

Xiao Zhan's heart tightened, but he remained outwardly calm: "It was refined with the help of an elder in my family."

"Which senior?" Fama pressed.

"This... the senior prefers not to reveal their name."

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Fa Ma glanced at Xiao Zhan but didn't press the matter further. However, his suspicions deepened. Xiao Zhan's evasiveness suggested that this "senior's" identity was not simple.

"I have no ill intentions in coming here," Fa Ma said. "I simply wish to meet this fellow alchemist. If he is unable to come forward, I would like to meet Xiao Yan instead."

"My son?" Xiao Zhan frowned.

"I've heard that Xiao Yan has some talent in alchemy," Fa Ma said. "I'd like to see."

Xiao Zhan hesitated for a moment, but still sent someone to fetch Xiao Yan.

---

When Xiao Yan entered the reception room, Fa Ma's eyes lit up.

It wasn't because of Xiao Yan's appearance. The fifteen-year-old boy had regular, handsome features that were pleasing to the eye, but Fa Ma was more interested in his gait and breathing.

His gait was steady, his breathing long and deep, and his energy was restrained. This was not the demeanor of a fifteen-year-old boy.

"Xiao Yan greets President Fa Ma." Xiao Yan cupped his hands in greeting.

Fa Ma sized him up and nodded. "Good, more composed than I expected. I came here to see your alchemy skills. Is that alright?"

"please."

Fa Ma took out a medicine cauldron from his storage ring and a batch of medicinal herbs: "Young friend Xiao Yan, you can choose any third-grade pill. May you refine it in front of me?"

Xiao Yan glanced at the medicinal herbs and chose the Peiyuan Pill.

He neither deliberately performed nor concealed his intentions. Controlling the fire, adding the medicine, and condensing the elixir—every step was clean and efficient, without a single superfluous movement. The fire control ability of the Fire God Body made the entire process flow smoothly, and the flames in the medicine cauldron seemed to have a life of their own, precisely enveloping each medicinal herb.

Fama's expression changed from curiosity to solemnity, and then from solemnity to shock.

He had lived for so many years and seen countless alchemists. Those who could control fire to this extent were few and far between. Moreover, the youngest of those people was over thirty.

The elixir is complete. Three Qi-Nourishing Pills lay quietly at the bottom of the cauldron, their color smooth and their medicinal power abundant.

Fama picked up one, examined it carefully, and then smelled it.

"What is your usual success rate in achieving the desired pill?" he asked.

"More than 90%," Xiao Yan said.

Fama's hand trembled slightly.

How old are you this year?

"fifteen."

Fama remained silent for a long time.

"A third-grade alchemist, fifteen years old," he murmured, "This...this is simply..."

He hadn't finished speaking.

Seeing Fa Ma's shocked expression, Xiao Yan suddenly said, "President Fa Ma, actually, I refined all those pills."

Fama was stunned.

"What?"

"Those pills circulating in the Xiao family," Xiao Yan said, "were not refined by any senior, but by me."

Fa Ma stared at Xiao Yan, remaining silent for a long time. His mind was racing—if all the pills circulating in the Xiao family were refined by this young man, then his skill level would be far beyond the third rank.

"You..." Fama's voice was somewhat hoarse, "You've reached the fourth rank?"

"Yes."

Are you sure?

"I can verify this in person."

Fama took a deep breath: "Okay."

Xiao Yan changed the medicinal herbs, choosing a fourth-grade Three-Pattern Azure Spirit Pill. This time, he put in much more effort. Fourth-grade pills require significantly more soul power than third-grade ones, but after breaking through to the Dou Ling realm, he could now steadily maintain his soul power.

At the crucial moment of condensing the elixir, his soul power tightly locked onto every change in the medicinal power within the cauldron, perceiving it with complete sensitivity and without missing a single detail.

The elixir is complete.

Three pale blue pills lay quietly at the bottom of the cauldron, with three fine lines appearing on their surface—the Three-Line Azure Spirit Pills, of excellent quality.

Fa Ma stared at the pills at the bottom of the cauldron, remaining silent for a long time.

"Fourth rank," he finally spoke, his voice somewhat hoarse, "a fifteen-year-old fourth-rank alchemist."

He looked at Xiao Yan with a complicated expression.

"Xiao Yan, would you like to join the Alchemist Guild?"

"Thank you for your kindness, Guild Master," Xiao Yan said, "but I want to focus on my cultivation for now. I will definitely cooperate with the guild in the future."

Fama glanced at him but did not press the matter.

"Very well," he said, "but there's something I want to tell you. When I was young, I was instructed by a senior for three days. That senior's fire control technique is somewhat similar to yours."

Xiao Yan's heart skipped a beat, but he remained outwardly calm: "Oh? And who is that senior?"

Fa Ma shook his head: "I don't know his name. Back then, I was just a second-grade alchemist, and I relied entirely on brute force to control fire. That senior passed by where I was cultivating, watched me refine medicine, shook his head and sighed, and then gave me three days of pointers on fire control techniques. After that, he left, and I never saw him again."

He paused for a moment.

"Later, I inquired everywhere and found out that the senior was no longer in the Gama Empire."

Xiao Yan was silent for a moment: "You mean his fire control technique is similar to mine?"

"Hmm," Fama said, "that precise control of the flame, you and that master are alike—the flame in your hands seems to be alive."

The old apothecary remained silent inside the ring.

He remembered Fa Ma. That young man who could only control fire with brute force back then, under his guidance, broke through from the second rank to the third rank in three days. His comprehension wasn't too bad, he just lacked guidance.

But Fama didn't know his name. He had only passed by and given him a few pointers, without even leaving his name.

"Master?" Xiao Yan asked softly.

"He thought I was dead," Yao Lao's voice was low. "After Han Feng's betrayal, everyone thought Yao Chen had perished."

Xiao Yan did not reveal Yao Lao's existence.

As Fa Ma left, he paused at the door and glanced back at Xiao Yan.

"If you encounter any difficulties in the future, you can use my name to go to the Alchemist Guild, and I will help you."

"Thank you, Chairman."

Fama nodded, then turned and left.

The old man remained silent for a long time inside the ring before softly saying, "Fama... is still that young man who only knows how to control fire with brute force."

Xiao Yan smiled and said, "Master, one day, you will stand tall and proud before him, before everyone."

Yao Lao didn't speak, but Xiao Yan sensed it; the wisp of soul energy within the ring trembled slightly.