Battle Through the Heavens: Xiao Yan, who was kidnapped to another world

"Um, how about I end my alchemist ranking exam here?" Before Yao Lao could finish speaking, Xiao Yan suddenly interrupted, "Well... I feel like there was a slight problem when I was refining the pills just now..."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xuan Kongzi and Tian Leizi both looked at Xiao Yan with strange expressions.

Someone who has already refined the Shiva Wheel of Karma Pill ran into trouble while refining the Poria Green Pill? Do they really think... to be precise, do they really think Yao Chen doesn't know what you're up to?

After muttering to themselves, Xuan Kongzi and Tian Leizi heard Yao Lao say with a rather helpless tone, "Go rest over there. If you don't plan to rest, go upstairs and refine pills!"

"Oh." Xiao Yan shrank back and walked towards the center of the square under Xuan Yi's somewhat regretful gaze.

"Speaking of which, Xiao Yan's soul power has already reached the Great Perfection of the Spirit Realm, right?" When Xiao Yan began preparing to refine pills, Xuan Yi withdrew his gaze with some regret and looked at Yao Lao, "Have you prepared any pills to help him break through to the Heaven Realm?"

Although it was only their first meeting, Xuan Yi already had a very high impression of Xiao Yan, at least many times better than Han Feng back then—after all, Yao Lao hadn't visited the Pill Tower for more than ten years in order to take care of Han Feng, while Xiao Yan was trying to matchmake Yao Lao and Xuan Yi on their first meeting.

“If he wanted to advance to the Heavenly Realm, he could have done so long ago,” Yao Lao said, his eyes filled with pride as he looked at Xiao Yan. “It’s just that he’s planning to break through directly to the mid-stage of the Heavenly Realm, which is why he’s been suppressing his soul power.”

"He broke through directly to the mid-stage of the Heavenly Realm?" Xuan Kongzi asked with some surprise. "What did you prepare for him?"

If the goal was simply to help someone at the peak of the Spirit Realm break through to the Heaven Realm, Xuan Kongzi and the other two knew several methods. Therefore, at the beginning, Xuan Yi only asked Yao Lao if he had prepared any pills to help Xiao Yan's soul power break through to the mid-stage of the Heaven Realm…

At least for now, Xuan Kongzi and the other two don't know of any way to allow the soul power of a person at the Great Perfection of the Spirit Realm to directly skip the early stage of the Heaven Realm and directly reach the middle stage of the Heaven Realm.

"Do you still remember the Dragon-like Technique that I collected back then?" Yao Lao asked, a slight smile playing on his lips as he looked at Xuan Kongzi and the other two.

"Like the Dragon Technique... that ancient soul technique that uses the soul forging of a weapon refiner to forge soul weapons and thereby enhance soul power, who knows how many tens of thousands of years ago?" After a brief hesitation, Tian Leizi remembered the "useless" soul technique that Yao Lao had once told them about.

“Even if he has mastered the Soul Forging technique,” ​​Xuan Yi said with a hint of doubt, “that Dragon-like Technique couldn’t possibly help him break through to the mid-stage of the Heavenly Realm directly, could it?”

"The Dragon-like Technique is just an aid," Yao Lao said with a smile. "Without the Dragon-like Technique, he might have already advanced to the Heavenly Realm. But because of the Dragon-like Technique, he deliberately suppressed the progress of his soul power breakthrough, so that he could rely on the Dragon-like Technique to bring about an improvement in his soul power at the last moment and break through to the mid-stage of the Heavenly Realm in one go."

This time, Xuan Kongzi understood.

"Are you simply showing off your disciple's exceptional talent in soul power?" Xuan Kongzi's eyes twitched slightly. "A twenty-year-old Heavenly Realm cultivator... no, did you teach him other soul techniques?"

Halfway through his sentence, Xuan Kongzi realized something was amiss. His personal disciple, Cao Ying, already possessed strong soul power talent, but even with the Soul Technique, her soul power had only recently broken through to the Spirit Realm. For her to have soul power approaching the Heaven Realm at the age of twenty... even Yao Lao's soul power talent back then wasn't this exaggerated!

"Apart from the Dragon Technique, I haven't taught him any other soul techniques," Yao Lao said with a smile and shook his head. "If it weren't for a little trouble a while ago, I wouldn't have even planned to teach him any soul skills."

Xuan Kongzi believed that Yao Lao wouldn't lie to his three old friends, but someone with such high talent in soul power...

"Could he be one of your clansmen?" After a brief hesitation, Xuan Kongzi used his battle qi to send this question to Yao Lao's ear privately.

To ordinary people, the Pill Tower was the most skilled alchemist in the entire Dou Qi Continent, and its three leaders were the most skilled alchemists on the entire continent. However, Xuan Kongzi and his two companions knew that besides the Pill Tower, there was another force on this continent where almost everyone was an alchemist. Therefore, after Yao Lao said that he had not taught Xiao Yan any soul techniques other than the Dragon-like Technique, Xuan Kongzi's first reaction was, "Is Xiao Yan a member of Yao Chen's clan?"

"Don't overthink it. He had his own extraordinary encounter," Yao Lao said, stunned for a moment after hearing Xuan Kongzi's words. He then glared at him with annoyance. "Besides, the pills that helped this kid break through to the Spirit Realm were all created by himself!"

“Oh, a fortuitous encounter…” Xuan Kongzi nodded. The Dou Qi Continent is so vast that it’s normal to have some fortuitous encounters. “What does ‘creation’ mean?” Compared to asking about the specific details of the fortuitous encounter, Xuan Kongzi, Xuan Yi, and Tian Leizi were more interested in the “creation” that Yao Lao mentioned.

"He created a pill that allows someone at the Great Perfection of the Mortal Realm to break through to the Spirit Realm?" Xuan Yi asked with some surprise. "A seventh-grade pill?"

On the Dou Qi Continent, in order to advance one's soul power to the Spirit Realm, in addition to having enough talent, one also needs a sufficient number of medicinal herbs containing "spirituality" as an aid. Among them, the most "common" are Earth Core Soul Marrow, Pill Spirit Elixir, and Gastrodia Jade Essence. Of course, "common" here only means that they are used frequently, not that they are abundant.

Even so, refining these nearly eighth-grade medicinal herbs is extremely difficult for most alchemists who have not yet reached the Spirit Realm. Now, the old alchemist actually said that Xiao Yan had refined a pill that could help him break through his soul power even before he had broken through to the Spirit Realm. This naturally surprised the three of them.

"It's close to the seventh grade, but not quite," the old medicine master said with a smile. "If it were a seventh-grade pill, he might have been scorched by the pill lightning back then."

"Sixth rank?!"

Even now, knowing that Yao Lao wouldn't lie to them, Xuan Kongzi and the other two still stared wide-eyed in disbelief upon hearing the grade of the pills Xiao Yan had refined back then. If it weren't for Yao Lao saying those words, they might have already been chased away with sticks.

*

While Yao Lao was recounting Xiao Yan's great achievements to Xuan Kongzi and the other two, Xiao Yan was meticulously refining the medicinal herbs in the medicine cauldron.

It can only be said that the Nine Revolutions Nirvana Pill is indeed one of the pills closest to the ninth grade. The extraction of any one of the herbs requires a lot of mental effort. Even the extraction of the herbs for the Shiva Wheel Karma Pill that he refined before did not make Xiao Yan feel this difficult.

However, as one medicinal herb after another was refined, Xiao Yan suddenly felt as if he had entered a state of ethereal clarity. In this state, he could send the medicinal herbs placed to the side into the cauldron with a wave of his hand without consuming his soul power or battle qi. He even had a faint illusion that he could manipulate the energy of heaven and earth within a radius of hundreds of miles.

'Was it really just an illusion?' For a fleeting moment, a thought flashed through Xiao Yan's mind. 'No, that's not right. Is it really only the energy of heaven and earth within a few hundred miles?'

However, the busy alchemy process didn't give Xiao Yan much time to verify his guess. In the instant that thought flashed through his mind, he sent another medicinal herb into the cauldron, and the crimson flames once again covered the herb...

At the request of Xuan Kongzi and the other two, only eight people were watching from the edge of the Ye family's alchemy plaza. Among them, only Yao Lao, Xuan Kongzi, Xuan Yi, and Tian Leizi understood what had happened to Xiao Yan.

"He just now..." After concealing their presence with his soul power to ensure they wouldn't interfere with Xiao Yan's alchemy, Xuan Kongzi looked at Yao Lao and asked in a slightly hoarse voice, "...Heavenly Realm?"

There is a clear dividing line between the Celestial Realm and the Spiritual Realm. The most obvious difference is that the Celestial Realm's soul power can freely draw upon the energy of heaven and earth within a radius of ten thousand miles, and can even manipulate the energy of heaven and earth to help refine pills.

Although Xuan Kongzi's own soul power has not yet reached the Heavenly Realm, he has seen the process of alchemists with Heavenly Realm soul power refining pills. Just now, Xiao Yan casually waved his hand and sent the medicinal materials into the medicine cauldron without any fluctuation of soul power or battle qi. This "process" was exactly the one he had seen before. It was a unique trick of ninth-grade alchemists - using the energy of heaven and earth to reduce the consumption of soul power and battle qi during the pill refining process!

Xuan Yi and Tian Lei Zi, who also understood this, were both incredulous at that moment. Only Cao Ying and Dan Chen, who were completely unaware of this, were able to maintain a calm attitude as they watched Xiao Yan refine pills...

If biting your lip and clenching your fists can be considered a sign of a calm state of mind.

"You're probably confused," the old doctor said with a helpless look at Xuan Kongzi. "If his soul power has already broken through to the Heavenly Realm, then his alchemy attempt this time has failed!"

That's what they say, but Yao Lao himself, like Xuan Kongzi and the other two, was quite frightened by Xiao Yan's actions just now.

"It should be... an epiphany."

When she said this, Xuan Yi looked quite awkward. It was the first time she had used terms from Dou Qi cultivation in the context of alchemy. However, as one of the three giants of the Three Towers, Xuan Yi quickly adjusted her mindset. "Yao Chen also said that Xiao Yan's soul power has already reached the Great Perfection of the Spirit Realm. Whether he breaks through to the Heaven Realm is just a matter of his mind... Perhaps it is because of this that he mastered this technique first."

"Probably," Xuan Kongzi nodded slightly after recovering from his initial surprise, agreeing with Xuan Yi's opinion. "You old fellow are really lucky to have such a talented disciple." He looked at Yao Lao with a hint of envy.

"I never thought my luck would be this good..." Yao Lao finally withdrew his proud gaze from Xiao Yan.

The group tacitly avoided mentioning that the energy of heaven and earth within a thousand miles had momentarily stagnated just now. After all, manipulating medicinal herbs could be explained by talent, having mastered such a skill beforehand, or having an epiphany, but the ability of a spiritual realm soul power to control the energy of heaven and earth within a thousand miles could not be explained by a simple "epiphany"!

"So, with the Ye family already persuaded and most of the idle elders not caring about the Three Thousand Burning Flames," Elder Yao casually changed the subject, "that leaves only the other four major families and the elders who have some connection with these four families?"

“To be precise, only the Cao family and the Dan family remain,” Xuan Kongzi continued, following Yao Lao’s words. “Actually, if Yao Chen wanted to refine the Three Thousand Burning Flames himself, there wouldn’t be any problem. After all, the seal of the Pill Tower is gradually losing control of the Three Thousand Burning Flames, and it could break through the seal at any time.”

"I can't refine a second kind of strange fire," Yao Lao said with a casual smile.

"Therefore, if we want to transfer the qualification to Xiao Yan, we still need to persuade the Cao and Dan families." Xuan Yi smiled helplessly.

In their previous conversation, the three of them had suggested that Xiao Yan join the Pill Tower and become an elder, since even the Pill Tower wouldn't refuse someone who was a peak eighth-grade alchemist.

However, this suggestion was rejected by the old doctor.

"Personally, I've been carefree for quite a long time, and joining the Pill Tower will help me to rein in my carefree nature. But Xiao Yanzi is different from me. If we were to make him rein in his nature now and become an elder of the Pill Tower obediently... I'm afraid he'd run away the moment he became an elder." Yao Lao said this when he rejected the suggestion put forward by the three of them.

But such words can only fool those who don't understand Yao Lao's personality. Xuan Yi knows Yao Lao's carefree personality. Let alone becoming an elder of the Pill Tower, Yao Lao back then didn't even bother with forming cliques. Even the Starfall Pavilion was only established after Feng Zun Zhe's repeated persuasion, and Yao Lao only participated in its establishment.

“Actually, the Cao family and the Dan family are quite easy to talk to,” Xuan Kongzi raised an eyebrow and said to Yao Lao, “It just so happens that Xiao Yan is still unmarried…”

"Cough cough."

The old doctor coughed twice to interrupt Xuan Kongzi's frivolous words, and at the same time gestured for him to look down—Little Fairy Doctor smiled somewhat awkwardly, while Zi Yan glared angrily at Xuan Kongzi.

"Xiao Yan is one of Little Fairy Doctor's and Cai Lin's people!" Zi Yan glared fiercely at Xuan Kongzi and said.

'Really not including you?' Xuan Kongzi muttered to himself, looking at the angry expression on Zi Yan's face.

"Xiao Yanzi also has a childhood sweetheart... the young lady of the ancient clan!" Enveloped in battle qi, Yao Lao's words lightly reached Xuan Kongzi's ears.

Upon hearing this, Xuan Kongzi, who was already annoyed by suggesting that he should act as a matchmaker for Xiao Yan in front of his lover, coughed violently. "I was just joking... There must be other ways. Let's think about it some more!"

"By the way, I feel like your soul is quite damaged. Come on, let's go check on the situation over there." Then, Xuan Kongzi seemed to think that wasn't enough, so he took Xuan Yi, Tian Leizi, and Yao Lao and moved to a different location, at least not to stay near Xiao Yi Xian and Zi Yan any longer.

Chapter 379 Spirit Dragon Heavenly Herb and Soul Infant Fruit

"Humph!"

Watching Xuan Kongzi slink away, Zi Yan snorted, "You gotta run fast!"

"Alright, alright," Little Fairy Doctor smiled helplessly at Zi Yan's displeased expression, "No matter what, he is one of the three giants of the Pill Tower, and also a friend of Xiao Yan's master."

If it were anyone else making such a disrespectful suggestion, Little Fairy Doctor would definitely have a talk with them about what it means to respect others. However, one of Xiao Yan's goals for this trip to the Pill Tower was the Three Thousand Burning Flames, and to obtain these flames, Xuan Kongzi's support was still necessary. Therefore, even though she was full of dissatisfaction when she heard Xuan Kongzi make that suggestion, Little Fairy Doctor did not immediately voice her opinion.

"If it weren't for these two identities, I would have attacked right away!" Zi Yan snorted again. Only now did she finally stop questioning and criticizing Xuan Kongzi's bad idea.

However, Zi Yan's occasional glares at Xuan Kongzi revealed her displeasure. Little Fairy Doctor, who had been paying attention to Zi Yan's actions, thought that Zi Yan was standing up for her and felt a warm current welling up in her heart.

However, Little Fairy Doctor, who was comforting the indignant Zi Yan, couldn't fathom what Zi Yan was thinking at that moment—

'I haven't even succeeded yet, and he's already thinking of cutting in line…' Zi Yan muttered to herself, glaring at Xuan Kongzi. 'No matter what, we have to wait until Xiao Yan has absorbed the Three Thousand Burning Flames before talking about anything else!'

While muttering to herself, Zi Yan unconsciously brushed her right thumb across the storage ring on her index finger. Back on Dragon Island, Qi You had unexpectedly seen through her thoughts. At first, she thought Qi You wanted to persuade her to give up this idea, but she didn't expect that he would end up providing the materials for the crime.

'We're just waiting for Xiao Yan to devour the Three Thousand Burning Flames,' Zi Yan murmured to herself, glancing at Xiao Yan refining pills in the center of the plaza. 'Little Fairy Doctor was the first, Xiao Xun'er was the second… but Sister Cai Lin has already cut in line. I should be next, right?'

Meanwhile, on Donglong Island.

"What did you say?" Zhu Li stared wide-eyed at Qi You in disbelief. "What did you give Zi Yan?"

"It's just a Dream Dragon Flower, no need to make a fuss," Qi You said calmly with her eyes closed. "You've been poisoned with it before, haven't you?"

"I did it willingly! Bah, why am I telling you this?" Zhu Li retorted subconsciously, then looked at Qi You angrily, "Did you give that Dream Dragon Flower to Zi Yan to ruin the relationship between Zi Yan and Xiao Yan?"

"What's the big deal about damage?" Qi You said calmly. "At worst, I'll apologize to Xiao Yan after this happens. I don't believe he can bring himself to blame Zi Yan."

"Is that the problem?" Zhu Li felt a sharp pain in his teeth. "Zi Yan hasn't finished receiving the inheritance yet!"

“It has nothing to do with inheritance,” Qi You finally opened his eyes. “If it weren’t for the fact that there are only a few years left until the next meeting on Dragon Island, I would even hope that she and Xiao Yan would have a child who would then receive the inheritance!”

"Damn, you even gave him that?!" Upon hearing the second half of Qi You's sentence, Zhu Li's expression instantly turned horrified.

"No, there weren't many of those things stored to begin with, how could we possibly take them out?" Qi You calmly retorted. "Besides, I said 'even hope'. Can you please listen to me properly?"

"You bastard..." Zhu Li's face darkened as he looked at Qi You's calm expression. If he weren't outmatched, he probably would have already punched Qi You in the face.

*

"So, it's far enough, isn't it? Aren't you going to stop?" Yao Lao asked Xuan Kongzi with some curiosity.

At this moment, the four of them were already separated from Little Fairy Doctor and Zi Yan by an entire square, but Xuan Kongzi still seemed to intend to lead him around the square, which surprised Yao Lao slightly.

"Huh? Oh, right, that's about it..." After hearing Yao Lao's reminder, Xuan Kongzi raised his head somewhat dazedly, then nodded and said.

"You old man, you can't even stand a little girl saying a few words to you?" Tian Lei Zi teased with a smile when he saw Xuan Kong Zi's absent-minded look.

"No, I'm not that fragile!" Xuan Kongzi replied decisively, then looked at Yao Lao with some hesitation, "I remember you said before that 'if something hadn't happened, you wouldn't have even planned to teach Xiao Yan the soul skill'... Which soul skill are you referring to?"

Upon hearing Xuan Kongzi's pointed words, Yao Lao's smile froze. After a moment, he chuckled helplessly, "So there really is a problem?"

"Was it that Soul Explosion?" The helpless tone of the old doctor told Xuan Kongzi that his guess was correct, and he immediately asked, "Who did you use it against? And how did you recover afterwards?"

Just as Xuan Yi was about to ask something because of Yao Lao's question, "So there really is a problem?", after hearing Xuan Kongzi's words, he suppressed the questions that were troubling him and looked at Yao Lao seriously, waiting for his answer.

"I can't explain the specifics right now," the old doctor said, shaking his head as if unwilling to explain. "Tell me what's wrong with me first."

"If I could see your problem in such a short time, I would have broken through to the ninth rank long ago!" Xuan Kongzi was amused by Yao Lao's words. "I just felt that your soul was unexpectedly weak, and it wasn't just a simple feeling of weakness from not having recovered. That's why I asked you who you used Soul Explosion on and how you recovered afterwards!"

“I know, but it’s really not convenient to explain the specifics,” Yao Lao nodded calmly. “However… in order for me to recover, Xiao Yanzi refined a Life Soul Pill.”

"An eighth-grade, five-colored Soul-Breaking Pill?!?" Xuan Kongzi's eyes widened in shock. "You old fool, did you use Soul Explosion on the remnant soul of a Dou Sheng?!"