Breaking the Masked Man

People who play politics are all cunning... The moment Yao Yan saw Jia Xingtian, he judged that this old man was not a good person. But that's normal. If he were a good person, how could he have occupied the throne for nearly a hundred years? It's not like he didn't have sons and grandsons, but it seems that he outlived them all.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for three seconds.

In fantasy worlds, the heirs are always just figureheads.

"What do you want from me?"

Yao Yan spoke concisely and directly to the core of the conversation. He had no interest in playing the art of language with Jia Xingtian. For someone like Jia, a deal was all that mattered.

Jia Xingtian was taken aback upon hearing this, and then glanced at Tengshan. He was clearly surprised by Yao Yan's cold attitude. He had inquired about Yao Yan from Tengshan before and was told that the other party should be a very easy-going young man. How could he have suddenly changed his attitude?

Could it be that Tengshan deliberately tricked him?!

In front of Yao Yan, Jia Xingtian naturally couldn't ask these questions. He chuckled dryly and explained, "I am an old acquaintance of Hai Bodong. Last time I heard about your existence from him, I was amazed. Now that I have learned that you have come to the capital, I have come to make your acquaintance."

Yao Yan listened quietly until the other person finished speaking, then asked with a half-smile, "Just to make some acquaintances?"

He didn't believe the other party had come to him just for idle chatter. Given Jia Xingtian's character, he would never be so 'humble' unless he needed something from him. After all, he was a veteran powerhouse at the peak of the Nine-Star Dou Huang realm; how could he be so bored?

Faced with Yao Yan's ambiguous smile, Jia Xingtian swallowed back what he wanted to say, then sighed helplessly and said bitterly, "I do have something I would like to ask for your help, young master. I wonder if you know any alchemists who can refine sixth-grade pills? I would like to offer a large sum of money to refine a sixth-grade pill!"

This is the real purpose of his trip.

Grade 6 elixir.

This elixir occasionally appears in the Gama Empire, but most of them are from other regions. Within the Gama Empire, no one can refine it. In fact, very few forces in the entire Northwest Continent can hire a sixth-grade alchemist, and such forces obviously wouldn't give the Gama Empire any face.

Compared to the entire Northwest Continent, the Jia Ma Empire is ultimately just a second- or third-rate power, not worth mentioning. Only a power with a Dou Zong level expert can barely be called a first-rate power.

"A sixth-grade alchemist? One of my family's servants is a sixth-grade alchemist."

Yao Yan smiled and gave a reply that made Jia Xingtian and Teng Shan immediately shut up. He himself didn't have much of a reaction and continued, "It's a pity that I can't contact the family for the time being, but if you have enough materials, I can help you refine a sixth-grade pill."

"Isn't the young master a fifth-grade alchemist?!"

Jia Xingtian swallowed hard, hesitated for a moment, and stared at the boy in disbelief. Could there really be someone in the world who could cultivate alchemy to the sixth rank at the age of less than seventeen?!

Even if one started cultivating from the womb, it wouldn't be possible!

Thinking of what Yao Yan had said earlier, his heart trembled for a moment. A sixth-grade alchemist as a servant... He didn't know how to evaluate this. At the same time, he became curious about Yao Yan's elders. If the junior was so incredible, then the elders must be unimaginably powerful.

He didn't even dare to associate the word "Battle Venerable" with the legendary "Battle"...

Yao Yan said with a hint of helplessness, "I tried it a while ago and was surprised to find that I could barely refine a sixth-grade pill. Of course, it's just a regular sixth-grade pill. I don't think I can make any high-grade sixth-grade pills with my current battle qi cultivation."

The Purple Crystal Solidifying Pill he had previously refined for the cub of the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King was a genuine Grade 6 pill, and the extraordinary phenomenon of its energy surge was absolutely undeniable.

Teng Shan remained silent, but his gaze toward Yao Yan grew increasingly intense. He realized that the Mittel family's befriending Yao Yan would be their greatest opportunity. He had to admire Elder Hai's foresight; he was still as shrewd as ever.

Jia Xingtian's once straight back had bent slightly, and his smile carried a hint of ingratiation: "The materials are naturally plentiful. This is the formula for refining the 'Primordial Bone-Shaping Pill,' please take a look, young master."

As he spoke, he took out a scroll of pill formulas from his storage ring and was about to hand it to Yao Yan.

Yao Yan did not take it. He calmly looked at the pill formula handed to him and commented softly, "I have the formula for this pill. It should be a sixth-grade pill that is specially used to treat the injuries of magical beasts. Its medicinal effect is quite domineering. Ordinary human bodies cannot withstand this medicinal power."

As a member of the Medicine Clan, and with his teacher being a big shot in the industry like Hun Xuzi, he had a vast number of pill formulas in his mind, especially those from the first to the sixth grade, which were almost all-encompassing, including the Hunyuan Bone-Shaping Pill.

This pill is only considered ordinary among sixth-grade pills, and its value is even less than the Purple Crystal Source-Stabilizing Pill created by Yao Yan. It is only a pill to assist in healing, and it has great limitations. Because of its domineering effects, humans, apart from magical beasts, will almost never take it to heal their injuries.

Upon hearing this, Jia Xingtian felt reassured and no longer doubted the truthfulness of Yao Yan's words. His smile became more humble. It was clearly not a difficult thing for a nine-star Dou Huang to lower his head in the face of a sixth-grade alchemist who was not even seventeen years old.

"I wonder if you, young master, would be willing to give it a try? The Gama Empire is willing to pay any price."

He said in a deep voice.

Putting aside the fact that this elixir is related to his old partner, Yao Yan alone is someone he should try to win over at all costs. Even if he can't win him over, he absolutely cannot afford to antagonize him.

"Any price? I plan to travel to the Serpent People's territory today to meet the current Queen Medusa. I'm still missing a gift. I wonder if you would be willing to cede a piece of land suitable for the Serpent People's life from the Gama Empire and give it to them."

The true intention was revealed in the medicine, he said slowly.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 86 I Don't Want

Providing a settlement for the Snake-People was an idea Yao Yan had before. Now that Cai Die was with him, he had to take care of her worries. However, he hadn't had the time to deal with these matters before because of the Burning Technique and the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade. Now that the important business was done, he naturally had to consider Cai Die's situation. He couldn't let the Snake-People's situation continue to deteriorate.

Of course, there were other thoughts as well... He was a little lustful towards the two sisters, Cai Die and her sister, and he would feel embarrassed to go to the Snake-People's Clan without bringing a small gift.

If the two parties actually get married in the future, that will be the bride's family.

According to Chinese custom, one should bring a gift on the first visit, and Yao Yan was certainly polite enough to do so.

Neither Jia Xingtian nor Teng Shan knew about this.

However, both of them changed their expressions upon hearing Yao Yan's words. The former frowned and did not immediately agree, because ceding land to the Snake-People was not a simple matter. The entire Jia Ma Empire was an aggregation of dozens of small forces. It was only because Jia Xingtian, a nine-star Dou Huang peak expert, was suppressing them on the surface that everyone was at peace.

If the royal family of the Jia Ma Empire does not have a powerful figure to maintain order after his death, the Jia Ma Empire will inevitably disintegrate, or even be swallowed up by the Yunlan Sect.

The Yunlan Sect has grown rapidly in recent years, with a constant stream of talented disciples. The youngest member, Yun Yun, has already matured. At just over twenty years old, she already possesses the strength of a Dou Wang (Battle King) and is expected to reach the Dou Huang (Battle Emperor) level before the age of thirty.

In contrast, the royal family of the Jia Ma Empire seemed to be lacking in talent and succession; in fact, the only old man with a chance of breaking through to the Dou Huang realm was killed by Yao Yan...

Therefore, Jia Xingtian had to consider the impact of ceding land to the Serpent People.

As for Teng Shan, it was much simpler. He wanted to cut off the snake-people business of the Gama Empire. In the past, many snake women had been obtained through the Mittel family's channels. Obviously, this business could not continue in the future. Compared to Yao Yan's friendship, this loss of profit was obviously nothing.

Yao Yan was not in a hurry and patiently waited for Jia Xingtian to make a decision. Since the other party did not directly refuse, he knew that the matter was settled. Right now, the other party was just weighing the pros and cons of the matter.

Jia Xingtian did not keep Yao Yan waiting for long.

After a dozen or so breaths of silence, he took a deep breath, looked up at Yao Yan, and said in a deep voice, "I can agree to this. I will cede a piece of land suitable for habitation from the area adjacent to the Tagor Desert in the Gama Empire and give it to the Snake People. I will also sign a non-aggression pact with the Snake People!"

The cession of land was for the purpose of the transaction, while the signing of the alliance was to befriend Yao Yan. Although he did not know what kind of relationship Yao Yan had with Queen Medusa, since the other party had said so, he naturally had to give him face.

He couldn't be too concerned about a sixth-grade alchemist who was not even seventeen years old.

Yao Yan smiled upon hearing this and said softly, "Alright, once I return from the Snake-People territory, I will refine the Primordial Bone-Shaping Pill for you. It will take at least one or two months, or at most half a year, before I return to fulfill our promise."

His journey to the Snake-People tribe was twofold: firstly, to help Cai Die deal with future troubles, and secondly, to obtain the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame. Consuming the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame could easily lead to self-destruction, and Cai Die's companion soul was a Purple Nether Flame Snake with the bloodline of the Devouring Python.

In the original novel, Xiao Yan was able to successfully refine the Green Lotus Earth Core Flame only through the guidance of the Little Devouring Python.

Yao Yan thinks Cai Die's older sister is also a good option...

Upon hearing this, Jia Xingtian cupped his hands and said, "Then this old man will await you in the capital, young master!"

The injuries to the Nether Sea Flood Dragon were not caused in a day or two, and since it was able to suppress its injuries, it was not in a hurry.

Yao Yan nodded, then got up and walked into the house. The matter was over, and he had to go back to coax Cai Die, this very shy girl, and also remind her that it was getting late and she should head back to her parents' home.

Jia Xingtian and Teng Shan watched Yao Yan enter the house before turning around and leaving the courtyard.

They walked in silence for a while.

Jia Xingtian said in a heavy tone, "I really don't know what kind of power his family has that they could raise such a disciple."

His eyes held both envy and awe.

A family that can employ a sixth-grade alchemist as a servant is incredibly powerful; one could easily destroy the entire Gama Empire with just one of its elders.

"The Central Plains are vast and boundless; who can know what lies ahead?"

Teng Shan sighed softly. When he was young, he had also longed for the Central Continent, but he eventually gave up. On the one hand, it was because of his family, and on the other hand, it was naturally due to his own talent and strength. He had reached the limit of breaking through to the Dou Wang level in this life. If he was lucky in the future, he might be able to break through to the Dou Huang level. As for the Dou Zong level, he had never thought about it.

In comparison, Hai Bodong might be more likely to break through to the Dou Zong realm, and he's also friends with Yao Yan. If he could obtain a Breakthrough Pill in the future…

"Zhongzhou..."

Jia Xingtian also had longing in his eyes, but in the end, this longing was worn away by reality.

Zhongzhou is very prosperous, as everyone knows. It is also known that it is the center of the Dou Qi Continent, where the energy of heaven and earth is more concentrated than in other regions, making it the most suitable place for cultivation. However, this has also created countless powerful figures in Zhongzhou. Dou Huang is no better than a dog, and Dou Zong can barely be considered a person.

Such a place is a real blow to those who lack talent.

Just like when Yao Yan appeared in the Jia Ma Empire, the shock he gave Jia Xingtian was unimaginable. Compared to him, the juniors he valued were nothing.

……

As soon as Yao Yan stepped into the house, he saw Cai Die. She had come out at some point, her pretty face still bearing a charming blush, as if she had applied rouge, which made her look more alluring and tender. Her bright eyes glared at Yao Yan reproachfully, and she snorted, "Young Master, you'd better not joke around like that in the future, or I'll take it seriously!"

She felt that Yao Yan was still joking with her. He had always been like that, at least that's how she found out from spending time with him.

"So, do you hope I'm joking this time?"

Yao Yan looked at the stunningly beautiful snake woman before him and softly pressed her for an answer.

Ling'er perched on Yao Yan's shoulder, swaying her large tail boredly. Her emerald green eyes watched the conversation between the human and the snake with curiosity. Although she couldn't understand it, it didn't stop her from finding it interesting, especially seeing the snake swaying its tail uneasily, which gave her an urge to pounce and bite it.

These past few days, the butterfly has been teasing her quite a bit with its tail.

Upon hearing this, Cai Die pursed her soft, full red lips, blinked, and then glanced to the side, seemingly unable to meet Yao Yan's gaze. After a long while, she whispered in a gust of wind, "I don't want that~"

"What did you say? Why are you speaking so softly?!"

Yao Yan, a sixth-grade alchemist, pretended not to hear and leaned closer to ask.

Butterfly's delicate face visibly puffed up, making her look like a pufferfish.

(End of this chapter)

Let's examine Chapter 87.

Yao Yan didn't continue teasing Cai Die. He knew his limits. He knew that appropriate teasing could enhance their relationship, but constant teasing would be considered indecent. He didn't like doing useless things; he either didn't go for it or went straight for the kill.