Breaking the Masked Man

Clearly, cultivating battle qi is far from as easy and carefree as depicted in novels; some people may never be able to take this step, even until their death.

The difference between Dou Zong and Dou Zun is as great as heaven and earth, despite the difference of just one word.

Yao Yan looked at the other person and said softly, "Is everything arranged?"

"This old servant announced to the outside world that he had taken the young master as his disciple, and exchanged a seventh-grade original pill from the medicine pavilion. This pill can reshape a person's bones and roots. In this way, the young master's cultivation of fighting spirit can be concealed. As long as no Dou Zun level expert is spying, no one can see the changes in the young master's body."

The herbalist nodded. He had arranged everything. Even if Yao Yan went out now, no one would be surprised by Yao Yan's change, unless some ruthless person dissected Yao Yan.

Yao Yan silently gave him a thumbs up. As expected of a Dou Zong powerhouse valued by Hun Xuzi, his efficiency was truly impressive.

"This is the Spirit Absorption Material and the seventh-tier Beast Fire prepared for the young master, along with pills to aid in the refining process."

The herbalist flipped his hand and took out several items from his storage ring, introducing them as follows: "This seventh-tier beast fire is called Illusionary Gold Fire. It comes from a seventh-tier magical beast—the Fire Scorpion Dragon Beast. It only exists in the shell of a young beast and is the symbiotic fire of this type of magical beast. It has the ability to temper the body and is most suitable for the young master's current stage."

Yao Yan's gaze warmed slightly as he looked at the Illusory Golden Flame floating in mid-air. It was a golden color, like a ball of molten lava rolling around.

As an alchemist, how could I not be interested in strange fire?

However, the rarity of a different kind of fire is obviously not something you can just have if you want it. Most alchemists can only choose beast fire, and this beast fire is obviously more suitable for Yao Yan at the moment. As for a different kind of fire, it would be like playing with fire and getting burned if someone who is not strong enough tries to covet it.

The herbalist continued, "I'll have to trouble you to nourish it with your battle qi every day to increase its compatibility. That way, once you reach the level of a Dou Zhe, you can refine it."

Flames are inherently violent, and even the most docile beast fire is not so easy to refine. However, the accompanying flames of such magical beast cubs are an anomaly. They can be refined by feeding them with battle qi, making them the most suitable beast fire for beginners.

"Thank you."

Yao Yan said quite solemnly, then raised his hand and put all these things into his storage ring.

"This is what this old servant should do."

The herbalist remained calm, paused for a moment, and then continued, "I wonder if young master still wishes to go to the clan academy? If not, you may stay here to cultivate."

"I will stay here to cultivate. I will deal with the rest after I have cultivated to the level of a Dou Zhe."

Yao Yan didn't hesitate and spoke directly.

Since someone has paved the way for him, he naturally won't go looking for trouble. Besides, the things that the clan school can teach are limited, especially now that clan school teachers like the herbalist have become his servants, so why should he waste his time going to the clan school?

"Yes, this old servant knows what to do."

The herb farmer nodded in agreement.

As his words fell, the space around him distorted, and his figure disappeared from Yao Yan's sight.

Yao Yan watched the other person leave, then turned and went into the house, closing the door again.

He went into seclusion to cultivate himself.

……

Danding City, Clan School.

"Have you heard? That taciturn Yao Yan got incredibly lucky and was taken in as a disciple by the herbalist! How enviable!"

“Your information is outdated. My father told me yesterday that the herbalist used his contribution points over the years to exchange for a Grade 7 Primal Pill from the Medicine Pavilion.”

"Really? What makes Yao Yan stand out? He's just a little handsome!"

A chubby-faced boy was a little unhappy and retorted directly. He couldn't understand why the herbalist had taken a liking to Yao Yan. Although Yao Yan had good talent as an alchemist, his bloodline concentration was only third grade. His future path was predictable. Was it necessary to spend so much effort to cultivate him?

That's a Grade 7 Primal Pill, comparable to some Grade 8 pills. Its value is enough to get a Dou Zun-level expert to take action.

"Who knows? Maybe they want to find a son-in-law to live with them. After all, that guy is quite good-looking. It's said that his mother chose his father because he was good-looking. It's a family tradition."

"Yao Hu, don't talk nonsense! My grandfather would never do such a thing!"

A little girl with pigtails pointed angrily at the chubby-faced boy and scolded him.

"Yes, yes, I misspoke. It should be that your grandfather found you a childhood sweetheart, haha!"

"you wanna die!"

Instantly, the entire schoolroom became lively and filled with joy.

at the same time.

In a quiet courtyard behind the school, the herbalist was having tea with Yaoshan. The two had known each other for decades and were old friends who knew each other inside and out. With their cultivation levels, they could hear everything happening in the school clearly.

Yaoshan couldn't help but shake his head with a smile, then glanced at his old friend and couldn't help but ask, "Do you really want to take him as your son-in-law? Your granddaughter is eight years old this year, and there is a four-year age difference between them. It doesn't seem like it's impossible."

As he spoke, he actually started to make plans.

The herbalist remained calm and said, "I just think he has a good talent for alchemy and I want to find a successor. As you know, my bloodline concentration is not high, and I can only stay in Dan Ding City for the rest of my life. Compared to those core clan members who are predetermined, Yao Yan is more suitable to be my disciple."

Yaoshan was taken aback, his smile faded, and he slowly said, "You still can't forget what happened back then?"

"Yes and no, but it doesn't matter now. After all, so many years have passed, and we've both grown old, haven't we?"

The herb farmer chuckled softly, as if the past was all just a passing cloud.

Yaoshan nodded and said with emotion, "Indeed, we've all grown old. So many years have passed in the blink of an eye. Now I only hope that some of the younger generation can become successful. If one of them can be recorded on the clan monument, that would be even better."

His gaze was fixed on the distant horizon, where a towering stone monument stood, representing the highest glory of the Medicine Clan.

"..."

The herbalist gazed silently at the towering clan monument.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 9 Two and a half years

Time flies, and years pass quickly.

Cultivation never keeps track of years and months; in the blink of an eye, two and a half years have passed.

For the past two and a half years, Yao Yan seemed to have disappeared from Dan Ding City. Even his former friends never saw him again. They only knew that he had become a disciple of Yao Nong. As time passed, the matter was forgotten, and the uproar it caused gradually subsided.

Time can fade everything; no one will remember an ordinary kid forever.

It was still that same little courtyard, with green bamboo swaying in the wind.

"Squeak."

The door was suddenly pushed open, and a figure slowly walked out, stretching out his arms to face the sunlight.

The tall, handsome young man wore a moon-white brocade robe with fine silver floral patterns. In the sunlight, some lotus patterns were faintly visible on the white robe. A silver-white thread tied his long black hair behind his head. Beneath his sword-like eyebrows, a pair of black eyes were like pools of thick, unyielding ink. His features were extremely delicate and handsome, and a faint smile played on his lips, as if he were in a very good mood.

The boy was Yao Yan, who had been in seclusion for two and a half years. Compared to two and a half years ago, he had grown much taller, his face was more mature, and he had lost some of his childishness.

Of course, most importantly, his strength has returned to that of a Fighter today.

Everything falls into place.

Although it took him much longer than he expected, the battle qi he cultivated was more condensed and robust than before, and a single wisp of battle qi was dozens of times stronger than before. This was the talent that his current body had given him!

Only those who truly possess talent comparable to divine bloodlines can realize just how vast the gap is between the two.

Now that he is only a one-star Dou Zhe, he is confident that he can crush him, who was once a six-star Dou Zhe.

The cultivation speed, the depth of battle qi, the speed of battle qi circulation... are all much, much stronger!

This is why he has stayed at the Battle Qi stage for so long. Different materials require completely different amounts of time to refine. Now, he has thoroughly refined his body, revealing its most perfect essence...

"Whoo~"

Yao Yan raised his palm, and a ball of golden flame covered his palm, its shape resembling molten lava rolling. Just looking at it gave one a feeling of unease.

The Golden Flame originates from the symbiotic flame of the seventh-tier magical beast, the Fire Scorpion Dragon.

The fighting spirit that had been nurtured by Yao Yan for two and a half years during the seed stage was now being refined by Yao Yan as he broke through to the Dou Zhe level. During this time, it encountered some resistance, which was perfectly resolved by a sixth-grade protective pulse pill. Perhaps because of the two and a half years of nurturing, it is now extremely easy to control.

Yao Yan manipulated the flames to transform them into a small, three-legged golden crow. Watching it skillfully preen its feathers, he couldn't help but chuckle.

As he refined the fire, he could clearly feel his body being tempered. The body-tempering ability of this beast fire was indeed excellent. The only regret was that it could not temper the body on its own. Like the Fallen Heart Flame, it came with its own cultivation buff and required Yao Yan's control.

However, these are minor issues. With Yao Yan's current soul power, it is not difficult for him to use it to temper his body while multitasking.

"Congratulations, young master, on breaking through to the Dou Zhe level."

The space around him distorted, and the herbalist's figure appeared in Yao Yan's sight. He respectfully congratulated Yao Yan.

Yao Yan withdrew the Illusionary Golden Flame and said with a smile, "It's just that I've just condensed a battle qi vortex. I have to thank you for everything you've arranged for me over the past two years."

He knew very well that without the cultivation resources provided by the herbalist, he could not have cultivated so quickly.

"This is what this old servant should do."

The herb farmer said respectfully.

"Wow~"

Just then, a black flame appeared on the storage ring at Yao Yan's fingertip, accompanied by an indescribable and immense soul power. The surrounding space instantly froze, and then the black flame quickly spread, instantly swallowing up the sunlight shining down from the sky, making the light dim.

A figure shrouded in black flames appeared before the two of them; it was none other than Hun Xuzi, who had disappeared for two and a half years.

Upon seeing the newcomer, the herbalist was so startled that he immediately knelt on one knee and respectfully addressed him, "Greetings, Lord Hunxuzi."

"teacher?!"

Yao Yan looked at the newcomer, and a look of surprise instantly appeared on her face. She quickly called out.

Unlike the joy on his face, the happiness in his heart for breaking through to the Dou Zhe level vanished in an instant. All the memories of being used as a guinea pig in experiments resurfaced in his mind, and the pain of being unable to live or die deeply stung his nerves.

Although he turned misfortune into blessing, the suffering he endured at that time was real, and Hun Xuzi never took his life seriously.