Battle Through the Heavens: Xiao Yan, I am your second master

"Teacher, look at the number ten on the blacklist, it's Medicine King Han Feng!" Xiao Li handed the information on the blacklist to Old Wang.

After reviewing the list, Elder Wang said, "Old Demon Earth Ghost is still number one. He was a Dou Zong expert back then, and he still is. Mo Tianxing and Old Man Eagle Mountain are both veteran experts."

Han Feng? I've heard of him. Legend has it he's the adopted son and disciple of the Medicine Venerable, who imparted all his knowledge to him. But how come he's only a sixth-grade alchemist?

"Only?" Xiao Li was taken aback. Teacher, aren't you also a sixth-grade alchemist? Why do you look down on your fellow alchemist?

"Isn't that right? The Medicine Venerable is the number one alchemist on the continent. This Han Feng is probably much older than you, but you're already at the fifth rank while he's only at the sixth."

Is this really a disciple of the Medicine Venerable? I don't believe it. Besides, I find his cultivation level odd. Does the Medicine Venerable's disciple not even have the strength of a Dou Huang? Only ranked tenth?

Old Master Wang held Medicine Venerable, also known as Medicine Master, in high esteem, but what Han Feng was showing made Old Master Wang wonder if Han Feng was actually Medicine Master's personal disciple.

"Is there any explanation for this?" Xiao Li asked, puzzled. Although he roughly knew what Han Feng was like, he didn't know his teacher's opinion.

"Of course there is a story. The medicinal bath you have been using since you were a child was something I learned from the Medicine Venerable. Back then, I was severely injured by the Battle Emperor of Ice River Valley and had to escape with great difficulty."

I collapsed somewhere I didn't know. When I woke up, I found out that it was the Medicine Venerable who had saved me. The Medicine Venerable not only healed my external injuries, but also gave me some pointers.

You are now sixteen years old, a two-star Dou Ling, and a fifth-grade alchemist. Besides your own hard work, you also have my support. The Medicine Venerable is much stronger than me.

"Given his level of expertise, isn't it strange that Han Feng is merely a sixth-grade alchemist, with a cultivation level that's barely at the Dou Huang realm?"

"Well, you're right." Xiao Li had experienced the power of the medicinal bath combined with pills. With Yao Lao's skill, the foundation he laid for Han Feng was probably enough for him to become a Dou Sheng!

As a result, Elder Mu Gu rebelled at the slightest provocation, and even betrayed his master for the sake of the Burning Technique. The solid foundation laid by Elder Yao was also destroyed by his own actions.

The Burning Technique is indeed powerful, but it's somewhat life-threatening. Xiao Li doesn't plan to take this path. There are many paths to cultivation, and the Burning Technique isn't the only one that matters.

Besides, the world-destroying disaster of the Soul Emperor is imminent, so let Xiao Yan handle it. He can just protect his family, care for Grandpa Dangdang, and tease Yun'er in the early stages.

Risk my life? I'd never risk my life in this lifetime! If I were to die in another thud, I might really be gone.

The master and apprentice chatted until they arrived at Xuan Ye City. Xiao Li looked up at the massive, dark city wall and glanced at the three large characters "Xuan Ye City" in the center of the city gate.

There is a sign with a black leaf in front of Xuanye City.

"Li'er, let's go. I'll show you what a network of connections an alchemist has to offer!" Old Wang said with a faint smile.

"what?"

"What do you mean, alchemists naturally need to have their own network of connections. Otherwise, why would there be a rule on the continent that you can't easily offend an alchemist? It's because alchemists have an amazing network of connections."

Ye Xuan and I are old acquaintances. Now that I've heard there's an auction going on, I'll naturally go and see what good stuff is there.

Old Wang tapped Xiao Li on the head. This kid is sometimes quite clever, and sometimes a bit silly.

"I didn't expect that the teacher's network of connections has even reached the Black Corner Region, and there are people the teacher knows." Xiao Li said, scratching his head.

"Hmph! Don't underestimate me just because I'm only a sixth-grade alchemist. If it weren't for that damned Ice River Valley, I would at least be a Dou Zong expert, and maybe even a Dou Zun."

Old Wang said angrily that the nightmares of his childhood ruined his future; if he hadn't been lucky, he would have been gone long ago.

"Teacher, do you know any Dou Zong experts? With Dou Zong experts, our trip to the Black Corner Region will be much safer," Xiao Li said with a grin.

"Of course I know her. There's a Dou Zong powerhouse I know at Canaan Academy, and there's one in the Central Region of Central State too! ...And she must be one too..."

Old Wang's last words were spoken very softly, as if he were talking to himself, and Xiao Li did not hear clearly what Old Wang said.

"Teacher, what did you say?" Xiao Li didn't hear what Old Wang said.

"It's nothing! Anyway, your teacher really knows a Dou Zong expert. You'll find out when you enter Canaan Academy. That old guy broke through to Dou Zong a few years ago. He was really lucky."

Old Wang waved his hand and said, "After all, a sixth-grade alchemist has a very wide network of connections."

Xiao Li followed Old Wang. Bloodshed was rampant in the Black Corner Region, with fights and brawls happening everywhere, and even more bizarre scenes. The local customs here were truly "simple and honest".

Suddenly, Xiao Li smelled a strong medicinal fragrance, a blend of hundreds of different herbs, that wafted towards him, making his nose feel slightly uncomfortable. He then turned his head and saw a pharmacy with three large characters written on the signboard above the door: "Mysterious Medicine Shop".

Old Wang walked in with his hands behind his back, and Xiao Li followed closely behind.

The pharmacy was very spacious, with neat crystal counters arranged along its east, west, and north-south sides. Inside the transparent counters were various kinds of medicinal herbs. At this moment, many people stopped in front of these counters, and noisy conversations lingered among them.

Xiao Li scanned the medicinal herbs one by one. There were herbs for refining the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill, herbs for refining the Three-Pattern Clear Spirit Pill, and even herbs for sixth-order pills. But the prices were really high.

However, Xiao Li is not poor. Do you really think that he doesn't make money from refining pills? Now that the Xiao family is doing pill business in cooperation with the Mittel family, Xiao Li directly receives a share of the family's profits. He is not short of money.

"Hey buddy, get this over with! This one! And that one too, this row and that row, pack them all up!"

Xiao Li beckoned over a shop assistant from a pharmacy to pack up the herbs he had chosen.

"Sir, these medicinal herbs aren't cheap; they'll cost a total of five million gold coins." The pharmacy clerk was a shrewd man; he could tell from Xiao Li's demeanor that a big order had arrived.

"There are about five million gold coins in this purple-gold card. Consider the extra as a reward!" Xiao Li took out a purple-gold card. In the Jia Ma Empire, only Dou Wang level experts can hold purple-gold cards. As a peak fourth-grade alchemist, it is normal for Xiao Li to hold a purple-gold card.

"Alright, sir, please come and rest in the VIP room. Your medicinal herbs will be brought to you shortly!" The waiter beamed with joy upon seeing the purple-gold card.

Xiao Li's actions naturally attracted the attention of some uninvited guests in the pharmacy. Soon, a burly man nearly two meters tall came to Xiao Li's side.

"Kid, I'm short on gold coins, you... ugh—"

Before the burly man could finish speaking, Xiao Li kicked him so hard he was twisted into a pretzel and collapsed to the ground, curled up in a ball.

"How dare any Tom, Dick, or Harry attack me? A Dou Shi stealing a Dou Ling's money, do you think you're funny?" Xiao Li's expression was cold. He had encountered this kind of thing several times in the Black Corner Region. Were the people here all so funny?

Since he dares to openly take out so much money, doesn't he use his brain to think about why?

Although the little incident was surprising, it didn't cause much of a stir, since kicking a hornet's nest is quite common in the Black Corner Region.

The pharmacy worker led Xiao Li and Old Wang to a VIP room to rest.

"Hey! Tell your shopkeeper to come here and say that Huang Liang is looking for him." Old Wang suddenly stopped the shopkeeper and ordered him to go and fetch him.

"Sir, our shop owner is very busy and usually doesn't come out. I might not be able to help you." The shop assistant was a little embarrassed. The shop owner of Xuanyao Shop was an elder of Xuanye Sect, a Dou Wang expert, and had a very bad temper.

"Just tell him that, and then tell him I'm in a hurry, and tell him to get over here quickly!" Old Wang snorted coldly, and a trace of Dou Huang's aura emanated from him, causing the shop assistant to break out in a sweat and immediately run off to work.