Battle Through the Heavens: I can solidify the talents of all things

Chapter 83, The Grand Finale: Refining the Rank 6 Imperial Pill!

As dusk fell, night began to envelop the entire holy city of Gama.

The daytime excitement and commotion gradually subsided, but discussions about the mysterious young man at the Alchemist Conference continued fiercely in every corner of the capital and among various powerful forces.

The headquarters of Mittel Auction House remained brightly lit, maintaining a high level of vigilance and activity.

In a spacious, rather luxurious office that exuded a faint fragrance and the scent of books, Xiao Qing and Hai Bodong sat facing each other.

On the central tea table, there was an exquisite white tea set, with fragrant tea being brewed in the pot.

That's a rare and precious tea that Mittel Tengshan would never dare to drink more than a sip of!

Hai Bodong sipped his tea, a rare hint of contentment appearing on his usually cold face.

Xiao Qing, on the other hand, was relaxed, his fingers gently stroking the rim of the warm teacup, his gaze calm, as if he were pondering something.

Just then, the heavy solid wood door to the office was gently pushed open.

Mittel Tenshan, his slightly plump figure, walked in first, his face bearing an expression that was a mixture of solemnity and a subtle nuance.

Behind him followed an elderly man with white hair and beard, dressed in a simple gray linen robe.

The old man had an ordinary face and was not particularly tall. At first glance, he seemed like a kind old man that you could see anywhere on the street.

But the old man's slightly squinted eyes occasionally revealed a touch of vicissitudes accumulated over the years, his steps were steady, and his whole aura was harmonious.

It seems to blend into its surroundings, and is easily overlooked if one does not consciously perceive it.

However, Xiao Qing and Hai Bodong immediately sensed the unfathomable depth of this person's Dou Qi cultivation beneath his concealed power.

"Ahem—" Mittel Tengshan coughed lightly, a smile spreading across his face, and quickly walked to the coffee table.

Mittel Tengshan glanced at the nearly empty pot of spirit tea with a hint of regret, then turned to Xiao Qing, his tone clearly respectful, and introduced, "Young friend Xiao, please forgive my lateness! This is the pillar of our Jia Ma Empire, the ancestor of the royal family, Jia Xingtian, Elder Jia!"

The old man in the hemp robe, Jia Xingtian, had a warm smile on his face. His gaze fell on Xiao Qing, and he nodded slightly.

Xiao Qing put down his teacup, calmly stood up, clasped his hands in a salute to Jia Xingtian, and said in a tone that was neither humble nor arrogant: "Junior Xiao Qing greets Elder Jia."

"Young friend Xiao Qing, no need for formalities, please have a seat."

Jia Xingtian's voice was gentle, carrying the kindness of an elder. He carefully examined Xiao Qing, his eyes filled with increasing admiration and amazement.

"Young friend, your name is now widely known. I have heard of you for a long time, and seeing you today, I can confirm that you are indeed a young hero, living up to your reputation!"

The phrase "as famous as thunder" used by Jia Xingtian naturally carries a dual meaning:

First, there was the story of how, half a month ago, the mysterious Dou Wang from the Xiao family in Wutan City severely injured Nalan Jie with a wave of his hand, shocking all the heroes present.

Secondly, there was the astonishing display of the strange fire and the miraculous void alchemy techniques at today's alchemist conference.

Either of these events would have shaken the empire, yet they both happened to a boy who appeared to be under twenty.

After receiving detailed information, Jia Xingtian was still deeply shocked, which led him to personally visit the man tonight.

"Jia Xingtian! So it was you, old bastard!"

Before Xiao Qing could reply, Hai Bodong had already put down his teacup, a rare genuine smile appearing on his usually stern face.

However, the way this "greeting" was done still carried Hai Bodong's unique style.

"It's been over a decade since I last saw you. I thought you were too old to walk and had found a beautiful place to bury yourself!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Xingtian was not angry at all. Instead, he laughed heartily and retorted in a strong voice, "You old popsicle haven't even melted into water yet, how could I possibly go before you?"

"It seems that your cultivation hasn't improved much in the more than ten years you've been missing. Your mouth is still as sharp as ever!"

Although the two were playfully teasing each other, their tone revealed a familiarity and ease that only old friends who have weathered the test of time can share.

They were contemporaries who witnessed the ups and downs of the Gama Empire.

Although they belonged to different factions, they had no deep-seated hatred for each other, and even had some friendship when they were young.

If you really look into it, Jia Xingtian is indeed almost half a generation older than Hai Bodong.

After exchanging pleasantries, Jia Xingtian's gaze returned to Xiao Qing, and his expression became more serious.

Xiao Qing knew that this royal patriarch's late-night visit was not simply to reminisce with Hai Bodong or to get to know him.

Xiao Qing sat down again, poured himself and Jia Xingtian, who had just sat down, each a cup of hot tea. Amidst the rising steam, he asked directly, "Elder Jia is a pillar of the empire, with many affairs to attend to. Your arrival so late at night must be for important matters. May I ask what brings you to see this junior?"

Jia Xingtian took the teacup, feeling the warmth from his fingertips. After a moment's hesitation, he cut to the chase and asked directly, "Young friend Xiao Qing is straightforward, so I'll be frank too!"

"I heard from that old fellow Fama that you seem to be searching far and wide for a rare medicinal herb that can restore or enhance soul power. Is this true?"

A look of understanding flashed in Xiao Qing's eyes; it really was about this matter.

He took a small sip of tea and readily admitted, "Elder Jia is well-informed; it is indeed true! Soul power is crucial for alchemists, and I urgently need such medicinal materials."

Xiao Qing looked calmly at Jia Xingtian, a hint of inquiry in his eyes, "Could it be—that Elder Jia has information about such medicinal herbs, or—the herbs themselves?"

"good!"

Jia Xingtian looked into Xiao Qing's clear yet deep eyes, slowly nodded, and said with certainty.

"Indeed, the royal treasury of Gama contains a medicinal herb of this kind!"

"It was discovered by chance more than twenty years ago by a royal expedition team on the outskirts of an ancient ruin on the border of the empire. It is called Soul-Nourishing Wood!"

"Soul-Nourishing Wood?" Xiao Qing's hand holding the teacup paused almost imperceptibly.

Xiao Qing remained calm and composed on the surface, as if she had only heard an ordinary name, but deep down, a ripple of joy had been stirred within her.

Soul-Nourishing Wood is a rarer and more precious material than ordinary medicinal herbs that nourish the soul.

Its ability to nourish the soul and repair soul wounds is excellent, which is exactly what he needed most in the past!

Suppressing his excitement, Xiao Qing's tone remained calm: "I wonder what Elder Jia's intention is in mentioning this item?"

Jia Xingtian carefully observed Xiao Qing's reaction and saw that although he was young, he was calm and composed and did not show his emotions. He thought more highly of him.

He didn't answer directly, but instead asked, "Before discussing terms, I must presume to confirm something. Guild Master Fama speculates that your alchemy skills may have reached the sixth rank—"

"May I ask, young friend, what grade of pills can you currently refine?"

Although he had already received almost certain answers from Fama and Haibodong, Jia Xingtian still wanted to hear confirmation from Xiao Qing himself.

After all, a sixth-grade alchemist is extremely rare in the entire Northwest Continent, and its significance is immense.

Xiao Qing put down his teacup, looked up at Jia Xingtian, and a faint but absolutely confident smile appeared on his face: "Since Elder Jia has asked, this junior will not hide anything—I believe I can still refine a sixth-grade pill."

With Xiao Qing's current five-star Dou Wang cultivation and Spirit Realm soul, he is already capable of refining seventh-grade pills, but he does not yet have the necessary medicinal materials for refining.

Despite being mentally prepared, hearing Xiao Qing's confident answer still made Jia Xingtian's heart skip a beat, and a look of intense joy involuntarily appeared on his face. "It's true! Good! Excellent!"

Without further hesitation, Jia Xingtian stated the core purpose of his trip: "Young friend Xiao Qing, to be frank, I wish to ask you to refine a sixth-grade pill for me, the Imperial Extreme Pill!"

"The Imperial Elixir?"

Hai Bodong, who had been quietly sipping his tea but was actually listening intently, suddenly widened his eyes and almost spat out his tea.

Why didn't he think of that?

The Imperial Pill can help a Douhuang expert increase their cultivation by one star, and there is even a small chance that it can increase it by two stars!

This is an irresistible temptation for any Battle Emperor who is stuck at a bottleneck!

He was sitting right next to a sixth-grade alchemist, and this opportunity to have the advantage of proximity was actually snatched away by that old fellow Jia Xingtian!

"A miscalculation, a real miscalculation!" Hai Bodong thought to himself, his eyes burning with intensity.

It seems I must hurry and gather the ingredients for the Imperial Elixir!

Upon hearing this, Xiao Qing subtly swept his soul power over Jia Xingtian and instantly sensed his true cultivation level hidden beneath his peaceful aura.

Eight-Star Dou Huang!

Xiao Qing immediately understood.

The Imperial Pill is most effective for eight-star Dou Huangs. If one can successfully take it, one can not only save more than ten years of arduous cultivation but also reach the nine-star level directly.

This laid a more solid foundation for his subsequent attempt to reach the Dou Zong realm, significantly increasing his chances of success.

This Jia Xingtian was clearly stuck at the most crucial moment, having long coveted the Imperial Extreme Pill.

After a moment's thought, Xiao Qing nodded: "I do have some knowledge of the Imperial Extreme Pill, and I have studied its formula. Since Elder Jia has asked, I can help with this."

Upon hearing this, Jia Xingtian was overjoyed. He quickly took out an antique-style storage ring from his robes and presented it to Xiao Qing with both hands. His voice was fervent with excitement: "Young friend Xiao, I am deeply grateful! Inside are the complete medicinal herbs needed to refine the Imperial Extreme Pill, as well as the pill formula!"

"Furthermore, as payment for this alchemy, the Soul-Nourishing Wood" is also included! Please accept it, young friend!

Xiao Qing took the storage ring, and his soul power eagerly probed into it.

Sure enough, inside were three portions of medicinal herbs brimming with spiritual energy, an ancient scroll, and a box made of warm jade.

As soon as the jade box was opened a crack, a refreshing and soothing fragrance filled the air.

Inside lay a piece of wood, about a foot long, dark in color but with natural grain, containing a powerful spiritual energy.

It is indeed the Soul-Nourishing Wood!

Feeling the pure soul-nourishing power of the Soul-Nourishing Wood, a hint of undisguised joy finally flashed deep in Xiao Qing's eyes.

Excellent! With this Soul-Nourishing Wood, plus the Soul-Soothing Flower as a reward for winning tomorrow's Alchemist Tournament—

The awakening and restoration of the teacher's soul is just around the corner!

At this moment, Jia Xingtian seemed to feel that it wasn't enough, and spoke again, revealing another important purpose of his trip, his tone filled with a sincere invitation: "Young friend Xiao Qing, I wonder—would you be interested in becoming a guest elder of my Jia Ma royal family?"

Jia Xingtian seemed afraid that Xiao Qing would refuse, so he quickly added, "Young friend, rest assured, the title of Guest Elder is just an honorary title. It is extremely free and will never restrict your actions, nor will it interfere with any of your decisions, nor will you need to take on any specific tasks."

"On the contrary, the royal family will grant you access to their internal medicine storehouse. You can freely take any medicine from the storehouse as needed for your alchemy research!"

This offer is undeniably generous.

The medicinal herb collection of an empire is of immeasurable value and holds a fatal attraction for any alchemist.

However, Xiao Qing only pretended to ponder for a moment before slowly shaking his head, his tone firm yet tactful: "I appreciate Elder Jia's kindness."

"However, I am by nature carefree and dislike constraints. I currently have no intention of joining any faction and only want to focus on cultivation and alchemy. I am afraid I will have to disappoint Elder Jia's good intentions."

A flicker of expected disappointment flashed in Jia Xingtian's eyes, but he quickly concealed it, sighing, "Alas, I knew it would be like this. A true dragon like you, young friend, is indeed not to be kept in shallow waters! Very well, let's not mention this matter again—"

Jia Xingtian then asked with concern, "When do you plan to begin refining the Imperial Extreme Pill, young friend? I'm not in a hurry; everything will depend on your schedule."

Even so, the longing in Jia Xingtian's eyes still betrayed his inner eagerness.

Xiao Qing tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his gaze fixed on the dark night sky outside the window, as if he could see the medicine-refining plaza that everyone would be watching tomorrow.

Xiao Qing's lips slowly curved into a meaningful smile, and he chuckled, "Since Elder Jia isn't in a hurry, then why not—"

'

"How about we hold the refining of this Imperial Supreme Pill for tomorrow's Alchemist Grand Final?"

The office fell silent for a moment after he said that.

Jia Xingtian was stunned for a moment, then a bright light suddenly burst out in his cloudy old eyes, and a look of great surprise appeared on his face.

He slapped his thigh hard and exclaimed in a loud voice, "Wonderful! Wonderful! Excellent!"

"Is there any occasion better to demonstrate your strength and the grandeur of the Gama royal family than refining a sixth-grade pill under the watchful eyes of everyone?"

"Very well! We'll do as you say, young friend!"

Hai Bodong and Mittel Tengshan, who were standing nearby, instantly understood Xiao Qing's intention.

To publicly refine a sixth-grade imperial pill at the alchemist conference is undoubtedly to announce to the entire Jia Ma Empire and even all surrounding forces the birth of the youngest sixth-grade alchemy master!

This will be an incredibly powerful publicity campaign, far more effective than any words!

It is foreseeable that after this battle, Xiao Qing's name will no longer be limited to the Jia Ma Empire, but will quickly spread throughout the Northwest Continent!

At that time, countless powerful figures and forces will flock to him with precious pill formulas and medicinal herbs, begging him to refine pills!

Xiao Qing, on the other hand, could easily "accept all the prescriptions and medicinal herbs, and receive generous extra rewards"—

This is a brilliant and perfect plan that achieves multiple goals at once!

Hai Bodong's gaze toward Xiao Qing was filled with even more astonishment.

This child is not only incredibly talented and strong, but his mind and courage are also far beyond that of ordinary people!

Mittel Tengshan grinned from ear to ear, as if he could already see the Mittel family ushering in an even more glorious future with Xiao Qing's rise.

As night deepened, the conversation in the office continued, and undercurrents concerning the empire's future were quietly surging in this seemingly peaceful night.

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