Xiao Yan's current mood was akin to receiving red envelopes during the New Year—outwardly expressing modesty, but inwardly eager to accept.

  Princess Yao Ye, as the future queen of the Jia Ma Empire, possessed keen insight. Naturally, she saw through Xiao Yan's ihoughts with just one gnce.

  And acted decisively!

  Grasping Xiao Yan's hand, she firmly pced the ste ring and scroll into his palm as she said, "Yao Ye believes in Grandmaster Xiao Yan's ability and talent. On behalf of the imperial family, I extend a standing invitation to Grandmaster Xiao Yan."

  Since she had already pced them in his hand, Xiao Yan coughed lightly and didn't stand on ceremony. He said, "Then I thank Princess Yao Ye and Elder Jia for your trust. I'll accept this pill recipe and these medial ingredients for now. Iure, I will certainly plete the refi and have someone deliver the pill, not disappointing Princess Yao Ye's request."

  Xiao Yan could only obediently accept sihe other party had already said this much.

  Before ing, he had anticipated that Yao Ye might have something she wanted his help with. sidering he had already received a Mighty Huang Fruit from them, assisting a bit was only appropriate. But he hadn't expected this.

  Yao Ye let out a soft ugh and said, "Then Yao Ye will rest assured and await Grandmaster Xiao Yan's good news. Ohe matter is aplished, the Jia Ma Imperial Family will offer an additional generous reward."

  Xiao Yan raised his hand in aowledgment and, without further ado, returo the Miteer Au House to begin his alchemy cultivation.

  Watg Xiao Yan unfold his Fire Wings and fly away, the massive Serene Sea Scaly Beast said, "That kid's alchemy skills aren't the only thing that's extraordinary. Just now, I sensed aremely powerful force within his body."

  Jia Xing Tian looked at Yao Ye and said, "I heard that the Miteer was even willing to give half of the au house's assets to Xiao Yan and inteo betroth Ya Fei to him, all in order to keep him."

  Yao Ye's beautiful eyes gazed at the gradually fading trail of fmes in the sky, a strange glint fshing within them. "He's worth that price."

  Jia Xing Tian gnced sideways at Yao Ye, "Yao Ye, you're not that young anymore."

  A dangerous light flickered in Yao Ye's eyes as she smiled at Jia Xing Tian. "What is Great Grandfather trying to say?"

  "I didn't say anything."

  …

  Shortly after, Xiao Yauro the Miteer Au House. He no loayed at the Nan 's residence.

  Xiao Yan did exactly as he said for the rest of the time. His primary task each day was to refiier 5 medial pills. He would refine pills until his Dou Qi was exhausted and his Spiritual Strength depleted. Subsequently, he would cultivate the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Teique and Fme Mantra to replenish his Spiritual Strength and Dou Qi. Any remaining time would be spent practig Dou Teiques.

  Xiao Yan had gained some valuable experien refining tier 5 pills after successfully refining one before. Although failures still outnumbered successes in the first week, his possession of a Heavenly Fme, coupled with formidable fire trol and Spiritual Strength, allowed him to extract more essence from the medial ingredients, giving him ample material to work with.

  After a week, Xiao Yan had achieved a certain success rate with low-grade tier 5 pills.

  In the sed week, he began challenging middle-grade tier 5 pills. By the end of the month, he had actually mao refine a high-grade tier 5 Dou King Pill, and its quality was quite exceptional. Even Chairman Fa Ma couldn't help but smile wryly upon seeing it.

  He marveled at the astonishing speed of Xiao Yan's progress. In a mere month, Xiao Yan had gone from successfully refining his first tier 5 pill to being able to produce a Dou King Pill. Moreover, the quality of the finished product was already not inferior to what he, the Chairman of the Alchemist Association, could refine.

  Xiao Yan had thhly solidified his status as a 5th-tier alchemist in just a short month and a half. He could even refine high-grade tier 5 pills with a high success rate, being a genuine high-grade 5th-tier alchemist.

  …

  In a spacious secret chamber on the seventh floor of the Miteer Au House, soft mplight illuminated every er, thhly dispelling the darkness.

  This chamber was the highest-grade secret chamber of the Miteer Au House. Not only could it block spiritual perception, but it could also withstand attacks from a Dou King. And now, it had bee Xiao Yan's exclusive alchemy room.

  A ft bed stood in a er against the wall. Xiao Yan sat cross-legged upon it. Before him y an array of meticulously prepared medial ingredients, all of which he and Hai Bodong had painstakingly gathered.

  Today, Xiao Yan po refihe Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill because, earlier that m, the Misty Cloud Sect had sent a letter stating that Nan Yanran had pleted her training ie of Life ah and was formally issuing a challeo him!

  They had even widely distributed invitations to the elite experts of Jia Ma Sacred City to e spectate, intending to use this opportunity to boost Nan Yanran's prestige as the future Sect Leader!

  In pin terms, it was a decration of war!

  The letter didn't eveion a time, implying that Xiao Yan could go to the Misty Cloud Sect whenever he wished.

  'Old Hai must be getting impatient by now. Although the Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill is a high-grade tier 5 pill b on the peak level, it shouldn't pose a problem with my current alchemy skills. If I dey any longer, I'm afraid he'll nag me to death.' A faint smile pyed on Xiao Yan's lips as he recalled how Hai Bodong had been subtly probing his fiden refining the Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill over the past few days.

  With a light flick of his ste ring, a bck-colored cauldron materialized and nded heavily on the ground with a thud.

  Some people said that alchemists shouldn't rely on superior cauldrons, but Xiao Yan scoffed at suotions. If that were the case, why would alchemists pursue Heavenly Fmes? Everyone might as well just use ordinary fmes.

  Xiao Yan believed: To do a job well, one must first sharpeools.

  Possessing good tools was also a part of one's strength!

  The Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill could indeed allow the sealed Dou Qi remaining in one's body to return to the Qi cye, thereby rest one's strength. However, the extent of recovery depended entirely on the pill's quality.

  Xiao Yan po refine a Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill of the highest quality for Hai Bodong.

  "e, Mao Wu."

  Meow! Mao Wu directly leaped out from the void onto the Bck Demon Cauldron with a soft cry. Nowadays, Xiao Yan would summon Mao Wu whenever he refiier 5 pills. With Mao Wu's Spatial Strength assisting, he could detect issues more meticulously and minimize losses in a timely manner.

  This cat was truly an excellent alchemy assistant.

  Moreover, over the past month, Mao Wu had been ing Xiao Yan's failed medial ingredients every day, causing its strength to increase rapidly. It had uedly turned into a 'pill-poppi'.

  Without further ado, Xiao Yan began refining using his merged Heavenly Fme. The Dou Qi within his body surged tinuously. In no time, the temperature ihe Bck Demon Cauldron reached an inceivable level.

  He pced the medial ingredients into the cauldron one by one. As the final ingredieered, his expression grew solemn as he enced refining acc to the pill recipe.

  Meanwhile, Hai Bodong waited anxiously in the sixth floor reception room. Although he appeared calm, Ya Fei could tell that he was like a husband pag outside the delivery room, pretending to be posed when he was actually frantic with worry.

  Hai Bodong was likely praying fervently in his heart: Don't fail, Xiao Yan. Don't fail!

  Three hours passed. With a creak, the door ushed open, and a weary-looking Xiao Yan walked in.

  "How did it go?!" Hai Bodong immediately stood up and asked nervously upon seeing Xiao Yaer.

  Xiao Yan couldn't help but ugh upon seeing his anxious expressioook out a pill bottle taining a purple-colored medial pill from his ste ring and tossed it to Hai Bodong as he said, "A smooth delivery; mother and child are safe."

  Hai Bodong hurriedly caught the bottle in a fluster and nervously ope. Instantly, a deep purple medial mist wafted out, filling the entire room with a purple haze.

  From the density of the mist alone, one could tell that the pill's quality was exceptionally high. It could be said to be a perfect refi!

  "'t you ge this bad habit of tossing pills around?" Hai Bodong grumbled, though relief was evident in his voice.

  "Hurry up and take it. The medial strength of the Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill requires time to refine. I pn to head to the Misty Cloud Sect first thing tomorrow m," Xiao Yan said.

  "Alright, this old man will apany you to the Misty Cloud Seorrow m." Hai Bodo out a hearty ugh, clutg the pill as he hurried off to find a suitable pce to refis medial strength.

  "Sister Ya Fei, please help me prepare some people and a more luxurious mode of transportation for tomorrow. I want to make a grarance."

  "So ostentatious?" Ya Fei was stunned for a moment. Xiao Yan wasn't someone who typically liked to show off.

  "The one going to the Misty Cloud Sect this time isn't Xiao Yan the alchemist, but Xiao Yan of the Xiao ! I ot let my lose face."

  -----------------------

  -----------------------

  Kisshot