In the quiet room, Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes, a gleam of brilliance flashing through the dark pupils. A thick breath escaped his throat, and a faint glow subtly emanated from his face, clearly indicating that his internal Qi had significantly strengthened through this training. "The energy contained within these scalding toxins is truly immense. Even after several times refining and absorbing it, a substantial amount still remains." As he felt the increasingly robust flow of Qi within him, Xiao Yan murmured softly. "Yet, though the energy is substantial, there are certainly costs involved." With a slight smile of resignation, Xiao Yan waved his right hand, and a cluster of jade-green flames rose up. At the periphery of the flames, faint black patterns subtly swayed before being fully compressed onto the tip of his middle finger. Instantly, his slender finger turned as dark as ink, appearing quite eerie. "Oh... the poison is growing stronger and stronger..." Staring at the fingers, now deepening in color, Xiao Yan shook his head with a sigh. He pointed his fingers at the nearby bedpost, and instantly, the solid wooden post was corroded, leaving a hollow cavity. "Well, as long as I can secure the Seven-Phantom Qing-Ling Saliva, I'll be able to awaken Master. Then, these issues should be solvable." He gazed at his fingers for a long time, murmuring softly, "Though this is quite dangerous, the energy drawn from these concentrated烙poisons over the past two days has been substantial. At this rate, once I've fully extracted the烙poison from Na Lan Jie's body, I should be able to advance from a Six-Star to a Seven-Star Battle-Style Master." He slightly shook his head, then curled his fingers. The dark hue quickly faded, and after a moment, returned to its normal color. "Creak." As Xiao Yan收回 his hand, the closed door was gently pushed open. Hai Bo Dong strolled in lazily, glanced at Xiao Yan, and seeing his less-than-pleasant expression, smiled lightly, "Must've been some trouble at the Lan family, huh? Why don't you let me go with you next time?" Shaking his head in resignation, Xiao Yan leapt down from the bed and said, "It's still the scorching toxin. My unique fire seems to be struggling against it. Every time I help Lan Jie expel the toxin, the scorching toxin within me grows more intense." "Growing more intense?" Hai Bo Dong was momentarily surprised, then furrowed his brows. "If that's the case, then why keep helping him? I don't believe you're that kind of a pushover. Plus, I sense some lingering tensions between you and Lan Yan, Lan's daughter." "Do I have to go and forcibly seize the Seven-Phantom Azure-Spirit Nectar?" Xiao Yan shrugged, speaking calmly. "That won't do at all. Because of Narang Yanran, the Narang family has particularly close ties with Yunlan Sect, and they hold significant influence within the imperial government. If anything happens to them, I'm certain the royal family's old dragon—whatever that may be—will step in. Do you think we have the strength to resist these two powerful factions?" Hai Bo Dong blushed and smiled awkwardly. "Don't worry. As long as you collect all the herbs, I'll prepare the Fuzi Ling Dan for you. Though the Buddha's Wrath Lotus has caused some damage to my spiritual energy, I'm confident I can manage preparing the Fuzi Ling Dan." Xiao Yan slowly walked to the table, cleared away the clutter, then took out the cauldron from his storage seal, and casually replied. "Heh, I have full confidence in you," smiled Hai Bo Dong, watching Xiao Yan's actions with a look of surprise. "What exactly are you doing?" "I think you should go out and explore some more. I'm going to begin practicing my alchemical techniques now." Xiao Yan took out one herb after another from his storage seal, smiling warmly at Hai Bo Dong. "Uh... I've only just returned." "Heard this, Hai Bo Dong shook his head with a wry smile. After a moment, seeing Xiao Yan staring at him intently, he sighed and said, 'Alright, go ahead and practice. I'll step out for a while...' Saying this, he turned and wobbled slightly as he opened the door, unwillingly stepping out. He knew well that when a pharmacist was preparing pills, they usually didn't appreciate much disturbance. Watching the door close slowly behind him, Xiao Yan finally turned his gaze to the cauldron before him, gently running his fingers over the herbs laid out on the table, his brow furrowed in thought. After nearly a year of rigorous training in the desert, especially due to the recent consumption of the Earthfire Lotus seeds, which had significantly enhanced his harmony with the Qinglian Earthheart Fire, he felt confident that achieving the rank of Third-Class Pharmacist was far from difficult. Indeed, the most crucial aspect of a Third-Class Pharmacist is mastery over flame control, and in this regard, he even believed himself capable of rivaling a Fourth-Class Pharmacist." "Ah, even so, securing a top finish at the Pharmacist Grand Tournament isn't an easy feat—those opponents aren't exactly easy to beat... " Shaking his head with a sigh, Xiao Yan recalled the disciple from the ancient river clan, Liu Lin, whom he had met today. Though he had not personally witnessed Liu Lin's techniques, given the caliber of the ancient river clan, it was certain that their disciples wouldn't be mere amateurs. Indeed, during their interaction, Xiao Yan had clearly sensed a confidence radiating from Liu Lin—this confidence wasn't forced or pretentious; it stemmed from genuine strength and solid foundation, something one only possesses when truly capable. "That won't do at all..." Taking a slow, steady breath, Xiao Yan gently pursed his lips, then after a moment, offered a quiet smile. With a light tap of his fingertip against the flame outlet of the medicinal cauldron, a streak of emerald flame swiftly surged in, and soon after, accompanied by a soft, muffled sound, the emerald flame began to rise and burn steadily within the cauldron. "Let's start with a third-rank pill first..." His hand slowly moved across the herbs arranged on the table, finally settling on several plants. With a slight curve of his palm, a subtle suction drew them into his hand, and he then casually dropped them into the cauldron. Gazing at the herbs now gently encircled and enveloped by the emerald flame, Xiao Yan nodded slightly. In his mind, a third-rank pill formula automatically surfaced—formulas that the old pharmacist had occasionally infused into Xiao Yan's consciousness through his spiritual energy during his cultivation journey. Now, using them was nothing but straightforward. "The Awakening Spirit Pill, a third-rank pill, enhances a practitioner's sensitivity to external celestial energies during cultivation and increases the rate at which energy is absorbed. Ingredients: three-decade-old Qingxin Three-leaf Grass, fully matured Fuxin Fruits, ten-decade-old Spirit-Siphon Trees, and one third-stage magical core." As he slowly revisited the recorded ingredients in his mind, after a while, Xiao Yan gently tapped his long, slender fingers, and instantly, the flames within the cauldron surged and roared vigorously. With the commencement of Xiao Yan's pill-making process, the temperature in the room gradually rose, and a soft mist seeped out from the cauldron, gradually drifting throughout the room, enveloping it in a misty, ethereal haze. Since this was the first time he was preparing this type of pill, he had unfortunately burned through the herbs during his first two attempts—yet he remained undeterred, for even if the senior pharmacist personally handled the process, pill failures were hardly avoidable. Thus, after summarizing the lessons learned from his initial failures, Xiao Yan swiftly mastered the timing and techniques required for the elixir's preparation. On his third attempt, after more than two hours of persistent effort, a perfectly round, lustrous Shen-Waking Elixir finally emerged, fresh and ready. Gazing at the tranquil Shen-Waking Elixir resting quietly within the jade vial, Xiao Yan wiped the sweat from his forehead, smiled contentedly, and then reignited the flame, continuing his refining process. Throughout the afternoon, Xiao Yan's success rate in producing the Shen-Waking Elixirs improved steadily and impressively. When the medicinal herbs on the desk began to dwindle, three fully formed Shen-Waking Elixirs had already been successfully crafted and placed within the jade vials. Carefully placing the vial containing the three elixirs into his storage talisman, Xiao Yan's weary expression was nearly impossible to conceal. After tidying up the desk, he stepped toward the bed with a slightly unsteady gait and promptly collapsed onto the mattress. … When Xiao Yan awoke from his sleep, it was already morning. With a slightly drowsy head, he sat up from the bed. Looking around the empty room, he shook his head with a wry smile—preparing pills truly was a tiring task, taking a significant mental toll. After a simple wash and fully regaining his clarity, he stepped out and headed toward the Lan family, beginning his treatment of Lan Jie for the toxin. Though he hadn't seen Hai Bo Dong for a full day, he felt no concern; with the elder's strength, few in the Jia Ma Empire—perhaps only the elders themselves or the Master of Yunlan Sect—could pose a serious challenge to him. … The current detoxification process was roughly similar to the previous one, with no particularly significant events occurring in between. After helping Nalan Jie undergo his detox, Xiao Yan was invited to sit and chat at the family estate. During this time, Nalan Yanran, for some reason, approached him with growing interest, asking several questions about Xiao Yan’s life. However, all these inquiries were gently brushed aside by Xiao Yan’s reserved expression and detached tone. Though Nalan Yanran now appeared markedly different from her former self, Xiao Yan still found it difficult to develop any genuine fondness for her. As long as Lan Yanran is present, Liu Ling will naturally follow closely behind. While Lan Yanran and Xiao Yan were conversing, Xiao Yan could feel Liu Ling's glances constantly drifting toward him. Though Liu Ling maintained a warm, smiling expression and remained silent, Xiao Yan sensed a subtle irritation and a quiet sense of rivalry toward him. Yet, he merely shrugged—what did it matter if Liu Ling was displeased? After all, I've even taken over the rare flames that Gu He has coveted. What could a still-undistinguished apprentice like you possibly offer that would be truly formidable? "Heard that, Nalan Jie was momentarily stunned, then furrowed his brows, saying, 'Mr. Yan Xiao is a distinguished guest of our Nalan family. I only care whether he can expel my scalding toxin; as for his true identity, I don't particularly care.' 'Young man, broaden your heart—don't harbor ill will over minor matters. Though you are a disciple of Guxue, I'm certain Mr. Yan Xiao's master is no less formidable than Guxue himself. To oppose someone of that caliber would not be a wise move...' Nalan Jie glanced at Li Ling, who smiled gently, and spoke in a low, significant tone. With his seasoned eyes, he clearly sensed Li Ling's subtle inclinations toward Xiao Yan. 'Ah, Grandfather, you're jesting. I've never met Mr. Yan Xiao before, how could I possibly harbor ill will toward him?' His face slightly changed, yet Li Ling was no ordinary person—she quickly composed herself, glanced at Nalan Yanran, whose brows were also slightly furrowed, and smiled warmly." "If that's truly the case, then it's certainly a good thing. Though perhaps he doesn't currently match your standing, his potential is immense. If given the chance, I'd be quite eager to bring him into the Na Lan family." Na Lan Jie smiled faintly, no longer looking at the slightly stiffened Li Ling, and turned to walk toward the main gate. Na Lan Yan glanced at Li Ling, who was now shrugging helplessly, and said softly, "You'd better not make any sudden moves—Grandfather has already mentioned that he is a distinguished guest of the Na Lan family." With a gentle motion of her hand, she brushed aside a strand of hair falling across her forehead and followed steadily after Na Lan Jie. "Yanran, after all these years, you should know what I feel about you..." Li Ling gazed at the captivating, graceful silhouette before him, and found herself speaking. Yet before she could finish, Nan Lan Yanran, facing away, casually waved her hand—glowing like pure jade under the sunlight—and sighed, "You should know that at this moment, I don't wish to talk about these things. Among men, you are one of the few who have truly become my friends. Perhaps someday you'll win me over, but for now, I still see you merely as a regular friend. I don't deny your excellence, but it hasn't yet reached my standards. A man worthy of Nan Lan Yanran is no ordinary person." With that, she turned and moved gracefully toward the entrance. "I know you're ambitious. Then this time, I'll prove to you—through the championship title at the grand tournament—that Li Ling is truly worthy of you." Staring at the captivating silhouette, Lyu Ling's eyes flashed with passion. As the future leader of Yunlan Sect, Nalan Yanran held a status in the Gama Empire nearly equal to that of an imperial princess. With Lyu Ling's proud demeanor, it was natural that he would need to conquer such a woman in order to prove his excellence. "Wait until you win the championship," came the soft, pleasant voice, drifting gently through the main gate. "I'll be waiting..." Lyu Ling shrugged, turned around, and stared at where Xiao Yan had disappeared, a gentle, composed smile forming on his face. He murmured softly, "I'll make him feel embarrassed during the grand assembly. Nalan Yanran's disciple is undoubtedly one of the most outstanding figures in the Gama Empire."