In the quiet chamber, it wasn't until long after that Xiao Yan finally regained his composure, rubbing his face vigorously and chuckling softly. He had never imagined that the "top-ranked" powerhouse described by Lin Yan as nothing short of extraordinary would be such a young girl—no, rather, a powerful beast with a human appearance. "This little girl is quite endearing. I wonder why Lin Yan seems so afraid of her. Yet, given her strength, she truly deserves the top spot. From the sheer power she displays, even ordinary Du Wang-level warriors would likely hesitate to face her directly." Xiao Yan murmured softly. "Indeed, her strength is quite overwhelming. From the way she fought earlier, it was entirely based on her physical power, with no energy techniques employed at all." The voice of Yao Lao suddenly echoed gently within his mind. "Could the Teacher discern exactly what kind of beast Purple Yan is?" Xiao Yan asked. "It's hard to tell... She's taken the transformation herb. If she doesn't reveal her true form, ordinary people would have a hard time distinguishing her as a specific type of monster. The old pharmacist mused, then added, 'However, considering her remarkable intelligence and the powerful abilities she's demonstrated, her true form must be an exceptionally rare ancient beast. After all, most ordinary monsters would need at least a century of cultivation to reach the Battle King level—unless they have exceptional opportunities. But the energy radiating from this young girl doesn't seem to match that of a monster who has been cultivating for over a hundred years. Therefore, her true form must be quite extraordinary.' 'Ah...' Nodding slightly, though Zi Yan is indeed strong, her mental faculties seem no more than those of a human child around twelve or thirteen years old—except when she occasionally displays that faintly detached demeanor." Suppressing his curiosity about Ziyan, Xiao Yan focused his attention on the array of herbs spread before him. To prepare the "Dragon Force Pill," he himself couldn't guarantee a successful first attempt, so he immediately requested two sets of ingredients. "Ah, preparing this concoction is no easy task—yet for the Dragon-Hair Ice-Fire Fruit, we have no choice but to push on..." With a sigh, Xiao Yan summoned another strand of emerald flame and dropped it into the cauldron. After a moment, his mind gradually stabilized, and he focused his entire concentration once again, beginning the process of refining the medicine. The refinement of the "Dragon Force Pill" was nearly a hundred times more intricate than the earlier preparation of the "Diamond Bodhi" for Zǐ Yán. Fortunately, Xiao Yan's strength had now reached the Battle Spirit stage, where both the robustness of his battle energy and his precision in flame control had significantly improved. As a result, this time, the process felt considerably smoother than during his match against Han Xian. Yet, as the dense sweat steadily seeping from his forehead indicated, it still required him to give his very best to successfully complete the refinement of the "Dragon Force Pill." In the quiet chamber, a jade-colored flame passed through the medicinal cauldron, casting vivid patterns on the walls. The flame surged and swayed with vigorous motion, as if a fierce beast rising and thrashing. As it rose, the herbs arranged before Xiao Yan were rapidly diminishing. After completing all this, Xiao Yan collapsed, feeling utterly drained. He withdrew a Qi-restoring pill from his jade relic, swallowed it, and despite his body's overwhelming fatigue, immediately settled into a meditative posture to begin training. At a time when his internal Qi was completely depleted, training would yield remarkable results—every drop of effort would count, and no slackening could be allowed. This session lasted over an hour, and only then did the hollow sensation within him begin to fade. As he sensed the robust Qi flowing through his meridians, he noticed a subtle but pleasing improvement—his Qi had refined slightly. Though the pill-making process had left him half-dead, it wasn't entirely without reward. Taking a deep, long breath, Xiao Yan stretched lazily, hearing the crisp sounds of his bones settling. A profound sense of relief and well-being spread from his core, bringing a warm smile to his lips. "The Dragon-Needle Ice-Fire Fruit is now secured. All that remains is to obtain one final sixth-rank water-type magic core for the refinement of the Earth Spirit Pill." Xiao Yan gently stroked his storage ring, and instantly the alluring fruit of ice and fire appeared in his hands. "Sixth rank... Ah, that's equivalent to a warrior of the Battle Emperor level. Where on earth can I find such a creature?" He sighed, rubbing his temples thoughtfully. "I sense something brewing. The fluctuations of the Fallen Heart Flame from the Day-Burning Qi Tower have been growing stronger lately—I believe the unrest I mentioned is drawing near." The Elder of Medicine spoke slowly. "When the Fallen Heart Flame erupts, it will present the ideal opportunity for us to seize our gains. We mustn't miss it—otherwise, future attempts to secure such resources will be ten times more difficult. Therefore, the refinement of the Earth Spirit Pill must be expedited." Nodding with a wry smile, Xiao Yan sighed, "I'll do my best." "Hehe, don't worry," the Herbal Elder smiled reassuringly. "If all else fails, we can simply head deep into the mountains to seek out six-tier beasts. With such a vast range, it's certain that there must be at least some six-tier beasts hidden within." "He also had some knowledge of alchemy, thus he understood the high failure rate involved in crafting a five-rank alchemical pill." "Laughter, only one failure—well, that's not too bad. I haven't let down the elder's expectations," Xiao Yan smiled and nodded, then stepped forward to retrieve the jade vial containing the "Dragon Force Pill" from his storage amulet and gently placed it on the table. Seeing the vial on the table, Elder He quickly reached out, grasped it firmly, and carefully poured out a round, dark-red pill. After taking a deep sniff, he beamed with delight, "Indeed, it's a success! You truly have talent—no wonder you've managed to tame the unique flames." Xiao Yan smiled and modestly acknowledged the praise. "Since you've successfully crafted a 'Dragon Force Pill,' the Dragon Hair Ice-Flame Fruit is yours. Hah, your eye for quality is sharp—this fruit is among the rarest in the entire pharmacy, ranking in the top ten." "Keep the Long Force Pills safe," Hao Changlong said with a graceful wave of his hand, teasing, "Whenever you need any more herbs in the future, just come find me—just remember our agreement, haha." "Really? Even crafting a single Long Force Pill nearly left me breathless..." On the surface, Xiao Yan thanked him warmly, but inside, he murmured under his breath. He bowed slightly, just about to make his way out when a sudden thought struck him. He hesitantly asked, "Hao Elder, at this very moment, I actually need something quite urgent. Would you be able to help me obtain it? If so, whenever you'd like, just name your required pill, and I'll do my very best to fulfill your request!" "Ah? What is it?" Hao Elder's eyes sparkled with interest as he asked. "A sixth-rank water-type magic core," Xiao Yan said, fixing his gaze on Hao Elder's face. After speaking, he clearly noticed that the elder's expression had briefly tightened. "Sixth-rank...? What could possibly be so important about such a high-tier magic core?" Sixth-tier beast warriors are equivalent to powerful Du Phong-level fighters... With my current strength, I simply wouldn't dare to negotiate for their magical cores. It seems this deal is out of reach. Smiling bitterly and shaking his head, Hao Elder's back was drenched in cold sweat. This person's demands were simply too high—asking for a sixth-tier core right from the start, as if it were just a stone picked up off the roadside. Hearing this, Xiao Yan sighed in disappointment and offered a wry smile. "Then, if Elder doesn't have one, let's call it off." He turned to leave, but after a moment of thoughtful contemplation, Hao Elder suddenly spoke up, "I don't have a sixth-tier water-type core myself, but I might be able to introduce you to another Elder who holds a sixth-tier water-type core—one he obtained by good fortune years ago." Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned, then his face lit up with sudden joy. "Really?" "If Elder Hao can recommend us, then once Xiao Yan secures the six-stage magic core, he will surely never forget Hao's kindness." "But don't get too excited yet—Hao himself is quite stingy. Back then, he risked his life, relying on a bit of luck, to defeat a six-stage beast that was already severely wounded. Since then, he's treated that six-stage magic core as a precious treasure, often displaying it proudly before us. If you wish to obtain it from him, you'll need to offer something he particularly values. Otherwise, you'll have to make a significant sacrifice. Come with me." Elder Hao waved his hand and then stepped forward toward the door. Xiao Yan nodded eagerly and hurried after him. Receiving news of the six-stage magic core at such a critical moment was nothing short of a blessing for him. No matter what it took, he would absolutely secure that core!