The intense heat enveloped the enclosed chamber, baking it like an oven. Subtle wisps of white vapor rose from the crimson cauldron and swirled gently above the chamber, lingering and drifting without dispersing. Before the cauldron, Xiao Yan's expression was serious, his gaze fixed intently on the nascent pill slowly rotating within the emerald flames. With the strength of his soul steadily regulating the temperature, he maintained a consistent, stable heat throughout. As the gentle, slow steaming continued, after roughly half an hour, a rich, aromatic fragrance began to rise from within. Subtle energy fluctuations emanated from the cauldron and struck the inner walls with force, producing a deep, resonant chime. After a while, Xiao Yan suddenly widened his eyes. The cauldron lid automatically detached, and the round, jade-colored pill shot out, landing precisely into his hands. Feeling the gentle residual warmth carried by the pill in his hands, Xiao Yan finally exhaled in relief. Though the "Hun Yuan Bone-Forming Pill" wasn't particularly outstanding among the sixth-rank pills, it was genuinely a sixth-rank pill. Even with the assistance of the Lvylian Lotus Heart Flame, the success rate for crafting such a pill remained relatively low—nearly four sets of herbs were consumed before a single successful batch was finally achieved. "Having observed him all night, with the elder's keen eye, he naturally spotted several shortcomings in Xiao Yan's techniques. Several failed attempts at refining the elixirs were due to the intense power of the Lirui Lotus Heart Flame—once the temperature slightly overflowed, it would completely burn through the herbs. Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan nodded in agreement. He was aware of the current limitations of the Lirui Lotus Heart Flame, though he found himself at a loss as to how to address them. Indeed, while the flame's power was extraordinary, mastering its precise control proved far from easy. "Whenever you have the opportunity, practice this Lirui Lotus Heart Flame more diligently—it will significantly improve your success rate in refining medicinal elixirs," the elder advised. Xiao Yan smiled and nodded again, placing the crimson cauldron before him into his storage relic, then leapt down, and said, "Let's go. The elixir is now complete—it's time to present it to the royal family. I also have a strong interest in that six-stage Yuhai蛟 beast..." As he spoke, Xiao Yan stepped forward toward the door of the chamber. Following him, the elderly pharmacist smiled gently, his form gradually becoming translucent, until he completely vanished... "The royal family really seems so eager, doesn't it?" Hearing this, Xiao Yan was also momentarily stunned. Tian Ye's demeanor was clearly calm and composed—otherwise, she wouldn't have been cultivated as the next Empress of the Empire by Jia Xingtian. Yet now, even she seemed equally urgent. It was evident that the Royal Family truly held the Youhai Jiang Shou in high regard. Smiling, Xiao Yan quickened his pace and soon entered the hall, just in time to see Xiao Ding engaged in conversation with Tian Ye. Gazed at Yao Ye, Xiao Yan took in the urgency on her cheeks and smiled gently, then slightly nodded, saying, "Well, we've managed to make it—no disgrace." Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Yao Ye immediately felt the weight off her heart, a beautiful smile spreading across her face. With a hand motion, a jade vial appeared in Xiao Yan's hand and was then casually tossed toward Yao Ye. Upon seeing the vial being thrown, Yao Ye was startled and quickly caught it, then glared at Xiao Yan with a scolding look—how could he possibly throw around such a high-tier medicine casually? "Is this the Huanhuan Shuigong Pill?" she asked, carefully tilting the vial and pouring the peculiarly fragrant Huanhuan Pill into her delicate fingers. Though the royal family's collection was vast, she had to admit she had rarely seen a sixth-rank pill before. "Um…" Xiao Yan nodded, smiling, "However, the potency of this medicine is quite overpowering—only those with monster-bodied constitutions can take it, and even then, it requires a specially trained alchemist to gently stimulate and fully unlock its power." Hearing that such a special technique was needed, Tian Ye was also surprised, and with a slightly embarrassed expression, she looked at Xiao Yan and said, "Then, I suppose I'll have to trouble you once again, Mr. Xiao." "I'm quite content just to meet the royal enigmatic Yuhai Jiang Beast," Xiao Yan shook his head with a smile and rose to walk toward the main gate. Tian Ye, delighted, hurried to follow. As for this clingy little girl, Xiao Yan had no choice but to be patient. Over the past two days, Meidusha had suddenly vanished without a trace, leaving Zi Yan utterly bored and lonely. So, Xiao Yan had no option but to bring her along. When Xiao Yan arrived at this place, he immediately spotted Jia Xingtian's already-waiting figure, and at the same time, Jia Xingtian noticed the two of them and hurriedly approached. "Ah, it's quite a bother for Mr. Xiao Yan..." Seeing the subtle joy on Yao Ye's face, Jia Xingtian's previously tense heart eased, and he politely smiled at Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan waved his hand, said with a calm tone, "Each of us has our own needs, after all." Yao Ye stepped forward quickly, carefully handing over the jade bottle to Jia Xingtian, and also explained the need for manual stimulation to activate the pills. Upon hearing Yao Ye's words, Jia Xingtian bowed once more to Xiao Yan, politely saying, "Then, I suppose I'll have to trouble Mr. Xiao Yan once again." Xiao Yan smiled, his gaze sweeping across the vast lake, where he could already sense a profound aura concealed deep beneath its surface. "Hmm, there's actually a large serpent in the lake—quite strong in power, I'd say..." As Xiao Yan sensed it, Zi Yan suddenly exclaimed in surprise, speaking up. Upon hearing her words, Jia Xingtian and Yao Ye both were startled, then stared in amazement at the delicate, graceful little girl. It was no easy feat to sense the hidden presence across such a deep lake, and yet, they were amazed that this seemingly adorable girl could accurately describe the form of the creature concealed within. Xiao Yan, on the other hand, was not at all surprised by Zi Yan's performance. After all, Zi Yan herself was a魔兽, and her level was quite high; it was therefore no great wonder that she could detect the hidden beast in the lake. "Let the ancient beast, the Yohai Dragon Serpent, emerge!" At once, Jia Xingtian nodded and flashed forward, appearing on the lake's surface. With his feet planted upon the water, he plunged both hands into it, and a powerful aura surged forth. As the aura flowed in, the tranquil lake surface instantly boiled, rising in countless bubbles. With the lake's surface agitated, Xiao Yan on the shore clearly sensed a mighty presence gradually surging upward from the lakebed. "Boom!" Just as the lake's turbulence intensified, suddenly, a massive column of water erupted violently from the lake, splashing into the sky and dispersing into a cascade of droplets. "Roar!" As the water column soared into the heavens, a deep, unusual roar burst forth from within the lake. The enormous form instantly occupied half of the lake's expanse. The beast appearing before Xiao Yan was no less imposing than the previous battle form of the Sky-Devouring Python. Its long, serpentine body was covered in deep blue scales, reflecting a sharp, cold gleam under the sunlight. On its massive head stood a single blue spiral horn, and twin enormous eyes, resembling lanterns, gazed out with a most imposing presence. As soon as this creature appeared, the air around it grew noticeably more humid. Clearly, this mighty beast was none other than the enigmatic guardian of the Gamma Royal Family—the Yuhai Jiao兽!