With the departure of Xiao Yixian, the hidden poisons throughout the small valley dispersed swiftly and systematically, which unexpectedly eased Xiao Yan's mind—especially since he had intended to remain in seclusion there. He knew that Xiao Yixian was no longer the kind-hearted girl she once was, and her unique poison techniques were indeed enigmatic and unpredictable. Though he still trusted she would not truly intend to harm him, the mere contamination of these poisons posed a significant inconvenience—an experience he had personally witnessed when he had once assisted Lan Jie in purging his toxins. After settling into stability within the small valley, Xiao Yan dispatched a messenger bird back to the Imperial Capital, briefly indicating his location so that the others, particularly Xiao Ding, could send representatives to visit him should the need arise. After having carefully gone through and accounted for all matters, Xiao Yan also took the time to thoroughly explore this small valley. Though the valley wasn't particularly large, the variety of rare medicinal herbs growing within it left even him slightly awed—something he hadn't expected from such a modest valley. Should this news spread, it was certain to draw the keen eyes of numerous alchemists, as rare herbs held just as much appeal for them as prescriptions or medicinal cauldrons. As for the wild beasts inhabiting the valley, Xiao Yan had originally intended to eliminate them. However, Zi Yan promptly intervened, knowing that Xiao Yan would be entering a period of seclusion, and that these beasts might well become her companions during that time. Since Zi Yan liked them, Xiao Yan naturally had no intention of insisting. In fact, considering that the valley is home to these fierce beasts, they serve as a natural protective barrier—should any accidental visitors stumble into the valley, these creatures, already considered exceptionally strong to ordinary people, would surely frighten them away. After settling into the valley, Xiao Yan carved out a spacious cave deep within the mountain. He gathered medicinal herbs for nearly three days before finally entering the cave with a heavy, well-filled nari. At this moment, he wasn’t meditating—he was preparing pills. This batch of pills was substantial: not only did he include three Huaji Pills to fulfill his promise to the three elders of Yin Gu, but he also intended to prepare Dou Ling Pills for Xiao Li and Lin Yan. These were no ordinary pills—each required meticulous preparation and considerable time. Yet none of this could possibly be a reason to halt Xiao Yan’s efforts. Before entering the cave, Xiao Yan also reminded Zi Yan and Meidousha to stay as much as possible within the valley, since the energy here was significantly more concentrated than outside—making cultivation far more efficient. With numerous medicinal herbs available, the valley could provide the strongest possible energy support should Zi Yan suddenly begin advancing her stage. While the two women—large and small—clearly nodded in agreement, Xiao Yan remained uncertain about their true thoughts. Nevertheless, he felt confident in their safety, as a Douzong-level powerhouse like Meidousha was already capable of standing tall in the Jiamai Empire. Though the魔兽mountain housed many powerful beasts, Meidousha posed no significant threat. Thus, despite knowing that both women were restless, Xiao Yan calmly entered the cave and began the exceptionally demanding alchemy task—so taxing that even a seasoned alchemist would pale merely at the sight of it. ... In the slightly cool cave, Xiao Yan sat cross-legged on a piece of green stone. Beside him stood a smooth, mirror-like stone platform, upon which an array of herbs was neatly arranged. Each herb was stored in a jade box, releasing a rich, fragrant aroma that blended together, filling the entire cave with an unusual scent. With a simple hand motion, the crimson medicine cauldron crashed down from in front, landing heavily on the ground with a resounding impact—its weight even causing the cave to tremble slightly. He summoned the medicine cauldron. After a brief pause, Xiang Yan decided that producing the Douling Pills was relatively easier and had a higher success rate compared to the Huangji Pills—true sixth-rank pills. Even with his current strength, Xiang Yan only had a slightly over fifty-percent chance of successfully crafting the Huangji Pills. However, this time he had made thorough preparations: he had gathered a substantial amount of medicinal herbs from the Miter family and also searched extensively within the valley. Though the success rate might not be high, such a comprehensive investment should make it feasible to produce three Huangji Pills. After a moment's consideration, Xiang Yan chose to begin with the Douling Pills, opting to warm up his process with the more straightforward ones. Although his preparations were now solid, the herbs were still highly valuable, and it would be a pity to waste them without a clear purpose. Even Xiang Yan himself would have to feel a bit of regret. With his mind firmly resolved, Xiao Yan slowly inhaled deeply, pushing aside the纷杂 thoughts in his mind. Then, with a gentle flick of his finger, a strand of emerald flame shot forth from his fingertip and surged into the cauldron, where it ignited into a roaring flame. As the flame within the cauldron grew stronger and more vibrant, the temperature inside the cave gradually intensified. Yet this had no effect on Xiao Yan at all. He kept his gaze fixed on the cauldron, and after a while, his expression suddenly grew solemn. With a swift movement of his fingers, he gently pressed a herb between them and sent it into the cauldron. With this action, the arduous process of refining the medicine officially began! ... Within the valley, after Xiao Yan entered the cave, Zi Yan and Medusa rarely ventured in to disturb him. At first, both of them were quite content. However, as Xiao Yan's time spent refining pills grew longer, Zi Yan—being naturally restless—found it increasingly difficult to sit still. Especially after training the valley's wild beasts to behave like obedient pets, she grew remarkably bored. On one occasion, she finally succeeded in persuading Medusa, and the two slipped quietly out of the valley. As a result, the entire mountain range of wild beasts became agitated and disordered. Thanks to her innate talent for sensing energy-rich rare treasures and extraordinary artifacts, Zi Yan's every gaze naturally directed herself toward the precious items guarded by numerous powerful魔兽. Under the imposing presence of Medusa, these treasures were mostly successfully secured. However, each time a treasure was obtained, the guardian魔兽 would glare fiercely, charging after the two women in wild pursuit. As a result, the once relatively tranquil mountain range became a daily symphony of roaring battles, brimming with vibrant energy. Over time, an increasing number of rare and precious artifacts found their way into Zi Yan's hands, which she invariably consumed directly—like candy—without hesitation. After nearly two weeks of such relentless acquisition, almost all of the mountain's most powerful魔兽 had been visited by the duo of Zi Yan and Medusa. And such extensive plundering naturally stirred immense resentment among the creatures. The mountain range was home to many powerful beasts whose intelligence did not fall short of that of humans. After suffering repeated setbacks, these strong-willed creatures began gathering together, gradually forming an exceptionally large and cohesive force. This formidable assembly of beasts encountered Purple Yan and Medusa once again on the second day, immediately igniting a surge of furious resistance. As Purple Yan and Medusa gazed upon the countless beasts surging forward with thunderous roars, like a tidal wave, even Medusa, despite her strength, could not help but feel her scalp tingling. Seizing Purple Yan's hand, she swiftly pulled her and took flight. This pursuit and evasion nearly involved the entire Wargiant Mountain Range. While Zǐ Yán and Medusa fared well, the mercenaries hunting wargiants deep within the mountains suffered greatly, gazing at the tidal wave of beasts rushing toward them—everyone felt chilled to the bone. The wargiants' relentless counteroffensives had turned the mountain range into a bustling frenzy. Fortunately, Medusa remained cautious, choosing not to fly directly back to the valley, but instead guiding Zǐ Yán around the range in a wide circuit, ensuring all the beasts were driven off before they hurried back to the valley. For several days after this incident, both of them were hesitant to leave the valley at will, even though neither of them felt afraid. If the wild beasts, now in a frenzy, discovered this place, they might disturb Xiao Yan's delicate alchemy work. And should anything unforeseen happen... Thinking of this, even Zi Yan had to gently stick out her tongue, remaining quiet and quietly playing with the wild beasts she had tamed within the valley. Seeing her settle down, Medusa breathed a sigh of relief—should anything truly go wrong, that one would surely go mad. While they remained calm and quiet in the valley for about five or six days, Zi Yan, who had always been lively, began to show subtle signs of something being off. At first, she spoke less and less, then her face grew unusually rosy, and her body grew so warm it seemed as though it were a furnace. The changes in Zǐ Yán naturally left Mei Dùshā utterly astonished, yet she had little understanding of them and thus could offer no assistance. As she hesitated whether to call out Xiāo Yìn, Zǐ Yán suddenly fell into a deep sleep. While asleep, a rich, deep purple glow surged from within her, eventually forming a luminous purple cocoon several zhang wide, completely enveloping her body. Upon seeing this, Mei Dùshā paused in surprise, then exhaled in relief—clearly, this was no matter of concern. Rather, the young girl had consumed so many rare and precious materials over the past time, and the energy accumulated within her was now sufficient to enable her to advance to the next stage!