Within the Jia Nan Academy, Inner Academy building area, inside the Elder's Office Building.
Yan Qingshan sat quietly at a table, a map spread out before him. The Yao Three Brothers, Wang Mang, and Zi Yan stood by. Great Elder Su Qian of the Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy, Vice Head Hu Gan of the Outer Academy, and Elder Huo of the Alchemy Department were also present.
"Chirp~~~"
Suddenly, a bird's cry came from outside the window. A small Spirit Pigeon flew into the room. Wang Mang quickly stepped forward, carefully retrieving the intelligence tied to the pigeon's leg.
"The plan succeeded, they didn't make any major moves."
Wang Mang said with a laugh after reading it. Everyone in the room looked surprised, while Yan Qingshan breathed a sigh of relief, a smile on his face. His plan to seize the cities was a temporary adjustment based on the situation; others weren't very optimistic, but he still went ahead with it. Now that it was successful, a heavy weight had lifted from his heart.
Hu Gan patted Yan Qingshan's shoulder, exclaiming with admiration, "Kid, I really underestimated you. Staying behind the scenes, you single-handedly stirred up the Black-Corner Region, and not only did you escape unscathed, but you also gained so many benefits openly."
Elder Huo and Great Elder Su Qian were also filled with emotion. They hadn't held much expectation for Yan Qingshan's plan initially, mainly because it was too outlandish. But who would have thought that he not only successfully completed the plan but also executed it quite perfectly.
"Youngster Qingshan, what I'm most curious about is what you used to fool them back then. That volcanic land is so dangerous; they aren't fools!" Elder Huo asked with curiosity.
They only knew the general outline of Yan Qingshan's plan; even the Yao Three Brothers, who carried out the plan, weren't entirely clear on the specific details.
"Of course... I used the real thing!"
Yan Qingshan's lips curved into a smile, and a wisp of green flame rose from his hand. The temperature of the entire room instantly soared, while Hu Gan, Su Qian, and Elder Huo stared intently at the ball of flame. "The fire is bluish, like a lotus, like a volcano. Without a doubt, this is truly the Green Lotus Core Flame, ranked nineteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking."
Elder Huo exclaimed with admiration, a hint of fanaticism flashing in his eyes. No alchemist could resist the allure of a Heavenly Flame.
After a long while, his eyes regained their composure, and he glared at Yan Qingshan irritably, "You little rascal, you're so dishonest! You had such a good thing and didn't let this old man see it earlier. If my guess is correct, you've long since mastered what I taught you!
Your Soul Control far surpasses ordinary alchemists, and you have a Heavenly Flame to compensate for your shortcomings. What level is your alchemy now?"
"Peak Fifth-Grade. I tried refining Sixth-Grade pills and felt something was still lacking. It's probably my cultivation; it's still a bit off!"
Yan Qingshan frowned and shook his head. He was still somewhat dissatisfied with being able to only refine Fifth-Grade pills, but his attitude almost made Elder Huo's mustache bristle with indignation.
"You brat, you're almost catching up to me, and you're still not satisfied!" Elder Huo glared at Yan Qingshan, then stroked his beard. "Your situation isn't a lack of Soul Control, but purely insufficient cultivation. Sixth-Grade medicinal pills are second only to Seventh-Grade pills that trigger Heavenly Lightning Tribulation.
The resulting heavenly phenomena are extremely grand and require sufficient cultivation to support them, at least the cultivation of a veteran Dou King. How long has it been since you broke through to Dou King? You hadn't even broken through when you tried refining before, had you?"
"Is that the reason?!"
Yan Qingshan pondered, realizing why his previous attempt at the Demon Transformation Pill had failed. After deducing two low-tier versions of the pill formula using the Demon Transformation Pill, he had a deep understanding of the formula.
In nearly a year of cultivation life at Jia Nan Academy, not only had his cultivation improved, but his alchemy had also made great strides after solidifying his foundation. After repeatedly succeeding with the Enlightenment Pill and Spirit Insight Pill, he attempted the Sixth-Grade Demon Transformation Pill. The steps were correct, but it ultimately failed, which had left him depressed for a long time!
Great Elder Su Qian then pointed at the Yao Three Brothers, "Youngster Yan, how do you plan to arrange them next? Although Jia Nan City can temporarily shelter them, there are many spies in the Black-Corner Region; paper can't wrap fire."
The Yao Three Brothers immediately grew nervous when they heard themselves being discussed. Although the Jia Nan Academy had always enjoyed an excellent reputation in the Black-Corner Region, they knew that the matter they were involved in this time was simply too terrifying. If they had known that this operation would draw out three Dou Ancestor experts, they wouldn't have had the guts to participate beforehand.
Yan Qingshan already had a plan in mind. He said calmly, "They temporarily cannot remain in the Black-Corner Region. Isn't the Outer Academy on break during this period? I have an appointment with someone and plan to return to the Jia Ma Empire soon.
The Mitel Family, one of the three great families of the Jia Ma Empire, has some connection with me. You three will return to the Jia Ma Empire with me; you can be responsible for opening up and managing the trade routes there."
Yan Qingshan's words caused the expressions of the Yao Three Brothers to shift. With their strength, leaving the Black-Corner Region and joining an empire would not be difficult. No force would refuse the allegiance of a Dou King, let alone three.
However, the reason they had struggled in the Black-Corner Region for so many years was precisely because, besides its chaos, it offered various resources unimaginable elsewhere, making it very suitable for powerful experts like them to grow.
But now, having been involved in the struggle of several Dou Ancestor, and being the fuse for the events, their lives were paramount. Of course, they could only accept Yan Qingshan's arrangements for now.
"Three Dou Spirit Pills. This is my promise to you. You all did very well this time, and I'll remember your contributions. If you break through to Dou Emperor in the future, I can personally refine three Mighty Huang Pills for you."
Yan Qingshan tossed three jade bottles to the Yao Three Brothers. The three accepted the jade bottles and, after hearing Yan Qingshan's words, were exceptionally excited, immediately bowing and saluting, "This subordinate thanks Your Excellency."
The Mighty Huang Pill's reputation among Sixth-Grade medicinal pills is second only to the Zong Breaking Pill. Its refining difficulty is extremely high. If a Dou Spirit Pill is a low-grade Sixth-Grade pill, then an Mighty Huang Pill is a high-grade Sixth-Grade pill. How precious is a Sixth-Grade pill that can allow a Dou Emperor to advance one to two stars?
"Rise!"
Yan Qingshan gestured with a hand, and the three brothers quickly stood behind him. Then he turned and took out three scrolls. "Great Elder, I know the rules of the Book Collection Hall. Things obtained from the Book Collection Hall must be returned after graduation.
However, the Xuan Wood Azure Dragon Art and the Azure Dragon Claw Skill hold extraordinary significance to me. I want to permanently exchange them. These three items combined should barely be enough."
The Book Collection Hall of the Jia Nan Academy offers extraordinary opportunities, considered a benefit for the top five new students of the Inner Academy. However, this benefit is not without cost.
Upon graduating from the Inner Academy, new students must give back to the Book Collection Hall. If the items obtained were medicinal pills, spiritual materials, or weapons and armor, they only needed to return items of similar grade. But for cultivation techniques and Dou Skills, they were usually required to return the original scrolls.
Yan Qingshan obtained one cultivation technique scroll and one Dou Skill scroll from the Book Collection Hall. After cultivating these two items, his strength greatly increased, and he also had a vague feeling that there were some unusual secrets hidden within the scrolls.
Therefore, he wanted to keep them in his possession and was preparing to exchange them with items he had already memorized, while also adding some foundation to the Jia Nan Academy.
Great Elder Su Qian remained silent for a moment, then took the three scrolls from Yan Qingshan's hand: a Di-Grade High-Tier Dou Skill, the Flame Creation Art (before Flame Manipulation Art) , a Di-Grade Low-Tier Movement Dou Skill, the Three Thousand Lightning Movement, and another scroll that even the knowledgeable Great Elder Su Qian showed surprise over.
"A method for refining Flying Dou Skills? You actually have such a thing!"
Great Elder Su Qian's exclamation greatly interested Hu Gan and Elder Huo. The two leaned over to look and were also quite surprised. Flying Dou Skills are extremely rare across the entire continent, let alone their refining methods.
"You brat, you're dishonest! I don't believe that Han Family girl didn't tell you the origin of this Three Thousand Lightning Movement." Great Elder Su Qian put away that scroll, then held up the Three Thousand Lightning Movement scroll and said with a smile to Yan Qingshan.
Then he picked up the Flame Creation Art and looked at it. "That Old Ground Demon Ghost, his abilities are quite something, but this thing is too hot to handle. I'm afraid it can't be given to students to practice for years to come."
Yan Qingshan then handed another notebook to Elder Huo. "I've also studied this Flame Creation Art and gained some insights. The Life Transforming Flame cultivated from it can indeed possess some of the power of a Heavenly Flame. After Elder Huo masters it, his alchemy will improve."
Elder Huo took the notebook and looked at it. On it were some of Yan Qingshan's hypotheses and thoughts on the Flame Creation Art. Reading the scattered notes, Elder Huo felt an itch in his heart and looked eagerly at Great Elder Su Qian.
"Old Huo! Look at you, you're being outsmarted by a youngster now!" Great Elder Su Qian smiled and handed the Flame Creation Art to Elder Huo. "These things only need to be handed in before this kid graduates, and he's still a long way from graduating! But after all, it's a Di-Grade high-tier Dou Skill; its cultivation difficulty is considerable."
"How would I not know! Life Transforming Flame, good, good..." Elder Huo snatched the scroll as if robbing it. After comparing it with the notebook, a smile couldn't help but appear on his face. He seemed to see the scene of his alchemy greatly advancing after mastering the Life Transforming Flame.
"Great Elder, you also know that my little Hu Jia has wanted to experience flying for a long time, and I don't have that much time..." Vice Head Hu Gan looked at the Flying Dou Skill refining method in Great Elder Su Qian's other hand with some expectation, the meaning in his eyes quite obvious.
"That won't do. As Vice Head, you can't abuse your power for personal gain." Great Elder Su Qian held up the scroll, shook it in front of Hu Gan, then took it back. Then he pointed in Yan Qingshan's direction, "This kid can produce this thing, he most likely has mastered it and can refine it himself. I remember when he was planning before, he once put a Xuan-Grade Mid-Tier Flying Dou Skill up for auction, didn't he?"
Hu Gan looked at the smiling Yan Qingshan, feeling a bit awkward. At this moment, Yao Er suddenly pulled out a scroll from his Storage Ring. "Your Excellency, this scroll was only borrowed by our brothers then, and we took it back afterward. Please dispose of it as you see fit."
"I told you then, once it's given to you, it's yours." Yan Qingshan feigned displeasure, then glanced at Vice Head Hu Gan and said, "This thing has nothing to do with me anymore. You can sell it or use it yourselves. However, if you're going to sell it, there's a certain fellow here who's been a academy leader for many years and must have some 'grease' (money/resources) by now. How to price it, you should handle it well."
"You brat, what kind of talk is that?!" Hu Gan glared fiercely at Yan Qingshan, then pulled the Yao Three Brothers aside to negotiate a deal. With the Black-Corner Region entering a standoff, a major war would not easily break out for a while.