I sincerely apologize for not uploading this week. I was caught up with personal matters and became too exhausted to focus on writing.
As an apology, I'll be uploading four chapters today to make it up to you. Thank you all for your patience and continued support—it truly means a lot!
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Little Fairy Doctor and Zi Yan grew downcast upon hearing the possibility that Yun Yun might become an enemy of the Xiao Clan—or more precisely, of Xiao Hua in the future.
They truly didn't wish to see Xiao Hua and Yun Yun fight each other, but there was nothing they could do to change the situation.
Even if they tried to warn Yun Yun, they knew neither she nor the other experts in the Jia Ma Empire would be able to resist the strength of that Protector.
And even if they chose to stay, the Hall of Souls would continue sending stronger and stronger experts until they obtained the Tou She Ancient God Jade.
Naturally, if Xiao Hua and the Little Fairy Doctor clashed with the Hall of Souls in Jia Ma Empire, the entire region would be turned upside down.
At that point, the Jia Ma Empire could very well be wiped off the map—something they hoped to avoid. And so, they had no choice but to leave the empire in order to prevent such a tragedy.
Xiao Hua knew who was working with the Protector, but he chose not to reveal it. After all, even if he did, would it change anything?
This was especially true when it came to Yun Yun. Regardless of the version—whether in the novel or the Donghua—she remained passive. Even when she knew Yun Shan was guilty of his crimes, or that Yun Leng had slaughtered members of the Xiao Clan out of personal hatred, she did nothing. She simply stood by and let the situation spiral out of control.
Xiao Hua believed that even if he told Yun Yun about Yun Shan's possible connection to the Hall of Souls and their plan to attack Xiao Clan, she might try to persuade him—but she would never raise her hand against him, leaving Yun Shan out of control.
Knowing this, he chose to remain silent. He wouldn't mention Yun Shan, nor would he place Yun Yun in a difficult position. Instead, he would let things unfold naturally and leave the outcome to fate.
Xiao Hua had done everything in his power to ensure the Xiao Clan wouldn't suffer any great losses. But in the end, it all depended on Hun Tiandi. If he chose to act mercilessly, there was nothing they could do to stop it.
"Anyway, let's go back to Hai Bodong first. After that, we'll stay in the small valley for a while so I can focus on training and improving my pill refinement skills," Xiao Hua said with a light smile, deliberately changing the topic to lift the heavy mood hanging over the group.
"To refine a tier-nine medicinal pill… Isn't that even harder than reaching the Ban Sheng level?" Zi Yan muttered, her lips curling into a frown as she looked at Xiao Hua's ambitious goal.
She wasn't just a naïve, gluttonous little dragon. While she couldn't refine pills herself, she had still picked up a fair bit of knowledge about alchemy—especially after spending so much time by Xiao Hua's side.
One thing she had learned was how incredibly demanding it was to refine a tier-nine medicinal pill. Compared to that, refining pills of tier eight and below was practically child's play.
And that's not even mentioning the extremely rare and hard-to-obtain medicinal ingredients required to refine one. The technique and experience needed are beyond imagination—so much so that even alchemists who have spent thousands of years refining pills still struggle to reach that level.
Achieving the Spiritual State or even the Heavenly State of pill refinement is only the most basic requirement for crafting a tier-nine medicinal pill. Yet, many alchemists are unable to even cross that initial threshold.
"I don't really have much of a choice in this matter," Xiao Hua said with a helpless smile, shaking his head.
The Chaos Mantra—the Qi Method he had chosen to cultivate—was no ordinary technique. It did not permit retreat or stagnation once practiced. If he left it at the first level, it would prevent him from ever surpassing the Dou Di realm.
'Though I can't deny I wish it had included more details about Heavenly Lightning—especially the Heavenly Judgment Lightning—other than its training method… at least then I could prepare myself better,' Xiao Hua thought bitterly, frustrated by the lack of information in the Chaos Mantra.
Xiao Hua shook his head, pushing aside the unwelcome thought before it could take root. Turning to Zi Yan, he smiled and gently patted her head, his heart softening at the innocent light in her eyes.
"Anyway, I have another method to reach that level, but it'll take time," he said calmly. "For now, it's better if we find a place to rest and settle down for a while. That's why I suggest we return to the small valley."
Naturally, he was referring to the Bodhisattva Tree available in the System Shop. He hadn't checked his current balance yet, but he remembered receiving ACP rewards from the Gacha.
He could only hope the rewards had brought him closer to the 4,000,000 ACP he needed to purchase it. Still, from what he could tell, reaching that amount would take quite a long time…
Not that he was particularly bothered by it—he knew he still had plenty of time. He understood that the Hall of Souls sending not just one, but two Dou Zun experts to this region had likely drawn some attention. After all, no matter how powerful a force may be, it's not easy to dispatch multiple Dou Zuns without attracting notice.
Since Hun Tiandi wanted this matter handled discreetly—without alerting the other Eight Ancient Clans or the major powers of the Central Plains—it would become increasingly difficult for them to continue sending Honorable Elders without being discovered.
Chances were, they would simply wait for Xiao Hua to leave the North-West Region and then send multiple Protectors to finish the task.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's head to that old man's place and finish his request so we can go back to the small valley," Zi Yan said cheerfully.
She grabbed Xiao Hua's arm and pulled him along with a bright smile—one tinged with a hint of nostalgia. Despite the valley's quietness, it had been the happiest place for her, filled with natural treasures and peaceful days.
Moreover, Xiao Hua had placed the Primordial Life Spirit Flame there, enriching the entire valley with dense life force and the energy of heaven and earth. With such conditions, countless new medicinal herbs and treasures had likely begun to flourish in abundance.
In the small valley, Xiao Hua had given Zi Yan permission to eat any natural treasures she wanted—so long as she didn't turn the place into a barren wasteland or uproot the plants entirely.
Now that Xiao Hua had left behind a wisp of the Primordial Life Spirit Flame, Zi Yan was convinced the valley would soon be overflowing with natural treasures, brimming with life force and dense spiritual energy—perfect for her to feast on.
She could feel it—an evolution was near. If she consumed just a few more high-grade treasures, she was certain she could break through to an even higher rank.
Xiao Hua and the Little Fairy Doctor exchanged glances before both chuckled softly—the former with a trace of helpless resignation, and the latter with quiet amusement at Zi Yan's boundless enthusiasm.
"Let's not forget about Qing Lin. She must be waiting for us and probably worried about our situation. We'll pick her up before heading back to meet Hai Bodong," Xiao Hua said, his voice carrying a hint of helplessness and fatigue.
"Ah… I forgot about her in all the excitement…" Zi Yan said with an awkward smile, scratching her cheek in embarrassment. Qing Lin's presence had genuinely slipped her mind—but it wasn't entirely her fault.
After being caught up in watching Xiao Hua's intense battle, witnessing the Ancient Desolate Hands, and reuniting with both Yun Yun and the Little Fairy Doctor, it was understandable that Qing Lin—whom she had only met briefly before parting ways—had momentarily slipped from her thoughts.
Xiao Hua shook his head again, while the Little Fairy Doctor let out a soft chuckle. Without saying anything more, the three of them set off toward Rock Desert City to retrieve Qing Lin, before continuing on to the Ancient Map Shop.
…
After reuniting with Qing Lin and explaining the situation to ease her worries, Xiao Hua asked if she wanted to accompany him. Without a moment's hesitation, she agreed. For her, the answer was simple—more than anything, she felt relieved that Xiao Hua wanted to bring her along as well.
Later, after explaining everything to Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, Xiao Hua handed them a jade box to pass on to Xiao Yan. With the matter settled, the four of them spent the night resting in the room the two brothers had prepared for them.
The next day, they set off toward the place where Hai Bodong was staying. With their speed, it took no more than the blink of an eye to arrive at the peculiar shop built atop the massive skeleton of a magical beast.
Inside, Hai Bodong stood behind the front counter, intently studying a fragmented map of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame, his gaze fixed as he tried to unravel the secrets hidden within it.
If someone like Xiao Hua wanted this map, it was undoubtedly something valuable. But no matter how great an item was, it held no meaning if one couldn't perceive or unlock its hidden potential.
As Hai Bodong continued to examine and probe the map, the sound of footsteps entering the shop pulled him from his thoughts.
His ice-cold, weathered face swept over the group that had just entered. The moment his eyes landed on Xiao Hua, a trace of respect appeared in his gaze. He promptly stepped out from behind the counter and approached them.
"Young Master, you've returned. I was worried—there was a powerful commotion earlier that could even be felt from here," Hai Bodong said with concern.
"Ah… I apologize for causing such a disturbance," Xiao Hua replied with a faint, awkward smile, scratching his cheek in mild embarrassment. "It was because I had to fight someone."
Hai Bodong's eye twitched noticeably. His concern for Xiao Hua had been sincere—he had truly been alarmed by the overwhelming shockwaves that he could felt from the long distance.
But now, upon learning that Xiao Hua had been the source, he was left utterly speechless. Shock flickered in his eyes.
Having lived for more than half a century, this was one of the rare moments where Hai Bodong found himself at a complete loss for words.
"Anyway…" Xiao Hua, noticing Hai Bodong's stunned expression, felt even more embarrassed and quickly changed the subject. "Shall I begin refining the pill you requested?"
"Now?" Hai Bodong was briefly at a loss, but quickly nodded his head. "Yes, yes—please, go ahead!"
As he spoke, he hurriedly pushed open the door beside the counter, revealing a staircase that led down into the depths below the shop. Without hesitation, Hai Bodong stepped onto the stairs, leading the way for Xiao Hua and the others.
After descending for a few moments, they stopped in front of a heavy door. Hai Bodong pushed it open, and a faint, warm lamp light spilled out into the stairwell.
The room beyond was remarkably clean, likely the result of frequent and meticulous maintenance. It was a well-prepared space, ideal for temporarily staying and refining medicine. But what made it truly distinct was the subtle cold air circulating within, giving the entire room a faintly chilling atmosphere.
At the center of the room stood a round table adorned with golden inlays. On its surface lay two items: an opened jade box containing the medicinal ingredients needed to refine Hai Bodong's requested pill, and beside it, a curious purple-colored fruit streaked with yellow lines, resting quietly under the lamplight.
Each medicinal ingredient on the table was a rare treasure. Some among them could easily fetch at least five hundred thousand gold coins at auction. Yet, despite their high value, such items were rarely seen in public sales.
After all, anyone with a bit of knowledge about medicinal goods would think twice before auctioning off such herbs. One never knew when they might encounter an alchemist in need of these rare ingredients—an opportunity that could yield an exchange far more valuable than gold.
Hai Bodong and Xiao Hua entered the room, their eyes scanning the cold chamber. A layer of frost coated the ground and walls, while a lingering white mist curled gently through the air, creating an eerie but serene atmosphere.
As his gaze wandered, Hai Bodong finally spoke. "This place is built beneath the desert. I've sealed it with ice to create a hidden chamber. No matter how much noise or activity goes on in here, no one on the outside will notice."
Xiao Hua silently nodded. He could immediately sense the durability of the space—there was no need to inspect it further.
Arriving at the table, Xiao Hua examined the medicinal ingredients in detail. With his level of experience, he didn't need to pick them up or probe with spiritual perception. A single glance was enough to understand everything he needed.
Seeing that Xiao Hua had no complaints about the room or the medicinal ingredients, Hai Bodong nodded in relief.
Then, with a helpless expression, he took out a piece of ancient parchment. He held it for a moment, hesitation flashing in his eyes, before finally letting out a sigh filled with resignation.
He truly didn't want to part with this medicinal formula, but he had no other choice. After all, nothing was more important to him than regaining his strength and returning to the Dou Huang class.
"This formula to break the seal... I went through great lengths to obtain it. But now that you're going to look at it, its ownership will essentially change…"
Xiao Hua, still wearing his faint, serene smile, received the aged medicinal formula that Hai Bodong handed over with great reluctance.
His gaze swept across it and paused on the three pale black characters inscribed on the old parchment, which gave off a faint scent of age: Breaking Adversity Pill.
Xiao Hua possessed many medicinal formulas capable of breaking seals. Most of the time, the value of such formulas was difficult to determine—some were exceptional, while others were less impressive. Still, having more of them isn't a bad thing.
After reading through the formula, he casually stored the aged parchment into his storage ring—right in front of Hai Bodong.
The corner of Hai Bodong's mouth twitched involuntarily at Xiao Hua's unceremonious action. After a long silence, he could only shake his head in defeat and resign himself to the fact that the hard-earned treasure he had gone through great trouble to obtain was now gone—without so much as a price.
Forcing a smile, he cupped his hands and said, "Since Young Master is satisfied, then please begin the refinement here. I'll stand guard outside in the corridor. During this time, you'll have the quiet atmosphere necessary for pill refinement. I guarantee that no one will disturb you."
"Alright," Xiao Hua nodded with a faint smile, then turned to the Little Fairy Doctor and the other two. "I assume you're all planning to stay?"
"You've always refined pills in front of us. What difference does it make this time?" Zi Yan huffed, her brows furrowed in mild irritation as she waved her hand dismissively.
"The problem is whether you'll remain patient..." Xiao Hua sighed inwardly, feeling helpless toward this spirited girl. The stern and distant image he once projected back at Jia Nan Academy had completely vanished from her mind.
But he had to admit—he couldn't bring himself to be harsh with her. Not after understanding the reason behind her desire to grow stronger. Her spoiled temperament wasn't without cause; she had been alone for so long before meeting Su Qian and entering Jia Nan Academy.
If he were to treat her with cold discipline now, he felt he would be nothing more than heartless and unfeeling.
"What tier is the pill you're going to refine? And how long will it take?"
Little Fairy Doctor's eyes sparkled with curiosity. Every time Xiao Hua refined a medicinal pill, her interest was always stirred. Whether it was the pill's tier or the time required, she would quietly observe him with admiration and awe.
"Not that high—just a sixth-tier pill. My success rate is extremely high, even if it's my first time refining this one. It shouldn't take long—three or four hours at most," Xiao Hua said casually, his tone light and unconcerned.
However, beside him, Hai Bodong's eye twitched involuntarily.
In the entire Jia Ma Empire, even the renowned Pill King Gu He wouldn't dare claim he could refine a sixth-tier pill in just a few weeks—let alone two or three days.
'Is this confidence because he's an eighth-tier alchemist... or because he possesses a Heavenly Flame?' Hai Bodong wondered silently. The thought gnawed at him, but his relationship with Xiao Hua wasn't close enough to justify prying into such matters, so he simply let it go.
Unbeknownst to him, Xiao Hua's confidence didn't come from arrogance. It came from the countless hours he devoted to honing his pill refinement techniques whenever he had the chance. More importantly, it was due to his extraordinary control and perception over his Spiritual Strength—an ability he had relentlessly trained, refining it to a level of precision few could match.
"Anyway, I'll begin now. Apologies, but Old Hai will have to step out," Xiao Hua said with a smile.
"Then this old man shall take his leave and guard the door," Hai Bodong nodded, cupping his hands respectfully before exiting the icy-cold room.
Once Hai Bodong had left, Xiao Hua extended his right hand and suddenly clenched his fist. In an instant, five brilliant flames of different colors rose from his palm.
The frigid white mist lingering in the room began to fade, and the layer of frost coating the ground and walls slowly melted as the temperature surged under the intense heat of the flames.
Bang!
The five flames suddenly expanded as they emerged. They drifted away from Xiao Hua's hand, spacing themselves out evenly in the air. Then, each flame began to split in two, swelling again before stabilizing.
This process repeated once more before stopping.
In the next moment later, the many flames suspended above Xiao Hua's head began to churn and swirl like vibrant clouds of fire. A moment later, each cloud of flame condensed and transformed into a cauldron—each one reflecting the distinct hue of the flame that had birthed it.
In an instant, numerous medicinal cauldrons—golden-green, sky-blue, royal-purple, milky-orange, and emerald-green—floated gently in the air before Xiao Hua. Each one radiated a distinct brilliance, illuminating the once cold and dim room with a breathtaking display of color.
The shifting hues bathed the surroundings in a soft glow, and even the girls couldn't help but feel mesmerized by the cauldrons' elegance and beauty.
"Is this how Young Master Xiao Hua refines his pills?" Qing Lin asked in awe, her gaze sweeping across the floating cauldrons, her eyes filled with admiration and wonder.
"That's right," Little Fairy Doctor replied with a gentle nod. Her eyes remained fixed on the cauldrons, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she continued,
"Because of the overwhelming destructive power of his flames, it's difficult for him to use traditional cauldrons for pill refinement."
"So, after carefully studying the shapes and structures of the most exquisite medicinal cauldrons, he trained relentlessly to form them using his flames—allowing him to refine pills without compromising their quality."
"The effort he has invested to pursue the path of alchemy is truly extraordinary. It's precisely because of that, replicating his methods is something most alchemists simply can't do."
Zi Yan nodded in agreement. Even she couldn't help but feel a deep sense of admiration and respect for Xiao Hua's dedication. Lifting her big, beautiful eyes, she said, "Even so, no matter how many times I see it, I still can't get used to their beauty—or how amazing Xiao Hua's pill refinement technique truly is."
Little Fairy Doctor chuckled softly, while Qing Lin silently nodded. The two of them clearly agreed with Zi Yan's words, their gazes quietly fixed on the breathtaking display of color and the elegant formation of the medicinal cauldrons.
Xiao Hua, meanwhile, paid no attention to their mesmerized expressions or whispered exchange. With a calm wave of his hand through the empty space before him, the medicinal ingredients from the table floated into the air and entered separate cauldrons—each one finding its own flame-colored vessel.
With a thought, the flames within the cauldrons began to swirl and rise, wrapping delicately around the ingredients. Under Xiao Hua's precise control, the refinement process began—slow and steady, yet impossibly smooth.
In the quiet, icy chamber, two and a half hours passed gently as the flames danced within the cauldrons like flickering spirits, their glow reflecting Xiao Hua's unwavering focus and extraordinary mastery.
As time passed, the numerous floating medicinal cauldrons gradually fused together. The medicinal essences contained within each one merged seamlessly, concentrating into a single unified vessel.
Now, only one cauldron remained, floating steadily before Xiao Hua. Its appearance was solid and refined, emanating a serene, composed aura. Elegant patterns of lifelike flames and lightning were etched across its surface, drawn in a style that combined both grace and majesty.
The cauldron pulsed with vibrant colors and exuded an imposing yet breathtaking beauty—one that would instinctively draw praise from any who witnessed it.
Within the cauldron, waves of delicate energy ripples continuously formed. These circular ripples expanded outward from the center, spreading in all directions like silent vibrations.
Yet, the moment they touched the inner walls of the cauldron, the ripples quietly dissipated, effortlessly contained within the vessel—revealing the Xiao Hua's absolute control.
The flames within the medicinal cauldron writhed and danced, wrapping tightly around a thumb-sized, pale purple pill rudiment that was slowly taking shape amidst the burning heat.
Soon, a rich, dark purple fragrance wafted from the cauldron, thick and potent, lingering throughout the entire room for a long while.
"Is it about to form?" Little Fairy Doctor asked softly, standing up as she inhaled the dense, violet-hued scent. Her gaze locked onto the cauldron with focused anticipation.
Qing Lin and Zi Yan also rose to their feet following her lead. They stretched their stiff limbs, having sat still for quite some time, rubbed their tired eyes, and let out gentle yawns before turning their attention to the glowing cauldron.
"Yes," Xiao Hua confirmed with a faint smile, nodding calmly. "As expected, even though the 'Breaking Adversity Pill' has a peculiar and unique effect, its refinement isn't particularly difficult. With my skills, completing it doesn't take too long."
A few more minutes passed before Xiao Hua lifted his palm. At his command, the five vibrant flames of different colors within the cauldron suddenly surged forth. In an instant, they engulfed the purple pill rudiment entirely, beginning the final stage of intense refinement.
The five flames of different colors surged brilliantly for a brief moment before swiftly vanishing. As the flames extinguished, a thumb-sized, pale purple medicinal pill, glowing with a faint luster, slowly rolled and rotated within the cauldron.
The instant the pill fully emerged, a fierce surge of energy rippled outward from its core. When the ripple reached the vibrant medicinal cauldron, it caused the structure to tremble slightly—but not a trace of that energy leaked beyond its confines.
After repeatedly clashing against the cauldron's inner walls, the wild ripples gradually weakened, shifting from fierce waves to gentle pulses. A short while later, they completely dissipated.
Only then did Xiao Hua wave his hand. The vibrant cauldron broke apart into countless glowing embers, each one flickering gently before vanishing into the air.
As the cauldron dispersed, it revealed the lone medicinal pill, floating silently and radiating a faint spiritual fluctuation.
Perhaps sensing with its limited intelligence that escaping from Xiao Hua was impossible, the medicinal pill obediently flew into his palm, hovering quietly above it.
Xiao Hua gazed at the pill resting in his hand. Its surface glowed with a soft pale-purple hue, and its round body shimmered with a vibrant luster. Strange, naturally formed lines adorned its surface—clearly not man-made. These markings twisted and curled, forming an abstract pattern that seemed to carry a deeper, mysterious meaning.
He could sense the peculiar energy sealed within. These natural lines were the key to the pill's uniqueness—and the source of its power to break through seals.
He had not added anything extra within the pill, unlike what Yao Chen once did in the story. A certain level of professional ethics was still necessary. Besides, even if his strength were fully restored, the chance of Hai Bodong harboring any ill intent toward him was extremely low.
In any case, the refinement of the Breaking Adversity Pill was now complete. This matter had come to a successful close.
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