After a night of Dou Qi training, Lin Yuan withdrew his seals and calmed the Dou Qi flowing through his body. He stretched, then sat on a stone bench. He retrieved a volume of the Pharmacopoeia from his storage ring, borrowed from the Martial Arts Pavilion, and began to study and memorize it carefully.
Although Jia Ma Academy's Alchemy Department did not have a very high upper limit, its foundation was solid, with a rich collection of books. Fully aware of the importance of becoming an alchemist for his future, Lin Yuan devoted considerable time to this pursuit.
Without a personal mentor, Lin Yuan knew he had to rely on his own learning to make up for any shortcomings in knowledge and foundation, minimizing the risk of missing future opportunities.
After a while, Lin Yuan considered the time when the Outer Courtyard Martial Arts Pavilion would open. He returned the Pharmacopoeia to his storage ring and headed toward the pavilion.
In front of the Martial Arts Pavilion, a fiery red figure came into view, waiting with her arms folded. It was none other than the Vice Dean's granddaughter, Hu Jia, known as the Little Witch.
As the Vice Dean's granddaughter, Hu Jia was well-known in the Outer Court. She had a good background, great looks, a straightforward personality, and exceptional talent, though she wasn't very dedicated to cultivation. Today, she wore a fiery red outfit that perfectly matched her energetic personality.
"Lin Yuan, what a coincidence! You're such a busy person—how do you have time to hang out here today?" Seeing Lin Yuan, Hu Jia walked over quickly, teasing him.
Lin Yuan shook his head helplessly and replied with a slightly playful smile, "What a coincidence! Our little hot pepper, who usually avoids the Martial Arts Pavilion, is here so early."
Hu Jia blinked at this, then suddenly moved closer and asked mysteriously, "I heard you broke through to the Grand Fighter level? Is that true?"
Lin Yuan smiled faintly and replied teasingly, "Guess."
"Oh, stop it! Just tell me!" Hu Jia anxiously reached out and tugged at Lin Yuan's sleeve.
"Yes, I did break through," Lin Yuan smiled and nodded.
"Wow, you're amazing!" Hu Jia exclaimed somewhat boastfully. She then changed the subject and complained, "No wonder my grandfather keeps nagging me about you, telling me how hardworking and talented you are. He's clearly using you to motivate me! Seriously, it's putting so much pressure on me."
Lin Yuan understood. "Old men always like to compare us. But don't lose heart. I believe if you work hard, there might just be a slight chance you can surpass me." A hint of teasing deepened in his tone.
"Hmph! What do you mean by a slight chance? It's only a matter of time before I surpass you!" Hu Jia raised her head proudly, then said seriously, "But you're right. I really should work harder. I've decided: from today on, I'm going to practice seriously and stop slacking off!"
Lin Yuan felt relieved at Hu Jia's earnest expression. He knew that although she appeared carefree, she was very strong-willed. He reached out and patted her shoulder. "Keep going, young lady!"
Hu Jia felt a little embarrassed by Lin Yuan's sudden encouragement. She glared at him. "Don't take advantage of me!"
Lin Yuan smiled and walked past Hu Jia to the entrance of the Martial Arts Pavilion. He waved and left a word of encouragement: "I hope you can live up to the name of Little Witch when we meet next time."
After handing the token to Elder Xu, who was guarding the Martial Arts Pavilion, Lin Yuan stepped into the top floor of the pavilion. The Martial Arts and Fighting Techniques there were far fewer than those below. He knew he had to choose carefully, as the techniques would directly affect his future path of cultivation.
After careful selection and comparison, Lin Yuan finally settled on two secret manuals: Spirit Flame Art and Dragon Steps.
Spirit Flame Art is considered a top-tier technique even among high-level Xuan practitioners, enabling mastery of precise flame-based Dou Qi control. As Lin Yuan flipped through the manual, the scrolls emanated blazing power. This technique not only enhanced the power of flame-based Dou Qi, but also strengthened the practitioner's control over flames, making them as flexible as fingers, capable of both hardness and softness. For Lin Yuan, an aspiring alchemist, precise control of flames was crucial in both combat and alchemy.
Dragon Steps is a high-level Xuan physical combat technique. The steps described were bizarre and varied, as unpredictable as a dragon weaving through clouds. Fully deployed, they granted exceptional speed and could be combined with his existing technique, Instant Steps. Lin Yuan attempted the steps and sensed that each required strong Dou Qi control to maintain balance and speed. Although difficult to cultivate, mastering it would allow him to evade enemy attacks effortlessly and maneuver in combat with ease.
Lin Yuan knew his strengths. With his powerful soul power, he possessed natural talent for Dou Qi control. The difficulty of Spirit Flame Art and Dragon Steps posed no obstacle; their superior effects were exactly what he desired.
After selecting the techniques, he registered with Elder Xu. The elder looked at him and chuckled. "You have a very good eye. Spirit Flame Art and Dragon Steps are excellent Xuan-level manuals. They're challenging, but perfectly suited to a talent like you."
Lin Yuan thanked him respectfully. "Thank you, Elder. I will practice diligently and make the most of these skills."
The elder's expression grew serious. "Remember, the manuals in the Technique Pavilion are precious treasures. They cannot be passed on without permission. Practice on your own and return the originals after one month. If you violate the rules, you will be severely punished."
Lin Yuan's face darkened with solemnity. "Rest assured, Elder. I understand and will strictly abide by the rules."
Observing his earnest expression, the elder nodded with satisfaction, waved him off, and Lin Yuan left the pavilion.
Returning to his courtyard, Lin Yuan took out the Spirit Flame Art and Dragon Steps manuals from his storage ring and began familiarizing himself with the corresponding Dou Qi circulation methods.
It was midnight.
Lin Yuan's face remained calm as he cultivated, his spiritual perception fully activated. Sensing no one was around, he gently moved the stone table aside and covered his right hand with three streams of Dou Qi. These streams formed spirals, a manifestation of Lin Yuan's self-created attributeless Xuan-level Dou skill, the Spiral Force.
He manipulated the Spiral Force to dig a small hole where the stone table had been. After several meters, a low-level storage ring appeared at the bottom. Channeling his Dou Qi, a powerful gust of wind lifted the ring into his hand. He quickly retracted it, filled the hole, and returned the stone table to its original position.
Lin Yuan then entered the house and pulled out a jade bottle from the unearthed storage ring. Inside was a blood-red pill, about the size of a longan. The pill looked mysterious, resembling a transparent bead filled with blood. In the center, a dark red glint resembled a tiny eye, exuding an eerie aura.
Looking at the pill, Lin Yuan's expression remained calm, his eyes deep and profound.
"It's time to begin the next step of our plan."
Life-Devouring Pill.