Chapter 345: A Stranger of the Eighth Tier
"You little brat, what are you doing here? Xiao Yi Xian told me you went looking for your clansmen."
Xiao Yuan descended in his flowing white dress, looking down at the doll-like girl with fair porcelain skin and couldn't help but ruffle her soft hair.
The burly man beside them stared wide-eyed, stunned at the scene before him.
Wait a minute—someone actually dared to touch that little miss's head? And lived?
She called this white-clothed woman "sister," so… this had to be the big miss?
"I escaped! Hehe, I knew you'd be attending the Pill Gathering, so I came here to wait for you!"
Zi Yan giggled like a sly little fox, her crescent-shaped eyes gleaming with joy.
"I've been so pitiful. Since I left, I haven't had any tasty pills. Every day I had to take those disgusting things—so awful I nearly died!"
But the mood quickly shifted as she grabbed Xiao Yuan's sleeve, eyes glistening like gems. Her time away had been, to her, utterly miserable—especially compared to the days by Xiao Yuan's side. So the first chance she got, she bolted.
"You mean your clansmen?"
Xiao Yuan raised a brow as Zi Yan rubbed tears and snot on him, feeling his blood pressure spike. But he understood. She was still young and playful—forcing her to grow stronger by downing bitter pills for the sake of the Ancient Void Dragon clan was something she couldn't accept easily.
Besides, he knew Zi Yan tended to exaggerate. If the stuff was truly unbearable, she wouldn't be this strong now. Though, come to think of it—why was she still in child form despite reaching the seventh rank?
Zi Yan nodded furiously, clearly fed up with her clan's "kindness." If they found out what she was saying, they'd probably vomit blood on the spot.
"Here, your favorite pills."
Xiao Yuan chuckled and handed her a jade bottle. He had already refined this batch before heading to the Pill Region but hadn't found the chance to deliver them. Now they were finally useful.
"Aww! I knew you were the best!"
Zi Yan squealed and snatched the bottle, immediately stuffing pills into her mouth.
"By the way, why are you wearing a veil again? With your strength, do you still need to sneak around?"
Mouth full, she questioned him between chews.
"I have to keep a low profile. I'm the Pill Gathering's host. Technically, I shouldn't even be in the Pill Realm. Better if no one recognizes me."
Xiao Yuan removed the veil, revealing a face as exquisite as a celestial being. He then beckoned, gathering the half-eaten herbs Zi Yan had tossed aside. With a wave, dark-gold flames incinerated them into pure medicinal essence, which he casually pressed into Zi Yan's body.
This amount of medicinal force would kill most people, but for Zi Yan's monstrous physique, it was like a mild tickle.
The surging warmth made her giggle uncontrollably.
"Hey! That tickles! Hahaha!"
Nearby, the burly man's eyes lit up.
That was some serious pill refinement speed! And she wasn't bad-looking either. A bit skinny maybe, looked kind of delicate.
"By the way, who's our friend here?"
Xiao Yuan turned to the brawny fellow.
"His name's Xiong Zhan. I call him Big Guy. He's the boss of the Ten-Thousand Medicines Mountain and manages all the heavenly herbs here."
Zi Yan chuckled, her eyes gleaming with fond memories of her indulgent feast.
Xiong Zhan shivered. He remembered well how many rare herbs this little glutton had gobbled up like snacks. An absolute terror to his prized collection.
"New lackey?"
Xiao Yuan looked him over. He seemed to be around the three-star Dou Zun level, but with that monstrous physique, he could probably go toe-to-toe with a four-star.
"Pretty much. He's under my command now!"
Zi Yan puffed up with pride.
Xiong Zhan kept quiet and deferential. What else could he do?
"Hey, Big Guy, my sister here is an eighth-tier alchemist, you better show some respect! Or I'll beat you up!"
Zi Yan playfully shook a little fist. The surrounding space distorted slightly.
"Eighth-tier alchemist?!"
Xiong Zhan's expression changed instantly. This youthful woman was that powerful?
"How should I address you, miss?"
He bowed respectfully.
"Oh please, you actually believe this little rascal?" Xiao Yuan laughed. "I'm not a 'miss' at all."
He was about to earn some free herbs—better not stay incognito. With a swipe of his hand, water-element Dou Qi removed the makeup from his face, revealing his handsome, masculine features.
"WHAT?! You're a man?!"
Xiong Zhan was dumbfounded, like thunder had struck his skull.
"It's useful to have a few unexpected identities while roaming the continent," Xiao Yuan said with a smile. "Xiao Yuan. Eighth-tier alchemist."
"Xiong Zhan. Three-star Dou Zun. I'm an Ancient Dragonbear."
Still stunned, Xiong Zhan quickly responded with a formal bow after confirming Xiao Yuan's rank.
"No wonder you're mixed up with Zi Yan. Dragon blood, huh?"
"Eheheh." Xiong Zhan scratched his head sheepishly.
"If you ever need pills, just come to me. For Zi Yan's sake, I won't charge."
Xiao Yuan patted his shoulder generously.
"Not bad, you've got strength."
Xiong Zhan returned the gesture. When he saw Xiao Yuan remain unfazed by the force, his appreciation deepened.
Such physical strength—this human was no ordinary fellow.
"I heard you've gathered all the herbs here. Seeing it myself… damn, this is unbelievable."
Xiao Yuan's gaze swept over the plaza, where rare herbs were stacked like cabbages.
Zi Yan giggled. "Take whatever you want! We're leaving anyway. No point letting others have it."
Xiong Zhan's face twitched. Her words were true—but oh, how it hurt!
"If you need some, go ahead. Just leave me a little bit after."
He forced himself to speak with a straight face.
Xiao Yuan chuckled. "Brother Xiong, you're too kind. I'll give you some flesh-strengthening pills in return—only someone like you can handle the medicinal power."
"Exactly! He said it's just a little. No big deal, right?"
Zi Yan's eyes sparkled with a purple gleam—one that faintly took on a dragon's shape.
Xiong Zhan flinched. An ancestral dragon's pressure?! His blood nearly boiled over.
"Th-the Ancestral Dragon's aura?!"
He involuntarily hunched his massive frame and quickly smiled. "Y-yes, of course! Brother Xiao Yuan, take what you want! If you don't, I'll be offended!"
Xiao Yuan smiled wryly. Zi Yan was clearly threatening him in broad daylight. But since Xiong Zhan insisted, he couldn't say no.
Still, he flicked Zi Yan's forehead lightly—just to let her know he wasn't blind.
"Since Brother Xiong insists… I'll take a few herbs I need. Here, a high-tier seventh-grade Nirvana Body Pill—it refines and reconstructs the body, increasing its durability. Painful, but worth it. Comparable to some lower-tier eighth-grade pills."
He handed over a jade bottle.
"Perfect! Much appreciated!"
Xiong Zhan grinned widely. The herbs were great, but eating them raw was wasteful. A pill was way more efficient.
The plaza was basically the entire treasure trove of the Ten-Thousand Medicines Mountain. Even with his exceptional herb knowledge, Xiao Yuan spent nearly an hour sorting through it all.
Eventually, he found the three mission ingredients: Nine-Flame Dragon Saliva Grass, Soul Nectar Fruit, and Immortal Crane Grass.
All accounted for—mission complete, effortlessly!
He stored them in his ring. He had no intention of handing them over.
He continued searching for a specific rare herb: Celestial Agate Essence. It wasn't technically a herb—it resembled both stone and plant, with subtle distinguishing marks.
He examined the piles meticulously, not rushing. With similar-looking herbs everywhere, attention to detail was key.
An hour passed. Xiong Zhan had wandered off. Zi Yan, now bored, sat on the stone steps yawning.
Finally, Xiao Yuan stopped, his gaze locking onto a dull-green stone tucked in the soil.
Up close, faint lines crisscrossed the semi-transparent surface, and within, a thick liquid swirled slowly.
He picked it up.
Cool to the touch. A soft slosh came from within.
"This must be it—Celestial Agate Essence."
After thorough inspection, he confirmed it. A crucial reagent to mix with Earth Core Soul Essence. Perfect match.
With that in hand, he turned and spotted Zi Yan on the stairs.
"Found it?" she perked up.
Xiao Yuan nodded with a smile.
"When are we leaving?" she asked eagerly. Despite the abundance of good food, the Pill Realm was getting dull.
"Help me find a secluded chamber—I need to refine a pill."
Just then, Xiao Yuan's brows furrowed.
A strong, unfamiliar soul presence had appeared in the mountain!
Not Xiao Yan. Not Wang Yuandan.
Another eighth-tier alchemist…?
Could it be that person?
Xiao Yuan's mind stirred with memories.
(END CHAPTER)
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