As soon as Elder Qiu finished speaking, he suddenly raised his hand. His palm tightened in midair, and a faint ripple spread outward—an azure scroll materialized within his grasp.
"This is the Green Fungus Pill Recipe. You may either join the Pill Tower now or exchange it with another 8th Tier Pill Recipe. The choice is yours. From where I stand, joining the Pill Tower wouldn't be a bad thing. We of the Pill Tower do not judge by background. With your talent, once you study our inheritances, your path as an alchemist will advance by leaps and bounds."
Liu Xi lifted his gaze from the scroll and studied Elder Qiu's composed face. His eyes were as calm as still water.
'Is this old man truly thinking for my sake… or for the Tower's?'
A faint smile tugged at his lips as Liu Xi drew out another scroll and flicked it lightly in his hand. "I'll exchange this recipe. It's for the Bone Growing Blood Fusing Pill—a peak 7th Tier pill that, when infused with spirituality by an 8th Tier Alchemist, can be refined into an 8th Tier pill."
"Bone Growing Blood Fusing Pill, huh?" Elder Qiu's expression shifted slightly. He'd heard of that one—it was a powerful elixir said to regrow flesh and bone. After a brief pause, he nodded approvingly. "Acceptable. It seems you're pinning your hopes on the Pill Gathering championship then. I wish you luck—there will be many formidable opponents there."
Liu Xi was mildly surprised by how readily Elder Qiu agreed. With a flick of his wrist, he caught the Green Fungus Pill Recipe the elder tossed him, and in the same motion, sent over the Bone Growing Blood Fusing Pill Recipe.
"I understand. Thank you for the reminder, Elder Qiu."
Elder Qiu tucked the scroll away, turned to leave—then paused midway and looked back. "One more thing. With your level of skill, you are certainly far beyond a mere mid-level 7th Tier Alchemist. When you have the time, visit the main headquarters for an advanced test."
"Got it," Liu Xi replied casually.
He had no real interest in ranks or badges. His goal was only to establish a connection with the Pill Tower's upper echelon and acquire several 8th Tier Pill Recipes. Now that he possessed four of them, his current objective was complete.
Elder Qiu finally departed for real this time. Liu Xi handed the azure scroll to Yao Tianhuo, who accepted it eagerly, unfolding it with clear excitement.
Liu Xi teased, "Elder Yao, make sure to memorize every medicinal ingredient listed. The task of finding them will fall on you."
These high-level recipes were inscribed with both text and Spiritual imprints. Yao Tianhuo could read only the written ingredients and general refining method—but the true intricacies, the fine manipulations, and soul-based details required a Spiritual Power reading. That was why Liu Xi spoke so.
After a moment, Yao Tianhuo lowered the scroll, looking at Liu Xi. "So that's your plan, then?"
Liu Xi spread his hands helplessly. "Elder Yao, the materials for an 8th Tier pill are rare and costly. Gathering them all will take time. I still need to train—can't spend all my days scouring the continent for herbs. You'll have to take on that part."
"Haha, fair enough."
Yao Tianhuo stroked his beard awkwardly, his laughter betraying a touch of embarrassment.
After all, when people sought an alchemist's help, they typically had to prepare everything themselves—the ingredients, the recipe, and an extravagant payment besides. And even then, whether the alchemist agreed depended on their mood.
Now, Liu Xi had exchanged for the recipe himself, yet if he also had to collect every ingredient personally… what kind of lofty alchemist would that make him?
Soon after, Yao Tianhuo had memorized the dozens of rare materials needed for the Green Fungus Pill, then handed the scroll back to Liu Xi.
Casting a glance at Xiao Yixian—who stood quietly at Liu Xi's back—Yao Tianhuo sighed. "With Miss Xiao Yixian beside you, and those two Heavenly Demon Puppets as well, I needn't worry for your safety. I'll depart to find the ingredients. Once everything's ready, I'll contact you."
He cupped his hands respectfully and left behind a trace of his Spiritual Power for Liu Xi to use as a communication mark. Moments later, his figure flickered and vanished completely.
Xiao Yixian moved closer, gently wrapping her arm around Liu Xi's. Her voice was soft and warm. "Young Master, I'll stay by your side always. I'll protect you no matter what."
Her touch was tender and smooth, making Liu Xi turn his head almost involuntarily. Her delicate face glowed with a sweet, radiant smile that made his heart stir.
Liu Xi smiled faintly in return. 'Indeed, she's one of my best investments yet.'
"Let's go. We've gotten everything we came for—and what we couldn't get will have to wait for the right time."
He lifted his gaze toward the ceiling as though his sight pierced through the roof and into the heavens beyond, into that hidden starry region—where the Three Thousand Burning Flames resided. Refining that Heavenly Flame would grant him a breakthrough to the Dou Zun Realm.
But now was not the time. Beneath the eyes of the Pill Tower's three giants, he couldn't risk taking it. He would have to seek another Heavenly Flame first.
"Wherever Young Master goes, I'll go," Xiao Yixian said softly, her tone full of quiet devotion.
With their course set, they moved quickly. Liu Xi settled the inn's bill and added a generous compensation for the damage caused earlier.
Before long, they were walking side by side down Holy Pill City's bustling main street—hands intertwined, shoulders brushing.
Before leaving, Liu Xi had bought Xiao Yixian several new dresses and ornaments. Although she could conjure her own garments through energy, the tailored ones had their own charm. The fine fabric and elegant cut accentuated her graceful figure perfectly.
As for Yao Tianhuo, who had already vanished to search for ingredients, Liu Xi wasn't concerned. With a Dou Zun's strength, he was safer than most.
Leaving Holy Pill City, Liu Xi sensed the Three Thousand Burning Flames pulsing faintly nearby through the lotus mark on his brow. But in the distant north, there was also another flicker of familiar, fiery resonance—a sign of yet another Heavenly Flame.
At the same time, within the Pill Tower's mysterious inner void, a conversation was unfolding.
"So, that young Spirit Realm soul user obtained his mid-level 7th Tier badge and the Green Fungus Pill Recipe, then departed Holy Pill City?"
"Yes. His talent is exceptional, his soul at the Spirit Realm thanks to rare opportunity. Only 25 or 26 by bone age—barely any older than Cao Ying herself."
"Heh… as long as he isn't someone from the Hall of Souls, a genius like that is a blessing to our Pill Tower. In fact, perhaps this will give little Ying'er a sense of urgency—she's grown too complacent lately. Hahaha…"
The voices faded into silence.
Meanwhile, Liu Xi and Xiao Yixian—free from further obligations—traveled north together. There was no need to hurry through teleportation arrays now.
Their journey was peaceful, more like that of a young noble and his beautiful companion wandering the world, hand in hand beneath the endless sky.
(End of Chapter)
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