"Young Master Xiao, welcome!"
Greeting him was a noblewoman, dressed luxuriously but not ostentatiously. Although her face had many wrinkles, her skin maintained its good complexion.
The saying 'time does not defeat beauty' perfectly described this noblewoman.
Moreover, the woman bore a six-tenths resemblance to Dan Chen, who was beside her, suggesting she was likely Dan Chen's mother.
"I am Dan Yunqiu, the current Family Head Dan and also Chen'er's mother."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Family Head Dan." Xiao Li shook her hand.
Under the enthusiastic escort of Dan Yunqiu and others, Xiao Li entered the main hall.
As the champion of this year's Pill Gathering, Young Master Xiao's identity and strength were naturally beyond doubt, making him worthy of such a grand reception from the Dan Family.
"May I ask, Family Head Dan, why you invited me here today?" Xiao Li got straight to the point, not wanting to waste too much time.
Seeing his directness, Dan Yunqiu didn't mind and smiled, "I heard from Chen'er that you helped her a great deal in the Dan Realm. So, this time, I invited Young Master Xiao to express our gratitude for your assistance to Chen'er."
"It was merely a small favor."
Dan Chen was seated next to Dan Yunqiu.
When Xiao Li looked over, she would shyly avert her eyes, not daring to meet his gaze.
This was Dan Chen's inherent personality—gentle and timid, easily embarrassed in front of strangers.
Although her relationship with Xiao Li could no longer be described as 'strangers,' it wasn't exactly 'very familiar' either.
Still, the necessary decorum had to be maintained.
"To Young Master Xiao, it might be a small favor, but to us, it is a great kindness."
"Therefore, we have also prepared a gift of gratitude for Young Master Xiao, and we hope you won't find it lacking."
With that, Dan Yunqiu took out a thick stack of scrolls from her storage ring and, using a gentle force, sent them before Xiao Li.
"These scrolls record some of the alchemy experience our Dan Family has accumulated over the years. Although they might not be of much use to Young Master Xiao, who just won the championship, they are a token of our sincerity," Dan Yunqiu said.
Alchemy experience?
Such things were priceless and impossible to find on the market.
For an Alchemist, their self-summarized experience was their most valuable asset.
There were so many Alchemists on the continent; everyone refined different pills, used different methods, and encountered different situations.
Every Alchemist had their own summarized experience, worth a fortune.
Especially for some novice Alchemists, the experience of an old Alchemist could save them many detours on this path.
The experience Dan Yunqiu provided was not the summary of one, two, or even three or four Alchemists, but the collective experience accumulated by the entire Dan Family over all these years.
Its value was immeasurable.
Although Xiao Li could now be considered an Eighth-Grade Alchemist, he didn't know how to refine every single pill, nor was he immune to failure.
This stack of scrolls carried significant weight.
"Although I saved Dan Chen, this gift of gratitude is far too valuable."
"If I'm not mistaken… Family Head Dan, you must have other matters, right?"
Xiao Li wasn't the kind of fool who wouldn't take advantage of a good deal.
But when it was so obviously a good deal that anyone with eyes could see it, how could there not be some other catch?
"Young Master Xiao indeed possesses keen insight; nothing can be hidden from you." Dan Yunqiu smiled,
"This time, I invited Young Master Xiao because I truly wish to ask for your help."
"Of course, this matter poses no difficulty for Young Master Xiao."
She even started to preemptively manage his expectations.
Although Xiao Li didn't believe her words.
But since he had already come, and the gift of gratitude Dan Yunqiu offered was quite substantial, Xiao Li decided to hear her out for now.
"Please speak, Family Head Dan."
"Actually, this matter concerns Chen'er. Chen'er has been frail and sickly since childhood, with a potent toxin called 'Nine Nether Cold Poison' within her body, constantly eroding her health."
"The Nine Nether Cold Poison is the most extreme cold poison in the world, with no antidote. The only way to expel the cold poison from her body is by using an Heavenly Flame."
"Moreover, ordinary Heavenly Flames are useless; it must be a Heavenly Flame ranked among the top ten on the Heavenly Flame Ranking to be effective."
"Currently, looking across the entire Central Plains, the only top ten Heavenly Flame we know of is the Three Thousand Yan Flame. Unfortunately, for so many years, no one has been able to subdue the Three Thousand Yan Flame."
"Now, Young Master Xiao has subdued the Three Thousand Yan Flame, giving us hope. Therefore, I implore Young Master Xiao, please save Chen'er."
Dan Yunqiu stood up and bowed deeply to Xiao Li.
"Family Head Dan, there's no need for such a grand gesture."
Xiao Li quickly helped her up.
For the dignified Family Head Dan to personally bow to him was enough to show the importance she placed on this matter.
"Please, Young Master Xiao, save Chen'er!" Dan Yunqiu requested earnestly once more.
"Alright, I agree." Xiao Li, feeling helpless, could only assent.
"Really? Thank you, Young Master Xiao!" Dan Yunqiu was overjoyed, and at the same time, she pulled Dan Chen, who was beside her, closer.
"Chen'er, quickly thank Young Master Xiao."
"Thank you, Young Master Xiao..." Dan Chen's head was bowed, her voice soft and gentle.
It sounded so pleasant.
"Let's first understand the situation; I haven't heard of the Nine Nether Cold Poison before," Xiao Li said.
"The Nine Nether Cold Poison is essentially a potent toxin derived from the Nine Netherworld Nether Python Clan, belonging to the same origin as their 'Emperor Python Corroding Heart Poison'."
"Although the Nine Nether Cold Poison is slightly less potent than the Emperor Python Corroding Heart Poison, it is extremely troublesome and has no antidote."
"Years ago, I was injured by a peak Dou Zun expert from the Nine Netherworld Nether Python Clan, and the Nine Nether Cold Poison invaded my body."
"At that time, I was already pregnant with Chen'er. After giving birth to Chen'er, the Nine Nether Cold Poison also entered her body, causing her to be very weak all these years." Dan Yunqiu's face showed a look of guilt.
As a mother, she felt deeply ashamed for having implicated her child due to her own reasons.
"Mother, it's not your fault." Dan Chen held Dan Yunqiu's hand, comforting her.
She had never blamed Dan Yunqiu.
After hearing this, Xiao Li generally understood the full story.
Dan Chen, despite being afflicted by the cold poison, still possessed such high alchemy talent.
It was truly astonishing.
"Then, let me examine Miss Dan Chen's Nine Nether Cold Poison first," Xiao Li said.
"Yes, thank you, Young Master Xiao."
Dan Chen nodded, sat down next to Xiao Li, and extended a fair, slender wrist.
Xiao Li placed his fingers on it, allowing a wisp of soul power to enter Dan Chen's body.
As soon as his soul power entered, he felt an icy coldness—Dan Chen's body was like a giant ice cave, filled with bone-chilling cold.
Her meridians and blood were permeated with an unyielding cold aura.
"Such terrifying coldness..."
If it were a normal person, they would have long been frozen into an ice sculpture by this cold aura.
Dan Chen's ability to persevere, aside from her own strength, was likely due to the Dan Family's considerable efforts and numerous methods to help her endure.
This was a cold poison that even the Pill Tower Three Giants couldn't handle.
Now, the only solution was the Three Thousand Yan Flame within Xiao Li's body!
...