Watching the figure of the Pharmacist Elder vanish into the warped space, Xiao Yan let out a slow breath. He had finally shaken off this old monster, but it seemed that he was not willing to give up so easily. Should they meet again in the future, a true battle to the death would surely ensue. On the ground, seeing the Pharmacist Elder leave, the bear-like Xiong Zhan, who stood like a giant tower, gave a cold snort, and then his massive body started to shrink rapidly. In just a few breaths, he turned back into the sturdy man Xiao Yan had seen earlier. Seeing Xiong Zhan return to human form, Xiao Yan, with Zi Yan in his arms, flashed down from the sky, placed her down, and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture. “Thank you, Brother Xiong Zhan, for your timely assistance.”
“Hey, big guy, he’s someone very close to me. Calling you ‘big brother’ is already giving you a lot of respect. And he’s an eighth-grade alchemist. When the time comes, he can casually make a pill for you. You’ll get a huge advantage then,” Zi Yan, standing to the side, bared her little tiger teeth and spoke to Xiong Zhan, waving her arms wildly. She knew Xiong Zhan’s temperament. If he didn’t know someone, he wouldn’t even acknowledge them. She didn’t want Xiao Yan to be given a bad look by this brute.
Hearing this, Xiong Zhan was stunned. His eyes, showing a hint of surprise, looked at Xiao Yan, and he was somewhat moved: “An eighth-grade alchemist?” An alchemist of such rank, even with his strength, had to be treated with courtesy. Because the pills needed for his level could only be made by an eighth-grade alchemist.
In the world of the strong, everything was based on power. If Xiao Yan had no real ability, even if it was for Zi Yan’s sake, Xiong Zhan would have a certain disdain in his heart. But now, hearing that Xiao Yan was actually an eighth-grade alchemist, it made him change his attitude significantly.
“I’m not really an eighth-grade alchemist yet, I’m still at the high level of seventh grade,” Xiao Yan smiled and said honestly, not hiding anything.
Seeing Xiao Yan’s honesty, Xiong Zhan was taken aback again, but he felt a rare sense of goodwill. While others wanted to cover their faces with gold, he unexpectedly exposed his own rank. This point, in fact, won some approval from the straightforward Xiong Zhan.
“But currently, I am searching for some things. If I can gather them, perhaps I will reach the eighth grade when I leave this realm.”
Seeing that Xiong Zhan didn’t show any disdain after his self-exposure, Xiao Yan also developed a bit of goodwill towards him. Changing his tone, he said with a smile, “If I do advance to the eighth grade, Brother Xiong Zhan, if you ever need anything, just come and find me. As long as it’s within my power, I’ll definitely help.”
“Haha, good, I’ll remember that. If you truly become an eighth-grade alchemist, I, the old Xiong, will definitely come to you,” Xiong Zhan couldn’t help but laugh, his laughter rumbling like thunder in the air.
“Big guy, Xiao Yan needs to pass this Pill Gathering and is said to need some items. Anyway, you have a lot of things, so let’s go see first. It’s a waste leaving them here,” Zi Yan grabbed Xiao Yan’s sleeve, said something to Xiong Zhan, and then without waiting for a reply, pulled Xiao Yan swiftly toward the mountain peak.
Seeing this, Xiong Zhan opened his mouth, then sighed. This young lady was indeed hard to please.
Following Zi Yan, Xiao Yan arrived at the massive stone palace on the mountain top in just a few minutes. At the entrance of the stone palace, two ferocious beasts were crouched. When they saw the unfamiliar face of Xiao Yan, they immediately stood up, their low, angry roars echoing through the air.
“Go play somewhere else,” Zi Yan, walking ahead, waved her small hand casually. The two fierce high-level beasts whimpered softly and quickly retreated, their tails between their legs. From Zi Yan, they felt a bloodline pressure that made them lose all desire to resist.
Seeing this, Xiao Yan mused. These two beasts were both at the seventh-grade level, no less powerful than the Mysterious Water Tiger Python he had seen earlier. Yet, in front of Zi Yan, they showed such weakness. It seemed that this girl’s background was truly remarkable.
Following Zi Yan, they quickly walked into the stone palace, passing through several corridors, and reached the spacious plaza within the main hall. The moment Xiao Yan stepped into the plaza, a thick, almost viscous medicinal fragrance rushed at him, making him sneeze loudly.
Lifting his head, he gazed at the densely packed medicinal herbs on the square, his face freezing in awe…
“Dragon Heart Flower… Flame Fruit… Sulfur Flame Spirit Saliva…”
Xiao Yan’s stunned gaze swept over the neatly arranged medicines in front of him. These things were extremely rare outside, but here, they were like common cabbages, casually placed around.
After a moment, Xiao Yan gradually came back to his senses, took a deep breath, and stifled the shock in his heart. Looking at Zi Yan, he said bitterly, “Did you move all the precious herbs from the Ten Thousand Medicinal Mountains here?”
Zi Yan chuckled and nodded, “You can choose whatever you want. You can take it all. That big guy is leaving anyway, so it’s better not to leave it for others.”
As soon as Zi Yan’s words fell, Xiong Zhan, who had just entered, stumbled and his mouth twitched. Although she was right, Xiong Zhan still felt his heart bleeding.
“If you need them, just choose. Just leave a little bit for me when you leave,” Xiong Zhan rubbed his large hands, his expression unchanged.
Seeing Xiong Zhan’s expression, Xiao Yan couldn’t help but smile. “Brother Xiong Zhan, you’re joking. All these are yours. It’s already very generous of you to lend us some. How can I take your belongings?”
“Oh, oh, he only wants a little bit. It’s fine, right?” As she spoke, Zi Yan suddenly turned her head, her bright eyes flashing with a brilliant purple light, which faintly resembled a dragon in shape.
Xiong Zhan, seeing the dragon-shaped purple light, shuddered, and a bloodline pressure made him almost feel his blood boiling.
“Is, is this the Ancestral Dragon’s pressure?” Shock flashed in his eyes, and his once rigid body involuntarily hunched a little. He hurriedly said with a smile, “Yes, yes, you’re right, dear miss. Brother Xiao Yan, feel free to take as much as you want. If you take too little, you’re underestimating me, and I’ll get angry!”
Xiao Yan opened his mouth, feeling both amused and touched. Xiong Zhan was indeed an interesting person. He nodded helplessly and cast a glance at Zi Yan, who was grinning at him. He lightly flicked her smooth forehead. He knew that Xiong Zhan’s sudden change of attitude had something to do with this little girl.
“Since Brother Xiong Zhan said so, I won’t be polite. I do need some things right now…”
Since Xiong Zhan had said so, Xiao Yan didn’t say much more. Bowing to him, he cautiously walked into the plaza filled with rare medicinal herbs, his eyes scanning each plant carefully, looking for what he needed.
The medicinal herbs in this plaza were almost the entire collection of the Ten Thousand Medicinal Mountains. The variety was so great that it was enough to dazzle anyone. Even though Xiao Yan’s knowledge of herbs was quite good, it still took him nearly half an hour to find three specific herbs.
Dragonheart Nine-Leaf Grass… Magic Blood Spirit Fruits… Immortal Ascension Grass…
These three medicinal herbs were the items Xiao Yan needed for his task. He had found them all, completing his mission effortlessly…
Looking at the three rare herbs in his hands, even Xiao Yan was a bit dazed, then shook his head ruefully. He was probably the most smoothly task-completing contestant in the history of the gathering.
Storing the three items in his spatial ring, Xiao Yan once again focused his mind on the plaza. What he needed most was a special herb called Hemmafei Stone Essence, which was crucial for harmonizing the Earth Core Soul Marrow. Once he found it, he could completely harmonize the marrow, and then his soul would undergo a transformation, entering the so-called Spiritual Realm, and the eighth-grade level would open its doors to him!
Finding Hemmafei Stone Essence was not easy. It was a peculiar item, neither fully a herb nor a stone. Without the experience, it was almost impossible to pick it out from a pile of rocks.
Xiao Yan’s gaze slowly scanned the plaza, and time passed swiftly. In a blink, an hour had passed. Xiong Zhan, tired of waiting, had already left, leaving Zi Yan sitting on the steps, her hand supporting her cheek, occasionally yawning as she watched Xiao Yan’s back.
Despite the passage of time, Xiao Yan’s steps did not grow hasty. Identifying herbs required focus, as many looked similar. One had to be meticulous to distinguish them.
Searching for herbs was a tedious and tiring task, but fortunately, his efforts paid off. As Xiao Yan’s steps led him to the other end of the plaza, he suddenly stopped. His gaze locked onto an inconspicuous corner where a green stone lay quietly in the fragrant soil…
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