Within the ancient casket, a pill as green as emerald and as large as a dragon’s eye lay quietly, exuding an enticing aroma. In the land of Dou Qi, to become a true fighter, one must first condense the Dou Qi vortex within their body. However, the failure rate of condensing the Dou Qi vortex is quite high. If one fails, the nine-stage Dou Qi will revert to eight stages. Some unlucky individuals might need to attempt it over a dozen times before succeeding. Such repeated attempts can cause one to lose the best period for cultivation, severely damaging their future prospects. The Qi Gathering Powder, its function is to ensure that a nine-stage Dou Qi practitioner can successfully condense the Dou Qi vortex with 100% certainty! This special effect has made countless people eager to become fighters as soon as possible, dreaming of it day and night.
Speaking of the Qi Gathering Powder, one must mention its creator: the Alchemist! In the land of Dou Qi, there is a profession that stands above fighters, known as Alchemists! As the name suggests, Alchemists can concoct various magical elixirs that enhance one’s strength. Any Alchemist will be ardently sought after by various forces, no matter the cost, due to their prestigious status and influence!
The reason Alchemists receive such treatment is due to their rarity and practical value. The conditions to become an Alchemist are extremely harsh. Firstly, one must have a fire attribute. Secondly, within their fire body, there must be a trace of wood energy to catalyze the alchemy process. It should be noted that the attributes of the human body in the land of Dou Qi are determined by their souls. A soul can only possess one attribute, and it is almost impossible for it to have another. Therefore, having two different and strong attributes in one body is virtually impossible.
Of course, nothing is absolute. Among millions, there are always some with mutated souls, and these individuals with mutated souls have the potential to become Alchemists! However, merely possessing a fire and wood attribute soul is not enough to be called a true Alchemist. Another necessary condition for being an Alchemist, which is equally important, is the perception of the soul, also known as the soul shaping ability!
The three most important conditions for concocting elixirs are: materials, flame, and the soul’s perception! Materials, of course, are various natural treasures. After all, Alchemists are not gods. Without top-quality materials, they would be like a skilled cook without rice. Therefore, good materials are crucial!
Flame, or the fire required for alchemy, cannot use ordinary fire. Instead, it must use the Dou Qi flame catalyzed from the fire attribute Dou Qi. Of course, there are strange fires in the world, and some powerful Alchemists will use them. Using these strange fires not only increases the success rate but also makes the elixirs more potent and effective than those made with ordinary Dou Qi flames!
Since alchemy is a long process, it consumes a lot of Dou Qi. Therefore, every outstanding Alchemist is also a powerful Flame Fighter!
The last condition is the soul’s perception! During alchemy, controlling the heat is the most critical aspect. Sometimes, even a slight miscalculation in the heat can turn the entire furnace of elixirs into ashes, rendering all efforts futile. Thus, mastering the heat control is a must for Alchemists. To control the heat well, one needs a strong soul perception. Without this, no matter how well you do the other two aspects, it would be in vain!
Under such stringent conditions, qualified Alchemists are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. With fewer Alchemists, the number of magical elixirs is also minimal. The rarer something is, the more valuable it becomes. This is why Alchemists hold such a prestigious, even somewhat distorted, status.
…
In the great hall, upon hearing the elders’ exclamations, the young men and women’s eyes widened, their fervent gazes fixed on the jade casket in Ge Ye’s hand. Xiao Mei, sitting next to her father, gently licked her pink lips, staring intently at the jade casket without blinking…
“Ha ha, this is personally refined by our esteemed elder Gu He. I’m sure you’ve heard of his name, right?” Seeing the three elders’ surprise, Ge Ye couldn’t help but feel a bit smug, smiling as he spoke.
“Is this elixir actually from the hand of Pill King Gu He?” Hearing this, the three elders were deeply moved. Pill King Gu He had a tremendous influence in the Jia Ma Empire. His alchemy skills were mysterious and unpredictable, and many powerful individuals sought to curry favor with him, but found no way to do so.
Gu He was not only a master of alchemy but also a powerful fighter, having long entered the rank of a Dou King and listed among the top ten strongest in the Jia Ma Empire.
Such a person, if the Qi Gathering Powder came from his hands, its value would likely multiply several times over.
The three elders looked at the Qi Gathering Powder in the jade casket with joy. If the family had this elixir, it could create another young fighter.
Just as the three elders were thinking about how to get the elixir for their grandchildren, the youth’s voice, filled with suppressed anger, suddenly echoed in the great hall.
“Elder Ge Ye, please take back the elixir. We may not agree to this matter today.”
The great hall fell silent, and all eyes turned to Xiao Yan, who stood in the corner with a clear face.
“Xiao Yan, what right do you have to speak here? Shut up!” One of the elders roared angrily, his face darkening.
“Xiao Yan, step back. I know you’re upset, but we will handle this,” said another elder, slightly older, with a calm tone.
“Elders, if the person who broke off the engagement today was your son or grandson, would you still say the same thing?” Xiao Yan slowly stood up, his lips curled in mockery, asking with a smile. The disdain of the three elders towards him was evident, so he saw no need to pretend to be timid in front of them.
“You…” The three elders faltered, and the third elder, known for his hot temper, glared with his Dou Qi slowly enveloping his body.
“Elders, Elder Brother Xiao Yan is right. This matter concerns him, and you should not interfere,” the girl’s clear voice rang out in the hall.
Hearing the girl’s soft words, the three elders’ fiery tempers subsided. They exchanged a helpless glance and nodded.
Seeing the deflated three elders, Xiao Yan turned his head and gave a deep, lingering look at the smiling Xiao Xun’er. What exactly is this girl’s identity? Why do the three elders fear her so much…
Suppressing his doubts, Xiao Yan strode forward, first bowing respectfully to Xiao Zhan, then turning to face Nalan Yanran. He took a deep breath and calmly asked, “Miss Nalan, may I ask, did Grandfather Nalan agree to break off the engagement today?”
Seeing Xiao Yan suddenly step in, Nalan Yanran felt a bit annoyed. Now, hearing his question, her eyebrows furrowed slightly. This person, who seemed decent at first, turned out to be a persistent and annoying individual. Didn’t he know the difference between them?
As she blamed Xiao Yan, she did not consider that her public act of breaking off the engagement had put Xiao Yan and his father in an awkward and angry situation.
Standing up and gazing at the youth who should have been her husband, Nalan Yanran’s tone was calm and gentle, “Grandfather did not agree, but this is my matter, and it has nothing to do with him.”
“Since Grandfather did not consent, I hope you will understand. My father will not agree to your request either. The engagement was arranged by both our grandfathers, and since they have not annulled it, no one dares to do so. Otherwise, it would be a desecration of the deceased elders! I don’t think anyone in our clan would dare to commit such an act of defiance, do you?” Xiao Yan turned his head slightly and stared coldly at the three elders.
Pressed by Xiao Yan’s heavy accusation, the three elders fell silent. In the strict hierarchy of the clan, such an accusation could cost them their positions as elders.
“You…” Nalan Yanran, caught off guard by Xiao Yan’s retort, struggled to find a counter-argument. Her face turned pale, and she stamped her foot, taking a deep breath. Her usual spoiled temperament emerged, and she stared at the youth in front of her with irritation, speaking directly, “What do you want to end this engagement? Not enough compensation? Fine, I can have my teacher give you three more Qi Gathering Powders. Also, if you wish, I can let you enter the Yun Lan Sect to study advanced Dou Qi techniques. Is that enough?”
Hearing the attractive terms coming from the girl, the three elders felt their breathing quicken. The young men in the hall gulped, the idea of entering the Yun Lan Sect to study was a dream for many…
After stating these terms, Nalan Yanran raised her snow-white chin, like a proud princess, waiting for Xiao Yan’s response. In her mind, such terms were enough to drive any young man crazy…
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