When Liu Xi's pill finally took form, Yan Li and the other schemers seized the moment. As everyone's attention remained fixed on Liu Xi and his cauldron, those men quietly slipped away from the Royal Plaza.
Jia Xingtian and Hai Bodong merely exchanged a cold smile and followed after them. For men who dared to cause trouble at the Alchemist Grand Assembly, their fate would undoubtedly be miserable.
Such a minor disturbance was hardly worth mention. Qie Mi'er quickly organized the remaining alchemists from the Jia Ma Empire to hold an additional match to determine the distribution of the prizes.
But after witnessing the birth of a 6th Tier pill, everything else paled in comparison.
By nightfall, Liu Ling had taken second place with a 4th Tier pill, while Princess Yao Yue narrowly ranked third.
As for Xiao Yan, for reasons unknown, he refrained from showcasing his full abilities and only produced a high-grade 3rd Tier pill, earning him fourth place. Even so, his recommenders—Ao Tuo and Fu Lan Ke of Black Rock City—were overjoyed.
And so, the Seventh Alchemist Grand Assembly came to an end. No one cared anymore about how the foreign alchemists had once overshadowed Jia Ma's representatives in the early rounds.
All anyone could speak of now was the Azure Spirit Life Extension Pill—the luminous, living pill that had flown from Liu Xi's cauldron.
At first, everyone understood it was a pill that could extend one's life by ten years. But as stories spread from one mouth to another, they grew more and more exaggerated—until rumors claimed that merely smelling the pill's fragrance could extend life by ten years, and consuming it would grant immortality itself.
---
The Next Morning
When Liu Xi awoke from cultivation, he felt completely refreshed. The fatigue from the previous day's refinement had vanished.
Sitting cross-legged atop the lotus platform, he could feel the boundless flow of Dou Qi surging through his meridians like a mighty river. A faint smile appeared on his face.
'It's been almost two months since breaking through to the Dou Huang realm,' he thought. 'My Dou Qi has already reached the peak of 1-Star Dou Huang. My progress is far from slow.'
He rose from the platform, stretching lazily as his joints gave a satisfying crack. "Tomorrow, after getting my hands on the Flame Mantra, I'll start preparing for another breakthrough," he murmured.
Even if he didn't plan to cultivate the Flame Mantra right away, such a heaven-defying Qi Method was something he had to secure. After all, the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's Origin Qi inheritance was directly tied to it.
If Liu Xi wanted to ascend to the level of Dou Di himself, he had to seize every key related to that path.
'If all goes as I predict,' he mused, 'then under Yun Shan's suppression, without Hai Bodong's aid, without the Seven Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, and with Yun Yun prioritizing her sect, even she won't be able to stop Ling Ying.'
'That means Yao Chen will have to fight Yun Shan alone. He may hold his own, but he certainly won't be able to protect Xiao Yan. When that happens… I don't believe he'll still cling so tightly to the Flame Mantra.'
His plan was bold, perhaps even ruthless—but entirely feasible.
---
When Liu Xi opened his door, he found a maid waiting quietly outside. Seeing him emerge, her face lit up, and she bowed respectfully.
"Young Master," she said softly, "two distinguished guests have arrived at the manor. Lady Xian'er asked me to inform you."
"Oh?" Liu Xi arched a brow, mildly surprised. "Lead the way."
As he approached the main hall, the sound of hearty laughter reached his ears. He instantly recognized the voices and smiled faintly.
Inside, Jia Xingtian and Hai Bodong were seated with Xiao Yixian, chatting pleasantly.
"Haha! Miss Xiao Yixian truly amazes me," Hai Bodong was saying with a grin. "Three years apart, and she's already advanced to the Dou Wang realm. It seems your eye for talent, little friend, far surpasses ours old fellows."
Three years ago, Hai Bodong had met Xiao Yixian briefly, but back then, he had dismissed her as just a pretty attendant at Liu Xi's side.
Xiao Yixian smiled modestly. "You flatter me, Senior. Compared to the cultivation of you two Seniors, this junior still has far to go."
Her tone was humble, her manner graceful. That morning, when Jia Xingtian and Hai Bodong had suddenly arrived, Liu Xi had still been cultivating, so she received them in his stead.
Jia Xingtian chuckled, continuing, "It seems his eye for talent is truly sharp, little friend. That other girl—she even drew a Dou Zong powerhouse to personally accept her as a disciple. He certainly has a knack for discovering treasures."
A soft cough interrupted them. "Ahem."
Liu Xi stepped into the hall with a calm smile. "Elder Jia, Elder Hai, what brings the two of you here so early?"
The two old men immediately rose to greet him, along with Xiao Yixian.
"Haha, nothing serious," Jia Xingtian said with a dry laugh. "Last night we tracked down those troublemaking alchemists. These are the Storage Rings we took from them. We came to deliver your rightful spoils."
Liu Xi took his seat at the head of the table and motioned for everyone to sit. A playful glint flickered in his eyes as he swept his gaze across the two elders.
"A few 4th Tier alchemists' rings aren't worth the two of you coming in person," he said with a grin. "Go ahead—what's the real reason you're here?"
Jia Xingtian hesitated briefly, then decided there was no point hiding it. His expression grew serious. "I wish to purchase the 6th Tier pill you refined yesterday—the one that can extend life by ten years. The imperial family is willing to pay any price you ask."
It was no secret why he desired it. The imperial family had no one capable of replacing him as guardian, and the chance to prolong his own life was far too tempting to ignore.
Liu Xi thought for a moment before shaking his head. "That pill was prepared for someone else. I can't sell it. However…" He smiled faintly. "I can make you a different pill—one that suits you even better."
Jia Xingtian's eyes lit up. "What pill?"
Liu Xi's tone was calm. "The Zong Breaking Pill."
Both Jia Xingtian and Hai Bodong froze in shock. The former's breathing quickened. "Truly? If you can refine such a pill, little friend, name your price!"
"Three sets of ingredients," Liu Xi said evenly. "Three million gold coins. Oh, and if Elder Hai wants one as well, the conditions are the same. I won't break my own rules."
The price was shockingly modest—but Liu Xi's family lived in the Jia Ma Empire. So long as he could, he was willing to strengthen the empire's power.
The two old men exchanged a look of unrestrained excitement and nodded in unison. "Deal!" they said together, grinning.
---
After seeing the two elders off, Xiao Yixian quietly approached Liu Xi, her tone tinged with curiosity.
"Young Master," she said softly, "who was that other girl they mentioned? I've never heard you speak of her before."
Liu Xi didn't hide it. "You mean Qing Lin. She's a half-human, half-snake girl. The humans there despised her, so I took her in as my attendant. Later, because of her rare talent, a Dou Zong expert accepted her as a disciple."
"Attendant?" Xiao Yixian's expression grew complicated. She looked up at him, her voice quiet but serious. "If she comes back one day… will she be like me?"
Liu Xi paused for a moment, understanding her meaning. He thought of that brave little girl who had once stood before him, shielding him even in the face of a Dou Zong, and smiled softly.
"Xian'er," he said gently, "would you mind if she was?"
Xiao Yixian fell silent for a long moment. Then, without another word, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms tightly around his. Her voice was firm and clear.
"I'll be the main one," she declared.
Liu Xi chuckled softly. Her gentle yet resolute nature stirred a rare tenderness in his heart.
"Alright," he said quietly, smiling down at her.
(End of Chapter)
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