Chapter 37: The Overworked Master and Disciple
The night was cool, and the moon hung high in the sky.
Xiao Yan lay on a roof beam somewhere in the alchemy tower, his right hand tucked beneath his head and his left holding a jug of fine wine. His gaze was fixed on the brilliant full moon above.
For fifteen years in the Xiao Realm, he had only been able to gaze upon the artificial moon created by the Void Swallowing Flame. In the Starfall Pavilion, hidden within the starry void, glimpses of the outside world were rare.
But tonight, under the moonlight, he finally had the chance to appreciate the serene beauty of the night sky.
"When did the moon first appear? Lifting my cup, I question the heavens. Unaware of the celestial palace, unsure what year it is tonight." Xiao Yan recited softly, raising his jug toward the glowing moon. A trace of longing, foreign to this world, flickered across his face.
Elsewhere, in a dimly lit room, a sultry atmosphere hung thick in the air.
"Hngh… Ah…"
The sound of heavy breathing filled the space. Medicine Elder (Yao Lao) sat slumped in a chair, sweat glistening on his forehead. Across his lap sat Xuan Yi, her mature, elegant figure practically radiating an irresistible charm.
"Phew." Medicine Elder wiped his brow, glancing at Xuan Yi. "Let's take a break."
"Already giving up?" Xuan Yi smirked, her tone laced with playful disdain.
Unfazed by her sharp words, Medicine Elder calmly replied, "From afternoon until now, it's been three full hours. Three hours! Even a seven tier pill would be finished by now."
"Hmph. And here I thought the so called number one alchemist on the Dou Qi Continent could endure longer than this." Xuan Yi's sneer was cutting, her gaze sharp.
"Rest is essential," Medicine Elder chuckled, his face as shameless as his disciple's.
Xuan Yi rolled her eyes, draping a silk robe over her gracefully toned figure. As she tidied herself, her expression turned serious. "Do you think we should take this opportunity to train the younger generation of alchemists gathered here?"
"That's your Dan Tower business, not mine," Medicine Elder replied, his tone light.
"With your ability, you could easily become the fourth head of Dan Tower. In fact, if you wanted, Xuan Kong Zi might even relinquish his position as the head in your favor." Xuan Yi's gaze softened as she studied Medicine Elder.
"You know me I value my freedom too much. Getting tied down with responsibilities is just not my style," he said, shaking his head with a smile.
"Old rogue!" Xuan Yi snapped, turning her back to him with a huff as she threw herself onto the bed.
Medicine Elder laughed, walking over without even pulling up his pants.
"Come now, don't be angry, my dear Xuan Yi," he coaxed, his voice dripping with insincere charm.
"Stop calling me that."
"Sweetheart?"
"Treasure?"
He grinned as he slipped a hand beneath her silk robe.
"Get off me, you old rascal!" Xuan Yi snapped, glaring daggers at him.
"Even if you don't join Dan Tower, you must at least guide these young alchemists. They need a proper mentor."
"I was planning to head back to the Starfall Pavilion in a few days. My disciple still has to venture to the Northwest Continent," Medicine Elder replied, trying to excuse himself.
"The Northwest? What's there to explore? Shouldn't he be engaging with the high level alchemists here at Dan Tower?" Xuan Yi countered, her lips curling into a sly smile.
Medicine Elder hesitated. The idea of Xiao Yan interacting with Dan Tower's elite wasn't without merit. Although he was widely regarded as the continent's greatest alchemist, even the famed Yao Emperor had once been known for his willingness to learn from others.
Dan Tower was the holy land of alchemy, its millennia of accumulated knowledge a treasure trove for any aspiring alchemist.
"The boy might not be willing," Medicine Elder sighed reluctantly.
"Hah! He's just as much a beast in disguise as you. Polished on the surface, but full of mischief inside," Xuan Yi sneered. "He already ran over to check on my Ying'er earlier today. Judging by his actions, he's clearly interested in her and that little Dan family girl as well."
Medicine Elder sighed inwardly. "His ambitions go far beyond that." Out loud, however, he retorted indignantly, "Don't insult my disciple like that! He's not some kind of beast!"
Pausing, he added, "At least, not subtle about it."
In the Dan family estate, Dan Chen sat blankly in front of her mirror. The delicate Stellar Violet Jasmine flower, glowing faintly, was still tucked into her silky hair.
"Am I really supposed to be his… little wife?" she murmured, her small face scrunching with distress.
"But he's so mean… What if he bullies me?"
Dan Chen's sheltered, introverted nature was like a magnet for someone like Xiao Yan. Her timid disposition mirrored that of many shy girls during their school days often unknowingly drawn to boys with a roguish charm.
Shy girls didn't necessarily fall for the so called "bad boys." Sometimes, they simply yearned for someone who could boldly break through the monotony of their cautious lives. Unfortunately, the one who lit up their world was often far from ideal.
In the Cao family residence, Cao Ying awoke in the middle of the night.
Ordinarily, she would have been training or practicing alchemy by now, her rigorous discipline contributing to her exceptional strength.
But tonight, she remained in bed, a rare laziness taking hold.
Every time she closed her eyes, Xiao Yan's roguishly handsome face appeared in her mind.
Her lips unconsciously curled into a faint smile as she recalled the day's events their battles, his audacious behavior.
"Bastard!" she muttered, though her thoughts lingered on him.
For a girl like Cao Ying, who valued dominance, Xiao Yan's blend of charisma and command had left a lasting impression.
As dawn broke, Xiao Yan awoke atop the alchemy tower, stretching as he rose. The alcohol from the night before dissipated as he circulated his Dou Qi.
"Let's see what the day holds," he mused, leaping from the beam.
Returning to the Starfall Pavilion's quarters, he frowned. "Master's not here? Gone to see his old flame again?"
Pushing the thought aside, Xiao Yan retreated to his room to contemplate his next move.
Though traveling to the Jia Ma Empire was on the horizon, he realized lingering at Dan Tower might yield more opportunities, especially with the groundwork he had laid with Cao Ying and Dan Chen.
Still, one thing weighed heavily on his mind he needed a Heavenly Flame.
Without it, his cultivation speed would remain limited by the constraints of the Flame Mantra. Worse yet, that sense of energy depletion gnawed at him relentlessly.
"Master!" Xiao Yan's thoughts were interrupted by the sight of Medicine Elder staggering into the room.
"Why do you look so drained?!" Xiao Yan exclaimed, alarmed by his master's haggard appearance.
🔥 Get 30% off on my Patreon and enjoy early access to new chapters.
You can also purchase the next 100 chapters of the novel directly from my Patreon page.
⏰ Hurry up! The promotion ends on January 10, 2026.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/LightKira10