The sun was high in the sky, and the tightly shut room door was finally pushed open.
Under Zi Yan's teasing gaze, Chen Xiao walked out, pulling Cao Ying along.
Meeting Zi Yan's eyes, Chen Xiao and Cao Ying remained quite composed.
Chen Xiao was composed because Zi Yan knew all about his affairs; he had recounted them to her long ago. Although the current development exceeded expectations and was a complete success in one go, it was merely an acceleration of the outcome.
Cao Ying's composure was due to her personality. Compared to Zi Yan and the other women, her temperament was somewhat similar to Cai Lin's. She was opinionated, knew what she wanted, and was clear about her own emotional changes.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have changed herself and become more dedicated to cultivation. Upon hearing the news from Tian Bei, she had returned to this small courtyard early to wait. Seeing the gift Chen Xiao brought, she couldn't hide her joy.
Therefore, she did not resist this outcome.
In fact, after regaining her senses today, she felt an unprecedented sense of fulfillment and security.
Even though she later discovered that the sense of fulfillment was because Chen Xiao had not yet withdrawn.
But none of that mattered.
"Congratulations, Sister Cao Ying! You're the first person to be able to ride a Dou Zun expert while only being a Dou Huang! From now on, we're truly a family!"
Zi Yan's words were incredibly teasing. Encountering such a scene again after growing up, she no longer felt as awkward as before.
In fact, she was somewhat eager.
Hearing Zi Yan's words, Cao Ying immediately realized that this girl had likely witnessed something. At this thought, even with her temperament, her pretty face flushed slightly.
Clearing her throat, Cao Ying changed the subject, "Thank you for guarding me this time, Sister Zi Yan. Thanks to Chen Xiao's help, I've smoothly entered the Spirit Realm soul, gaining the qualification to refine eighth-grade elixirs. While Teacher is busy refining elixirs, why don't we go browse the Alchemist Arts Trading Fair and see if we can find any medicinal ingredients suitable for refining eighth-grade elixirs? If any of you need any eighth-grade elixirs, feel free to tell me."
Entering the Spirit Realm was a qualitative leap for Cao Ying.
After calming down from her excitement, she was eager to try refining an eighth-grade elixir.
Especially to refine it in front of Chen Xiao and Zi Yan!
This wasn't for showing off; she simply wanted to display her most outstanding side, much like a woman adorning herself for the one she pleased.
Even though their relationship had made substantial progress, she still wanted to prove that Chen Xiao's judgment was not wrong!
"I definitely won't be polite to you, Sister Cao Ying, in the future."
Zi Yan chuckled, becoming even more casual in front of Cao Ying.
After replying, Zi Yan turned her gaze to Chen Xiao, handing him the decision on how to proceed.
Chen Xiao pondered for a moment. The Bodhi Foundation Establishment Pill would take some time to obtain, and staying in Holy Pill City truly left them with nothing to do.
"Then let's go take a look. I found a bargain on Spirit Nurturing Dust last time; maybe we'll have some gains this time."
...
A quarter of an hour later.
At the entrance of the Alchemist Arts Trading Fair, the three of them strolled in leisurely.
Seeing the trio approaching from afar, the area in front of the trading fair fell silent for a moment.
Those who could come here were all of some status, and therefore, more people recognized Chen Xiao and Cao Ying.
They all noticed that the usually arrogant Cao Clan Enchantress was now smiling like a blooming flower, as docile as a newlywed wife, leaning intimately against Chen Xiao.
Her gaze seemed to automatically block out everyone around her, her eyes filled only with the man beside her. Even when Zi Yan on the other side occasionally had intimate interactions with Chen Xiao, she didn't seem to mind.
Looking at the scene with complex emotions, many wished they could replace Chen Xiao, further strengthening their resolve to cultivate diligently.
Ignoring the envious gazes from all around, the three smoothly passed through the heavy guards at the entrance of the trading fair and entered.
This was Chen Xiao's second time here, and he had some understanding of the place.
The trading fair here was divided into three tiers. The first tier was the most chaotic, and it was almost impossible to find good items.
Starting from the second floor, higher-grade medicinal ingredients would appear, attracting some high-grade alchemists and powerful individuals.
As for the highest level, the third floor, one had to reach the level of a Seventh Grade Alchemist or possess Dou Zun strength to enter!
Even Chen Xiao had not met the threshold last time; Cao Ying had brought him up.
Since they had no specific objective today and were mainly looking to relax, the three of them filtered out the first floor and began to wander around the second floor.
After about half an hour, they had only browsed twenty to thirty crystal stalls.
Chen Xiao's gaze slowly swept across the crystal stalls beside him. After a long while, his footsteps finally stopped, and his gaze settled on a jade box on a crystal stall.
Inside the jade box, a blood-red, oval-shaped fruit lay quietly. Amidst the surging blood essence, it exuded a vibrant life force.
"Blood Spirit Demon Fruit, an extremely rare medicinal ingredient. It's a strange fruit formed by absorbing essence blood, hidden deep underground. It absorbs the life force from the essence blood, eventually taking the form of a fruit. Although this medicinal ingredient is rare, there aren't many elixirs that can utilize it,"
Noticing Chen Xiao's gaze, Cao Ying introduced softly.
In terms of medicinal ingredients alone, every high-grade alchemist was a living encyclopedia.
Chen Xiao nodded slightly and chuckled, "Seeing it, I suddenly thought of an elixir that can use it."
"What elixir?" Zi Yan peeked from the right.
"Bone-Growing Blood-Melding Pill! It can revive the dead and mend broken bones! This elixir is at the peak of the seventh grade, refined by an eighth-grade alchemist, and even has a chance to reach the eighth-grade level."
Hearing Chen Xiao's explanation, Zi Yan suddenly understood.
Without a doubt, when Chen Xiao mentioned this elixir, he naturally thought of the Heavenly Flame Honored One.
Ever since the Heavenly Flame Honored One joined them, he had been extremely diligent in every task, saving Chen Xiao from worrying about many trivial matters.
Even now, the renovation of the Purple Firmament Pavilion on Qifeng Mountain and daily affairs were all managed by the Heavenly Flame Honored One. Zi Yan would occasionally take the initiative to direct things personally, but Chen Xiao was a complete hands-off manager, only overseeing the general direction.
Given the Heavenly Flame Honored One's performance, seeing the Blood Spirit Demon Fruit at this moment also made Chen Xiao think of the Bone-Growing Blood-Melding Pill.
To trade a peak seventh-grade, at most eighth-grade elixir for a Dou Zun expert with maxed loyalty, keen insight, reliability, and good potential, Chen Xiao was very willing.
"Ying'er, how about refining this elixir? I've obtained a lot of medicinal ingredients over the years. Including this Blood Spirit Demon Fruit, I've gathered all the materials for the Bone-Growing Blood-Melding Pill."
The Bone-Growing Blood-Melding Pill only had three main ingredients.
Blood Spirit Demon Fruit, Ten Thousand Year Green Spirit Vine, and Snow Bone Ginseng!
Among these, Chen Xiao obtained a Ten Thousand Year Green Spirit Vine from the Wind and Lightning Pavilion's collection. The Snow Bone Ginseng, however, was acquired back in the Black-Corner Region, gifted by the owner of the Thousand Medicine Shop.
These minor matters were usually not worth mentioning, and Chen Xiao hadn't paid them much attention. It was only when faced with a situation like this that he realized, without even noticing, that the resources he controlled had already reached a massive scale.
"Okay, let's go with that one!" Cao Ying readily agreed.
In the past, most of the elixirs Chen Xiao needed were of extremely high grade, making her feel incapable each time.
Now that she had advanced to the Spirit Realm and was qualified to refine eighth-grade elixirs, this situation had finally improved.
She was finally able to meet Chen Xiao's needs!
After deciding on the elixir to be refined, Chen Xiao's gaze then shifted to the seller behind the crystal platform, an old man in a red robe.
On the old man's chest was a gleaming sixth-grade badge, signifying he was a Sixth Grade Alchemist.
If he were in the Jia Ma Empire, this old man would be treated with courtesy by the royal family. However, at this Alchemist Trading Fair, he appeared unremarkable, with no distinguishing features, like a passerby in a crowd.
"Greetings, Honored One Chen Xiao. Has the Honored One taken a liking to anything?"
Seeing the three approach again, the old man in the red robe quickly cupped his fists and greeted them with a smile.
Although their conversation was very close to him, it was shielded by Chen Xiao, so he had no idea what they were discussing.
This was common at trading fairs, as no one wanted others to know their intentions clearly, which could easily lead to disadvantage during transactions.
"You know me?" Chen Xiao glanced at the old man.
"Honored One, you jest. In the Central State nowadays, there shouldn't be many people who haven't heard of the Honored One's name. I was a bit luckier; I saw the Honored One once when you and Miss Cao Ying came to the trading fair last time," the old man replied respectfully.
Chen Xiao nodded slightly and didn't dwell on it. Pointing at the Blood Spirit Demon Fruit, he asked, "How can I exchange for this?"
"So, the Honored One is interested in the Blood Spirit Demon Fruit." This old man in the red robe clearly knew his wares very well. He immediately stated its background. Those who sell here would have good judgment.
"Regarding medicinal ingredients, Miss Cao Ying beside the Honored One is an expert. I won't quote any outlandish prices."
The old man in the red robe smiled and continued, "For this Blood Spirit Demon Fruit, I would like to exchange it for an unstudied seventh-grade low-level elixir recipe. What does the Honored One think?"
As the old man said, Chen Xiao and Zi Yan were not as knowledgeable in this area as Cao Ying. Upon hearing the quoted price, they both looked at Cao Ying.
Cao Ying nodded slightly and smiled, "Old sir, this price is very reasonable. However, I remember visiting here alone a few months ago, and someone was inquiring about the Blood Spirit Demon Fruit. Your quoted price then was a seventh-grade mid-level elixir recipe."
Having this minor, unknown detail revealed, the old man in the red robe chuckled awkwardly without explanation.
Exchanging at a reasonable price for goodwill was mutually beneficial.
Chen Xiao glanced at the old man and was about to take out a recipe for the exchange when Cao Ying had already handed a recipe to the old man. After he nodded in satisfaction, she then took the Blood Spirit Demon Fruit into her possession.
"Keep the recipes you have for now. I'll study them slowly later. I'll use the ones I've already mastered first," Cao Ying said with a charming smile, meeting Chen Xiao's gaze.
With the relationship progressing substantially, she was less reserved and more natural in front of Chen Xiao.
Chen Xiao smiled and nodded.
After exchanging for the Blood Spirit Demon Fruit, the three continued to wander through the trading fair. They exchanged for any medicinal ingredients they might need if the price was right. By evening, the trio, having gained considerable rewards, left hand in hand.
"Sister Cao Ying, when will you be refining elixirs?" Zi Yan asked with great enthusiasm upon returning to the small courtyard.
She had never witnessed someone refine a peak seventh-grade elixir that could reach eighth-grade.
Cao Ying glanced at Chen Xiao before answering Zi Yan, "In two or three days. The Bone-Growing Blood-Melding Pill is of a lower grade than the Bodhi Foundation Establishment Pill. Even if I refine it later, I'll likely finish before Teacher, and it won't delay your plans."
Zi Yan nodded as if she understood, though her youthful mind thought Cao Ying, like Xuan Kongzi, needed preparation and adjustment of her state.
It wasn't until late at night when a barrier quietly enveloped the small courtyard, and a mournful sound came from the adjacent room, that Zi Yan was startled awake from her dream.
...
After three days of indulgence.
In the inner region of Holy Pill City, on the large square in the north.
As preparations for the Pill Gathering were already underway, several independent high platforms had been erected on the square.
At this moment, a radiant Cao Ying was seated on one of these platforms, while Chen Xiao and Zi Yan stood on a nearby platform, observing.
Under their gaze, Cao Ying closed her eyes to rest for a long while. Only after casting aside all distracting thoughts did she open her eyes and slowly summon the Ten Thousand Beasts Cauldron.
After summoning the cauldron, Cao Ying flicked her finger, and a cluster of verdant green flames slowly rose in her palm.
As this flame appeared, the temperature of the entire square instantly soared. Only the high platform where Chen Xiao and Zi Yan stood remained as cool as ever.
"I've long heard that this enchanting woman controls a mysterious Heavenly Flame, suspected to be the Green Lotus Core Flame. But seeing it now, it doesn't seem to be. I know a bit about Heavenly Flames, and none of the Heavenly Flames on the ranking list match this flame."
"I can't tell, I really can't tell."
On the vast square, many people were watching from a distance. Upon seeing the Heavenly Flame summoned by Cao Ying, they immediately began whispering amongst themselves.
It wasn't strange that they couldn't recognize it.
After all, Cao Ying's Heavenly Flame was a brand new Heavenly Flame formed by the fusion of three flames!
Even if they were all lower-ranked Heavenly Flames, their power was still considerable.
"Ying'er just digested four Fire Pills, and her current strength is that of a Three-Star Dou Huang. Once she digests more Fire Pills, her strength can still increase by a few stars in a short period..."
Chen Xiao watched quietly, contemplating which Heavenly Flame to arrange for Cao Ying next.
In the past, his arrangements for Cao Ying's Heavenly Flames had always focused on stability, allowing her to refine and fuse Heavenly Flames with lower risks.
This was because not everyone was Xiao Yan, and Cao Ying didn't need to follow Xiao Yan's old path, nor did she need to risk her life.
This was also why he hadn't considered the Fallen Heart Flame when they were at Jia Nan Academy.
After all, the Fallen Heart Flame was ranked quite high.
Now that Cao Ying had given him her body and mind, Chen Xiao could not allow anything to happen to her.
After a moment of thought, Chen Xiao had an answer in his mind.
Only children make choices; adults take them all!
Instead of agonizing over which Heavenly Flame Cao Ying should refine next, it would be better to have her refine them one by one from the bottom of the Heavenly Flame ranking list!
Of course, the Netherworld Poison Flame was an exception.
This way, Cao Ying would be safe and her strength would increase rapidly!
With this kind of nurturing, perhaps it wouldn't take too long to train Cao Ying to be able to handle things on her own!
"Sister Cao Ying is only a Three-Star Dou Huang. Can she support the consumption of refining this elixir?"
As Chen Xiao made up his mind, Zi Yan's mumbling voice also rang out.
Even an amateur knew that refining high-grade elixirs was not simple; Dou Qi strength, Soul Power, and so on were all indispensable.
Chen Xiao wasn't too worried and said with a smile, "Relatively speaking, for the refinement of elixirs below the ninth grade, Soul Power is more crucial. Dou Qi consumption can be replenished by taking elixirs, but if Soul Power cannot keep up, recovery will not be instantaneous."
Zi Yan nodded silently and said no more.
On the other side, after a brief pause, Cao Ying flicked her finger, and the flame in her hand entered the medicine cauldron in front of her.
As the temperature inside the medicine cauldron gradually rose, Cao Ying's palm swept across the void, and various medicinal ingredients flew out of her Storage Ring, finally hovering around the stone platform. A rough estimate showed at least a hundred types!
The complexity of refining an elixir of the level of the Bone-Growing Blood-Melding Pill was quite terrifying. For someone whose soul control was not up to par, just looking at so many medicinal ingredients would make them dizzy, let alone refining them in an incredibly precise manner.
After taking out these auxiliary ingredients, Cao Ying raised her jade hand, and three jade boxes flashed out, finally hovering gently in front of her.
The jade boxes contained the three essential medicinal ingredients for refining the Bone-Growing Blood-Melding Pill!
With all preparations complete, Cao Ying's expression gradually became serious.
The Bone-Growing Blood-Melding Pill was the highest-grade and most difficult elixir she had refined so far, and any slight mistake could lead to a tragic outcome.
The art of alchemy often turned from heaven to hell in an instant.
In her mind, the elixir refinement method flowed like water, until all the details were imprinted in her heart.
"Hoo..."
Taking a deep breath, Cao Ying's slightly narrowed eyes snapped open, a sharp glint flashing in her dark irises. With a wave of her jade hand, several medicinal ingredients from around her were separated and thrown into the medicine cauldron, end to end.
The refinement of the Bone-Growing Blood-Melding Pill officially began at this moment!
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