Chapter 179
Looking at Bai Cheng's weakened figure, the two remaining Dou Ling from Bai Gang fell into silence.
They had never imagined that Xiao Yuan, with only the strength of a six-star Da Dou Shi, would be able to defeat Bai Cheng.
What made them even more apprehensive was that, although Xiao Yuan had used a secret technique to fight Bai Cheng, his current aura still showed signs of holding back. In other words, even if a seven-star Dou Ling appeared now to challenge him, Xiao Yuan would still be able to hold his own.
To fight a whole rank above his own… wasn't that a bit too absurd?
The members of the Lionheart Society erupted into cheers. After this battle, their life in the Inner Academy would undoubtedly be smoother. After all, with such a powerful leader, any faction trying to pick a fight would have to think twice about whether they could handle someone with such terrifying combat power.
Han Yue also glanced at Xiao Yuan's still-mighty aura, a flicker of something different in her eyes.
Her strength was far above the Lionheart Society members, so she could perceive more.
If Xiao Yuan wasn't deliberately hiding his strength, then the secret technique he used must be absurdly high-level!
Typical secret techniques that enhanced strength could never be sustained for so long.
With Xiao Yuan's power, if he focused on training in the Inner Academy for a year or so, he might even be able to challenge the top ten of the Strong Ranking.
It looked like the hierarchy of the Inner Academy was about to shift.
"Oh, over 400 days of Fire Energy? Quite wealthy, aren't you?"
After searching Bai Cheng and retrieving his Fire Crystal Card, Xiao Yuan nodded in satisfaction. After today, suckers like this one wouldn't come around often.
"Right—do the rest of you Bai Gang seniors want to donate some Fire Energy too? Our Lionheart Society is just starting out and short on resources. Could the seniors sponsor us a little?"
After tossing Bai Cheng's nearly depleted Fire Crystal Card (with just seven days left) back onto his body, Xiao Yuan cheerfully waved toward Bai Gang's members with a hopeful grin.
"Farewell!"
The two remaining Dou Ling from Bai Gang weren't stupid. With Bai Cheng defeated, there was no way they, mere three-star Dou Lings, could beat Xiao Yuan. If they tried to fight now, they'd just be giving away their Fire Energy for free.
They weren't interested in being robbed of both dignity and resources.
A wise man knows when to retreat.
Carrying the unconscious Bai Cheng, Bai Gang's members slunk away in defeat, no trace of their earlier arrogance remaining.
Watching them leave, Xiao Yuan shook his head in disappointment. He should have provoked them harder. While over 400 days of Fire Energy wasn't a small amount, for the entire Lionheart Society, it wasn't much either.
Forget it. He'd think of another way to get more Fire Energy later.
Shaking his head with a sigh, Xiao Yuan dismissed the Heavenly Fire Three Mysterious Change, his aura slowly returning to the six-star Da Dou Shi level. Then he walked over to Xiao Yu and Han Yue.
"You're really getting stronger and stronger!"
Xiao Yu couldn't help but sigh.
Three years ago, she still had some confidence in trying to catch up to Xiao Yuan. But now, she had completely given up on that. All she hoped for was to not drag him down.
"Hehe, if I'm not strong, how can I protect the ones I love?" Xiao Yuan winked at Xiao Yu with a smile, then turned to Han Yue. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Senior Han Yue."
"I didn't expect Junior Xiao Yuan to possess such astonishing combat strength. It's truly awe-inspiring."
Han Yue's tone carried more respect now, her usual iciness melting somewhat.
After all, someone like Xiao Yuan—destined to become a powerhouse and already matching her most outstanding peers—was worth befriending with humility.
Besides, seeing the affectionate way Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yu interacted, she wasn't worried about him having ulterior motives toward her.
"Let me introduce you, Senior Han Yue. This is my girlfriend, Xiao Yu," Xiao Yuan said, then turned to Xiao Yu. "This is Senior Han Yue, a powerful cultivator and the founder of Yue Ling in the Inner Academy. If it hadn't been for Bai Gang today, I might've taken you to join them."
"Nice to meet you, Senior Han Yue!"
Xiao Yu smiled politely.
"Hello, you two make a lovely couple."
Han Yue smiled gently and nodded.
Just as she was about to speak again, she suddenly turned her gaze into the distance.
Whoosh!
Two streaks—one green, one golden—shot toward them. It was Xiao Yan and Xun'er, who had rushed back from the medicinal market after hearing Bai Gang had stirred up trouble.
"Brother, did you take care of Bai Gang?"
As soon as he landed, Xiao Yan asked immediately.
"Yeah, handled it," Xiao Yuan replied with a smile and nod.
Xiao Yan wasn't surprised. He knew his third brother's strength. Even when Xiao Yuan was only a nine-star Da Dou Shi, with five Qi Palaces and the Heavenly Fire Three Mysterious Change, he could've seriously injured a seven-star Dou Ling if he tried. A six-star like Bai Cheng really wasn't worth his attention.
Xun'er, however, looked at Xiao Yuan's neat clothing with some curiosity. Although she could defeat Bai Cheng herself, it definitely wouldn't be as easy without using extremely special means.
"Senior Han Yue, this is my younger brother Xiao Yan and my younger sister Xiao Xun'er," Xiao Yuan said. "Xiao Yan, Xun'er—this is Senior Han Yue."
"Hello!"
Han Yue could tell that Xiao Yan and Xun'er's Dou Qi wasn't any weaker than Xiao Yuan's. Though she couldn't gauge their combat power, she knew it couldn't be bad. She even gave a rare smile and greeted them.
"Hello, Senior Han Yue!"
Xiao Yan, though polite, had a curious glint in his eye. Was his third brother about to win over another beautiful woman?
Xun'er had a similar thought, though she didn't say anything—there didn't seem to be anything wrong for now.
"Let's go. This isn't the place to talk. Please, Senior, come with me."
Glancing at Han Yue's companions, Xiao Yuan gestured with a smile, leading everyone back into the building.
"I honestly didn't expect you to come to help today, Senior. So I'll get right to the point. As I mentioned before, our Lionheart Society has an alchemist capable of refining the Tier-4 top-grade Three-Stripe Green Spirit Pill. That alchemist is my younger brother—Xiao Yan."
He turned to Xiao Yan with a smile.
"Didn't expect Junior Xiao Yan to be so young and already able to refine such a high-grade pill. Truly impressive!"
Han Yue's eyes showed surprise. She couldn't help but praise him.
After all, even the top alchemist among current Inner Academy students—Han Xian, whom Xiao Yuan had once beaten to a pulp—could only barely refine Tier-4 pills at Xiao Yan's age.
Xiao Yan shook his head humbly. "Senior flatters me. If not for my brother, I couldn't refine Three-Stripe grade Green Spirit Pills at all."
"Oh?"
The attention turned back to Xiao Yuan again, and Han Yue was surprised. Did this have to do with him too?
"Hehe, I only provided the ingredients. Don't listen to his nonsense," Xiao Yuan waved his hand quickly. Although he had studied alchemy, he wasn't capable of helping with Tier-4 pills just yet.
"Coincidentally, our Yue Ling needs to purchase some pills. Junior Xiao Yan, do you have any samples? What's their effect, and how are they priced?"
Han Yue turned to Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan looked to his brother briefly.
"Set the prices however you see fit," Xiao Yuan said, waving a hand. When it came to alchemy, Xiao Yan was the authority.
"Oh, right. I went to the medicinal market today and bought some of the pills sold by the Yao Gang to analyze them. Honestly, their quality is pretty average. If those can sell for two days of Fire Energy, then mine can easily go for five."
As he spoke, Xiao Yan pulled out a bottle of pills with a scornful expression.
Xiao Yuan was stunned. He hadn't really paid attention to these details.
But he was still familiar with medicinal ingredients. He opened the jade bottle Xiao Yan handed him, took a sniff—
"What kind of trash is this?"
He cursed immediately.
A quick glance revealed the pill barely surpassed Liu Xi's basic rejuvenation powders in difficulty. It was probably a Tier-1 pill made with just four herbs. The quality and effectiveness were laughable.
Xiao Yuan had no interest in that kind of junk. He and Xiao Yan had always used high-grade, Tier-3 Qi Recovery Pills made by Yao Lao.
"Exactly. If I made this, the cost for ten bottles wouldn't even reach a day's worth of Fire Energy. Honestly, I wouldn't even want Fire Energy for them. These are basic herbs anyone can buy with gold coins—nobody would waste Fire Energy on this."
Xiao Yan shook his head.
"Here, take a look at this one, too," he said, handing another bottle to Xiao Yuan.
Xiao Yuan opened it. This time it was a healing ointment, dark red in color. He sniffed it and immediately frowned.
If the earlier one could be considered a pill, this was no better than Liu Xi's powders—and maybe even worse than Xiao Yan's homemade Blood Clot Powder.
What infuriated him most was that this ointment actually used a Tier-2 core herb—an utter waste for something so ineffective!
What kind of garbage were Inner Academy students consuming every day?
"No competition breeds complacency, huh? The Yao Gang can't even be bothered to make decent pills," Xiao Yuan said with a mocking grin. He handed the two samples to Han Yue. "Senior, take a look at what Yao Gang's selling. Now I'll show you what my brother makes."
With a flip of his hand, Xiao Yuan revealed a Qi Recovery Pill and a Vital Body Pill.
Xiao Yan followed with a third bottle. Together, they presented the pills to Han Yue and explained:
"With my brother's, that makes three types:
First, the Qi Recovery Pill. It's Tier-3. I have an 80% success rate. The price? Two days of Fire Energy.
Second, the Vital Body Pill—an internal healing pill for both internal and external injuries. It far surpasses that ointment in quality and requires fewer ingredients. Price? One day of Fire Energy.
Third, the Ice-Clear Pill. It suppresses fire toxins effectively. Technically Tier-2 top-grade, but arguably Tier-3, considering how it aids cultivation. Price? Three days of Fire Energy."
Though Han Yue wasn't an alchemist, she could tell from the scent and appearance that these were good pills. What intrigued her most was the Ice-Clear Pill.
A medicine that let someone stay longer inside the Heaven-Burning Qi Refining Tower? If it worked as described, it was incredibly valuable!
"And the price for the Three-Stripe Green Spirit Pill?" she asked.
"It helps break bottlenecks and directly increases strength. It's Tier-4, and the cost is high. If you only need one, you can provide the materials, and I'll refine it as a favor to my brother. But if you need a batch and don't want to prepare ingredients, the price is at least fifty days of Fire Energy."
Xiao Yan calculated seriously and offered his answer.
It wasn't an unreasonable price.
The pill could raise a Da Dou Shi's power by up to three stars. But in the Inner Academy, fifty days of Fire Energy wasn't even enough for a three-star Da Dou Shi to train for a month—much less increase a single level.
"For Two-Stripe and One-Stripe versions, the prices are thirty-five and twenty-five days of Fire Energy, respectively," he added.
"That's acceptable."
Han Yue nodded. She didn't need it herself, but many members of Yue Ling would absolutely want to try.
After all, fifty days of Fire Energy for a three-star gain? Who wouldn't take that deal?
"I must warn you, though," Xiao Yuan said kindly. "With Two-Stripe and Three-Stripe pills, you have to endure the medicine's full potency to gain strength. If you can't, it's wasted—and worse, it could backfire and reduce your strength by one or two stars. So, best to evaluate yourself before buying."
(END CHAPTER)
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