Chapter 99: Everyone Wants a Piece
Yao Yan followed Queen Medusa into the underground treasury, where he was greeted by a cold chamber akin to an ice cellar. A misty chill constantly drifted from the pool at the center. The spring water within radiated an icy aura—it was unmistakably Ice Spirit Cold Spring, something rarely seen in the outside world. At a glance, there was nearly a hundred cubic meters of it.
Beyond that, the cold vault held a vast collection of medicinal ingredients, all perfectly preserved thanks to the presence of the Ice Spirit Cold Spring.
They really have it...
Yao Yan couldn't help but marvel at the sight of the spring. In that moment, he began to understand why the Snake-People had established their stronghold here—there was an Ice Spirit Cold Spring source beneath this location, capable of continuously producing this rare and priceless natural treasure.
Not only could it resist the burning of heavenly flame, but its pure ice attribute energy was also an excellent cultivation resource for the Snake-People.
But to Yao Yan, its greatest value lay in aiding the refinement of the Green Lotus Core Flame. With this much Ice Spirit Cold Spring, the biggest challenge in refining the flame had been resolved. He couldn't help but be in awe of the wonders of nature.
The Tagor Desert was known for its scorching heat and barren land. It was a place filled with savage magical beasts, dangerous even for powerful cultivators.
And yet, within this harsh land, two opposing heavenly treasures had formed: the Green Lotus Core Flame and the Ice Spirit Cold Spring.
Noticing his gaze, Queen Medusa's enchanting eyes flickered slightly. Her red lips parted softly as she asked in a gentle, sultry voice, "You want it?"
"Ice Spirit Cold Spring is essential for devouring a heavenly flame. It can protect the body's meridians from being burned. With it, my odds of refining a flame will increase significantly."
Yao Yan nodded, his tone sincere.
If anything, he was being modest. With this much Ice Spirit Cold Spring, he could fully immerse himself and refine the Green Lotus Core Flame slowly and safely.
As Li Yunlong would say: "I've never fought a war this well-funded before."
While Ice Spirit Cold Spring might not be that effective against higher-ranked or uniquely attributed heavenly flames, it was a perfect counter to the Green Lotus Core Flame. It could greatly suppress the flame's destructive power. Combined with Yao Yan's physical strength and the life force granted by the Spirit Clan's Dou Di bloodline—
The biggest hurdle in refining the flame was essentially cleared.
Queen Medusa was clearly generous with "her own people." She didn't hesitate or set conditions. "Take however much you need—just don't damage the spring's source."
"Don't worry, I won't be polite."
Yao Yan responded easily, already treating himself like family. His gaze then turned to the other medicinal ingredients in the vault.
Caidie, however, showed little interest in the supplies. She followed Yao Yan closely, occasionally glancing between him and Queen Medusa. Seeing the two walk side by side, she suddenly felt like the outsider and couldn't help but pout slightly.
Sensing her subtle shift, Yao Yan reached over and gently held her soft little hand in front of her sister, smiling. "We're family, after all."
Caidie's mood instantly improved. Her beautiful face turned a soft red, as if dusted with blush. She bashfully twisted her waist, her deep blue tail swishing with more energy. She also hugged Ling'er more tightly, as if wanting to bury the little creature into her chest.
Ling'er: o(╥﹏╥)o
Queen Medusa frowned and looked away awkwardly. "I haven't approved of your relationship."
Yao Yan gave Caidie a helpless glance.
Caidie just flashed him a cheeky smile, then hugged her sister's arm and said sweetly, "Whatever Sister says goes~"
Queen Medusa was increasingly exasperated. She knew her sister's personality well—gentle on the outside but stubborn to the core. Once she made up her mind, even she couldn't change it. All she could do now was pretend to object.
But thinking of what the two had done before made her chest tighten with discomfort.
"You have Longevity Fruit here?"
Yao Yan's eyes were suddenly drawn to a string of grape-like purple fruits. He walked over in surprise.
Longevity Fruit was a main ingredient for an eighth-tier longevity pill that could extend life by a hundred years. He had seen it in the Yao Clan's compendium. In terms of value, it could easily be exchanged for a seventh-tier pill in Central Plains—perhaps even for some supporting eighth-tier ones.
Even eaten raw, it could extend life by several years or even decades and nourish the body and vitality.
Queen Medusa followed his gaze and replied indifferently, "Longevity Fruit? I wouldn't know. It grew near the spring and was stored here after it ripened. No one's recognized it since."
What a waste… Yao Yan thought to himself. Now he understood why there were so few powerhouses in the northwest—not just due to resources, but limited knowledge. Even if treasures were placed right in front of them, they couldn't recognize them. That gap in awareness was more fatal than any lack of wealth.
Just this one fruit, if auctioned in the Central Plains, could earn enough to cultivate multiple Dou Zong-level experts for the Snake-People.
But knowledge was monopolized. No one would freely share it—especially alchemists, for whom recipes and medicinal data were among the most closely guarded secrets of their clans. Outsiders could never gain the same systematic inheritance as someone born into the Yao Clan.
This was one reason the Yao Clan had survived for so long.
If Yao Yan hadn't been born into the Yao Clan, he wouldn't have recognized such a rare treasure. Many rare herbs appeared plain, their unusual qualities hidden.
"It can be used to refine a longevity-extending pill. Extremely rare."
Yao Yan commented casually. Longevity pills might be coveted by the elderly, but to someone young like him, they weren't that valuable. Still, leaving it to rot here would be a waste.
"I'll take this too. I'll make a few extra Royal Extreme Pills for the Snake-People in return."
Queen Medusa wasn't stupid. She could tell how much he valued it. "No longevity pills?"
"Do you need one? I could refine it for you," Yao Yan asked, pushing the decision back on her.
She shook her head and replied calmly, "I don't. But if you want the Elders to accept your relationship with my sister, longevity pills might help."
"But wouldn't a Breaking Zong Pill be even more enticing? Advancing from Dou Huang to Dou Zong gives a far greater boost to lifespan."
Yao Yan smiled.
Indeed, reaching Dou Zong significantly extended one's life. At that level, body and Dou Qi merged, undergoing a fundamental transformation. It was a step toward a more evolved form of life.
Dou Huangs typically lived two to three hundred years. Many lived less due to injuries. Dou Zongs, on the other hand, could live over four hundred and had much greater resilience. Even with a shattered heart, they could survive temporarily.
Dou Zuns took it even further.
As for Dou Shengs—at that level, even losing a heart was no big deal.
"Those old fossils don't have the talent."
Queen Medusa cut him off coldly. She had no intention of seeing them break through and continue lording over her. They clung to life in a graveyard and dared to dictate her tribe's future?
Yao Yan understood and nodded without a word.
She then asked, "This heavenly flame you mentioned—what's the lead you spoke of? Is it tied to the map fragment?"
"I've got a rough lead. Once Hai Bodong brings back the fragment, I should be able to confirm the location of the Green Lotus Core Flame."
Yao Yan lied smoothly.
Fortunately, no one here knew the difference between the Green Lotus Core Flame and the third-ranked Nirvana Flame. Otherwise, Queen Medusa might have tried to renegotiate.
She wasn't some lovesick fool. Right now, they were merely acquaintances—he wasn't about to show all his cards.
"The Green Lotus Core Flame—ranked nineteenth… Are you sure you can handle it?" she asked, glancing him up and down with skepticism.
A Dou Ling trying to tame a heavenly flame? That sounded like a joke.
Even she, at peak Dou Huang, didn't believe she could pull it off. Just approaching it could burn her to ashes. To refine a heavenly flame, one first had to extract its core and swallow it.
Most people died at that very step.
Yao Yan's Dou Qi… what was he counting on?
"I'll refine some support pills. I'd say I'm 90% confident."
He smiled calmly.
Seeing his confidence, Queen Medusa didn't argue. She even had a wicked thought—if Yao Yan failed and died, maybe she wouldn't have to worry about his relationship with her sister.
But that thought quickly faded. If anything happened to him, Caidie would be devastated.
And that was something Queen Medusa absolutely didn't want.
This was what frustrated her the most.
…
Shortly after leaving the vault, Hai Bodong and Mobas returned. Hai Bodong handed over a map fragment to Yao Yan—it was clearly part of the Nirvana Flame's map. He didn't even need Ling'er to identify it. The design was identical.
Now just one piece remained...
Yao Yan carefully stored it away and suppressed his excitement. Looking at the others, he said, "I'll need some time to refine the pills. Please watch over things while I'm busy. If the Elders object to Caidie's return, I trust Her Majesty knows how to respond."
His eyes met Queen Medusa's icy gaze—a clash of souls.
Put elegantly: love at first sight.
Crassly: lust at first glance.
Queen Medusa wasn't impressed. She wasn't into pretty faces. "I know what to say. Just focus on refining those pills. If you succeed, our agreement stands. If not…"
"There is no 'if.'"
Yao Yan smiled and headed for the sealed chamber. Hai Bodong would guard the door. Caidie, however, was made to stay—Queen Medusa didn't trust Yao Yan alone with her sister. That close proximity made the twin-soul bond too intense. It felt… too real.
Just imagining the scenes that might play out made her uncomfortable.
Ling'er followed Yao Yan into the chamber. She didn't care about Caidie—she knew who kept her fed.
Soon—
Yao Yan stood in the center of the room and summoned a pitch-black cauldron: the Black Demon Cauldron, ranked eighth on the Heavenly Cauldron List.
Its surface was dark and thick with an ancient aura. Vivid flame totems rotated across its body, as if they were alive. Fire-attribute energy in the air began to swirl around it.
"What a fine cauldron."
Yao Yan couldn't help but praise it. Compared to his previous cauldrons, this was what a true alchemist should use. Rubbing his hands together, he ignited the cauldron with Illusory Gold Flame and eagerly began refining.
(END CHAPTER)
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