Chapter 229: Madam Is Still Cultivating
Dawn quietly arrived after an uneventful night. As the sky began to brighten, Xiao Yuan was already cultivating in a secluded part of the valley.
At the moment, cultivating the Demon Lightning Body required a place rich in lightning energy. Although Yao Lao had mentioned that the latter stages of the Demon Lightning Body could be tempered using Heavenly Flame instead—without compromising the results—both the initial and intermediate stages still needed true lightning power.
Otherwise, it wouldn't be called Demon Lightning Body—it might as well be "Heavenly Flame Body."
As for the Heaven Thunder Movement technique, it too needed thunder energy as a trigger for initial entry. These two advanced Dou Techniques had, for the moment, become little more than decorations Xiao Yuan could only stare at.
There was, however, good news. Over the years, Xiao Yi Xiang hadn't only collected poisonous herbs but also rare and precious high-grade medicinal ingredients.
Together with Xiao Yuan's own stock, they just about managed to assemble enough ingredients for three Emperor's Extreme Pills.
Although Xiao Yuan had only just entered the sixth-tier alchemist level, with Yao Lao's guidance, he was confident that he could produce at least one success out of the three sets—enough to help Xiao Yi Xiang increase her strength significantly in a short period of time.
As for himself…
His five Qi Palaces demanded an immense amount of energy. The Emperor's Extreme Pill might cause ordinary cultivators to develop resistance after just one pill, but for Xiao Yuan?
He needed five.
And he was still at the Dou Wang level. Technically, he should be taking Dou Spirit Pills instead.
Unfortunately, he had only managed to refine three Dou Spirit Pills, and the ingredients were still incomplete. He wasn't sure if it would be enough to help him break through to Dou Huang.
Still, Xiao Yuan decided to give it a shot.
That brutal fight against Yun Shan and Protector Wu from the Yunlan Sect had tempered his Dou Qi further. Though he hadn't yet touched the threshold of advancement, his foundation had been solidified. That gave him the confidence to attempt advancement with pills.
Before leaving in the morning, he had already told Xiao Yi Xiang not to disturb him unless something urgent happened.
She, of course, understood that alchemists needed a quiet environment to refine pills. She even kept a part of her spiritual awareness focused on Xiao Yuan at all times.
Last night's passionate kissing session had nearly led to Xiao Yuan "devouring her clean," but even now, the heat of his breath, the strength of his heartbeat, and his wandering hands still made her legs go soft at the memory. Her face would flush red just thinking about it.
With her Calamity Poison Body, even minor physical contact could be fatal to others. But Xiao Yuan had withstood her poison and tangled with her for a long time. He even held her limp body back to the house, still unsatisfied. Had her poison not reacted midway and made her uncomfortable, Xiao Yuan might have gone all the way last night.
Speaking of which…
She still didn't know where Xiao Yuan had gotten that ridiculous chest accessory—it was so exaggerated. If he hadn't held her captive as a rogue later, she might've really believed he was a woman!
As Xiao Yi Xian's mind spiraled with wild thoughts, her cheeks grew redder. Meanwhile, Xiao Yuan had already begun his pill refinement under Yao Lao's guidance.
The Emperor's Extreme Pill, a sixth-tier pill, could increase a Dou Huang's power by one star without side effects. However, it couldn't be used by a Nine-Star Dou Huang to break through to Dou Zong.
The required ingredients: Emperor Blood Root, Yuan Spirit Fruit, Longevity Grass...
Information on the Emperor's Extreme Pill flashed through Xiao Yuan's mind. A flash of light from his ring revealed a dark pill cauldron.
It was Yao Lao's Black Demon Cauldron.
The Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron remained with Xiao Yan for emergencies. Ever since Xiao Yuan's crash course in alchemy, he had been using the Black Demon Cauldron, so he was quite familiar with it now. With its help, his success rate was much higher.
"For the pills you're making for that little girlfriend of yours, you can use your fused Heavenly Flames. But for your own pills, I recommend using your Shaoyin Monarch Flame. That one might help guide the medicinal power through your meridians better, possibly even increasing the pill's potency,"
Yao Lao said with a grin, stroking his beard.
"Alright, I'll give it a try!"
Xiao Yuan had long since adjusted himself into peak state. Yao Lao's advice didn't shake his composure in the slightest. Neither happy nor anxious, he remained calm and focused—basic discipline for any alchemist.
He placed his hand on the slightly cold surface of the cauldron. A pale brown flame surged from his palm into the interior of the Black Demon Cauldron.
With Xiao Yuan's control, the fire quickly stabilized at the optimal temperature. One by one, the ingredients entered the cauldron, and under the burning of the Heavenly Flame, they gradually transformed into brilliant droplets of medicinal essence.
Though not exactly refined in technique, Xiao Yuan was steady and methodical. More importantly, he had one massive advantage—his control over fire temperature.
No exaggeration, his temperature control was as smooth as adjusting a dimmer switch.
And not just smooth—it was precise. If he needed a specific heat level, he could hit it exactly. This quantifiable thinking greatly improved alchemical efficiency and was a way of thinking rarely seen in this world.
Yao Lao was highly impressed. He even said he wanted to adopt Xiao Yuan's technique to teach future students—turning abstract sensations into concrete data was an excellent way to ease the learning curve for apprentices.
Of course, things like optimal fusion temperatures, pill condensation timing, and temperature shifts still required high-level alchemists to analyze. Standardizing these values was difficult because every expert had their own style.
In fact, the deeper one delved into alchemy, the more personalized the process became. Those trained under a unified system might not even reach that level.
But that was Yao Lao's concern, not Xiao Yuan's. All he needed was to refine the pills successfully.
With a master like Yao Lao instructing him, Xiao Yuan's process went exceptionally well. Over the next four days, he successfully refined three Emperor's Extreme Pills without any major mistakes.
While a 100% success rate wasn't statistically meaningful with such a small sample, Yao Lao could tell the Soul Nourishment Pearl had helped Xiao Yuan's soul strength grow again. If this continued, within a year or two, he might reach the Spirit Realm.
"Very good. You're improving with each pill. With more practice, you'll be able to do this without my guidance."
Yao Lao nodded in satisfaction.
"It's all thanks to your help, teacher. Otherwise, I'd have only managed to refine two pills."
Xiao Yuan was pleased with the outcome but remained humble, diligently summarizing his experience.
That same day, he handed Xiao Yi Xiang her Emperor's Extreme Pill, then returned to seclusion.
Three days later, Xiao Yuan looked at the two jade bottles before him and took a deep breath.
Three Dou Spirit Pills. Two Emperor's Extreme Pills.
The energy they contained should be enough for him to break through to Dou Huang.
But that also meant he wouldn't be able to use Emperor's Extreme Pills to boost his level once he was in the Dou Huang realm.
Not that it bothered him.
If pills weren't an option, there were always places rich in natural energy that could accelerate his training.
Worst case, he could do what Zi Yan did—eat medicinal herbs.
He couldn't chew them like she could, but he could absorb them.
With just one week left, he had to break through within that time.
Thinking that, Xiao Yuan pulled out a green jade bottle.
Inside was a six-tier pill called the Azure Serenity Longevity Pill, capable of extending one's life by ten years. Yao Lao had casually refined it while Xiao Yuan was resting.
With his current soul strength, even sixth-tier pills were no challenge to Yao Lao—one try, guaranteed success.
Xiao Yuan had nothing but admiration.
As his alchemy skills improved, he came to appreciate how truly formidable Yao Lao—the former top alchemist in Central Plains—really was.
He wasn't using the pill for longevity, though. He needed its rich wood energy to cultivate the wind-wood qi of the Liver Qi Palace—part of the Six Qi Transformation technique.
Hoo… Let's begin!
Determination flickered in his eyes as Xiao Yuan tossed three Dou Spirit Pills and two Emperor's Extreme Pills into his mouth at once.
Even Yao Lao felt a little nervous witnessing such a reckless move.
If he didn't know how tough Xiao Yuan's body was, he never would've allowed such suicidal behavior.
Even Dou Huangs with tempered bodies wouldn't dare take that many pills at once.
But Xiao Yuan was different. His five Qi Palaces could immediately absorb and distribute the medicinal power. His meridians were far tougher than normal. Even as a Dou Shi, he had endured blows from Dou Huang experts. Now at peak Dou Wang, he could easily handle it.
Inside the wooden house, Xiao Yi Xian's advancement was faster than Xiao Yuan had expected. It was her first time using pills to break through—without the pain of ingesting poison, the experience was almost euphoric.
Zi Yan's aura had also grown stronger—she was showing signs of waking.
So in the following days, Xiao Yi Xiang stopped cultivating and took up guard duty for Xiao Yuan.
Time flew. On the seventh day…
A figure flew into the valley and landed before Xiao Yi Xian.
"Sect Leader, everything is ready. We can strike the Ten-Thousand Scorpion Gate at any time!"
The slightly aged figure reported respectfully.
"Wait. She's still cultivating."
Xiao Yi Xiang replied calmly.
The elder's eyes flickered. So the rumors were wrong? People said the Sect Leader had been too busy enjoying life with her "wife"… but she was really cultivating?
"Yes!"
The elder stepped aside to wait patiently.
"No need to wait. Let's move!"
A clear, cold voice echoed as a white figure flew out of the cave. Xiao Yuan had just broken through and hadn't yet restrained his Dou Qi. The pressure from his newly achieved Dou Huang rank weighed heavily on the elder.
"Congratulations to the Sect Leader's wife for advancing to Dou Huang!"
The elder congratulated him appropriately.
???
Xiao Yuan was stunned.
Sect Leader's… wife?
Me?
Huh?
He blinked in confusion, then quickly recovered. "Elder, you're too kind. You go ahead—we'll join you shortly."
The elder gave him a knowing look and quietly left the valley.
"Pfft! Sect Leader's wife!"
Xiao Yi Xiang burst into laughter.
"Hmph! Whatever. That Miss Xiao has nothing to do with me, Xiao Yuan!"
Xiao Yuan pouted, trying to sound indignant.
"Hahaha, Zi Yan's already awake. Luckily I explained things to her in advance, or you would've been exposed just now."
Just as Xiao Yi Xiang finished speaking, a petite figure leapt into Xiao Yuan's arms.
"Wow! Xiao Yuan, you smell so good!"
Zi Yan's eyes sparkled.
"Hahaha!"
Xiao Yi Xiang laughed so hard her stomach hurt, bending over and clutching her belly.
"Shameless!"
Xiao Yuan shot her a glare and "scolded" her.
Zi Yan wasn't saying he smelled like a dainty girl—rather, his body now exuded the aroma of high-grade medicinal herbs.
That was the effect of cultivating with the wind-wood qi of the Liver Qi Palace—a vital, restorative energy similar to the Flame of Life. It could accelerate healing, promote rapid growth of herbs, and even aid in detoxification.
Though it was highly supportive, it wasn't lacking in offensive power. This wind-wood qi could restore life—or drain it. Wherever the wind passed, it would harvest all vitality and absorb it. It was harsh—but in the Dou Qi Continent, there were no such taboos.
"Alright, let's go!"
Xiao Yi Xiang composed herself and smiled.
"Let's see just how strong this Ten-Thousand Scorpion Gate really is."
Xiao Yuan pulled Zi Yan from his arms, took her hand, then reached for Xiao Yi Xian's hand as well. Like a family of three, they jumped onto the Blue Eagle.
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Albino1