After returning to Stone Desert City, Xiao Tian sat cross-legged on the bed and took out an Earth Fire Lotus Seed. Without hesitation, he tossed it directly into his mouth.
Under the fierce refinement of the Fallen Heart Flame, the Earth Fire Lotus Seed instantly dissolved into a surging torrent of pure energy that flooded into his meridians.
The Dou Qi within Xiao Tian's body swelled rapidly, quickly reaching a critical point.
"Break!"
With a low roar, the realm barrier shattered. Xiao Tian's cultivation broke through to the Four-Star Dou Master realm.
He continued cultivating for a while longer to stabilize his newly gained strength. Only when his foundation felt solid did he slowly open his eyes and exhale a long breath of hot air.
Xiao Tian stood up and walked to the corner of the room, specially set aside for alchemy. He took out the Mountain Melting Cauldron. He laid out more than a dozen carefully selected medicinal herbs.
"Purple Heart Earth Lotus Liquid — a fourth-grade medicinal pill. It can help a Dou Master break through one or two small realms. The remaining medicinal power will linger in the body, continuously accelerating cultivation speed until the pill's energy is fully exhausted."
"Required ingredients: Earth Fire Lotus Seed, mature Purple Heart Lotus, fifty-year-old Blood Spirit Ginseng… and one fourth-tier demonic core."
Xiao Tian recalled the detailed formula in his mind, his expression focused.
About five minutes later, he flicked his finger. A wisp of Sea Heart Flame lame shot into the Purple Nether Flame Cauldron through the fire port. With a faint, muffled sound, a raging, deep blue flame ignited inside the cauldron.
Xiao Tian's palm exerted a gentle suction, drawing all the prepared herbs into the cauldron one by one.
As the alchemy process began, the temperature inside the room rose steadily. Xiao Tian's slender fingers moved with precision, subtly adjusting the flame intensity, timing, and other crucial factors required for the pill.
His eyes remained calm and concentrated, every movement smooth and practiced. The brown flame danced inside the cauldron, slowly refining the herbs into a potent medicinal liquid.
As time passed, a fist-sized ball of purple liquid was produced from the Purple Nether Flame Cauldron. Xiao Tian divided the medicinal liquid into two portions, put them into jade bottles, and then started the fire again to continue refining the next portion. By the time Xiao Tian had finished refining the other portion, the area was already quiet in the dead of night. Putting away the four jade bottles, Xiao Tian simply changed his clothes and then went back to bed to sleep.
"Young Master, it's time to get up and wash!"
Early the next morning, Qing Lin stood outside Xiao Tian's door holding a bronze basin and called out gently.
"Hmm, come in."
Xiao Tian opened his eyes, stretched lazily, and spoke in a clear voice. Qing Lin pushed the door open, placed the basin down, and helped him get dressed. She then carefully combed and styled his hair.
Finally, she brought the bronze basin over so he could rinse his mouth and wash his face.
After finishing, Xiao Tian left the room with Qing Lin following closely behind. She quietly emptied the water before catching up.
He walked straight to the Little Fairy Doctor's room and knocked lightly on the door.
The Little Fairy Doctor, who had just finished washing up, opened the door with a smile. "Come in quickly."
"These are for you."
Xiao Tian took out two jade bottles and explained, "When you're ready, mix the medicinal liquid with warm water and circulate your cultivation technique to absorb its power. It will greatly benefit your foundation."
"Thank you, Xiao Tian."
"Thank you, Young Master."
Both the Little Fairy Doctor and Qing Lin accepted the bottles with grateful expressions.
"You can start absorbing the medicinal power now. I'm going to see Big Brother and Second Brother."
Xiao Tian gently pinched both their cheeks, then turned and left the room.
…
When Xiao Tian found Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, the two brothers stared at the jade bottles in their hands with wide-eyed shock.
"This… this is a Rank 4 pill?" Xiao Li exclaimed in disbelief. "I never thought I'd get to use a Rank 4 pill in my lifetime."
"So, Little Tianzi, you're already a Rank 4 Alchemist now?" Xiao Ding asked, his voice filled with excitement and doubt.
Xiao Tian nodded. "I should be considered at the peak of Rank 4 right now. I can attempt Rank 5 pills, though the success rate is still a bit low."
"Our ancestors are truly watching over us!" Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged delighted glances, then put their arms around Xiao Tian's shoulders and burst into loud laughter. "Hahahaha! Our Xiao Family has produced a golden phoenix! Come, we must hold a banquet tonight to celebrate!"
At the dinner table that evening, the three brothers chatted and laughed heartily. Bursts of cheerful laughter continuously echoed from the room.
While the brothers were happily drinking, the Little Fairy Doctor and Qing Lin were together in the bathing room.
"Little Fairy Doctor Sister, your skin is so smooth and your legs are so long. Qing Lin is so envious~"
"Qing Lin, you're still so young, yet your figure is already not inferior to mine. In a few more years, you'll definitely surpass me."
Playful laughter and the sound of splashing water filled the bathing room. After two loud splashes, the room gradually fell silent.
…
After absorbing the medicinal liquid, Qing Lin broke through two star levels, reaching Four-Star Dou Practitioner.
The Little Fairy Doctor, Xiao Ding, and Xiao Li each advanced by one star, reaching peak Nine-Star Dou Master, Six-Star Dou Master, and Five-Star Dou Master respectively.
…
As Xiao Tian, the Little Fairy Doctor, Qing Lin, and Wen Yan were strolling leisurely through the streets of Stone Desert City, Wen Yan suddenly leaned closer and whispered, "Hall Master, someone has been following us. Should I capture him?"
"No need," Xiao Tian replied with a mysterious smile. "All of you pretend you haven't noticed."
He wanted to see who had the audacity to tail him.
Xiao Tian deliberately led the group toward the outskirts of the city, giving the follower a chance to make a move.
As they walked further out, six figures suddenly appeared and blocked their path.
Xiao Tian looked at the group — an old man in light gray robes at the five-star Dou Ling realm, two middle-aged Great Dou Masters, and three younger Dou Masters.
The old man's gaze was fixed on Qing Lin's eyes, filled with wild excitement. His body trembled slightly as he stroked his chin.
"Sure enough… it's still immature. If I can transplant these eyes, the Cloud Mist Sect will have to spit out everything they've taken from me…"
"Gentlemen, what is your purpose in blocking our way?" Xiao Tian asked calmly, arms crossed over his chest.
The old man, unable to sense Wen Yan's aura, arrogantly assumed they were all weak. He sneered, "Boy, hand over the girl in green beside you, or you will face dire consequences."
Xiao Tian waved his hand without hesitation.
Wen Yan instantly released his powerful Dou Zong aura, suppressing the entire group.
In an instant, the old man and his followers were pressed to the ground, struggling desperately.
The old man's left sleeve burst open, revealing an arm that gradually transformed into pitch-black demonic beast limbs. After pouring Dou Qi into them, the arms turned a fiery crimson.
"Dou Zong?! How can there be a Dou Zong here?!" the old man roared in disbelief.
"You are Mo Cheng of the Mo Family?" Xiao Tian looked at the old man's transformed arm with interest. "You just said I would face dire consequences. I wonder what your situation is now?"
"This old man is indeed Mo Cheng, Great Elder of the Mo Family, and an outer elder of the Cloud Mist Sect! This is a misunderstanding! Please spare my life, Your Excellency!" Mo Cheng begged desperately, invoking the Cloud Mist Sect's name.
"Still trying to use the Cloud Mist Sect to pressure me?" Xiao Tian's voice turned cold. "I don't care what kind of demonic beast organ transplant research you're doing, but you've touched my reverse scale. So you might as well die."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Tian slapped his palm down on Mo Cheng's head.
Mo Cheng's eyes widened in shock as he uttered one final sentence, "You… will regret this…"
His body went limp, all signs of life vanishing instantly.
Xiao Tian waved his hand, summoning a wisp of Heavenly Flame that incinerated Mo Cheng's corpse into ashes. With another casual wave, a gust of wind scattered the ashes far into the distance.
Killing, cremating, and scattering the ashes — a complete one-stop service.
Xiao Tian then ordered Wen Yan to release the suppression.
The remaining members of the Mo Family immediately knelt on the ground, kowtowing frantically and begging for mercy.
"Please spare us, Your Excellency! We can be your slaves! We'll be your most obedient dogs! Just tell us who to bite, and we'll bite them!"
Xiao Tian ignored their desperate pleas and looked sternly at Qing Lin.
"Qing Lin, command your Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake to kill them."