"After directly absorbing the medicinal power, my cultivation has improved somewhat."
Yao Ling released her two-star Dou Ancestor aura as she spoke.
"Good, good, good." The old man laughed in realization. So it was because of her special constitution. "You performed very well. What reward do you want?"
Yao Ling's eyes flashed. She smiled and said, "I want to leave the Yao Realm and go to the Battle Qi Continent to gain experience."
"Leave the Yao Realm?"
The old man had not expected Yao Ling to ask for such a reward. Even as a Half-Saint expert, he was stunned for a moment.
He did not agree immediately. With a tone of disdain, he said, "There is nothing fun outside."
"The heaven and earth energy is not as abundant as in the Yao Realm. The various environments are not as good as in the Yao Realm. The heavenly materials and earthly treasures are not as rich as in the Yao Realm. If you want to see how ordinary people live, you can go to the ordinary cities where the billions of descendants live."
"Whatever is outside, the Yao Realm has it. Whatever is not outside, the Yao Realm also has it. The Yao Realm also has the most and strongest alchemists. You have no need to waste time outside."
If this had been before she obtained the Journal copy, Yao Ling's heart would not have rippled at all after hearing these words. From childhood to adulthood, she had heard it countless times. Her peers in the clan had all grown up under such rhetoric.
But now, thinking of the mocking evaluation Xiao Ting had given the Yao Clan in the Journal, her heart could not calm down.
"Ninth Grandfather, does the Yao Realm have every type of Heavenly Flame?" Yao Ling took a deep breath and asked with a serious expression.
Ninth Grandfather: "…"
Not to mention every type — they couldn't even gather enough with one hand.
"Is there still a Heavenly Flame in our clan?"
Yao Ling asked again.
"Heavenly Flames are only useful when your realm is low. You have already refined the high-tier beast flames collected by the clan. They are enough for you to use until you break through to Dou Venerate." The old man did not even think Heavenly Flames were that important. "You are absolutely safe in the Yao Realm and do not need to refine a Heavenly Flame to increase that bit of strength."
Yao Ling subconsciously clenched her hands and asked, "Does my Yao Clan have everything that the other ancient clans have?"
"I want to go to the Beast Region to meet the three great magic beast families, go to the northernmost part of the continent to meet the barbarian tribes that fuse beast souls for combat, and go to the seas around the continent to meet the various sea clans. Is that allowed too?"
The old man felt it was meaningless, but he could see that Yao Ling's attitude was firm, so he said, "According to clan rules, seed clansmen can only go out after breaking through to Dou Venerate. But since I mentioned a reward earlier, if you really want to go out, I can send an elder to accompany you. However, you must return after at most half a year."
"How can I make it so that Ninth Grandfather allows me to stay outside longer?" Yao Ling pressed.
A trace of puzzlement flashed in the old man's eyes, but after thinking for a moment, he still gave the answer: "Every half a year, report your progress in pill refinement, your cultivation improvement speed, and your soul advancement. If it is excellent enough, I can agree to let you continue staying outside."
"But once you've been outside, you'll know how good the Yao Realm is. You'll want to come back in less than half a year."
Yao Ling did not argue with the old man, but in her heart she was certain that the latter would be greatly shocked later.
If she stayed by Xiao Ting's side and continuously received plane blessings, she could spend her entire life without returning to the Yao Realm.
…
The night passed without incident.
Time arrived at the next day.
After finishing his breathing exercises, Xiao Ting began pill refinement again.
More than an hour later, a new batch of healing medicine was successfully refined.
"This batch has obvious improvement in quality. You really have great talent as an alchemist."
Looking at the deep red liquid with rich medicinal fragrance, Yao Lao did not stint on his praise. With a gentle wave of his hand, an invisible force appeared, cutting the still-flowing liquid into over a hundred portions, which were then placed into over a hundred medicine bottles he had prepared in advance.
"You have already refined nearly three hundred portions of healing medicine. Try refining some other Tier 1 pills."
Teaching a talented disciple was something every teacher liked, and Yao Chen was no exception.
Having just started as a pill refiner and succeeding, Xiao Ting was like a newbie who had just picked up a game — he was especially interested.
Under Yao Lao's guidance, he refined for several more hours and produced over a hundred portions each of three different Tier 1 pills.
Until a voice from Xiao Yan sounded outside in the courtyard: "Teacher, it's been a full day and night. Has Xiao Ting still not finished his first pill refinement?"
Only Yao Lao, whose soul perception was powerful, could hear this voice. Xiao Yan was also afraid of disturbing Xiao Ting.
"It's time to go out and move around, otherwise some people will get anxious." Xiao Ting stood up and stretched lazily, his tone meaningful.
Yao Lao did not think much of it and smiled: "Indeed, Xiao Yan must have waited anxiously."
Xiao Ting walked out of the secret room and called out, "Brother Yan, I'll wash my face and come out."
"I'm not in a hurry. Take your time," Xiao Yan responded loudly.
After washing up, Xiao Ting pushed the door open and saw Xiao Yan pacing back and forth in front of the stone table.
Both Xiao Ting and Yao Lao laughed inwardly. This did not look like someone who was not anxious.
"Xiao Ting, how was it? Did you succeed?" Xiao Yan immediately came forward, his eyes full of concern and anticipation.
Xiao Ting was of the lightning-fire attribute, not wood-fire. According to Yao Lao, there had never been a precedent on the Battle Qi Continent of a lightning-fire attribute cultivator successfully becoming a pill refiner.
It was only because the flame Xiao Ting controlled contained vigorous vitality, combined with his exceptionally outstanding soul perception, that Yao Lao felt it was worth a try.
Xiao Yan was afraid Xiao Ting would be disappointed and grew more worried the longer time dragged on.
"I succeeded. Very successfully," Xiao Ting revealed a smile.
"Up to now, Xiao Ting has refined nearly a thousand portions of Tier 1 pills," Yao Lao smiled and added from the side.
Xiao Yan immediately showed a speechless expression and said in an acidic tone, "So Xiao Ting is really a genius. You two stayed inside for so long without coming out because you got addicted to pill refinement?"
"Pretty much," Xiao Ting shrugged helplessly.
"You didn't come out for a whole day and night. Aren't you afraid that Xun Er and the others will worry about you?" Xiao Yan lightly punched Xiao Ting's arm. "By the way, it's still your brother who truly loves you. I came over several times, but they never did."
Xiao Yan said this on purpose, wanting to see Xiao Ting's speechless expression.
"I already told them that I would go find them after finishing pill refinement. They just aren't as anxious as you," Xiao Ting teased Xiao Yan in return.
Every time he succeeded in pill refinement, he would record his insights in the Journal.
They knew this clearly, so of course they would not come running over for nothing unless there was something urgent.
"Fine, fine, fine. I'm the outsider." Xiao Yan sighed, then changed the subject: "Actually, I wouldn't have rushed to call you out either, but someone wants to see you. Father asked me to come get you to the reception hall."
"Someone wants to see me?" Xiao Ting followed Xiao Yan outside, asking with interest, "Who?"
To actually make Xiao Zhan receive them personally and have Xiao Yan come call him.
"The Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Yun." Xiao Yan's expression looked ugly, and he answered resentfully, "It's better if you take your time. Let her wait a little longer."
"Brother Yan, who did you say wants to see me?" Xiao Ting's footsteps paused. He stared at Xiao Yan's face to confirm he had not misheard.
"The Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Yun — that Nalan Yanran's teacher." Xiao Yan gritted his teeth.
"Tsk!"
Xiao Ting laughed inwardly.
Good, good, good.
Things around him were really getting more and more lively!
…
…
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