"After all, this is the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit we're talking about."
For the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit, Feng Qing Er felt it was worth offending even the daughter of the Ancient Clan's clan leader, Gu Xun Er.
It wasn't that she was stupid or foolish again—this fruit was worth it.
To outsiders, there were three major magical beast families in the Beast Region: the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe, the Heaven Demon Phoenix Tribe, and the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe.
But insiders knew their own business. What could rival the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe was the Ancient Heavenly Phoenix. The bloodline of her Heaven Demon Phoenix Tribe had already degenerated.
Although it was truly hurtful, in the words of the Ancient Void Dragons, they were just a bunch of miscellaneous feathered birds eating something that didn't taste authentic.
As for the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe, due to their large-scale reproduction, their bloodline was even thinner than that of the Heaven Demon Phoenix Tribe—hardly worth mentioning.
The Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit required absorbing the life force of the Ancient Dragon and the Ancient Heavenly Phoenix to have a less than ten percent chance of appearing. Only descendants with the bloodline of the Ancient Void Dragon and Ancient Heavenly Phoenix could refine it. After succeeding, one would possess the strengths of both clans, gaining all the abilities of both, and become a true supreme magical beast—the Dragon Phoenix.
Once one became a Dragon Phoenix, stepping into the Dou Saint level would be only natural. Reaching nine-star Dou Saint would be a matter of time, and the chances of breaking through to Dou God would be several times higher than for other nine-star Dou Saints.
For this fruit, merely offending Gu Xun Er was nothing. After all, the latter couldn't reveal anything about the Journal, nor could she convince the Ancient Clan to attack the Heaven Demon Phoenix Tribe.
Given the attitude of the Ancient Clan's higher-ups, if Xun Er asked them to attack the Heaven Demon Phoenix Tribe over Xiao Ting, they would only hope Xiao Ting died sooner.
Once Xun Er grew stronger, she—who had refined the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit—would have nothing to fear. It was worth the gamble.
Unfortunately, with the Journal's restrictions in place, she could not do anything to harm Xiao Ting.
"If I can't harm him, then I'll please him."
"I must become his friend as soon as possible and gain his approval."
"The Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit can only be refined by descendants of the Ancient Void Dragon and Ancient Heavenly Phoenix. It's useless to him. But if I become his friend, he will definitely consider giving this fruit to me. After all, if I break through to Dou Saint as a Dragon Phoenix, it will also be a great help to him."
At this moment, Feng Qing Er's desire to befriend Xiao Ting, to become close friends, and to become best friends had never been stronger.
…
As for Cao Ying, Tang Huo Er, Huo Zhi, Yao Ling, and the other girls, they were amazed and even more eager to befriend Xiao Ting.
After all, they couldn't harm him. Even without considering the plane blessings, becoming friends with someone who knew countless opportunities on the Battle Qi Continent could only bring benefits and no harm. The fact that he casually mentioned a Dou Saint ruins was proof enough.
Who knew how many more Dou God inheritances or nine-star Dou Saint ruins and inheritances he knew about.
…
One night passed without incident.
The next day arrived.
As usual, Xiao Ting went to find Xun Er for breakfast and conveniently mentioned all the girls in the Journal once.
These women were risking exposure to approach him—especially Medusa, who wished she could brush up her presence every day. It wasn't hard for him to guess some things.
After finishing these tasks, he went to find Yao Lao and continued learning alchemy.
When Xiao Yan's strength reached Dou Spirit, he could already refine fifth-tier pills.
In other words, with his current Battle Qi cultivation and sufficiently strong soul force, he only lacked experience accumulation to refine fifth-tier pills.
"Your control over Battle Qi is becoming more and more proficient. The quality of these first-tier pills is all top-grade. Once you can refine pills of the same tier, you'll be able to master one and understand a hundred." Yao Lao examined the pills Xiao Ting had refined, his face carrying a satisfied smile. "Next, you can try refining second-tier pills."
"We're starting second-tier already?"
A gloomy voice came from the side.
Xiao Yan felt like dying from comparing himself to others. He had been completely devastated by the talent Xiao Ting displayed.
"Xiao Yan, you don't need to be discouraged. Actually, your performance has already been very good." Yao Lao comforted him earnestly. "Your progress speed is not inferior to mine back then. Placed in Central Plains, you would also be considered a genius level. Just keep it up."
"Xiao Ting is a once-in-a-millennium genius. There's no need for you to compare yourself with him."
The first part sounded normal, but the latter part made Xiao Yan's mouth twitch again.
Just then, Yao Lao seemed to remember something and asked Xiao Ting, "Your mastery of Battle Qi has already reached the level where you can externalize and condense objects. You couldn't have already broken through to Dou Spirit, could you?"
"Mhm." Xiao Ting nodded neither arrogantly nor impatiently, and spoke slowly, "Yesterday…"
"You luckily broke through, right!"
Xiao Yan spoke first, his face full of disgust. "I'm completely convinced by you now. It's clearly something worth being happy and excited about, but after hearing you, I only feel like you deserve a beating. From now on, don't say such pretentious things again."
Congratulations, Lucky Brother—you've even learned how to answer first.
As for saying it was pretentious, Xiao Ting did not agree. He had learned it all from Xiao Yan.
"I'll try my best." Xiao Ting sighed helplessly and shrugged. "But it really was luck."
This time he wasn't lying. If it weren't for the plane blessing of Heavenly and Earthly Spiritual Energy empowerment, he might have needed to accumulate for a while longer before breaking through.
"Enough!" Xiao Yan stretched out his hand. "Stop talking. Right now I just want to be quiet."
"Who is Jingjing?" Xiao Ting frowned, his tone strange. "Brother Yan, you found a girlfriend?"
Xiao Yan: "..."
Heavens, Earth, quickly take this stinky little brother away.
You are my hell.
…
Time flew like an arrow, and the days passed like a shuttle. In the blink of an eye, another ten days had gone by.
With the help of plane blessings, Xiao Ting's progress in all aspects was very gratifying.
His cultivation had touched two-star Dou Spirit. He had mastered techniques and Dou Skills proficiently. His success rate in refining second-tier pills was extremely high.
This day was originally expected to be another ordinary cultivation day, but a servant came to deliver a message: "Third Young Master, Fourth Young Master, the clan leader and the elders are looking for you. Please go to the council hall."
"We'll head over right away." The two brothers were puzzled. They exchanged a glance, agreed, and immediately headed to the council hall.
"Clan Leader, we can't tolerate this any longer. Let's fight the Jia Lie family with everything we have. In just five short days, our Xiao family's profits have dropped by at least fifty percent."
"Yes, if this situation continues, all our markets will have to close."
"The Jia Lie family has come aggressively this time. We cannot sit and wait for death."
Inside the council hall, several elders had fierce looks in their eyes.
The reason was that the Jia Lie family—one of the three major families in Wu Tan City—had somehow gotten extremely lucky and invited a first-tier alchemist to sit in their residence. Every day, they could refine a considerable number of various first-tier pills for the Jia Lie family.
With this backing, the Jia Lie family had the confidence to lower prices. They quickly attracted most customers with a larger quantity and better-priced first-tier pills, causing all businesses in the Xiao family's markets to plummet. The situation was now very bad.
At this moment, clan members of relatively high status were all sitting in the council hall discussing the matter.
"This matter indeed cannot be delayed any longer." The usually steady First Elder narrowed his eyes and spoke. "If it weren't for Grandmaster Gu Ni from the Miteer Auction House refining over a hundred bottles of healing medicine for the family, we wouldn't even have been able to hold on these past few days. But this is only treating the symptoms, not the root. The Jia Lie family has a first-tier alchemist in residence. Unless we can also invite one, the longer this drags on, the worse the situation will become."
"Yes. If Grandmaster Gu Ni were willing to help with full effort, then the one we'd have to worry about would be the Jia Lie family. But he belongs to the Miteer Auction House, and they won't intervene in conflicts between local families."
Xiao Zhan listened to the elders' discussion, his eyes flashing with ferocity. "It seems we really have to go all out."
Watching this scene, Xiao Ning felt heavy-hearted. He turned to Xiao Yu and asked, "Sis, just one first-tier alchemist has put our Xiao family in such a state?"
"That's right. Alchemists are that terrifying." Xiao Yu sighed deeply. "In terms of strength, a first-tier alchemist is only at the level of a Dou Practitioner and cannot reach Dou Master. Any elder in the clan could easily kill one. But they know how to refine pills—the various healing medicines that low-level cultivators desperately need."
"Because of this ability, alchemists have extremely high status and wide connections. A powerful alchemist can casually summon a bunch of helpers. Just imagine the scene of a third-tier alchemist calling over a group of Dou Grandmaster experts to attack the Xiao family's territory."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Ning subconsciously shivered, then his face filled with envy. "If I could…"
"Stop daydreaming. The harsh conditions for becoming an alchemist are no different from a meat pie falling from the sky and hitting you." Xiao Yu rolled her eyes at her brother and poured cold water on him.
"So that means our Xiao family really doesn't have the fortune to produce an alchemist." Xiao Ning muttered softly.
"Of course we don't—" Xiao Yu was about to say the family didn't have such good luck.
But at that moment, two tall and straight figures walked in through the door.
The one with an extremely handsome appearance yawned lazily and greeted Xiao Zhan and the others.
In response, Xiao Zhan and the others actually restrained their previous anxious expressions and responded kindly, making the younger generation feel like they had seen a ghost.
"Uncle, I roughly heard what's going on from outside the door just now." Xiao Ting was too lazy to find a seat. He had known this day would come and said, "It's just a mere first-tier alchemist. It's as if the Xiao family doesn't have one. Let's teach him how to be a proper person head-on."
Everyone: "..."
Do you even hear what you're saying?
That's a freaking alchemist. Even if he's only first-tier, he's not someone the Xiao family can casually provoke.
"Xiao Ting, don't talk nonsense." Xiao Yu spoke up to warn him, but it was purely out of good intentions.
She had received a message from Instructor Ruo Ling that the Jia Nan Academy recruitment team would arrive in Wu Tan City in a few days.
With Xiao Ting's talent, he would definitely pass the assessment. But compared to the true geniuses in the academy, he was still somewhat lacking.
Being arrogant and conceited would only make him suffer later. She didn't want the Xiao family's genius to eat a loss because of it.
"Table Sister Xiao Yu has misunderstood. I'm telling the truth." Xiao Ting could sense that Xiao Yu meant well. He smiled in return and looked at Xiao Yan. "Brother Yan, come and give our table sister a little tiny shock."
"You're something else—using me to show off." Xiao Yan's mouth was full of disgust, but his actions were not slow. He waved his hand forward.
In the next moment, several hundred bottles of healing medicine and other first-tier pills appeared on the ground.
All the clan members in the room!?
Xiao Zhan reacted the fastest. He suddenly stood up and asked excitedly, "Yan'er, you… you've become a first-tier alchemist?"
Xiao Yan pinched his nose. "I luckily had some talent, was luckily accepted as a disciple, and luckily became a first-tier alchemist recently. I accumulated some practice works."
Xiao Ting: ?
As expected, it still had to be Lucky Brother!
…
…
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