"No problem." Xiao Ting did not refuse. As long as the two elders provided the materials, he would not need to pay anything and could even charge a fee to help with the refinement. With two Heavenly Venerable Pills, he could obtain at least four more as refining materials, or exchange them for items of equal value.
Pleased with the response, Elder Qian Bai was overjoyed and did not linger. Huo Zhi, who had been secretly preparing to act but failed, refused to accept it and appeared in the air. "Xiao Ting, you've actually reached the Dou Venerable level!"
"That's right. Why am I so amazing?" Xiao Ting chuckled lightly. "Miss Huo Zhi, have you completely accepted your defeat?"
"I've always been prepared to accept defeat. As long as you remain in the Flame Domain, the bet I lost belongs to you." Huo Zhi crossed her arms, a stubborn look beneath her veil as she pondered.
"Of course, I believe in Miss Huo Zhi's reputation." Xiao Ting solemnly cupped his fists and thanked Huo Zhi. "Besides, even if I'm unlucky enough not to reach Dou Venerable this time, I know that since Miss Huo Zhi is beautiful and kind-hearted, she will definitely stand up to protect Purple Sky City."
"Hmph, don't think so highly of me. If I'm going to do something unnecessary, I'd rather lose face." Huo Zhi turned her face away, her ears slightly red. She felt that Xiao Ting had seen through all her little schemes.
"Cough, cough, cough!" Xiao Yan once again took control of his body and cleared his throat. "Fourth Brother, shall I introduce myself?"
He rushed over, but in the end could only watch Xiao Ting show off while being showered with affection.
"This is Miss Huo Zhi, a friend of Xun Er." Xiao Ting introduced Xiao Yan. "She comes from the Ancient Clans, the Yan Clan."
Xiao Yan: "Little brother, you…"
Xiao Yan was no longer a monk from Wu.
The Central Plains, the Seven Great Ancient Clans, and the Three Great Beast Clans were already well-known. He also knew that the Xiao Clan had once been one of the ancient clans, but had since declined, and that Xun Er lived in the Gu Clan, with whom they had a good relationship.
Xiao Ting's speed at making friends was truly fast — in an instant, he had reached the level of a genius from an ancient clan.
"Brother, please return to the academy and inform Elder Su Qian. I plan to take you to the Lava World." Xiao Ting said.
"Stop standing there like a third wheel."
When Xiao Yan heard they were going to the "Lava World," he immediately agreed and left using his flying battle technique.
"Miss Huo Zhi, as a token of my gratitude, I also want to become good friends with you. Will you cooperate with me?"
Xiao Ting extended an invitation to Huo Zhi. Since a Dou Venerable was involved, it was perfect to accelerate things further. There was no need to worry at all about profit distribution or resource provision.
"What kind of cooperation?" Huo Zhi's heart trembled violently. Was this stinky man about to teach her a way to rapidly strengthen her power? If it involved Tou She Ancient God, their relationship wasn't close enough for that yet, right?
"I discovered a special race that possesses a body similar to a magic core while also being able to evolve Heavenly Flames. They can devour fire beads and directly enhance the power of fire-attribute cultivators."
Of course, Xiao Ting did not mention Tou She Ancient God. Revealing the existence of the Fire Lizard Race was enough.
Huo Zhi immediately showed an interested expression and signaled Xiao Ting to continue. However, Xiao Ting said he needed to discuss matters with Xun Er first and voiced his earlier concerns.
"I have already advanced to Dou Venerable and become an eighth-rank alchemist. If you wish to build a good relationship with Purple Sky City, you are welcome. But if anyone harbors ill intentions… Like Elder Chi Lian and the Hall of Souls will be destroyed."
Before returning to Purple Sky City, Xiao Ting suddenly looked up at the sky. As he spoke, dark clouds spanning a hundred miles suddenly gathered in the sky. Purple lightning continuously gathered and compressed.
"Heavenly Thunder Summon — Soul Annihilation Hall."
Xiao Ting pointed forward. The purple heavenly thunder crossed space, reached the Hall of Souls branch, and after falling, completely erased it.
After finishing all this, Xiao Ting finally returned to Purple Sky City. He reminisced with the Little Fairy Doctor, Qing Lin, Xun Er, Yun Yun, and Cai Lin.
…
After three to four days, when Huo Zhi reached the limit of her patience, they finally prepared to get down to business.
[The Fire Lizard Race was born from Tou She Ancient God. The fire beads within them carry the power of Tou She Ancient God and possess the ability to nourish heaven and earth after breaking through to Dou God.]
[Using Heavenly Flames can eliminate the violence within the fire beads, allowing direct absorption. At the Dou King level, fire beads can enhance the cultivation of Dou Emperor cultivators who obtained Earth-rank techniques through three to five days of arduous training.]
[When ancient clan cultivators devour them, they can strengthen the special Dou God power contained in their bloodline and obtain a rank advancement effect.]
[Huo Zhi should be able to obtain fire beads and transform the rank of her Dou God bloodline through them. Advancing from fourth-rank to sixth-rank is no problem at all. She can be granted the clan crest, and with the Red Lotus Karmic Flame body, her cultivation speed will be faster than those with ninth-rank bloodlines.]
[When that time comes, she will have to be deeply grateful!]
[Huo Zhi]: ! Not only can it rapidly strengthen cultivation, it can also raise bloodline rank.
"How generous, truly generous. In the future, I can even offer myself to you."
[Yao Ling]: Tempted. I'm going to take Brother to search right now.
[Xun Er]: Come on, Brother Xiao Ting is already a Dou Venerable. No matter what happens, he won't suspect anything. Instead, he'll think it's his own fault.
[Feng Qing Er]: Then I'm going too. I'll have Purple Sky City search for the dried corpse of an eighth-rank Heavenly Demon Phoenix and find a way to contact them.
[Zi Yan]: Good idea. Let's fight. It's perfectly normal for me to clash with Heavenly Phoenix.
[Feng Qing Er]: So that's how it works!
[Cai Lin]: You attack Zi Yan, I'll take care of you, and you reveal your identity as a Heavenly Demon Phoenix. It's understandable to tell Xiao Ting about it.
[Feng Qing Er]: Good idea. Let's do that.
[Tang Huo Er]: Then what should I do? I want to directly raise my cultivation using fire beads.
[Cao Ying]: I'm lining up. I'm going to become Master's most beloved and obedient disciple in the future. I don't have such privileges.
At this moment, Xiao Ting's Journal continued to update.
[It's better to absorb fire beads from those at the same realm or higher.]
[Things that aren't needed can be kept; they can be used for Cao Ying in the future.]
[Not only Cao Ying — if Dan Chen and Ye Xinlan follow, they might also become alchemists of the Xiao Clan.]
[Cao Ying]: It's over!
[Ye Xinlan]: What happened to Sister Cao Ying?
[Cao Ying]: A few days ago, I refined a mid-level fifth-rank pill.
[Yao Ling]: That's a good thing.
[Cao Ying]: The clan leader and elders reported it to the Pill Tower. The Little Pill Tower sent someone to take me as a disciple. How should I refuse?
Women: "…"
This was indeed a big problem. If Cao Ying became a disciple under the Pill Tower now, she could no longer become Xiao Ting's disciple again.
[Cao Ying]: You're laughing.
[Yao Ling]: I'm not. I come from an ancient clan and have received the best education since childhood. There's no way I would laugh. (Hmph)
[Cao Ying]: You're clearly just laughing smugly.
[Yao Ling]: No, I simply thought of an easy way to refine a seventh-rank pill.
[Cao Ying]: Annoying. I've decided to think of an excuse. I'll say I don't want a male master. Xuan Kong Zi was supposed to take me as a disciple, but I still refused.
[Cao Ying]: Wu Wu Wu, Xuan Yi came. I can't refuse.
Women: "…"
Yes. This is truly interesting.
…