With one puzzle solved, Gu He couldn't help but wonder: Has the Miter Family also acquired a powerful alchemist? Otherwise, why would they want a sixth-tier beast flame?
Jia Xing Tian shook his head slightly. "Although the Miter Family's offer was tempting, I didn't proceed with the trade."
"Why not?" Gu He set aside his thoughts and pressed.
Jia Xing Tian explained patiently, "At that time, the royal family's Yao Yue had just extracted a beast flame from the guardian beast to prepare for this year's Alchemist Grand Meeting. Naturally, it couldn't be done again so soon."
"However, some time has passed since then. If Pill King Gu He truly wants it, there is a way—though it would cause significant harm to the magical beast." Jia Xing Tian sighed, as if deeply reluctant to subject his guardian beast to such suffering.
Gu He immediately understood the implication. After all this roundabout talk, he's just dissatisfied with my initial offer.
Gritting his teeth, Gu He said with visible reluctance, "I'm willing to add another Dou Ling Pill and provide some fire-attribute medicinal liquid to accelerate the recovery of the royal beast's innate flame."
Jia Xing Tian hesitated briefly before standing. "For Pill King Gu He's sake, the royal family will bear some losses. Once the beast flame is extracted, I'll have it delivered to the Yunlan Sect."
"In that case, thank you, Elder Jia. I'll return to refine the Dou Ling Pills first." Gu He forced a smile, then turned and left the hall.
Watching Gu He depart, Jia Xing Tian's eyes revealed deep unease. The Miter Family and the Yunlan Sect both want sixth-tier beast flames... These factions are growing stronger by the day.
Extracting the beast flame would take several days. Upon returning to the Yunlan Sect, Gu He suppressed his frustration at being outmaneuvered by Jia Xing Tian and immediately prepared to refine pills.
After all, his tasks were substantial.
Not only did he need to refine an ancient pill for Yun Yun's disciple, but he also had to produce three Dou Ling Pills for the Jia Ma royal family.
Such frequent high-tier pill refinement was taxing even for a sixth-tier alchemist like him.
Compared to Gu He's tasks, what Xiao Yan was preparing to craft was hundreds of times more valuable.
Rubbing the Bone Flame Ring on his finger, Xiao Yan's smile grew wider.
[Through your study of spatial rings, spatial stones, and spatial force application, you have gained enlightenment. You have comprehended the method to craft Beast Storage Rings.]
[Beast Storage Ring Crafting Method: By merging multiple spatial stones using a secret technique, they can be refined into a bracelet-like artifact. The quality of the Beast Storage Ring depends heavily on the materials and refinement techniques used.]
Xiao Yan exhaled slowly. Researching this had consumed considerable effort.
In truth, based on the spatial force descriptions recorded in the Bone Flame Ring's texts, he could have easily devised many methods to craft Beast Storage Rings.
But methods were one thing—his own strength as the user was another critical factor.
If he were a Dou Zong-level expert, those methods would have been straightforward to implement.
However, as a mere Dou Huang—still far from the Dou Zong level, where one could barely manipulate spatial force—he had to adapt and simplify the process.
Xiao Yan stood and walked to a corner, picking up an inconspicuous gray sack. With a flip, he dumped its contents onto the ground.
Clatter—
Countless colorful spatial stones spilled out, their surfaces shimmering under the glow of moonlight stones, transforming the cave into a dazzling spectacle.
"Refinement—begin." Xiao Yan sat cross-legged beside the pile, flicking his sleeve to levitate two spatial stones. With a snap of his fingers, a wisp of flame enveloped them.
With his extensive experience crafting puppets, refining spatial stones—though a new field—didn't unsettle him in the slightest. He focused intently, sensing the state of the two stones.
Under the intense heat of the Heavenly Flame, the spatial stones, despite their unique properties, gradually showed signs of melting.
As the melting began, Xiao Yan swiftly formed a series of hand seals and directed them at the floating stones.
Empowered by the seals, a silvery sheen appeared at the junction of the two stones. Intricate runes layered upon each other, and miraculously, the stones began merging.
After some time, the two stones had shrunk significantly, fusing into a red bead the size of a pea. It glowed faintly, exuding an extraordinary aura.
Inspecting the bead's spatial capacity, Xiao Yan confirmed it was indeed twice that of a standard spatial stone. Pleased, he rubbed the small bead between his fingers.
"It's a shame Medicine Old Man only knew alchemy and had no experience in artifact forging. Otherwise, I could have just had him handle this."
Tossing the bead into the air, Xiao Yan continued merging more spatial stones.
To create a storage device large enough for magical beasts, two spatial stones were far from sufficient.
As he progressed, his efficiency improved, and the speed of fusion increased.
Though the number of stones grew, their combined volume didn't increase proportionally—the Heavenly Flame's purification continuously removed impurities, shrinking the overall mass.
While Xiao Yan diligently worked on the storage artifact, Yun Yun, back at the Yunlan Sect, finished handling accumulated affairs and indulged in a thorough bath.
Seated elegantly before her dressing table, she gazed at her reflection in the bronze mirror, momentarily entranced.
In the past, she had paid little attention to her appearance. But after her trip to the Magical Beast Mountain Range, a question arose in her mind:
Am I beautiful?
Though many had implied or outright stated she was, Yun Yun still harbored doubts.
Now, examining herself closely, she nodded slightly. Even as a woman, I find myself captivated.
The reflection showed a flawless face—delicate brows, bright eyes, pearly teeth, and a figure both graceful and alluring. The blue crabapple flower embroidered on her undergarment bloomed vividly, exuding a mysterious charm.
Her sheer nightgown accentuated her snow-white skin, while a white silk ribbon cinched her slender waist, emphasizing the curves below. The overall effect was one of regal elegance.
Recalling her promise to "tempt" Yao Yan into cultivation, Yun Yun's cheeks flushed. With someone this beautiful... do I still need to take the initiative?
With a soft hmph, she rose barefoot and glided toward her bed.
Her long, alluring legs—unadorned by stockings—only highlighted their fairness and fullness. Each step was enough to quicken any pulse.
As dawn broke, golden hues painted the horizon, blending with the morning mist into a dreamlike canvas.
After a night of refinement, Gu He's alchemy chamber was the first to show activity, its rich medicinal fragrance wafting out.
"Is this the Purple Crystal Pill?" Gu He marveled at the crystalline pill floating in his palm.
Ordinary pills made from magic cores often contained crystalline fragments, but those typically melted during refinement.
Under normal circumstances, Gu He would have studied it thoroughly. But with three Dou Ling Pills awaiting refinement, he had no time to spare.
After a brief inspection, he stored it in a jade vial and instructed a servant to deliver it to Yun Yun's disciple.
Seeing this, Liu Ling—who had intended to seek Gu He's guidance—intercepted the servant and volunteered to deliver it to Nalan Yanran personally.
After traversing a mountain path to the cliff where Nalan Yanran often trained, Liu Ling's already delicate features darkened further.
At the cliff's edge, a young man praised earnestly, "Junior Sister Yanran, mastering the Wind Spirit Split-Form Sword—a mid-tier Profound Rank battle skill—in just half a year is truly remarkable."
"Senior Brother Mo Li flatters me," Nalan Yanran replied calmly, showing no delight at the compliment. "I've only grasped the basics. I'm still far from manifesting the sword forms and unleashing its true power."
Seeing her indifference, Liu Ling's expression softened slightly, and he approached with a warm smile.
"Junior Sister Yanran, the pill you requested—Teacher has refined it for you."
"Really?!" Nalan Yanran spun around, her obsidian eyes sparkling as they fixed on the exquisite jade vial in Liu Ling's hand.
Liu Ling smiled. "After obtaining the materials, Teacher worked through the night to refine this precious fifth-tier pill."
Mo Li maintained a polite facade, but inwardly, his emotions churned.
Though the Mo Family's influence in the northeast has grown in recent years, it's nothing compared to Liu Ling's standing.
After all, Liu Ling's teacher was Pill King Gu He—a figure renowned throughout the Jia Ma Empire.
In terms of talent, looks, and status, Liu Ling was undeniably the best match for Nalan Yanran, the future sect master.
Watching the delighted girl accept the pill, Mo Li offered kindly, "Junior Sister Yanran, you've only just reached the two-star Dou Zhe level. Taking a pill now might make your Dou Qi unstable. Steady cultivation is paramount."
"Junior Brother Mo Li." Liu Ling glanced at him dismissively. "As a non-alchemist, it's understandable that you're unfamiliar with an alchemist's capabilities."
"This pill is based on an ancient recipe Teacher discovered in a hidden cave. After thorough verification, it's perfectly suited for someone at Junior Sister Yanran's level." Liu Ling's gaze lingered on Nalan Yanran, slightly dazed.
Uninterested in their rivalry, Nalan Yanran only wanted to cultivate diligently and strengthen her resolve to annul her engagement.
"Senior Brothers, please excuse me. I must begin my training." Clutching the vial, she excused herself and floated away with the grace of the Flying Catkin Movement Technique.
Once she was out of sight, both men's expressions darkened.
"I've been preoccupied with the Alchemist Grand Meeting lately, leaving me little time to accompany Yanran. But once I win the championship, Teacher will propose our marriage to the sect master." Liu Ling's voice turned icy as he glared at Mo Li. "Know your place."
Without giving Mo Li a chance to retort, Liu Ling turned and left.
Mo Li's fists clenched until his knuckles whitened, veins bulging on his forehead.
"To think he'd dismiss me so utterly!"
Just wait, Liu Ling. Once Nalan Yanran becomes my woman, who in the Jia Ma Empire would dare look down on me? Even your precious teacher, Gu He, is nothing more than the Yunlan Sect's alchemy-trained dog!
This hidden ambition soothed his rage somewhat.
Back in her room, Nalan Yanran ordered her servants to admit no one, locked the door, and sat cross-legged on her bed. Slowly, she uncorked the vial.
Instantly, a rich medicinal aroma filled the air. With just one whiff, she felt her Dou Qi grow noticeably.
"Xiao Yan, what does being a genius in a backwater like Wutan City amount to? Do you have access to the Yunlan Sect's advanced techniques and skills? Can you rely on a sixth-tier alchemist like Pill King Gu He to refine cultivation-aiding pills?"
Thinking of the High-Level Profound Rank techniques and matching battle skills she practiced, Nalan Yanran's delicate features flushed with excitement.
Her budding chest rose and fell rapidly.
"My marriage will be mine to decide!" Tipping the pill into her palm, she swallowed it in one gulp, ignoring its lingering heat.
The pill dissolved instantly, sending a scorching current down her throat. Nalan Yanran gasped, her face turning as red as a boiled lobster.
This wasn't her first time taking pills, but the energy within this one dwarfed even the fourth-tier Qi Gathering Powder!
Her slender fingers swiftly formed a cultivation seal, and she activated the Yunlan Sect's most profound High-Level Profound Rank technique.
As the technique circulated, the overwhelming medicinal energy surged through her meridians like rivers converging into the sea, eventually pooling into her Dou Qi vortex.
Nalan Yanran could clearly sense that, despite the intense heat, the absorbed energy was far purer than before—as if pre-refined.
This, in fact, was the Purple Crystal Pill's primary effect.
By harnessing the unique flame energy absorbed by the Amethyst Spirit Crystal over years, it refined natural energy, drastically enhancing cultivation efficiency.
Author's Note:
The one who accompanied Nalan Yanran to annul the engagement was the Mo Family's Mo Li, not Liu Ling.
The anime simplified things—you know how it is.
Battle Through the Heavens even absurdly elevated the Mo Family's Elder Mo Cheng, a mere Dou Ling, to Dou Huang status...
For details, see Battle Through the Heavens original novel, Chapter 252: Nalan Yanran.
(End of Chapter)
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