Behavior For Yao Yan, the Fallen Heart Flame would be his last stop in the Black Corner Region. After settling these matters, he would choose to return to the Soul Clan with Hun Xuzi. Compared to the cultivation resources outside, the cultivation resources controlled by the major imperial clans were the fundamental way for Yao Yan to rapidly improve his strength. Otherwise, relying solely on external cultivation resources, if he wanted to cultivate to the Dou Sheng level, he would probably have to wait until the Bodhi Ancient Tree appeared, and that was assuming everything went smoothly.
No matter what kind of world it is, the best cultivation resources are always controlled by the top group of people. In
the Dou Qi Continent, those who control those resources are undoubtedly the major imperial clans, among which the Ancient Clan and the Soul Clan are the most powerful. The Soul Clan is even above the Ancient Clan because it possesses a top-tier power like the Soul Palace, which can gather all cultivation resources, unlike other clans that only retreat into their own realms and rarely venture out.
Yao Yan currently has almost the same number of different flames as Xiao Yan in the original story. If he wants to obtain more, he can only rely on the Soul Clan, a fact he is well aware of.
Looking at Yao Yan's calm gaze, Yao Lao couldn't help but remind him, "You'd better not be careless. Han Feng is someone I taught; he's not easy to deal with, and he's very likely connected to the Soul Palace. If you rashly contact him, you'll easily invite unnecessary trouble upon yourself."
Geniuses all have their flaws, namely arrogance. Underestimating their opponents will undoubtedly lead to great losses.
"Don't worry, Elder Yao," Yao Yan chuckled, his dark eyes calmly fixed on Yao Lao. "I've never underestimated him, and not just him. I never underestimate any opponent. Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit, let alone a human. In a fight, a single defeat can cost you your life!"
"...Alright, since you want to try, then try. Just remember to be careful, especially if you encounter the Soul Hall members. Those guys are very strange; don't let them target you."
Elder Yao paused for a moment, then warned in a serious tone. He had dealt with the Soul Hall many times and knew how troublesome they were. They were like a pack of jackals; once they set their sights on a target, they would constantly probe before attacking. Without sufficient strength, the final outcome would certainly not be good.
However, given the special rules of the Black Corner Region, the elders of the Soul Hall probably wouldn't intervene, and as for ordinary protectors, in his current state, he wasn't too afraid.
If it really came to a critical moment, protecting Yao Yan and Cai Lin wouldn't be difficult.
He, the former Venerable Yao, still had that much confidence.
Yao Yan's expression was somewhat strange, but he still obediently nodded, accepting Yao Lao's concern. He felt quite good about this elder with whom he shared a slight blood relation, at least more comfortable than being with Hun Xuzi, because Hun Xuzi would never show such concern; the other party only valued Yao Yan's worth.
He had no doubt that once he lost his value, Hun Xuzi would refine all of his body's essence, which was easy for the alchemist master to do.
He would inevitably have to vomit up everything he had consumed.
"Think these things through yourself. Alright, I've disturbed you two. It's been a long time since we last met, have a good chat~" Yao Lao smiled and winked at Yao Yan, then slowly disappeared, going off to relax somewhere.
This old fellow… Yao Yan thought to himself, his gaze involuntarily drifting to Cai Lin, meeting her eyes.
"Is it very beautiful?"
Cai Lin's eyes narrowed slightly, she glared at Yao Yan, and said coldly.
Yao Yan smiled upon hearing this, continuing to scrutinize Cai Lin's oval face, blatantly teasing her, "She is indeed quite beautiful."
"...Is this how you deceived Cai Die back then?"
Cai Lin clenched her fists, her beautiful eyes narrowing, carrying a hint of danger as she spoke coldly. She hadn't forgotten the relationship between him and Cai Die. Sometimes, she had to admit that he was somewhat greedy. He already had his own sister and two beautiful maids, yet he wasn't satisfied and still came to provoke her. Did he really think she was as easy to fool as his sister?
"I didn't deceive her. I genuinely like her. Perhaps it's because of her appearance, perhaps it's because of her personality, in short, I like her,"
Yao Yan said with a smile. He wasn't embarrassed at all. As for Cai Lin, he didn't offer any explanation, nor was there any need, because the two hadn't reached that point yet.
Because of her appearance?
Cai Lin and Cai Die were twin sisters, their faces almost identical. She sensed a hint of sarcasm in Yao Yan's words, but had no proof. She could only roll her eyes at him before slowly rising and returning to her room. She didn't want to remain alone with Yao Yan in a room; she felt uneasy, especially with his undisguised gaze.
Yao Yan didn't stop her from leaving, as he had more important matters to attend to.
"Do you really enjoy spying, old man?"
He didn't leave immediately, instead glancing towards the window, and said irritably, "At your age, still playing these tricks. Once is one thing, but to come back again? What a shameless old man!
" "Ahem~"
With an awkward cough, Yao Lao's figure slowly emerged from the window. His method of concealment was clearly a unique soul technique, but this method only concealed his presence from others; it was useless against Yao Yan, who possessed a spiritual soul.
Yao Yan had seen through it once before, but he never expected the old man to use the same trick again; his skin was truly thick.
"I just suddenly remembered something, I didn't deliberately come back to spy on you... Besides, there's nothing to see." Old Yao stroked his beard and said calmly, his teacher-like demeanor making him extremely deceptive.
"You must have had your share of women when you were young, right?" Yao Yan looked at the pretentious Old Yao and said with a smile. He knew quite a bit about Old Yao's dark history; aside from other things, just from the descriptions in the original work, there were several women involved, not to mention his romantic escapades. "
Back then, I wasn't as timid as you are. If you like someone, you should pursue them. Don't miss out and regret it later."
Old Yao advised him with the tone of someone who had been through it all.
"Don't worry, I won't make those mistakes."
Yao Yan smiled. He was never timid when it came to matters of the heart. Now that he was in this world, he naturally had to pursue what he liked, instead of waiting. Thinking of this, he glanced at Yao Lao. It was easy for Yao Lao to say, but he could never do it himself. If he remembered correctly, the woman who was one of the three giants of the Pill Tower seemed to be Yao Lao's old flame. He just didn't know why Yao Lao had always avoided it and never directly responded to this relationship.
"I saw it long ago, tsk tsk, two sisters, and both Medusa Queens at that. You're quite the ladies' man, kid~"
Yao Lao floated to Yao Yan's side and teased.
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Yao Yan, too lazy to pay attention to the old man, directly changed the subject, saying, "I plan to refine the Ice Heart Pill."
"...You found the Earth Core Tempering Milk?"
Yao Lao was taken aback, forgetting his teasing, his expression turned serious, and he asked in a deep voice. He hadn't expected Yao Yan to have obtained such a rare and precious natural treasure after a trip to Canaan Academy. Even in Central Continent, this item was extremely rare, and its appearance always attracted many alchemists.
"I was extremely lucky. I found it in the back mountains of Canaan Academy, and I seem to be the first person to find it." As Yao Yan spoke, he took out a bottle of Earth Core Tempering Milk from his Bone Flame Ring and tossed it to Yao Lao.
Yao Lao controlled it with his soul power. When he opened the bottle, a crystal-clear liquid, resembling amber, was revealed. A faint chill emanated from it, yet this chill also carried an indescribable nourishing sensation, even having a certain effect on soul power.
"You're really lucky, kid." Old Yao couldn't help but sigh. He had offered a bounty for this stuff back in Zhongzhou, but only managed to get a few drops. The bottle Yao Yan had now contained far more than just a few drops; the value of this single bottle of Earth Core Tempering Milk was comparable to some precious seventh-grade pills.
Yao Yan didn't react much to this. He knew his own situation; finding this stuff wasn't due to luck, but simply because he was in a god-like position.
His only stroke of luck in his life was when he was refined by Hun Xuzi. At that time, he was truly helpless, forced to gamble with his life—either live or die, there was absolutely no other option.
"When do you plan to refine it?"
Old Yao's eyes flickered as he stared at Yao Yan, his tone now slightly more serious. The Ice Heart Pill was far superior to a seventh-grade pill like the Instant Qi Pill; its refining difficulty was among the highest of all seventh-grade pills.
Yao Yan said softly, "There's no time like the present, let's do it today. I don't have much time."
"Are you sure?"
Yao Lao asked in a deep voice. In his current state, he could only assist from the side; refining the seventh-grade Ice Heart Pill would have to be done by Yao Yan himself.
Yao Yan nodded and said firmly, "Yes."
Yao Lao asked, "Have you found a location?"
"A deserted mountain range will do. Please isolate the surrounding space to prevent anyone from getting close. As for the final pill lightning, leave it to me." Yao Yan's eyes flickered slightly, and his tone became more expectant. He had already cultivated his Vajra Indestructible Body to the second level, and he wondered if the pill lightning could temper his body.
Yao Lao frowned slightly and asked, "Are you confident? The pill lightning for a seventh-grade pill is no joke."
"Aren't you here to keep an eye on things from the side?"
Yao Yan asked with a smile.
Upon hearing this, the old apothecary chuckled and said, "If your life isn't in danger, I won't bother you. Don't complain when you're covered in dust and grime."
...
...
Hundreds of miles away from Black Seal City, in a desolate mountain, Yao Yan was sitting cross-legged on a platform. The old apothecary and Cai Lin stood to one side, watching Yao Yan adjust his state. Alchemy was an extremely quiet process, allowing no external disturbances. The slightest mistake would lead to failure.
After about a quarter of an hour, Yao Yan opened his eyes, his pupils burning with azure flames, making his handsome face appear even more eerie.
He raised his hand and took out the Black Demon Cauldron from his storage ring. Under the control of his soul power, the massive cauldron floated down in front of him like a weightless feather, without stirring up a speck of dust. As the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame emerged from within the cauldron, the patterns on its surface instantly glowed red, giving the ancient cauldron a touch of the divine.
Under Yao Yan's control, the Azure Lotus Core Flame inside the cauldron instantly reached its peak, with scorching streams of heat constantly surging out, making the surrounding world seem even hotter.
As the Azure Lotus Core Flame rose,
Yao Yan flicked his hand, sending medicinal herbs from his storage ring. Enveloped in his soul power, they methodically entered the cauldron, rapidly withering under the intense heat. Their essence was visibly refined, transforming into drops of crystal-clear gems floating in the flames.
"This kid's alchemy technique… it has a bit of a Pill Tower feel to it, no, it's different…"
Old Yao, observing Yao Yan's alchemy technique, became more serious, muttering to himself. He felt he could see the presence of many people in Yao Yan. Who was Yao Yan's teacher? How could he know so many alchemy techniques, and even seem to have simplified them considerably?
Could his teacher be a ninth-grade alchemist?!
An expert can see the details. Old Master Yao, being a near-ninth-rank alchemist himself, naturally possessed excellent insight and was familiar with the path to the ninth rank. Reaching this level required a unique path for everyone, and the alchemy techniques Yao Yan displayed clearly bore the marks of a grandmaster alchemist.
Thinking this, Old Master Yao's gaze flickered as he looked at Yao Yan, becoming more skeptical of the boy's past words. If Yao Yan's teacher was truly a ninth-rank alchemist, why would the Yao Clan have expelled him?
Who exactly was his teacher?!
Old Master Yao pondered this, but clearly, given his past status and position, he had no access to the important figures within the Yao Clan. To them, a peak eighth-rank alchemist was still insufficient, because eighth rank was still eighth rank. Even though it was only one step away from ninth rank, that step was like an insurmountable chasm, enough to divide heaven and earth.
If everything Yao Yan said before was a lie, then… Yao Lao's heart clenched, feeling deceived once again. That feeling was truly unbearable, especially since this young man was a promising junior he held in high regard. He really didn't want to doubt him like this.
But after Han Feng's betrayal, he had to consider things more carefully.
But if the other party really was deceiving him, what was their motive…?