.
Taking the storage ring from Zi Yan, Xiao Ling examined it briefly. As expected, it contained mostly medicinal herbs, along with a few weapons and combat techniques, just as Zi Yan had described.
He took out a few sweet herbs and offered them to Zi Yan, "These are more to your taste. Consider them your payment for collecting the herbs for me."
Zi Yan's smile deepened as she accepted them. "Hehe, then I'll reluctantly accept these herbs."
With that, she picked up a fruit, popped it into her mouth, and began to chew.
Seeing this, Xiao Ling shook his head in amusement. "Eat slowly, don't choke. No one's trying to steal these herbs from you."
The two of them played and joked as they walked, soon entering the living room.
Upon seeing Xiao Ling and Zi Yan arrive, Yao Ye, who had been sitting in a chair, brightened. She stood up, walked over to Xiao Ling, and spoke first, "Master Xiao Ling, I am the eldest princess of the imperial family. Yao Ye, I am sorry for disturbing your practice by coming here today."
Waving her hand, Xiao Ling smiled faintly, "No, it's nothing. I just finished my practice..."
The two chatted briefly, and they became somewhat familiar with each other.
Through chatting with Yao Ye, Xiao Ling gained a deeper understanding of the Imperial Capital, going beyond the descriptions in the original novel.
Sensing the time was right, Yao Ye stated the purpose of her visit. "Master Xiao Ling, we have prepared the three medicinal ingredients for refining the Pozong Pill. I wonder if you are free now."
She produced a storage ring and handed it to Xiao Ling. Clearly, the three medicinal ingredients for the Pozong Pill were stored within this ring.
Reaching for the ring, Xiao Ling examined it and discovered it contained the ingredients for three batches of Po Zong Dan, along with some extra precious herbs, likely a gift from the royal family.
After confirming the sufficient amount, Xiao Ling stored the ring.
He then removed a porcelain bottle containing a Po Zong Dan from the ring and handed it to Yao Ye. "No need to refine it. I happen to have a Po Zong Dan already on hand. I'm sure Master Jia is impatient. You can take this Dan back with you."
Yao Ye was taken aback by Xiao Ling's words. Was this really possible?
After a moment's pause, Yao Ye smiled and took the porcelain bottle from Xiao Ling.
Although not an alchemist, he had no problem identifying genuine elixirs.
After confirming that it was indeed a genuine, peak-grade sixth-grade Po Zong Dan, Yao Ye carefully placed it in his ring.
"In that case, I won't bother Master Xiao Ling anymore. You can come visit the Imperial Family when you're free." After greeting Xiao Ling, Yao Ye turned and left, heading towards the Imperial City.
Originally, Yao Ye had intended to invite Xiao Ling to the Imperial Palace to refine the elixir. This would not only ensure that there would be no accidents during the refining process, but would also allow him to communicate more with Xiao Ling and deepen his favorability towards the Imperial Family.
However, now that he had the Po Zong Dan in his hands, there was no reason to invite him again. Moreover, a treasure like the Po Zong Dan had to be handed over to his great-grandfather first.
Seeing that Yao Ye had left, Xiao Ling withdrew his gaze.
Now that the conditions promised to the Imperial Family had been fulfilled, it was time to go into seclusion for a while.
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Xiao Ling took out a ring and handed it to Zi Yan. "I'll be in seclusion for a while, probably around six months. These pills I've prepared for you should last you and Liekongzuo for a year. If you run out early, ask Yao Lao to refine them for you."
Zi Yan and the other two girls already knew Yao Chen. They knew he was a supremely powerful warrior in his lifetime and now Qing Lin's teacher.
Zi Yan nodded as she accepted the ring from Xiao Ling. "I understand. Yao Lao said consuming the strange fire is dangerous. You'd better be careful and don't get hurt."
Patting Zi Yan's head, Xiao Ling smiled and said, "Don't worry, I won't get hurt."
After explaining a few words to Zi Yan, Xiao Ling found Xiao Yixian and Qing Lin and explained his upcoming seclusion. He
gave Zi Yan and the others a few instructions. This seclusion to consume the strange fire would take a long time, so arrangements for them had already been made; he simply reiterated them.
Before retreating, Xiao Ling met with Yao Chen. "Master Yao, please keep an eye on them while I'm in seclusion."
Stroking his beard, Yao Chen let a faint smile cross his face. "Leave this to me. I'll teach them cultivation well and won't let their talents go to waste."
Although surprised that Xiao Ling had found a second strange fire, Yao Chen was nonetheless delighted. After absorbing the Azure Lotus Earth Core Fire, Xiao Ling would have two strange fires. Then, by absorbing his own Bone Spirit Cold Fire, he would be able to control all three simultaneously and, using the most advanced body-refining techniques, forge a new body for himself.
"Well, thank you, Master Yao. When I come out of seclusion, I'll go get you a Seven Illusions Azure Spirit Saliva to restore your soul." With a smile and a nod, Xiao Ling left a few words before entering the training room.
...
With Xiao Ling's retreat, the three women's lives became peaceful.
Besides their daily training, they would battle against each other, honing their combat skills.
Life was relatively dull, but this was common practice for cultivators on the Dou Qi Continent.
Qinglin and Xiao Yixian, two women, also made significant progress in their cultivation under Yao Chen's guidance.
Without activating her Evil Poison Body, Xiao Yixian, through the use of Foundation Establishment Spiritual Fluid and the Yellow Dragon Pill, spent four months advancing from the fourth stage of Dou Qi to the ninth stage. After taking a Qi Gathering Powder crafted by Yao Chen, she successfully advanced to the rank of Douzhe.
She then actively consumed poison, activating her Evil Poison Body. Through continuous absorption, she ascended from Douzhe to the peak of Grand Doushi within two months. Yao
Chen was deeply impressed by the speed of advancement. The Evil Poison Body's ability to improve cultivation was truly terrifying. No wonder he'd heard that the Glacier Valley Master had cultivated himself into a post-natal Evil Poison Body.
Qinglin's cultivation had also greatly improved over the past six months. With the help of the Green Snake's Three Flower Pupils, she ascended from the fifth stage of Dou Qi to the peak of Doushi within six months.
Although Qinglin's cultivation level couldn't match that of the Little Medical Immortal, who had activated the Evil Poison Body, with the help of Ziyan and Liekongzuo, he used the Green Snake's Three Flower Pupils to subdue three fifth-tier snake beasts: a fifth-tier Earth Rock Snake King, a fifth-tier Black Water Mystic Snake, and a fifth-tier Six-Winged Black Snake King. The three snake pets complemented each other's abilities, allowing them to unleash their peak strength in most situations. It wasn't difficult for them to rival even low-tier Douhuangs.
(End of this chapter)