Chapter 124: Spirit Realm
The morning sunlight filtered through the cracks in the window, casting a soft glow across the bed.
After a night of exertion, Xiao Yuan didn't feel the slightest bit tired—on the contrary, he felt refreshed and full of energy.
He had been engaging in Mysterious Ice Dragon Soar the entire night, exhausting Ya Fei to the point where she had only fallen asleep near dawn. Now, she lay deep in slumber, unable to wake.
Inhaling the subtle fragrance rising from the tender body nestled in his arms, Xiao Yuan narrowed his eyes, and the large hand resting atop the "Mittal Mountains" involuntarily tightened just a bit.
Had he not been deliberately running the Mysterious Ice Art to suppress his urges, even that small motion would have been enough to stir his desire again and drag Ya Fei back into another round of exhaustion.
"Mm…"
Ya Fei's body quivered slightly on instinct. When she felt no further movement, she relaxed, snuggling deeper into Xiao Yuan's embrace. She found a more comfortable position, a gentle smile curling at her lips as she slipped into deeper sleep, her breathing calm and peaceful.
Xiao Yuan smiled warmly at the sight. For once, he didn't bother with cultivation. Holding Ya Fei's supple waist, cupping the Mittal peaks, he closed his eyes and drifted into a light doze.
For some, the morning brought joy—for others, regret.
After discovering that the estate across from theirs had been reclaimed by the Xiao family through the Mittal family's arrangements, the newly-recovered Nalan Jie hadn't slept a wink all night.
Why?
He simply couldn't make sense of it.
Why had they insisted on breaking off that perfectly good engagement? Now not only had they lost a grandson-in-law—they'd let someone else snatch him up.
Nalan Yanran had also sensed something off. She hadn't slept well either.
It was the feeling of having something that once belonged to her suddenly taken away.
But she had no right to say anything, nor the position. After all, she was just someone who had canceled the engagement. Her opinions no longer mattered to Xiao Yuan. And he'd made his position clear years ago:
He already had someone he loved…
But why, of all people, did it have to be Ya Fei of the Mittal family?
Nalan Yanran could easily guess that Xiao Yuan's chosen partner was Ya Fei. Years ago, Ya Fei had traveled to Wu Tan City for training due to some incident. After returning to the capital, she had quickly risen to become a Deputy Elder of the headquarters auction house—a notable figure in the city's noble circles.
With a little thought, it wasn't hard to connect the dots between Xiao Yuan and Ya Fei.
But Ya Fei's cultivation talent was mediocre. She was only at the Dou Zhe level and older than Xiao Yuan—so why would someone like him choose her?
Nalan Yanran couldn't help but be curious.
But of course, Xiao Yuan wasn't going to explain anything to her—and she no longer had the right to ask.
Elsewhere, Xiao Yan, having spent an entire night and morning at the Alchemist Guild, finally gathered all the ingredients needed. He returned to the Xiao Estate and began assisting Yao Lao in concocting the soul-restoring elixir.
As a result, Xiao Yuan was finally called up. It was only proper that he observe the process of refining the recovery liquid.
Inside a quiet chamber at the Xiao Estate, Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yan sat cross-legged on cushions. In front of them was the slightly transparent figure of Yao Lao.
With great seriousness, Yao Lao summoned the Black Demon Cauldron. After infusing it with Bone Spirit Cold Flame, he began refining the medicinal ingredients one by one.
To the two brothers, every movement seemed fluid and masterful.
Every gesture of Yao Lao radiated the presence of a true alchemy master. His control over temperature, the precise timing of fusions—all were beyond impressive.
Watching a master like this refine pills, every second was a valuable lesson.
Though Xiao Yuan had not formally practiced alchemy yet, he still felt he had gained much. If his flame control ever reached this level, purging the Luo Poison in Nalan Jie's body might have taken just an hour, and without leaving himself poisoned afterward.
As time passed, the various ingredients were refined into pure medicinal liquid inside the cauldron.
Yao Lao finally placed the Seven Illusion Green Spirit Saliva into the cauldron for refinement.
Once transformed into liquid, it would be combined with the previous extracts, purified of impurities, and finally refined into a usable elixir.
Inside the cauldron, white flames surged violently. The intense heat caused the plant—once like smooth jade—to quickly wither. Yet the seven-colored flower atop it grew increasingly vibrant.
When the plant's leaves finally disintegrated into ash, the flower's radiant glow reached a blinding intensity. A rich fragrance, like the finest aged wine, slowly spread from the cauldron.
Just inhaling a whiff was enough to send a refreshing shiver down both brothers' spines. Their spirits surged to an unprecedented state of clarity.
"Tsk tsk… truly a treasure. Just the aroma rivals a third-grade pill's effects. After all this refining, the final result will be astounding."
Xiao Yan couldn't help but marvel.
Xiao Yuan could only nod in agreement.
Within the cauldron, the brilliant flower fiercely resisted the refining flames. But Yao Lao calmly increased the temperature, and in a flash, the glow shattered.
Soon after, the now-withered flower began shedding tiny, shimmering drops of nectar—seven-colored dewdrops that sparkled like gems.
Once collected, these droplets fused into a single bead that glowed with dazzling brilliance.
Yao Lao calmly wrapped the liquid orb with his soul force and merged it with the previously refined extracts.
The Bone Spirit Cold Flame surrounded the new mixture, purifying and condensing it further.
Half an hour later, Yao Lao's expression sharpened. With a swift movement, he retrieved the now-purified liquid using the cold flame and swallowed it in one gulp.
A brilliant seven-colored radiance instantly enveloped Yao Lao's entire spirit form.
Both Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yan could sense the dramatic surge in his soul force.
Fortunately, Yao Lao kept his aura confined to the chamber. Otherwise, powerhouses across the capital would've taken notice.
As Yao Lao's soul grew stronger, his once-ethereal body became visibly more solid. Two strands of intelligent soul energy emerged and flowed directly into Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yan's bodies.
The next moment, both brothers found themselves in a vast ocean.
"Where are we?"
They exchanged confused looks.
Their bodies were ghostly—clearly in soul form. Scanning their surroundings, they finally realized that this ocean… was made entirely of soul force!
Such an immense presence could only belong to someone like Yao Lao.
As they grasped this truth, a familiar old figure coalesced before them.
"Teacher!"
They rushed over.
"Hehe, I just tried something on a whim—and it worked,"
Yao Lao chuckled with satisfaction.
"This is my Sea of Consciousness. I pulled you in because I remembered a fragment of an ancient soul-cultivation method I once found in a ruin. I never studied it deeply, but with the medicinal boost, I figured I'd give it a shot. Looks like I can pass a bit of it on to you now."
Yao Lao stroked his beard, smiling.
The brothers nodded in awe and reverence.
"Teacher, this elixir is precious—you should focus on your own recovery first."
Xiao Yuan hesitated, but voiced his concern.
"My brother is right, Teacher!"
Xiao Yan echoed.
"Heh, do you think I don't know my limits? Even with a few more of these flowers, I wouldn't fully recover. The rest of the elixir wouldn't help me much now. But for you two? A soul breakthrough is possible. That will benefit you far more in the long run. And with your help collecting ingredients, I'll be fine."
Yao Lao waved his hand and, without argument, summoned two seven-colored beams that enveloped the brothers.
Seeing no point in resisting, the two began absorbing the gift.
Looking at the pair, Yao Lao smiled with deep satisfaction.
Perhaps his greatest achievement wouldn't be crafting some peak-tier pill—but nurturing these two disciples.
He glanced inward. His soul force had recovered to the Spirit Realm—equal to an eighth-grade alchemist.
Unfortunately, without a body, even refining seventh-grade pills was exhausting.
As for combat ability, he was now a Dou Zong—still a tremendous boon for the brothers.
And now that he could refine seventh-grade pills, even a Dou Zong wouldn't dare casually provoke the Xiao brothers.
"As expected, their soul force didn't just grow—it now carries the essence of true spirit. With time, they'll both break into the Spirit Realm. Pity the scroll fragment didn't explain how to reach the Heaven Realm…"
Yao Lao clicked his tongue in mild disappointment but nodded in approval.
These two truly were prodigies made for alchemy.
When the seven-colored glow faded from their bodies, he gently waved his sleeve and returned their souls.
Opening his eyes in the real world, Yao Lao released a ripple of soul power—directed away from the brothers—smashing into a shadowy corner of the room.
A figure was flung out, coughing blood.
"Damn it! You knew I meant no harm—did you have to hit so hard?!"
Cursing, the shadow retreated into darkness.
"Spying on me that long? You thought I wouldn't retaliate?"
Yao Lao coldly muttered as the last of his soul force withdrew.
Then—
"Huh?"
He looked up in surprise.
Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yan were both wrapped in rising Dou Qi—clearly on the verge of a breakthrough.
(END CHAPTER)
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