BTTH: From Genius to Invincible-Chapter 320: Mutual Indebtedness

Word Count: 2,859 Words

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Early the next morning, Xiao Yan rose from bed, dedicated two hours to cultivation, and then turned his attention to refining pills. There was still some time before the Great Meeting of Factions commenced, so most members of the Yan Alliance were diligently cultivating and practicing Dou Techniques.

But poor Xiao Yan was busy paying for his time spent furthering his studies at Jia Nan Academy. He had to refine pills to settle his debts!

However, the pills Xiao Yan needed to refine this time were not exceptionally difficult; they were only tier 5 pills, primarily Dou King Pills and Emperor Breaking Pills.

The reason was simple. These were the two kinds of medicinal pills most urgently needed by the Yan Alliance at present.

The Jia Ma Empire was not a sect-based empire. Unlike the Sky Serpent Empire, where most strong practitioners belonged to the Sky Serpent Mansion, many cultivators in the Jia Ma Empire were unaffiliated. For example, among the Ten Strong of the Jia Ma Empire in the past, seven were Dou Kings, and half of them were solitary cultivators who hadn't joined any faction.

For instance, Feng Xian and Yan Shi, whom Xiao Yan had met back in the Snake-People Tribe's Holy City. They had participated in the Great Meeting of Factions merely to make a name for themselves.

Now, however, these two had joined the Yan Alliance and agreed to serve the Xiao Clan, largely because they needed medicinal pills, specifically, an Emperor Breaking Pill.

Back when Xiao Yan was a Dou Master, they were Dou Kings. Now that Xiao Yan had become a Dou Emperor, they were still Dou Kings. Fortunately, having scaled their way to peak 9-star Dou King, a single Emperor Breaking Pill would likely help them achieve a breakthrough to Dou Emperor if nothing unexpected occurred.

Xiao Yan's brand of medicinal pills was the biggest attraction of the Xiao Clan, or rather of the Yan Alliance. No one would say that the pills refined by Xiao Yan were of poor quality, especially since they were refined using Heavenly Flames.

Although the Yan Alliance was loosely structured and did not meddle in others' internal affairs, Xiao Yan made a big move when he established it by issuing a currency called 'Yan Yuan' within the alliance.

Anyone wishing to buy pills refined by him could only use Yan Yuan, which only the four major leaders were authorized to issue. Yan Yuan could be used in all the affiliated nations of the Yan Alliance. In other words, one had to work for the Yan Alliance to earn Yan Yuan to purchase Xiao Yan's top-quality medicinal pills, and this Yan Yuan could also be used as regular currency.

Therefore, Xiao Yan only needed to know how much 'Yan Yuan' Yun Yun, the Snake-People Tribe, or Yao Ye had issued to calculate how many pills he now 'owed.'

Moreover, Xiao Yan's alchemy wasn't done without benefit to himself. They needed to provide corresponding resources to the Xiao Clan or help train its members in order to obtain Xiao Clan-issued Yan Yuan.

The massive piles of medicinal ingredients spread across the table left him somewhat exasperated, although at least the Yan Alliance supplied the ingredients. His only role was to refine the pills.

Little Princess Yue Er pulled up a stool and sat nearby, her eyes shining as she watched Xiao Yan. In passing, Xiao Yan was teaching the Little Princess alchemy so that she could help share some of the workload in the future.

He did not use the Black Demon Cauldron but instead employed the Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron. Whoosh! The Green Lotus Core Flame appeared in his palm and was gently tossed into the medicinal cauldron.

For him, tier 5 medicinal pills posed no difficulty at all. Even the Emperor Breaking Pill, which approached tier 6 in difficulty, was a piece of cake. Sometimes he could even produce two or three pills in one batch, his technique both exquisite and flawless.

It was simply the sheer quantity that wore him down. Three straight days of almost nonstop refining finally cleared the queue!

"Wow! Grandmaster Xiao Yan, so handsome!" The Little Princess's sweet and tender voice rang out, sounding crisp yet youthful, carrying an indescribable charm.

By now, Little Princess Yue Er had grown into a very beautiful young lady. Her features were delicately sculpted, with large, sparkling eyes that were bright and clear. Her petite nose was flawless, and her cherry lips displayed an appealing shade of pink. She had become one of Xiao Yan's most devoted admirers.

"Hey, Young Master Xiao Yan, the shopkeeper from the Yellow Spring Treasure Pavilion has arrived. He's waiting in the main hall," Nalan Yanran called from afar.

The Little Princess watched him leave, her gaze trailing down his back before she recalled an incident from a few years ago. Her cheeks turned rosy as she murmured, "Sister... don't let it go to waste."

Naturally, Xiao Yan could not know what strange thoughts Yue Er was having. To his surprise, the Yellow Spring Pavilion even possessed some very rare soul-type medicinal ingredients, which allowed him to gather materials for two batches of Great Soul Black Purple Pill.

Moreover, he also collected the materials for the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill!

The larger the faction, the more access it had to various medicinal ingredients and treasures, a truth that was further magnified in a resource-rich land like the Central Plains.

After the exchange, he pocketed the ingredients but chose not to refine them immediately. Instead, he left the residence.

...

In the mountains outside the Sky Serpent Empire's capital, the blade-like sound of parted air echoed from atop a peak. From afar, one could glimpse glimmers of swordplay where a graceful figure practiced with a long green sword.

"Mm?" Yun Yun was momentarily startled upon sensing someone approaching; when she realized who it was, she shook her head helplessly and said, "I wonder what brings Grandmaster Xiao Yan here?"

Her voice was soft yet vibrant, tinged with refined warmth and a hint of femininity, elegant but never cloying. Simply listening to her made one feel mentally refreshed.

Just by hearing this voice, one could imagine an elegant woman whose innate gentleness remained intact despite her longstanding position of authority.

Xiao Yan strode up to the summit. Yun Yun was wearing a pale-yellow dress today, a small embroidered cloud adorned her bodice. She looked at once refined and mature.

Although she was considerably older than Xiao Yan, she looked as if she were in her late twenties, exuding a poised, noble air.

If one didn't know Yun Yun and sensed the mature aura about her, one might think she was a married young woman. Her aura radiated a subtle, unhurried sensuality. Yet beneath that self-possession lay a slender trace of maidenly innocence, conveying the distinct impression that although fully in her womanhood, she still retained a gentle freshness.

"An 8-star Dou Emperor?" Xiao Yan raised his eyebrows slightly.

Yun Yun sheathed her sword and nodded, "Mm, I just broke through to the 8-star stage yesterday."

Hai Bodong would probably faint from frustration.

"Looking for me about something?" Yun Yun's eyes carried a hint of doubt.

"Well, I just acquired a pretty good sword and hoped you could teach me a few sword moves." Xiao Yan raised the treasured sword in his hand. Though this sword wasn't as good as Nalan Yanran's Cloud Slaying Black Sword, it was still quite decent among the Rank 7 Monster Core Weapons.

Yun Yun blinked her beautiful eyes but nodded since Xiao Yan had asked.

However, after exchanging a few moves, she discovered that Xiao Yan truly had no foundation at all in swordsmanship. No matter how she taught him, he failed to grasp the moves and continually made countless mistakes.

Before long, Xiao Yan waved his hand and spread his hands helplessly, "Forget it, forget it. I really have no talent for the way of the sword; it's not suitable for me."

With a casual toss, he sent the sword spinning toward Yun Yun. She caught it reflexively and looked rather perplexed.

"Don't let it gather dust with me. Take it as payment for the favor you did me back when you let me leave with the Green Lotus Core Flame."

Yun Yun was stunned. His acting and excuse were so bad!

She smiled faintly, her mature and noble charm making one's heart flutter. Laughing, she said, "Even if I hadn't been there back then, you would have managed to leave, wouldn't you?"

Xiao Yan shook his head. "No, if it weren't for you, I fear I would have had to pay a great price, possibly affecting my subsequent refinement of the Green Lotus Core Flame. The refinement might even have failed."

He was not wrong. At that time, he only had two trump cards: the newly born Mao Wu and the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. If he had forcibly used the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to detonate the unrefined Green Lotus Core Flame, even if he didn't die, he would have been severely injured, possibly damaging his foundation, which would have caused great trouble and potentially affected his future cultivation.

Yun Yun gave him a pointed look, walked up, and handed the sword back, "You already repaid everything by helping me save the Misty Cloud Sect back then. If it weren't for you, the Misty Cloud Sect would have been disbanded and ceased to exist long ago. It certainly wouldn't be thriving the way it is now."

"I can't accept something so valuable."

"Especially considering you're also refining the Emperor Heaven Pill for Yanran. I owe you too much as it is."

Xiao Yan looked at the beauty before him and sighed inwardly. He spread his hands and said, "Alright, since you put it that way, then fulfill a small wish of mine. I haven't had grilled fish in a long time. Your disciple's cooking tastes like charcoal."

Yun Yun's cheeks turned bright red the instant he mentioned grilled fish. She was momentarily at a loss. The events that happened in the cave during those days were equally unforgettable for her, especially when Xiao Yan was invaded by the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. Recalling those scenes always made her feel a heat she couldn't suppress.

"You! You'd better forget about that!" Yun Yun's cheeks were red as she pretended to be angry.

Xiao Yan burst into laughter, "Hahaha, you still remember it too. You forget it first."

In the end, he didn't get to eat grilled fish and couldn't avoid being gently chastised by Yun Yun.

...

In the remaining few days, Xiao Yan entered a serious state and began refining the low-grade Tier 7 Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill.

Although he didn't know for whom Elder Qing had auctioned off Han Feng's Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill back then, he planned to refine one to present to Qing Lin as a meeting gift.

He intended to attend the banquet hosted by the Sky Serpent Mansion in a few days to see Qing Lin in person and ask her about her thoughts now.

The difficulty of refining the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill was undoubtedly high among low-grade tier 7 pills. After all, this was a pill recipe created by Venerable Yao, and even its refining method was quite special.

Fortunately, he had obtained all of Venerable Yao's inheritance, making the refining of the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill a breeze.

Within the Space Lock created by Venerable Tian Huo, a dark cloud appeared.

Pill Lightning was very mysterious. No matter where one was, it struck like a heavenly punishment. Even if you hid within a Space Lock, the thunderclouds of Pill Lightning would still appear.

Upon learning that Xiao Yan was going to refine a tier 7 pill, not only Little Princess Yue Er but everyone in the Yan Alliance, including the Serene Sea Scaly Beast, gathered to watch.

"He actually succeeded on the first try!" Jia Xing Tian exclaimed as he gazed at the thundercloud in the sky in amazement. Judging from its intensity, it definitely wielded the power of a 5-star Dou Ancestor's strike.

This meant that the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill refined by Xiao Yan had reached an extremely high quality among low-grade tier 7 pills, and he had succeeded on the first attempt. One could only imagine how astonishing his alchemy skills were.

"This guy is even more terrifying than I initially thought." Hai Bodong couldn't help but sigh. Investing in him back then was truly the most correct decision of his life.

There were no surprises. Although the strike of a 5-star Dou Ancestor was terrifying, it was only a single strike. There were many ways to withstand one strike. Xiao Yan still relied on his old method: he used the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique to form a Heavenly Flame shield to block the lightning strike.

"Xiao Yan... could it be that your current strength already equals that of a Dou Ancestor?" Jia Xing Tian asked in surprise after seeing Xiao Yan block the Pill Lightning without any injuries.

Xiao Yan smiled and shook his head, "Elder Jia, this is just one strike. Without the support of Dou Qi, it lacks sustained power. If a genuine 5-star Dou Ancestor made a move, I could only flee; there's no way I could defeat them."

Of course, he didn't mention that he might be able to contend with a low-star Dou Ancestor. Without relying on Venerable Tian Huo's Spiritual Strength, he indeed couldn't defeat a 5-star Dou Ancestor at present, but as for those 1-star Dou Ancestors without Di Class Qi Methods, that was a different story.

"Elder Jia, you are now the face of our Yan Alliance. We'll need you at tomorrow night's banquet."

Tomorrow night was the banquet hosted by the Sky Serpent Mansion to officially announce Qing Lin's ascension as the Saintess of the Sky Serpent Mansion. Originally, the Yan Alliance hadn't received an invitation because, as a second-rate faction established only two or three years ago, it simply didn't qualify to be taken seriously by the Sky Serpent Mansion.

The news of Jia Xing Tian's breakthrough to Dou Ancestor hadn't spread as far as the Sky Serpent Empire; only the three major empires were somewhat aware of it.

However, Xiao Yan knew the old shopkeeper of the Yellow Spring Treasure Pavilion and, through his connections, had obtained an invitation allowing three to attend.

Naturally, the strongest among them, Jia Xing Tian, would accompany them. As for the remaining spot, Xiao Yan chose to bring Zi Yan along.

...

After resting for a day, Xiao Yan thought for a moment and donned his alchemist robe.

After all, the halo of an alchemist was more dazzling than any formal attire. Xiao Yan's purpose this time was to approach Qing Lin, so he had Jia Xing Tian lead the team while he followed behind, avoiding drawing attention.

In the evening, a luxurious carriage stopped at the gates of the Yan Alliance's residence. After Xiao Yan and the other two boarded the carriage, they slowly headed toward the enormous serpent statue.

If one thought that the Sky Serpent Mansion at the center of the Sky Serpent Empire's capital was like its periphery, with streets lined with buildings, one would be gravely mistaken. Located at the heart of the capital, the Sky Serpent Mansion was actually a vast expanse of forests and mountains, completely different from the imperial palace of the Jia Ma Empire, because this was a place where snakes lived, not humans!

The entire Sky Serpent Mansion was actually an expanse of forests, mountains, and wetlands. Entering the Sky Serpent Mansion was like stepping into a snake's den, as snakes flicking their tongues could be seen everywhere on the ground and in the trees.

Although these were merely ordinary snakes, there was one absolute rule within the Sky Serpent Mansion: no killing of snakes.

Even if a snake lunged at you to bite, you could only let it bite you and then seek help from the snake people of the Sky Serpent Mansion to detoxify you. If you killed any of these ordinary snakes within the Sky Serpent Mansion, it would be equivalent to declaring war on the Sky Serpent Mansion.

To the Sky Serpent Mansion, these snakes were their subjects.

Although there was still some time before the Saintess's banquet at the Sky Serpent Mansion, the area was already packed with people. Guests poured in from all directions.

Even though there was still some time before the Saintess's banquet at the Sky Serpent Mansion, the area was already packed with people. Guests poured in from all directions.

Even factions no weaker than the Sky Serpent Mansion, such as the Thunderbolt Sect, Medicine Bone Sect, and other ancient sect empires, had sent strong experts to attend.

...

Meanwhile, in a mountain range inside the Sky Serpent Mansion itself lay an ornate open-air hot spring. A young woman with waist-length green hair sprawled along the pool's rocky edge, gazing at the bright moon above. She murmured:

"Young Master Xiao Yan... why haven't you come to bring Qing Lin back yet?"