Chapter 9: Yao Lao — English

Translation
“An alchemist?”

Hearing the term, Xiao Yan was stunned for a moment. Then his brows furrowed
tightly.
“On the Dou Qi Continent, anyone would dream of becoming an alchemist. But being
an alchemist isn’t something just anyone can achieve. The requirements are
extremely strict…”
His voice suddenly stopped. Xiao Yan abruptly lifted his head, his eyes wide open.
“I meet the requirements?”

Yao Lao admired the mix of shock, anticipation, and joy on Xiao Yan’s face. Stroking
his beard, he looked him over again before giving a reluctant sigh.

“Although you barely meet the qualifications… since I owe you a favor, sigh… forget
it. I’ll take it as repaying that debt.”

Seeing the old man’s forced expression, Xiao Yan felt the “barely qualified” comment
was suspicious. But he didn’t pursue it. Amid his excitement, there was still some
doubt.

“Even if I meet the requirements, alchemists are usually personally instructed by a

teacher. You… are you also an alchemist?”

Noticing the doubt in Xiao Yan’s young face, the old man chuckled proudly. His chest
puffed slightly, and his tone carried a hint of concealed arrogance.

“That’s right. I am an alchemist.”

Xiao Yan’s eyes instantly lit up.

An alchemist! They were as rare as mythical creatures…

“Senior, may I ask… what rank of alchemist were you?”

Xiao Yan licked his lips, his voice now more respectful.

On the Dou Qi Continent, alchemists, though rare, held extremely noble status and
were ranked from one to nine.
Earlier in the hall, the maker of Nalan Yanran’s Qi Gathering Powder—Dan King Gu
He—was a Sixth-Rank alchemist, the number one alchemist in the Jia Ma Empire.
“What rank? Heh… I forgot. So? Brat, are you learning or not?”
Yao Lao shook his head impatiently.

“I’ll learn! I’ll learn!”

Without further hesitation, Xiao Yan nodded eagerly. An alchemist—such a person

was respected even by enormous powers like the Yun Lan Sect.

“Hehe, willing? Good. Then bow to your teacher.”

Yao Lao crossed his legs atop a bluestone and smiled slyly.

“I have to formally become your disciple?”

“Nonsense. You think I’d teach you everything without you becoming my disciple?
Keep dreaming.”
The old man rolled his eyes; clearly, he valued the teacher–disciple bond.

Feeling helpless, Xiao Yan pursed his lips. But to become an alchemist, he sincerely
bowed and performed the formal salute.

Only when he saw that Xiao Yan completed the ceremony properly did Yao Lao nod
with satisfaction. His voice turned gentler.

“My name is Yao Lao. As for my background, I won’t tell you yet. You’d only get
distracted. Just know this—
that so-called ‘Dan King’ Gu He?
He’s… nothing but crap.”

The corner of Xiao Yan’s mouth twitched fiercely. He stared at the old man’s casual
demeanor. The words he’d been about to say stuck in his throat.

What kind of background does this old man have? Calling the legendary Gu He…
crap? If anyone else said this, the entire empire would laugh them into an asylum…

Xiao Yan took a deep breath and suppressed his shock. Then he rolled his eyes slyly
and asked:

“Teacher, do you plan to help me reach the seventh stage of Dou Qi within one
year?”

“These past three years, your Dou Qi has regressed, but because of that, your
foundation is far more solid than others’. In Dou Qi cultivation, foundation is
everything. In the future, you’ll realize how great a benefit your regression has
brought you.”
Yao Lao’s expression became serious.
Xiao Yan was stunned. He truly hadn’t known regression could be beneficial.

“Then… when will you teach me alchemy?”

Xiao Yan’s eyes gleamed, his focus returning to the most important part.

“To become an alchemist, you need fire-attributed Dou Qi. Before learning alchemy,
you must at least reach the rank of Dou Fighter and cultivate a fire-type Dou Qi
technique.”

“Fire-type technique? Hehe, teacher, since I’m your disciple now, why not give me a
Heaven-Tier fire technique?”
Xiao Yan reached out with a grin.

“Bullshit! You think a Heaven-Tier technique is some wild potato you pick off the
ground? Shameless brat.”
Yao Lao’s face twitched.

“Old man—”

“Call me teacher, not old man!”

Yao Lao nearly fainted from anger.

This brat had just bowed seconds ago, yet already showed disrespect.

“Hmph. Since you’re my disciple, I won’t let you suffer. I don’t have a Heaven-Tier
technique, but… I do have a technique more mysterious than any Heaven-Tier one.
Do you want it?”
Yao Lao’s old eyes gleamed with mischief.

“More mysterious than a Heaven-Tier technique?”

Xiao Yan swallowed, unable to hide the excitement in his dark eyes.

“What tier is it?”

“Yellow-Tier… low rank.”

Yao Lao’s response made Xiao Yan’s expression freeze completely.

“Old man, are you messing with me?!”

Moments later, the mountaintop echoed with Xiao Yan’s furious roar.
Watching the boy’s twisted expression, Yao Lao laughed proudly.
To provoke the usually calm Xiao Yan into such rage—this was quite an
accomplishment.

“What’s so mysterious about it?”

Xiao Yan asked, forcing himself to calm.

“It can evolve.”

Yao Lao said gently.

Xiao Yan’s pupils shrank sharply. He stared at Yao Lao for a long while before shaking
his head.

“Impossible! I’ve never heard of a technique that can evolve!”

“Pfft. What do you know? The Dou Qi Continent is vast. There are countless strange
things in this world. You’ve never stepped outside the Jia Ma Empire—your
‘impossible’ means nothing.”
Yao Lao shot back disdainfully.

Xiao Yan paused, then muttered stubbornly:

“Have you heard of any other evolving techniques?”

Yao Lao froze. After a moment of awkward coughing, he shook his head.

“No. Which is exactly why mine is unique!”

“…Does it really evolve?”

Xiao Yan asked again.

“It really evolves.”

Yao Lao nodded firmly.

“You’ve cultivated it?”

“…No.”

“Anyone else cultivated it?”

“…No.”

A vein pulsed on Xiao Yan’s forehead. He clenched his fists, barely resisting the urge
to punch the old man.
“No one has ever cultivated it… then how do you know it evolves?”

“Because the scroll says so.”

Yao Lao laughed weakly.

“So it actually exists?”

Xiao Yan frowned. After a moment, he asked hopefully:

“Can I see it?”

“Hehehe…”
Yao Lao grinned slyly. But suddenly he shook his head.

“Forget it. You won’t understand it now. I’ll give it to you once you become a Dou
Fighter.”

Xiao Yan’s outstretched hand stiffened. His mouth twitched violently.

“…Fine. You win.”

Yao Lao burst out laughing happily, completely ignoring Xiao Yan’s furious glare.

“Now focus on the real goal—reaching seventh-stage Dou Qi within a year.”

“What method will you use?”

Xiao Yan asked through clenched teeth.

“The first stages of Dou Qi training strengthen and widen the meridians. The body is
fragile during these years, so you must progress steadily. Using external force—like
forcing in Dou Qi—will rupture your meridians once your power grows. That leads to
death.”
Yao Lao’s tone turned grave.

Xiao Yan nodded. He understood this well—his father had nearly tried forcing Dou Qi
into him many times.

“But you’re different.”

Yao Lao said, smiling.
“Your foundation has been strong since three years ago. Your temperament is firm.
You have never skipped a day of training. Your foundation is excellent.”

“You’re going to use external force to raise my strength? Like pills?”

Xiao Yan’s eyes shifted.
“More or less. But your meridians can’t withstand the force of any pill—not even the
lowest-tier Qi Gathering Powder.”

“Lowest tier… Qi Gathering Powder…”

Xiao Yan twitched. In the empire, this was sold at sky-high prices. Yet in Yao Lao’s
mouth… it was “lowest tier.”

“What’s your method then?”

Xiao Yan asked.

“Hehe. Pills are too strong, so we’ll use something gentler.”

Yao Lao said.
“Tomorrow, bring me three mature Purple Leaf Orchid herbs—the older the better.
Also two Washing Bone Flowers—any age. And… one wood-type first-rank magic
core. These are low-level materials. You should be able to gather them—someone is
coming. I’m returning to the ring. And don’t tell anyone about me—not even those
closest to you.”

Without waiting for Xiao Yan’s reaction, Yao Lao vanished back into the ring.

“Three Purple Leaf Orchids? Two Washing Bone Flowers? A wood-type magic core?
Old man, are you crazy? You think I’m royalty? These cost at least a thousand gold!
I’ve saved for years and only have four hundred!”
Xiao Yan shouted at the ring.

“That’s your problem. Hehe. My nourishing elixir recipe can’t be bought even with
money. And you’re whining about materials?”
Yao Lao’s teasing voice echoed in Xiao Yan’s mind.

“…Damn it. Things made by alchemists… truly only the rich can afford.”
Xiao Yan sighed bitterly. His monthly allowance—twenty gold coins—could feed a
common family for a year. Yet here… it wasn’t even enough for a single herb.

“Sigh… I’ll have to borrow.”

He exhaled helplessly and calmed down.
Just then, he glanced toward the mountain path—
A purple-clad figure was gracefully leaping toward him like an elf.