"The final step, Condensing the pill!"
Five pills flew out of the medicine cauldron. When they landed in his hand, three of them had shattered into powder.
"The success rate of refining Second Grade Pills is only 40%. It seems that alchemy is not as simple as it seems."
For three whole months, Tianming Yun had been studying alchemy almost every day. From a beginner, he had risen to become a first-grade Alchemist, and now he could produce Second Grade Pills on a small scale. His speed of improvement was truly astonishing!
Meanwhile, during the alchemy process, a large amount of Dou Qi is required, which inadvertently also enhances Dou Qi cultivation. As a result, Yun Tianming smoothly advanced to become a 3-Star Dou Grandmaster!
Of course, there were still costs involved. For example, at the beginning, the success rate of refining Second Grade Pills by Yun Tianming was very low. On average, for every pill he refined, he needed to consume several times the amount of medicinal materials. Most Alchemists wouldn't engage in such unprofitable transactions, but Yun Tianming's goal was not to sell pills for money. As long as he could quickly improve his alchemy skills, even losing some money was acceptable.
With such cost-insensitive alchemical consumption, all the medicinal materials stored in the three Spatial Rings obtained from killing Fei Lei had been completely squandered.
"Knock, knock~"
A soft knocking sound came from the door. Qing Lin cautiously called out, "Young Master Tianming, lunch is ready."
"I got it."
Yun Tianming tidied up the medicine cauldron and pushed open the door. The girl who came into view looked much healthier than she did when she first arrived a month ago.
After Yun Tianming's pill treatment, the scars on Qing Lin's body had completely healed. Her fair skin seemed to be smoother and more delicate than that of normal human.
Arriving in the living room, a sumptuous spread of four dishes and a soup adorned the table, looking enticing and mouthwatering. Considering they were prepared by a 12-year-old girl, one could only say she was remarkably skilled, almost heartbreakingly so.
"You did very well, Qing Lin."
Yun Tianming gently stroked the girl's head.
"If Young Master Tianming likes it, Qing Lin can make it for you every day."
Qing Lin smiled faintly, her eyes forming into small crescents. She had grown up in the dark and oppressive Snake People Tribe, where she had to do all sorts of rough and tiring work every day. Any slight mistake would earn her the whip from the Snake People Tribe, and she even faced discrimination from human slaves who were similarly confined.
Now that she had enough to eat, clean clothes to wear, and didn't have to endure beatings, Qing Lin was already very content. And she sincerely hoped that such days could continue.
"I'm afraid that won't be possible. I won't stay here for too long."
"The Dou Qi Continent is vast, and I want to see the world outside."
Yun Tianming's calm gaze looked into the distance.
"Oh, I see."
Upon hearing this, Qing Lin's lowered eyes revealed deep disappointment and frustration.
"Qing Lin, if you want to keep up with me, you must become stronger."
Yun Tianming's tone shifted as he began his persuasion.
"Can I become stronger, too?" Qing Lin felt inferior and doubted her own abilities.
"You can, I believe in you, Qing Lin."
Yun Tianming fixed his gaze on the girl's eyes, those three small emerald dots hidden deep within her pupils.
"I..."
Qing Lin's eyes flickered slightly, as if contemplating something.
"Let's eat first."
Yun Tianming, seeing this, didn't rush things. At the moment, he was just planting the seed of strength in her heart.
After lunch, Yun Tianming planned to go out for a walk, taking Qing Lin along to help her get used to the human world.
"Look, that girl!"
"She has snake scales on her arms. Could she be the Snake People hybrid who caused a stir with the Sand Mercenary Group not long ago?"
"Disgusting freak."
"Shh! Are you crazy? That's the person the Alchemist specifically asked to find!"
"I heard that people from the West Wind Mercenary Group even sent three Snake Women to please this Alchemist."
"Tsk tsk~ The Alchemist sure knows how to have fun! Damn it! I envy them!!"
As pedestrians passed by, upon seeing Qing Lin, none failed to show expressions of disgust. Rock Desert City often suffered invasions from the Snake People Tribe, and nearly every household in the city held blood feuds with them. If it weren't for the fear of Yun Tianming beside her, someone would have attacked Qing Lin long ago!
"Wu...ah~"
Qing Lin subconsciously covered the snake scales on her arm, lowered her head, and instinctively pressed close to Yun Tianming's back, avoiding the malicious gazes of the crowd.
"Qing Lin, you don't have to care about the opinions of others."
"With such beautiful scales, why hide them?"
Yun Tianming took the initiative to hold her hand, glancing at her arm. The pale green snake scales spiraled around her arm, not unattractive. Up close, they resembled some kind of artistic tattoo, while from afar, they looked like an exquisite bracelet, exuding a wild allure.
"Young Master Tianming... do you not dislike them?"
Upon hearing this, Qing Lin's expression froze. Since her birth, Yun Tianming was the first person to ever say that these scales, which even she herself detested, were beautiful.
This filled the fragile and vulnerable soul of the girl with a sense of completeness, as if a large gap had been filled in her mind. A special emotion surged in her brain, stimulating her eyes, which began to undergo a subtle transformation unnoticed.
After wandering around the streets of Rock Desert City for a while and purchasing some medicinal ingredients, Yun Tianming found that the quantity was still not enough to meet his alchemical needs. Therefore, he decided to go to Tager Desert again to gather more herbs. Additionally, he had another purpose—to capture a snake-type Magic Beast for Qing Lin and find a way to activate her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils!
"Tager Desert... Qing Lin, do you want to come too?"
Upon hearing that Yun Tianming was planning to leave the city for the desert, Qing Lin's face turned pale, as if recalling the terrifying memories of being confined in the Snake People Tribe.
"You don't need to be afraid with me here, Qing Lin."
Yun Tianming tightened his grip slightly on Qing Lin's trembling hand and chuckled, "Let's go, I'll take you to the desert to catch a pet."
"Wow~"
Before the girl could react, her petite body was lifted up by a pair of arms, soaring into the air. Qing Lin instinctively clung to the person's clothes.
"Wow!"
"Dou Qi Wings... a Dou King level expert?"
The people of Rock Desert City collectively gasped in shock.
Qing Lin widened her eyes, looking at the respectful gazes from below, a hint of fervor appearing on her young face.
'Standing in the sky, is this what it feels like to be strong?
As long as I become strong, can I follow Young Master Tianming?'
Qing Lin stared intensely at Yun Tianming's confident and steady face, silently making a resolution in her heart.
****
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