"Mentor Yun, have you registered the materials?"
"Wait. Why did you bring out these herbs?!"
Elder Hao's eyes widened as he focused on the Asparagus Ice Fire Fruit in Yun Tianming's hand. Each herb in this storage room was protected by a spatial barrier, making it impossible for ordinary people to access.
Yun Tianming shrugged and stepped aside, revealing Zi Yan behind him.
"Zi Yan!"
Upon seeing Zi Yan, Elder Hao immediately jumped up from his chair and angrily exclaimed, "Why are you here again? Do you think my place is a restaurant? You come here every now and then as if for a feast? If you need herbs, can't you go into the deep mountains to find them yourself?"
The girl in front of him possesses a miraculous ability to ignore spatial barriers. The heavily guarded storage room in the inner courtyard is effortlessly accessible to her.
"Tsk~ Why bother finding trouble for yourself? There are ready-made ones here. Why wouldn't I eat them? You, old man, talk so much nonsense. Keep grumbling, and I might just hit you."
While saying this, Zi Yan even made a biting gesture with her mouth open. Despite her cute appearance, her small teeth could actually crush steel!
"You!"
Being teased so unabashedly by Zi Yan, he was furious and rolled his eyes in anger. This elder, greatly respected by the disciples in the inner courtyard, was now rendered powerless in his rage.
"Smack!"
Yun Tianming immediately smacked Zi Yan on the head and sternly said, "You must show respect to the elders!"
"Ugh~"
Zi Yan instinctively covered her little bottom and grumbled reluctantly, "Fine, I'm sorry, Elder Hao."
"Huh?"
Elder Hao looked shocked as if seeing an unexpected visitor from outer space, staring at the obedient Zi Yan and then at Yun Tianming. He immediately chuckled, "Mentor Yun, impressive! You've already tamed this crazy girl upon your arrival!"
"Tamed? I'm just here for some super delicious pills," Zi Yan retorted loudly, lifting her head defiantly.
Understanding the reason instantly, Elder Hao knew that despite Zi Yan being able to consume herbs due to her powerful Magic Beast body, they likely didn't taste good. Alchemists could refine the essence of herbs, making them not only more potent but also adjusting their taste effortlessly. Of course, not just any Alchemist could satisfy Zi Yan; at least a Fifth Grade Pill would be required.
"Elder Hao, I'll take the herbs first. I'll have someone bring you a Dou Spirit Pill later," Yun Tianming said.
"Okay, I trust you, Mentor Yun," Elder Hao waved his hand broadly, not concerned with specific details.
Leaving the inner courtyard's storage room, Yun Tianming returned to his lodging. Zi Yan, without any reservation, flopped onto the sofa, happily sucking on a lollipop made with pills.
"Yun Tianming, so we've agreed then? I'll find herbs for you, and you'll make delicious pills for me," Zi Yan said. She possessed a special ability to sense and find rare herbs in deep mountains and forests.
"Sure. By the way, are you planning to stay at my place?" Yun Tianming asked.
"Yeah, your room is so big anyway. What's wrong with me taking a nest here?" Zi Yan replied, unlike other girls, showing no hesitation about living in a male's home and feeling nothing was amiss.
"Suit yourself."
Yun Tianming didn't mind. He treated it like raising a magical beast pet.
With that said, he took out the medicine cauldron and began refining the medicine on his own.
"Hehe~"
Zi Yan's eyes brightened as she squatted nearby, eagerly watching the medicine cauldron, a faint sparkle appearing at the corners of her mouth.
As time passed bit by bit, after two hours, three golden pills rose from the medicine cauldron.
"It took eight ingredients. This Dou Spirit Pill isn't easy to refine."
Yun Tianming raised his hand to block Zi Yan, who was about to pounce on him.
"Give it to me, let me eat it!"
Zi Yan had been drooling for a long time.
"No, it's impossible for you to freeload off me."
"According to the agreement, you have to help me find high-level herbs."
Yun Tianming stored the pills in his Spatial Ring. One Dou Spirit Pill was for Elder Hao, another was for Pan's Gate, and the remaining one would be kept for himself to sell at a high price.
"Che~ Stingy!"
Zi Yan pursed her lips, her face full of unsatisfied desire for food. If it were someone else, she would have punched them long ago. After all, the nickname "Brute" in the inner courtyard was not just for show. However, Yun Tianming's strength was no weaker than hers, especially with his terrifying fire ability. Even with her strong constitution, she couldn't match him.
"I know there are good things in the back mountains of the inner courtyard. I'll take you to find herbs. But there are many powerful Magic Beasts there, and I can't handle them alone. You'll have to help."
Upon hearing Zi Yan's words, Yun Tianming was also intrigued. Besides, he needed a place to practice his newly acquired Dou Technique, so he agreed.
Back mountains of the inner courtyard, connecting to the Magic Beast Mountains, the vast forest occasionally echoed with fierce roars of Magic Beasts.
Two figures, one large and one small, appeared above the forest sea.
"I will cultivate my Dou Technique here."
"Then I'll go find herbs."
With that, Zi Yan swiftly flew out in a hurry.
"Such an impatient little girl."
Yun Tianming chuckled lightly, shook his head, and then took out a golden scroll from his Spatial Ring.
"Enhance!"
[Enhancement successful]
[Earth Rank Mid Level Dou Technique: Golden Light Qi Method, upgraded to Earth Rank High level Dou Technique: Golden Immortal!]
Earth Rank High level Dou Technique!
This is currently Yun Tianming's highest-level Dou Technique!
Moreover, it's a rare close combat Dou Technique, with variable power consumption that can be adjusted freely. Its application in practical combat holds significant strategic importance.
After half a month of rigorous practice, Yun Tianming has preliminarily mastered the fundamentals of the Golden Immortal technique.
Yun Tianming waved his hand, compressing the Dou Qi in his hand again and again, finally condensing a faint golden Dou Qi that adhered to his fist.
"Hah!"
He charged towards the mountain peak ahead, transforming into a massive golden fist.
"Boom!!"
With a deafening roar, the mountain peak ahead was forcefully shattered and collapsed by him!
"Tsk tsk~ Truly worthy of the Gu Clan's Dou Technique, the power is undeniable!"
"Swish~"
Yun Tianming's mind stirred as he sensed a familiar presence returning.
"You're back."
"Phew~ Found quite a lot of treasures."
The newcomer was Zi Yan, looking disheveled with torn clothes and seeming slightly injured.
"What happened to you?"
Yun Tianming waved his hand and shot out a top-grade Fifth Grade healing pill.
"In the end, I encountered a big gorilla. I initially had the upper hand, but unexpectedly, it went berserk, and I couldn't beat it."
Zi Yan said indifferently, swallowing the pill and revealing a pure smile.
****
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