116: Yao Delong, who "begs for alms"

He took out a Medicinal Pill for internal injuries and carefully placed it in Xin Yuelan's mouth, helping her dissolve the medicinal power and stabilize her condition.

Afterward, he returned her to the beast taming pouch.

"The hidden danger is temporarily removed. It's time to improve myself."

Yao Delong turned his gaze toward the Thousand-Year Warm Jade Marrow he had purchased from the Myriad Medicine Pavilion.

With a thought, the emerald green Life-Generating Creation Fire Origin seed within his Dantian

was carefully guided out by him, hovering above his palm, emitting a warm and life-filled halo.

Following the Flame Nurturing Secret Method recorded in the third volume of the Pill Scripture, Yao Delong activated his Pure Yang Yuan Power to envelop the Thousand-Year Warm Jade Marrow.

The pure Yuan power, like the most dexterous carving knife, slowly refined the Warm Jade Marrow, stripping away Impurities,

eventually transforming it into drops of Spirit Liquid that emitted a gentle jade light and contained vast, pure fire-attribute energy.

Holding his breath and concentrating, he controlled the Spirit Liquid like spring rain nourishing the earth,

merging it strand by strand, thread by thread, into the emerald green fire seed in his palm.

Buzz!

The fire seed flickered slightly, as if meeting sweet rain after a long drought, greedily absorbing the essence of the Warm Jade Marrow Spirit Liquid.

The emerald green light became deeper and more solid, and the power of vitality within it clearly strengthened by a fraction.

Both the temperature and purity of the flame were enhanced.

Yao Delong continued to inject Pure Yang Yuan Power to assist the fire seed in refining and absorbing.

Time passed quietly in the silent room.

By the time the last drop of Warm Jade Marrow Spirit Liquid was completely absorbed by the fire seed, it was already the next morning.

Yao Delong slowly withdrew his power, looking at the fire seed in his palm, which had clearly grown a size larger, glowing with emerald light,

and full of vitality. A trace of satisfaction flashed in his eyes as he gazed at the Life-Generating Creation Fire.

"The effect of the Thousand-Year Warm Jade Marrow is truly extraordinary!

If I can gather and refine the other four types of spiritual materials, this Life-Generating Creation Fire will surely rise to a new level,

reaching the 'Essence Fire Fusion' stage recorded in the Void Derivation Pill Transformation Art!"

Yao Delong felt certain. Essence Fire Fusion meant his control over flames would leap to a new level,

whether in Alchemy, Artifact Refining, or facing enemies, there would be a qualitative leap.

"The City Lord's Mansion... I hope what Miss Han said was true."

Yao Delong put away the fire seed, straightened his somewhat ordinary gray cloth clothes, and his gaze returned to calm.

He had to get the remaining spiritual materials as soon as possible and then leave Biqu City.

The City Lord's Mansion was located in the center of Biqu City, occupying a vast area with magnificent and grand architecture that exuded an air of majesty.

The vermilion gates were tightly shut, and the two giant stone lions in front were lifelike, emitting faint fluctuations of spiritual power.

Two teams of guards, dressed in standard spiritual armor with sharp auras, stood solemnly on both sides, their eyes scanning the passersby sharply.

As soon as Yao Delong reached the mansion gates, he was stopped by a guard's outstretched hand.

"Halt! This is the City Lord's Mansion, no unauthorized entry! Do you have a visiting card or an appointment?"

The guard's voice was cold and hard, his eyes scrutinizing Yao Delong's unremarkable attire.

Yao Delong frowned slightly; in yesterday's haste, he indeed hadn't left his name.

"My surname is Yao. I had an appointment with Miss Han yesterday at the Myriad Medicine Pavilion and have come to visit today. Please announce my arrival."

"Surname Yao? An appointment with the Young Miss?"

The guard sized Yao Delong up a few times, his face showing obvious disbelief and a hint of contempt.

The person before him had an average aura and shabby clothes; he didn't look like a distinguished guest who could have an appointment with the daughter of the City Lord's Mansion.

"The Young Miss's status is so high, how could she casually have an appointment with a nobody? Leave at once, do not linger here!"

Yao Delong's eyes turned slightly cold, and he was about to speak again.

"Wait!"

A crisp female voice came from inside the gates.

A young girl in a goose-yellow maid's outfit with delicate features walked out quickly.

She was the very maid who had been standing by Han Ruyi's side yesterday.

She first glared at the guard, then gave Yao Delong a graceful bow, her tone respectful:

"Immortal Yao, you've finally arrived! The Young Miss specifically instructed me to wait here yesterday, fearing you might be slighted upon arrival. Please follow me into the mansion!"

Seeing this, the guard's face instantly became extremely embarrassed. He hurriedly lowered his head and stepped aside, not daring to say another word.

Yao Delong nodded to the maid: "Thank you, miss."

In his heart, he felt a bit more favorable toward Han Ruyi's thoughtfulness and trustworthiness.

Led by the maid, Yao Delong passed through several courtyards and corridors,

arriving at a massive building deep within the estate. It was heavily guarded and emitted a dense fragrance of herbs and fluctuations of spiritual materials—the City Lord's Mansion Treasury.

"Immortal Yao, the Young Miss is inside checking the medicinal materials. Please wait a moment while I go in to announce you."

As the maid spoke, she prepared to push open the door and enter.

Just then, the heavy treasury doors, inscribed with defensive formation runes, were pushed open from the inside.

A middle-aged man wearing a magnificent Alchemist robe, with a badge of six different colored pill patterns on his chest and an arrogant expression,

strided out, accompanied by two managers of the City Lord's Mansion.

This person was none other than the Sixth-Rank Alchemist famous throughout the Western Region of the Ba Xia Dynasty—Master Zhou!

He had just been hired by the City Lord's Mansion for a high price to inspect the medicinal materials prepared for refining the nine revolutions purification elixir.

Master Zhou immediately saw Yao Delong standing at the door, dressed shabbily and with a plain aura.

His brow furrowed in disgust instantly, as if he were looking at something filthy.

Having recently been promoted to a Sixth-Rank Alchemist, he was at the peak of his arrogance and most concerned with status.

He asked Manager Li, who was leading the way, in a "puzzled" voice that was just loud enough for Yao Delong to hear clearly:

"Manager Li, has the treasury of your City Lord's Mansion become a place where even such random Loose Cultivators can approach at will?

What kind of protocol is this? If this person disturbs this Master's inventory of medicinal materials,

and affects the great matter of refining the life-saving Spirit Pill for City Lord Han, can you take the responsibility?"

Manager Li's expression changed slightly, and he hurriedly explained with careful apology:

"Master Zhou, please calm your anger! This... this is the Young Miss's guest, also here to collect some medicinal materials."

Even as he said this, his gaze toward Yao Delong held a hint of uncertainty and scrutiny,

clearly also wondering how someone dressed like this could be connected to the City Lord's Mansion.

"The Young Miss's guest? To collect medicinal materials?"

Master Zhou let out a scoff, as if he had heard the most ridiculous joke in the world.

He scanned Yao Delong with contempt, as if looking at a piece of trash.

"Him? A Loose Cultivator who doesn't even have an Alchemist badge? What medicinal materials could he possibly take?

Could it be that he's taking advantage of Miss Han's kindness and using a pretext to come and scrounge? Miss Han is young; she must not be deceived by people with ulterior motives!"

He took a step forward, looking down at Yao Delong from a height, his tone full of thick superiority and undisguised provocation:

"Kid, this Master sees that you are young; it's better to keep your feet on the ground.

The path of Alchemy is vast, profound, and mysterious. It's not something a bumpkin like you, who hasn't even touched the door, can dream of!

If you know what's good for you, get lost quickly. Don't embarrass yourself here, polluting this Master's eyes and the peace of the City Lord's Mansion!"