Lin Yuan gently reached his right hand behind Zi Yan's collar and, with a slight lift, hoisted the muttering little girl into the air.
"Little Zi—"
Lin Yuan frowned slightly as a trace of seriousness appeared on his face.
Seeing this, Zi Yan laughed awkwardly and cleverly changed the subject.
"Big Brother, didn't you say you'd take me treasure hunting?"
"Hehe, you know me. I can definitely help you find all the treasures. Let's hurry and go!"
As she spoke, her crystal-clear purple eyes blinked innocently, making her appear exceptionally pure and harmless.
Faced with Zi Yan's playful expression, Lin Yuan could only smile helplessly and indulgently.
He gently set her back down, rubbed his forehead in resignation, then vigorously ruffled her little head before turning toward Jia Xing Tian.
"Let's go, Jia Xing Tian. We're heading to the Imperial City."
"Yes, Star Lord."
Jia Xing Tian replied respectfully, but inwardly he was shaken beyond words.
A Dou Emperor?
An eleven- or twelve-year-old Dou Emperor?
Has the world gone mad?
And what secrets does this Seven-Star Organization actually possess?
The more he thought about it, the more respectful he became.
"Please follow me."
As he spoke, he spread his earth-yellow Dou Qi wings and flew rapidly toward the Imperial City.
Meanwhile, Zi Yan leaped into Lin Yuan's arms, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck and clinging to him like glue.
Blinking mischievously, she said,"Big Brother, you were the one who told me to keep a low profile when we're outside and not attract too much attention."
"Hehe, you don't want me drawing attention by using Dou Qi Wings, right...?"
Hearing this, Lin Yuan looked at the teasing expression on her face and couldn't help laughing.
Where had she learned to talk like that?
Then he recalled their usual interactions.
Apparently, she had learned it from him.
In that case, there was nothing more to say.
Lin Yuan shook his head helplessly. This little girl always picked up strange things remarkably quickly.
"Big Brother, hurry up! That old man is almost out of sight."
Zi Yan urged impatiently.
"We can't be late and miss out on any treasures!"
"Alright, alright. Let's go."
Before the words had fully left his mouth, Lin Yuan spread his wings and shot toward the Imperial City.
At the same time, anticipation appeared in his eyes.
As the true rulers of this land, the Jia Ma Imperial Family might not rival the Misty Cloud Sect in overall strength, but when it came to wealth, they were certainly not inferior.
In the original story, when the Imperial Family sought to heal their guardian Magical Beast, the Youhai Jiaoshou (Deep Sea Flood Dragon Beast), they had directly prepared ten complete sets of ingredients for the Sixth-Grade medicinal pill, the Hunyuan Bone-Molding Pill.
While this demonstrated how highly they valued the beast, it also revealed the immense wealth of the Imperial Family.
Looks like this trip is going to be very rewarding.
Under Jia Xing Tian's guidance, the trio passed through the heavily guarded Imperial City and eventually arrived at a secluded garden.
This was the place where Jia Xing Tian and Hai Bo Dong had sparred the previous day, and it was also Jia Xing Tian's usual residence.
After landing, Zi Yan immediately jumped out of Lin Yuan's arms.
She sniffed the air.
A moment later, her eyes widened with delight.
"Big Brother, I can feel it!"
"There are lots of good things here!"
"They should be underground over there..."
As she spoke, she pointed toward a decorative rock formation.
Then she rapidly pointed toward several other locations.
"There too!"
"And there!"
"And over there as well!"
Before long, she had accurately identified every treasure storage location in the area.
Jia Xing Tian's heart skipped a beat.
This little girl can sense treasures?
Who exactly is she?
His emotions became extremely complicated. Part of him felt relieved. Part of him wanted to cry.
Fortunately, I never intended to fool him with the treasury in the Imperial Palace.
Otherwise, I'd be in serious trouble.
If I had actually tried to deceive him, with the Star Lord's personality, things might have become truly dangerous.
Still, this is going to cost me dearly.
Lin Yuan looked at Jia Xing Tian with satisfaction.
"Jia Xing Tian, it seems you had no intention of deceiving me."
"Very good."
"Take me to the treasury."
Jia Xing Tian bitterly smiled inwardly, though his face displayed only generosity.
"This is only proper."
After saying that, he circulated his vast Dou Qi, separated the rock formation, and opened the passage leading into the treasury.
Lin Yuan and Zi Yan exchanged a glance and smiled.
Amid Zi Yan's cheerful laughter, the two once again began a highly practiced round of looting.
An hour later, Lin Yuan, Zi Yan, and Jia Xing Tian emerged from the last underground treasury.
Zi Yan's face was flushed with excitement.
She practically skipped as she walked, as though even the air around her tasted sweet.
Lin Yuan likewise wore an undisguised expression of satisfaction.
Today's gains had been enormous.
The medicinal ingredients alone exceeded the entire collection of the Snake-People Empire's treasury.
It was enough high-grade medicinal material to refine dozens of Sixth-Grade medicinal pills.
Jia Xing Tian endured the pain in his heart and forced a loyal smile onto his face.
Yet beneath that smile was unmistakable bitterness.
After all, the Imperial Family's centuries of accumulated treasures, heavenly materials, and rare artifacts had been completely emptied out by these two.
Still, it's not like I gained nothing.
At least the Star Lord's form of address has changed from "Jia Xing Tian" to "Old Jia."
That's much friendlier, isn't it?
Just as he was trying to comfort himself, Lin Yuan turned toward him.
Seeing Jia Xing Tian's forced smile, Lin Yuan chuckled.
"Old Jia, I have seen the sincerity of both you and the Imperial Family. I've already said that I do not mistreat those who work for me. So, let me help you solve a problem that has troubled you for a long time."
Jia Xing Tian's eyes widened.
"Star Lord, do you mean...?"
"Aren't you people constantly troubled by the injuries of that Deep Sea Flood Dragon Beast?"
"Today, I'll help you resolve that issue first."
"Thank you, Star Lord!"
Jia Xing Tian was instantly overjoyed.
"It's nothing."
"A small matter that can be solved with a single Sixth-Grade medicinal pill."
Lin Yuan waved his hand casually.
"Coincidentally, you've gathered quite a bit of material for the Hunyuan Bone-Molding Pill. I'll refine it right here and solve the problem for the Imperial Family."
He then looked around and nodded.
"The environment here is quite suitable."
"I'll refine it here."
"Old Jia, Little Zi, the two of you will protect me while I refine the pill."
Zi Yan froze for a moment before remembering that "Little Zi" was her alias.
Immediately, she pounded her chest confidently.
"Big Brother, don't worry!"
"Leave it to me!"
Jia Xing Tian also nodded repeatedly.
"Star Lord, please refine the pill without concern. Leave the protection to us."
After a moment of hesitation, he carefully added,"Could Your Excellency perhaps give Yue'er a chance to observe your pill refinement?"
"If she can witness the refinement of a Sixth-Grade medicinal pill, it would surely be an invaluable learning experience for her."
"Watch me refine pills?"
Lin Yuan waved dismissively.
"I don't mind."
"Let her come."
"How much she gains from it will depend entirely on her own abilities."
After a brief pause, he added meaningfully,
"Yao Yue possesses quite good talent in alchemy. She's a promising seedling."
"In the future, she has a considerable chance of becoming a Sxith-Grade Alchemist. She may even have the opportunity to glimpse the realm of a Seventh-Grade Alchemist."
"So long as she encounters the proper opportunity."
When Lin Yuan spoke the words proper opportunity, he deliberately emphasized them.
Jia Xing Tian immediately understood the implication. Nodding knowingly, he said,
"I understand, Star Lord. Please wait a moment."
With that, he hurriedly flew toward the Little Princess's palace.
Meanwhile, Lin Yuan sank his consciousness into his storage ring and swept over the enormous stockpile of medicinal ingredients he had just acquired. A faint smile curved his lips.
"As expected of the Jia Ma Imperial Family's centuries of accumulated wealth. Their medicinal reserves aren't inferior to Han Feng's."
"After this round of looting, I've finally gathered all the ingredients needed for the Dragon Profound Body-Tempering Pill. Once the Natal Blood Pill has fully nourished my body, I can refine the Dragon Profound Body-Tempering Pill and complete the body-tempering phase of the Dou Emperor stage."
"Moreover, with the support of this batch of ingredients, the formula for the Tianyuan Qi-Tempering Pill that I've been deducing for so long should finally be completed."
"I'm truly looking forward to it..."
Not long afterward, Jia Xing Tian returned, carrying a thoroughly bewildered Yao Yue.
The moment she landed, Yao Yue looked at Lin Yuan in surprise and exclaimed incredulously,
"You?"
"You're the alchemist Great-Grandfather was talking about? The one who's going to refine a Sixth-Grade medicinal pill?"
"You're this young? How is that possible? Great-Grandfather—"
Before she could finish speaking, her voice grew quieter and quieter under the sternest glare Jia Xing Tian had ever directed at her.
Only then did she finally stop.
Jia Xing Tian withdrew his severe gaze from Yao Yue and turned toward Lin Yuan.
"Star Lord, please forgive her. This girl has been spoiled by me since childhood."
"It's fine."
Lin Yuan glanced at Zi Yan and chuckled.
"A lively young girl isn't a bad thing."
Then he turned toward Yao Yue and said seriously,
"When I refine the Hunyuan Bone-Molding Pill, observe my techniques carefully."
"Although your current alchemy skills are considered excellent among your peers, you're still very far from the true summit."
Seeing his serious expression, Yao Yue finally realized this was no joke.
She immediately nodded.
"Yes."
For her, the opportunity to observe a high-tier alchemist refining pills was extraordinarily precious.
Lin Yuan nodded.
With a wave of his hand, the crimson Myriad Beast Cauldron descended onto a nearby stone platform with a heavy bang.
Another wave followed, and a complete set of ingredients for the Hunyuan Bone-Molding Pill was neatly arranged beside the cauldron.
Then Lin Yuan flicked his finger.
A strand of green flame shot into the cauldron and rapidly expanded into blazing fire.
As a thread of Dou Qi swept several medicinal ingredients into the Myriad Beast Cauldron, the refinement of the Hunyuan Bone-Molding Pill officially began.
Several hours later, an extremely rich medicinal fragrance spread throughout Jia Xing Tian's royal garden.
At the same time, faint fluctuations of energy and low, muffled sounds of collision emerged from within the Myriad Beast Cauldron.
However, no major phenomenon appeared.
The Myriad Beast Cauldron possessed extremely powerful suppressive effects against the pill-forming phenomena of ordinary Sixth-Grade medicinal pills.
After a while, Lin Yuan waved his hand.
A perfectly round emerald-green medicinal pill shot out from the cauldron and landed in his palm.
After briefly inspecting it, he nodded and calmly placed the supreme-quality Hunyuan Bone-Molding Pill into a jade bottle.
"A Sixth-Grade Mid-Level medicinal pill."
"The Hunyuan Bone-Molding Pill is complete."
For the current Lin Yuan, medicinal pills of this level could be refined flawlessly in a single attempt.
Seeing Jia Xing Tian struggling to suppress his eagerness, Lin Yuan tossed the jade bottle toward him.
"Let's go."
"Today we'll completely resolve the Deep Sea Flood Dragon Beast's problem."
"To maximize the medicinal effect of this pill, my assistance will still be required."
Jia Xing Tian immediately cupped his hands respectfully once more.
"In that case, I must trouble Star Lord again."
He cared deeply about the Deep Sea Flood Dragon Beast's injuries.
If the beast could recover, then with the protection of this Sixth-Rank Magical Beast that had safeguarded the Imperial Family for generations, he could finally focus on breaking through to the Dou Ancestor realm without worry.
Lin Yuan waved dismissively.
"It's a trivial matter."
"Just work diligently in the future."
Then his gaze shifted toward Princess Yao Yue.
At this moment, she was staring at him with admiration, replaying in her mind the flowing and effortless pill-refining techniques she had just witnessed.
Seeing this, Lin Yuan smiled.
"Little Princess, I imagine you've gained something today."
"You should now understand that, in the field of alchemy, there remains a vast distance between you and the true peak."
Hearing this, all traces of her former pride disappeared.
She performed a flawless bow.
"Yao Yue thanks Master for his guidance."
Lin Yuan nodded slightly.
After thinking for a moment, he took several notebooks from his storage ring and handed them to her.
"These are notes I recorded while studying alchemy in the past."
"They're no longer useful to me, so I'll give them to you."
Yao Yue's eyes immediately brightened.
Accepting the notebooks, she said happily,
"Thank you, Master."
Lin Yuan waved dismissively.
Then, taking Zi Yan's hand, he looked meaningfully at Jia Xing Tian.
"Old Jia, I believe Yao Yue possesses the potential to become a Sxith-Grade Alchemist. If an opportunity presents itself, your Imperial Family must make sure to seize it."
Looking at the delighted Yao Yue, Jia Xing Tian nodded heavily.
"Star Lord, rest assured. Our Imperial Family will definitely seize this opportunity."
"Good."
Lin Yuan nodded slightly.
With that, the bait he had prepared for the Imperial Family was complete.
Whether it was Jia Xing Tian or his beloved descendant Yao Yue, Lin Yuan had shown them a future too tempting to ignore.
"With the Jia Ma Imperial Family and the Mittel Family competing against each other, the efficiency of the Tian Shu subsidiary forces in gathering resources throughout the Jia Ma Empire should increase significantly."
"The Xiao Clan has also been relocated and effectively removed from the equation. After that, the Hall of Souls won't have much remaining interest in this region."
"With that, the Tian Shu Subsidiary, Jia Ma Branch has been fully established. The Jia Ma Empire is now essentially under my control."
"In the future, whether it's collecting heavenly treasures or launching wars to harvest large quantities of souls, everything will become far more convenient."
Thinking this, Lin Yuan's mood grew noticeably lighter.
"Come, Old Jia."
"Let's go see the Deep Sea Flood Dragon Beast."
As he spoke, he leisurely walked toward the direction where his senses detected that immense aura rich in Water-attributed energy.
It did not take long before Lin Yuan and the others arrived at a massive lake deep within the vast rear mountains of the Imperial City.
"Our Imperial Family's guardian beast resides beneath this lake."
Jia Xing Tian pointed toward the water as he explained.
Lin Yuan nodded.
His gaze swept across the enormous lake.
With his perceptive abilities, he could naturally sense the powerful aura hidden beneath the water, though it was mixed with clear signs of weakness.
"Eh?"
"There's a giant snake in the lake."
"It seems pretty strong too."
Zi Yan suddenly spoke up.
"If its injuries are healed, it should be around the level of a seven- or eight-star Dou Emperor."
Lin Yuan gently stroked her purple hair and chuckled.
"You've seemed rather bored lately."
"After I heal its injuries, I'll have it accompany you for a while as a training partner."
"Its strength isn't bad, and it possesses abundant combat experience. It'll make an excellent punching bag and should help sharpen your combat skills."
"Really?"
Zi Yan looked at him excitedly.
"Of course."
After receiving Lin Yuan's confirmation, Zi Yan immediately cheered with delight.
"Yay—!"
----
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