Chapter 297 Medusa Appears
Ever since Xiao Ling showed up in the Supreme Freedom Sect, the news of the end of his retreat spread quickly to every corner of the inner courtyard like wildfire.
In the morning, the sun shone on the stone road, and the elders who had a deep friendship with Xiao Ling came to visit one after another. They greeted Xiao Ling with gentle smiles.
They knew in their hearts that the child they had watched grow up was about to bid farewell to Canaan College and embark on a journey to the vast Central Plains.
After chatting with the elders, Xiao Ling strolled around the inner courtyard. During this time, he found the Xiao family members who were still in the academy and revealed to them his plan to leave the Northwest Continent.
He also deliberately left some resources to Xiao Yu and asked her to distribute them to the clan members. This could be regarded as his attempt to contribute to the growth of the younger generation of the family before he left.
During Xiao Ling's last time in the inner courtyard, he deliberately sought out Xiao Yan.
This young man, who had made a splash in the recent Inner Court Strongest Ranking Competition, not only won the championship, but also received the honor of body forging with the Origin of the Fallen Heart Flame.
During this period of time, his cultivation has steadily improved and has reached the level of Dou Ling Jiu Xing, only one step away from the realm of Dou Wang.
During the meeting with Xiao Yan, Xiao Ling made a suggestion, asking Xiao Yan if he was willing to go to Zhongzhou with him, and expressed his willingness to arrange a suitable residence for him.
However, Xiao Yan declined Xiao Ling's proposal. He explained that he was not eager to join any force in Zhongzhou and did not want to be bound by anything. His goal was to go to Zhongzhou, but not to attach himself to a certain force, nor to obtain their cultivation and training resources. What Xiao Yan longed for was to make a name for himself in Zhongzhou with his own strength.
He planned to wait until his strength reached at least Dou Wang level, or even higher, before heading to Zhongzhou alone. Xiao Yan hoped to set foot on the land full of opportunities and challenges only after he had enough strength and preparation.
When Xiao Ling heard Xiao Yan's decision, he was a little surprised, but he soon felt that this was completely in line with Xiao Yan's character.
Xiao Yan would naturally go to Zhongzhou, but with his unruly personality, he would rather explore freely than be bound by any force early on. Xiao Ling's proposal was indeed unattractive to Xiao Yan, who longed to venture out independently.
Xiao Ling didn't say anything more. He understood that everyone had their own path to follow. Since Xiao Yan had already made his own plan, let him act according to his plan. Xiao Ling even had some expectations. Maybe when Xiao Yan embarked on his journey alone to Zhongzhou, he would encounter some unexpected opportunities and adventures.
After bidding farewell to Xiao Yan, Xiao Ling returned to his own courtyard. At this time, everyone was busy packing their bags. Xiao Ling was immersed in his own alchemy room, repeatedly studying the "Spiritual Flame Pill Furnace Secret" that Ye Xinlan had just given him.
In the quiet space of the alchemy room, Xiao Ling followed the guidance of "Spiritual Flame Pill Furnace Art" and mobilized the fire-attributed Dou Qi circulating in his body.
He gently spread out his palms, and a golden flame leaped out like an elf, gradually condensing into an exquisite flame alchemy furnace.
The alchemy furnace slowly rotated in his palm. With the precise injection of Xiao Ling's fighting spirit, it gradually expanded. He finally skillfully controlled it to a size suitable for alchemy and it floated in front of him.
Ye Xinlan stood aside and saw Xiao Ling perform the "Spiritual Flame Pill Furnace Art" so skillfully for the first time. She couldn't help but cover her mouth with both hands, with unbelievable surprise in her eyes. She exclaimed softly: "Senior Xiao Ling, you are really a genius. You can use this fighting skill so smoothly for the first time. Seeing how powerful you are, I feel like I should just find a corner and die."
Xiao Ling smiled lightly, waved his hand gently, and the flame furnace formed by the golden flame was slowly retracted and disappeared in his palm. He said calmly: "Haha, my situation is different from yours. My soul power is stronger, so I learn things faster. When your soul power is improved, your learning speed will also be faster, and your alchemy skills will also improve accordingly."
Ye Xinlan couldn't help curling her lips when she heard Xiao Ling's consolation, feeling a little unconvinced. She complained in her heart that the strength of soul power is related to talent. If she could be like Cao Ying, the gifted girl of the Cao family, and have a strong soul power from birth, then her Ye family would not have fallen to such a state, and even the title of the five major families of Danta would be lost.
Xiao Ling waved his hand gently, signaling that he would stop chatting, and there was a hint of seriousness in his smile. "Okay, let's not talk about anything else. Next, I will teach you some of the essence of alchemy. You start to make the pills, and I will point out your shortcomings." His voice was gentle and firm.
Ye Xinlan nodded seriously, then quickly put out an exquisite medicine cauldron and began her own alchemy process. Her movements were skillful and methodical, and it was obvious that she had already understood the steps of alchemy.
Next, Ye Xinlan was refining the elixir, and Xiao Ling was giving her instructions.
As Ye Xinlan performed her operations, Xiao Ling's eyes followed closely. He nodded or shook his head slightly from time to time, and occasionally offered suggestions in a low voice.
His words are concise and precise. He always points out the problem and provides methods for improvement.
In the alchemy room, flames were leaping and the aroma of medicine was everywhere. Under Xiao Ling's guidance, Ye Xinlan gradually adjusted her alchemy skills.
Every control of the flame and every addition of medicinal herbs became more precise under Xiao Ling's guidance.
Under Xiao Ling's careful guidance, some of Ye Xinlan's minor flaws in the process of refining medicine were pointed out one by one. With Xiao Ling's patient correction, Ye Xinlan gradually realized her many shortcomings in refining medicine.
As her communication with Xiao Ling became more and more in-depth, Ye Xinlan felt more and more that Xiao Ling was extraordinary. When she was in the Ye family, although she did not receive personal guidance from the seventh-grade alchemist every day, her grandfather, as the most skilled alchemist in the Ye family, also taught her the art of alchemy in person.
However, under Xiao Ling's guidance, Ye Xinlan had a strange feeling in her heart. She vaguely felt that Xiao Ling's knowledge and insights in alchemy seemed to be more sophisticated than her grandfather's.
This feeling made her feel that Xiao Ling was not like a young alchemist, but more like a senior master who had experienced many vicissitudes of life and refined countless pills.
However, Ye Xinlan quickly put these thoughts behind her. She thought that the reason she had such thoughts was because she did not have a deep enough understanding of medicine refining, which led to some illusions. After all, her grandfather had been refining medicine all his life, and although Xiao Ling was young, how could he have more experience than her grandfather? In her opinion, this idea was too absurd.
Ye Xinlan's intuition was actually correct, but she didn't know the secret behind Xiao Ling. Xiao Ling inherited the memory of the alchemy technique of the Gui Ling Master, and his theoretical knowledge had already reached the level of an eighth-grade alchemist.
Moreover, he had Yao Chen, a master alchemist who was at the peak of the eighth rank during his lifetime, as his constant guide. This enabled him to have a more comprehensive grasp of the theoretical knowledge of various alchemy techniques than many senior eighth rank alchemists.
Xiao Ling knew clearly that the value of the alchemy lesson he taught Ye Xinlan was definitely no less than the guidance of any ordinary eighth-grade alchemist.
What he taught was not only skills, but also the profound knowledge of alchemy inherited from the Turtle Spirit Master and Yao Chen's unique insights into alchemy. Such teaching was undoubtedly a rare learning opportunity for Ye Xinlan.
Xiao Ling thought that Ye Xinlan used a volume of earth-level intermediate fighting skills in exchange for his half-day guidance on alchemy, plus a notebook that could help her reach the level of a seventh-grade alchemist. This deal was definitely worth the money for her.
Xiao Ling even felt that he might have suffered a little loss.
After finishing teaching Ye Xinlan alchemy, Xiao Ling returned to his room and prepared to take a rest.
As soon as he sat down, the seven-colored Sky-Swallowing Python that had been wrapped around his arm suddenly became active. It slid off his arm flexibly and then quickly jumped in front of him.
The little Sky-Swallowing Python rubbed itself affectionately in Xiao Ling's arms, then stretched out its forked snake core, as if silently asking for Xiao Ling's touch.
Xiao Ling was amused by the little guy's behavior. He gently stretched out his hand and began to stroke the smooth and elastic scales of the little Sky-Swallowing Python.
His technique was gentle and rhythmic, and every touch made the little Sky-Swallowing Python feel extremely comfortable and satisfied. It closed its eyes, enjoying the care from Xiao Ling, and the whole room was filled with a warm and peaceful atmosphere.
Due to Xiao Ling's previous secluded training, the little Sky-Swallowing Python had not had a good play with Xiao Ling for more than half a year.
During this period, whenever the little Sky-Swallowing Python felt hungry, it would find herbs in Xiao Ling's storage ring to satisfy its hunger.
Although Xiao Ling's storage ring was equipped with a soul mark to protect the items inside, whenever the little Sky-Swallowing Python wanted to eat, as long as Xiao Ling was not at a critical moment in his cultivation, he would relax the restrictions on the soul and allow the little Sky-Swallowing Python to freely enter and select herbs to eat.
However, this tolerant approach sometimes brings some unexpected consequences. The little Sky-Swallowing Python is not always so cautious when exploring in the ring, and sometimes it "accidentally" bites some precious eighth-level medicinal herbs to taste them.
This made Xiao Ling feel helpless and amused. The medicinal herbs that had been "tasted" by the little Sky-Swallowing Python could only be refined into pills and become the little guy's exclusive delicacy.
Xiao Ling casually took out an eighth-level Qimeng Immortal Fruit that had been bitten by the Little Sky-Swallowing Python from his storage ring. He used the "Spiritual Flame Pill Furnace Technique" to summon a medicine cauldron made of spiritual flames in front of him.
As he moved, the medicine cauldron slowly rotated, emitting a blazing light.
Then, he put the precious medicinal herb into the medicine cauldron and began the refining process.
The little Sky-Swallowing Python was watching from the side. It seemed to realize something and circled around Xiao Ling happily, with anticipation glittering in its eyes.
It knew that whenever Xiao Ling started to refine medicine, it would have delicious pills to enjoy. The little Sky-Swallowing Python's tail swung gently, as if celebrating the upcoming delicacy.
Xiao Ling looked at the medicine cauldron condensed by flames and couldn't help but sigh, "This Lingyan Danlu Jue is quite convenient and has a good effect. It is very suitable for alchemists to practice."
After a while, the medicinal materials in the flame medicine cauldron were refined into round pills under Xiao Ling's skillful hands. They rolled gently in the cauldron, emitting an attractive luster.
Then, Xiao Ling waved his hand lightly, and the medicine cauldron formed by flames began to slowly dissipate, and finally turned into wisps of flames, which were sucked into his palm, as if they had never existed.
Then, Xiao Ling casually took out a white jade bottle, which was as smooth as jade and exuded a noble aura. He carefully put the refined pills into the bottle and then put them into his storage ring.
He left two pills behind and flicked them lightly. The pills floated in the air, emitting a faint medicinal fragrance.
As soon as the pill came out, it immediately attracted the attention of the Seven-Colored Sky-Swallowing Python. It swam lightly to Xiao Ling's shoulder, wagging its tail slightly, raising its upper body slightly, and rubbing Xiao Ling's cheek affectionately, just like a puppy acting coquettishly to its owner.
Seeing this, Xiao Ling couldn't help but chuckle. He flicked his fingers and the two pills on his fingertips accurately shot into the slightly opened mouth of the Seven-Colored Sky-Swallowing Python.
As soon as the pill slid into the Seven-Colored Sky-Swallowing Python's throat, it happily turned around in place, as if celebrating the upcoming delicacy. Suddenly, a strong light burst out from its body, as dazzling as a small sun.
At this moment, a brilliant seven-color light gushed out from its body, and as the light surged, the Seven-Colored Sky-Swallowing Python's body began to twist violently. In Xiao Ling's surprised eyes, the light gradually condensed and finally turned into a naked body, with skin like the purest white jade and soft and perfect curves, slowly appearing in front of Xiao Ling.
The beauty in front of me was simply a living work of art. Her beauty was the kind that would make people fall in love with her at first sight and fall in love with her again. She stood there like an ice sculpture of Venus, her skin so white that it could almost reflect the light, and every inch of her revealed exquisiteness and perfection.
There is a natural indifference in her eyes, as if she is a goddess who is high above and disdains everything in the world. But it is this kind of coldness that makes people more fascinated, as if it is a challenge, arousing the desire to conquer in men. Her beauty is not only about appearance, but also about temperament, a kind of irresistible charm.
Her presence is like a visual feast, making people unable to help but look at her a few more times, but dare not stare at her for too long, for fear that their greedy eyes will desecrate this purity. She is like a magnet, attracting everyone's attention, but making people dare not approach easily.
If this beauty could put down her pride a little and show a little tenderness, her charm would be unmatched. Her every smile and every look is enough to drive people crazy and fall for her.
But a beauty always has her pride, and her coldness is part of her charm. Her beauty does not need anyone's affirmation, her existence is the best proof.
As soon as Queen Medusa appeared, she immediately felt something strange on her chest. She looked down and saw that Xiao Ling's palm had touched her towering breasts without her knowing when.
"Have you touched enough?" Her voice broke the silence with a hint of coldness.
Xiao Ling's eyes quickly swept across Medusa's flawless body like white jade. He coughed lightly and withdrew his hand calmly.
"Hehe, it's not my fault. I didn't expect you to show up so suddenly." Xiao Ling tried to explain, but there was a hint of embarrassment in his tone.
Queen Medusa snorted coldly, obviously not buying Xiao Ling's excuse. She waved her hand lightly, and a brilliant rainbow light flashed, instantly turning into a red dress on her body, perfectly covering her beauty. Her slender fingers gently stroked a strand of black hair on her forehead, and then asked lightly:
"Have you found a way to help me repair my soul?"
Although her voice was still cold and clear, it no longer had the sharpness it had just had. Instead, it was filled with anticipation and anxiety.
Xiao Ling smiled lightly and said to Medusa in a relaxed tone: "You know, I have been in seclusion for a while, so I don't have time to find a solution to your soul problem. However, I heard an idea from Yao Lao."
When Medusa heard this, her eyebrows slightly raised, a hint of curiosity and interest flashed in her eyes, and she asked: "What did the senior say?"
Medusa knew that Yao Chen was an eighth-grade alchemist when he was alive, and his knowledge and experience were undoubtedly extremely rich. She had thought about asking Yao Chen for help, but because she was not familiar with him, she had never asked. Now, if she could get some useful information from Xiao Ling, it would undoubtedly be good news for her.
Xiao Ling scratched his nose lightly and said with an awkward smile: "The old man did give me a recipe for the Rongling Pill. This pill can not only enhance the power of the soul, but also solve some problems of the soul. It is perfect for you."
Now that Medusa has agreed to go with him on the adventure to Zhongzhou, there is no need to hide this method anymore.
Medusa looked at Xiao Ling, a hint of understanding flashed in her eyes. She curled her lips and said with a hint of teasing: "You knew this method a long time ago, right? You didn't tell me before, so you were thinking about how to get me out of the snake tribe?"
After hearing what Medusa said, Xiao Ling did not refute, but just smiled and did not continue the topic.
Medusa then asked, "When are you going to make the Soul-Releasing Pill for me?"
Xiao Ling stroked his chin, pondered for a moment, and then replied: "We plan to set off for Zhongzhou tomorrow. Once we get there and settle down, I will start to help you refine it."
Hearing Xiao Ling's words, Medusa muttered to herself, "Is this guy afraid that I will run away? He has to wait until Zhongzhou to refine it for me."
But she didn't say much, just curled her lips slightly. In her opinion, this was only a matter of a few days, and she had no intention of breaking the contract. Going to Zhongzhou for training was also her own idea.
(End of this chapter)