Inside the ancient box lay a pill the size of a dragon's eye, uniformly emerald green, resting quietly. The alluring fragrance emanated from within it. On the Continent of Qi, aspiring to become a true warrior requires the cultivation of a swirling Qi vortex within the body—a process that, however, has a relatively high failure rate. Upon failure, a warrior's nine-tiered Qi level drops back to eight. For some, with less favorable fortune, it may take ten or more attempts before success is achieved. This repeated process often causes the loss of the most optimal training periods, significantly impairing their prospects. The Qi-Collecting Powder ensures a 100% success rate in forming the Qi vortex for a warrior with nine-tiered Qi. This remarkable feature has made the powder highly coveted by countless individuals eager to become warriors as early as possible, who have longed for it day and night yet remain unable to obtain it. Speaking of the Qi-Collecting Powder, one must also mention its creator: the Alchemist! On the Continent of Qi, there exists a profession that stands above ordinary combatants—known as Alchemists! By name, Alchemists are capable of crafting various magical pills that enhance one's strength. Any Alchemist is thus highly sought after and fiercely recruited by all major powers, enjoying an exceptionally prestigious status. This esteemed position is naturally due to the rarity and practical value of Alchemists. The qualifications to become one are exceptionally demanding. First, one must possess a fiery nature; second, within that fiery body, there must be a subtle infusion of Wood Qi, serving as a catalyst for alchemical processes. After all, on the Qi Continent, a person's elemental attributes are determined by their soul—each soul carries only one attribute, never blending others. Therefore, it is fundamentally impossible for a single body to possess two distinct elemental attributes of differing strengths. Of course, nothing is absolute—among hundreds of millions, there will always be some souls with unique variations. These individuals with such varied souls possess the potential to become master alchemists! However, merely possessing a soul with fire and wood attributes is still not sufficient to qualify someone as a true alchemist, for another essential condition—soul perception, also known as soul shaping ability—is equally indispensable. The three most crucial elements in crafting pills are: materials, the source of heat, and soul perception. Naturally, materials refer to various precious and rare natural treasures. After all, alchemists are not deities; without top-tier materials, even the most skilled practitioners find themselves unable to produce results—thus, excellent materials are of paramount importance. The flame—precisely the flame required during the preparation of pills—cannot be ordinary fire. It must be a qi flame catalyzed by fire-type qi. Of course, the world is abundant with extraordinary celestial fires. Some accomplished pharmacists, with strong capabilities, choose to utilize these unique fires instead. Not only does this significantly increase their success rate, but the resulting pills also exhibit a more potent and concentrated effect compared to those made using regular qi flames. Since pill-making is a prolonged process that heavily consumes qi over time, every distinguished pharmacist is, in essence, also a highly capable flame qi warrior. The final requirement is spiritual perception. During the process of preparing medicinal elixirs, the control of heat—its intensity—is of paramount importance. A slight increase in heat can cause the entire batch of elixirs to turn to ash, rendering all previous efforts futile. Thus, mastering the control of heat is an essential skill every pharmacist must cultivate. However, achieving such mastery requires an exceptionally strong sense of spiritual perception. Without this, even if all other aspects are executed flawlessly, the efforts remain ultimately useless. Under such rigorous conditions, the number of qualified pharmacists is truly scarce—few and far between. As a result, the number of miraculous elixirs is correspondingly limited, making them precious and rare. It is precisely this scarcity that gives pharmacists their esteemed, even somewhat unusual, status. Xiao Mei, seated beside her father, gently touched her rosy lips with her delicate tongue, her gaze fixed steadily on the jade box. "Ah, this is a concoction personally crafted by Elder Guo He, our esteemed名誉 elder—have you all not heard of him?" Seeing the three elders' expressions of astonishment, Ge Ye felt a quiet pride swell in her heart and smiled. "Is it truly the creation of Elder Guo He, the Master of Herbs?" The three elders were now deeply moved. Elder Guo He, a towering figure in the Gamma Empire, was renowned for his extraordinary skill in alchemy. His mastery of medicinal formulations was nothing short of miraculous, and countless powerful figures sought his favor, often finding no way to reach him. Beyond his alchemical prowess, Elder Guo He himself had already ascended to the rank of Battle King, ranking among the top ten strongest warriors in the empire. Thus, a formula of Qi-accumulating essence crafted by such a figure would undoubtedly be worth several times its original value. The three elders smiled warmly at the Qi-Collecting Powder inside the jade box. If the clan secured this medicine, they might well be able to produce another young warrior. As the three elders pondered how to secure the medicine for their own grandchildren, the quiet, yet steadily rising voice of the young man suddenly broke the stillness in the hall. "Master Ge, please return the medicine. As for today's matter, we may not agree to your terms!" Xiao Yan slowly rose to his feet, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips, and inquired with a smile. It was obvious that the three elders held him in contempt, so there was no need for him to pretend to be humble before them. "You..." At these words, the three elders paused, and the more temperamental Third Elder narrowed his eyes, his aura gradually gathering. "Senior Elders, Xiao Yan is absolutely correct. He is the one directly involved—why don't you all join in and take part in this matter?" The girl's light, composed voice echoed gently in the hall. As the elders listened to her soft tone, their confidence waned, and they exchanged a helpless glance before nodding in agreement. Gazing at the now subdued elders, Xiao Yan turned back to look steadily at Xiao Xun'er, who smiled warmly at him. What exactly was her true identity? How could the three elders be so wary of me? Suppressing his inner doubts, Xiao Yan stepped forward, first paying a respectful bow to Xiao Zhan, then turning to Na Lan Yanran, took a deep breath, and calmly asked, "Miss Na Lan, I would like to inquire—has Master Na Lan agreed to the withdrawal of our engagement today?" Earlier, upon seeing Xiao Yan suddenly intervene, Na Lan Yanran had felt slightly displeased. Now, hearing his question, her elegant brows furrowed slightly. At first glance, he seemed quite promising—how could he be such a persistent, irritating person? Did he not realize the gap between them? Though she had been critical of Xiao Yan in her heart, she had never considered the considerable embarrassment and anger her very public decision to withdraw the engagement had caused to Xiao Yan and his father. Standing up, gazing at the young man who should have become her husband, Nalan Yanran spoke with a calm and gentle tone. "Grandfather has not agreed, but that is my matter, not his." "Since Grandfather has not spoken, I hope you will be understanding. My father will not agree either. The original engagement was initiated by both families' elders. Now, if they haven't formally withdrawn their support, then no one dares to dissolve the match—otherwise, it would be a profound disrespect to the departed elders. I believe, within our clan, no one would dare to act so contrary to tradition." Xiao Yan slightly turned his head, coldly staring at the three elders. Under the weight of this serious accusation, the three elders fell silent. In the strict hierarchy of the family, such a charge was sufficient to jeopardize their positions as elders. “You…,” Xiao Yan interrupted her sharply, leaving Lan Yan momentarily stunned and unable to find any counterarguments. Her face turned pale with irritation as she stomped her feet firmly, her long-cultivated lady's temper finally flaring up. She stared at the young man with growing disdain, and with mounting frustration, she directly stated, "What exactly do you want me to do to dissolve our engagement? Do you find the compensation insufficient? Very well—I can have my teacher provide you with three additional Qi-Regenerating Pills. Furthermore, if you'd like, I can invite you to join Yunlan Sect to study advanced Qi techniques. Is that satisfactory?" As each enticing condition flowed from the young woman's lips, the three elders found their breathing growing rapid. The young men gathered in the hall exchanged a series of quiet, gulping breaths. "Joining Yunlan Sect to study advanced Qi techniques?"