Starting from Douluo to Capture Goddesses

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Xiao Yan watched Xiao Yi Xian, who kept receiving cheers, his silhouette grew lonelier by degrees.

Could there really be such prodigies in this world?

Even if Xu Ran was gifted, why could Xiao Yi Xian also be this strong?

In less than a month, Xiao Yi Xian had gone from a beginner to a Three-Star Alchemist? Such a genius, defying the heavens with their talent, had never been heard of across the Continent.

Was she still a normal person?

How did Xiao Yi Xian remember so many elixir recipes, and even if her memory was exceptional, did she not need time to practice? Every time she could produce Three Pills in One Furnace, something even a Four-Star Alchemist could not easily match!

Xiao Yi Xian's alchemy had even surpassed that of Four-Star Alchemists, for even they could not manage to refine three identical Third-Grade Elixirs at once with divided attention. Her control and mastery over the flame had reached an extremely precise level. Even Yao Lao had to admit defeat to Xiao Yi Xian at this moment.

With such talent, he felt inferior.

If he had not already chosen Xiao Yan, he would have gone to great lengths to take Xiao Yi Xian as his disciple.

Xiao Yi Xian's talent was terrifying. Properly nurtured, she was bound to achieve great success in the world of alchemy in the future.

"The Yao Clan has countless talents, none of whom can compare with this girl. If the prodigies of Zhongzhou were to find out, who knows how ashamed they would be," Yao Lao sighed. Zhongzhou was a place brimming with mighty figures, and it had no shortage of powerful alchemists. A Seventh-Grade Alchemist might be the pinnacle elsewhere, but in Zhongzhou, they were nothing special. One had to be at least an Eighth-grade Pharmacist to make a stand there.

But among Zhongzhou's numerous talented and powerful individuals, how many could grow under conditions like Xiao Yi Xian's to such an extent?

Naturally, Yao Lao had no idea just how vastly Xiao Yi Xian was "cheating," to say that poverty had limited his imagination was an understatement.

"This Xu Ran is truly unfathomable. His insights on the path of alchemy might rival anyone in this era," Yao Lao said, his eyes filled with wariness.

Xiao Yi Xian was personally trained by Xu Ran, and to bring her to such a level in such a short period indicated that Xu Ran's own mastery in alchemy was likely not below his.

Although Yao Lao had always held Xu Ran in high esteem, he had not believed Xu Ran could be stronger than him. After all, which powerful alchemist of Eighth Grade or higher on the Continent wasn't aged? Xu Ran was so young and yet possessed alchemy skills that others took a lifetime to gain, making him truly one of life's winners.

Now, Yao Lao even suspected whether Xu Ran was an Eighth-grade Pharmacist or perhaps even a Ninth Grade Alchemist.

However, he did not want to tell Xiao Yan this news so as not to dent Xiao Yan's confidence.

He indeed was facing a terrifying opponent.

Xiao Yi Xian wiped the sweat from her face, oblivious to the surrounding cheers and praise, and instead approached Xiao Yan.

"Xiao Yan, how about it? You've lost, so you should fulfill your promise now," Xiao Yi Xian said, looking down at Xiao Yan. She was very unhappy with Xiao Yan's enjoyment of challenging Xu Ran.

Xiao Yan might be arrogant and love to show off, but she didn't care about any of that. However, trying to ride over Xu Ran's head was something that touched her bottom line.

For many years, Xu Ran had been the only one, and the last one, to enter her heart.

Although losing to Xu Ran could mean separating him from Xun Er, she would never do such a thing. She liked Xu Ran and would compete fairly, never resorting to underhanded tactics.

"Xiao Yi Xian..." Xiao Yan's face turned pale.

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"According to the bet we made earlier, you've lost and need to kowtow ten times to Xu Ran, and then respectfully call him 'Grandfather,'" Xiao Yi Xian said seriously.

She didn't like being aggressive, but it all depended on the person. Xiao Yan, that scoundrel, didn't deserve her sympathy.

"No, no, I don't accept this!"

"Right!"

"I haven't lost! I haven't lost!"

"I can still concoct a Fourth-Grade Elixir! Yes, that's it, I want to qualify as a Four-Star Alchemist!"

"Xiao Yi Xian, you never even imagined that I can now concoct Fourth-Grade Elixirs, did you?"

Xiao Yan clenched his fists and said.

Yao Lao was his biggest secret, as well as his ace in the hole. At that moment, he decided to use Yao Lao to help him. Yao Lao was one of the most powerful alchemists in the world, and with his help, he would certainly be able to concoct a Fourth-Grade Elixir and beat Xiao Yi Xian.

Thinking of this, Xiao Yan became excited and shared his thoughts with Yao Lao.

"You really want me to help you concoct elixirs? It disappoints me to do this," Yao Lao said, utterly disappointed in Xiao Yan. He had once thought Xiao Yan was a rough gem that could become a fine talent if properly nurtured.

But now, he was at a loss.

His previous disciple was despicable in character, and now he wondered if Xiao Yan was the same...

Even though Xiao Yan had commandeered the advantage earlier, setting up a trap deliberately to get Xu Ran and Xiao Yi Xian to agree to his strategy. But now Xiao Yi Xian had concocted a Third-Grade Elixir, and she did it with three pills in one furnace, an achievement that completely outclassed Xiao Yan.

Even with his careful nurturing, Xiao Yan could only concoct Second-Grade Elixirs, which was far from Xiao Yi Xian's level.

Xiao Yan had already lost, and yet he wanted to cheat.

And to cheat against a girl at that—even listening to Xiao Yan's thoughts made him blush.

"Teacher, I'm really left with no other choice. I don't want to do this either. But I really have no other way now. Do you really expect me to kneel and call Xu Ran 'Grandfather'? A man's knees are precious, and recognizing ancestors lightly cannot be done. If I recognize Xu Ran as my grandfather, wouldn't that make my father Xu Ran's son? No, that absolutely cannot happen. Moreover, Xu Ran and I are enemies. If it really comes to that, I would never be able to hold my head high in front of Xu Ran ever again. It would become a nightmare in my heart," Xiao Yan pleaded with Yao Lao.

He'd rather be killed than call Xu Ran "Grandfather."

And this was the closest he had gotten to Xun Er yet. If he could beat Xiao Yi Xian, he would be able to make Xu Ran leave her alone, and he could be with Xun Er.

It was probably the closest he would ever get to winning Xun Er over—it was an opportunity he absolutely could not afford to give up lightly.

Every additional day Xun Er spent by Xu Ran's side, the deeper she would be hurt. That demon Xu Ran would bully Xun Er terribly and never let her live in peace. Xun Er was such a good girl; he had to win her back and live a blissful, enviable life with her, one where they would not envy immortals but only the mandarin ducks.

"Teacher, please, I'm begging you, this one time, alright?" Xiao Yan continued to implore.

"Fine. I will help you this one time, and as long as your life is not in danger in the future, I will not intervene easily again."