The green-robed man descended from the stairs, his faintly released aura making some people's blood boil and feel an oppressive force.
"Kid, get down on the ground!" The green-robed man grinned ferociously, punching toward Dao Ling's chest to suppress him.
Dao Ling clenched his fists, his body surging with rumbling blood qi and thunderous sounds, colliding head-on with the green-robed man's fist. The shockwave exploded in all directions, forming massive air wolves.
Some people exclaimed, trembling all over and staggering back when hit by the air wave. The area around the two became a no-man's land.
"How terrifying! How old is he, yet so strong!" Someone was astonished, feeling he was a prodigy.
The green-robed man was also startled, his face looking unpleasant—after all, being on par with a fifteen or sixteen-year-old teenager was embarrassing.
"Hmph, even if you're a genius of Star Academy, causing trouble in our Jubao Pavilion means I must suppress you!" The green-robed man roared, swinging his fist again. This punch was more ferocious, with the faint image of a mountain appearing behind him, ready to manifest and suppress heaven and earth.
"Scram!" Dao Ling grew angry. These people attacked without asking about the situation, which infuriated him.
Torrential blood qi surged from his body, his fist shooting out brilliant golden light. His entire body was like a small world opening, as he swallowed mountains and rivers with his punch.
With a boom, it was like a dragon emerging from the sea. A golden fist slashed across, cracking the mountain's phantom, followed by a fierce wave that sent the green-robed man flying.
"What?" A middle-aged man among those who had just come down exclaimed. Where did this prodigy come from?
Wang Ya was also shocked. This youth was a Fourth Layer Yunling expert, yet now he was no match for Dao Ling. How had his strength risen so rapidly?
But she reacted quickly, rushing to the middle-aged man and saying, "Vice-Manager Chen, this person came to cause trouble and has already injured several guards!"
Chen Li nodded. His steps were steady, his aura terrifying—with each breath, the surroundings trembled. This person was extremely strong, and his aura made those around him feel suffocated.
"Kid, how dare you cause trouble here!" Chen Li shouted, reaching out to grab him and teach him a lesson.
But as his hand extended, his余光 caught the silver token hanging from Dao Ling's waist, inscribed with "Jubao Pavilion." He staggered, nearly falling. *Isn't this a token for a revered patron?*
Chen Li was incredulous. Jubao Pavilion's patron tokens were typically given to alchemists, elder powerhouses, or young talents from major clans.
Even Wang Junyi wasn't qualified for such a token—only someone like Qian Yao had one. *What's his background?*
Chen Li's legs trembled. He could sense the token matched the youth's aura. He couldn't be mistaken. *Which clan's prodigy is this, possessing a Jubao Pavilion patron token?*
"Haha, I haven't seen you here before, young master." Chen Li's murderous intent vanished abruptly. He rubbed his hands and approached with a hearty laugh.
These words left the entire crowd stunned. Many thought they'd misheard. This Jubao Pavilion vice-manager, of extremely high status—even Wang Junyi wouldn't dare be rude—was addressing the troublemaker with respect.
"How? How is this possible?" Wang Ya looked like she'd seen a ghost, hurriedly saying, "Vice-Manager, you must have mistaken him! He's just a poor wretch here to cause chaos."
"Outrageous!" Chen Li's face darkened as he pointed at her and roared, "Who hired this person? Throw her out immediately! Now!"
Chen Li was furious. The value of this token was inestimable. Countless people across the Mysterious Domain would kill for it—patron tokens allowed one to unconditionally request a Jubao Pavilion branch to help find treasures or mobilize its forces.
Even the Star Academy branch had no patrons.
Wang Ya's head buzzed, her entire body stiffening in confusion. *What was happening?*
The fat man behind Chen Li wiped his forehead, also seeing the token on Dao Ling's waist. He'd seen one from a distance before—it belonged to a great figure.
This youth possessed a patron token, meaning his background was absolutely terrifying.
"What are you waiting for? Get out!" The fat man barked with a stern face, inwardly regretting bringing her in. Though she had connections to Wang Junyi, the gap between her and a patron was too vast.
Wang Ya's face turned every shade of red and white, wishing she could crawl into a hole. She slunk away, leaving the crowd in惊愕 (astonishment). *What was this youth's background?*
"Please come inside, young master. We were rude earlier." Chen Li rubbed his hands obsequiously.
*This token seems very powerful?* Dao Ling was puzzled. He hadn't expected the token Zi Yu gave him to hold so much weight.
Invited to the second floor by Chen Li, he stood respectfully beside Dao Ling, not daring to breathe loudly.
The fat man beside Chen Li even blushed, tentatively asking, "Revered Patron, we haven't seen you before. Where do you come from?"
"Do I need to report that to you?" Dao Ling glanced at him indifferently.
The fat man jumped, his legs trembling as he looked to Chen Li for help.
"Hehe, no need. Please tell us what brings you here. We'll do our utmost to assist," Chen Li quickly said, fearing to displease him.
"I need some medicinal herbs. Bring them to me quickly." Dao Ling named three herbs, and Chen Li looked awed—these seemed for a soul-reinforcing pill. This youth must be the descendant of an alchemy master.
The fat man soon returned with a tray. The Soul-Strengthening Grass was a pitch-black herb exuding soul波动 (waves), quite rare, while Jasper Leaves and Clear Spirit Grass were more common.
"How much in total?" Dao Ling asked, putting the items away.
Chen Li scratched his head, pondering before saying, "These three herbs are worth 700,000 gold coins, but with your token, it's only 500,000."
Dao Ling's嘴角 (corner of the mouth) twitched. That drained all his gold coins. Money really couldn't keep up with spending—it was gone in a blink.
"I need to find a way to get more gold coins. Can't do without them—money flows like water," Dao Ling muttered. His ores and golden energy were too precious to sell.
After paying, he left. The fat man watched his disappearing back, nearly collapsing as he gasped, "Chen Li, where did this big shot come from, with a patron token?"
"Ask me, who should I ask?" Chen Li snapped, though he didn't doubt Dao Ling's strength. At only fourteen or fifteen, he could injure a green-robed man with one punch—he must be a successor from a major force.
Deep in Star Academy stood a massive palace, its surroundings ablaze with heat. The palace was entirely fiery red, a specialized alchemy area where earth vein flames spouted from the ground.
Dao Ling came here to refine pills using the earth vein fire, wanting to see the flame's intensity.
"You want to refine pills?" An old man guarding the alchemy room eyed the youth with contempt. Alchemy wasn't easy—was he an alchemist?
Dao Ling nodded. The old man shook his head helplessly, saying, "Remember, you can only use the alchemy room for three days. Extending it requires completing tasks or paying fees."
"Understood." Dao Ling knew he couldn't borrow the alchemy room indefinitely, but three days should suffice. If he failed, he'd have to buy a soul pill. The Star Hall was opening soon, and he must strengthen himself in this time.
This was a flame channel. He reached a door where the temperature was far hotter than outside, with a large fire mouth spewing flames ahead.
Rubbing his chin, Dao Ling flipped his palm, revealing a bronze alchemy furnace obtained from the Inheritance Hall.
"This furnace must be a treasure." Dao Ling examined it. The furnace walls had纹路 (patterns) exuding dao rhyme—definitely an extraordinary alchemy furnace.
A glazed pill flame emerged, igniting the furnace. The bronze furnace instantly grew, circling in the air before settling over the fire mouth.
Dao Ling sat cross-legged before the furnace, forming hand seals. The glazed pill flame emitted profound waves, instantly drawing out the fire from the mouth to burn furiously within the furnace.
He flicked his sleeve, opening the furnace to release旺盛 (vigorous) flames. Blinking, he took out the herbs—a green leaf flowing with life energy, the Jasper Leaf.
The Jasper Leaf fell into the furnace, and the surging flames began refining it. Notably, the glazed pill flame was fearsome, wrapping around the leaf to melt it, causing the jade-green leaf to twist and gradually release drops of spiritual liquid.
"I wonder what level this pill fire is. Hope it's not too bad," Dao Ling muttered, eyeing the burning flame. Since it came from the Inheritance Hall, it couldn't be ordinary.
After about a cup of tea, drops of jade-green spiritual liquid appeared in the furnace. Dao Ling's mind emptied, his soul surging to search within the liquid, removing狂暴 (fierce) medicinal power and tempering the liquid.
"As the Ancient Pill Scripture says, the first step in alchemy is to purify the spiritual liquid. The higher the purity, the greater the pill success rate and quality," Dao Ling whispered, carefully checking his steps. There was only one portion of spiritual liquid—failure meant no second chance.
Meanwhile, wood-attribute energy surged from his body, accompanied by extremely vigorous life气息 (aura), continuously nourishing the liquid.
As this wisps of wood-attribute energy nourished the liquid, Dao Ling's eyelids twitched—he felt the medicinal power of the Jasper Leaf seemed to be increasing!
Dao Ling's eyes were惊疑不定 (suspicious and uncertain). *The energy in the Tongling Pagoda isn't as simple as I thought. This wood-attribute energy must be extremely advanced.*
His first alchemy attempt, Dao Ling was cautious. Refining the first herb took two hours, resulting in a cluster of emerald-green energy like jade flowing in the flames, radiating a precious glow.
After a careful check, he nodded and threw in the second herb to refine.
Refining the Soul-Strengthening Grass took longer. His soul was weak, and he had to recover once. It took most of the day to fuse the three herbs into a liquid.
The Soul-Strengthening Grass was the main ingredient, with the other two as auxiliaries—a mass of black spiritual liquid floating, exuding soul波动 (waves).
Dao Ling closed his eyes to rest. When at peak condition, he opened his eyes, changing hand seals. The glazed pill flame wrapped around the liquid, fusing it into pill form.
He closed the furnace lid—now came the pill-nourishing stage. His entire body exhaled aura, unleashing all the dormant wood-attribute energy to surge into the furnace.
Pill nourishing was essentially infusing the pill with heaven-earth essence, a difficult step testing patience.
Dao Ling's body overflowed with divine light. The more energy he channeled into the furnace, the more the furnace changed. Ancient dao patterns appeared on its walls, as if sounds from ancient times echoed.