BTTH: From Genius to Invincible

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Xiao Yan's heart jolted, his pupils constricting. The Amethyst Winged Lion King truly knew the whereabouts of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame!!!

Even with Xiao Yan's composure, he couldn't help but breathe a little heavier. If he had not been mentally prepared, he might have blurted out the question of where it was located.

Little Fairy Doctor was also extremely astonished. This was supposed to be a life-threatening crisis; how had it suddenly turned into a Heavenly Flame being delivered to their doorstep?!

Xiao Yan quickly regained his composure, his fingers lightly tapping the table as he gazed solemnly at the Amethyst Winged Lion King. "I believe the Lion King understands the significance and allure of a Heavenly Flame to an alchemist."

"It cannot be denied that any Heavenly Flame holds an unparalleled attraction for alchemists, and I am no exception."

Then, his tone shifted subtly as he continued, "However, Lion King, a Body Transformation Pill is a high-grade 7th-tier medicinal pill. It is renowned as the entry ticket for magical beasts to reach Rank 8. Its value is sufficient to move an elite Dou Ancestor. Not to mention that I don't have a Body Transformation Pill, even if I did, it wouldn't be possible to trade it for a piece of information whose authenticity is uncertain."

The Body Transformation Pill was a treasure coveted by all magical beasts, for it granted them the qualifications to step into Rank 8!

All Rank 8 magical beasts could transform, as transformation was a prerequisite for entering that rank. For a magical beast to advance to Rank 8, not only did it need to break through the limitations of its bloodline and enhance its physical form and cultivation, but it also needed to transform.

This was analogous to 8th-tier medicinal pills.

While low and intermediate-grade 7th-tier pills would induce natural phenomena, and high-grade ones would attract Pill Lightning, 8th-tier medicinal pills possessed something more. This was spiritual intelligence! The presence of a spirit was the defining characteristic of 8th-tier pills; without it, they could only approach but not reach the 8th-tier.

The same principle applied to magical beasts. If a magical beast couldn't transform and gain human-like cultivation talents, it would forever remain at Rank 7.

There were numerous methods for a magical beast to transform, but undoubtedly, the simplest was through a Body Transformation Pill. Swallowing a single pill could resolve all their issues.

Thus, one could imagine the immense value of the Body Transformation Pill in the hearts of magical beasts.

However, Xiao Yan was no fool. Let alone trading just for the location of the Heavenly Flame, even if the Amethyst Winged Lion King directly offered the Ten Thousand Beast Flame in exchange, it might not be enough.

The value of a high-grade 7th-tier medicinal pill ranged between seventy and eighty thousand soul points. This could be exchanged for a High Di Class Qi Method, or with proper planning, could even potentially overthrow the imperial family of the Jia Ma Empire.

The 22nd-ranked Ten Thousand Beast Flame might not necessarily be worth that much.

Of course, it was definitely worth it in Xiao Yan's heart. If he had a Body Transformation Pill, he would certainly trade it for the Ten Thousand Beast Flame. But trading it for mere information was out of the question.

The entire thatched hut fell silent once again as he finished speaking. Only the sounds of Little Fairy Doctor pouring tea and Xiao Yan sipping it could be heard.

The Amethyst Winged Lion King had been completely misled by Xiao Yan, subconsciously accepting that he was on equal footing with it. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been this quiet.

Xiao Yan took a sip of the medicinal tea, set the cup down with a soft clank, and said with a smile, "Lion King, as an alchemist, I greatly desire a Heavenly Flame, while you, as a magical beast, crave a Body Transformation Pill. I understand your feelings. I have a proposal, but I don't know if the Lion King would be willing to hear it."

His words were so impeccably chosen that for a moment, Little Fairy Doctor couldn't tell which Xiao Yan was the real one, the one from the past half-month or the current one.

"What proposal?"

Xiao Yan smiled inwardly, knowing it was time for him to truly turn the tables.

"Before I make this proposal, I'm curious about something. Lion King, since you're a fire-attribute magical beast with cultivation reaching the Rank 6, why don't you refine the Ten Thousand Beast Flame yourself?"

The Amethyst Winged Lion King frowned slightly at the question but did not answer.

At this point, whether it answered or not was no longer important, because sometimes silence itself was an answer.

'I see. No wonder it only offered to provide the location. It seems that for some reason, even the Rank 6 Amethyst Winged Lion King is unable to refine the Ten Thousand Beast Flame.' Xiao Yan understood in his heart. Regardless of the reason, the answer was clear: the Amethyst Winged Lion King couldn't possess the Ten Thousand Beast Flame.

Otherwise, if it could refine the Ten Thousand Beast Flame itself, it might even have a chance to complete its transformation, eliminating the need for a Body Transformation Pill altogether.

"I apologize for my abruptness." Xiao Yan's face showed a sincere apology.

"Since the Lion King knows the whereabouts of the Heavenly Flame and needs a medicinal pill, while I am an alchemist in need of a Heavenly Flame, why don't we make a deal? The Lion King can assist me in obtaining the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, and in the future, when I become a 7th-tier alchemist, I will certainly present a Body Transformation Pill with both hands." Xiao Yan spoke with conviction, his eyes as sincere as a child's.

The Amethyst Winged Lion King couldn't help but laugh coldly upon hearing Xiao Yan's words. Did this boy take it for a fool? What a joke! There wasn't a single 7th-tier alchemist in the entire Jia Ma Empire!

"Kid, you're truly delusional. Even your Jia Ma Empire's most formidable 'Pill King' Gu He is merely a 6th-tier alchemist. You don't even know if you can become a 7th-tier alchemist yourself, yet you're trying to reap without sowing?"

Xiao Yan wasn't angered or flustered by this response. Instead, he proudly said, "Heh, Gu He is merely self-proclaimed as the 'Pill King.' A mere 6th-tier alchemist daring to claim the title of 'Pill King' is simply laughable."

"I, Xiao Yan, will turn eighteen in two months and am already a 4th-tier alchemist. If I can obtain a Heavenly Flame, I will definitely become a 7th-tier alchemist within five years at most, or as little as three."

"Three to five years is nothing more than a brief nap for the long-lived Lion King."

Xiao Yan's face brimmed with pride, a confidence that was not an act. From a young age, he had been enveloped by the aura of a prodigy, and this pride had accumulated over the years. He had even dared to challenge the Soul Path of the Hall of Souls and bargain with Hun Huzi, ultimately completing the Soul Path challenge and obtaining the Nihility Devouring Flame.

When Nalan Yanran came to annul their engagement, he defeated her with a single punch. His confidence stemmed from his strength and experiences!

The Amethyst Winged Lion King was truly bluffed by Xiao Yan! After all, his reasoning did hold some merit. Let alone Xiao Yan, even if Gu He could obtain a Heavenly Flame, perhaps he too could swiftly become a 7th-tier alchemist.

Xiao Yan smiled slightly when he saw the Amethyst Winged Lion King falling silent once more and said, "Our encounter is destined, not just for me, but for the Lion King as well. The relationship between humans and magical beasts is far from harmonious, and I imagine opportunities for you, Lion King, to obtain a Body Transformation Pill are few and far between."

Magical beasts possessed strong physical bodies but feeble souls. Consequently, it is exceedingly rare for a magical beast to become an alchemist.

"I can tell you where the Ten Thousand Beast Flame is located, but you must provide me with a Body Transformation Pill within five years."

Xiao Yan could barely contain his grin upon hearing these words!

Although it seemed like he was still exchanging a Body Transformation Pill for information about the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, he was essentially getting it for free!

Xiao Yan had truly mastered the concept of 'financing'. With nothing but his silver tongue, he'd managed to secure valuable resources from others.

Five years... who knew what the situation would be like in five years?

Alchemists often made verbal agreements with powerful individuals, promising medicinal pills in exchange for their services, only delivering after the task was completed. However, this approach only worked if the alchemist genuinely possessed the ability to refine the promised pill.

At present, Xiao Yan lacked this ability and was trading based on his potential future capabilities.

Even Hun Tiandi would applaud Xiao Yan for this move.

Little Fairy Doctor, who had been quietly listening on the sidelines, was utterly bewildered. The Amethyst Winged Lion King had originally come in a fury to settle a score with Xiao Yan, but somehow, it had ended up giving him the location of the Heavenly Flame? And received nothing in return???

Yet, strangely enough, both Little Fairy Doctor and the Amethyst Winged Lion King felt there was nothing wrong with this arrangement.

Xiao Yan slowly stood up and extended his hand. "I look forward to our cooperation."

"Now, Lion King, can you tell me why you didn't refine the Ten Thousand Beast Flame yourself?"

The Amethyst Winged Lion King, still unaware that it had been outmaneuvered, replied in a solemn voice, "Because the Ten Thousand Beast Flame is located within the Beast Tomb."

"Beast Tomb? A graveyard for magical beasts?" It was the first time Xiao Yan had heard of such a place in the Magic Beast Mountain Range.

To his surprise, the Amethyst Winged Lion King shook its head. The mere mention of that place caused even the face of this Rank 6 magical beast to darken.

"That is a battlefield, a place where magical beasts and humans once fought to the death."