Chapter 260: Half-Step Sovereign

"A pill?"

Miss Mo Yu was stunned, her face changed, and her lips trembled incessantly: "Could it be... that it was successfully refined just now?"

Earlier, when the furnace exploded, everyone thought it had failed, but the other party was holding a pill in his hand, smooth and round, exuding a powerful yang attribute aura. If it wasn't a Blazing Sun Pill, what else could it be?

"Success?"

"How is that possible?"

Miss Mo Yu exclaimed, and the others, noticing the pill in Zhang Xuan's hand, were also dumbfounded.

What was going on?

He had actually... formed a pill?

Especially Zhu Jinhwang and Zhou Xuan, who felt as if they had been slapped, their bodies stiff.

They had just spoken with righteous indignation, and now he produced a pill...

The furnace had exploded into a pile of fragments—where did this thing come from?

If it weren't for the steam rising, the dazzling luster, and the energy not dissipating at all, making it look freshly refined, they would have suspected that he had the pill all along and was just putting on a show.

"Didn't the furnace explode? This pill..."

Trembling, Zhu Jinhwang couldn't help asking.

The others also looked over, feeling dizzy and unable to believe it.

"Who says an explosion means you can't refine a pill?" Zhang Xuan raised an eyebrow.

"You can still form a pill even when the furnace explodes?"

Everyone felt dizzy.

An exploding furnace was universally known as a sign of failed alchemy, but this guy had the furnace shattered everywhere while the pill remained intact—what had happened?

"What's going on?"

Hall Master Feng couldn't help asking.

As the hall master of the Beast Hall, he was well-traveled and knowledgeable, but he had never even heard of such a situation.

"The furnace is just a medium for refining pills; what truly forms the pill is the alchemical fire and the medicinal herbs!"

Seeing everyone wide-eyed and incredulous, Zhang Xuan explained: "Just now, when Miss Mo Yu added an ingredient, she didn't control the timing well, causing a clash of energies. However, at the last moment, I increased the flame intensity, and as the furnace exploded, the pill had already formed."

If she had strictly followed his steps, she would have definitely refined a Blazing Sun Pill, but Miss Mo Yu got distracted at a critical moment, leading to the mistake.

However, as long as alchemy was being performed, the books in the Library of Heaven's Path could be updated at any time. He didn't give up because of one mistake and continued to guide the alchemy, avoiding errors throughout the process. Although the furnace wasn't saved, the pill was ultimately successfully refined.

"Forming a pill as the furnace explodes?"

"This..."

Everyone looked at each other, feeling as if they were going crazy.

Even after hearing the explanation, they still couldn't believe it.

The pill was inside the furnace—how did you know it had formed?

And at the same time as the explosion... How profound must one's control over the medicine be to achieve that?

When others thought he was just a beast tamer, he stepped forward and claimed to be proficient in medicine; when they thought he only knew medicine, he came out and said he was an alchemist...

Even if he was an alchemist, we could tolerate it—being proficient in multiple professions isn't a big deal—but then he said... he couldn't refine pills.

Alright, we could accept that too.

But... not knowing how to refine pills, yet guiding a one-star alchemist to successfully refine a two-star pill, and forming the pill while the furnace exploded... that was a bit too much!

People say geniuses don't take the ordinary path, but... your path is really too extraordinary!

Every time, it's unexpected and unimaginable!

"The furnace exploded, but the pill was inside, so it was naturally fine. However, I knew that if I didn't protect the pill quickly, the impact of the explosion would still turn it into powder. So I rushed over, and at the moment of the explosion, I grabbed the pill in my hand. Fortunately, I succeeded!"

Zhang Xuan sighed, then looked at Miss Mo Yu again, his expression sincere: "I really did it to save the pill just now. As an alchemist, when a pill emerges from the furnace, it inevitably flies toward you, so the spot in front of you is the best position. Please don't misunderstand—I really didn't mean to save you..."

"You..."

Seeing his earnest demeanor, Miss Mo Yu's face twitched, her body trembled, and a surge of anger boiled up from her chest, nearly causing her to explode.

Earlier, when she saw him rush over without regard for his own safety and stand in front of her, she was moved beyond words. But after hearing this, the goodwill that had just been born vanished instantly.

How infuriating!

Couldn't he say something human?

When others finally gain a beautiful woman's favor, even if they don't think that way, they would pretend to be a gentleman and graciously admit it. But he, on the contrary, hurriedly declined, as if afraid of being tainted...

Regardless, she was one of the top beauties, a princess of a kingdom, and held a high status.

To be so eager to distance himself... What did that mean?

Was she not good enough for him? Or did he think she was too ugly?

Gnashing her teeth in anger, Miss Mo Yu clenched her delicate fists. If she didn't know she was no match for him, she would have beaten him up on the spot.

Taking a few deep breaths to suppress the fury in her heart, she gritted her teeth: "As a princess of the Tianwu Kingdom, I don't owe anyone favors. If you say you saved me, then you saved me. Tell me what you want, and just say it!"

"So... there's a reward for saving you?" Zhang Xuan was taken aback.

"That's right!" Miss Mo Yu gritted her teeth.

"I see!"

Zhang Xuan's expression turned serious, a heroic air in his eyes: "Actually, just now I saw that you were in great danger, so I rushed over without a second thought. The pill... that was a minor matter! Saving you was the most important thing. Look, I'm already injured now. If you could give me a few million, or some healing pills, I wouldn't mind..."

"..." Mo Yu.

"..." Hall Master Feng and the others.

They had seen shameless people, but never one so shameless.

Miss Mo Yu was so choked up she almost passed out.

After all that, she, a princess of a kingdom, was less appealing than mere gold and silver...

"Now that the pill is refined, how do we treat the Howling Heaven Beast? Just feed it directly?"

Hall Master Feng's mouth twitched. Seeing that Princess Mo Yu was about to cry, he quickly interjected to break the awkwardness.

He was afraid that if he didn't speak and let things continue, this princess of a first-rank kingdom would be angered to death right here.

"Oh, dissolve it in water and feed it with true energy infusion."

Zhang Xuan handed over one Blazing Sun Pill and naturally put the remaining two into his storage ring.

"Alright!"

Knowing the treatment method, Hall Master Feng and the others wasted no time. They dissolved the pill and fed it to the unconscious Howling Heaven Beast.

Gurgle, gurgle!

As soon as the medicinal liquid entered the Howling Heaven Beast's body, it emitted a thunderous sound. A scorching aura rose from within it, like oil suddenly ignited.

Crackle!

Before long, a sound of bones and muscles stirring was heard. The Howling Heaven Beast's massive body grew even larger, giving an even more imposing impression.

Whoosh!

The huge savage beast suddenly opened its eyes, raised its head and let out a long roar. The wind and clouds shifted, and the sound shook the valley.

Feeling its powerful pressure, all the savage beasts in the Beast Hall fell silent, trembling.

"This is... Half-Step Sovereign?"

"It went directly from the Master Teacher realm to Half-Step Sovereign?"

Hall Master Feng's pupils contracted, his lips trembling. Beast Tamer Lu and the others also widened their eyes in disbelief.

They had anticipated that the Iron-Toothed Howling Heaven Beast's bloodline advancement would succeed and greatly increase its strength, but they hadn't expected it to be so formidable, directly breaking through the Master Teacher bottleneck to reach Half-Step Sovereign!

The Sovereign realm, the highest realm for martial artists, was more than twice as powerful as the Master Teacher realm, the true pinnacle.

Although the Howling Heaven Beast was only at Half-Step Sovereign and hadn't fully stepped into this realm, it wasn't far off.

Such a powerhouse, even in the Tianwu Kingdom, could be considered an ancestor-level existence!

With such a powerful savage beast guarding the Xuanluo Mountain Range Beast Hall, their entire branch would instantly rise in status.

"He was right after all..."

Qingyang Grandmaster's face turned pale, and he took two steps back.

If he had any doubts about the young man's words before, seeing this, he now fully understood.

The other party had been absolutely correct. The Iron-Toothed Howling Heaven Beast had indeed fallen unconscious due to conflicting attributes. If he had followed his own ideas, not only would it not have reached Half-Step Sovereign, but the powerful savage beast would likely have died.

As a two-star physician who had treated countless people, he never expected to stumble over a savage beast. He felt as if he had aged ten years in an instant, no longer the imposing figure he was when he arrived.

"Under twenty, able to diagnose the Howling Heaven Beast's ailment at a glance, and guide a one-star alchemist to refine a peak two-star pill..."

His lips trembling, he couldn't help looking at the young man not far away.

The more he looked, the more unbelievable it seemed.

Such ability, let alone him, even the most famous Master Liu of the Bei Wu Kingdom, probably couldn't achieve it.

As long as such a person doesn't fall, he will surely shake the world and resound through the kingdoms in the future.

"Young friend, what is your name?"

He couldn't help stepping forward and looking over.

"Me?" Zhang Xuan glanced at him: "I'm called Trivial Nobody!"

"Trivial Nobody?"

Qingyang Grandmaster stiffened.

Earlier, when he touched the Howling Heaven Beast, he had called the other party a trivial nobody and told Hall Master Feng to drive him away... Now the words were thrown back at him.

He, the great figure specially invited by the Beast Hall, had failed to cure the Howling Heaven Beast and nearly killed it, while the trivial nobody not only cured it but also helped it break through to Half-Step Sovereign...

Feeling his face burn, Qingyang Grandmaster couldn't stay a moment longer: "Hall Master Feng, Beast Tamer Lu, Beast Tamer Wang, I take my leave!"

With that, he turned and left, not even taking the Beast Hall's flying savage beast, striding away.

He had lost too much face this time and had no shame to stay any longer.

"This..."

Seeing Zhang Xuan drive away a respected medical grandmaster with just one sentence, everyone's mouths twitched.

This guy seemed to care about nothing, but when he did, it was truly terrifying.

One could say... he could choke someone to death without paying!

"Beast Tamer Liu, go see off Grandmaster Qingyang!"

Not expecting Zhang Xuan to say that, Hall Master Feng shook his head with a wry smile and gave an order.

Young and spirited, with real skill, it was normal for him to retort after being spoken to like that.

"Yes!" The old man from before quickly chased after him.

Qingyang Grandmaster's misdiagnosis wasn't due to lack of skill; he had always treated humans and was somewhat unfamiliar with savage beasts. Moreover, which physician could guarantee a correct diagnosis every time?

Even a nine-star physician probably couldn't.

Illnesses were varied and endless; no one could claim to have seen all diseases or cure every ailment—only what one was good at and what one wasn't.

Whoosh!

After Beast Tamer Lu left, the Howling Heaven Beast's continuously rising aura finally stopped. Its massive head turned around, landed on Zhang Xuan, let out a roar, and came over in a few steps. It lowered its head and rubbed against him.

"This is... voluntary submission?"

Although this Iron-Toothed Howling Heaven Beast was raised by the Beast Hall, it had never submitted to anyone and wasn't anyone's beast pet.

Now it was voluntarily submitting to Zhang Xuan. All the beast tamers present had their eyes bulging, nearly fainting from shock.

Especially Hall Master Feng, who was trembling all over, on the verge of tears.

He had just said their Beast Hall was about to rise, and now this savage beast submitted to someone else. Once it left with its master... without a guardian, what rise would there be?

"You want to submit to me?"

Zhang Xuan was also taken aback, then suddenly understood.

This guy probably woke up knowing what had happened, realized that he had saved its life, and out of gratitude wanted to acknowledge him as master.

"Alright!"

He just felt that the Green Eagle Beast wasn't fast enough. Since the Howling Heaven Beast had reached Half-Step Sovereign, its speed should be sufficient, right?

He flicked a drop of blood from his finger and let the Howling Heaven Beast swallow it.

A thought of submission was instantly transmitted.

As he had guessed, the Howling Heaven Beast knew it had nearly had its vital parts cut off, and that this person had saved its life and even helped it break through, so it hurriedly acknowledged him as master.

After acknowledging him, if any problems arose, it could communicate with its master, at least not be as dangerous as before.

"Hmm."

Knowing this, Zhang Xuan nodded in satisfaction.

He never expected that a trip to the Beast Hall would not only tame three savage beasts but also make him a one-star beast tamer. He would never have imagined this before.

"Oh, by the way, Hall Master Feng, earlier I asked you how to assess for two-star beast tamer, and you only told me half. You haven't finished telling me..."

Suddenly remembering something, Zhang Xuan couldn't help asking.

Earlier, he had asked about the assessment for two-star beast tamer, but just then Grandmaster Qingyang arrived, and there was no time to answer. Now that things were settled, it was a good time to ask clearly.

Although he now had this Iron-Toothed Howling Heaven Beast, since he had the opportunity to assess for two-star, he might as well finish it all at once. Then, when visiting other Beast Halls, he could also ride Master Teacher-level beast mounts for free.

"Assessing for two-star beast tamer..."

Hall Master Feng shook his head: "You don't need to take the assessment!"

"Don't need to take it?"

"Yes, because... you've already passed the assessment! You are now a two-star beast tamer!"

Hall Master Feng smiled wryly.