"Dragon Blood Pill..." Yang Kai murmured, his face showing a look of unconcealed temptation.
According to Ji Ying, the Dragon Blood Flower could be refined into Dragon Blood Pills, which not only tempered one's dragon bloodline but also provided a significant boost to physical strength—let alone whatever other benefits they might offer.
His physical constitution was already extraordinarily robust. If he could refine this Dragon Blood Flower into Dragon Blood Pills and consume them, it would be like adding wings to a tiger.
Yang Kai couldn't help but grow interested. He looked at Ji Ying and asked, "Brother Ji, do you have the formula for Dragon Blood Pills?"
Ji Ying scratched his cheek and gave an awkward cough. "I do, but..." His gaze flickered toward Zhu Qing.
There was a dragon woman right here! He didn't dare discuss the refinement of Dragon Blood Pills with Yang Kai—the Dragon Blood Flower held far too much significance to Dragon Island. If this dragon woman were to take offense, his status as Miao Dan the Great Emperor's Disciple might not save him.
"You want the Dragon Blood Flower?" Zhu Qing looked at Yang Kai.
"You have some?" Yang Kai's eyes lit up. Come to think of it, Zhu Qing was a dragon woman—she might very well have quite a few Dragon Blood Flowers on her. If he could get her to hand some over and refine them into more Dragon Blood Pills, wouldn't that be wonderful?
"I do." Zhu Qing nodded.
Yang Kai was delighted, but before he could open his mouth, Zhu Qing continued, "However, they're all left behind on Dragon Island. The clan has a strict prohibition—the Dragon Blood Flower must not be taken off the island."
His excitement was instantly doused with a bucket of cold water. Yang Kai said in displeasure, "Then why the hell bring it up!"
Come to think of it, he'd already inspected Zhu Qing's spatial ring last time. If there really had been any Dragon Blood Flowers, he would have found them.
Beads of cold sweat formed on Ji Ying's forehead again. Yang Kai's attitude toward this dragon woman was so casual—or rather, outright rude—that it made his heart pound with anxiety.
Zhu Qing offered a faint smile, a glint of cunning dancing in her beautiful eyes. "Come with me to Dragon Island, and I'll give you Dragon Blood Flowers. I have nearly ten stalks back there!"
Ji Ying's eyes went wide, utterly and completely stunned.
This dragon woman... was actually inviting Yang Kai to Dragon Island? Was she serious? Had he heard correctly?
Dragon Island. It was the most mysterious place in the entire Star Realm. Ordinary people couldn't even dream of visiting—most couldn't even figure out where it was located. And the Dragon Clan, who considered themselves the noblest of all living creatures, never invited outsiders to Dragon Island. Only those Great Emperors had any right to set foot there, and even they rarely visited, let alone received Dragon Blood Flowers from the clan.
Yet now, this dragon woman had not only invited Yang Kai to Dragon Island but was even offering him ten stalks of Dragon Blood Flower...
Ji Ying's head was spinning. Even though it was none of his business, he still hurriedly tried to catch Yang Kai's eye.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—what was there to hesitate about? He should agree immediately! If it were Ji Ying himself, he would have eagerly rushed off without a moment's delay.
"You bring that up again and we're going to have a problem." Yang Kai kept his face straight, staring Zhu Qing down.
Zhu Qing pouted and extended her hand toward Yang Kai. "Then give me back the box."
Yang Kai flipped his hand, and the box vanished without a trace. He turned his head away. "What box? Didn't see one."
Zhu Qing said, "The Dragon Blood Flower belongs to Dragon Island. Aren't you afraid of burning your hands holding it?"
Yang Kai said, "What Dragon Blood Flower? Never heard of it!"
Zhu Qing was both exasperated and amused — it was plain as day that Yang Kai had swallowed the prize and refused to cough it up. If anyone else had snatched the Dragon Blood Flower, Zhu Qing would have attacked without hesitation. But truth be told, Yang Kai wasn't a member of the Dragon Clan yet still carried the Ancestral Dragon Origin, which gave him every right to consume the thing.
Furrowing her brows, Zhu Qing decided not to press the matter further.
Ji Ying was dumbfounded. In this world… someone actually dared to steal something from the Dragon Clan?
He felt as though he had received more shocks today than in his entire lifetime, and his brain simply couldn't keep up.
"Qing'er, the weather's lovely outside. Why don't you go soak up some sun? Staying cooped up indoors isn't good for your complexion," Yang Kai said suddenly, flashing a beaming smile at Zhu Qing.
Zhu Qing let out a cold huff, knowing full well he was trying to shoo her away. She stamped her foot and shot out the door.
Yang Kai then caught Hua Qingsi and the three Great Demon Kings with a meaningful glance, and the group took their leave in unison.
In the blink of an eye, only Yang Kai and Ji Ying remained in the grand hall — along with Ji Ying's eldest disciple, who was still deep in meditation.
With a casual toss, Yang Kai hurled the wooden box back to Ji Ying. "I'd trouble Brother Ji to refine a batch of Dragon Blood Pills for me."
"Huh?" Ji Ying stared blankly and accepted the box in a daze.
Yang Kai grinned. "Surely Brother Ji hasn't forgotten — you're now the Chief Alchemist of my Lingxiao Palace!"
Ji Ying paused, then smiled bitterly. "I'm a man who honors his wagers. I certainly won't welch. But I need to return to the Medicine Pill Valley first and report to my master…"
Yang Kai nodded. "By all means, Brother Ji. Go take care of your own affairs, and come back to Lingxiao Palace whenever you have the time."
"Thank you, Brother Yang," Ji Ying said with gratitude, his heart swirling with mixed emotions. Before he had come to Lingxiao Palace, he had been a free spirit, beholden to no one. Yet after a single visit, he had somehow become their Chief Alchemist.
This was certainly not the outcome he had envisioned.