Night fell.
The world sank into silence as moonlight gradually disappeared behind thick clouds.
Inside a dim room of the Xiao Clan…
Within the protection of the Hanhai Barrier, Xiao Se and Xiao Yixian quietly watched the deeply asleep Xiao Yan, who had collapsed on the bed from overtraining.
"Xian'er, you can begin," Xiao Se said.
Xiao Yixian nodded. She retrieved a small packet of powder from her ring. Before Yao Lao inside Xiao Yan's ring could sense anything, she activated her Dou Qi and silently guided the powder into Xiao Yan's nose and mouth.
Xiao Yan instantly passed out.
"Senior, please show yourself."
Once Xiao Se confirmed Xiao Yan was completely unconscious, he expanded the Hanhai Barrier to envelop the entire room—including the drugged Xiao Yan.
He then spoke toward the black, ancient-looking ring on Xiao Yan's finger.
"Hehe, young friend, impressive methods indeed. You actually possess an item that can completely isolate all auras."
A soft white light emerged from the ancient ring, landing on the floor and condensing into the phantom form of an elderly man.
"Junior Xiao Se greets Senior. I believe you still remember me."
Xiao Se cupped his fists respectfully, though Yao Lao's expression was clearly guarded.
From the moment Xiao Se revealed himself, Yao Lao had been studying both him and Xiao Yixian.
Because Xiao Se cultivated the Guiyuan Soul Art, Yao Lao could not probe his true strength.
But when he noticed that the girl by Xiao Se's side was a five-star Dou Huang at just fourteen or fifteen, even the normally unflappable Yao Lao couldn't hide his shock.
A Dou Huang this young—
Even he couldn't help sucking in a cold breath.
When Xiao Se left the Xiao Clan years ago, Yao Lao already sensed something unusual about him. But back then Yao Lao's soul had been far too weak to investigate deeply.
And last year, seeing Xiao Se again, Yao Lao had noticed how drastically he had changed.
Xiao Se's soul power had already become strong enough to form a protective shell, blocking others' detection and even counter-probing.
"I didn't expect it to be you. The Xiao Clan truly hides dragons and crouching tigers…"
Yao Lao nodded slightly, then asked, somewhat confused,
"Old as I am, I'm nothing more than a remnant soul now. What business does little friend have with me?"
Xiao Se smiled lightly.
"I simply wish to make a deal with Senior."
Yao Lao paused, eyes narrowing.
"Let's hear it. If you can offer something of value to this old man… perhaps I will agree."
Xiao Se immediately entered his serious nonsense mode.
"I believe Senior must be curious why my companion here has reached the Dou Huang level at such a young age. It is because she possesses an extremely terrifying constitution—the Calamity Poison Body."
"The Calamity Poison Body?"
Yao Lao's expression changed, then he nodded in sudden realization.
"No wonder she is so young yet already a Dou Huang. So she carries such a fearsome constitution. And it's already been activated for quite some time… but her poison Dou Qi has not erupted. It seems some special method is suppressing it."
Xiao Se nodded.
"Senior is correct. Two years ago, during my solitary training, I received the inheritance of an alchemist. After that, I met Xiao Yixian. She carries the Calamity Poison Body. I used certain techniques to temporarily suppress it, ensuring it won't spiral out of control… but this is not a long-term solution."
He continued his fabricated tale smoothly.
"A year ago, during the Xiao Clan's gathering in Qingshi Square, Senior used your soul sense to observe me. That was when I discovered your existence. Anyone who can survive as a soul must have been extremely powerful in life. So I brought my friend today, hoping for a bit of luck."
Yao Lao didn't believe the entire story—
but he was intrigued by what Xiao Se could offer.
"So if I truly have a method to resolve the Calamity Poison Body, what would you give in exchange?"
Yao Lao asked.
Xiao Se's smile widened.
"Of course, I would offer the item Senior needs most—the Rongling Pill (Soul Fusion Pill)."
"Rongling Pill?"
Yao Lao's heart trembled.
Because Xiao Yan's timeline had shifted by a year, Yao Lao's soul was even weaker than in the original story.
If he obtained a Rongling Pill, his soul could be replenished.
"Correct. The Rongling Pill."
Xiao Se continued, voice calm.
"Based on Senior's condition, your soul is extremely frail. Should you encounter any situation requiring large amounts of soul power, you may fall into deep sleep at any moment."
Yao Lao nodded gravely.
"I won't deny it. Your offer is… tempting. But the Rongling Pill is a sixth-tier pill. Can you really produce it?"
"Not yet. I haven't gathered all the ingredients."
Xiao Se paused, then narrowed his eyes.
A powerful wave of soul energy burst from him, enveloping Yao Lao.
"You—!"
Yao Lao froze in disbelief.
This boy—whose age was roughly the same as Xiao Yan's—
actually possessed the soul strength of a six-Tier alchemist?!
Xiao Se flicked his wrist.
"This is a Rongling Pill recipe. I've already absorbed the soul imprint."
He tossed a purple-silver scroll toward Yao Lao.
"This should serve as proof of my sincerity. Now, may I ask—does Senior truly possess a method to resolve the Calamity Poison Body?"
Yao Lao examined the scroll.
Although the soul imprint had faded and he couldn't read it directly, the recipe itself was genuine.
He nodded, though a sly glint flashed in his cloudy eyes.
"You're lucky. I do indeed know a method to resolve the Calamity Poison Body."
Yao Lao certainly knew the solution—
but the materials required were nightmarishly rare.
The core ingredients included:
A seventh-order Heaven-Poison Dragon Scorpion's magic core
Bodhi Form-Transforming Saliva
Three different Heavenly Flames
Even a Dou Saint would struggle to obtain these, let alone control three Heavenly Flames without practicing Flame Mantra.
So when Xiao Se asked for the method, Yao Lao already began calculating how to extract maximum benefits from him.
The Rongling Pill was merely an appetizer.
Helping Xiao Yixian condense a Poison Pill later would be the real bargaining chip.
With a Poison Body wielder and a powerful young alchemist assisting Xiao Yan, his disciple's future would soar.
Unfortunately for Yao Lao…
He miscalculated the person he was dealing with.
After a long negotiation, they finalized the deal:
Xiao Se would provide one Rongling Pill.
In return, Yao Lao would give the method for condensing the Poison Pill.
Both sides agreed to exchange items simultaneously.
High above the night sky, Xiao Se and Xiao Yixian shot through the darkness.
"Xiao Se, why didn't you just restrain that old man and take his ring? Even if he was a powerhouse when alive, he's just a frail soul now. Inside your Hanhai Barrier, he couldn't escape at all."
Xiao Yixian asked curiously.
Xiao Se shook his head.
"If he hides inside that Soul Nurturing Ring, we won't be able to do anything to him for a while. And remember—this continent isn't as simple as it seems."
His tone grew a bit more solemn.
"We need both him… and that boy lying on the bed back there… to draw the attention of a certain dangerous force for us."
(End of Chapter)
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