"What's going on? Didn't I just completely expel the Branding Poison?"
Xiao Yan stared at the glaring black stain on the tip of his right middle finger, his face darkening.
In disbelief, he looked up at the figure calmly sipping tea across from him, asking in confusion, "Brother Bai…?"
It wasn't that he doubted Xiao Bai, but he was utterly shocked and puzzled.
During his earlier cultivation, he had clearly used his Heavenly Flame to burn the Branding Poison to nothing. So what was with this finger?
Xiao Bai glanced at the blackened finger being waved in front of him, then looked away, speaking slowly, "The Branding Poison, in a sense, is a type of fire poison, which is why it's so ferocious and difficult to handle. Though it's only a fifth-tier poison, even Dou Huangs fear it."
"Na Lan Jie cultivates a wood-attribute technique. In the five elements, wood fuels fire. The Branding Poison, lurking in his body for years, has fused and mutated with his Dou Qi. Its fire attribute has amplified, making it even more potent."
"But fortunately, your Green Lotus Core Flame is a Heavenly Flame, the king of all fires. It naturally subdues lesser flames, even the fire attribute within the poison."
"Don't worry. With a Heavenly Flame, the poison won't harm you. In fact, it gives you an extra trick. Release your Dou Qi, and you'll see."
Without hesitation, Xiao Yan spread his right hand, and green Dou Qi surged from his palm.
Moments later, faint black traces appeared on the surface of the flame-like Dou Qi!
"What the—?! There's this stuff in my Dou Qi too?!" Xiao Yan's eyes widened, staring at the black marks, his voice filled with shock.
With a thought, the green Dou Qi churned, forcing all the black traces into his middle finger.
Instantly, the entire finger turned pitch black, faintly glowing with an eerie sheen.
"See? If you can jab this black finger into someone, even if a Dou Wang won't die, but they'll be in for a bad time," Xiao Bai said.
Xiao Yan studied the blackened finger, his shifting expression calming. Then, as if struck by an idea, he grinned, wiggling his finger and eyeing Xiao Bai with a mischievous glint.
"What, don't want that hand anymore?" Xiao Bai's hand, holding the teacup, paused. He glanced at the restless Xiao Yan, the corner of his mouth curling into a playful smirk.
Hearing that familiar tone and recalling yesterday's events at the Miteer Auction House, Xiao Yan shuddered, quickly tossing aside his reckless thoughts. "Heh, Brother Bai, you gotta believe me. I was totally affected by the Branding Poison just now!"
Dispelling the poison, the blackness faded, and his finger returned to normal. Xiao Yan gave an awkward laugh, then launched into some earnest nonsense.
Ignoring the increasingly reckless kid, Xiao Bai looked at the black ring on Xiao Yan's hand and said softly, "Yao Lao, now that we have the herbs, when do we start refining the Three-Seven Soul Spirit Liquid?"
"What's your alchemy level at now?" Yao Lao didn't answer, instead questioning Xiao Bai's skill.
"Sixth tier's no problem. Seventh tier… I haven't tried yet," Xiao Bai said, a thoughtful look in his eyes. This Three-Seven Soul Spirit Liquid didn't seem simple.
It made sense—a pill usable by a Dou Zong had to be at least sixth tier or higher. Anything less would be outright heaven-defying.
Moments later, a list of herbs floated out from the ring, accompanied by Yao Lao's voice. "Sixth tier's enough. Gather these herbs, and we can begin."
Taking the list, Xiao Bai scanned the twenty-plus herbs, his brows furrowing slightly. "These herbs aren't exactly rare, they are scarce can we even find them in the Jia Ma?"
"Try first. This is already a simplified recipe. The original would be even tougher," Yao Lao said helplessly, his tone tinged with resignation.
"Alright," Xiao Bai nodded, standing. "I'll check with the auction house and see how much they have."
With that, he strode out of the courtyard.
"Brother Bai, wait for me!" Xiao Yan hurriedly followed.
"You're going too?" Xiao Bai paused, glancing back at Xiao Yan.
"Not that. You're hitting the auction house, so I'll check with the Alchemist Guild to see what they've got," Xiao Yan said, his eyes unusually serious, a stubborn resolve shining through as he clenched his fists. "Brother Bai, I know my cultivation's low, and I can't help much in a fight, but I want to contribute, not just sit here reaping the benefits."
"After all… this all started because of me."
Looking at the determined youth, Xiao Bai was silent for a moment, then patted his shoulder, nodding slightly. "Let's go."
___
The Miteer Auction House was as bustling as ever, the crowd flowing like a river.
Yesterday's events seemed to have left no mark on the place.
Xiao Bai stood at the entrance, nodding lightly to the guards bowing respectfully on either side, then walked into the hall.
The passing crowd stared at the black-robed figure, stunned that the usually aloof guards showed such deference.
As Xiao Bai entered, a dozen sharp gazes swept over him, only to retract hastily, as if startled, when they recognized him.
"Lord Bai, what brings you here?" A woman dressed as a manager, vaguely familiar, hurried over, her voice respectful.
"You handled my herb purchase back in Wu Tan City, didn't you?" Xiao Bai's eyes flickered, his mind piecing together the familiarity. Seeing her now as a manager, he realized Ya Fei must have taken full control of the auction house.
"That you remember Little Sixteen is my honor!" The woman's eyes lit with excitement. To think that the youth who once bought first-tier herbs had risen to such heights in just a few years.
Xiao Bai smiled and nodded, scanning the hall. It had returned to normal, but the familiar enchanting figure was absent.
"Where's Ya Fei?"
"Please, follow me, my lord," Little Sixteen said with a smile, leading him upstairs to an ornate door. She knocked and announced, "Elder Ya Fei, Lord Bai is here!"
A clatter of furniture came from within, and the door swung open, revealing a pair of peach-blossom eyes sparkling with delight.
"You're here?" Ya Fei said, waving a hand to dismiss Little Sixteen. Once she was gone, Ya Fei stepped aside, her voice warm. "Come in!"
Entering, Xiao Bai saw two rows of massive shelves—one neatly lined with thick books, the other with files and documents.
Ya Fei led him to a table behind the shelves and sat, her expressive eyes smiling softly. "What made you come to me?"
"Need your help," Xiao Bai said with a smile, producing the herb list with a flick of his hand and passing it to her. "See how much of this you can gather."
"I knew it. You wouldn't come here without a reason!" Ya Fei's smile faltered, a fleeting disappointment crossing her face before she took the list, shooting him a playful glare.
She scanned the herb names, musing for a moment before looking up. "When do you need these?"
"As soon as possible."
Seeing no trace of difficulty in her expression, Xiao Bai's eyes brightened with hope. Could my luck be this good?
"You really know how to give me a challenge!" Ya Fei rolled her eyes, placing the list on the table and pointing to an entry. "This Phantom Ghost Grass—just days ago, I sent a caravan for it. It'll take at least two months for news. I can try to track some down, but I can't guarantee success."
"Lately, something's off in the Chu Yun Empire. This herb rarely circulates now. Before, caravans could occasionally bring some back, but now…" She shook her head.
"What's the Chu Yun Empire got to do with it? Is that the only place it grows?" Xiao Bai asked, curious. He hadn't paid much attention to herb origins.
"Giggle… My dear Young Master Xiao, I thought you knew everything!" Ya Fei's face lit with a playful smile, teasing the usually composed Xiao Bai, who now seemed like a curious child. "I don't know about other places, but in the Jia Ma Empire, nearly all Phantom Ghost Grass comes from the Chu Yun Empire."
"Between the Chu Yun and Mu Lan Empires lies a swamp stretching thousands of miles, called the Nether Swamp. Shrouded in toxic mist year-round, it's a haven for poisonous plants and insects."
"Just as the Magical Beast Mountain Range is a key resource for cultivators here, the Nether Swamp is a treasure trove for poison masters in Chu Yun. Phantom Ghost Grass isn't toxic, but it grows there."
Resting her chin in her hand, her eyes smiling, Ya Fei explained softly.
"So, no Phantom Ghost Grass for now?" Xiao Bai frowned slightly. The Chu Yun Empire was far, and with the Jia Ma Empire's disdain for poison masters, few from there visited. Getting the herb quickly would be tough.
Ya Fei shook her head with a wry smile. "I'll do my best to look, but don't get your hopes up."
Nodding, Xiao Bai pointed to the list. "What about the rest? Got those?"
Ya Fei shook her head, her brows knitting slightly. "There's also the Earth Dragon Amber Flower. It's rare. The Miteer Auction House last saw one two years ago."
"But the rest, we have."
"Alright, prepare those for me. I'll pick them up when I need them," Xiao Bai said, standing to leave.
Ya Fei blinked, caught off guard by his briskness. He'd come, handled business, and was leaving without a moment's delay. Pursing her lips, her voice carried a hint of disappointment. "You're leaving already?"
"Yeah, I'm going to look around, see if I can find the other two herbs," Xiao Bai said, strolling lazily toward the door.
"Then go. I won't see you out!" Ya Fei's voice held a touch of pique.
"Know you're busy. No need," Xiao Bai said, waving casually as he opened the door and left.
Staring at the closed door, Ya Fei bit her lip, her hand crumpling the list before carefully smoothing it out. Her eyes flickered with confusion.
She couldn't quite define her feelings for Xiao Bai.
Gratitude? Completing her family's trial had relied heavily on the pills he provided in Wu Tan City. For that, she was truly thankful.
Attraction? A little, she couldn't deny. It started as a faint fondness. In Wu Tan City, his clear gaze, free of the leering she often faced, had stood out.
But yesterday, his fierce protectiveness of Zi Yan—that commanding moment—had stirred something in her, prompting her impulsive actions.
Admiration? Perhaps. He was unlike any man she'd met.
Compared to him, the so-called prodigies of the Jia Ma Empire were nothing.
When Hai Lao offered him half the auction house, he'd refused without a second thought—a choice no one else in the empire would've made.
Yet, she thought bitterly, women of her family, save for rare talents like Na Lan Yan Ran, had little control over their fates. Finding someone she liked, whom her family wouldn't oppose, was already a stroke of heaven's luck.
She'd been thrilled when Xiao Bai sought her out, but his utter lack of romantic awareness—not even lingering a moment—left her disheartened.
A soft sigh echoed in the room as she sat lost in thought.
___
Dusk fell.
Xiao Bai returned to the courtyard empty-handed.
As he stepped through the gate, a shadow darted toward him.
"Heh, Brother Bai, I've been waiting ages!" Xiao Yan said, his face sly.
"Waiting for what?" Xiao Bai asked, bemused by Xiao Yan's secretive air.
"Didn't find that Earth Dragon Amber Flower, did you?" Xiao Yan grinned mischievously, clearly pleased.
"Nope," Xiao Bai admitted, nodding, curious. How'd this kid know?
"Guess what this is?" Xiao Yan flicked his hand, producing a jade box.
The box was meticulously sealed, clearly preserved with care.
Xiao Bai's soul sense swept over it, confirming it was the herb he sought. His eyes narrowed, and he smiled at the smug Xiao Yan. "Spill. What's the story?"
___
A stick of incense later…
"So, you're joining the Alchemist Conference?" Xiao Bai said, piecing it together after Xiao Yan's explanation.
It turned out the Earth Dragon Amber Flower Ya Fei mentioned, sold two years ago, had been bought by someone Xiao Yan knew.
"No choice. That old guy bet me that if I find a second Earth Dragon Amber Flower, all bets are off, and the herb's mine. But the bet means I have to join the Alchemist Conference," Xiao Yan said, shrugging helplessly.
"The head of Black Rock City's Alchemist Guild must really believe in you to make a bet with no upside for him. They're not… trying to recruit you as a son-in-law, are they?" Xiao Bai teased, eyeing Xiao Yan with a playful glint.
"Tch, son-in-law my foot!" Xiao Yan tilted his head, striking a flamboyant pose. "It's 'cause I'm too charming, loved by all. Can't help it!"
"Just be careful not to expose yourself," Xiao Bai said, chuckling and shaking his head, trusting Xiao Yan's judgment.
"No worries! I only agreed to participate, not to win a ranking!" Xiao Yan said with a sly grin.
"…" Xiao Bai.
So that's his plan!
Suddenly, Xiao Bai's expression froze.
The Alchemist Conference… Phantom Ghost Grass from the Chu Yun Empire!
That guy, as vice president of the Chu Yun Empire's Alchemist Guild, might just have it.
His eyes gradually lit up.
____
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