Some Thoughts

Wei Yang shook his head. "I'm only giving it a try. I wouldn't dare say I can definitely identify the problem."

Xiao Zhan said gratefully, "No matter what, Mr. Wei's willingness to help my son is already an immense kindness. Yan'er, what are you standing around for?"

"Oh, right." Xiao Yan came to his senses and hurriedly held out his hand.

Wei Yang placed his fingers on Xiao Yan's wrist pulse, his eyes slightly closed as he remained silent in thought.

Xiao Zhan swept a stern gaze over everyone around them. They all fell silent, not daring to make a sound and disturb him.

A moment later.

"Try circulating your Dou Qi through a full cycle for me," Wei Yang said.

Xiao Yan hurriedly sat cross-legged on the spot upon hearing this. He closed his eyes and formed a strange hand seal before his chest. His chest rose and fell faintly, each inhalation and exhalation forming a perfect cycle.

Faint white streams of air entered his body through his nose and mouth, nourishing his bones and meridians.

Wei Yang once again lightly placed his fingers on Xiao Yan's wrist pulse while releasing his Soul Perception.

Very quickly, Wei Yang made a discovery.

As Xiao Yan cultivated with his eyes closed, the ancient black ring on his finger strangely emitted a subtle ripple that ordinary people would never be able to detect, before falling silent again.

That faint, minute fluctuation was keenly caught by Wei Yang, who had been watching intently.

At that moment, Xiao Yan abruptly opened his eyes. A faint white gleam flashed through his dark pupils—it was the residual Dou Qi he had just absorbed but had yet to fully refine.

His fists clenched tightly as he watched that trace of residual Dou Qi rapidly vanish and fall silent.

Again! It's happening again!

That all-too-familiar feeling!

The Dou Qi disappeared for no reason, leaving not even a trace behind!

It's been nearly three whole years!

Anger flashed through Xiao Yan's eyes, but before so many people, he did not curse aloud. Instead, he looked up at Wei Yang, his eyes carrying hope and bitterness.

Over the past three years, his father had brought countless physicians and alchemists to examine him, but none had been of any use.

Failure had become a habit over these nearly three years, so even if Wei Yang found nothing, Xiao Yan would not find it strange.

Yet deep in his heart, he still held a trace of expectation and hope.

"These symptoms..." Wei Yang opened his eyes and withdrew his hand, a deeply concealed trace of amusement flashing in his gaze.

Was that old man Elder Yao awake now, or was he unconsciously absorbing Xiao Yan's Dou Qi while asleep?

If he was awake, then he was quite bold!

Right before everyone's eyes, and even in front of Wei Yang himself, he still dared to absorb Xiao Yan's Dou Qi so brazenly.

Did he simply not regard anyone in a small place like the Jia Ma Empire as worthy of notice, even with his soul in such a weakened state?

"Mr. Wei..." Xiao Yan's lips moved.

"Mr. Wei, my son..." Xiao Zhan also spoke, his expression uneasy.

"I have examined Brother Xiao Yan's condition." Wei Yang nodded slightly. "I have indeed found a few clues."

"You found something?!" Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan's eyes both lit up.

The surrounding members of the Xiao Family also stared at Wei Yang in astonishment.

Over the years, Wei Yang was the first person to spot a problem, though he only claimed to have found a few clues.

"Then..." Xiao Zhan began.

Wei Yang raised a hand. "I'll return and make some preparations. I'll come back in three months."

He did not say anything more. After leaving behind those words, he turned and walked away.

"Mr. Wei, this..." Xiao Yan grew anxious and wanted to say more, but Xiao Zhan stopped him.

Xiao Zhan looked at Wei Yang's departing back and said, "Since Mr. Wei said he will return in three months, we should wait patiently."

Xiao Yan could only nod reluctantly, forcefully suppressing the anxiety in his heart.

Xiao Zhan patted his shoulder and comforted him. "Yan'er, since Mr. Wei said he found some clues and needs to return to prepare, doesn't that mean there is hope? You endured three years already. Three more months is nothing. Wait patiently."

"Mm."

After leaving the Xiao Family, Wei Yang departed Wu Tan City directly.

Black Wings spread from his back as he flew high through the sky toward the Magic Beast Mountain Range.

He first had to find that mysterious Small Valley.

According to the original story's description, the Small Valley was in the outer region of the Magic Beast Mountain Range near Green Mountain Town, not far from where Myriad Medicine House gathered herbs. It should not be difficult to find.

The reason Wei Yang had told Xiao Yan that he found some clues was deliberate.

His purpose was to lay the groundwork for contacting Elder Yao in the future.

After all, judging by the timeline, about three months from now would be roughly when the story officially began.

He did not intend to contact Elder Yao in order to scheme for the Flame Mantra, but rather for certain other things.

For instance, the complete inherited knowledge of alchemists from First Grade to Seventh Grade, the Poison Pill Method, and so on.

And the Poison Pill Method was the most important of all, something Wei Yang absolutely had to obtain.

Whether or not he could find the Netherworld Poison Flame in the future, and whether or not the Netherworld Poison Flame could help Xian'er perfectly control the Body of Calamitous Poison, he needed to obtain the Poison Pill Method first before he could feel at ease.

Wei Yang narrowed his eyes slightly. As the story was about to begin, he started considering some of his future plans.

Since he did not intend to use the Green Lotus Core Flame himself, he could give it to Xiao Yan and exchange it with Elder Yao for some benefits.

For example, high-grade Earth Class cultivation methods and Dou Techniques.

Elder Yao presumably did not lack such things, and he would be willing to trade them for a Heavenly Flame.

Wei Yang knew his own limits.

Although his natural talent was not bad, that was only relative.

With such talent, he could dominate a small place like the Jia Ma Empire, but in the Central Plains and across the entire Dou Qi Continent, it was not particularly outstanding.

Therefore, if he wanted to achieve something in the future, relying solely on his own cultivation efforts would be far from enough.

He also had to make good use of his advantage of knowing the story and seek out opportunities for his own growth.

For that reason, Wei Yang did not mind doing certain things that might seem selfish.

There was nothing wrong with that.

Every man for himself, and heaven and earth would destroy those who did not.

For example, taking the Green Lotus Core Flame that originally belonged to Xiao Yan and using it to exchange benefits with Elder Yao.

For example, Wei Yang had taken the Cliff Cave Opportunity without the slightest hesitation.

And then there was robbing Gute.

He did all these things without any psychological burden.

Yet he knew full well that there were certain things he could not touch.

Because several decades later, Soul Heavenly Emperor would destroy the world.

When troubled times approached, monstrous geniuses would inevitably emerge!

Wherever a Child of Fortune was born, that world would certainly be accompanied by a great calamity. That was an unchanging law.

And Xiao Yan was the one born to answer that calamity.

Wei Yang was not arrogant enough to believe that he could replace him, nor did he think that he himself could do it if placed in Xiao Yan's position.

He could follow behind, provide support, and pick up some benefits, but acting as the main force was out of the question.

Fortunately, this was not the world of Martial Ancestor Lin Dong, with its Outer Realm Evil Emperor.

But the threat of the Soul Clan was not much different from that of the Outer Realm Evil Race.

Therefore, the Green Lotus Core Flame should still be given to Xiao Yan.

Using it to exchange the things he needed from Elder Yao would be a win-win situation.

He could take opportunities like the Cliff Cave Opportunity, which would not greatly affect Xiao Yan's growth.

But Wei Yang did not intend to refine the Green Lotus Core Flame himself. First, he thought rather little of this Heavenly Flame's power.

Second, this Heavenly Flame was an important factor in Xiao Yan's growth during the early stages.

While planning for himself, Wei Yang would also try his best not to affect Xiao Yan's growth.

This could be considered a safeguard he left for himself and for all living beings in the world.

Keeping a card in reserve.

Otherwise, if Soul Heavenly Emperor sacrificed all living beings several decades later and Xiao Yan failed to grow smoothly—

And if Wei Yang himself could not withstand Soul Heavenly Emperor by then, everyone would truly be finished together.

If, merely for his own selfish desires, he was filled with confidence and believed he could replace Xiao Yan, face Soul Heavenly Emperor alone, and save all living beings—

Then deliberately target Xiao Yan and seize Xiao Yan's opportunities, including his women!

That would be an extremely irresponsible thing to do.

Wei Yang truly could not do such a thing. He could not get past that hurdle in his heart.

This had nothing to do with being saintly or not. It was simply his bottom line.

He had never considered himself a good person, but in the face of a world-ending disaster, he had no choice but to treat it with caution.

When the lives and deaths of countless billions were at stake, who would dare act recklessly?

These lives were not strings of numbers as they were when reading a novel. They were living, breathing lives that truly existed.

Stealing Xiao Yan's opportunities did not mean he would definitely become another Xiao Yan.

Some successes could not be replicated.

But having come to this world, Wei Yang was unwilling to remain merely an unknown spectator, a minor character.

He had his own pride and ambitions.

He also wanted to climb to great heights and witness the scenery at the summit.

Therefore, he had to both avoid affecting Xiao Yan's growth as much as possible and seek the opportunities he needed for his own growth...

As for Xiao Yi Xian, Wei Yang did not think she was Xiao Yan's opportunity, nor was she Xiao Yan's woman.

In the original story, she was merely an ambiguous figure, so Xiao Yi Xian's presence or absence would not have much impact on Xiao Yan.

On the contrary, during Xiao Yan's growth, Xiao Yi Xian was the one for whom Xiao Yan had to spend effort to help.

Besides, he was not truly a nanny. As long as the general direction did not go wrong, that was enough.

As countless thoughts turned in his mind.

Whoosh!

Black Wings beat, and Wei Yang transformed into a black-and-red streak of light that swiftly shot through the sky.