Cooperative Discussion

Liuli took Wa Ke's Storage Ring.

Wa Ke was close to death now, so the Soul Imprint inside the Storage Ring was extremely weak. On top of that, as an Alchemist, her Soul Power naturally surpassed that of ordinary strong individuals, making it very easy to break.

Among its contents, she was only interested in the Earth-tier Low Grade Dou Skill Wa Ke had used earlier. However, when she swept it with her senses, she discovered a stack of letters and a Scroll.

Liuli took them out and found that they were correspondence between Chu Yun Empire, Wa Ke, and Yan Li, including plans for the Alchemist Competition and files on the mole within the Jia Ma Empire Alchemist Guild. What worried Liuli most, however, was that Scroll. It was a copy of a Fifth-grade Pill formula.

After reading it with her Soul Power, she began reconsidering Xiao Yan's situation.

First, this Fifth-grade Pill formula was called the Dark Bamboo Barrier Breaking Pill. Though its name sounded mysterious, it was quite easy to refine. At the very least, it was much simpler than the Three-patterned Green Spirit Pill Xiao Yan needed to refine. However, its effects were very similar to those of the Three-patterned Green Spirit Pill—it was a medicinal pill that acted directly on one's cultivation. And from the letters, Liuli learned that the true formula was in Yan Li's possession.

In tomorrow's Finals, Yan Li would very likely abandon the Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill and refine this pill instead.

"I wonder where he found that formula." Liuli curled her lips, somewhat displeased. Many things that had happened lately had already diverged from the Original Work. The feeling of losing her foresight made her deeply uneasy.

Still, she would do everything she could to ensure Xiao Yan obtained what he was meant to obtain. With that, plus the protagonist's halo and the Child of the Plane's special effects, it should not be difficult for Xiao Yan to become the Flame Emperor just as before.

"His physical condition isn't good either." Liuli frowned.

Xiao Yan had used Buddha's Fury Lotus Flame today. Though he had not detonated it himself, forming such a peerless killing move had worn him down tremendously. It would be difficult for him to fully recover overnight on his own.

Moreover, Nalan Jie's Brand Poison was still inside him. That was also a ticking time bomb in the arena.

Liuli let out a soft sigh. She really felt a little like an old mother worrying that her child would do poorly on an exam.

She looked up at the moon hanging high beyond the window. After thinking for a while, she decided to do something for him after all.

"You!" Xiao Yan's heart suddenly trembled when he saw the playful expression on the Young Girl's face.

"No need to be so shocked. You've concealed your identity, but anyone with slightly stronger Soul Power can figure it out." Seeing his tense expression, Liuli chuckled.

Xiao Yan recovered from his shock, a trace of darkness flashing through his eyes as he asked, "How do you know me?"

"Ah, Xiao Yan's name is quite famous at Jia Nan Academy! You requested a year of leave before even enrolling, yet never returned after extending it." Liuli rested her head on one hand, paused, and continued, "Most importantly, you stole the heart of the Outer Court's number one beauty. That student talks about you every single day! Isn't that right, Xiao, Yan, gege~?"

The Young Girl deliberately drew out those final words. Her sweet, lovely voice made Xiao Yan shudder involuntarily. In that instant, an image of Xun Er standing with her hands behind her back and sweetly calling to him surfaced in his mind.

"Anyone who cares to ask around can uncover your identity. Your portrait is still circulating in the academy's Outer Court!" Liuli took out a piece of parchment from her Storage Ring. On it was a portrait of a Black-haired Youth.

"You saw through my identity long ago?" Xiao Yan asked with a frown.

"Of course. Did you think I'd help a stranger for no reason? There aren't many naive sweethearts like that on the Dou Qi Continent, you know!" Liuli said irritably.

Xiao Yan reached out and took the parchment. After studying it carefully for a while, he found that it really did bear some resemblance to him. Shaking his head, he pointed at the portrait and asked, "Who drew this thing in the first place?"

"Uh, I don't know about that. It was already being circulated when I entered the academy." Liuli's expression stiffened, and she hastily made up an excuse to brush it off.

She couldn't exactly say that she had spent the entire night running around Jia Ma Holy City to find an artist to paint it, and that there was only one copy in the entire Dou Qi Continent, could she?

Xiao Yan sighed softly, lightly tapping his fingers on the table as he said, "Although you're a student of Jia Nan Academy, we've never met before. We have no ties to one another. I'm merely a minor Dou Master. Why are you approaching me? What is your purpose?"

"What a blunt question. A pretty girl approaches you, and you're actually this guarded? You're far too unromantic." Liuli muttered, her expression carrying a hint of disappointment.

"Stop right there! I don't believe you've taken a fancy to me." Xiao Yan sternly raised a hand, signaling for her to stop with that act.

Liuli sighed. She was also getting a headache over how to explain herself.

She couldn't possibly say: Oh, Xiao Yan! You're the protagonist of this world, the man destined to become a Dou Di! I'm here to cling to your thigh. I've read the script, and I'm the best venture capitalist!

Though that was precisely her original intention.

"Actually, I want to discuss cooperation with you." Liuli rested her chin on her hand, thought for a moment, then spoke.

"A deal? I'm broke and have nothing to my name. What could you possibly want from me?" Xiao Yan froze, then laughed helplessly.

"Potential," Liuli said calmly.

"What do you mean?" Xiao Yan's smile paused as he asked in confusion.

"In less than three years, you've gone from a waste at Dou Qi Third Stage to a Seven Star Dou Master. With such terrifying speed and talent, there probably aren't many people in the entire Dou Qi Continent who can compare to you, right?" Liuli looked straight at Xiao Yan, then continued, "Besides, you're only a Dou Master, yet you can control two Heavenly Flames at once and condense such a terrifying weapon capable of threatening a Dou Emperor-level strong individual. Doesn't all that count as capital?

Besides, while it's good to be powerful on your own, you're always lacking some foundation. It's better to gather allies and form a faction if you want to gain a foothold in this world."

Xiao Yan lowered his head in silence for a while. Then he looked up at the Young Girl's blue-violet eyes and suddenly said in a leisurely tone, "Even if I possess extraordinary talent and limitless potential, making me worthy of your investment, why should I agree to cooperate with you?"

"Huh?" This time, Liuli was the one stunned. It took her quite a while to recover. She slowly rose to her feet and said indignantly, "This is a very worthwhile deal! The force behind me can help you settle many matters!"

"I know you're already a Dou Ling at such a young age, and your alchemy skill is no worse than mine. To produce such a genius, your background must be extraordinarily deep." Xiao Yan said calmly, "But my strength was earned step by step, carved out through my enemies' blood. It came from my Master's careful protection and guidance.

I won't be bound by any organization or person. Not in the past, not now, and not in the future!"

"But tomorrow..." Liuli grew anxious, but the words caught in her throat and would not come out.

Who had she painstakingly arranged all this for?

"Tomorrow, I will naturally use all my strength. There is no need to trouble Miss Gongsun with concern." Xiao Yan directly cut her off without the slightest politeness.

"Believe it or not, you'll regret this." Liuli looked up and glared at him fiercely, an inexplicable sense of grievance rising in her heart.

"I never do things I regret." Xiao Yan replied firmly. Then he ignored her, turned, and prepared to return to his bed. "If there's nothing else, Miss, you should leave. It's the middle of the night. It's not appropriate for a man and woman to be alone together."

Just then, he felt a small force tugging at his clothes.

Xiao Yan turned around and found the Young Girl looking up at him with a face full of grievance. Her beautiful eyes seemed to shimmer with tears.

"I'm sorry... I was wrong. I shouldn't have discussed this with you in such a condescending manner. Can you let me finish?" Liuli's voice was soft and slightly trembling, making her sound utterly pitiful.

Xiao Yan had always been proud, and what he hated most was being treated with a superior attitude. She had only realized that now.

Xiao Yan stared at her for a long time before finally sighing. "Tell me the terms."

Upon hearing that, the Young Girl seemed like a child receiving a surprise. She nodded excitedly. "O-okay."

She adjusted her breathing. Her voice remained soft as she said, "I will give you a Fifth-grade formula that is easy to refine but highly effective. Familiarize yourself with it first. Before tomorrow's competition, take the pill on the table and get yourself into peak condition. I believe you can succeed with these."

"This pill of yours isn't poisoned, is it?" Xiao Yan suddenly asked.

"How could it be! There are two pills in that bottle. If you don't believe me, I'll eat one for you!" Liuli looked aggrieved again as she said unhappily.

"Cough, cough. Continue." Xiao Yan looked somewhat awkward.

"I'll accompany you to the Three Year Agreement as well. If the Misty Cloud Sect refuses to let you go, I'll have my Aunt step in to protect you." After speaking, Liuli cautiously glanced at Xiao Yan's reaction.

That careful appearance seemed rather comical in Xiao Yan's eyes, yet also somewhat adorable.

"Then what are your conditions?" Xiao Yan asked impassively.

"Give me a promise. If I make a request of you in the future, you must agree to it." Seeing Xiao Yan furrow his brows again, Liuli hurriedly added, "That request will not involve deliberately harming your interests!"

After saying that, Liuli shrank her neck a little and asked timidly, "Is that alright?"

Xiao Yan sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the moonlight as he thought for a long time. Then he stared directly into Liuli's eyes for quite a while. Only after seeing no trace of ulterior intent in them did he slowly nod.

Liuli blinked and asked as if seeking confirmation, "You... agree?"

"Miss Gongsun's terms are so tempting that I can't very well refuse." Xiao Yan smiled.

"Hooray!" Liuli immediately rose to her feet and cheered. Her earlier timid manner vanished completely. The contrast was so great that Xiao Yan was briefly lost in thought.

Could that girl's earlier grievance have all been an act?

"Then do as I say! This is the Crimson Firmament Spirit Pill, a Fifth-grade Pill. It's relatively simple to refine, but its effect is to allow anyone above Five Star Dou Master to advance directly to Da Dou Shi without side effects. However, the success rate is seventy percent. If it fails, your cultivation will regress by two stars." Liuli returned to her usual expression, her smile sweet and charming as she eagerly took a Scroll from her Storage Ring.

"These are the medicinal ingredients. I've prepared four sets in total. If you still can't refine it, then that's entirely your own problem!" With another flash from Liuli's Storage Ring, dozens of jade boxes instantly filled the entire table.

Just then, she suddenly felt a force. The next instant, she found that the Black-haired Youth's face was less than half a foot away from hers.

"Y-you, what are you doing?!" Liuli grew nervous when she realized he had pinned her against the wall!

Damn it! She had been pinned against the wall by someone younger than her! It was her first time.

Of course, the Dou Qi Continent did not have the modern concepts from her previous life, so Xiao Yan had no idea what pinning someone against a wall meant. He merely lowered his head slightly and stared directly into the Young Girl's eyes.

"Though I'm grateful that you're so willing to help me, I still need to warn you. If you dare harbor any malicious intentions—especially if you dare set your sights on someone important to me—I will fight you to the death!" Xiao Yan's voice was not loud, but it was utterly cold. The piercing chill in it made Liuli tremble involuntarily.

"U-understood." Liuli turned her head aside and replied with lingering fear.

Xiao Yan released Liuli and stepped back to the table. The expression on his face returned to normal as he smiled apologetically. "Sorry, Miss Gongsun. I was a little impulsive just now."

Liuli also let out a long breath. The faint blush on her face faded, and she returned to her earlier lively state. She gave a soft laugh, then lightly jumped onto the guest room's windowsill.

Moonlight fell directly upon her pale pink hair, while the gentle breeze made it sway elegantly.

"From now on, we're no longer strangers. You don't need to address me so formally either. Miss Gongsun, Miss Gongsun—it sounds too distant."

Liuli tapped her head with a finger and pretended to ponder. "Hmm, I'm eighteen this year and will be nineteen soon, exactly one year older than you. I'm stronger than you too. By that logic, you should call me Sister!"

"You're not going to make me call you Big Sister, are you?" Xiao Yan complained.

"It wouldn't be impossible..." Liuli nodded her little head, but immediately shook it again and said disdainfully, "Too rustic. It makes me sound like some bandit in the mountains."

"Then call me Sister Liuli!"

"No!" Xiao Yan refused.

"Eh! Why?"

"No reason. You look younger than me."

"You're bullying me because I don't look like an older sister, aren't you! Once I'm taller than you, I'll rub your head bald!"