Xiao Yi Xian's Decision—Resistance!

"It... it's out!" The onlookers outside the gate cried out in alarm as Xiao Lei, carrying a long blade on his shoulder, strolled out of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group compound.

"This Wolf Head Mercenary Group is truly poor!"

Xiao Lei couldn't help but click his tongue. A massive mercenary group, and all he could scrounge up was a little over a hundred thousand gold coins. As for those Yellow-tier Dou Techniques? Don't even mention them! He figured only the few high-level Yellow-tier techniques Mu She used were worth anything.

Mercenaries lived for the moment; after all, they walked with their heads on the chopping block every day, and who knew when they might kick the bucket? Very few mercenaries ever saved money.

Xiao Lei was already at the Dou Grandmaster level now. Use Yellow-tier techniques? That was impossible—it would never happen in this lifetime!

Xiao Lei didn't care about the onlookers and left straight away. He had already picked the Wolf Head Mercenary Group clean; if these people could still find anything left, he would just have to accept it.

Sure enough...

"Damn it, this place was picked so clean! Not a single gold coin left, just a pile of broken houses!"

The mercenaries had truly seen it all. They had to remember that Xiao Lei was an alchemist with powerful soul perception; his search had been absolutely airtight!

Ignoring the people on the roadside eyeing him with various expressions, Xiao Lei headed straight for the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion, where Xiao Yi Xian held her clinic.

Tossing the Poison Vine Snake in his hand to the side, Xiao Lei walked into the medical hall.

"Why is he going back in? My goddess Xiao Yi Xian!"

A mercenary wailed in grief!

"Forget about that for a second, look at the ground. That... that's a Tier 3 Magical Beast—a Poison Vine Snake! That pretty boy carried it here!"

"This... how terrifying!"

"You!"

Xiao Yi Xian noticed him the moment he stepped through the door, and naturally, she noticed the blood on his clothes.

Xiao Yi Xian still remembered how clean and fresh Xiao Lei had looked the first day he appeared before her, a stark contrast to the murderous, blood-stained figure standing before her now.

"The Wolf Head Mercenary Group wanted to make a move on me, so I cleared them out."

Xiao Lei's casual demeanor made it seem as if he had merely killed a chicken—something utterly trivial.

Xiao Lei seemed naturally unafraid of killing. Even though he had slaughtered dozens of people in one go, there wasn't a hint of fear in his heart. Of course, there was no excitement like that of a bloodthirsty maniac either; he remained completely calm.

"It's been so many days. Have you considered it? I have many things I need to attend to. If you still can't make up your mind, I will be leaving!"

Whether it was refining beast fire or continuing to search for suitable targets to copy, Xiao Lei couldn't afford to stay in Green Mountain Town any longer.

Xiao Lei had just carved his way through the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. Although they were small fry, there was no guarantee other troubles wouldn't arise, and Xiao Lei needed a stable environment to refine beast fire.

"Before I answer that, may I ask Young Master Xiao Lei a few questions?"

Xiao Yi Xian stared straight at Xiao Lei. She had always been curious why he knew so much about the Woe Poison Body and why he was trying to guide her into awakening it.

"No problem, feel free to ask."

Xiao Lei didn't think Xiao Yi Xian was a fool who would blindly follow a stranger she had only met for the second time.

However, Xiao Yi Xian's behavior had already clearly told Xiao Lei that she had the intention to awaken the Woe Poison Body; she just lacked the resolve.

"First, why do you know so much about the Woe Poison Body?"

"Because I also possess the Woe Poison Body. However, I am a very special case. My Woe Poison Body is controllable, which makes me unique among all the examples of the Woe Poison Body I have ever known!"

If you don't risk the child, you can't catch the wolf!

Only by revealing his secret could Xiao Lei quickly gain Xiao Yi Xian's trust. Furthermore, there was a natural attraction between those of the same kind; since they both had the Woe Poison Body, they would naturally feel closer.

"You... you also have the Woe Poison Body! How is that possible! How could there be such a coincidence in this world!"

Xiao Yi Xian was indescribably shocked, yet a sense of relief quietly rose in her heart—she wasn't alone.

Xiao Lei knew she wouldn't believe him easily, so he executed a special Dou Technique he had long been familiar with in his mind.

Woe Poison Transformation!

In an instant, all the fire-attribute Dou Qi in his body transformed into poison Dou Qi.

Xiao Lei flicked his finger, and a strand of poison Dou Qi shot out, landing on the floor.

A sizzling sound of corrosion echoed through the room.

"You... this... but aren't you an alchemist? Shouldn't you be fire-attribute?"

"That is where I am special. I can suppress this Woe Poison Body at any time, so the poison gas doesn't affect my daily life, nor does it affect my alchemy."

"Let's stop here with this question. Ask the next one!"

Xiao Yi Xian awakening the Woe Poison Body was a foregone conclusion. Xiao Lei didn't mind her knowing more about him; if she knew but couldn't obtain the solution, she would have to follow him...

"I want to ask if you know of any way to resolve the Woe Poison Body? I've been thinking about something these past few days: why do you want me to awaken it, and why did you promise me a gift if I did? I think you must have taken a fancy to my growth potential. If you don't have a way to resolve the Woe Poison Body, I would just be a ticking time bomb."

Xiao Yi Xian looked confident. These were reasonable deductions, even if she had no evidence whatsoever.

"I do indeed know of a method that can help you control your Woe Poison Body. However, the conditions for this method are harsh. Most importantly, I only know of the method; the specific means are in the hands of others. So, if you decide to awaken the Woe Poison Body, you must strive to improve your strength. Only then can we find a way to meet the conditions and trade for this method."

Xiao Lei certainly didn't tell the whole truth. Even though he had read about Xiao Yi Xian in a book, truthfully, this was only their second meeting; he couldn't possibly be completely transparent.

"Haha, he really does have it. I guessed right."

Xiao Yi Xian felt an extraordinary surge of excitement in her heart; she suddenly felt filled with hope, and the haze that had shrouded her for these past few days dissipated entirely.

"May I ask what is required?"

Xiao Yi Xian's tone was hurried; she was, after all, just a young girl, and she was still impatient.

"Three types of Heavenly Flame, a Tier 7 Heavenly Poison Scorpion Dragon Beast magic core, and the Bodhi Body Transformation Saliva, which is born where the Bodhi Ancient Tree—the legendary opportunity to break through to the Dou Saint realm—appears."

"This... this..."

Xiao Yi Xian was so shocked by Xiao Lei's words that her eyes lost focus. Never mind the Heavenly Flames; the only thing among these she had even the slightest concept of was the Tier 7 Heavenly Poison Scorpion Dragon Beast.

Tier 7! That corresponded to a Dou Ancestor!

She, Xiao Yi Xian, had lived in the Jia Ma Empire for so many years and had never even heard of a Dou Ancestor, yet he wanted her to kill a powerful magical beast comparable to a human Dou Ancestor!

An opportunity to break through to the Dou Saint realm! A Dou Saint!

Xiao Yi Xian had not even heard the name of this realm before; it was too distant. From her current perspective, it was simply too difficult, far too difficult!

Xiao Yi Xian fell silent, the excitement she had felt upon guessing that Xiao Lei possessed a method of control vanishing without a trace.

Just as she was lost in her daze, a pair of large hands rested on her shoulders; Xiao Lei had arrived behind her at some point.

"Human effort can overcome anything. Since I dared to guide you in awakening the Woe Poison Body, I naturally have the confidence to help you obtain these things. Now, everything falls back to you."

"Answer me seriously: what is your decision?"

Xiao Yi Xian took a deep breath, feeling the waves of warmth and sense of security emanating from the palms on her shoulders, and slowly spoke.

"I will actively awaken the Woe Poison Body. I want to fight against my fate--!"