Lv Man

Xiao Jie immediately controlled the Five-Colored Eighth-Grade Pill before him. After storing it in his Storage Ring, he let out a long breath and muttered to himself.

"I never expected a Tier 8 Pill to possess such formidable power. Luckily, its intelligence was weak, and I subdued it the moment it appeared. Otherwise, if it had escaped, things would have been far from pleasant."

After storing the Honor-Advancing Pill in his Storage Ring, Xiao Jie recalled the contents of the Life Simulation from earlier.

I never expected that following the path of gathering Heavenly Flames and devouring fate would allow me to reach the Dou Saint level so smoothly. Although I still died in the end, it proves that this idea is correct. In the future, I must focus on devouring Heavenly Flames. Only by absorbing enough of this world's fate can I avoid being toyed to death by the World Will someday.

And the inheritances of the Heaven-Burning Great Sage and the Red Lotus Medicine Saint actually contain the Golden Emperor Heaven-Burning Flame and the Red Lotus Karma Flame. The Golden Emperor Heaven-Burning Flame is ranked fourth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. Though it lacks the uniqueness of the top three Heavenly Flames, it is still exceedingly rare. Perhaps there are only these two flames in this world. The Red Lotus Karma Flame is also a powerful Heavenly Flame ranked eighth. In the original story, the other Red Lotus Karma Flame belongs to the Flame Clan. The one in the Flame Clan's possession will not be easy to seize, but I must obtain the Red Lotus Medicine Saint's inheritance.

After thinking it over, Xiao Jie shook his head and reined in his thoughts. It was still too early to consider such things. He was only a Four-Star Dou Emperor at present. Knowing the whereabouts of those two Heavenly Flames was enough for now. He could slowly make plans after reaching the Central Plains Continent.

Xiao Yan truly deserved to be the child of fate in this world. Even after Xiao Jie had taken the Green Lotus Core Flame and the Fallen Heart Flame, Xiao Yan had somehow still obtained two Heavenly Flames when they met again. His fate was truly astonishing. Xiao Jie wondered whether Yao Lao had given him the Bone Chilling Flame.

Still, that was fine. If he was no match for Hun Tiandi in the future, Xiao Yan could take his place. As long as Xiao Yan broke through to Dou Di and brought the Source Qi of Dou Di from the higher realm into the Dou Qi Continent, Xiao Jie could break through to Dou Di as well. Then, he could travel to an even higher world and witness the vast, magnificent Great Thousand World!

When Xiao Jie left the room, he saw that the guard outside had been waiting for a long time. The guard spoke at once.

"My lord, the City Lord ordered me to report that two Dou Emperor experts have arrived at the City Lord's Mansion and intend to take Miss Qing Lin away."

"Mm, I understand."

Xiao Jie nodded and headed toward Shi Jian's residence. With a casual toss behind him, he threw the guard a pill bottle containing a Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill, then departed amid the guard's excited and reverent gaze.

Such low-grade pills were as useless to him as chicken ribs now. Although he had given most of them to the Xiao Clan when he left, he still had some in his Storage Ring. They were suitable as rewards for servants. When he returned in the future, he could refine more and leave the rest for the Xiao Clan.

When Xiao Jie arrived at the City Lord's Mansion's discussion hall, he saw Hai Bodong and Shi Jian seated on the left, while a female Dou Emperor from the Heavenly Serpent Mansion sat on the right. A green veil covered her face, and she wore green robes that wrapped around her graceful figure. A maidservant stood beside her, pouring tea and water. The great snake was nowhere to be seen. It was probably still unable to assume human form and had remained outside.

"Brother Xiao, you've finally arrived."

Hai Bodong and Shi Jian rose to their feet and walked over to Xiao Jie.

"Mm. Refining pills consumed too much soul power, so I went back to rest. I only woke up just now."

"Hehe, speaking of that, Brother Xiao, your success rate in refining Sixth-grade pills is truly frightening. I imagine you must have quite a high success rate with seventh-grade pills as well, right? Come to think of it, I still haven't thanked you for refining the Purple Spirit Recovery Pill for me. Without that pill, I could never have recovered to the Five-Star Dou Emperor level so quickly."

Hai Bodong smiled as he spoke to Xiao Jie, deliberately revealing that Xiao Jie was a Sixth-grade Alchemist and perhaps even a Seventh-grade Alchemist. His words were clearly meant for the female Dou Emperor from the Heavenly Serpent Mansion to hear.

"I merely fulfilled a commission. This lady must be the Dou Emperor expert from the Heavenly Serpent Mansion, yes? I have heard of the Heavenly Serpent Mansion's great name."

After speaking with Hai Bodong, Xiao Jie turned to the Dou Emperor from the Heavenly Serpent Mansion.

"Hehe, Master Xiao, there is no need for such courtesy. My name is Lv Man, and I am indeed from the Heavenly Serpent Mansion. Since Master Xiao has arrived, I shall speak plainly. I came here mainly for your maidservant, Qing Lin. If you are willing to hand her over to me, the Heavenly Serpent Mansion can send you any kind of maidservant you desire. What do you think?"

When Lv Man saw Xiao Jie looking at her, she gave a charming laugh, briefly introduced herself and her background, then directly asked Xiao Jie for Qing Lin.

"Oh? Anyone at all? What if I said I wanted you to be my maidservant? Would that be possible too?"

Xiao Jie chuckled as he teased the graceful Lv Man before him.

"If Master Xiao wishes it, it is not impossible. But I would need to seek my Sect Master's approval first. After all, I am a Dou Emperor cultivated by the Heavenly Serpent Mansion and cannot simply leave like that. Our Sect Master would be angry. She is a high-level Dou Zong, after all."

Lv Man did not get angry at Xiao Jie's teasing. Instead, she smiled brightly as she replied.

"Then forget it. Let me be direct as well. I know that Qing Lin possesses the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, and I know how important she is to your Heavenly Serpent Mansion. So there is no need to beat around the bush. Show me enough to move me. If your offer is suitable, I will agree to let Qing Lin go to the Heavenly Serpent Mansion. And do not think you can pressure me with your high-level Dou Zong Sect Master. I am a Seventh-grade Alchemist. If I am willing to pay the price, I can hire several Dou Zongs and more than a dozen Dou Emperors."

When Xiao Jie saw that Lv Man was not angered and even teased him in return, he began seriously negotiating terms with her.

He did not know how to teach Qing Lin himself, and sending her to the Heavenly Serpent Mansion was the best choice. But before that, Xiao Jie needed to settle the terms with these two Dou Emperors from the Heavenly Serpent Mansion.

Xiao Jie was not wrong to say that he was a Seventh-grade Alchemist. Seventh-grade pills posed no barrier to him; he only lacked the materials and time. Using that status to pressure the Heavenly Serpent Mansion would prevent Lv Man from using her Sect Master to pressure him again. A Seventh-grade Alchemist was far rarer than a Dou Zong in the Northwest Continent.

"Hehe, Master Xiao, you jest. Since you know about the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, you must also know that we would never harm Qing Lin. We would teach her properly and provide her with the finest cultivation resources."

Sure enough, after Xiao Jie mentioned the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils and personally admitted that he was a Seventh-grade Alchemist, Lv Man's expression changed. She understood the weight of a Seventh-grade Alchemist's status. If he said he could hire several Dou Zongs, then he could. Moreover, Xiao Jie looked so young that his potential was beyond measure. She could not afford to offend him lightly.

"What you said is true, but it is not enough. Since you have not offered suitable terms, I will name my own. Before long, I will be heading to the Black-Corner Region. It is chaotic and dangerous there, so I need a Dou Zong to protect me for five years and act whenever I require it. As long as your Heavenly Serpent Mansion sends a Dou Zong-level expert, I will hand Qing Lin over to you. Moreover, I will additionally pay your Heavenly Serpent Mansion an Ancestor-Breaking Pill. What do you say?"