Yao Lao's voice echoed lazily in his mind. "Pick up the pace. Reach the destination before nightfall."
"Yes... Teacher." Xiao Yan replied weakly, gritted his teeth, dragged his heavy body onward, and continued toward Green Mountain Town.
One month later, in a small valley brimming with the energy of heaven and earth.
"The Woeful Poison Body has awakened?" Hearing footsteps behind him, Qin Chen, who was refining medicine, asked without turning around.
"Mm."
"How do you feel now?"
"It's complicated. I can't really describe what it feels like."
"Then don't. You're in charge of cooking today, so hurry up. Don't think awakening the Woeful Poison Body means you can shirk this responsibility." Qin Chen abruptly changed the subject and gave the order as if it were only natural, as though Xiao Yi Xian were his maid.
"You really don't know how to treat a woman gently."
Xiao Yi Xian shot Qin Chen a fierce glare and huffed coquettishly, but then she resigned herself to it, rolled up her sleeves, and walked toward the ingredients nearby.
That one sentence from Qin Chen was worth more than any sweet talk.
After that treasure hunt ended, Qin Chen sent Xiao Yi Xian back to Green Mountain Town, while he continued cultivating in the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
Over the past month, many things had happened. First, the Wolf Head Mercenary Group spread rumors and constantly caused trouble for Xiao Yi Xian. Then there was Mr. Yao's scrutiny. Even many mercenaries whom Xiao Yi Xian had saved in the past began coveting the treasures she had obtained in that cave...
One incident after another left Xiao Yi Xian exhausted from dealing with them.
Thus, when she saw that familiar figure again, she finally resolved to awaken the Woeful Poison Body.
After the two settled everything in Green Mountain Town, Xiao Yi Xian brought Qin Chen to this small valley.
Thinking back on everything that had happened recently, Xiao Yi Xian gradually came back to herself. She glanced helplessly at the medicinal cauldron before her and could not help complaining, "Are all alchemists like you? I thought you people were supposed to be elegant!"
A few days ago, while she was stewing meat, Qin Chen said the pot she used was too small.
When she asked him what to do, she never expected him to pull out a large medicinal cauldron directly from his Storage Ring.
"What do you know? A medicinal cauldron is far more convenient than that iron pot of yours."
Qin Chen smiled and continued, "I have a friend who really likes stewing meat in a medicinal cauldron. Every time, she says I make too little. If there's a chance in the future, I'll introduce you to her. My friend is very cute."
Qin Chen had not originally been in the habit of cooking meat in a medicinal cauldron, but Zi Yan liked it.
Back in the deep mountains of Jia Nan Academy, he often used a medicinal cauldron to cook for Zi Yan. By now, he had gotten used to it.
"The food's ready. Come over."
"Okay."
And so, another two months passed.
During that time, Xiao Yi Xian had already broken through to the Dou Shi realm.
Qin Chen could only say that the Woeful Poison Body truly lived up to its reputation. It was terrifying indeed!
"Are you leaving?" Qin Chen asked in a low voice as he looked at the lovely young woman standing before him.
"Mm." Xiao Yi Xian nodded gently.
After much deliberation, Xiao Yi Xian ultimately decided to travel through the Chu Yun Empire.
"All right."
Qin Chen did not try to keep her. Instead, he took a Storage Ring from his robe and handed it to Xiao Yi Xian. "These are pills I refined. As for their effects, I've written them on that black scroll."
"As for the red scroll, it contains the alchemy techniques I researched during this time. Once you reach the Dou Wang realm in the future, you should be able to use what's written there to refine your first pill."
Qin Chen rubbed his nose and smiled gently. "The pill you refine probably won't be of a very high grade, but it's better than nothing. It's quite good for cultivating your body and temperament."
"Alchemy? Does that mean I can become an alchemist too?" Xiao Yi Xian accepted the Storage Ring, uncertainty and anticipation flickering in her clear eyes.
"Of course."
Qin Chen nodded firmly and explained, "Alchemy doesn't necessarily require a fire attribute with wood within it. As long as you're strong enough, you can still refine some low-grade pills."
"Thank you."
After putting away the Storage Ring, Xiao Yi Xian raised her head after a long while. Tears shimmered in her eyes as she looked at Qin Chen, her vision already somewhat blurred.
Becoming an alchemist had always been Xiao Yi Xian's dream. Even if she could only refine some low-grade pills now, it was enough to leave her completely satisfied.
"Why thank me? Between you and me, there's no need for thanks."
A few days earlier, Qin Chen and Xiao Yi Xian had already confirmed their relationship.
Qin Chen smiled and waved his hand, but his tone became more serious. "Remember, never seek death. I'll help you find a way to solve the problem of the Woeful Poison Body."
Xiao Yi Xian nodded heavily, her voice thick with tears. "I understand..."
"That's more like it. Come on, give me a big hug before we part."
Qin Chen opened his arms, a gentle smile on his face.
Xiao Yi Xian hesitated for a moment, but still leaned into him softly and buried her head against his shoulder.
"Can you promise me something?" Qin Chen asked softly after a moment of silence.
"What is it?" Xiao Yi Xian lifted her head, a trace of confusion flashing through her eyes.
"Your strength will surely grow rapidly during this trip to the Chu Yun Empire. I hope you won't start any meaningless wars. Also, I want you to protect the Snake-People Tribe when it matters."
"Okay, I promise you."
"Also, there is an evil force called the Soul Hall on the Battle Qi Continent. Those people will stop at nothing to collect souls. If they ever come to you and claim they can cure your Woeful Poison Body, you must not believe them."
"Mm, I'll remember. I'll definitely be careful."
"Oh, and there's one last thing."
Perhaps because the atmosphere had become too heavy, Qin Chen's eyes shifted as he leaned close to Xiao Yi Xian's ear. "Don't casually mess with your body for certain reasons. I still prefer the natural kind."
"What?"
Xiao Yi Xian froze at first. Then she noticed Qin Chen looking at her with a wicked grin.
Following the young man's gaze, Xiao Yi Xian realized that their bodies were pressed tightly together without even the slightest gap between them.
"You lecher!"
Xiao Yi Xian's cheeks instantly flushed red. She shoved away the man holding her, then, still not satisfied after scolding him, swung her delicate fist at Qin Chen.
In the Magical Beast Mountain Range, atop a cliff.
"I hope everything goes smoothly for you."
Playing with a strand of silky hair in his hand and feeling the lingering warmth on his lips, Qin Chen murmured to himself.
The Storage Ring he gave Xiao Yi Xian contained pills from the first to sixth tier, including the Dou Spirit Pill and the Emperor's Extreme Pill.
He had only succeeded in refining that Emperor's Extreme Pill after failing twice.
Even her flying magical beast, Little Lan, had been raised to the second tier by Qin Chen using fifth-tier magical beast essence blood and supplementary ingredients.
And that was not all. There were several Earth Core Thunder Pearls, along with precautions for refining Heavenly Flames. In any case, there was a whole pile of things.
It could be said that Xiao Yi Xian's trip to the Chu Yun Empire would absolutely not be dangerous.
Even if Xie Bi Yan stepped in ahead of time, Xiao Yi Xian could blow him away!
Buzz!
At that moment, the space around Qin Chen rippled. Then, a voluptuous and enchanting figure appeared beside him.
"Your methods are quite impressive. You won a young girl's heart so quickly." Looking at the strand of silky hair Qin Chen had yet to put away, Medusa's narrow phoenix eyes were filled with disdain.
She still remembered how, when Qin Chen invited her to leave the Snake-People Tribe with him, he had confidently claimed he would broaden her horizons. Yet over the past three months, that damned fellow had spent all his time accompanying the woman called Xiao Yi Xian.
"Ahem!"
Qin Chen did not feel embarrassed at all. Instead, he smiled and said, "It seems Her Majesty the Queen cares a great deal about my relationship with other women?"
"Cares? You think you deserve that?"
Medusa snorted coldly, turning her voluptuous body slightly to the side. "I merely wish to remind you not to forget proper business."
"How could I?"
Qin Chen put away the strand of hair in his Storage Ring, then lightly brushed over it. A strange fruit appeared in midair. "This is the Eight-Ridge Demon-Needle Fruit I found in the valley, one of the main ingredients for the Spirit Fusion Pill."
"At least you have some conscience." Medusa's almond-shaped eyes immediately lit up at his words, and the expression on her face softened considerably.
Though this fellow was usually carefree and unreliable, at least he had not deceived her in their transaction.
No, that wasn't right!
Medusa suddenly froze at the thought. Why was she thinking like that?
Wasn't the reason this fellow had gone to that little valley because of that woman, Xiao Yi Xian?
As for the Eight-Ridge Demon-Needle Fruit, he had only found it by coincidence. It had never been his original intention.
That damned Seven-Colored Heaven-Devouring Python, it was all its fault!
A trace of anger flashed through Medusa's eyes. She gritted her silver teeth and forcibly suppressed that inexplicable emotion in her heart, the icy expression returning to her pretty face.
Qin Chen was utterly puzzled as he watched Medusa change her expression faster than turning the pages of a book.
A woman's thoughts really were impossible to fathom...
Shaking his head helplessly, he stopped dwelling on it and said softly, "Since matters here are settled, it's time to meet that Dou Zun expert. But before that..."
Qin Chen turned toward Medusa. "Your Majesty, I'd like to ask you to do something for me."
Medusa raised her eyes and glanced at him. "What is it?"
Qin Chen let out a light breath, his gaze turning serious. "I want you to command some low-tier magical beasts in the mountains to search for a young man carrying a massive ruler."
"Also, you absolutely cannot go in person. You may only use small magical beasts from the Magical Beast Mountain Range to watch him. Moreover, those magical beasts cannot remain near that young man for too long, lest he notice them."
Medusa's slender brows furrowed slightly. Clearly, she did not understand this strange request.
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