Fire Cloud Evil Dragon's Monster Core

Sensing that Lan Suyin's remnant soul had fallen asleep, Xiao Ni calmed his complicated emotions before slowly opening his eyes.

"How was it? Did you find anything out?" Seeing Xiao Ni finish communicating so quickly, Chekenao immediately asked impatiently.

Xiao Ni had already met the first two conditions. All that remained was a Heavenly Soul-Recovery Pill. Even if all three conditions were fulfilled, Miss Lan's chance of revival would still be less than fifty percent, but that was better than having no hope at all.

"No. Aunt Lan fell asleep too quickly." Xiao Ni shook his head helplessly. It seemed he would have to find another way to obtain the pill.

Lan Suyin's remnant soul was extremely weak, and no one knew how long she would remain asleep. Perhaps days, perhaps months. He did not dare gamble with Lan Suyin's hope of survival. After all, Aunt Lan could hold on for no more than half a year.

"How about—I swallow my pride and beg Gu He once more!" Chekenao gritted his teeth. Although the Chek Lineage and Gu He shared a blood feud, he would not hesitate to risk his life to find Gu He if it meant reviving Miss Lan.

"Is there anything that can replace the Heavenly Soul-Recovery Pill?" Xiao Ni asked in a low voice.

As a Seventh-Grade Alchemist, he could certainly refine a Heavenly Soul-Recovery Pill himself. However, he did not even know the prescription now, so he could only seek another path.

"If we can gather enough wood-element Monster Cores and fire-element Monster Cores, then use Heavenly Flames to channel the energy from both types of cores into Miss Lan's soul, she can also be revived. The success rate of this method is even higher. However, both types of Monster Cores must be Second-Order or above, and Heavenly Flames are exceedingly difficult to find..."

"Whew~"

Before Chekenao could finish, Xiao Ni released a trace of Bone Chilling Flame.

"Hiss!"

The moment the Bone Chilling Flame appeared, the surrounding temperature plummeted. Qingtian and Chekenao both felt an icy chill in their throats and could not help shuddering.

Xiao Xun'er's delicate brows furrowed slightly, and unconcealable shock appeared on her lovely face.

Not only had Brother Xiao Ni's soul strength reached the Spirit Realm, but he also possessed Heavenly Flames. It seemed his teacher was far more powerful than she had imagined. Was that senior really only a Fourth-Rank Alchemist?

"Y-you... Is that Heavenly Flames?!" Chekenao swallowed and asked tentatively.

"That's right." Xiao Ni nodded with a smile, then asked, "Senior Nao, if they are Second-Order Monster Cores, about how many would we need?"

With his current strength as a Four-Star Dou Master, killing Second-Rank Magical Beasts was not much of a problem. If he encountered a Third-Rank Magical Beast, however, he would practically have no choice but to flee.

"If they are Second-Order, we would need at least ten fire-element Monster Cores and five wood-element Monster Cores." After answering somewhat conservatively, Chekenao added sincerely, "But don't worry. Qingtian and I will accompany you to the Magic Beast Mountain Range. We will try to find some high-grade Monster Cores, which should lessen your burden."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Senior." Xiao Ni bowed slightly, then flipped his palm. A fiery-red Monster Core appeared in his hand. "I nearly forgot I have a Third-Rank fire-element Monster Core here. Senior, take a look. How many Second-Order Monster Cores can it replace?"

This Third-Rank Monster Core had been awarded to Xiao Ni by the system. He did not know what Magical Beast it came from, but he could sense that the energy within was far greater than that of an ordinary Third-Rank Monster Core. It should prove highly useful.

"The energy within this Monster Core is exceptionally rich. It can likely replace more than ten Second-Order fire-element Monster Cores. Now, we only need to search for wood-element Monster Cores." Chekenao excitedly put away the Monster Core, his gaze growing much hotter.

Xiao Ni had brought him too many surprises. He felt that Miss Lan's chances of revival had risen by another ten percent.

"Since that is the case, Xun'er and I will head to the Magic Beast Mountain Range to look for Monster Cores. Qingtian, you can stay behind and guard the Xiao Household." Xiao Ni spoke casually.

He had originally wanted to take Xun'er to explore the Magic Beast Mountain Range, and she had made the same request before. Naturally, he wanted to share an adventure with her alone. However, their main purpose this time was to find Monster Cores to revive Aunt Lan, so they had to return within two months.

"Whatever Big Brother tells me to do, I'll do." Qingtian patted his chest and answered heartily.

Although he was somewhat worried about Xiao Ni, he trusted Xiao Ni's strength. Even if Xiao Ni could not win, he would certainly be able to reveal some astonishing means of self-preservation.

Moreover, he had recognized that Third-Rank fire-element Monster Core. It was no ordinary Third-Rank Monster Core—it was the Monster Core of a Fire Cloud Evil Dragon. Even some Fourth-Rank Monster Cores were worth far less than it.

Judging from Xiao Ni's expression, he seemed unaware of the Monster Core's origins. It had probably been some unidentified core Xiao Ni bought from the black market or somewhere similar.

That was for the best. It was better for Xiao Ni to be cheated out of some money than to kill a Fire Cloud Evil Dragon. After all, the Evil Dragon Clan was notoriously vengeful. Even among Dou Wang experts, few dared provoke them.

"Since you've said so, then I'll wait here for your good news." Chekenao said awkwardly.

He had originally wanted to press the matter, but even Qingtian, a Four-Star Dou King, had withdrawn. He could hardly bring it up again.

"We need three days to prepare, then we'll try to bring back enough Monster Cores within two months. Aunt Lan's remnant soul should not have any problems during those two months, right?" After laying out his plan, Xiao Ni still could not quite set his mind at ease.

He needed to refine some pills, and three days was already the soonest they could depart.

"Don't worry. I cannot say for too long, but I guarantee that Miss Lan's remnant soul will not continue weakening for three months." Chekenao said with complete confidence.

"That's good. By the way, Senior Nao, I have a few questions for you." Xiao Ni nodded in relief as he handed over the black-gold card in his hand.

"You and I are destined to meet, and our goals are the same. There is no need to pay me. Ask whatever you wish." Chekenao laughed awkwardly and pushed away Xiao Ni's offer.

"All right." Xiao Ni put away the black-gold card, then asked with an extremely solemn expression, "Senior, you said Gu He refused to help refine the Heavenly Soul-Recovery Pill back then. Did he personally tell you that?"

"Back then, Gu He's teacher, Shen Mi, personally came forward to refuse us. He said our status was too lowly and we were not worth saving. That Shen Mi even beat me badly at the time." Chekenao gritted his teeth. Whenever he mentioned the matter, the anger in his heart rose uncontrollably.

"Shen Mi?" Xiao Ni narrowed his eyes slightly. He felt that things truly were not as simple as they appeared.

After pondering for a moment, Xiao Ni continued, "Then are you certain Gu He was the one who sent people to destroy the Chek Lineage and drove Aunt Lan to her death?"

"Why would you ask that?" Chekenao frowned, and his tone became visibly less friendly.

What did Xiao Ni mean by that? If Gu He had not caused Miss Lan's death, could it have been him instead?

"I just communicated with Aunt Lan's remnant soul. She only said four words: It wasn't Gu He." Xiao Ni said solemnly.

"It wasn't Gu He? Could Aunt Lan have been trying to tell us that Gu He was not the true culprit?" Xiao Xun'er asked in astonishment.

"I'm not sure either. That is why I wanted to confirm it with Senior Nao." Xiao Ni said.

"Now that you mention it, what happened back then does seem rather strange." Chekenao frowned and pondered for a moment. The instant he spoke, Xiao Ni, Xiao Xun'er, and Qingtian all pricked up their ears.

The truth seemed to have drawn another step closer.