Hidden Agendas

With Yao Lao's assurance, Xiao Yan cultivated for a while longer before leisurely returning to the clan. From far away, he spotted Xiao Ni's familiar face.

"Brother Ni." Seeing that his future master was standing outside his room, Xiao Yan immediately hurried over.

To him, Xiao Ni was now his ultimate cheat. He might neglect his father, but he absolutely could not neglect Xiao Ni.

"You brat, you finally came back. I've been waiting for nearly an hour." Xiao Ni wore a kind smile on the surface, but inwardly he thought, You little punk, making me wait this long? I'm definitely going to squeeze something good out of you!

"I thought Brother Ni was going to tell me what a coincidence it was again," Xiao Yan said awkwardly.

"Don't worry. You'll never hear those three words again." Xiao Ni smiled and patted Xiao Yan's shoulder, then said mysteriously, "I need to speak with Yao Lao about something. Let's talk in your room."

"Alright." Xiao Yan nodded solemnly and quickly led Xiao Ni into the room, tightly locking the doors and windows behind them.

Xiao Ni had waited so long just to see Yao Lao. There had to be something important, and being cautious to prevent anyone from eavesdropping could never be wrong.

"What is it, little fellow? Have you finally made up your mind to take me as your master and learn alchemy from me?" Upon learning that Xiao Ni wanted to see him, Yao Lao immediately floated out impatiently.

Whether it was Xiao Ni or Xiao Yan, both were highly suited to become his disciples. Now that Xiao Ni had come to him of his own accord, Yao Lao naturally had to seize the opportunity.

"Oh, this afternoon, I found an iron plate at the market that contained a Low Xuan Tier Dou Technique called Siphon Palm. I practiced it for half an hour and only barely managed to grasp it. I came tonight to ask Yao Lao for some guidance." Xiao Ni explained his purpose respectfully. Before Yao Lao could speak, he reached out and grabbed at the empty air.

He had spent a long time wandering around the market with Xiao Xun'er today because he wanted to see whether he would be lucky enough to come across Siphon Palm. Now that he had gotten his wish and made some progress in practicing it, he naturally had to coax Fire-Blowing Palm out of Yao Lao.

At the time, he had bought only that single iron plate, so the stall owner had charged him merely fifteen Gold Coins. He had truly made a killing.

Whoosh!

Dense battle qi gathered in Xiao Ni's palm, quickly forming a powerful suction force. Wind howled through the room as a vase was pulled over in the blink of an eye. Xiao Ni caught it and effortlessly crushed it to pieces.

"Brother Ni, that Siphon Palm is so powerful! It would be great if I could learn it too. Brother Ni, are you sure you only barely grasped Siphon Palm?" Xiao Yan could not help swallowing, his heart surging with excitement.

Although Siphon Palm was far inferior to Eight Extremes Collapse and the Flame-Splitting Wave-Shattering Ruler, those two Dou Techniques consumed too much energy. He ought to cultivate a couple of Mysterious Tier Dou Techniques with lower consumption.

"Though Siphon Palm is only a Low Xuan Tier Dou Technique, this boy managed to effortlessly pull over a vase from two meters away after practicing for only half an hour. His talent is clearly extraordinary." Yao Lao was somewhat surprised and pleased, though he remained calm on the surface.

"Yao Lao, what do you think I should pay attention to when using Siphon Palm?" Xiao Ni bowed slightly, looking every bit like a humble student seeking instruction.

"You should be careful not to casually crush other people's vases," Yao Lao replied teasingly.

Hmph, this boy was just as sly as Xiao Yan. He did not believe Xiao Ni had come merely to ask for guidance.

"It's fine. I have plenty of vases here. Brother Ni, you can crush as many as you want." Xiao Yan waved his hand generously. Hearing this, Yao Lao's mouth twitched as he desperately wanted to curse.

"I don't have that kind of hobby." Xiao Ni shook his head with a laugh, then said quite sincerely, "Yao Lao, while I am very satisfied with Siphon Palm, I feel that its moves are too limited. It would be best if I could pair it with a Dou Technique that complements it."

"I knew you brat was up to no good. Let me think." Yao Lao shot Xiao Ni a sidelong glance and pondered for a full twenty breaths before suddenly saying, "Right, I happen to have a Low Xuan Tier Dou Technique called Fire-Blowing Palm. It was inexplicably created by a blacksmith. Since its rank was too low, it had been left aside for so long that I could not recall it at first. If you want it, I can give it to you."

"Thank you, Yao Lao!" Xiao Ni said excitedly, not expecting Yao Lao to produce Fire-Blowing Palm so easily.

"Don't thank me just yet. There is a condition for me giving you this Fire-Blowing Palm."

"Please speak, Yao Lao," Xiao Ni said respectfully.

In truth, he could completely guess Yao Lao's intentions. Yao Lao wanted nothing more than to take him as a disciple, or have him refine a body for him someday. After all, Yao Lao did not wish to remain in soul form on Battle Qi Continent forever.

No matter what Yao Lao's condition was, and no matter whether he raised any further conditions, Xiao Ni would promise to help Yao Lao refine a body. In that case, let alone an insignificant Fire-Blowing Palm, even asking Yao Lao for one or two high-grade pill formulas would not be excessive.

"I want you to use the power of Heavenly Flames to help me refine a perfect body within three years. Are you willing to agree?" Yao Lao asked calmly, clasping his hands behind his back.

He knew that three years was too demanding. If Xiao Ni wanted to bargain, he could yield somewhat, but in order to display his authority, he absolutely could not directly offer Xiao Ni ten years.

As for taking Xiao Ni as his disciple, that could not be rushed. He had to proceed step by step.

"This junior will certainly do everything in his power to refine a body for Yao Lao." Xiao Ni agreed without hesitation. Though he was currently only a Six-Star Dou Practitioner, he possessed twenty-three enhanced Heavenly Flames. Helping Yao Lao refine a body would not be difficult.

Besides, Yao Lao had given him three years. If he could refine a body for Yao Lao before Xiao Yan went to fulfill the Three-Year Pact, then not even a hundred Yun Shans would be enough for Yao Lao to beat up.

"Decisive enough. Take it." Yao Lao casually tossed the scroll to Xiao Ni. Half a breath later, seeing that Xiao Ni still had not left, he asked again, "Is there anything else?"

Honestly, he had not expected Xiao Ni to agree so readily. Thus, when he saw Xiao Ni's somewhat troubled expression, his first thought was that Xiao Ni wanted to extend the deadline for refining the body.

"Oh, what comes next has nothing to do with Yao Lao." Xiao Ni smiled faintly, turned toward Xiao Yan, and took out the portrait of Lan Suyin. "Xiao Yan, I also found this painting at the market. The woman in it is Aunt Lan."

"My mother?" Xiao Yan quickly took the painting. After just one glance, his eyes unconsciously reddened.

In both his lives, he had never experienced a mother's love. He did not even know what his mother looked like. Now that Xiao Ni had brought back a portrait of her, the missing piece of motherly love in his heart was automatically filled in by a great deal.

"Thank you, Brother Ni. I'll preserve this painting carefully." With a stinging nose, Xiao Yan thanked him, then hung the portrait in a highly visible place.

"Brother Ni, is there anything else?" Xiao Yan turned around and saw Xiao Ni looking as though he wanted to speak but hesitated, so he asked in surprise.

"Oh, I have a bottle of Foundation Elixir here. Pour it into water and soak in it for two hours every day. It can increase cultivation speed for anyone up to an Eight-Star Dou Practitioner." Xiao Ni looked at Yao Lao with deep sympathy. After hesitating for a moment, he finally took out a bottle of Foundation Elixir.

If Xun'er had not asked, he would not have been willing to give Foundation Elixir to Xiao Yan. Sigh, now he could only auction off a bottle of Foundation Elixir at the Mittel Auction House.

"Foundation Elixir?!" Yao Lao snatched the jade bottle before anyone else could. The instant he opened the cap, his face turned livid.