In the secluded Little Mountain Valley, peace finally returned once Xiao Fan finished his cultivation.
"Over there, over there! You haven't filled that spot in yet!"
Beside the thatched cottage, Xiao Yi Xian stood with her hands on her hips like a foreman, pointing at a small pit nearby as she directed Xiao Fan.
Over the past month, Xiao Fan's experiments with fused Heavenly Flame had caused so many explosions. Although Xiao Yi Xian had already healed his injuries, this beautiful Little Mountain Valley had long since lost its former peace and tranquility. The deep craters of every size scattered across the ground were all Xiao Fan's handiwork.
Now that Xiao Fan had finished this stage of his cultivation, Xiao Yi Xian naturally had to order him to fill those craters in. It also served as a small punishment.
Looking at Xiao Yi Xian gesturing and issuing orders in the distance, Xiao Fan couldn't help smiling wryly.
"Come on, my lady, haven't I filled in enough? I've practically plowed every inch of this place for you. You've got more than enough room to grow medicinal herbs."
At Xiao Fan's reply, a barely perceptible blush touched Xiao Yi Xian's lovely face before she turned away.
"All right, then. That'll do for now."
She left Xiao Fan standing there, staring blankly at the land he had "filled in."
She called it filling in holes, but really, Xiao Yi Xian wanted to grow medicinal herbs and simply hadn't had enough room in her old herb plot.
Xiao Fan hadn't intended to expose her little scheme, but he had already cleared almost all this land, giving her more than enough to use. It could count as a small repayment to her.
After all, while he had been practicing his Dou Technique, Xiao Yi Xian had cared for him in every possible way.
Without her meticulous care, he wasn't even sure he could have fused the flames so quickly.
Looking up at the mist-shrouded sky, Xiao Fan sighed inwardly. Living in seclusion in this little valley was wonderfully comfortable, but unfortunately, he had reasons that left him no choice but to leave.
Otherwise, living here in seclusion with a beauty like Xiao Yi Xian for company would certainly have been a pleasant life.
Remaining where he stood, Xiao Fan circulated his Dou Qi to get a feel for his current strength. After all, the constant depletion and replenishment of his Dou Qi while fusing Heavenly Flames had thoroughly stabilized his strength as a four-star Dou Shi. His level progress had now reached 4201000. Perhaps because they had spent their days together, Xiao Yi Xian's affection had also risen to 79, the highest level of trust that friendship could reach.
An affection score above eighty meant she was willing to stand with him against any outside force. Above ninety meant she would willingly give her life for him.
Over the past month, Xiao Fan had contacted the system several times and felt that it had returned to normal. Yet he had never forgotten its strange behavior that day. He had asked the system about it, but it had never responded to that question.
This also sparked Xiao Fan's interest in the system's origins.
Seeing that it was getting late, Xiao Fan withdrew his Dou Qi, briefly regulated his breathing, and headed back.
Outside the thatched cottage, Xiao Fan noticed that, according to her usual routine, Xiao Yi Xian should have finished cooking and been waiting for him by now. Today, however, there wasn't the slightest sound.
Suddenly thinking of something, Xiao Fan headed toward the cottage. He sensed something wrong before he even reached it. A faint, fresh fragrance lingered in the air. Pleasant though it smelled, Xiao Fan immediately recognized it as an exceptionally potent poison, strong enough to pose a fatal threat to a Dou Shi.
The Heavenly Flames inside him surged, neutralizing the poison, and Xiao Fan kicked open the cottage door.
Xiao Yi Xian lay on the bed like a sleeping beauty, her eyes tightly closed. A trace of poison still clung to the corner of her mouth-the very source of the scent in the air.
Although Xiao Fan had already prepared himself, the sight of Xiao Yi Xian still filled him with worry.
She still chose this path!
In the original story, Xiao Yi Xian had learned about the woeful poison body through the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture, awakened her constitution, and embarked on the path of the Poison Immortal.
Seeing the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture lying on the table, Xiao Fan picked it up and looked through it.
Sure enough, the Poison Scripture contained an explanation of the woeful poison body and how to identify it.
The woeful poison body was a strange constitution that allowed its bearer to grow stronger simply by consuming poison. It could be identified by a fine seven-colored hidden line on the lower abdomen. The seven-colored line would lengthen as toxins accumulated within the body. When it finally reached the heart, the woeful poison body would attain its peak, but its bearer would also suffer the agony of myriad poisons devouring their body.
Below that was a detailed account of the destruction a woeful poison body could cause. It included the story of a past bearer who had gone mad from the poison and slaughtered hundreds of thousands of people, and who had been able to fight a Dou Zong despite only possessing the strength of a Dou Emperor.
Growing stronger just by consuming poison... I have to admit, that really is tempting!
But the thought of the suffering Xiao Yi Xian would have to endure made Xiao Fan's heart ache.
"System, is there any way to resolve the woeful poison body?"
Ding! Yes. You can purchase the method for awakening the heavenly spirit poison body. Once awakened, the woeful poison body will evolve into a heavenly spirit poison body, and the toxins within will be neutralized.
Xiao Fan had only asked on the off chance it might work. Hearing the system's answer, he eagerly pressed it for more.
"Heavenly spirit poison body? What's a heavenly spirit poison body?"
The heavenly spirit poison body is one of the highest-ranked innate poison constitutions in the Great Thousand World. Its difficult awakening conditions make it exceedingly rare. Once awakened, its bearer can reach an extremely high realm simply by consuming poison, without being restricted by bottlenecks. It is immensely powerful.
"Then how can it be awakened?" Xiao Fan asked excitedly.
Ding! Awakening the heavenly spirit poison body requires spending 100,000 Source Coins for a chance to obtain the method through a draw in the Summoning System, or purchasing it directly from the Shop for 200,000 Source Coins.
At the system's answer, Xiao Fan's excitement gradually cooled.
One hundred thousand Source Coins was equivalent to one hundred million gold coins on the Douluo Continent, and that only bought a chance of obtaining it through the Summoning System. The other option was a direct purchase, but the price doubled.
He shook his head with a bitter smile. Never mind that he lacked such resources-by the time he had that much, he should already be able to help her refine her toxins into a Poison Pill, which would resolve the woeful poison body just as well.
Sitting down gently beside Xiao Yi Xian, Xiao Fan shook his head and quietly waited for her to wake.
Before long, the sleeping Xiao Yi Xian's eyelids stirred. Seeing Xiao Fan sitting beside her bed, she glanced around in panic.
Watching her reaction, Xiao Fan feigned ignorance and asked,
"What's wrong?"
Xiao Yi Xian shook her head, then suddenly remembered something and spoke.
"You didn't touch me, did you?"
Xiao Fan kept up the act. "What, do I look like someone who would take advantage of you while you're helpless?"
Xiao Yi Xian hastily shook her head and explained.
"That's not what I meant. I mean, you didn't touch my body, did you?"
When Xiao Fan denied it, Xiao Yi Xian let out a breath of relief.
Watching her expression, Xiao Fan smiled with forced ease.
"It's all right."
"Hm?"
"I mean, don't put too much pressure on yourself." Xiao Fan hesitated before finally saying it.
"What... are you talking about?" Xiao Yi Xian deliberately pretended not to understand.
Xiao Fan raised the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture in his hand and said,
"I know everything."
Seeing the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture in his hand, Xiao Yi Xian bit her vivid red lip and said dejectedly,
"You... know. Then you'll be afraid of me from now on too, won't you? After all, I won't be the Little Fairy Doctor who saves people anymore. Poison Doctor would be a more fitting name, wouldn't it?"
Seeing her so dispirited, Xiao Fan reached out and cupped her face, turning it toward him. Looking into her lively eyes, he spoke softly.
"No matter what you become, you'll always be my friend. Always."
With Xiao Fan cupping her face, Xiao Yi Xian flushed visibly. Even her earlobes turned an enticing crimson as she stammered,
"Th-then... will you still dare to eat my cooking?"
Xiao Fan smiled faintly. "Of course. Your cooking is so delicious, and other people don't even get the chance to taste it!"
Looking at Xiao Fan's kind face, Xiao Yi Xian gradually felt her uneasy heart settle. She silently swore to herself.
Xiao Fan, no matter what I become, I'll still be the Little Fairy Doctor in your heart. You'll always be my friend.
At that moment, Xiao Fan also noticed that Xiao Yi Xian's affection in his system had broken past 79 and reached 80.
That meant Xiao Yi Xian no longer regarded him as an ordinary friend, but as family.
Xiao Fan, who had few ties in this other world to begin with, felt warmth stir in his heart. He also thought to himself, The woeful poison body may grow quickly, but it certainly can't outpace me with my system. One day, I'll definitely resolve its problems.
Even without relying on the system, he still had Yao Lao's experience. That alone could provide a solution to Xiao Yi Xian's woeful poison body.
Not to mention that the system had already clearly provided a way to resolve the woeful poison body, and even evolve it into the more formidable heavenly spirit poison body.
Although he had never heard of the heavenly spirit poison body, anything ranked so highly even in the Great Thousand World had to be exceptionally fearsome. With those two methods available, helping Xiao Yi Xian resolve her woeful poison body wouldn't be too much trouble.
Looking at Xiao Yi Xian's flushed cheeks, Xiao Fan brushed a finger over the tip of her nose and smiled.
"All right. Stop letting your thoughts run wild. The woeful poison body may be frightening, but don't forget that I became a Third-Grade Alchemist at such a young age. I know how to resolve it."
"Really?"
"Of course. I'm not lying to you. You don't need to worry about anything right now. I'll definitely help you escape the effects of the woeful poison body someday."
"All right. I believe you."
Watching Xiao Yi Xian smile sweetly, Xiao Fan told himself,
I'll definitely resolve it!
Before you continue