Bargaining for Benefits!

Yao Lao had just breathed a sigh of relief when Xiao Yan abruptly changed tack again!

"Senior, although you've passed the first test of trust, you surely didn't become a remnant soul and hide in this ring for no reason, nor did you absorb my Dou Qi for no reason!

Please explain all of this clearly, Senior. Otherwise, I'll still find it difficult to trust you!"

Faced with Xiao Yan's blunt question, Yao Lao froze.

He was, after all, an honest man. Facing a clearly mature, levelheaded Xiao Yan who would not be easily fooled, he stroked his beard, heaved a long sigh, and decided to be frank.

"Young friend, do you know who I was in life?"

Xiao Yan watched him silently, offering no reply.

Yao Lao did not mind and continued on his own:

"My real name is Yao Chen. The world honored me with the title 'Venerable Yao.'

I was once one of the foremost alchemists on the Dou Qi Continent."

An alchemist!

Xiao Yan's heart gave a violent thump!

He had been on the Dou Qi Continent for twelve years now, and he knew just how exalted an alchemist's standing was in this world!

Wealth, status, powerful followers-they had it all!

And this old man before him, who called himself "Venerable Yao," had actually stood at the very pinnacle of their ranks?

Under Xiao Yan's awed gaze, however, Yao Lao's expression dimmed, and a trace of bone-deep hatred entered his voice.

"Sadly, I placed my trust in a villain. My most trusted disciple betrayed me and joined forces with my enemies to surround and attack me. In the end, my physical body was destroyed, leaving only this wisp of a remnant soul, which escaped into this ring by a stroke of luck.

I spent all these years asleep and only awakened recently.

My soul power was depleted and urgently needed replenishing. As it happened, your Dou Qi was particularly compatible with mine and could nourish my remnant soul. That was why I... ahem, had no choice but to resort to this."

So that was it. Now everything made sense.

He had become a remnant soul because his enemies had hunted him down, and he had absorbed Dou Qi to stay alive.

But Xiao Yan did not lower his guard.

This senior had only told half the story!

What happened after he secured his survival?

Would he keep living as a remnant soul?

Impossible!

Even if he wouldn't possess someone's body, surely he wanted to come back to life?

He was being so pleasant because he must want something else!

Xiao Yan said nothing and simply continued watching Yao Lao.

Yao Lao felt somewhat awkward.

He had thought his identity and experiences would move the boy, yet the brat remained utterly calm, not swayed in the slightest.

With a cough, Yao Lao continued his account, his gaze growing fervent.

"Although I've now stabilized my remnant soul, that is still far from enough!

I would like to ask a favor of you, young friend! I want to... return to life!"

Xiao Yan's expression jolted!

Return to life!

Just as he'd thought!

Seeing Xiao Yan's shocked expression, Yao Lao assumed he did not believe him and explained:

"An ordinary person naturally couldn't do it, but in life, I devoted myself to the study of alchemy and long ago discovered a path to defy heaven and change my fate!

If a Bone-Growing Blood-Fusing Pill can be refined, it can reconstruct my flesh and restore my life!

However, refining this pill requires several exceedingly rare, elusive materials, as well as powerful Heavenly Flames to serve as the fire source.

I am now merely a remnant soul and cannot collect the materials myself.

And you, young friend... are my only hope!"

At this point, Yao Lao's previously steady voice began to tremble with excitement.

But when he looked over, Xiao Yan was still standing there unmoved, without a ripple of emotion.

Yao Lao immediately felt even more awkward.

After all that talking, not a shred of sympathy from you! You little brat!

Xiao Yan was rather speechless himself. This old gentleman certainly had lofty morals, but was he a little too ignorant of how people worked?

Who asked someone for help by mentioning only the difficulties and none of the benefits?

Now that you've finished explaining the difficulties, go on and explain the benefits!

Seeing that Yao Lao showed no sign of mentioning any benefits, Xiao Yan offered a hint:

"Senior, I fully understand your desire to return to life, but I'm merely a Dou Zhe. I truly can't help you with something so enormous! I don't have that kind of strength!"

Yao Lao finally seemed to catch on and hurriedly said, "As long as you agree to help me, I will, in return, teach you my entire Heaven-Piercing Alchemy Technique, holding nothing back!

I will also teach you the finest cultivation methods and Dou Techniques, and guide your cultivation so you can become a true powerhouse at the pinnacle of this Dou Qi Continent!"

There was no denying that the grand pie Yao Lao had painted smelled outrageously tempting.

Any ordinary youth would probably have been so excited that he would have dropped to his knees immediately and accepted Yao Lao as his master.

But Xiao Yan did not.

Considering the risks before the rewards had always been his guiding principle!

No matter how great the rewards, he had to stay alive to enjoy them, didn't he?

After quickly weighing the risks against the rewards, Xiao Yan shook his head.

The benefits Yao Lao offered were indeed substantial, and Xiao Yan found them deeply tempting.

But the risks involved were absurdly high as well!

Leaving aside how difficult the other materials Yao Lao mentioned might be to find, he had heard of Heavenly Flames.

Those were things only someone at least at the Dou Emperor level could hope to lay hands on.

And he, a mere Dou Zhe, was supposed to search for Heavenly Flames?

Was this a joke?

Moreover, the most important point was this: even if he was willing to take those risks, could Yao Lao really deliver all the benefits he had promised?

Yao Lao had just been betrayed by his most trusted disciple, yet now he was claiming he would teach everything he knew to Xiao Yan, a complete stranger.

Yao Lao might dare to say it, but did he dare to believe it?

So, all things considered, Xiao Yan felt that compared with the risks, these so-called benefits were nothing special!

Just a pie painted with words! He could do without it!

After pondering for a long while under Yao Lao's expectant gaze, Xiao Yan finally spoke.

"Senior, I'm afraid I can't help you. What you're asking is far too risky. I don't think I have the ability."

Yao Lao could scarcely believe it.

"You... don't you want to become an esteemed alchemist? Don't you want to become a powerhouse admired by countless people?

Perhaps you still don't understand how exalted alchemists are? That's all right. I can explain it again."

Xiao Yan interrupted him. "Senior, I understand all the benefits you've mentioned. But there's one prerequisite for enjoying them: I have to be alive.

If I can't stay alive, what meaning would even heaven-sized rewards have for me?

Senior, I may be timid, but I take my promises seriously. If I don't think I can do something, I won't readily agree to it."

Yao Lao had completely lost his temper for argument.

How could anyone be so cautious?

He had already offered everything he could give, yet the boy still wasn't tempted!

Yao Lao felt somewhat despairing.

But as he looked at Xiao Yan, whose bright, intent eyes were still fixed on him, something suddenly stirred in Yao Lao's mind.

This brat! It wasn't that he wasn't tempted at all! He was using his leverage!

Yao Lao could not help letting out a bitter chuckle.

Young people these days truly were something!

He, the illustrious Venerable Yao, had actually been thrown into disarray by a twelve-year-old child in his desperation!

Taking a deep breath, Yao Lao said, "Young friend, let's speak frankly. What exactly will it take for you to help me?"