"A rich lady!"
Gazing at the pile of medicinal herbs and inhaling the rich, aromatic fragrance that instantly filled the room, Xiao Yan nearly drooled with envy.
He never imagined that this delicate, porcelain-like little girl wasn't just a ferocious loli but also a wealthy one.
He had always assumed those little sugar pills she munched on daily were gifts from Brother Bai, but now it was clear—they were hers all along.
How unfair the world was!
To gather just three sets of herbs, he had scrimped and scraped, nearly bankrupting himself.
Yet, with a casual wave of her hand, she produced herbs of fourth tier and above, with two even reaching the sixth tier.
Among them was a plant with nine leaves, faintly shimmering with silvery lightning—likely the Thunder Origin Grass that Brother Bai had mentioned.
"This Thunder Origin Grass—where did you get it?"
With a flick of his hand, a flash of silver light appeared, and the Thunder Origin Grass floated above Xiao Bai's palm, his eyes gleaming with delight.
"Hmm…" Zi Yan's small brows furrowed, lost in thought for a moment before her face lit up with realization. "Oh, I remember! It was in the back mountains of the academy. There was some kind of restriction there. I wanted to check it out, but that old geezer dragged me back!"
As she spoke, something else seemed to occur to her. Her big eyes rolled, and she huffed, "I remember there were two of them. I was curious, so I bit into one. Nearly numbed my tongue to death—not tasty at all!"
"…" Xiao Bai was speechless.
Only Zi Yan would be bold enough to chomp on something like that raw. For ordinary people, especially those with lower cultivation, the lightning energy within could electrocute them!
"Xiao Bai, kid, you want this for refining Thunder Origin Pills, don't you?" Yao Lao's voice suddenly chimed in.
"Exactly!" Xiao Bai nodded with a grin.
"What do you need those pills for? If my memory serves, they're for consolidating and nurturing the foundation of lightning-attribute cultivators, right?"
"You're brimming with vigor and robust qi and blood. Don't tell me you're using this for cultivation. Sure, it has some lightning energy, but compared to its value, using it for training seems like a waste!"
Yao Lao's tone carried a hint of teasing, laced with playful mockery.
Tch! Shameless old man!
Silently scoffing at the unscrupulous geezer in the ring, Xiao Bai rolled his eyes. Thankfully, the old man had used spiritual transmission—Zi Yan was still here!
Besides, he, Xiao Bai, was far too sturdy to need such a thing!
"Has Yao Lao forgotten? We haven't seen that little rascal who calls you 'old man' this time," Xiao Bai said, glancing at his sleeve with a soft sigh. That guy had said he'd be dormant for a while, but who knew how long that would be?
Lately, he'd been racking his brain for ways to rouse him but hadn't found anything suitable—until Zi Yan revealed she had this herb.
With the Thunder Origin Grass, he could refine Thunder Origin Pills, which might just help.
"Oh? You're right! Did something happen to that little troublemaker?" Yao Lao instantly recalled the little golden dragon he'd once clashed with, nearly coming out worse for wear.
"Hmm," Xiao Bai replied calmly. "Not long ago, after I got injured, I got into another fight. It cost him some of his origin energy. I thought of these pills afterward, but I hadn't found the main ingredient until now."
"You were injured? Who did you fight? Don't tell me it was a Dou Zong!" Yao Lao exclaimed, astonished. With Xiao Bai's current strength, a Dou Huang posed little threat.
Yao Lao knew more than most about Xiao Bai's tricks. That five-colored lightning suggested he'd gathered all five elemental thunders and fused them perfectly.
While Xiao Bai's rapid progress was surprising, it wasn't shocking.
"Dou Zong? Yao Lao, think bigger!" Xiao Bai suddenly felt playful, eager to give the old man a jolt.
"What the—?! Don't tell me you escaped a Dou Zun and are still bouncing around! Are you a man or a ghost?!"
Sure enough, Yao Lao was stunned, his jaw dropping as he let out a rare curse, utterly shocked.
A Dou Wang escaping a Dou Zun? You're joking!
Dou Zuns wielded spatial power with mastery—spatial traversal, spatial annihilation. To anyone below Dou Zong, they were a nightmare.
Impossible to flee, impossible to outrun!
Yet this kid not only escaped but, from the sound of it, only sustained minor injuries before fighting again. This was not the Dou Qi Continent he knew!
"Haha…" Xiao Bai's mischief satisfied, he curbed his laughter and explained, "It was a Dou Zun, true, but a weak one who couldn't wield spatial power. Luckily, I had a spatial jade slip, which saved my life."
"Phew, that makes sense. I was about to say, no matter how monstrous you are, you can't be that monstrous!" Yao Lao let out a long breath, his worldview nearly shattered, thinking the outside world had changed while he was stuck in the ring.
"But you got lucky this time. Dou Zuns who can't use spatial power are rarer than those who can. Xiao Bai, let me warn you—don't underestimate Dou Zuns just because of this. That could cost you your life!"
Hearing Yao Lao's earnest advice, Xiao Bai's expression shifted, and he nodded. "Don't worry, Yao Lao. I understand."
Those lizardmen in the depths… A cold glint flashed in Xiao Bai's eyes, though he felt a headache coming on.
Damn it, why did Yao Tian Huo run so deep?
He had planned to take Zi Yan there, maybe even deliver the Tuo She Ancient Jade, but now it seemed that would have to wait.
"Zi Yan, I'll take this Thunder Origin Grass. How about I trade you two other sixth-tier herbs?"
Lowering his gaze to Zi Yan, he noticed a hint of grievance in her eyes. Stunned, he reached out to pat her ponytail, chuckling, "Two aren't enough? Are you trying to haggle?"
"Xiao Bai, do you not see me as one of your own?" Zi Yan's expression turned serious. She shook her head, brushing off his hand, her delicate face solemn.
"Where's this coming from?" Xiao Bai retracted his hand, puzzled by her unprecedented expression.
"Hmph! It's just one herb. If you want it, take it! And you're talking about trading?" Zi Yan crossed her arms, turning her head with a pout, launching into a tirade as if Xiao Bai had committed a grave sin.
"Alright, alright, no trading, no trading!" Xiao Bai seized the moment when her little mouth paused, wiping the sweat from his brow.
"Hmph! Admit you were wrong?" Zi Yan finally stopped, hands on her hips, glaring at him.
"Wrong, I was wrong!" Xiao Bai nodded hastily, a flicker of amusement in his eyes at the proud little girl before him.
This little one's suddenly gotten generous. Back in the day, even when I refined sugar pills for her, she'd watch like a hawk, afraid I'd skimp!
With a wave of his hand, he collected all the herbs on the table.
As the herbs vanished, Xiao Yan reluctantly tore his gaze away, then suddenly remembered something. Looking up, he asked, "By the way, Brother Bai, do you know where I can find herbs to restore the soul?"
"Restore the soul?" Xiao Bai paused, his eyes subtly flicking to the ring on Xiao Yan's hand, his expression turning peculiar.
"Yeah! I asked Hai Lao and the Alchemist Guild today, but they had nothing!" Xiao Yan's voice carried disappointment. He'd been worried about his teacher and had asked Yao Lao if herbs or pills could strengthen him, just in case something unexpected happened.
After getting a positive answer, he'd rushed out at dawn to search, only to come up empty-handed. He desperately wanted to help, but the results were disheartening.
"If you don't know, just point me in a direction. I'll try my luck and see if I can find soul-restoring herbs!" Xiao Yan's eyes sparked with hope. He'd heard from his teacher that Brother Bai had great luck, and he hoped to borrow some of it.
"…" Xiao Bai.
Me, lucky? If I were lucky, I wouldn't have run into those giant lizardmen in the magma depths!
"Young Master Xiao Yan, are you looking for soul-restoring herbs?" A charming, graceful figure appeared at the doorway. Seeing several pairs of eyes turn to her, she smiled apologetically. "Sorry, the door was open. Ya Fei didn't mean to eavesdrop."
Her gaze lingered briefly on Xiao Bai before shifting to Xiao Yan with a smile. "I just received some news about such herbs."
"Really?" Xiao Yan leapt up, excitement propelling him forward two steps. Turning to Xiao Bai, he grinned, "Brother Bai, Teacher was right—your luck is unreal! I just mentioned it, and the news walks in!"
"From now on, you're my wish-granting machine!"
Xiao Bai was speechless. Suddenly, he felt a tug at his robe. Looking down, he saw Zi Yan's big eyes fixed on him, filled with reverence, her hands clasped as she muttered, "I want endless sugar pills, I want to grow up fast, I want…"
"…" Xiao Bai.
With a pitying look, he gently patted her head, his face radiating compassion. "Silly child, don't worry. You'll get what you want."
"Really?" Zi Yan's face lit up, her eyes sparkling like moonstones, glancing eagerly at the door.
"Your wish won't come true by staring at the door," Xiao Bai said, waving a hand, his expression saintly.
"Then what do I do?" Zi Yan asked urgently.
"Go to bed," Xiao Bai pointed to the side room's bed.
"Bed?" Zi Yan's face was skeptical, her steps hesitant. But thinking of her wish, she gritted her teeth. "Just go to bed, and that's it?"
"Exactly," Xiao Bai nodded, his shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter. "Just go to bed and dream. In your dreams, you'll have everything!"
"…" Xiao Yan.
"…" Ya Fei.
"Xiao Bai!" Zi Yan realized she'd been teased. Her fists clenched, eyes blazing, teeth gritted as she growled, "I'll punch you!"
Ya Fei's beautiful eyes widened, watching the black-robed figure playfully tussling with Zi Yan. Usually, he was either coolly composed or gently warm, always mature. She hadn't expected this playful side.
"Miss Ya Fei, Miss Ya Fei!" Xiao Yan called, exasperated by the dazed woman at the door.
"Sorry, my apologies!" Ya Fei snapped back, a faint blush on her cheeks. She glided to the table, sitting gracefully, and met Xiao Yan's eager gaze with a hesitant smile. "I just learned that a certain family in Jia Ma Holy City possesses a rare plant called Seven Illusions Green Spirit Saliva. Its roots can be refined into a mysterious substance that restores soul power."
"Heh!" Xiao Yan's lips curved into a delighted grin, his voice urgent. "Which family?"
Ya Fei glanced at the two in the room, shaking her head with a wry smile.
"Come on, Miss Ya Fei, spill it!" Xiao Yan was practically dying of impatience.
"Why ask? Her expression says it all," Xiao Bai said, pinning down Zi Yan's flailing fists, turning with a chuckle. "It's the family you don't want to face."
Xiao Yan froze, his face darkening as the realization hit, a sense of trouble brewing.
Steal it outright? With Brother Bai and Teacher, it's doable, but it'd alert Yun Lan Sect.
Go the proper route? But a treasure like that—every family hoards it for emergencies. The Na Lan family isn't short on wealth; they'd never sell.
At a loss, Xiao Yan looked to Xiao Bai, hoping he'd have a plan.
"Kid, do me a favor. This Seven Illusions Green Spirit Saliva could restore some of my strength, and it'd be useful for you too," Yao Lao's voice transmitted.
"Useful for me?" Xiao Bai's eyes flickered with curiosity. "Isn't this for restoring soul power? What use is it to me?"
"Have you forgotten that someone in your desert needs recovery?" Yao Lao snapped, annoyed at Xiao Bai's nonchalance.
"It can be used by two people?" Xiao Bai had considered the herb for Cai Lin but had shelved the idea, as Yun Lan Sect needed Yao Lao's strength. Even at her peak, Cai Lin couldn't handle Wu Protector alone.
"You forgot who I am? Using the roots directly is the crudest, lowest method—not fit for an alchemist like us!" Yao Lao scoffed.
Xiao Bai glanced at Xiao Yan, who'd been unwittingly dragged into the jab.
"Then what's the method?" Xiao Bai asked humbly, noting this wasn't in Yao Lao's inherited knowledge.
"If I hadn't seen the herbs that little girl gave you, I might've overlooked it. Among them is a Seven Star Wood. I happen to have a Seven White Lotus Jade. Combine those with the Seven Illusions Green Spirit Saliva, and we can concoct two portions of Three-Seven Soul Spirit Liquid, far more potent than the root extract."
"This liquid's effect is at least twice that of the root extract. It'll more than suffice to restore your desert friend's soul power."
"As for me, my soul will solidify, no longer as ethereal as it is now."
Xiao Bai's eyes gleamed as he processed Yao Lao's explanation, then asked abruptly, "If both portions went to you, could you take that guy down?"
Yao Lao fell silent, then said dryly, "I don't know."
"Don't know? There's something you don't know?" Xiao Bai was stunned.
"Heh, I'm flattered you think so highly of me, but I truly don't know. The Three-Seven Soul Spirit Liquid—one person can only absorb one portion in the short term," Yao Lao said with a teasing chuckle.
This old geezer! Quite the trickster! Xiao Bai thought, exasperated.
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