Chapter 166: About to Begin

"Are you hesitant too?" Wei Yang smiled, "It's okay, go back and think it over carefully."

"After all, gathering the ingredients for the Soul Melting Pill is no easy task. If you want me to help, the rule is to prepare three sets of materials yourself. Once the pill is formed, the compensation is negotiable. That's the standard rule in the industry, and I can't easily break it."

Hearing this, Medusa frowned slightly. 

Indeed, acquiring three sets of materials for the Soul Melting Pill wasn't an easy feat.

"How about this? Considering you're an old acquaintance, and with your current situation, collecting the materials is understandably difficult, I'll give you a discount – just two sets."

Wei Yang held up two fingers, saying, "If you can collect two sets of materials, I'll help make the pill for you, and guarantee at least one successful pill. As for the timeline, there's no rush. Whenever you have them ready, I'll start immediately."

"As for the compensation, we can discuss it once you have the two sets. Be prepared though, as the fees will be adjusted slightly higher accordingly."

Upon hearing this, Medusa's frown relaxed, and a charming smile appeared on her face. 

She nodded gratefully, her tone respectful as she agreed readily, "No problem. Thank you, Master Wei, it's a deal!"

She truly felt grateful as Wei Yang was already making a rare exception for her. What more could she want? 

Regarding the higher compensation for the successful pill? 

That's to be expected. After all, he let her save one set of materials; naturally, a higher fee is reasonable.

Meanwhile, she was astonished. The Soul Melting Pill is a genuine sixth-tier pill!

Master Wei actually agreed that if she provided two sets of materials, he guaranteed one successful pill?

This, truly is unfathomable!

"It's late, you should go back." Wei Yang yawned and waved his hand to shoo her away.

"Okay, I'll take my leave then, won't disturb Mr. Wei's rest." Medusa chuckled, her figure flashing as she noiselessly vanished.

In the air, only a faint laughter and a lingering fragrance remained.

...

Wei Yang stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the bright moon in the night sky.

"Xiao Yan, this is the opportunity I fought for you. Whether you can seize it depends on you." Wei Yang murmured to himself.

Two sets of Soul Melting Pill materials – that was Wei Yang's last chance for Xiao Yan.

If throughout this process or over time, Xiao Yan still couldn't win over Medusa, it would be Xiao Yan's own lack of effort, unlinked to Wei Yang.

By then, if Medusa chose to leave Xiao Yan and sought Wei Yang's help in pill-making instead, Wei Yang wouldn't refuse.

After all, he needed to earn a living somehow.

By the time Medusa collected two sets of materials, Wei Yang might have already reached the peak of the sixth tier or even the seventh tier.

Making the Soul Melting Pill then, the chances of failure would be slim.

Not only could he earn a set of materials but also gain significant compensation – such opportunities, of course, he wouldn't turn down.

Xiao Yan?

Opportunities had been given. If he lacked the ability, he couldn't blame anyone else.

...

The next morning, Xian'er left early to participate in the internal prediction contest of the guild.

This prediction is an internal guild testing method conducted before the main competition.

Outsiders aren't required to join, only candidates recommended by local branch presidents must undergo this prediction.

It's also the guild headquarters' way of evaluating the branch presidents' judgment in advance. If their recommended candidates can't even pass the internal test, there's no need for them to embarrass themselves at the Alchemy Competition.

Originally, Xian'er, as the headlining candidate from the guild headquarters, didn't need to partake in such predictions. However, she insisted she didn't want special treatment.

Wei Yang had no choice but to let her be.

Xian'er was quite competitive and exceptionally serious regarding alchemy.

Thus, she and Xiao Yan became competitors for the first time during this prediction.

The strength Xian'er displayed left Xiao Yan very shocked and surprised.

Damn it, wasn't she supposed to have the Calamity Poison Body?

Wasn't her soul talent supposed to be average?

Yet, she, a born poison expert, was also formidable in alchemy? Big sister, did you mistakenly allocate your skills!?

Consequently, Xiao Yan put away his underestimation and took Xian'er seriously, feeling considerable pressure.

This pressure was even greater than that from Gu He's direct disciple, Liu Ling.

Even the silent observing Yao Lao felt astonished.

This generation's Calamity Poison Body user is this skilled?

...

Within the courtyard.

In the spacious alchemy room.

A bronze cauldron stood tall, with black flames dancing inside.

Wei Yang sat cross-legged in front of the cauldron, casually changing the seals with his hands.

Beside him, Qing Lin squatted, propped her chin with her hands, expectantly watching and occasionally licking her lips.

Behind her stood Du Jiao, like a towering statue, with a wooden expression.

Inside the cauldron, Wei Yang was currently refining the fourth-tier Soul Nourishing Liquid.

Moments later.

With the final nurturing completed, Wei Yang sensed the medicinal power within and nodded with a smile.

The medicinal power of this batch of Soul Nourishing Liquid was fully harnessed, thanks to Yao Lao's guidance and his own alchemy progression.

This batch's effectiveness was at least thirty percent stronger than his previous batches.

Meaning, splitting it as before, two parts achieving thirty percent, one part forty percent effectiveness.

Now, a single thirty-percent segment could match and even surpass one fourty-percent segment from before.

He glanced at Qing Lin.

Qing Lin immediately understood, quickly took out three small jade bottles, opened them, and held them with shining eyes like a bird eagerly awaiting to be fed.

Wei Yang chuckled, and with a thought, the liquid from the cauldron flew out.

While airborne, it automatically divided into three portions, landing in the three small jade bottles.

As before, two were thirty percent, and the other was forty percent.

Qing Lin swiftly capped them, then cradled them in her arms, smiling happily until her eyes turned into slits.

For the first time, it seemed, the young master had refined medicine for her.

Wei Yang gently rubbed her little head, saying, "Take the forty-percent one to enhance your soul. Give one to Du Jiao, and keep the last one for now. We'll see Du Jiao's recovery status later."

"Okay, young master." Qing Lin nodded obediently with her eyes closed, her head rubbing against Wei Yang's palm.

Wei Yang laughed heartily, his eyes filled with anticipation.

Enhancing Qing Lin's soul power with the Soul Nourishing Liquid would benefit her, as the Triplet-flower Snake Pupils didn't require much Dou Qi; the stronger the soul, the better.

Wei Yang withdrew the flames and cauldron, stood up, patted her shoulder, "Use it while it's warm; I'm heading out."

"Mhm." Qing Lin nodded, watching Wei Yang leave before looking down at the bottles in her arms, her lips curling into a sweet smile.

...

Time passed.

With the consumption of the Soul Nourishing Liquid, Qing Lin's soul power was significantly enhanced. Though her level was just at the Nine Star Dou Shi peak, her soul was comparable to a low-level Dou Wang.

When she officially breaks through to Dou Ling, her soul would likely match that of a high-level Dou Wang.

This was quite rare.

It appears the Triplet-flower Snake Pupils, particularly when activated, had a beneficial effect on Qing Lin's soul growth.

Understandably so, as her soul talent must have been strong enough to contract so many snake-type magical beasts.

Furthermore, whenever she successfully contracted a snake-type magical beast, depending on the magical beast's strength, she would receive some soul feedback enhancement.

This was another remarkable aspect of her peculiar constitution.

Wei Yang couldn't help but think of the ancient heaven snake remnant soul Qing Lin contracted in the original story.

Once fully merged with Qing Lin's soul, her soul power became incredibly formidable.

As for Du Jiao, after consuming the Soul Nourishing Liquid and resting for two days, his soul was mostly recovered.

However, the memories lost to toxin damage were irretrievable.

Still, as time passed, Du Jiao's eyes became more vibrant, his face more expressive, not as wooden as before.

Wei Yang tested him; Du Jiao could comprehend complex commands without Qing Lin's soul communication assistance.

This was a positive sign.

After some time, administering another Soul Nourishing Liquid should enhance Du Jiao's recovery.

...

Three peaceful days passed until finally, the Alchemy Competition began as scheduled.