Chapter 49: Some Thoughts

Wei Yang shook his head, «I just gave it a try, I can't say for sure that I can find the problem.»

Xiao Zhan expressed his gratitude, «Regardless, Mr. Wei is willing to help my son, which is already a great kindness. Yan'er, what are you standing there for?»

«Oh, oh.» Xiao Yan came to his senses and quickly extended his hand.

Wei Yang placed his hand on Xiao Yan's wrist, closed his eyes, and fell silent.

Xiao Zhan's stern gaze swept over the crowd, causing everyone to fall silent, not daring to make a sound.

After a moment.

«Try circulating your Dou Qi through your body so I can see,» Wei Yang said.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan quickly sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and formed a strange hand seal in front of him. His chest rose and fell gently, creating a perfect cycle with each breath.

A faint white stream of energy entered his body through his mouth and nose, nourishing his bones and meridians.

Wei Yang once again placed his fingers lightly on Xiao Yan's wrist while releasing his soul perception.

Soon, Wei Yang made a discovery.

As Xiao Yan cultivated with his eyes closed, the ancient black ring on his finger emitted a subtle and obscure fluctuation, undetectable by ordinary people, and then fell silent.

Wei Yang, who was attentively observing, keenly captured this faint fluctuation.

At this moment, Xiao Yan suddenly opened his eyes, a faint white glow flashing in his dark pupils. This was the residual Dou Qi that had just been absorbed but not completely refined.

He clenched his fists tightly, watching as the residual Dou Qi quickly disappeared and fell silent.

Again! Again! This incredibly familiar feeling!

The mysteriously disappearing Dou Qi, leaving no trace! It's been almost three years!

Anger flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes, but in front of the crowd, he didn't curse. Instead, he looked at Wei Yang with a hint of hope and bitterness.

In the past three years, his father had sought countless doctors and alchemists for him, all to no avail.

Failure had become a habit over these nearly three years, so even if Wei Yang found nothing, Xiao Yan wouldn't be surprised.

But deep down, he still harbored a glimmer of hope and anticipation.

«This condition…» At this moment, Wei Yang opened his eyes, withdrew his hand, and a deeply hidden smile flickered in his eyes.

Old Yao, that old man, I wonder if he's awake or still asleep, subconsciously absorbing Xiao Yan's Dou Qi?

If he's awake now, he's got some nerve!

Under everyone's eyes, and right in front of me, daring to absorb Xiao Yan's Dou Qi so blatantly.

Does he not even consider the people of this small place in the Jia Ma Empire?

«Mr. Wei…» Xiao Yan's lips moved.

«Mr. Wei, what about my son?» Xiao Zhan also spoke, his expression anxious.

«I've observed Brother Xiao Yan's condition,» Wei Yang nodded slightly, «and I did notice something.»

«You noticed?!» Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

The surrounding Xiao clan members were also surprised, looking at Wei Yang in disbelief.

Over the years, Wei Yang was the first to notice anything, even if he claimed to have only noticed a little.

«So!» Xiao Zhan began.

Wei Yang raised his hand, «I'll go back and prepare. I'll return in three months.»

Without saying more, he left this statement and walked away.

«Mr. Wei, this…» Xiao Yan, seeing this, was anxious and wanted to say something but was stopped by Xiao Zhan.

Watching Wei Yang's departing figure, Xiao Zhan said, «Since Mr. Wei said he would return in three months, let's wait patiently.»

Xiao Yan could only nod reluctantly, suppressing his impatience.

Xiao Zhan patted his shoulder, comforting him, «Yan'er, since Mr. Wei said he noticed something and will prepare, that means there's hope. We've endured for three years; what's another three months? Let's wait patiently.»

«Alright.»

…

After leaving the Xiao clan, Wei Yang directly departed from Wu Tan City.

Unfolding black wings behind him, he flew high in the sky towards the Magic Beast Mountain Range.

He had to find that mysterious small valley first.

According to the original story's description, that small valley was in the outer region of the Magic Beast Mountain Range near Qingshan Town, not far from the Wan Yao Zhai herb-collecting site, so it shouldn't be hard to find.

The reason he told Xiao Yan he noticed something was deliberate.

The purpose was to prepare for future contact with Old Yao.

After all, according to the timeline, about three months later, the main story was supposed to start.

Contacting Old Yao wasn't to seize the Flame Mantra but to seek other things.

For instance, the systematic inheritance of alchemists from levels one to seven, the method of poison pills, and so on.

And the method of poison pills was the most important and what Wei Yang must get.

Whether he could find the Nether Poison Fire in the future or whether the Nether Poison Fire could help Xian'er perfectly control the Woeful Poison Body, the method of poison pills needed to be in hand to feel at ease.

Wei Yang's eyes narrowed slightly. With the story about to start, he began planning for the future.

Since he didn't want to use the Green Lotus Core Flame, he could give it to Xiao Yan in exchange for some benefits from Old Yao.

For example, high-level techniques and Dou Skills.

Old Yao likely wouldn't lack these and would be willing to trade them for a different kind of flame.

Wei Yang knew his own situation.

Though his talent wasn't bad, it was only relatively speaking.

This level of talent could dominate in a small place like the Jia Ma Empire but wasn't outstanding in the Central Plains or the entire Dou Qi Continent.

Therefore, to achieve something in the future, hard work alone wasn't enough.

He had to use his familiarity with the story to seek opportunities for his growth.

For this, Wei Yang didn't mind doing some seemingly selfish things.

This was understandable.

A man who doesn't look out for himself will be destroyed by heaven and earth.

For example, using the Green Lotus Core Flame, which originally belonged to Xiao Yan, to trade for benefits from Old Yao.

For example, taking the opportunity from the cliff cave without hesitation.

Or robbing Gu Te.

He did these things without any guilt.

But he knew some things couldn't be touched.

Because in a few decades, the Soul Heavenly Emperor would destroy the world.

In troubled times, extraordinary beings emerge!

Where there is a child of destiny, there will be great disasters; this is a law.

And Xiao Yan was the one born to face this calamity.

Wei Yang wasn't arrogant enough to think he could take Xiao Yan's place, nor did he believe he could succeed if he replaced Xiao Yan.

Supporting from behind and picking up benefits was fine, but being the main force was out of the question.

Fortunately, this wasn't the world of Martial Ancestor Lin Dong, with the Foreign Evil Emperor.

But the threat of the Soul Clan was almost equivalent to the Foreign Evil Clan.

So, the Green Lotus Core Flame should be given to Xiao Yan.

Using it to exchange with Old Yao for what he needed would be a win-win.

Opportunities like the cliff cave, which wouldn't significantly affect Xiao Yan's growth, could be taken.

Wei Yang didn't plan to refine the Green Lotus Core Flame himself. Firstly, he wasn't impressed with its power.

Secondly, this flame was an important growth factor for Xiao Yan in the early stages.

While planning for himself, Wei Yang also tried not to affect Xiao Yan's growth.

This was also a way to leave a backup plan for himself and the world.

Leaving a backup.

Otherwise, decades later, when the Soul Heavenly Emperor sacrifices all beings, if Xiao Yan fails to grow, and Wei Yang can't resist the Soul Heavenly Emperor, everyone would perish.

If someone is confident enough to think they can replace Xiao Yan and face the Soul Heavenly Emperor alone to save the world, targeting Xiao Yan for his opportunities and women is irresponsible.

Wei Yang couldn't do such things; his conscience wouldn't allow it.

It's not about being a saint; it's his bottom line.

He never thought of himself as a good person, but in the face of world-ending disasters, he had to be cautious.

It's about the life and death of billions; who dares to mess around?

These lives aren't just numbers in a book but real, living beings.

Stealing Xiao Yan's opportunities doesn't guarantee you'll become another Xiao Yan.

Some successes can't be replicated.

Still, Wei Yang was unwilling to be an unnoticed spectator, a minor character.

He had his pride and ambition.

He wanted to climb high and see the view from the top.

So, he had to balance not affecting Xiao Yan's growth and seeking opportunities for himself…

As for Little Doctor Immortal, Wei Yang didn't think she was Xiao Yan's opportunity or his woman.

In the original story, she was just an ambiguous character, so her presence or absence didn't matter much to Xiao Yan.

Instead, she needed Xiao Yan's help during his growth.

Besides, Wei Yang wasn't a nanny; he only needed to ensure the main direction was correct.

As he pondered these thoughts.

Swoosh! The black wings flapped, turning Wei Yang into a black and red streak, swiftly flying through the sky.

(Chapter End)