Chapter 66: Another Transaction

A moment later.

Both of them sighed softly at the same time, their tones tinged with complexity.

Wei Yang gently shook his head and slightly turned to look at Yao Lao. «It's so late, I'm sorry to disturb you, senior.»

Yao Lao's complexion looked quite good, a stark contrast to the weakness he had shown six months ago. His transparent soul now appeared much more solid.

Wei Yang found it strange that he could faintly discern a hint of a healthy glow on the face of a soul body.

Wei Yang chuckled and shook his head. «It's been half a year since we last met, and it seems you've recovered quite well during this time, senior.»

«Thanks to your Soul Nourishing Liquid,» Yao Lao said, habitually stroking his white beard with some pride. «I refined those two bottles of Soul Nourishing Liquid again. Although I only improved the efficacy by less than twenty percent, I couldn't let it go to waste.»

«Senior, with just a small effort, you surpass me by far. It seems I still have much to learn,» Wei Yang smiled.

«After all, you are still young. It's normal not to be completely proficient yet,» Yao Lao waved his hand, smiling kindly. «Moreover, you have not had proper systematic guidance. To have achieved this level on your own is already very impressive.»

He looked at the young man in front of him with eyes full of admiration.

Being able to create a fourth-tier pill formula on his own, even though it still had some flaws and didn't fully utilize the medicinal effects, was already remarkable! A fourth-tier pill formula is not something you come across every day!

Such talent and comprehension always made Yao Lao sigh with regret.

It's a pity he didn't meet this young man a few years earlier.

Hmm?

Suddenly, Yao Lao's hand stopped stroking his beard as he looked at Wei Yang in surprise. «You, you broke through to Dou Wang?»

«Yes,» Wei Yang nodded with a smile. «I just broke through a few days ago.»

«Your aura has stabilized in such a short time. It seems your breakthrough was not just a stroke of luck,» Yao Lao sighed.

Then, his eyes widened, and he focused intently, sensing carefully before looking at Wei Yang with an inexplicable expression. «And your soul power… don't tell me it also broke through?»

Wei Yang pretended to think for a moment, then hesitantly said, «Soul power… I don't know if it's what you mean by a breakthrough, but when I broke through to Dou Wang, I felt my soul power also seemed to break through a bottleneck, roughly doubling in strength.»

Yao Lao's face twitched, rendered speechless.

Indeed, this young man's soul power also broke through.

Mortal Realm late stage!

This is absurd! A Dou Wang under nineteen years old isn't too surprising in Central Plains.

But a soul at the Mortal Realm late stage under nineteen years old is absurd! Soul power growth and breakthroughs are incredibly difficult, much harder than Dou Qi breakthroughs.

Without special opportunities, it basically relies on time to slowly grind.

How many alchemists can truly reach the sixth tier or above? Hardly any!

Why? The primary reason is the limitation of soul power.

But Wei Yang broke through his soul power as easily as drinking water when he broke through to Dou Wang. Who would believe it? This young man, at least, has the potential to become a pinnacle seventh-tier alchemist. As for the eighth tier, it depends on his opportunities, but it's not impossible.

Thinking of this, Yao Lao's heart grew more serious, and he regarded Wei Yang with even more importance.

A pinnacle seventh-tier alchemist is not something to take lightly.

In Central Plains, wherever he goes, he would be a guest of honor for major powers, and no one would dare offend him.

Even within the Pill Tower, he would hold significant status.

…

«Wei boy, tell me, what brings you to see me so late?» Yao Lao asked.

Unintentionally, his tone had slightly changed.

Yes, from calling him "Wei baby" to "Wei boy."

Wei Yang smiled, looking at Yao Lao, and slowly uttered two words, «A transaction!»

Yao Lao raised an eyebrow, looking at Wei Yang's expression, seemingly understanding something. He tentatively said, «I'm not interested in ordinary things.»

«What about the nineteenth-ranked Heavenly Flame, Green Lotus Core Flame?» Wei Yang asked softly.

Yao Lao closed his eyes slightly, exhaling gently. His eyes were half-closed as he spoke in a mysterious tone, «Wei boy, are you serious? Don't mess with me.»

«I wouldn't waste my time,» Wei Yang smiled.

«Indeed. You don't seem like someone who would do that,» Yao Lao nodded and asked, «You should know the significance of a Heavenly Flame. I can't understand why you would…»

«It's simple. A bird in hand is worth two in the bush,» Wei Yang said. «Although Heavenly Flames are good, I can't refine it for now. At least, I don't have the confidence to refine it safely before reaching Dou Zong.»

«Senior, you know refining a Heavenly Flame is very dangerous! A slight mistake can result in being burned to ashes. I fear death. Unless I have at least seventy to eighty percent confidence, I wouldn't dare attempt to refine a Heavenly Flame.»

Yao Lao nodded, «Caution, very good.»

Cautious people live longer.

A dead genius is nothing.

Yao Lao understood this.

Swallowing a Heavenly Flame is extremely dangerous, not something everyone has the courage to attempt.

When he swallowed Bone Chilling Flame back then, he almost died. Even now, he shivers at the memory.

«So,» Wei Yang smiled, «instead of this, I might as well use it to exchange for something I need more.»

«Like?» Yao Lao straightened slightly, ready to be extorted.

He desperately needed the Heavenly Flame!

Whether it was to nurture Xiao Yan or for his future resurrection, he needed more than one Heavenly Flame.

In truth, resurrection was Yao Lao's primary goal now, not training disciples.

Initially, Yao Lao didn't have much affection for Xiao Yan.

His original intention in training Xiao Yan was for his own future resurrection.

And refining a body requires a Heavenly Flame, and not just one! Yao Lao, as a Nine-Star Dou Zun, just a step away from Semi-Saint, and the acknowledged number one alchemist on the continent, had an invitation to the Space Trading Convention.

Space Trading Convention, where you can exchange for Heavenly-ranked techniques, Dou techniques, and eighth-tier pills.

With Yao Lao's wealth and connections, it's hard to believe he wouldn't have Heavenly-ranked techniques or Dou techniques.

But what did he tell Xiao Yan when Xiao Yan became a Dou Practitioner? When he let Xiao Yan choose a technique, he did warn Xiao Yan of the dangers and peculiarities of the Flame Mantra, stating that the chances of reaching its peak were less than twenty percent.

Yet, what did he do?

He only offered a low-tier Earth-ranked fire technique as an alternative to the Flame Mantra for Xiao Yan to choose…

Why? To tempt Xiao Yan into cultivating the Flame Mantra. He even said that no matter what Xiao Yan chose, he would be his disciple. Sounds nice, doesn't it?

Only by cultivating the Flame Mantra could Xiao Yan, in the near future, while his strength was still low, master three types of Heavenly Flames and refine a body for Yao Lao's resurrection.

That was Yao Lao's true intention and the initial reason for training Xiao Yan.

Did he not know the risks and difficulties of cultivating the Flame Mantra? Of course, he did!

It's a joke. Those are Heavenly Flames!

Not a plaything!

Every time you swallow a Heavenly Flame, it's almost a life-and-death struggle. Multiple times?

How many lives does one need to play like that?

Almost certain death.

That's why Yao Lao never gave the Flame Mantra to his cherished Han Feng.

Unexpectedly, Han Feng betrayed him for a technique, which is an enormous irony.

Han Feng was an idiot! For a technique, he killed his master, the continent's top alchemist.

…

So, to say Yao Lao initially had much affection for Xiao Yan is unrealistic.

Given his status, power, and pride, how could he regard a boy from a small family with much importance?

It was mostly exploitation.

Initially, even if Xiao Yan failed and died, Yao Lao would at most sigh and then continue searching for another suitable target to train.

In the original work, Yao Lao only truly began to treat Xiao Yan as his heir after spending a long time with him, fully replacing Han Feng's position.

To protect Xiao Yan, he willingly fell into multiple slumbers and was even captured by the Hall of Souls.

(End of Chapter)