Chapter 154: Zi Yan's Return

When he thought that his cultivation, which had been sealed for many years, would soon be restored, a pleasant smile appeared on Hai Bodong's face.

He carefully put the jade bottle in his storage ring, and then said to Xiao Ming, "Master Xiao Ming, I will be secluding myself in a subterranean room, after breaking the seal later, this room will also prevent the aura from leaking too much so that some unnecessary troubles can be avoided."

'What kind of trouble can there be? People from Desert City would dare to come and cause trouble?' Thinking like this, Xiao Ming did not say anything, but let out a light laugh.

''You can make any arrangements you see fit.''

''Then I'll take my leave, I don't know how long it will take to undo the seal, Master can make any arrangements you wish within the tent in the meantime.''

With these words, Hai Bodong left the hallway.

When Hai Bodong's somewhat hunched back disappeared before his eyes, Xiao Ming let out a slight sigh, then gathered his courage and took a step out of the hallway.

He was going to look for Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin.

In the hallway, the lighting was not very strong, and there was only one lamp that dimly illuminated every three meters away.

The hallway was not very large, but the degree of twists and turns was beyond the imagination of ordinary people. After a few turns around the corridor, the uniform atmosphere surrounding it made people feel slightly tired.

However, Xiao Ming had already passed through this hallway twice before, so he felt nothing.

The soft sound of footsteps slowly echoed in the long corridor for a long time, sounding vaguely eerie.

A moment later, Xiao Ming came to a room and knocked on the door.

"Please come in." Xiao Yi Xian's voice sounded from inside the door.

Creak!

Xiao Ming pushed the door and entered.

Xiao Yi Xian's room was no different from the one he had seen yesterday.

The water stains left by the marrow cleaning and bone refinement had also been cleaned.

At this moment, in addition to Xiao Yi Xian, who was dressed in white, there was also Qing Lin, who was dressed in deep green.

When they saw Xiao Ming enter, Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin, who were chatting at the table, stood up and greeted Xiao Ming.

Xiao Ming waved his hand and said, "No need for such courtesy, have a seat."

With that, Xiao Ming also sat down next to the table.

The room immediately became quiet, and a touch of ambiguity permeated this slightly uncomfortable atmosphere.

Qing Lin sensed this somewhat uncomfortable atmosphere and opened her beautiful eyes, thinking, 'What happened in the morning with Young Master and Sister Xian'er to make them behave like this?'

After being silent for a moment, Xiao Ming turned to look at Xiao Yi Xian and asked.

"Xiao Yi Xian, how was the effect of the medicinal bath?"

When Xiao Yi Xian heard his words, the mood she was trying to maintain was immediately broken, and a red haze covered her flawless white face as she recalled what had happened in the morning.

Although she felt a little embarrassed at the thought of the morning scene, she still whispered, "After cleansing the marrow and refining the bones, my body now feels much lighter, and the toxins that had not been absorbed into my body were eliminated."

"In addition to that, after absorbing the pure energy inside the medicinal liquid, my strength has also greatly improved and has reached nine-star Dou Master, I just need to test my skin toxicity."

"Skin toxicity?" Without any surprise at Xiao Yi Xian's improved strength, Xiao Ming merely muttered softly before beckoning to Qing Lin.

Immediately, Qing Lin walked over to Xiao Ming.

"Young Master, how can Qing Lin help you?"

"Lend me your Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent."

"Of course." Qing Lin smiled and, without hesitation, immediately extended her right hand.

On her wrist, the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent was showing its teeth to Xiao Ming.

In response, Xiao Ming merely looked at it and the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent immediately turned honest.

After taking a look at the honest Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent in Qing Lin's hand, Xiao Ming realized that its aura was a little weaker than the last time he looked at it in the subterranean magma, so it should have been absorbed by Qing Lin.

All the snake-type magical beasts that were controlled by Qing Lin would be like this.

Without worrying about this change, Xiao Ming brought it directly to Xiao Yi Xian's hand and said.

"Touch it and test your toxicity."

"Hiss!"

The fourth-rank magical beast had already opened its spiritual wisdom, and although it could not speak, it could understand the words.

As soon as Xiao Ming's voice fell, the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent could not help but hiss, at this moment, the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent felt very bad, the last time it accidentally touched this human a little, it was very uncomfortable for several days.

This time, it can't let her touch it.

Its limbs kept twisting and struggling in Xiao Ming's palm, but it was useless.

Xiao Ming's body after seclusion had improved drastically, and an ordinary sixth-rank magic beast was no stronger than Xiao Ming's body.

What could a small fourth-rank magical beast do?

Amidst the desperate gaze of the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent, Xiao Yi Xian's finger pressed its snake body, and instantly, the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent became flaccid, as if lacking energy.

Carrying the snake's tail and waving it in front of his eyes, Xiao Ming roughly comprehended the toxicity of the skin on Xiao Yi Xian's body.

It could poison a Dou Grandmaster that had no antidote and was capable of making a Dou Spirit collapse.

It was similar to before the marrow cleansing and bone refinement.

This was not something Xiao Ming would have expected.

After feeding the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent with an antidote pill and throwing it to Qing Lin, Xiao Ming told Xiao Yi Xian the result.

After hearing Xiao Ming's words, Xiao Yi Xian replied with a faint smile, "It's already enough for me not to suffer from my Poison Body's eruption, everything else is just additional benefits." Clearly, Xiao Yi Xian was not too disappointed.

The two of them, Xiao Ming and Xiao Yi Xian, slowly forgot about the previous awkwardness and began to talk very happily about some things inside the room, when not long after, a strong aura came from not far away.

"What happened?" Xiao Yi Xian spoke with some surprise.

"It must be Hai Bodong undoing his seal and regaining his Dou Emperor strength." Xiao Ming said as he stood up, "Let's go take a look."

Xiao Ming hadn't even reached the subterranean room with Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin when he met Hai Bodong in the hallway.

Seeing Xiao Ming, Hai Bodong, whose strength had recovered, thanked him again.

He also had no ill intentions, after all, Xiao Ming was very strong and very generous to him, and Hai Bodong was not an insensitive person.

On the contrary, he immediately said that he would take Xiao Ming to the Miteer Family with him, and when he returned to the clan, he would be given all the medicinal materials he had promised earlier.

In response, Xiao Ming only said that he had to wait for Zi Yan to return and could not leave for the time being.

Hearing this, Hai Bodong, who had regained his strength and did not want to stay in Desert City to continue selling maps, could only stay.

...

In the following days, Xiao Ming stayed at Hai Bodong's store, teaching some Dou Techniques to Qing Lin, as well as helping Xiao Yi Xian exercise her control over the poison.

These days, Xiao Ming's relationship with Xiao Yi Xian had become closer, due to the fact that whenever Xiao Yi Xian took a break from training, the two of them would chat about their life experiences.

Xiao Ming learned about Xiao Yi Xian's childhood, and how she became a Doctor in the small store in Qingshan Town, though a part of him felt that Xiao Yi Xian was hiding something. However, he had secrets too, so he didn't mind too much about it.

Xiao Yi Xian, on the other hand, had always been very curious about how Xiao Ming, who was younger than her, was so powerful, however, since she had agreed to follow him, she had not had the opportunity to ask him.

In the five months that Xiao Ming had been in seclusion, she had also learned a few things about him from Zi Yan, but Zi Yan only seemed to like to talk about their time together robbing and intimidating the magical beasts around the Inner Academy, which left Xiao Yi Xian speechless.

In these days, Xiao Yi Xian learned that Xiao Ming was an orphan like her, she also learned about his experiences in the Xiao clan, as well as the first time he learned Alchemy with the help of his Master, and his adventure at his young age at the dangerous Black-Corner Region.

The fascination in Xiao Yi Xian's eyes could not be hidden, Xiao Ming's experiences were truly interesting to her, who, in comparison, had had a much duller life. Spending her best moments in this short period of time, along with Xiao Ming, Zi Yan, and Qing Lin, who had now become her little sister.

Every time she thought about the latter, she couldn't help but smile sweetly, if this physique of hers, which made her feel disgusted in the past, would help her protect her new family, she wouldn't mind becoming feared for turning into a powerful Poison Master.

Even if it meant giving up saving lives as a doctor.

...

One morning, Zi Yan finally returned to Hai Bodong's store.

As soon as Zi Yan entered the tent, she saw Xiao Ming, who was instructing Xiao Yi Xian and immediately asked joyfully.

"Xiao Ming, when did you come out of seclusion!?"

Xiao Ming and Xiao Yi Xian stopped their movements.

After telling Xiao Yi Xian to go ahead and take her rest on her own, Xiao Ming approached Zi Yan and pinched her soft cheeks.

"I came out of seclusion a few days ago."

"I told you to keep a good eye on Xian'er and Qing Lin, it's okay if you go away from time to time, but why did you go away for a month straight this time, do you still want the medicinal herbs I promised you?"

Pinching Zi Yan's small face, Xiao Ming pretended to be serious and said.

"The pills you left me earlier will run out soon, to grow in strength, I can only go out to fetch more medicinal herbs." Because Xiao Ming pinched her face, Zi Yan's words were unclear.

"Besides, here is that old snowman, nothing would happen to Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin."

Xiao Ming almost laughed when he heard Zi Yan's excuses, the pills he gave to Zi Yan were a very large amount.

If she had eaten them regularly, she definitely wouldn't have finished them so fast, it was definitely because Zi Yan, the gluttonous one, was craving them, and that was why she ate them so fast.

Although he knew it was so, Xiao Ming didn't say anything else, he just shook his head and let go of her cheeks.

"Forget it, I won't bother with you."

"Heh heh heh, Xiao Ming, I knew you were the best!". Zi Yan said after jumping into Xiao Ming's arms and inhaling deeply.

"Now tell me, why did you take so long to come back this time?" asked Xiao Ming while stroking Zi Yan's head.

Hearing Xiao Ming's question, Zi Yan's emotions visibly rose as she raised her head and said to Xiao Ming.

"I've made a new friend outside this time."

"A friend? This is a rare thing."

Zi Yan had always disdained to befriend ordinary people, back then, it was thanks to Ten Thousand Beast Flame and Alchemy that the two of them met in the first place.

So Xiao Ming asked with interest, "What's the other party's name?"

"Medusa."

"Cough cough" Xiao Ming choked, but once he thought about it, Xiao Ming felt it made sense.

The Snake-People was the one with the most treasures near the Jia Ma Empire, and if Zi Yan was looking for heavenly treasures, she would definitely have her eyes on the Snake-People Tribe's treasure.

If he remembered correctly, in the original story, the two of them were very close, Medusa even often took Zi Yan to steal other people's medicinal herbs, now the two of them met and became good friends, which did not surprise Xiao Ming.

Undoubtedly, Zi Yan's words confirmed his thoughts.

"A month ago, because the medicinal herbs in the surrounding citi-, oh no, the medicinal herbs in the surrounding mountains were depleted by me, so I traveled to the desert to look for medicinal herbs. Then, when I was looking for medicinal herbs near the Snake-People Tribe, I met Sister Medusa, and the other party gave me a lot of things."

Zi Yan took out a bunch of medicinal herbs from inside her storage ring, then her big eyes looked at Xiao Ming full of expectation, the meaning was obvious.

Zi Yan's story had a few omissions, she went out to look for medicinal herbs, but where she found them, only she herself knew.

Xiao Ming sighed, Zi Yan and Queen Medusa became friends, but still, he couldn't care less, he couldn't come and tell her, 'I have a problem with your new friend Medusa, you are not allowed to play with her.'

Zi Yan was smart enough to know who to become friends with.

So Xiao Ming merely said, "I see, I'll help you refine these herbs into pills, but during this month, you haven't told her about me, have you?"

"No." Although she didn't know why Xiao Ming was asking this, Zi Yan answered truthfully.

"That's good. But before I refine your medicinal herbs, I have some things to do. You just came back from the desert, so go rest first."

"Okay." Nodding, Zi Yan disappeared towards her room as Xiao Ming gathered Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin "Xian'er, could you please let Hai Bodong know that we're ready to leave Desert City now?"

"Mhm."