--- Chapter 48 ---
After a depressing shower, Baek Ain sat in the backyard with Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python on his stomach. The small white snake is hissing soundlessly, sleeping with his presence around.
According to Alicia.
The beast, or what Baek Ain called Little Medusa, has been hiding inside the "Cold Yin Prison." Spatial Ring, which the Great Alchemist Yao Men used to conceal his unfortunate soul. And she only gets out when there is no one around him to absorb his Essence Blood, feeding herself till full with Gnome's Flame.
What a clever beast.
'As expected of Queen Medusa's instinct, I guess?' Baek Ain laughed as he couldn't get rid of the "Soul Symbiotic Ritual." or so-called marriage contract with Queen Medusa.
He didn't know if this was a blessing or a curse.
Don't get Baek Ain wrong. He's happy such a beautiful woman and a literal queen are choosing him to be her husband.
Still, an overbearing lady like Queen Medusa is hard to get satisfied with. Baek Ain has to become stronger than Queen Medusa after her evolution, or he will get dominated by her again.
It's silly to say this, but his pride as a man won't allow Queen Medusa to look down on him again.
"I'm that desperate when fighting her, huh?" Baek Ain recalled the tricks he used against Queen Medusa.
He sighed and decided to check his quest's rewards.
"Ah, 1st Singularity's Clue? I need this."
[Ding! You have opened the first clue about This World's Singularity]
[The clue is...]
["Someone close with the Main Protagonist, Xiao Yan."]
[Further Information is restricted until the host finishes another quest from the "Goddess of Opportunity."]
"..." Baek Ain.
"Ah, great. It's Xiao Yan all over again."
"Can I take a fucking break from this guy?"
"And do you know how little that narrowed it down by saying someone close to him?? He knew many people at this point..."
Baek Ain rubbed his forehead and mumbled, "Perhaps I should slaughter everyone related to him? No way, Gu Xun'er and her ancient clan would put a bounty over my head if I did that."
"Tch, I haven't confirmed a thing about the Eight Ancient Clans in this alternative universe. They were enemies or allies with the Xiao Clan before the incident. I need to know..."
"No, after the incident is also important..."
"I need to visit the Central Plains soon." He added while thinking about something.
"I have excuses not to hurry and fall into unknown territory that might put me in a disadvantageous situation, but increasing my cultivation is the only way to solve future problems, after all."
"Given the time, Xiao Yan should return to the Jia Ma Empire soon to fight Nalan Yanran."
"Is that right, Alicia?"
[Affirmative, the three years promise between Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran will happen after the Alchemist Competition in one month] Alicia answered dutifully.
[What are you going to do, host?]
"Me? I'll mind my own business for now." Baek Ain returned with a smile.
"After finishing the "Queen Medusa." quest, I finally obtained 2/3 of Golden Crow's Record of Burning World."
"I will start by training the 4th Stage as fast as possible."
Baek Ain laughed in realization and continued, "Also... I might abuse the upgraded Synthesize(A+). After all, having memories of an old sage from Cultivation World is a cheat code too."
[...]
[Please do it in moderation, host]
[Synthesizing Martial Techniques create flaws if you're doing it poorly]
"I know, I know... Don't worry."
"I'm not dumb, Alicia."
"Human's greatest ability to adapt at the end of the day. Our malice could even surpass others."
[That's true, I suppose...]
...
...
Two weeks later.
Baek Ain has been solely focusing on training the Record of Burning World and researching the best Dou Techniques he could utilize in the battle in the last two weeks.
Even though Baek Ain didn't master the Record of Burning World's 4th Stage, he still made massive progress. 3rd Stage: Burning Sun Rupture is the clue to learning the 4th Stage, which involves a more fierce combustion method.
As for the Dou Qi Techniques for Synthesizing, Baek Ain is still sorting them based on the grades and similarities because Yao Men's memories are messy as fuck.
The Parallel Thinking Skill is helping a lot in this part. Years' worth of memories sorted quickly in just two weeks, making it easier for Baek Ain to support his future path.
Of course, Baek Ain didn't just train because he also made some pills here and there to help Miteer's Family Business. His pills are basically a common addition at this point, raking money all over the Jia Ma Empire.
No, even people from the Neighboring Empire are buying his pills like no tomorrow.
And after training more, Baek Ain should be able to make the 6-Tiers Pill without any problem. He's still failing around 30% of the time, but his progress is faster than any Alchemist of the same tiers.
Well, no person under 20 years old could compare to him in the Jia Ma Empire.
Hai Bodong lectured him about staying humble, but Baek Ain has been doing so for months. If he didn't make pills in the shadows, people would come to the Miteer Family and ask for personal requests when he lived in Wu Tan City.
Leaving that senile guy side, Baek Ain also helped Yi Xian control her Woeful Poison Body with a temporary Dou Technique called "Earthly Poison Core." which creates neidan/core inside her body to absorb the excessive poison.
It should help Yi Xian to control and cultivate Woeful Poison Body while Baek Ain was away, but the longest she could maintain is roughly 2-3 months until he devoured her poison with White Poison Art again.
As for Qing Lin, Baek Ain imparted Visual and Movement Dou Techniques to her. Green-Eyed Demon Art and Butterfly Dance Steps will help her control the snake-type magical beast and dodge incoming attacks.
She is also supported with resources such as several 3 to 4-rank magical beasts, so her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils will grow stronger alongside her cultivation.
And to top that, Qing Lin received combat training from Lan Rou personally. This girl is going to be a beast in the future.
Baek Ain is considering sending Qing Lin to Sky Serpent Mansion, so her potential will be more prominent, but her current self is too fragile to survive alone.
Qing Lin is a glass cannon. She should be peak Dou Grandmaster before traveling alone.
Even though Baek Ain deepened his relationships with these girls, Yafei and Lan Rou observed from the side because Yi Xian and Qing Lin hadn't proven themselves yet.
Ironically, Lan Rou agreed with Yafei's Harem Plan, as Baek Ain was too monstrous for them to handle. They didn't know what happened to Baek Ain recently, but he's just become too good with his touches.
Nirvana Touch is one hell of a drug.
Baek Ain is unaware of this plan, which more or less starts his journey as a legit Harem Protagonist.
...
...
"Shit, I finally chose the most suitable techniques."
"God, this is tiring."
Baek Ain rested on the floor and noticed a small white snake slithering onto his hand. "Are you hungry already? Damn, you're a glutton." He commented with a sigh.
"Here." He released a wisp of Gnome's Flame from his finger, feeding Little Medusa with it.
"Hiss~!" Little Medusa squirmed in delight.
The white snake burped and waved her little tail to Baek Ain, disappearing into the Black Spatial Ring tied around his neck. He smiled helplessly and shook his head because Little Medusa was adorable.
Baek Ain shivered slightly, remembering the real Medusa could come up anytime.
"Anyway, let's Synthesize some Dou Techniques."
"Wait, should I learn them first?"
[Technically, no] Alicia answered calmly.
[Since you have the Core Technique learned, such as "Blood Tiger Muscle Technique.", you can synthesize other Dou Technique to perfect it]
[Since the fundamental is still the same, your mastery won't change]
[Simply put, it's like adding building blocks onto a foundation]
[Unless you combined two Dou Techniques that you didn't train]
"Okay, got it." Baek Ain nodded in understanding.
"Let's start with this Dou Technique first."
[Ding! You have chosen "Silent Shadow Steps." as a Core Technique]
[Ding! You have chosen "Broken Tiger Steps." and "Perplexing Star Movement." as subsidies]
[Synthesizing...]
[You have obtained "Broken Shadow Tiger's Steps."]