Chapter 91: An Old Man in the Family Is Like a Treasure

Chapter 91: An Old Man in the Family Is Like a Treasure

Three months had nearly passed in the blink of an eye.

In a side hall of the snake people's temple, Xiao Bai focused on the ebony cauldron before him. Several herbs hovered within, their essences melding as he refined a fourth-tier elixir—the Green Spirit Blood Building Pill.

This pill, crafted from Earth Demon Root, Sky Jade Tree Branch, and a fourth-tier earth magic core, could enhance physical strength, effective up to the Dou Ling realm.

Upon arriving at the snake people's holy city, Yao Lao had given Xiao Bai a pharmacopoeia, a treasure trove of the continent's medicinal knowledge and Yao Lao's centuries of alchemy experience. It included hundreds of pill recipes, from the familiar Dou Ling Pill to the Huangji Pill and Pozong Pill.

Inspired, Xiao Bai had proposed trading for herbs with Medusa. True to her word, she sent her guard, Hua She'er, the next day with a batch of herbs and magic cores, mostly fire and earth-aligned due to the snake people's cold constitution. With few alchemists among them, they traded these resources with desert merchants for pills, food, and other necessities, limiting their stock.

The quantity wasn't vast by a faction's standards, but for Xiao Bai's practice, it was ample. Medusa, seeming embarrassed by the modest offering, had Hua She'er relay that he could request more, but Xiao Bai declined. The queen was stretched thin, and he couldn't bring himself to press her further. Some of the resources, Hua She'er noted, were hastily gathered from the city overnight.

"Xiao Bai, focus! The medicinal properties are merging!" Yao Lao's voice snapped him back from distraction.

Having observed Xiao Bai's alchemy, Yao Lao's worldview had been upended. Xiao Bai's use of twin thunders—Fire Thunder and Ice Thunder—obviated the need for traditional fire or wood attributes. As Xiao Bai put it, "Alchemy doesn't have to be so complicated!" Yao Lao nearly agreed, only to bristle at the audacity. Xiao Bai's method was rarer than any flame or attribute, a singular anomaly even among the continent's alchemists.

"Earth Demon Root is yin, Sky Jade Branch is yang. Seize the moment—add the Earth Magic Core's essence to blend. Yes… like that!" Yao Lao guided, his voice brimming with satisfaction. Teaching Xiao Bai was effortless; the youth grasped concepts instantly, often extrapolating beyond.

Yao Lao's admiration grew. Xiao Bai's talent was exceptional, a natural alchemist. Despite his unorthodox thunder-based technique, Yao Lao's vast experience, combined with Xiao Bai's innovative ideas, sparked refinements in his own craft. The thunder-forged pills boasted purer properties and superior efficacy compared to traditional flame-refined ones.

"Done!" Xiao Bai exclaimed, waving his hand to reveal a glossy green pill.

Yao Lao examined it, smiling. "Not bad. Its energy marks it as top-tier among fourth-grade pills. Congratulations, Xiao Bai—you're a fourth-grade alchemist now!"

"Haha, I owe it to your guidance, Yao Lao. You've solidified my foundation," Xiao Bai replied, grinning.

"No need for modesty. With your soul power and talent, sixth-tier pills are within reach soon. Seventh-tier might take time, but you're unhindered by Dou Qi depletion, unlike others," Yao Lao said earnestly. Xiao Bai's thunders consumed only soul power, bypassing the Dou Qi limitations that constrained other alchemists.

"An old man in the family is like a treasure! Yao Lao, I'm half-tempted to keep you from Xiao Yan," Xiao Bai teased, stretching.

He genuinely valued Yao Lao's mentorship. The old man was both teacher and friend, though Xiao Bai sensed a cautious edge, likely from Han Feng's betrayal. The Yao Lao of old might've been livelier.

"Forget it! You're too restless. I'd tire out following you. Xiao Yan's obedient, clueless—gives me more peace," Yao Lao said, stroking his beard with a smile, shaking his head.

"Haha!" Xiao Bai chuckled, unconvinced. Peace with Xiao Yan? Good luck. That kid would stir more trouble than him.

As night fell, Xiao Bai stepped out, leaping onto the hall's roof to savor the cool breeze. For three months, he'd barely left the side hall, immersed in Yao Lao's pharmacopoeia or refining pills, undisturbed by the outside world.

Taking a pot of aged wine from his ring, he sipped, gazing at the central temple. "Tomorrow's her evolution day," he murmured.

Xiao Bai felt a flicker of uncertainty. Altering the original timeline raised doubts about Medusa's success, unlike the certainty of the source story.

Lost in thought, he sensed a faint spatial ripple. A red-robed figure appeared beside him—Medusa, her captivating face and regal poise unchanged, though her eyes held a trace of fatigue.

"Your Majesty, long time no see," Xiao Bai said, smiling.

Medusa glanced at him, nodding lightly. A faint medicinal scent clung to him, stirring curiosity. An alchemist? She dismissed the thought; his mysteries, from hidden allies to strange skills, made it unsurprising.

"Ready?" Xiao Bai asked.

"Mmm," she replied.

Xiao Bai stifled a laugh. So sparing with words. The silence mirrored their rooftop encounter three months ago. They stood, overlooking the city, each in their own thoughts.

Half an hour later, Medusa vanished soundlessly, her voice drifting back. "Tomorrow, please."

Xiao Bai shook his head, catching the lingering fragrance. Always words on the wind, never to my face. Proud as ever.

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(End of this chapter)