"I hope Senior will allow me to choose from your entire collection of cultivation methods and Dou Techniques," Lin Yuan made his request.
"I don't have many High-Tier Earth-class cultivation methods or Dou Techniques on hand. Since you are being so straightforward, I naturally won't be stingy. You may choose freely," Yao Lao said generously. After all, in order to ensure the smooth completion of the transaction, he had to be magnanimous. If this deal failed and the map fell into the hands of an ancient clan, obtaining it again would be virtually impossible.
Seeing the transaction nearing completion, Lin Yuan struck while the iron was hot and prepared to pursue the Poison Pill Method.
"Straightforward indeed. Speaking of which, Senior is the continent's number-one alchemist and must be extremely knowledgeable. This junior has a question I would like to ask."
"Oh? What is it?"
"Senior is familiar with the Woeful Poison Body, yes? Is there a way to resolve it?"
"The Woeful Poison Body?" Yao Lao paused slightly, a trace of nostalgia appearing on his face. "That truly is a term that brings back memories. You yourself are not afflicted with it, so I presume a relative or friend of yours possesses such a constitution?"
As he spoke of the Woeful Poison Body, Yao Lao's expression turned reminiscent—likely recalling the Woeful Poison Body expert he had once defeated.
"A friend," Lin Yuan replied.
"Then it truly is fate. Coincidentally, this old man happens to have collected a Poison Pill Method. Unfortunately, the conditions required to execute it are extremely harsh. If you need it, you may exchange it using the Core Quenching Tempering Body Milk," Yao Lao said readily.
To him, the Poison Pill Method was merely a collector's item. Exchanging it for something that could help Xiao Yan stabilize his foundation, temper his body, and establish a stronger base was naturally worthwhile.
Moreover, if Lin Yuan's friend were to truly carry out the Poison Pill Method in the future, they might very well require Xiao Yan's assistance—someone capable of controlling multiple Heavenly Flames. At that time, Xiao Yan could gain a favor. Anyone who successfully completed the Poison Pill Method would undoubtedly become a powerful expert, allowing Xiao Yan to gain a valuable connection.
"Agreed. This is the Core Quenching Tempering Body Milk," Lin Yuan said.
After the negotiations were concluded, Lin Yuan and Yao Lao completed the exchange.
Yao Lao and Xiao Yan obtained the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame remnant map and the Core Quenching Tempering Body Milk.
From Yao Lao's collection, Lin Yuan selected:
A High-tier Earth-class fire-attribute cultivation method, Heavenly Capital Flame Codex
A High-tier Earth-class non-attribute cultivation method, Azure Sky Profound Codex
A High-tier Earth-class Dou Technique, Three Radiance Seal Art
A jade slip containing the inheritance of an Eighth-Grade Alchemist from a hundred years ago
The Poison Pill Method scroll
Both sides were highly satisfied with the outcome.
After completing the transaction, Lin Yuan was in an excellent mood. This exchange resolved many of his pressing issues. He and Qing Lin now had high-tier cultivation methods to switch to. The Poison Pill Method to resolve Little Fairy Doctor's Woeful Poison Body was in hand. He had obtained a reference for researching how Earth-class Dou Techniques mobilized Heaven and Earth Energy. The inheritance prior to becoming an Eighth-Grade Alchemist was secured. When he returned to the academy next time, he would be able to resolve the lack of high-grade alchemy techniques within Jia Nan Academy's alchemy department.
Moreover—
As Lin Yuan watched Xiao Yan receive the demon flame remnant map, his gaze casually swept toward a long-dead magical beast corpse nailed to a tree not far away.
After reaching an agreement with Lin Yuan not to disclose Yao Lao's condition, Xiao Yan and Yao Lao departed. Xiao Yan had just broken through by one star and needed to engage in several intense battles with magical beasts to polish his Dou Qi and consolidate his cultivation.
Some time after Yao Lao and Xiao Yan left, a concealed aura quietly followed them within Lin Yuan's Soul Perception. This aura was extremely well-hidden, yet even among Dou Emperor, it could be considered exceptionally powerful.
"Ling Ying?" Lin Yuan understood immediately. "Dark-attribute cultivation methods truly are uniquely suited for concealment. Gu Xun'er really did arrange for him to follow them. She's truly attentive toward Xiao Yan."
Lin Yuan grew more wary of Gu Xun'er. A woman who displayed such faintly obsessive tendencies required extreme caution when dealing with.
Once all the auras within his perception had completely departed, Lin Yuan raised his hand, and a surge of Dou Qi swept forth, pulling the magical beast corpse down from the tree and into his grasp. He then removed both eyes from the corpse and examined them carefully.
They were actually two polished Image Recording Stones.
After inspecting them and confirming that both stones had recorded the entire scene of his transaction with Yao Lao and Xiao Yan, Lin Yuan nodded in satisfaction.
"A bargaining chip to restrain Gu Xun'er—acquired."
"With this, all objectives of this operation have been achieved."
Using the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame remnant map to exchange for cultivation methods sufficient to reach Dou Ancestor and an Eighth-Grade Alchemist inheritance had long been part of Lin Yuan's plan. How to maximize the benefits of this transaction while avoiding excessive attention from Gu Xun'er had been the key focus of this operation.
As for the latter, Lin Yuan believed it had been largely accomplished. Through the Heavenly Network centered around the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, everything appeared externally as nothing more than Xiao Yan and Yao Lao accidentally encountering him. No trace of calculation could be detected from the outside.
As for the former—the two Image Recording Stones were an enormous gain.
On the Dou Qi Continent, there were no shortage of powerful experts coveting the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame. The footage Lin Yuan possessed was sufficient to incite some of them into action. After all, the continent's experts valued strength over reasoning. With even a hint of suspicion, they would not hesitate to personally verify it through force.
The temptation of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame was simply too great—great enough to make them act.
Moreover, given Xiao Yan's obsession with Heavenly Flames, it was destined that he would never give up the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame remnant map. As such, the fact that he possessed this remnant map would, for a very long time, become his fatal weakness. Once leaked, it could draw murderous calamity at any moment.
With the footage in hand, Xiao Yan's weakness for a long period of time was already firmly grasped by Lin Yuan.
Given Gu Xun'er's feelings toward Xiao Yan, his life and future were undoubtedly her top priority. Under such circumstances, Lin Yuan—who held Xiao Yan's fatal weakness—now possessed ample room to negotiate or contend with Gu Xun'er. Even the two portions of the map separated from Hai Bodong could serve as extremely high-quality bargaining chips when necessary. As the Daughter of the Gu Clan, one of the top forces on the Dou Qi Continent, Gu Xun'er could offer far better assets than Xiao Yan ever could. Once the demon flame remnant map entered Xiao Yan's hands, this channel of transaction was effectively opened.
Gazing in the direction where Xiao Yan and Yao Lao had departed, Lin Yuan's eyes grew profound and unfathomable.
"Xiao Yan… Xiao Yan. That remnant map will be entrusted to you for now. You must guard it well for me. What kind of role will you play in the grand chessboard of Heaven and Earth in the future? I truly look forward to it."
Lin Yuan bore no ill will toward Xiao Yan—on the contrary, he even admired him somewhat. However, to Lin Yuan, Xiao Yan might one day become a rival contending on the Path, a chess piece within his various schemes, or perhaps an insignificant peripheral figure. All of this would require time to verify. Nevertheless, none of that hindered Lin Yuan from valuing Xiao Yan in the present, nor from expressing that regard through careful advance planning and calculation.
"Everything that needed to be done here is finished. It's time to return to the valley and switch cultivation methods."
After confirming that nothing had been overlooked, Lin Yuan spread his wings and flew toward the valley where Qing Lin was located.
Upon returning to the valley, Lin Yuan landed lightly. He raised his hand and brushed it across his face, the bones and flesh subtly shifting as he reverted to his original appearance.
To be safe, Lin Yuan had still been wearing a disguise when meeting Xiao Yan and Yao Lao this time. He had not used his true appearance, but rather a different face of similar age. This ensured that even if Gu Xun'er attempted to investigate him, the difficulty would be significantly increased. After all, Ling Ying had not detected any Heavenly Flame aura from him. Even if an investigation were launched, it could only proceed using the appearance he had shown at the time as the primary clue.
As Lin Yuan touched down, Qing Lin immediately stepped forward, a gentle smile blooming on her face.
"Young Master, welcome back."
Lin Yuan understood at once. After spending so much time together, he knew that this expression meant Qing Lin was yearning for praise.
Taking a closer look, Lin Yuan saw that Qing Lin's cultivation had already reached Four-Star Dou Practitioner, and she was not far from breaking through to Five-Star Dou Practitioner. After crossing the Dou Qi Stage and becoming a Dou Practitioner, the acceleration effect of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils seemed to have its restrictions lifted. Qing Lin's cultivation speed had increased even further—rising four stars in less than two months.
His hand brushed gently through Qing Lin's soft hair as Lin Yuan said with satisfaction, "Qing'er, you did very well this time. Not only has your cultivation improved tremendously, but you also controlled the Heavenly Network and provided me with immense assistance. I may need you to help like this often in the future. Do you have any wishes? As long as it is within my ability, I will fulfill them."
"Really?" Qing Lin's eyes lit up. As she looked at Lin Yuan, she seemed to think of something and suddenly froze. Her face flushed red, and she quickly averted her gaze toward the ground, shaking her head vigorously.
"Qing'er doesn't have any wishes. Being able to help Young Master is Qing'er's wish."
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