Chapter 46: Reason

Innocent words always have the power to touch the heart most deeply.

Looking at the shining brilliance in the young girl's eyes, the Fairy Doctor felt she was so dazzling at this moment, as if her entire body was glowing, completely sweeping away the gloom lingering in her own heart.

Her smile bloomed once more, carrying less hesitation and much more ease.

"Thank you for telling me all this, for untying the knot that has troubled me for years."

Chen Xiao shook his head slightly. "Actually, when I saw you last time, I wanted to tell you, but I hesitated a bit back then. A person who is strong and objective deserves a better tomorrow. Let me tell you another piece of good news: the fate of the Woeful Poison Body is not completely unbreakable."

The Fairy Doctor looked up, anticipation swirling within her eyes.

Influenced by Qing Lin, she really had let go of her worries just now, feeling that even if she were to die one day in the future, at least she would die with clarity and understanding.

Yet, put another way, who would actually want to die if they could live?

Even elderly people on the verge of death would spare no cost to prolong their lives, let alone someone like her in the prime of her youth.

"Rest assured, I'm not making things up just to comfort you. Although my strength is ordinary, I read a lot of books in my spare time and know quite a few hidden secrets. There is a method involving a poisonous pill that can help you control your poison body and break your destiny."

The Fairy Doctor nodded gently. She knew Chen Xiao enjoyed reading; several physicians from the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion had also seen him reading books in the main hall to pass the time while waiting.

"I believe you. However, the poisonous pill method you mentioned probably won't be easy, otherwise you would have told me about the Woeful Poison Body last time."

"Indeed, it's somewhat difficult. When I saw you last time, I didn't have absolute certainty of pulling it off. But it's different now. Since I dare to tell you the truth, it means I have a ninety-eight percent certainty of success."

Previously, Chen Xiao was constrained by his ice-attribute Qi, making it impossible for him to practice the Flame Mantra. Over the span of a decade, he feared he might not be able to suppress three Heavenly Flames through sheer raw power alone.

Moreover, cultivating a alchemist and wondering whether that person could complete the established goal within such a short time frame was also an issue.

After all, back then, the Heavenly Flames Chen Xiao knew of and had the greatest chance of acquiring were limited to the Lotus Flame of the Core of the Earth, the Sea Heart Flame, the Fallen Heart Flame, and the Three Thousand Burning Flame.

While these Heavenly Flames sounded simple enough, plotting to obtain them inevitably came with plenty of trouble.

However, things were different now.

The restriction on his foreknowledge in his mind had been upgraded, allowing him to pre-order Heavenly Flames ranked at the very bottom of the Heavenly Flame Ranking.

Under this premise, the difficulty of gathering three of them undoubtedly dropped by several tiers.

Naturally, Chen Xiao's confidence grew exponentially.

"Can you tell me about this poisonous pill method?"

"Three materials. First, a tier seven Heavenly Poison Scorpion Dragon Beast core. Second, three kinds of Heavenly Flames. And the last one, the Bodhi Body Transformation Saliva."

The Fairy Doctor could understand every single word, yet when put together, they left her utterly bewildered.

These three materials...

The only term she had ever heard of was the widely circulated concept of Heavenly Flames.

"It seems my life and fortune will have to be pinned on you from now on."

The Fairy Doctor made a light joke, her expression turning serious.

"You're going to such great lengths to help me, how am I supposed to repay you? Such a huge favor is enough to give someone a headache just thinking about it."

As friends, helping each other out within one's capacity was only natural.

Yet the Fairy Doctor could imagine that gathering these three materials could never be as effortless as Chen Xiao made it sound.

To go to such lengths for an ordinary friend felt somewhat illusory.

"You shouldn't underestimate yourself. Even the lower limit of the Woeful Poison Body far surpasses the so-called ten strongest experts of the Gama Empire. If the poison body can be completely controlled, its future potential will be immeasurable. No one would refuse a helper with such terrifying potential."

Chen Xiao replied with a smile.

That was the truth.

The Fairy Doctor nodded, accepting this explanation.

If that day Chen Xiao spoke of truly arrived, given her personality, she would undoubtedly repay him with her life.

"And what else?"

"This reason alone is actually enough. A gentle and kind woman like you shouldn't be imprisoned by fate."

As he spoke, Chen Xiao took out a labeled medicine bottle from his storage ring, placed it on the table, and smiled, "Besides, a few years ago when you helped me label my medicine bottles, I thought to myself that having such a gentle and meticulous person companionable by my side would probably be a very pleasant thing."

That was the truth as well; Chen Xiao really had thought about it.

Listening to these rather straightforward words, the inexperienced Fairy Doctor felt her cheeks grow slightly warm.

The mercenaries in the town were never stingy with their praise for her, but her emotions had never fluctuated quite like this before.

Calming her heart slightly, the Fairy Doctor glanced at Chen Xiao's face.

Perhaps it was because he was close to her age, and rather good-looking...

"Thank you!"

"I remember someone saying a few days ago that friends don't need to say such polite things to each other."

The Fairy Doctor smiled wryly. "Last time."

"And also, thank you to Qing Lin."

Qing Lin shook her head vigorously, a hint of awkwardness mixed into her smile.

Through the conversation between Chen Xiao and the Fairy Doctor, she had gradually understood.

That Woeful Poison Body was entirely different in nature from her Green Snake Three-Flower Pupils; it posed a genuine threat to life.

This made the little girl feel that her earlier attempts to comfort the Fairy Doctor were somewhat inappropriate.

"Alright, let's get back to the main point. Although I now have the confidence to condense the poisonous pill for you, there are some things I need to make clear in advance. The Woeful Poison Body is different from ordinary people. Once you officially begin cultivation, Green Mountain Town will no longer be suitable for you to stay in. You must mentally prepare yourself to leave."

"Though I'd very much like to keep you by my side, I will ultimately respect your decision. I only have one request: no matter where you choose to go, you must keep in touch with me. I need to know your cultivation progress, and it will prevent us from losing contact."

The Fairy Doctor nodded softly. "I will let go of matters in Green Mountain Town as soon as possible, but you must also tell me where you are going."

"Of course. In the past few months, I will return to the Xiao Family in Wutan City. Once the recruitment team from Canaan Academy arrives, I will head to Canaan Academy."

The outer court of Canaan Academy offered limited help to Chen Xiao, which was one of the reasons he hadn't rushed to go there in recent years.

However, the inner court was immensely attractive.

Once there, not only could he systematically improve himself, but he could also compete with a crowd of youths and maidens hailed as geniuses.

Furthermore, he could expand his connections and casually meet that fallen princess and others—these were all factors that attracted Chen Xiao.

"It seems we really can't travel together. Last year, I heard some mercenaries talking about that academy; the entrance threshold seemed quite high. You will definitely get in since you reached the Dou Zhe stage a few years ago. But even if I practice without eating or drinking for the next few months, I'll probably still find it hard to reach that threshold."

Hearing this, Chen Xiao couldn't help but laugh softly.

The Fairy Doctor didn't yet have a clear concept of her own cultivation speed.

The Woeful Poison Body was simply not something that could be viewed with conventional eyes.

"There's no need to rush your decision. The time of Canaan Academy's recruitment team arriving in the Gama Empire varies slightly each year, but the difference isn't much. Just give me a firm answer before then."