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Medusa fixed her gaze on Xiao Yan.
"We're here for the Ice Spirit Cold Fountain," Xiao Yan said bluntly.
"Ice Spirit Cold Fountain? And how did you come to know… that I possess such a thing?" Queen Medusa's slender fingers idly brushed aside a lock of green hair from her cheek. A faint chill flickered in her light purple eyes.
The Ice Spirit Cold Fountain—she had spent a great deal of effort collecting it. It was meant for a very dangerous, very critical purpose. How could she not feel nervous about it?
"The Ice Spirit Cold Fountain is a rare treasure of heaven and earth, only found in extreme cold regions," Xiao Yan explained smoothly. "While the desert is scorching by day, it turns bitterly cold at night. The massive temperature difference creates the possibility for certain unique places where the Ice Spirit Cold Fountain can form."
"And if we're talking about the ones who know the desert best—its terrain, its secrets—then it has to be your Snake-People Clan."
"Oh?" Medusa chuckled softly and leaned lazily against her chair. "Then I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you, Young Master Xiao. The Snake-People Clan may have possessed Ice Spirit Cold Fountain in the past—but we do not have it now."
Xiao Yan paused for a moment, seemingly in thought. Then he smiled. "That's a bit hard to believe, Your Majesty. The Snake-People possess a naturally cold yin constitution. The Ice Spirit Cold Fountain would be a priceless treasure for you, one that greatly benefits your cultivation."
"If you say your clan doesn't have even a drop of it… well, not even you would believe that, would you? We're not asking for much—just two portions."
As he spoke, Xiao Yan flipped his hand and brought out two small jade bottles, placing them gently on the table.
"This much. Just enough to fill these two bottles. That's not a lot, is it?"
"No—make it three," Wei Yang suddenly spoke up, flipping his own hand to produce another jade bottle. With a casual flick, the bottle landed on the table with a clink. "I just remembered—Qing Lin might need it too."
Qing Lin had a yin-cold attribute as well. The Ice Spirit Cold Fountain could be very beneficial to her growth.
Xiao Yan shrugged and looked at Medusa. "Then—make it three."
"…My clan does have some Ice Spirit Cold Fountain," Medusa admitted, twirling a strand of hair around her finger, "but the supply is quite limited. Three portions? That's not possible."
"And since you already know how important it is to us, then even one portion is worth an astronomical price. What are you planning to trade in exchange? A Dou Spirit Pill? Or perhaps… a Mighty Huang Pill?"
Xiao Yan blinked, stunned into silence.
Dou Spirit Pill? Mighty Huang Pill?
This woman really knew how to open her mouth wide!
Medusa's obvious attempt to inflate the price and hoard her goods caused even Wei Yang to frown slightly.
He stepped forward. "Your Majesty, we came here with sincerity. We hope you'll be serious about this negotiation."
"Kukuku… oh, Young Master Wei, how could you say I'm not being serious?" Medusa gave him a sidelong glance and let out a soft, mocking laugh behind her hand.
You send a mere Two-Star Dou Shi to negotiate with me—and you call this serious?
Just because you're a Tier 6 alchemist, you think you can walk all over me?
I'm still a queen, you know. A queen!
"Enough with the back-and-forth. Let's be honest with each other." Wei Yang strode forward and stood firmly before her. "We know you have the Ice Spirit Cold Fountain. We want three portions. Name your price."
"Three Dou Spirit Pills—or two Mighty Huang Pills," Medusa finally said, her expression more serious now.
"Tch. Now we're talking," Wei Yang scoffed and flicked his sleeve.
Medusa, still smiling, spoke sweetly. "As long as the price is right, I might be able to squeeze out a bit."
Xiao Yan rubbed his nose. Sure enough, you can't reason with a woman. She lies without blinking.
"Fine. You provide the ingredients for six Dou Spirit Pills, and I'll personally refine three for you," Wei Yang said after a moment of thought, nodding.
Medusa's smile froze ever so slightly.
"…Mister Wei, surely you're joking with me?"
Six sets of ingredients for three pills? Good heavens—
That would gut the Snake-People Clan's medicinal stores by at least a third!
"I don't have time to joke," Wei Yang said, frowning. "Do you even know what a Dou Spirit Pill is?"
"What? You think it's too expensive?"
Wei Yang's lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. "Heh, seems like your Snake-People Clan rarely deals with alchemists."
"My advice? Maybe you should go out and ask around about the real market value before making that kind of comment."
"When others request a Dou Spirit Pill, they usually have to provide three full sets of materials. Then they wait—sometimes days, weeks—just for the chance to get an alchemist's time. And even then, there's no guarantee they'll get a pill. If their luck's bad, the alchemist might fail all three times. That means the materials? Gone."
"That's the standard rule. Don't tell me you didn't know?"
"And even if the pill succeeds, they still have to pay the alchemist separately as compensation for the effort."
As he spoke, Wei Yang lifted his chin slightly. A rare glint of pride appeared in his eyes—the pride unique to alchemists.
"I'm asking only for six sets of ingredients, and in return, I guarantee three Dou Spirit Pills. The price? Three portions of Ice Spirit Cold Fountain. You think I'm being unreasonable?"
"Uh…" Medusa faltered, finally realizing the truth.
Come to think of it… those were the rules for dealing with alchemists.
Xiao Yan, who'd remained silent, shot a glance at Medusa.
Your Majesty… don't underestimate the worth of a Tier 6 alchemist.
It was clear the Snake-People Clan didn't truly understand what that status meant—or how rare it was.
If Wei Yang were to announce his identity as a Tier 6 alchemist, the surrounding empires would send countless powerful figures crawling to his doorstep, ingredients in hand, begging for a chance—offering nothing but flattery and respect.
Now he was asking only two sets of ingredients per pill, with a guarantee of success, and requesting just one portion of Ice Spirit Cold Fountain per pill? That was more than fair.
A faint hint of embarrassment flashed across Medusa's face. She realized she had nearly made a fool of herself.
Due to her clan's limited interaction with human alchemists, she had nearly forgotten the rules of their trade.
Wei Yang clasped his hands behind his back, lips curving into a cool smirk. "Well? Do you understand now? You think getting a Tier 6 alchemist to make a move is easy?"
"Six sets of ingredients. Three Dou Spirit Pills. Guaranteed success."
"Also," he added casually, "there's a 50% chance that at least one of them will be of superior grade. That part's a bonus. I won't charge extra for that—just depends on your luck."
Medusa's gaze flickered. Deep down, she was clearly tempted.
Even Yue Mei, who'd quietly awakened without anyone noticing, opened her eyes and looked expectantly at the Queen.
The Dou Spirit Pill might not be of much use to Medusa herself—but for the Eight Commanders, it was invaluable.
Especially when the human alchemist had personally said there was a 50% chance one of the pills would be top-grade!
Top-grade Dou Spirit Pills had a very real chance of helping the user gain two entire stars in strength within just a few days!
And the cost? Three portions of Ice Spirit Cold Fountain?
Totally worth it.
Even if the Snake-People Clan had wanted to ask an alchemist for help before, they wouldn't have even known where to start.
Even if they could find one—most high-tier human alchemists wouldn't even give them the time of day.
Force them? That would be suicide. It'd be like kicking a hornet's nest—every empire's Alchemist Guild would retaliate instantly.
Even powerful human cultivators didn't dare offend a high-tier alchemist, especially not a Tier 6 one. Alchemists like that were practically walking treasures, pampered by everyone.
A Tier 6 alchemist's network wasn't just for show either. Behind every one of them was a crowd of powerful people eager to owe them favors.
Would the Snake-People dare provoke someone like that?
Let alone attack them?
Now, one of those prized alchemists had not only come to their doorstep but had offered to help the Snake-People Clan refine pills?
That was the kind of blessing that would make you wake up laughing in your sleep.
Medusa had clearly come to her senses by now. No one in their right mind would refuse the goodwill of a high-tier alchemist.
She lightly licked her red lips. Her odd-colored pupils flicked toward Wei Yang with a trace of respect. She gritted her teeth and said:
"I have one more condition."
"Oh?" Wei Yang raised a brow. "Interesting. Let's hear it."
Xiao Yan and Yue Mei both frowned slightly, feeling that Medusa might be pushing her luck—or worse, overstepping.
Medusa took a soft breath, then asked:
"Mister Wei, do you… possess a Heavenly Flame?"
"I do," Wei Yang nodded. A knowing glint flickered in his eyes.
"I would like to borrow it," Medusa said, enunciating each word clearly.
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