NOVEL NEXT Chapter 10: Alchemy of souls
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The next day.
As the morning sun rose, golden light bathed the land.
Lu Xian went out to get an identity certificate, then headed to the Martial Soul Sub-Hall with Zhu Zhuqing to collect their Soul Master stipend. With money in their pockets, they finally felt more confident and at ease.
Lu Xian rented a carriage and leisurely left the border city, slowly making his way toward the heart of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Dou Qi Continent, Wutan City – Back Mountain of the Xiao Clan
This place had become Xiao Yan's personal training ground. With lush greenery, beautiful scenery, and absolute peace, it was the perfect retreat.
Whenever Xiao Yan had free time, he'd come here—not just to cultivate his Dou Qi but also to hang out in his online chat group.
After all, some messages in the group were so ridiculous that he couldn't keep a straight face. At least here, he could laugh as much as he wanted without his family thinking he'd lost his mind.
[Xiao Yan: Morning, everyone!]
[Xiao Yan: A brand new day has begun! From today on, I'll always have a fellow countryman in the chat group. Feels good!]
[Ye Fan: Good morning, Mr. Always-Logs-In-on-Time!]
Xiao Yan took an immediate stab at Ye Fan in retaliation.
[Xiao Yan: Morning, Ye-Black!]
[Lu Xian: You two starting already?]
[Ye Fan: Lu Xian, bro, finally! You have no idea how I survived last night.]
[Lu Xian: Don't tell me you were "leading" all night?]
Yan Capital Inn
Ye Fan was having breakfast when he saw that message and almost spat out his food.
Leading all night? What the hell?!
Can you not be so inappropriate? There are girls in the chat too!
[Xiao Yan: A young man should learn to restrain himself smirk]
Xiao Yan was an expert at roasting Ye Fan.
[Lu Xueqi: What are you guys even talking about?]
[Lu Xian: This is Ye Tiandi's personal secret. Little girls shouldn't pry into adult matters!]
Ye Fan's face turned dark. Now he was Ye Tiandi instead of Ye Black?
Heavenly Emperor leading all night—that just made it worse!
Good thing the two girls in the group probably didn't get it…
[Lu Xueqi: Lu Xian, you don't seem much older than me.]
[Lu Xian: I may be young, but when I take it out, it's still big!]
[Yanling Ji: Interesting. Take it out and show us?]
[Xiao Yan: I'm just a kid!]
[Ye Fan: …]
[Ye Fan: Can we act like normal human beings?]
[Lu Xian: Alright, let's get serious. I had some questions I didn't get to ask last night.]
Yanling Ji was going wild. Even Lu Xian couldn't handle it.
[Ye Fan: And yet, you logged off and ran away?]
[Lu Xian: Unlike you and Fire-Fire—one always running for his life, the other training for a three-year duel—I'm here to enjoy life. I sleep when I want. No pressure.]
[Xiao Yan: Jealous…]
[Ye Fan: Jealous…]
Ye Fan and Xiao Yan both felt like they had just swallowed a huge lemon.
Now THIS is a proper isekai experience!
[Lu Xian: Before we get to serious topics, Fire-Fire, let's do some business. I've got something you guys don't have.]
[Xiao Yan: What is it?]
[Lu Xian sent Xiao Yan a special red envelope.]
[Xiao Yan accepted the red envelope.]
Back at the Xiao Clan's back mountain, Xiao Yan stared at the massive box that had appeared in front of him, filled to the brim with… condoms?!
He took a sharp breath. Terrifying!
[Xiao Yan: HOLY—! Where did you get all these?! Wait, this is an Earth product! How?!]
[Lu Xian: Don't worry about it. Just tell me—can I trade this for a storage ring?]
[Xiao Yan: If you don't need a large one, I could probably spare a few…]
[Lu Xian: Standard size is fine. The extras are yours.]
[Xiao Yan: You're too generous, boss!]
[Ye Fan: What the hell are you guys trading?]
[Xiao Yan: Cough, cough… Confidential!]
[Lu Xian: Enough. Let's talk serious business.]
Both Lu Xian and Xiao Yan were too embarrassed to admit they were now running a transdimensional condom trade.
[Lu Xian: Xiao Yan, you joined this support chat group early on. Have there been any official group missions?]
[Xiao Yan: Missions? No, it's just been a chat so far.]
[Lu Xian: That's weird. REALLY weird.]
[Lu Xian: Based on my knowledge, any so-called "support chat group" should have interdimensional missions—like helping each other in fights, for example.]
Ye Fan's eyes lit up. That's actually possible?!
He was currently being hunted by Jiang Family knights and had to hide in crowded cities. If he could recruit help from the group, could he turn the tables?
The only question—could these guys actually handle Jiang Family knights…?
[Lu Xian: I think I get it. You guys are still early in your stories. No major crises yet, so the missions haven't triggered.]
[Ye Fan: Are you serious?! I'm being hunted across the world! That's not a crisis?!]
[Lu Xian: Maybe it's not a life-and-death crisis yet?]
[Lu Xian: Hey, Ye Black, why don't you go provoke your pursuers? Maybe you'll trigger a mission.]
You want me to die, don't you?!
[Ye Fan: Wow, thanks for the suggestion!]
[Lu Xian: Relax. You'll have a big opportunity soon, and we'll see if I'm right.]
Opportunity?
Verification?
Are you sure it's not just another crisis?!
[Ye Fan: Just how legit is this "opportunity"?]
[Lu Xian: Oh, very legit. An old geezer will capture you, toss you in a cauldron, and try to refine you into a longevity pill.]
[Ye Fan: …]
At that moment, Elder Han appeared before Ye Fan at the inn.
"Well, well… fate really does bring people together."
With a sinister grin, the skeletal Elder Han stared at him.
Ye Fan's heart pounded. This old bastard actually wants to refine me into a pill?!
[Ye Fan: Lu Xian, bro, HELP!]
Ye Fan finished his last meat bun, his expression shifting from panic to clarity to excitement.
Turns out my backers are OP as hell!
"So you wanna capture me for alchemy, huh?"
"Alright. Come on, cuff me!"
…
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