Chapter 35: Cooperation Reached, the Unwelcome Guest Arrives

"You may let the Medical Immortal crown-peer try it; if there are any shortcomings, I will modify them further," Xiadie explained.

Xu Jiawei nodded, looked toward Xu Jiujiu, and said, "Jiu Jiu, go invite the Medical Immortal crown-peer over, and just say that Miss Xiadie is looking for her."

Xu Jiawei weighed his words carefully.

To him, Xiadie was ultimately just a girl of eleven or twelve; whether she could actually achieve what she claimed remained an unknown, so he should not hold such high expectations, lest he come with high hopes only to return disappointed.

Xu Jiujiu left the main hall and headed toward the Hall of Offerings.

"What is in this other box?" Xu Jiawei set the rectangular wooden box aside; after all, this was an item for Wang Xian'er, and it would be bad if it were damaged.

"It can be considered a simplified version of the Prosthetic Limb; it has some differences from the one for the Medical Immortal crown-peer, but regular soldiers, or even low-level Soul Masters, can use it."

"Oh?"

Xu Jiawei opened the wooden box.

What lay quietly in the wooden box was not a prosthetic limb, but a blueprint.

Engraved upon it were strange array patterns.

"Is this a design drawing?" Although Xu Jiawei was not a Spirit Engineer, he understood them well enough to see at a glance that the arrays on it were somewhat similar to those of a Spirit Engineer.

"Yes," Xiadie replied, "The Medical Immortal crown-peer's prosthetic limb requires specific techniques and some special methods to be successfully manufactured, making it difficult to mass-produce, but this blueprint's prosthetic limb can absolutely be mass-produced."

Xu Jiawei looked at the dense, intricate array carvings on it.

Although he was not a Spirit Engineer, he knew this item was very precious.

"On behalf of all the disabled soldiers of the Star Luo Empire, I express my gratitude to Miss Xiadie." Xu Jiawei's tone was very respectful; he couldn't understand the blueprint, but couldn't he understand the conclusion?

It could adapt to parts of the body.

For example, for a two-hundred-jin soldier, even if this arm were manufactured a bit small, it could automatically expand or shrink until it fit the interface of the soldier's severed limb.

"Your Majesty is too kind," Xiadie said, "However, I still cannot reach the level of my teacher."

"No, no, no," Xu Jiawei sighed with emotion, "Miss Xiadie is still young; reaching your teacher's level is likely only a matter of time."

After a round of praise, Xu Jiawei's gaze fell upon the smooth, round medicinal pill beside it.

Judging by the medicinal fragrance, this should be a pill of no low grade.

"Fate-Reversing Pill."

"Oh?" Upon hearing Xiadie's explanation, Xu Jiawei was surprised, "Can this pill reverse the heavens and change fate?"

"Reversing the heavens and changing fate may be possible, but to gain something, one often must lose something."

"Everything in the world is nothing more than balance," Xiadie said calmly.

"I would like to hear the details."

Xu Jiawei dared not treat Xiadie as a junior anymore.

The eleven or twelve-year-old girl before him was not only meticulous in thought but also proficient in Soul Guidance Devices and alchemy.

This pill might truly be extraordinary, who could say.

"The pill can increase innate soul power by one level."

"Is this the Mysterious Water Pill?" Xu Jiawei realized, filled with astonishment.

"No," Xiadie shook her head gently, "The talent enhancement of the Mysterious Water Pill is affected by the Soul Master's own talent and level; the higher the Soul Master's own innate soul power, the worse the effect, and the higher the Soul Master's level, the less the effect."

"This pill does not have this limitation."

Xiadie paused slightly here and continued, "Your Majesty, the effect of the Fate-Reversing Pill is that for innate soul power of level seven or below, including level seven, regardless of age or level."

"As long as it is consumed, innate soul power increases by one level."

"You mean to say," Xu Jiawei's eyes widened, his lips trembling slightly,

"If one is a level 89 Soul Douluo, after consuming this pill, they can break through to level 90 and become a quasi-Title Douluo?"

Xiadie nodded gently and replied: "With innate soul power of level 8, there is indeed a probability of glimpsing the Title realm."

"Hiss—"

Xu Jiawei gasped.

Innate soul power not only restricts cultivation speed but also restricts bottlenecks.

With innate soul power of level 7, there is a probability of breaking through to Soul Saint, and a very small probability of reaching level 79.

But a Soul Master with innate soul power of level 8 has a probability of advancing to Soul Douluo, and a very small probability of reaching level 89.

A one-in-ten-thousand chance to glimpse the Title realm.

Although this one-in-ten-thousand chance was nearly non-existent, the overall strength was not calculated that way; this one-level increase in innate soul power was equivalent to doubling the strength of the entire Star Luo Empire's Soul Master legion.

Xu Jiujiu suppressed the excitement in her heart, her gaze studying the pill lying in the wooden box.

She withdrew her gaze with great reluctance.

"Miss Xiadie, what are the side effects of this pill?"

"A reduction in lifespan of five to ten years; other than that, there are no side effects."

"Reduce lifespan!?" Xu Jiawei's eyes widened.

"Yes," Xiadie nodded, "To want to gain something, one must consider what one might lose."

"This is balance."

Xu Jiawei fell silent.

Five to ten years—it was neither long nor short.

In the end, he sighed: "You are right; how could the number of days be changed so easily."

Xu Jiawei looked out the window, his gaze filled with distraction.

After a long while, his line of sight fell back to Xiadie's position.

"Miss Xiadie, I would like to confirm one more time."

"This Soul Guidance Device, as well as this pill, were both refined by you, is that correct?"

"Yes," Xiadie replied, "what I wish to cooperate with Your Majesty on are also these two items."

"However, regarding the release and use of the medicinal pills, I have one condition," Xiadie said after a moment of silence, "the side effect of the Life-Reversing Pill that reduces lifespan must be made public."

"Agreed."

Xu Jiawei pondered and nodded.

Such a matter that harms one's lifespan truly ought to be made public.

He, Xu Jiawei, was not yet so lacking in morality.

"Then what about the terms of the cooperation?" Xu Jiawei continued.

"How about calculating it based on a share of the profits, Your Majesty?" Xiadie smiled slightly.

"Are you not afraid that I might make an exorbitant demand?" Xu Jiawei laughed.

"Compared to draining the pond to catch all the fish, a long-lasting stream is better for the Star Luo Empire."

Xiadie's tone was quite confident, "I believe Your Majesty will make the correct choice."

"Besides this, I also wish to study the Star Luo Empire's Soul Guidance Device production and various methods of alchemy, and the only one who can make that decision is you, Your Majesty."

"Agreed." Xu Jiawei took a deep look at Xiadie, "I will provide a price that satisfies both parties. Of course, if Miss Xiadie is willing to join the Star Luo Empire, I, Xu Jiawei, will welcome you with open arms."

"Your Majesty is being too courteous," Xiadie did not commit, "I only wish to study in peace. Even if I had any other thoughts, I would have to wait until I have finished my apprenticeship with my teacher."

"Then I shall await Miss Xiadie's good news." Xu Jiawei had received the answer he wanted; since the other party had not rejected him, there was still a chance.

"Knock, knock, knock."

The sound of knocking came from outside.

"Come in."

Xu Jiawei's gaze fell toward the outside.

Not long after, four people walked in from outside the door.

They were precisely Xu Jiujiu and Wang Xian'er.

When Xu Jiawei saw the two people behind them, his brows furrowed.

"Dean Yan, what wind has blown you here?"

"And, Yaoheng, aren't you supposed to be studying at Shrek?"

"Greetings to the Great Emperor of Star Luo."

Yan Shaozhe cupped his hands, while the etiquette of Dai Yaoheng beside him was much more solemn.

Xu Jiawei cast a somewhat reproachful glance at Xu Jiujiu.

Meeting his gaze was Xu Jiujiu's helplessness.

The Offering Hall was outside the Huang Gong; as soon as she stepped out the door, she ran into Dai Yaoheng holding his prepared token, walking side-by-side with Shrek's Yan Shaozhe.

In such a situation, could she not let them in?

"Dean Yan, I have said before that we are still investigating the matter of the dark night," Xu Jiawei preemptively took control of the conversation in his usual official manner.

Yan Shaozhe did not speak immediately, glancing at Xiadie.

He swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

"Your Majesty, why is there an Evil Soul Master here?"