Chapter 107: Chapter 106: The Third Nirvana

"Where are Yunyan and Watermelon?"

"Yunyan went out. For the past few months, she’s been out studying all sorts of business skills. She said she wants to handle the logistics in the future so you won’t have to worry about money."

Hu spoke, a suggestive smile suddenly appearing on his simple, honest face. "Young Master, I think Yunyan has a good impression of you. Even though Sister Yunyan is a little older than you, she looks young, and you look mature. Why not consider it? The more status a man has, the more wives and concubines he has. A man like you, Young Master, is too lonely. You don’t even have a maid to warm your bed..."

"Don’t be ridiculous!"

Qin Li shot Hu a glare. While he wasn’t some puritan who believed in being with only one person for life, he didn’t want to consider the matter before bringing Shangguan Shiyu back. Especially not now, when there was so much to rebuild. He had no time to worry about such things.

"What’s Watermelon up to? Doesn’t he know his third Nirvana is in just a few days?" Qin Li frowned. If Watermelon had been around, he probably would have come running over long ago.

"Watermelon... sigh." At the mention of Watermelon, Hu sighed and said, "He recently took over a small gang of only two or three hundred people. For the past few days, that little gang has been threatened by a larger one nearby. Watermelon went to deal with it."

"What time does he have for something like that!"

"Young Master, Watermelon is actually afraid he won’t survive this Nirvana. He wants to leave you with some useful people. I’ve met the leader of that small gang; he knows how to adapt and is willing to listen. Watermelon’s thinking is that even if he dies, if we control a small gang, we won’t be completely cut off from information here in the Imperial Capital."

Hearing this, Qin Li felt a pang in his heart. He understood that Watermelon’s actions were correct. ’Never underestimate those at the bottom of society. Often, that’s where information comes from!’

Even the earth-shattering event Qin Li caused when he entered the Imperial Capital was something Hu and the others had learned about bit by bit through such people. And it was precisely because of that event that Hu had become completely convinced by Qin Li, willing to work for him without reservation.

Otherwise, personal friendship was one thing, but a man couldn’t just gamble with his own future.

"Where’s the Young Master? Where is he?" Outside, a boisterous voice grew closer. Qin Li and Hu exchanged a smile. ’That kid is still as impulsive as ever.’

As soon as he saw Qin Li, Watermelon grinned, his face full of joy. "It’s been a while, Martial Uncle! You’re looking well!"

’This kid has gotten more sensible!’ Qin Li thought, then said, "Yeah. I hear you’ve been busy fighting with some small gangs?"

"Hehe!"

The moment gangs were mentioned, Watermelon seemed to perk up, grinning as he said, "You bet! Some mid-sized gang that didn’t know its place actually tried to swallow up my gang. Hmph. Their boss was just a second-tier Profound Level piece of trash. Blind fool. I severed the tendons in his right hand with one strike and spared his life. His gang is ours now!"

A second-tier Profound Level master was now just an insignificant piece of trash in Watermelon’s eyes. Qin Li could only think that this world was too crazy. Just over a year ago, wouldn’t even a first-tier Yellow Level Entry Grade Martial Artist have been able to beat him to a pulp?

"You... what about your Nirvana? How are your preparations coming along?" Qin Li wasn’t going to let the kid keep spouting nonsense. It was obvious Watermelon was trying to change the subject because he was afraid of making him worry.

"That... uh, hehe... It’s fine, it’s fine." Watermelon laughed evasively.

But Qin Li saw a trace of fear deep in Watermelon’s eyes. ’That’s more like it,’ he thought. ’No one is indifferent to death! Even that group of loyal Death Warriors by Qin Hongyuan’s side—weren’t they just as terrified when facing death?’

"What do you mean, ’it’s fine’? Tell me the truth. How prepared are you?" Qin Li asked with a frown.

"Not at all." A dejected look finally appeared on Watermelon’s face. "Leng said the Black Water Kui Ox’s Inner Core might save my life, but that thing... it’s too precious. I’m afraid it won’t even work if I use it, and I’ll have wasted the Inner Core of a Celestial Level Spirit Beast!"

The Watermelon of today was no longer the ignorant little brat from the slums he once was. He knew exactly what the Inner Core of a Celestial Level Spirit Beast meant. No matter the price offered on the black market, it was something that had a price but no seller!

No one would ever take something like that out to sell!

"Bullshit! What could possibly be more valuable than a human life? Is the Inner Core of a Celestial Level Spirit Beast really that big of a deal?" Qin Li’s face was stern as he chided Watermelon, but he could see deep gratitude in the boy’s eyes.

Standing to the side, Hu was also shaken. This wasn’t something that could be brushed aside with a few hypocritical words. This was the Inner Core of a Celestial Level Spirit Beast! And before this, the one hundred thousand taels of silver Leng Yao had spent on those extremely precious Elixirs had also, for the most part, come from Qin Li!

Qin Li hadn’t touched any of the money that originally belonged to Hu, Bu Yunyan, and Leng Yao!

It all came from the precious medicinal herbs Qin Li had gathered on his way here after escaping Qin Hengtian’s grasp and finishing his closed-door cultivation. He brought them to the Imperial Capital and sold them for about three hundred thousand taels of silver. That, plus some previous funds, was just enough to buy this residence and pay for Watermelon’s treatment.

But an opportunity like that would probably only come once. Take Phoenix Mountain, for example. With its countless High Level Spirit Beasts, any ordinary person who entered would simply be courting death!

Even Qin Li himself had no desire to go back and try his luck again. Although he could never figure out why he hadn’t encountered a single powerful Spirit Beast from start to finish that time, he understood that such a thing could only happen once. It was the same reason Qin Li firmly believed that Qin Hengtian couldn’t possibly survive in that place for long.

The fearsome reputation of Phoenix Lake was by no means unearned!

"Alright, I’m going to check on Leng Yao. I’ll stay here for the next few days. We can talk about other things after Watermelon gets through this Nirvana!" With that, Qin Li turned and walked toward the rear courtyard.

Along the way, he encountered a few maids and servants, who all looked at the handsome young man with curiosity, wondering when the household had gained such a new member. However, the servants Bu Yunyan had selected had mostly worked for large, prominent families. They were extremely perceptive and knew what to ask and what not to ask.

Thus, no one came up to question Qin Li as he walked all the way to the door of Leng Yao’s alchemy room.

From a distance, he could smell a mixture of various medicinal herbs. The scent wasn’t exactly pleasant, but it wasn’t unpleasant either. After all, herbs that could be used for alchemy were all considered good things with spiritual properties.

Pushing the door open, he saw Leng Yao’s slender figure with her back to the door, bent over and watching the furnace fire. Alchemy had extremely strict requirements for the furnace fire; a little too high or a little too low could cause the refinement to fail.

Qin Li intentionally didn’t conceal his aura. Leng Yao’s awareness was decent enough; she whipped her head around, and upon seeing it was Qin Li, a trace of pleasant surprise appeared in her eyes. In her cool, clear voice, she asked, "When did you get here?"

"Just arrived. What are you working on?"

"I’m trying to shave off a tiny bit of the Celestial Water Kui Ox’s Inner Core, add the Essence Blood of the Black Water Kui Ox and some calming herbs, and see if I can refine a completely new Elixir. If it succeeds, it might be a great help for Watermelon’s condition." As she spoke, Leng Yao tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Her fair, delicate face had a few smudges of black charcoal on it.

"What? A... Pill Formula you researched yourself?" Qin Li asked, somewhat shocked. Although he wasn’t skilled in the practice of alchemy, he could be considered an expert in theory. He certainly understood the difference between using an ancient formula perfected through countless trials and creating a new Elixir yourself. The latter was simply too difficult! It was impossible to succeed without great wisdom and immense perseverance.

"How many times have you tried? This must be incredibly draining on your mind!"

"It’s alright. I gained some insights after reading that Pill Formula Secret Manual you gave me. I’ve probably tried... over a hundred times! Thankfully, aside from the two main ingredients, the other supplementary herbs aren’t expensive, so I can still afford it. Pray with me that this time will be a success!"

Although Qin Li had said that the Pill Formula Secret Manual couldn’t be left with Leng Yao, he hadn’t taken it back after all this time. Besides, he believed Leng Yao could probably recite it from memory by now.

Perhaps Leng Yao’s and Qin Li’s prayers really worked. This batch of Elixirs was a complete success!

The Elixir was made, but its effects... no one could guarantee them.

「Six days later.」 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

All the servants in the residence were given five days of leave. Each was also given a few taels of silver and sent off happily. Only the five of them remained in the vast residence.

"Take two of these Elixirs first!" Leng Yao handed the newly refined medicine to Watermelon.

Watermelon swallowed them without any hesitation. He immediately felt a warm current rise from his abdomen. His already vigorous spirit now felt even more alive!

Watermelon’s eyes lit up. He gave Leng Yao a thumbs-up. "Leng, this Elixir is Top-Grade!"

"Shou Yuan Yi!" Qin Li barked, then said to Leng Yao, "Get the Black Water Kui Ox Inner Core ready, too. At the critical moment, have him take it! No matter what, we have to get him through this Nirvana! Even if he loses all his Power, as long as he’s alive, that’s better than anything!"

Leng Yao nodded silently. Watching Qin Li, who had turned his back, a strange emotion flickered in her beautiful eyes. ’This... this is the backbone we need!’

The searing of his soul, an immense pain, arrived right on schedule!

The so-called Nirvana, according to the continent’s epic, the *Ramayana*, was thus: the protector god Vishnu ignited a raging inferno, and a dying Phoenix threw itself into the fire, burning to ash. Then, from the ashes, it was reborn as a beautiful, brilliant, and eternal fire Phoenix.

People called this—Phoenix Nirvana!

From this, one could see what terrifying torment and suffering Nirvana entailed. It was practically a form of suicide!

Soon, beads of sweat the size of soybeans trickled down Watermelon’s face like rain.