If Qing Lin still had her pitiful and delicate appearance, given Xiao Yan's current lecherous personality, Li Xiu didn't have much confidence in his ability to be ruthless.
Leading someone down the path of evil also required a gradual approach. If forced too quickly, it could backfire.
At least for now, it seemed that the Blood Awakening Pill had eliminated this possibility, judging by the disgust in Xiao Yan's eyes as he looked down at Qing Lin on the ground.
"The Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils can control any creature with Snake-People bloodline in this world, except for the Heaven Swallowing Python and Ancient Heaven Serpent. They can be stored in the space opened by the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils and slowly absorb their opponent's Dou Qi and cultivation base, and then replenish the owner of these eyes."
Li Xiu began to explain, and Xiao Yan listened carefully. As Li Xiu spoke about the incredible power of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, Xiao Yan's breathing became more and more intense, and his eyes were filled with greed and desire as he looked at the "monster" on the ground.
Xiao Yan's face turned red with excitement as he eagerly asked: "Master, is what you said yesterday about not having to worry about cultivating Dou Qi until reaching the level of a Dou Zun referring to the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils?"
Li Xiu looked at Xiao Yan's reaction and a mysterious smile appeared on his lips as he said: "Yes, with these eyes, even the members of the great clans with the bloodline of the Dou Di would find it difficult to compare with you in the speed of cultivating Dou Qi."
Hearing this, Xiao Yan was overjoyed and couldn't contain his excitement. However, soon a hint of doubt appeared between his eyebrows.
"Master, how can I obtain these Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils?" Xiao Yan eagerly asked.
Li Xiu casually pointed to Qing Lin on the ground and said indifferently: "It's simple, just swap eyes."
"Swap eyes? That means I have to gouge out the eyes of this monster, and then mine..." Xiao Yan's hand gestures became more and more bloody and terrifying as he spoke, and he felt a growing sense of fear and horror in his heart, suddenly choking on his words.
Li Xiu's expression became cold and stern, his eyes sharp as he stared straight at Xiao Yan.
"I have gone through great difficulties to obtain these pupils. This is a great opportunity that countless people on the continent yearn for their entire lives. With these pupils, the path to becoming a powerful expert will be smooth and easy."
"Now that you have it almost within your grasp, Xiao Yan, are you afraid?"
Li Xiu's questioning made Xiao Yan startle and come back to his senses. Seeing that Li Xiu seemed somewhat displeased with him, he immediately bowed deeply and said with a trembling voice: "Disciple understands Master's good intentions and will not shrink back, but..."
Bowing his head, Xiao Yan glanced sideways at the "monster" at Li Xiu's feet, his brow furrowed as if he was afraid and worried about something.
It wasn't that Xiao Yan was unwilling to do it, if he could raise his Dou Qi cultivation level, he wouldn't care about the ugly and monstrous creature's eyes or its life. It was just that he was worried about how painful it would be to gouge out his own eyes, and what the chances of successfully transplanting new eyes were.
After changing his eyes, would it have any impact on him? After all, those were the eyes of a Snakemen. Would it alter his appearance?
Li Xiu seemed to sense Xiao Yan's concerns and let out a dissatisfied snort.
"Even if it only results in some green scales growing on the body, let alone the possibility of turning into a Snakemen, there are countless people on the continent who wouldn't care. Indecisiveness will never lead to greatness."
Li Xiu's words became increasingly harsh, and Xiao Yan knelt on the ground and nervously replied: "Master, please calm down. Disciple is willing to undergo the procedure, willing to undergo it!"
Li Xiu's face remained cold as he advised Xiao Yan on what he needed to be careful of during the procedure. He then took out a jade bottle from his chest and placed it down before swiftly leaving the room.
After the door was closed, Xiao Yan slowly stood up, feeling somewhat guilty in his heart.
Despite the tremendous effort and dedication that his master had put into finding the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, Xiao Yan had been hesitant and indecisive. He knew he had disappointed his master.
Turning his head towards the "snake monster" lying on the ground, Xiao Yan's heart hardened. His gaze grew cold as he leaned down and snapped the monster's neck with a violent motion.
After several breaths, Xiao Yan's bloodied hands held a pair of jade-green eyes, and his heart surged with excitement and passion. His lips felt dry.
If he were to trade this item, it would be more than enough to obliterate the Jia Ma Empire, yet it was now held in the hands of a mere Three-Star Dou Shi like himself.
Xiao Yan is now more certain than ever that Li Xiu will accept him as a disciple. It feels like all his good karma from past live has finally paid off.
Upon coming to his senses, Xiao Yan's face turned bitter. To him, the most difficult step in the eye exchange had arrived, and he had to gouge out his own eyes with his own hands.
Xiao Yan looked at his blood-covered, claw-like hands and gritted his teeth, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.
At that moment, Li Xiu's cold voice came from outside the door.
"Xiao Yan, do you want to become stronger? Do you want to stand at the top, admired and feared by all?"
Xiao Yan was taken aback by Li Xiu's words. He had never thought about what would happen after he became stronger. Instead, he suddenly remembered the countless ridicule and disdain he had received when his talent was wasted three years ago, as well as the intense contempt in Nalan Yanran's eyes when she broke off their engagement. All the humiliation and powerlessness came flooding back to him.
As a result, Xiao Yan's face became grim and terrifying, with a fierce light in his eyes.
If he had the choice, he would never want to experience those humiliations again! He couldn't allow anyone to stand at a higher place and mock him again!
After a few moments, a piercing scream and muffled groans of pain suddenly rang out from the room, and outside the door, Li Xiu's lips curved into a smile upon hearing them.
A quarter of an hour later, Xiao Yan opened the door and walked out, with a pair of jade-green eyes, as if he had crossed a threshold and become somewhat different, with a hint of indifference and ferocity in his eyes.
He had taken the most difficult step in changing his eyes, by cutting them out himself. Xiao Yan looked at his bloody hands, gritted his teeth, but eventually managed to do it.
The Life Continuation Pill, a fourth-tier pill with an extraordinary effect, was created by Yao Chen's hand. Although its effect was only to reconnect severed limbs, it was incredibly fast-acting.
"Master, your kindness will never be forgotten by your disciple."
Xiao Yan knelt down suddenly and exclaimed with excitement.
Li Xiu nodded and said: "Although the eye transplantation was successful, it will still take several days for you to fully master the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. But after that, the entire Snake-People tribe in the Tager Desert can become your practice material."
"Next, I have some things to do and will be away from you for some time. Before that, I will take you to find a guard."
"There's no time to waste, let's go now."
"Okay."
Xiao Yan stood up and followed behind Li Xiu. The two of them left the inn and headed towards a shop in the city that sold maps of the desert.
The shop was called "Ancient Maps," and Li Xiu pushed the door open with Xiao Yan following closely behind.
The shop was very quiet, with only an old man with white hair working on a map at his desk behind the counter. When he noticed someone had entered, he didn't even lift his head, but instead stretched out his hand and said: "Are you here to buy a map of the Tager Desert? They're over there."
Xiao Yan was about to turn and walk over to the maps when he realized that Li Xiu was still standing in place. He heard him say softly: "We're not here to buy a map. We're looking to hire a guard."