Chapter 958 - Devious Laugh (1/2)
”How are they?” Granny Jinghua asked worriedly.
”They are fine. They are now at Advanced stage of Level 4. Fortunately, I do not detect any negative symptoms,” said Jiang Fei after hesitating for a brief moment about the news that 0542 had reported.
A minor change in personality… How could he explain what was wrong when he could not even put a finger on it himself? How does one explain something abstract and cannot be quantified? That was the aspect of the human psyche. Physically, she's fine but mentally… As long as no one mentioned or talked about it, the subject would not realize that there was a difference in themselves. On the other hand, if they keep talking about, the subject would eventually critically evaluate themselves to the point where the placebo effect could kick in.
”So… it's done then. The potion tests have ended,” an elder asked. He did not want the girls and Zhu Tianfei to be harmed but he did not want the potion trials to end that fast. If Jiang Fei deemed that the potion trials had ended, there would not be a new batch of potions for the other sects!
”Yes. The test is done and the potion has been perfected,” said Jiang Fei. He had no intention to let 0542 to continue making alterations to the potion.
Even though there were changes in Yang Qing and Yang Po, it was minute enough that it would not gravely affect them. Sadly, their willpower was not strong enough even when 0542 had already reduced the potion's mental assault degree to the lowest. It cannot be lowered anymore as mental and physical ”torture” was critical to built one's willpower in order to subdue the power that the potion could grant.
There were two reasons as to why Jiang Fei wanted to make the potion. The first was Shang Guanqi. He wanted the girl to further increase her powers. The poor lassie started killing other humans at the early age of six. Even though she was more than half of Zhu Tianfei's age, the girl had suffered through a fate worse than hell. Hence, a small torture would not affect her at all.
The second reason was to use the potion as a currency to trade martial skills from the alliance. If the potion proved to be incredibly effective, albeit having side effects that were so minor that no one could detect it, everyone would be willing to give their treasured skills for it.
When Jiang Fei declared that the potion trials were over, most of the second-rated sect leaders sighed. Those were the sects that were worse off then second-rated sects. Without strong martial skills, they could not hope to trade the potions.
Granny Jinghua was the only one that was cheering delightfully. Jiang Fei's potion worked and her two disciples had gained immense power. There was a great contrast between Yang Po, Yang Qing, and Granny Jinghua. Yang Qing knew that she was supposed to be happy since she was still alive and well, not to mention, stronger, she was disappointed because the potion did not inflict any damage to her, rendering her plans to have Jiang Fei open up to her and her sisters, moot. Yang Po, on the other hand, was not overjoyed nor discouraged. She knew that there was only one positive outcome from taking the potion. If the potion failed, the girls would be damaged and Jiang Fei would have to take care of them. If the potion succeeded, the girls would be stronger!
”Now that the potion had been confirmed as perfect, I want all of you to discuss amongst yourself. Remember, I only want the best martial arts. I will offer up two or even three bottles for skills that I deemed extraordinary while normal skills will earn only one bottle. Please decide when the trade will be and contact me when you are ready,” said Jiang Fei before leaving the martial artists to stare at each other.
”Isn't he a little too greedy?” said a random disciple when Jiang Fei left Hidden Dragon Village.
Many had accepted the fact that it was fair to use martial skills to trade for the potions. However, they could not accept wholeheartedly that Jiang Fei would judge the skills himself. The boy would never know the power of a martial art just by simply reading the skill book. He could mistakenly grade a powerful skill as only ordinary!
”No use in complaining about it. He is the only man that could make the potion. We have the need and he has the supply. Would you give up the chance to have a bottle of the potion?” said another disciple.
Everyone heard the petty quarrel but did nothing to stop them. There were some truths in their words. Everyone left the village with one intention in mind. They could not just decide on which skills to trade for the potion and needed to consult the other elders in their respective sects.