Chapter 600: Dung

In a way, perfecting the Poisonous Refinement would offer more benefits than the compound concoctions, at least immediate ones.

The compound concoctions were crucial to Liam’s breakthroughs, but getting there was the main problem, and the Poisonous Refinement could solve it.

Enemies would never stop coming after Liam, so increasing the benefits from looting their corpses would turn his terrible predicament into an advantage.

Even if those Liam killed didn’t carry their nutrients, their homes would definitely have them, and having that new alchemical frontier at his disposal would ensure growth from the plunder.

Of course, Liam would have to perfect the Poisonous Refinement and extend it beyond his venom to turn other experts’ nutrients into resources that would nourish his cultivation.

However, the Poisonous Refinement would help in that regard, too. Once perfected, Liam would continuously improve his tools, elevating them to a suitable level, improving his battle prowess in turn, which would grant him the strength to collect more poisons.

It was a cycle that would continuously grant greater benefits the more Liam accumulated, and his starting point was already excellent. He was refining plenty of tools at the very moment, and he was also strong enough to collect more poison.

’Master,’ Liam engaged in an imaginary conversation as he stored the solid goo. ’Your disciple is also bringing innovation to alchemy.’

Obviously, only Liam would benefit from such a specialized refinement method. However, it still brought him closer to his great Master, so he didn’t even think of stopping.

Liam repeated the venom’s refinement, testing its limits a bit. The slab had clearly lost more than just foreign tampering. Ideally, the perfected Poisonous Refinement would leave the resource’s power intact, and Liam had to get there.

After all, only perfection was allowed in alchemy.

Sadly, the second experiment failed.

Liam moved to one of the amphoras, pouring its contents into his newly refined venom, only for the corrosion to barely last a few seconds. He had tried to make a lighter version of the refinement substance, but the result had been too weak to affect rank 3 items.

Attempting to re-refine failed, too. The amphora’s contents had already mixed with the venom, so the latter wasn’t suitable to purify it anymore. The final product was nothing more than a watered-down toxic mess, which Liam could only throw away.

Still, that experience helped with the second amphora. Rather than weakening the venom, Liam made it even more specific. He focused on eliminating any damaging traits while intensifying the ones he needed.

When the process was over, Liam ended up with a circular flask as big as his hand. The substance inside was still transparent, only featuring vague yellow shades.

Liam took a sip of the liquid, having to test it. He could taste his venom and its toxic properties, but a burst of vitality also flooded him, almost completely fending off his exhaustion.

’It worked,’ Liam mentally cheered, storing the flask as the burst of vitality subsided. The healing properties hadn’t disappeared. They were even far better than every alchemical product he knew, meaning he had succeeded.

’Now it’s just about seeing whether it can still be tracked and becoming even better at it,’ Liam planned, summoning his green jade to note down his findings. ’Slipping poison into ordinary alchemical products is another idea. I just have to make it even less noticeable.’

A step forward in alchemy opened countless branching paths Liam couldn’t wait to explore. Ideas flooded him, but the Great Quiet Desert had inflexible limits, and he had other priorities to attend to.

With the loot dealt with, Liam had to handle himself. He had to hide his lineage and make himself untraceable. After some brainstorming, he had come up with a suitable ingredient, one every region in the Kingdom had.

Nevertheless, putting the laboratory away forced Liam to face all that his perception had captured but kept at bay while he focused on alchemy, and he genuinely had no idea what to make of it.

The scent of a specific wetness had filled the underground hall. Rachel was in a corner for some reason, her dreamy face flushed, her thighs pressed against each other, her arms wrapped around herself, delivering a self-hug to her trembling figure.

Rachel noticed Liam’s gaze and flashed him a lustful smile while placing the long jade on the fan, adding some of the most confusing words he had ever heard in his life. "Madam First Wife wants to speak with you."

Liam didn’t even have the strength to blink anymore. He took the jade from the subservient fan, immediately sending a mental message. ’Grace?’

’Dear, kill her,’ Grace responded in the next second, her tone devoid of emotion.

If Liam didn’t know Grace almost better than himself, he would have thought she was serious. Honestly, part of her was, but he heard another truth in that statement.

’Did you actually lose against her?’ Liam asked.

’I can hardly stop women from falling for my husband. Even impudent Juniors aren’t blind to his amazing traits,’ Grace scoffed.

Liam heard the greater emphasis placed on both "my" and "husband", but his mind rang before he could address it.

’Of course, not being there to put those women in their place is bothersome. Dear, you have been faithful, unlike that traitorous fan, but your debt is still eternal, and it’s my prerogative to establish eternal rules,’ Grace added.

Liam threw a look at the fan, which shrank in shame, even whining softly. Thanks to the mental connection, it knew exactly how much trouble it was in.

’You are not to take concubines or other wives without my say-so, which may never come, no matter how great a man you become, how many children I give you, or what those who desire you do for you,’ Grace listed.

Liam had understood that cultural differences were at play, but the matter still angered him a bit. The speech resembled what had happened with the Demoness, almost hinting at distrust of Liam’s love.

At the same time, Grace wasn’t using the usual "Master" or "prized possession". She was constantly calling herself Liam’s wife, which was adorable. He would already be squeezing her if she wasn’t so distant.

’Also, I’m aware my senses will never match my handsome husband’s, but I have memorized my fair share of his endearing traits,’ Grace exclaimed.

Liam felt a chill run down his spine at that point.

’I will know if a single drop of your seed is missing. I will also know if you have learned the shape of another womb. I may be your devoted wife, but anything you can give still belongs to me,’ Grace reminded.

Liam wanted to smile, but Grace’s tone told him that things weren’t over.

’You are mine, so don’t go using anything without my permission. I may stop finding value in you keeping it otherwise, especially if it becomes so distracting,’ Grace threatened.

A scene from years ago flashed in Liam’s vision, almost bringing his hand to his groin. He hadn’t forgotten when Grace put a sword between his legs.

’As for that impudent Junior, please bring her with you as you return to me. My husband’s sole wife was in need of a servant who will forever despair seeing me monopolize the object of her desires,’ Grace concluded.

There was no arguing with that, not that Liam wanted to. After tamer, tempting, and loving follow-ups, Liam set the jade aside, returning to his next priority.

"Liam dear," Rachel called, not missing that chance. "Madam First Wife told me much about your-"

"I really don’t want to know," Liam interrupted. "Please keep me out of this. Also, stay here. I’ll get back soon."

The fan understood the assignment with a simple nod, returning to Rachel and taking a protective stance. If Liam were right, his normal speed would be enough.

"Is it dangerous?" Rachel wondered, slightly worried. "I may not be as strong, but please make use of my knowledge. Make use of all I have."

Liam ignored the tease, almost out of habit by now, instead focusing on a funny detail about the imminent task. Somehow, the Heavens seemed to have a sense of humor.

"Don’t worry," Liam reassured. "I just have to collect some magical beast’s dung."