CHAPTER 1342: THE SEVEN SIBLINGS(1)

"The potency is not bad," said Yang Qing as he refilled his wine. "Handling those in the core formation realm is a given. And if you catch a peak-stage core formation expert unprepared, using the same amount you did, killing them in thirty seconds or less is possible. Even if they’re aware of it, it would still be an uphill battle for them to stop themselves from being poisoned or from it turning fatal," he added.

Yang Qing leisurely raised his index finger and pointed it at the sky, though his intent wasn’t to point but to release something from it.

"Red," he said as a red, starry mist flowed from his finger. "This strain affects the blood," he continued, gazing at Bolin, who nodded attentively.

"It’s well-suited for dealing with other spirit beasts whose strength and abilities rely on the vigor of their blood. And even when it comes to us, it’s more than enough to reduce the body’s strength.

Vigor and vitality are its targets," he added, casting a side glance at the red mist. "With those two elements weakened, the longer the battle drags on, the more it works in your favor."

Yang Qing snapped his fingers, and the red starry mist vanished, replaced by an orange one.

"The orange," he said. "Just as virulent as the red, and works perfectly when paired with it," he added, looking on with intrigue at the orange mist. "It targets the marrows, sinews, and organs—yet another strain that works perfectly against spirit beasts whose forte lies in the strength of their bodies," he said leisurely before snapping his fingers once more, bringing forth another color.

"The yellow," he said as a yellow mist appeared. "You, little friend, might not contain any poison in you, but you might just be the most dangerous. I think I’ll call you the ’hidden dagger,’" said Yang Qing, speaking to the mist as though it were alive.

"Without you, all the others would likely get caught," he continued in an excited tone, his eyes still fixed on the mist. "You cover the others in your cloak and keep them hidden from every sense. Even until they reach their target, you don’t let up, do you?" he said, his tone softening as he brought his face close to the mist.

"So diligent and admirable. The silent hero who seeks no accolades but takes pride in doing what he must within the shadows," whispered Yang Qing.

"The green," he promptly continued, with an upbeat lilt floating in his tone as a green mist emerged. "The familiar friend," said Yang Qing with a grin. "It took a lot to get you healthy and strong. Sorry your boss neglected you so much," he added, throwing Bolin a teasing look.

"Forgive him. He didn’t know that while you don’t have any offensive ability in you, you’re actually the most important component among your siblings. I’ll call you the coordinate, or the unifying sibling who allows all the others to work together while keeping your parent strong and safe. Without you, your siblings would never be able to cooperate for as long as they do, and your parent wouldn’t be able to handle the toll either.

Such a dutiful child," Yang Qing said tenderly as he patted the green mist before turning back to the bitterly smiling Bolin.

"How long could you sustain the cocktail?" he asked.

"About fifteen minutes. Any further than that and I risked a severe backlash," Bolin replied.

"And now?"

"I think if I were really determined, I could manage an hour and a half—maybe two if I were willing to risk a minor backlash," answered Bolin after a brief moment of calculation.

"Mmh, not bad," said Yang Qing with a nod. "Your body is at equilibrium now, but don’t use that as an excuse to stop training your green attribute. With the other strains, if they grow stronger, they risk causing an imbalance in your body. But the same isn’t true for him," he said, gesturing to the green mist. "The stronger he is, the better your control and freedom over the rest. So don’t neglect him," he advised solemnly.

"I won’t," replied Bolin in an equally solemn tone.

"Good," said Yang Qing with a cheerful smile as he clapped his hands, cueing the green mist to vanish and be replaced by a blue one.

"The blue sibling," he said, his tone carrying a hint of mystique and intrigue. "You just might be the most dangerous of all your siblings," he said as he poked the mist, which rippled like jelly, bouncing inward and outward.

"Truly, the most beautiful are the most dangerous," Yang Qing said sagely as he leaned closer to the deep blue mist that mirrored the hue of the ocean, with tiny white stars drifting gracefully within it. Gazing at it evoked a deep sense of calm, as if one were staring at the reflection of a starry night sky upon the surface of a vast, tranquil sea.

"The sibling that quietly sips at the qi in the surroundings, and with sibling yellow’s cover, subtly spreads its influence around. You do the same thing inside the body too, don’t you?" said Yang Qing in a mock-chastising tone as he poked at it again.

"Unlike your other siblings, you don’t announce yourself when you enter. You just go with the flow, blending with everything around you, both inside and outside. Never standing out, just acclimating until you’re everywhere, and only then do you reveal yourself. Maybe that’s why you and sibling yellow get along so well.

You never like to stand out, yet your presence is without a doubt one of the deadliest," Yang Qing said ominously, the dark blue glimmer of the mist reflecting in his eyes.

"The indigo," he softly said as an indigo mist appeared in place of the blue. "The one who strengthens their siblings and amplifies their effects so they can do what they’re meant to. You’re also the one who ruins the work of antidotes, aren’t you?" he said, playfully chastising the mist. "The ultimate support sibling."

"And then there is the last one," Yang Qing continued in that same ominous tone as he waved his hand over the indigo mist as though drawing a curtain or wiping it away. When his hand completed the motion, the deep indigo had transformed into a violet mist that looked like the cosmos.

"You’re the reason he could defeat opponents much stronger than himself, and probably why he even stands a chance against a quasi–palace realm cultivator," said Yang Qing, gesturing toward Bolin with his gaze before turning it back to the violet mist. He leaned closer until only a few centimeters separated his face from it.

"The violet sibling," he said in a soft, almost entranced whisper. "The most beautiful of all," he murmured, his eyes tracing up and down the mist. "And the most dangerous," he added.

"You’re the reason a middle-tier blue-grade healer or matching potion is needed to deal with him, and why he’s so feared. The sibling that targets the soul," he said softly, with a voice filled with admiration. "Of course you still need sibling yellow’s help to show your fearsome effects, but still... very dangerous," he said after a light pause, casting one last lingering look at the violet mist before dispelling it and turning his gaze back to Bolin.

"I can see why you’re so highly pursued by the alchemist circles," said Yang Qing with a smile, which was met by a bitter shake of the head from Bolin.