Leaving Wutan City, the Black Inn

Time always passed quickly. More than half a year had passed since Xiao Yan's recovery! Xiao Heng's cultivation had also reached the peak of the nine-star Dou Practitioner level, just one step away from breaking through to Dou Shi! As for his Alchemist cultivation, he could now skillfully refine ordinary Third-grade Pills!

Open the panel! Xiao Heng silently thought to himself.

Host: Xiao Heng

Cultivation: Nine-star Dou Practitioner

Cultivation Method: Innate Skill (Mystic Grade High)

Dou Techniques: Basic Martial Arts (Mystic Grade Intermediate), Vertical and Horizontal Swordplay (Mystic Grade High)

Skill Points: 329

Energy Points: 698

After Xiao Heng became an Alchemist, he started making money much faster. Thus, he bought quite a few things, including cultivation methods and Dou Techniques, to recharge the system. Among them, he had obtained a Black-tier Low-grade Combat Skill, Hundred Strikes Fist. After fusing it with Basic Martial Arts, Basic Martial Arts became a Mystic Grade technique, and it gained a move called Mountain Breaking Strike! The move involved condensing Dou Qi, storing it up, and then unleashing it all at once. Its explosive power was extremely strong, but it lacked staying power. It also lacked the hidden force of Xiao Yan's Eight Extremes Collapse!

Speaking of Xiao Yan, he was honestly rather envious of Old Yao. That old man was practically a treasure vault! But there was nothing he could do about it. It was impossible for him to ask Old Yao to accept him as a disciple too, right? Setting aside whether Old Yao would agree, if he took the initiative to seek him out, he would probably be killed on the spot! That old fellow was no kind soul either. In fact, anyone who cultivated to that level could not possibly be an absolutely good person!

Without an old grandpa, Xiao Heng could only leave Wutan City first. There was still a year before the enrollment at Jia Nan Academy! Thus, he planned to obtain Purple Cloud Wings first and then refine White Lotus Fire! Finally, he would return to Wutan City and wait for Jia Nan Academy's enrollment. That way, by the time the Three-Year Pact arrived, he could probably break through to Da Dou Shi if he was lucky.

As the main storyline of the protagonist's early arc, Xiao Heng wanted to get involved as well! Setting aside how many Heavenly Dao Points he could obtain, he wanted to see that grand spectacle for himself! The vast Tagor Desert! The snake people! The refreshed Hai Bodong! And the so-called Misty Cloud Sect—he wanted to visit them all!

That was precisely why he had come to this world, right? But before that, he had to carry his sword!

Xiao Heng first bade farewell to Xiao Zhan, then went to Xiao Yan's courtyard!

"Xiao Heng, what's up?" Xiao Yan had been in a good mood these past few days. The improvement in his cultivation made him feel happy! Although every time he saw Xiao Heng, Old Yao would tell him Xiao Heng's cultivation level, leaving him thoroughly battered, it did not affect their relationship. Instead, it made him work even harder!

"I'm leaving! I came to say goodbye. Also, I have a gift for you!" As he spoke, Xiao Heng took a Scroll from his Storage Ring. "Horizontal Sword" (Mystic Grade Intermediate). Vertical and Horizontal Swordplay could be separated, and after being separated, it would only be Mystic Grade Intermediate. Xiao Heng might take some of Xiao Yan's things later, so he would give him some compensation first! Although those things did not belong to Xiao Yan yet. Actually, it could not really be considered compensation. It was merely a small gift for a friend before leaving!

Xiao Yan took the Scroll Xiao Heng handed over and curiously opened it!

"Mystic Grade Intermediate! Xiao Heng, you!"

Seeing Xiao Yan looking somewhat moved, Xiao Heng punched him in the chest! "Don't be so sentimental! We're brothers!"

"You're something else!" Seeing this, Xiao Yan could only smile helplessly. He did not refuse and put the manual away!

"That's more like it! I still have to visit Xun Er. Coming with me?"

"Sure, let's go together!"

The two arrived at Xun Er's courtyard. The moment Xun Er saw them, she happily trotted over! Fine, he admitted it—the girl had mainly run over because of Xiao Yan!

"Brother Xiao Yan!" Xun Er first called out to Xiao Yan, then looked at Xiao Heng's attire and asked suspiciously, "Brother Xiao Heng, are you going on a long journey?"

"Hey! Every time I see you two, I feel like I'm the third wheel. Why don't you two get intimate first while I leave?" As he spoke, Xiao Heng even pretended to walk away!

Xiao Yan, whose skin was thick enough, had already grown used to Xiao Heng's teasing! Xun Er, however, still blushed!

"Brother Xiao Heng, you...! You're always like this!" Although that was what she was thinking, it was so annoying that Xiao Heng kept teasing her about it!

After teasing the two for a while, Xiao Heng became serious. "I came to say goodbye. I'm also returning the money. You might not need it, but a loan is still a loan! So take it!"

Xun Er accepted the Purple Card and asked again, "Are you leaving, Brother Xiao Heng? Are you having some sort of difficulty?"

Girls were always more sentimental!

Xiao Heng shook his head. "No. I just want to go out and gain some experience. Staying in Wutan City forever isn't an option!"

"Mm! Then wait a moment, Brother Xiao Heng. I'll give you a gift too!"

Xun Er thought for a moment, then took out a Scroll. "This is a Fire Attribute Mystic Grade High-grade Cultivation Method, 'Flame Control Art.' Take it, Brother Xiao Heng!"

It seemed Ling Ying had never told Xun Er about Xiao Heng's situation! Xiao Heng understood clearly that he could conceal his cultivation from everyone in the Xiao Family, but there were two people he could not fool: one was Old Yao, and the other was Ling Ying! If Xun Er knew his true cultivation, she probably would not have given him a cultivation method. "Flame Control Art"? Was it the cultivation method she had given Xiao Yan in the original story? It seemed Xun Er really did treat him well!

Xiao Heng accepted Flame Control Art. Although he would not cultivate this method, Flame Control Art was still a Mystic Grade High cultivation method. If it could fuse with Innate Skill, it might allow Innate Skill to break through to Earth Grade! Though Mystic Grade was sufficient for now.

When Xiao Yan saw Xun Er giving Xiao Heng a gift, he remembered what Xiao Heng had just given him and rubbed his nose. He said helplessly, "You two..."

Looking at Xiao Heng helplessly, Xiao Yan took out a Scroll and handed it over. "You're an Alchemist too, right? You'll use the things inside. Consider it a gift from me to you!"

"Mm!" Xiao Heng acknowledged him and accepted the Scroll. He was not surprised that Xiao Yan knew he was an Alchemist.

Seeing how unconcerned the fellow looked, Xiao Yan punched him! "You're really fast! But it doesn't matter. I'll catch up with you sooner or later!"

"I'll wait for you ahead. I'm looking forward to fighting you!" Xiao Heng stopped smiling and looked at Xiao Yan solemnly. This was something he had wanted to say for a long time!

Xiao Yan also put away his casual expression and looked at Xiao Heng. He said, word by word, "So am I!"

The two simply looked at each other. Their eyes held emotions that could neither be explained nor described. The sword behind Xiao Heng also trembled slightly!

Seeing the two like this, Xun Er instead laughed aloud. She said mischievously, "Brother Xiao Heng, Brother Xiao Yan, why don't you two get together?" After saying this, she even looked expectant!

That completely shattered the two men's defenses! They hurriedly composed themselves!

"Alright, I should leave. Otherwise, I won't be able to leave today! Don't see me off. I don't like being seen off!"

Looking at the person carrying a sword who had already walked ahead of him, Xiao Yan shouted, "Don't die!"

Xiao Heng waved without turning around and walked toward the outskirts of Wutan City!

When Xiao Mu returned to his room that evening, he saw a small bottle on his desk, with a note pressed beneath it. It was left for him by Xiao Heng!

"Xiao Mu, I'm going to leave Wutan City for a while. The bottle contains a gift for you. Eat it when you're about to break through to Dou Zhe. It should be able to help you somewhat! Also, take good care of yourself!"

For this younger brother who had always treated him as an older brother, Xiao Heng had given him the last Kirin Fruit as well! When Xiao Mu saw the words on the paper, he gripped the bottle tightly, and a trace of tears appeared in his eyes. He wiped them away with his sleeve. (Brother Xiao Heng, don't worry. I'll definitely work hard!)

As for Xiao Heng, after leaving Wutan City and gazing at the vast world, he seemed to suddenly understand something! His two swords trembled. Was Sword Intent about to take shape? He was just short of something—but what was it? Although he wanted to form Sword Intent as soon as possible, he was not too anxious. After all, rushing would not help with something like this!

He opened the gift Xiao Yan had given him. "Pulse Protecting Pill, Ice Heart Pill?!" The Scroll clearly explained the effects of these two pills!

His inheritance also contained pills used to devour flames, but they were utterly incomparable to Old Yao's. Thus, Old Yao's were still better! Now, he had even greater confidence in devouring the Heavenly Flames! But before that, he still needed to visit the Alchemist Guild to find something! For example... a Spirit Gathering Ring!

Putting away the Scroll, he opened the map and set off toward Qingshan Town!

Two days after leaving Wutan City, Xiao Heng saw an inn! "Come Quickly Inn? This inn's name sounds like a Black Inn!" Seeing the name, Xiao Heng was amused. He found it interesting!

After entering the inn, he saw only two tables of guests. It was not many! But that was normal. Having an inn in the wilderness was already strange enough. If there were even more people, that would be even stranger!

Looking over, the people at the two tables were probably all Dou Zhe, and the strongest was no higher than five-star!

"Young master, please come in! Are you dining or staying the night?" The waiter bent at the waist and looked extremely respectful on the surface. He seemed to have no cultivation, but upon closer inspection, he appeared to be a Dou Zhe! As for the owner who was still doing the accounts, he was even more likely to be a Dou Shi!

"A room. Give me the best one, and prepare several good dishes!"

"Coming right up! One top room! One table of good dishes!"

The waiter called out.

Xiao Heng sat down with a sword strapped to his back! Although his clothes were not luxurious and only the sword hilt was exposed, the others still could not help glancing in his direction.

He removed the sword and placed it on the table. His hand rested lightly on the blade. Before long, the waiter brought the dishes over, followed by another person. The man had a face full of thick flesh and stood roughly two meters tall! He should also be a Dou Shi, Xiao Heng estimated.

But that person merely glanced over before leaving! The two tables beside him continued speaking among themselves and did not look over again, as if nothing had happened just now.

After finishing his meal, Xiao Heng returned to his room. He sat cross-legged on the bed with both swords resting across his legs and began cultivating.

Until nightfall... After nightfall, another hour or two passed. Xiao Heng opened his eyes! At that moment, thirteen people were crouched before his door. The leader was precisely the burly man, accompanied by the thin innkeeper!

So they're all in league with one another! Xiao Heng smiled faintly to himself.