First Encounter

The next day.

After making all his preparations, Xiao Yan chose a route on the map, stepped into the Magical Beast Mountain Range, and began his training.

Carrying the massive black ruler he had named the Heavy Xuan Ruler on his back, Xiao Yan advanced through the Magical Beast Mountain Range one step at a time. Under the Heavy Xuan Ruler's strange ability to suppress Dou Qi and its terrifying weight, every step was a struggle for Xiao Yan. Before long, he was already panting a little.

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Xiao Yan looked at the dense forest ahead, so thick it blotted out the sky. Suddenly, his heart jolted. From the corner of his eye, he spotted a crimson shadow pouncing at him from behind and to the side. In that moment of crisis, Xiao Yan thought fast and threw himself forward with the momentum, dodging that dangerous claw swipe and losing only a lock of hair.

He quickly got to his feet and, in the same motion, held the Heavy Xuan Ruler in his hand. Xiao Yan looked toward the crimson shadow. It was a fox covered entirely in fiery-red fur.

"A First-Tier Magical Beast, Crimson Fire Fox. What it excels at most is speed. Little Yan, being able to dodge its sneak attack isn't bad. Be careful, though. It isn't over yet." Elder Yao's voice rang out in Xiao Yan's heart.

With the battle against the Crimson Fire Fox, Xiao Yan's training in the Magical Beast Mountain Range officially began.

One day later.

When a First-Tier Magical Beast Ghost Cat collapsed beneath Xiao Yan's Heavy Xuan Ruler, Xiao Yan slumped to the ground and hurriedly took out a few Qi-recovering pills, tossing them into his mouth.

"The Magical Beast Mountain Range really is dangerous. It's only been one day, and I've already run into several very strong First-Tier Magical Beasts," Xiao Yan said, panting.

"You brat, now you finally know what training means, don't you? Staying in a comfortable environment will never let you become a true expert." Elder Yao's soul body floated out of the Bone Flame Ring and began instructing Xiao Yan.

Not far away, in the grass by the roadside, a First-Tier Magical Beast Crimson Ice Snake seemed to have been intimidated by Xiao Yan killing the Ghost Cat and slunk away from the area.

Meanwhile, Qing Lin, who was sitting cross-legged in cultivation, suddenly opened her gently closed eyes. A faint smile appeared on her face. She picked up the map beside her and looked at it, then closed her eyes and sent a message to the Purple Jade Scale Snake in the distance.

After that, she closed her eyes again and continued cultivating.

"So that's how it is. They were discovered in District 11? Then the route they're taking should be..." Lin Yuan, who had received the news through the Purple Jade Scale Snake, began analyzing the unavoidable hub points along the route Xiao Yan and the others would be taking.

"By the waterfall? Then I should make some preparations and head over to wait for the hare to run into the stump." Lin Yuan chuckled, turned around, and flew toward the waterfall.

For the sake of certain calculations, Lin Yuan did not plan to actively seek out Xiao Yan and Elder Yao directly. Instead, he intended to let them encounter him by chance. After all, behind Xiao Yan, aside from Elder Yao, there was also an extremely troublesome person: the Ancient Clan Imperial Daughter, Gu Xun'er. She would pay attention to all information related to Xiao Yan, especially information on people who had designs on Xiao Yan. Taking the initiative to find Xiao Yan and being encountered by Xiao Yan were two things that would draw completely different levels of attention from her.

The feelings between Gu Xun'er and Xiao Yan were a point that could be used. If used well, it would produce miraculous results. However, that kind of use was also extremely dangerous. Lin Yuan had some schemes in mind, but it was not yet time to put them on the table. He still needed to gather a few more cards.

One day later, Lin Yuan was sitting cross-legged on a piece of bluestone beside a pool beneath a waterfall in the Magical Beast Mountain Range. At this moment, his mind was divided in two: one part was used to maintain the circulation of his cultivation method, while the other was used to deduce the Mountain River Seal.

Suddenly, the Purple Jade Ring on Lin Yuan's arm moved. Lin Yuan stopped his cultivation and Dou Technique research, glanced toward the southwest direction, and thought, Are they here? Then I should prepare on my side as well.

Lin Yuan recalled the map in his mind and said to the Purple Jade Scale Snake, "Have Qing'er command the Fourth-Tier Magical Beasts in District 21 to move."

As the Purple Jade Scale Snake's eyes opened and closed, it conveyed Lin Yuan's meaning to Qing Lin, and Qing Lin sent out the command accordingly.

On a road some distance southwest of the pool, Xiao Yan was currently approaching the direction of the pool.

A Beast Tide was brewing behind Xiao Yan. Not long after, a small Beast Tide led by a snake-shaped Fourth-Tier Magical Beast erupted. As time passed, a Beast Tide consisting of several Fourth-Tier Magical Beasts, dozens of Tier 3 Magical Beasts, and nearly a hundred First- and Tier 2 Magical Beasts fully broke out behind Xiao Yan, charging toward Xiao Yan in a mighty procession.

At this moment, Xiao Yan was still slowly advancing northeast.

Suddenly, Elder Yao's soul floated out and glanced toward the southwest direction. His expression became somewhat solemn, and he immediately said decisively, "Little Yan, put away the Heavy Xuan Ruler and run. A Beast Tide of no small scale has broken out behind us and is heading this way."

When Xiao Yan heard this, his expression changed. Yesterday, he had witnessed a small Beast Tide, and that was absolutely not something he could withstand. He hurriedly placed the Heavy Xuan Ruler back into his storage ring and ran forward at full speed.

However, how could Xiao Yan's speed compare to a group of Magical Beasts sprinting at high speed? When he was still a short distance from the pool, they were already about to catch up.

Soon, swarms of Magical Beasts entered Xiao Yan's field of vision.

"My life is over!" Xiao Yan looked back at the crowds of Magical Beasts and sighed toward the sky.

"What are you howling about, brat? Your Master is still here. Do you think I can let you die in this place? Release control of your body," Elder Yao said irritably. He wanted to train his disciple, not send him to his death. At a time like this, of course it was time for him, the Master, to step in.

When Xiao Yan heard this, he obediently released control of his body. Elder Yao's soul power poured into Xiao Yan's body, and in an instant, Xiao Yan's eyes changed from a youth's sharp vigor to wise vicissitude. Then pale white flame ignited on "Xiao Yan," and a powerful aura swept out toward the Beast Tide.

"Beasts."

The running Magical Beasts sensed that terrifying aura and seemed to wake from a dream. They immediately scattered and fled in all directions. Seeing this, "Xiao Yan" turned the pale white flame into a white fire cone that pierced through a Fourth-Tier Ice Frost Sky Wolf. When Elder Yao made his move, he had already taken a liking to the Ice Frost Sky Wolf's Fourth-Tier ice attribute Magic Core. With this attack, he just so happened to obtain one of the main ingredients for the Blood Lotus Pill.

Suddenly, Elder Yao's voice rang out in Xiao Yan's heart. "Not good. There's someone here."

Paying no attention to the fallen Ice Frost Sky Wolf, "Xiao Yan" turned to look ahead. In his line of sight, a green-robed youth about the same age as Xiao Yan was walking toward them. A faint, unreadable smile hung at the youth's lips as he studied "Xiao Yan" with great interest.

"Interesting. Truly interesting! Such powerful soul power, and pale white flame." A chuckle entered the ears of Xiao Yan and Elder Yao. The youth before them examined "Xiao Yan," his eyes filled with a strong desire to investigate.

"Xiao Yan" looked at the youth before him with a solemn expression. The person before him was not simple. If his appearance matched his true age, then his cultivation at this age alone made him seem unlike someone an environment such as the Jia Ma Empire could produce.

Lin Yuan did not pay attention to the solemnity in "Xiao Yan's" eyes. He stared at Xiao Yan as though pondering for a while. Then his eyes narrowed, as if shocked by his own deduction. He gasped and let out an exclamation.

"Although it's hard to believe, that flame is that senior's signature."

"If my guess is correct, could Senior truly be the legendary Continent's Foremost Alchemist, Senior Yao Chen, Venerable Yao?"

Thank you all for your votes, tips, collections, and continued reading support. The book has entered the recommendation PK stage, so please don't stockpile chapters. Please keep reading along. This concerns whether it can advance to later recommendation slots and is an extremely critical period for this book's results. I'll have to trouble everyone to lend a hand.