Joy Beyond Reach

After returning from the Auction House, Yao Chen began refining the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid. It was finished in no time.

Although there were only five bottles for now, Xiao Yan estimated that they should be enough for the Xiao Family Disciples, including himself, for two or three days.

The next question was how these things should be distributed.

Xiao Yan looked at the five bottles of Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid on the table, frowning as he sank into thought.

The bottle of Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid he had previously entrusted Ya Fei to auction had brought Xiao Yan two hundred and thirty thousand in profit from that single bottle alone.

While delighted, Xiao Yan immediately realized something.

He seemed to have greatly underestimated the value of the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid.

A man's only crime was possessing a treasure. Even if Xiao Yan wanted the clan disciples to enjoy this benefit, he could not let them know that such a thing existed. He could not simply distribute it to everyone.

Although Xiao Yan trusted the clan disciples, there always had to be a contingency.

If people learned that the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid had come from him, they might very well deduce the existence of Yao Chen behind him.

Although Yao Chen had not explained her origins, seeing her current state as a Soul Body, Xiao Yan had more or less formed a guess.

His teacher might have encountered tremendous trouble while alive, perhaps even been hunted down, leaving her with no choice but to hide inside the Ring.

Therefore, Xiao Yan had to conceal Yao Chen's existence as much as possible. Ya Fei learning of it had already been unavoidable, and Ya Fei was one of those rare people who could keep a secret. Anything she should not say would remain buried in her heart.

If anyone else learned of it, they might not be so fortunate.

Seeing Xiao Yan seated at the table, staring at the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid with a headache, Yao Chen could not help but sigh.

Having to be so vigilant even while bestowing benefits upon others, desperately trying to avoid trouble—this was the first time Yao Chen had seen such a thing in all these years.

However, having gradually become familiar with Xiao Yan's character, Yao Chen guessed that his concerns were mostly because he feared exposing her and bringing her unnecessary trouble.

At that thought, a trace of warmth flowed through Yao Chen's heart.

Although she had only accepted this disciple recently, Yao Chen was exceedingly satisfied with Xiao Yan, especially with his heart that thought of others at every moment.

The righteous path Xiao Yan wished to pursue was not merely something he spoke of.

He truly, wholeheartedly, strove onward upon that thorn-covered road.

Gazing at Xiao Yan in Front, Yao Chen could not help comparing him to someone else.

If that child had been like Xiao Yan, things would not have turned out this way.

"Right!"

Just as Yao Chen's heart was about to sink into sorrow, Xiao Yan suddenly raised his head and cried out.

"That place will be perfect!"

Xiao Yan then took the five bottles of Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid and left his room, making his way through the night to the Xiao Family's Back Mountain.

Following the route in his memories and passing through the dark forest, he finally Reached his destination.

It was a rather large Hot Spring, with Wooden Mats dividing it into separate sections to prevent the awkwardness of men and women bathing together in full view of one another.

"Well, well. You even have a Hot Spring here?"

Yao Chen was rather surprised. The Xiao Family might be small, but it truly lacked nothing it ought to have.

"When this Disciple was young, I often heard Father and the Elders tell stories about Rare Treasures discovered deep in the mountains. Back then, I rallied the Xiao Family's brothers and sisters to dig for treasure on the Back Mountain, hoping we might encounter one of those adventures from the stories."

As Xiao Yan spoke, a nostalgic smile appeared on his face.

"Although we never dug up any treasure in the end, we unexpectedly unearthed a Hot Spring. So our efforts were not wasted."

After Listening to Xiao Yan's account, Yao Chen unexpectedly felt a surge of envy in her heart.

Young children, together with their companions, coming to the clan's Back Mountain to dig for treasure with such innocent thoughts—such a thing would have been absolutely impossible in Yao Chen's clan.

Doing something like that in the Hidden Great Family, which was several times larger than the Xiao Family, would only have been regarded as idling away one's studies.

Yet they did not know that these pure and joyful memories from childhood could never be experienced again, no matter how powerful one became in the future.

Even in the same place, doing the same thing, a heart already worn away by time was far less innocent than before and simply could not feel that pure joy.

At that thought, an image could not help appearing in Yao Chen's mind.

Xiao Yan led his brothers and sisters from the clan to the Back Mountain, eagerly digging away. Though every child's face was smeared with dirt, each one wore an excited, happy, innocent smile, naively anticipating the Rare Treasures they were about to unearth.

They must have been very happy then.

To Yao Chen, this memory Xiao Yan shared with his clan brothers and sisters was far more precious than any high-grade medicinal pill, cultivation technique, or Dou Qi skill.

While Yao Chen indulged in these thoughts, Xiao Yan crouched beside the Hot Spring, opened the bottles of Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid one by one, and poured all five into the spring.

In an instant, the formerly clear Hot Spring took on a faint Emerald Green Color. Fortunately, the mist concealed it, so it did not look too conspicuous.

After finishing all this, Xiao Yan left the Back Mountain with satisfaction and returned to his room to rest.

The next day, Xiao Yan woke early and went first to his father's room, where he knocked on the door.

A moment later, Xiao Zhan opened his door and looked somewhat puzzled upon seeing Xiao Yan.

"Yan'er, what brings you to me so early?"

"Father, starting today, I will take the Xiao Family Disciples to train on the Xiao Family's Back Mountain. I hope you will inform their parents so they will not worry."

After Listening to Xiao Yan's words, Xiao Zhan's eyes were full of confusion.

What was his son up to this time?

However, out of trust in his son, Xiao Zhan did not ask further and softly replied.

"Understood. I will let them know."

"Thank you, Father."

Xiao Yan waved farewell to his father, then headed to the Training Ground, where more than twenty Xiao Family Disciples were already waiting.

When everyone saw Xiao Yan arrive, they prepared to warm up and begin their usual basic training, only for Xiao Yan to lightly wave his hand and stop them.

"Everyone, stop for a moment. Starting today, we will not train here anymore."

"Huh?" Xiao Ning rubbed his neck and looked at Xiao Yan strangely. "What do you mean?"

"Group training~"

Xiao Yan answered with a smile, making Xiao Ning look even more confused.

Weren't we doing group training every day?

Xiao Yan did not offer any further explanation. He simply clapped his hands and called out.

"First, a few of you come with me to buy supplies in town. We need to purchase three days' worth of food."

Xiao Yan then left the Training Ground with Xiao Ning and several other male disciples. The two little girls, Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Mei, followed along as well.

This proved that on this continent, as long as it had nothing to do with Dou Qi, it would not be particularly expensive.

For less than six hundred Gold Coin, Xiao Yan bought A Pig, A Cow, and A Sheep. He also bought Rice, Flour, Oil, Vegetables, and Seasonings without leaving out a single thing, along with all kinds of Cooking Utensils, making Xiao Yan sigh with feeling.

When buying medicinal ingredients before, he had thought he did not have enough money. Now it seemed that money could actually last quite a while.

The group carried all these things back to the Xiao Family Training Ground in grand procession, leaving passersby utterly bewildered.

Was the Xiao Family holding a celebration?