Deep within the cave, a dazzling flash of fire vanished in an instant as Xiao Yan rushed out of the cave.
He sped in the direction from which he had come!
Half a day later:
Moonlight outside the cavern spilled over Yun Yun's shoulders, and the blue luan jade pendant at her waist swayed gently.
As she turned, the tips of her hair brushed Xiao Yan's bloodstained sleeve, leaving behind a faint lotus fragrance.
"Young Master Yan Xiao."
The deliberately emphasized alias rolled across her lips.
"Are you truly unwilling to join my Misty Cloud Sect as a Guest Elder?"
Xiao Yan leaned against the rock wall and wiped down the Heavy Black Ruler. Firelight branded flowing golden patterns across its surface.
"Sect Master Yun jests. I have long been accustomed to drifting free like a lone cloud or wild crane."
"I have no intention of joining any sect."
As he spoke, an ice-and-fire dual-colored pill suddenly condensed at his fingertips.
"This Fifth-grade Ice Heart Flame Poison Pill, however, can help you neutralize the lingering Purple Fire poison within your body."
It was not that Xiao Yan was being generous. He had secretly emptied out Yun Yun's entire storage ring.
This single pill did not even count as compensation.
The instant Yun Yun accepted the pill, her fingertips brushed the scorch marks on his palm.
Her heart tightened involuntarily. It seemed this operation had not gone as smoothly as he had made it seem.
Gazing at Xiao Yan's face, she suddenly spoke softly.
"Young Master, have you heard of the Xiao Family of Wutan City?"
Her abrupt question came as the firelight danced in her starry eyes.
The Heavy Black Ruler scraped sparks across the bluestone as Xiao Yan turned his back and walked into the shadows of the cave.
"A third-rate little clan, not worth mentioning."
His footsteps suddenly halted, and a thought stirred in his heart.
"I have heard, though, that your sect's... young sect master caused quite a commotion."
The night wind seeping through the cracks in the rock wall suddenly seemed to freeze.
Yun Yun crushed the Message Jade Slip hidden in her sleeve, its fragments falling through her fingers in a soft rustle.
"In three days, Elder Yun Leng will take Yanran to the Xiao Family to acknowledge it."
Before her words had even faded, the black-robed youth had vanished around the passageway's bend.
Yun Yun let out a quiet sigh. She had only confirmed Xiao Yan's identity not long ago.
After all, after Yanran's engagement had been annulled, she had seen the portrait of that Xiao Family young master.
It was only because the gap in their strength was too great that she had not dared believe it at first.
With such a genius at her side, Yanran had actually wanted to annul the engagement?
Sigh, forget it.
She only hoped the Misty Cloud Sect would not encounter any trouble in the future.
At dawn, Yun Yun spread her wings and swept over the Monster Beast Mountain Range.
Amid the morning mist, she suddenly touched the fragrant pouch at her waist, where a charred corner of cloth was hidden.
It was what Xiao Yan had left behind when he removed her Amethyst Seal three days ago.
Deep within the cave, Xiao Yan had just finished refining medicine.
When he turned around, he saw Xiao Yi Xian smashing her pestle hard enough to shake the heavens.
The purple-backed heavenly sunflower in the stone mortar had been pounded into pulp, splattering across her pristine white skirt in vicious purple stains.
"Didn't someone ask Sect Master Yun to offer herself in marriage?"
"Why not go become the Misty Cloud Sect's live-in son-in-law?"
"She asked me to be a Guest Elder."
The moment Xiao Yan spoke, Xiao Yi Xian curled her lips.
"What difference does that make?"
Seeing her reaction, Xiao Yan smiled helplessly.
He suddenly wrapped an arm around her waist from behind, warmth flowing into his palm.
Feeling the heat at her waist, Little Doctor's body stiffened abruptly.
Xiao Yan rested his chin against the tip of her burning ear.
"The vinegar smell in this cave is more choking than the Jade Scale Python's venom."
"What? Can't stand seeing me close to someone else?"
"But didn't I already tell you? I have a childhood sweetheart I love!"
The moment Xiao Yi Xian heard those words, the blush on her face instantly turned to anger.
"You!"
"You really are..."
Xiao Yi Xian struggled as she turned around, and her lips unexpectedly brushed against his Adam's apple.
A numb sensation like an electric current coursed through her entire body.
The black pupils in the youth's eyes turned crimson in an instant.
Before Xiao Yi Xian could finish speaking.
His four wings spread with a whoosh, pinning her against the rock wall.
The hand around her waist tightened slightly, pressing her into his embrace.
He lowered his head and kissed her lips.
As the warm touch of his lips reached her, Xiao Yi Xian's pupils suddenly widened.
She struggled to push Xiao Yan away, yet she did not use any strength at all.
After a long while, their lips parted.
Xiao Yi Xian's face was already flushed red. Ignoring the fact that Xiao Yan still held her, she buried her head deeply in his chest, too afraid to meet his eyes.
"You really are what?"
Xiao Yan's teasing voice entered her ears, and Little Doctor suddenly clutched his lapels tightly.
Yet her voice was soft, carrying a trace of panic and embarrassment.
"You really are a shameless rogue!"
"You're vulgar!"
"We've only known each other for a few days! You... you..."
A smile curled across Xiao Yan's lips.
"That may be true."
"But you're still holding me very tightly, aren't you?"
"Xiao Yan! You're shameless!"
"Hahaha!"
Several days later, inside a private room at an inn in Black Rock City:
The Seven-Colored Poison Scripture lay open on the bed, its pages stirred by the wind.
Xiao Yan flicked out blood-red flames with his fingers. They transformed into streams of Flowing Fire that coiled around Xiao Yi Xian.
"Hold your breath and focus!"
Xiao Yan raised his hand and fed the Nether Poison Pill into her mouth.
His right hand pressed against her dantian.
"Circulate the Heavenly Calamity Poison Canon I gave you!"
Xiao Yi Xian did not respond. She had already devoted all her focus to the cultivation technique.
She felt the medicinal power erupt within her body!
Her pupils abruptly shrank to pinpoints. Purple markings slithered around her neck like living snakes.
Poisonous qi erupted from her dantian and spread wildly.
Yet the moment it touched the Kirin Devouring Heaven Flame burning around them, it was reduced to ashes.
Xiao Yan pressed both palms against her back as Fire Cloud Water Flame flowed into her meridians.
It forced the rampaging poison mist back into her dantian.
"Mm..."
Intense pain surged through her body, and the girl endured the discomfort.
Even so, she still let out a pained muffled groan.
Poison mist erupted frantically around her, only to be suppressed by Xiao Yan's Heavenly Flames within a radius of ten feet.
The poison mist condensed into a vortex, then collapsed with a thunderous boom, forming a purple mark between Xiao Yi Xian's brows.
The waves of qi from her surging cultivation sent the teacups on the table flying.
Her cultivation began at one-star Dou Zhe and rose crazily!
When the dust settled, the cultivation of a Seven-star Fighter blossomed forth—the Calamity Poison Body had successfully awakened.
The girl collapsed weakly into Xiao Yan's arms, her fingers unconsciously clutching at the front of his robes.
"Xiao... Yan."
Xiao Yan smiled softly, and the gravity in his eyes gradually faded.
He gently laid Xiao Yi Xian flat on the bed and covered her with a blanket.
Then he turned and walked toward the other room.
The scorching heat baked the air as the Black Demon Cauldron floated amid the Fire Cloud Water Flame.
Xiao Yan controlled the flames with his left hand to refine Snow Bone Ginseng while his right hand darted through the air as he prepared poison.
By the window, Xiao Yi Xian played with the Amethyst Jade Hairpin Xiao Yan had given her when she awoke.
She held a mirror in her right hand, but her peripheral vision kept stealing glances at the youth's profile, illuminated by firelight.
"Using two tasks at once? Are you courting death?"
Old Yao's voice sounded in his mind.
"You could get away with it when refining fourth-grade pills."
"And now you dare do the same while refining fifth-grade pills?"
"Even the wealth in a Dou Emperor's storage ring cannot withstand such waste."
A smile appeared on Xiao Yan's face, pill patterns reflected in his crimson eyes.
"It's fine. The Ice-Fire Dragon Beard Pill only has its final step left."
"Just watch, Teacher!"
Xiao Yan formed the final pill-condensation seal and lifted the lid of the Medicine Cauldron.
An enchanting Pill Fragrance spread out, condensing into a phoenix that sought to soar into the sky.
The instant it made a move, Xiao Yan's Kirin Devouring Heaven Flame suppressed it.
A pill marked with red-and-blue patterns flew from the cauldron and entered a Jade Bottle.
Old Yao stared at the pill patterns and suddenly spoke.
"Do you know why I had you come to Black Rock City to take the Alchemist Guild examination?"
Xiao Yan rubbed the copy of the Pill Tower Emblem Old Yao had given him.
His gaze seemed to pierce through the city walls and look toward the Tagor Desert.
"Because the location of the Green Lotus Core Flame requires the Alchemist Guild's intelligence network, right?"
He knew the place, but not its exact location.
But that sort of matter could be solved by finding an "angel investor."
Old Yao, however, shook his head.
"That is not the main reason. As someone who..."
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