Xiao Yi Xian

The sky was a brilliant blue, the blazing sun hung high overhead, and white clouds drifted across the distant horizon.

Magic Beast Mountain Range, outer region.

Whoosh~

A black figure flashed through the air, flying swiftly between sheer cliffs.

Behind him, a pair of black wings spanning several meters slowly beat. Purple patterns ran across them, giving them a mysterious, sinister allure.

"Flying freely feels so good."

A pleased smile rested on Wei Yang's lips as he savored the sensation of soaring to his heart's content.

Only after a while did Wei Yang stop atop a mountain peak. The wings behind him folded away as he slowly descended.

"Still, flying really consumes a lot."

"Even with my current cultivation as a six-star Dou Master, and with a Profound Tier High-Grade Cultivation Technique giving me abundant, high-quality Dou Qi, I can only maintain flight for around an hour before more than half my Dou Qi is depleted."

"Even if I divide part of my attention to breathing exercises and circulating my cultivation technique to recover while flying, I can only extend it by another half hour or so before more than half my Dou Qi is spent. I still can't sustain myself." Wei Yang shook his head with a sigh.

"Looks like if I want to fly for extended periods and truly achieve a balance between consumption and recovery, I'll need at least the cultivation of a Da Dou Shi."

Wei Yang sat down cross-legged and began circulating his cultivation technique to recover the energy he had expended.

As the technique operated, the Dou Qi within his body gradually began to recover.

A Profound Tier High-Grade Cultivation Technique had quite an impressive recovery rate.

Just like now, the more than half of his Dou Qi that had been consumed through using the Flying Dou Technique rapidly recovered with every breath and exhalation. In just over ten minutes, he had recovered seventy to eighty percent of it.

Compared to the time it had taken to expend and recover energy while cultivating the Crimson Flame Art, it was vastly superior.

No wonder everyone dreamed of pursuing higher-tier cultivation techniques.

After some more time passed, Wei Yang opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them.

His expended Dou Qi had fully recovered, and he had even made a slight improvement.

After leaving the cliffside cave, he had not hurried to leave the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Instead, he had chosen to remain nearby and cultivate in seclusion.

A full four months had now passed, and Wei Yang's cultivation had returned to the level of a six-star Dou Master.

Though he was still a six-star Dou Master, his strength was no longer comparable to what it had once been.

Compared to before, his actual power and combat strength had improved by more than tenfold.

"This trip into the Magic Beast Mountain Range has yielded plenty. It's time to head back."

Wei Yang rose to his feet and turned his gaze toward the direction of Green Mountain Town.

Whoosh!

His Black Wings spread open, and with a movement of his body, Wei Yang became a black blur as he flew out of the mountain range.

The journey back was swift. Traveling by flight was far faster than when he had entered the mountains.

Over ten minutes later, he was already nearing the edge of the Magic Beast Mountain Range.

In the distance, he could vaguely make out the outline of Green Mountain Town.

Once he reached this point, Wei Yang found a secluded forest and descended, putting away his wings before choosing to leave the mountains on foot.

He did not want to draw too much attention.

In a place like Green Mountain Town, the strongest people were only at the level of two- or three-star Dou Masters, and there were only a handful of them. Their knowledge was naturally limited; they probably did not even know that Flying Dou Techniques existed.

If they suddenly saw someone flying, they would assume it was Dou Qi Wings and believe that a Dou Wang expert had arrived.

A Dou Wang was a high-ranking existence throughout the Jia Ma Empire, let alone in Green Mountain Town.

Then they would see who was flying—oh boy, a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old youth!

Wouldn't that scare people to death?

Before long, the entire Jia Ma Empire would probably be in an uproar.

How could he keep a low profile then?

Wei Yang walked along the narrow forest path that mercenaries had trampled out over countless years. His steps were light, and he was in a fine mood.

He had spent nearly five months in the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Now that he had emerged once more, he had changed greatly from before. Calling it a complete rebirth would not have been an exaggeration.

It was as though his entire being had undergone a transformation. His eyes faintly carried confidence, and even his overall bearing had become somewhat different.

It was the confidence brought by strength.

An invisible aura surrounded him.

Green Mountain Town.

I've just come out of the mountains. There's no need to rush back yet. I'll rest for two days before leaving, Wei Yang thought.

Having stayed in the Magic Beast Mountain Range for nearly five months, he naturally intended to rest for a couple of days first.

So he went directly back to the inn where he had stayed five months ago.

"Innkeeper, give me a superior room. Prepare hot water, and bring me a table full of good dishes." Wei Yang entered the inn and walked straight to the counter to give his orders.

"Yes, Young Master." The innkeeper quickly agreed, then called out, "A-San, take this young master upstairs."

"Right away. Please follow me, Young Master." The waiter answered and respectfully led the way ahead.

Wei Yang followed after him.

"Hmm?"

After taking only a few steps, Wei Yang suddenly stopped. His gaze shifted slightly as he looked toward a corner of the main hall.

There sat a beautiful young girl who appeared to be only twelve or thirteen, all by herself.

The little girl looked thin and frail. She wore a plain white cotton dress, and there was a trace of travel-worn dust about her.

Her skin was fair, though her palm-sized face was smudged with dust. A few strands of hair were disheveled, yet from her brows and eyes, which had begun to mature, and her delicate features, it was clear that she was a natural beauty.

The little girl sat quietly in the corner, taking small bites from a steamed bun.

At a glance, she gave off a fresh, ethereal impression, like a white orchid blooming silently in a secluded mountain valley.

Her petite body had begun to develop, like a lotus bud just emerging from the water.

Most eye-catching of all was her small waist, outlined by a white cloth sash.

It seemed as though it could barely be held within one hand.

Her willow brows were lightly furrowed, and her expression carried a trace of fatigue and faint melancholy.

"It's her!" Wei Yang raised a brow, his thumb casually brushing over the black ring on his index finger.

Xiao Yi Xian!

There was no need to look at anything else. Her aura, like an orchid in an empty valley, along with that strikingly exquisite little waist, was enough to confirm her identity beyond doubt.

What a coincidence.

He had only just come out of the Magic Beast Mountain Range, yet he had run into her right away.

It looked like Xiao Yi Xian had only recently ended up in Green Mountain Town as well.

"What a strange fate." Wei Yang let out a soft breath.

Fate truly was a marvelous thing.

When he had not intended to seek her out, she had suddenly appeared before him instead.

As though it had been destined.

Wei Yang had taken the Seven-Colored Poison Classic from the cliffside cave, but he had not yet decided whether he would give it to Xiao Yi Xian in the future. For now, he had only planned to bring it back to Wu Tan City and study it.

As for whether he would give it to her later, that could wait.

Yet the moment he left the mountains, he happened to encounter Xiao Yi Xian here. It was as though everything had been arranged in advance.

Wei Yang narrowed his eyes slightly.

"...Young Master?" Beside him, the waiter saw that Wei Yang had stopped walking, staring fixedly at a little girl. After waiting for a moment, he cautiously stepped forward and quietly reminded him.

Wei Yang cast him an indifferent glance. The waiter immediately shuddered, lowered his head, and did not dare say another word.

"Hmph."

Wei Yang withdrew his gaze and walked away.

It was merely a coincidence.