I've Grown Stronger

After leaving the Family Council Hall, Xiao Bai had originally planned to return directly to the courtyard where he lived, but a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

He recalled how the Clan Leader and the others had mentioned his parents in the hall earlier.

So he turned and headed toward his parents' graves.

They had been laid to rest on the Xiao Family's back mountain. The mountain was vast and the environment was pleasant. Although Xiao Bai's residence was right beside it, the two places were still quite far apart.

Of course, he did not idle away the journey.

Since he had said he would venture out into the world, he needed to make thorough preparations.

Along the way, he continuously placed Magic Crystals into the Heaven and Earth Forging Furnace. Once the Magic Crystals entered the furnace, they were quickly converted into energy and stored away.

As he walked at an unhurried pace, time passed. The Magic Crystals on him were soon all fed into the furnace, transformed into the foundation for Xiao Bai to increase his strength.

At that moment, he arrived at the back mountain. He had reached the Xiao Family's graveyard on the back mountain.

Xiao Bai wandered through the graves for quite some time before finally stopping in front of a tombstone.

His father was buried here, while his mother lay beneath the tombstone beside it.

Xiao Bai used his clothes to wipe the dust from the tombstones, doing so earnestly and carefully.

"Father, Mother, I'm Xiao Bai. I've come to see you."

"Although I'm not your biological son, I have still received your kindness. I've occupied the body that belonged to your son and inherited your bloodline. This body also gave me a new life. You deserve my respect, and it would not be wrong for me to call you Father and Mother."

After a pause, Xiao Bai seemed to ponder for a moment before continuing.

"Then that is what I'll call you—Father, Mother. I'm going out into the world to see all its splendor. Of course, please rest assured. I'll protect this body and try not to let it suffer too much harm. Oh, and the Clan Leader has posthumously appointed you as elders. I think it is an honor, so I accepted it. I hope you won't blame me."

As he spoke, Xiao Bai stood up and looked solemnly at the two tombstones.

"I'm leaving now. I'll come see you again next time. By then, I'll surely return with even greater glory and bring great honor to your names."

With that, he turned and left without the slightest attachment.

Just as he had come quietly, he left quietly, waving his sleeve and taking away only the dust upon it.

Following the path he had come by, Xiao Bai descended the back mountain without stopping and headed straight for his small courtyard.

"Cousin Xiao Bai, are you going back?"

A crisp, somewhat familiar voice rang out, causing Xiao Bai to pause.

He turned around in puzzlement. Who else could it be but Xiao Mei, whose face changed faster than she changed clothes?

"Yes, I'm going back."

Although Xiao Bai still wore a gentle smile, Xiao Mei felt a hint of regret in her heart.

She sensed a trace of coldness within that smile.

Though it was well concealed, she had still noticed it.

Because she was a woman and possessed an accurate sixth sense, even if she was still young.

"My father is going to explain a Yellow-tier Advanced Dou Technique tomorrow. Shall we go together?"

"No, I have important business to attend to tomorrow."

Xiao Bai rejected the girl whose face changed frighteningly fast, and he could not help but realize something.

No wonder Xiao Yan had treated her that way in the original story.

In fact, Xiao Yan's attitude had been fairly good. At least when choosing cultivation techniques, he had helped Xiao Mei in the end.

If it were Xiao Bai, that was not so certain.

It was perfectly normal for him to reject Xiao Mei, and he truly did have something to do.

After leaving, Xiao Bai hurried back to his residence at full speed.

This time, the journey went smoothly. No one else came to stop him, and Xiao Bai soon arrived at his small courtyard.

After closing the courtyard gate, Xiao Bai impatiently activated his Cheat. A light screen appeared before him, though unfortunately, only he could see it.

User: Xiao Bai

Attribute: Light

Strength: One Star Dou Zhe (+)

Soul: Mortal-tier Mid Stage (+)

Body: First-tier Low Grade (+)

Dou Techniques: Mirage (+)

Light Slash (+)

Light Shield (+)

Light Escape (+)

Seeing the display before him, a voice rose in Xiao Bai's heart.

The sky was vast enough for birds to fly, and the sea broad enough for fish to leap.

From now on, he would be that free bird, soaring freely through the sky.

Seeing the rows of black plus signs, Xiao Bai did not hesitate and directly selected Light Escape for enhancement.

With a tap, a furnace the size of an adult appeared before Xiao Bai. Then, a small hammer seemed to appear in midair, dropping down toward where Xiao Bai stood.

Watching the hammer smash toward him, he had considered running away, since it looked truly terrifying.

But his body could not move. It was as if an invisible force had restrained him and prevented him from moving.

Clang, clang, clang~

After a brief series of hammering sounds, it quickly stopped.

"That scared me to death!"

Xiao Bai wiped away the nonexistent cold sweat on his forehead and said with lingering fear.

He examined the changes in himself and discovered that Light Escape had advanced from the beginner level to the major accomplishment realm.

He was quite satisfied, even though it had not reached perfection.

He then checked his remaining energy. He still had enough to strengthen several more things, and this time, he chose to enhance his strength.

The scene from before appeared again. The hammer struck a few times and made several ringing sounds, and his strength became that of a Five Star Dou Zhe.

Why had he not enhanced his strength from the start? The reason was simple.

Being strong was good, but without the means to save his life, accidents could still easily happen.

But once he had the ability to preserve his life, it would be different. If he could not win, he could just run!

He did not need to run faster than everyone else. He only needed to run faster than his enemy. After all, in all martial arts under heaven, only speed was unbeatable.

He had chosen to enhance Light Escape instead of Light Shield because Xiao Bai felt the latter could only passively endure attacks, which was not worthwhile.

The former was different. It allowed him to flee and run, making it convenient for him to cause trouble.

As his strength increased, his body and soul also grew stronger, reaching levels that matched his strength.

After strengthening all of this, barely any energy remained in Xiao Bai's possession, not enough to continue enhancing anything.

He stopped and made no further movements. He merely sat cross-legged in silence, sensing the cultivation technique circulating endlessly within his body as it instinctively absorbed the thin Dou Qi between heaven and earth. He felt himself growing stronger at every moment.

"I've grown even stronger!"

He was somewhat intoxicated by the feeling. This was the sensation brought by power. It was good, and it was comfortable.

A moment later, Xiao Bai stood up. He needed to buy supplies necessary for surviving outside.

Because he had decided that his first destination would be the Monster Mountain Range.

Every day, countless people entered that place, and countless others met their downfall there, their bodies becoming food for magical beasts. It was a place known for danger and opportunity existing side by side.

This was his choice, and it had never changed.