Background

Seeing that Xiao Peng was ready, Xiao Zhan finally said, "You're not actually a member of the Xiao Family. You're the child of my good friend. An accident happened back then, and your father brought you to the Xiao Family and entrusted you to me."

Learning that he was not a member of the Xiao Family, Xiao Peng was somewhat surprised. He had never expected that he was not part of the Xiao Family.

However, it did not really matter to him. With Sect Leader Tongtian as his cheat, what difference did it make whether he belonged to the Xiao Family or not?

Xiao Zhan continued, "I originally planned to tell you about your background after you came of age. But after seeing the strength you displayed, I decided to tell you early."

Suppressing the doubts in his heart, Xiao Peng asked, "Uncle Xiao, can you tell me who killed my parents?"

Although he had no feelings for these parents, they had given him life. He had to avenge them.

Hearing Xiao Peng's question, Xiao Zhan sighed. "It was done by a Tier 4 Magical Beast in the Magical Beast Mountain Range. Xiao Peng, don't let a moment of impulse drive you to seek revenge."

He knew Xiao Peng would not do something so reckless, but he could not help reminding him.

Xiao Peng nodded. "Don't worry, Uncle Xiao. Once my strength reaches the Dou Wang realm, I'll go avenge them."

Xiao Zhan then took out a Storage Ring and handed it to Xiao Peng. "Xiao Peng, take this. It's the inheritance your parents left for you."

Xiao Peng looked at the Storage Ring Xiao Zhan offered him. The ring was entirely black, engraved with several ancient-looking patterns.

Xiao Peng hesitated for a moment before reaching out and taking it. When his fingertips touched the ring's cold metallic surface, an inexplicable emotion stirred in his heart. It was a trace left behind by parents he had never met.

When he inspected the Storage Ring, Xiao Peng could not help but freeze.

Quite a few items were piled within its space: several neatly arranged rows of Jade Bottles, which presumably contained pills.

There were more than a dozen sealed wooden crates. The words "mysterious iron," "Cold Copper," and the like could vaguely be seen marked on them. They were clearly forging materials.

Inside a half-open brocade box lay a palm-sized Beast Core. Its entire body glowed red and emitted faint energy fluctuations. Its quality had actually reached the peak of Tier 3.

There were quite a few gold coins in one corner. Though he did not know how many there were, Xiao Peng felt they would be enough to support him for quite some time.

After looking through everything, Xiao Peng found one cultivation technique and four Dou Techniques.

The cultivation technique was called Autumn Wind, a Mysterious-tier Intermediate cultivation technique. He did not care much about it.

After all, he had the Yellow Court Scripture passed down by his master. It was far stronger than Autumn Wind, so there was no need for this technique at all.

As for the remaining Dou Techniques, there were two Yellow-tier Intermediate Fighting Skills and one Mysterious-tier Low-tier Fighting Skill. This surprised Xiao Peng somewhat.

A Mysterious-tier Low-tier Fighting Skill was quite difficult to obtain, yet his bargain-bin parents actually had one. How could he not be surprised?

However, he was not particularly interested in them right now. He would look through those Dou Techniques when he had time.

"Thank you, Uncle Xiao, for telling me all this." After finishing his inspection, Xiao Peng stood and gave Xiao Zhan a deep bow. "Whether or not I'm a member of the Xiao Family, I'll always remember the kindness you and the Xiao Family have shown in raising me."

Xiao Zhan looked at his upright figure, gratification appearing in his eyes. He waved a hand. "You child, why are you being so polite with me? Go on."

Xiao Peng answered in acknowledgment and turned to leave the study.

When he returned to his room, Xiao Xun'er had already left. The room had been cleaned spotless, and the Alchemy Furnace had been returned to its original place. Only a faint burnt smell still lingered around its mouth.

Xiao Peng closed the door and resumed refining pills. The resources in the Storage Ring were nowhere near enough for his needs, so he had to prepare more resources.

He would still need to break through to the Golden Core realm later, and the Golden Core Tribulation would also be troublesome. It would be better to prepare as much as possible during this time.

After refining for nearly a full day, Xiao Peng's alchemy had improved considerably.

Although he failed several times, it was no longer as outrageous as before. There were no more cases of the furnace exploding outright.

"Not bad. I really am a genius."

Xiao Peng looked at the Jade Bottles filled with pills on the table and spoke with immense satisfaction.

They were not of top quality, but they had at least reached mid-grade. Selling them in a place like this would be more than enough.

But this level was far from enough for him.

At the very least, he needed to reach the point where he could refine top-grade pills under normal circumstances.

The next morning.

"Knock, knock, knock..."

"Brother Xiao Peng, I've come to see you."

Hearing Xiao Xun'er's voice outside, Xiao Peng stopped cultivating and got out of bed.

After cultivating for an entire night, Xiao Peng realized that his cultivation speed was somewhat slow. The reason he had advanced so quickly before was because of his master, Sect Leader Tongtian.

He felt that if his master seriously lectured for an entire day, he might even ascend on the spot.

The reason his master did not do so was because he wanted Xiao Peng to gain experience and improve his cultivation properly.

With that thought, Xiao Peng got out of bed, walked to the door, and opened it. There, he saw Xiao Xun'er standing outside.

When Xiao Xun'er saw Xiao Peng open the door, she smiled and greeted him. "Good morning, Brother Xiao Peng."

Xiao Peng smiled in reply. "Good morning, Xun'er."

Xiao Xun'er took out a book from her Storage Ring and handed it to Xiao Peng. "I had someone help me get these alchemy notes for you. Brother Xiao Peng, you must learn everything inside."

They contained the insights of a Third-grade Alchemist, enough for Xiao Peng to study properly.

If the insights were too profound, Xiao Peng definitely would not be able to understand them. Once he had digested these, she would give him higher-level ones.

Xiao Peng accepted the alchemy notes. The cover bore ancient dark patterns, and the edges of the pages carried a faint medicinal fragrance, showing that they had often been read.

Xiao Peng rubbed the rough pages with his fingertips, then looked up at Xiao Xun'er, warmth in his eyes. "Thank you, Xun'er. This is much more useful than me blindly figuring things out on my own."

"Why are you being polite with me?" Xiao Xun'er's smiling eyes curved into crescents as she reached out to brush nonexistent dust from his shoulder. "You made such a commotion refining pills yesterday that the whole room smelled burnt. These notes record quite a few fire-control tricks, as well as the incompatibilities between several common medicinal herbs. Read them carefully, and don't blow up the furnace again next time."

At the mention of exploding the furnace, Xiao Peng's face showed a trace of embarrassment. He scratched his head. "I was indeed unfamiliar with it yesterday, but it got much better later. I refined several bottles of First-grade Pills."

"Oh? Then congratulations, Brother Xiao Peng." Xiao Xun'er raised a brow, her tone full of teasing. "Would you like to refine a batch for me to see right now?"

Xiao Xun'er was somewhat astonished by Xiao Peng's talent. It had only been a short time, yet Xiao Peng had already refined First-grade Pills.

She estimated it had not even been a week. Such talent would make him a genius even in the Central Plains.

Once Xiao Peng had grown sufficiently in the future, she would take him to the Central Plains.

Not going to the Central Plains would be a complete waste of Xiao Peng's talent.

Xiao Peng scratched his head somewhat shyly. "No, no. I'd better not make a fool of myself. Once I've practiced enough, I'll invite Xun'er to come watch."