Qingshan Town

Nalan Yanran's heart sank.

She naturally understood.

"I don't know the young master's background either," Ya Fei said softly as she set down her teacup.

"But I do know that the sky as we see it may merely be the ground beneath the young master's feet."

"When the young master said today that he was giving me face, he was reminding me—and warning the Misty Cloud Sect."

Ya Fei looked at Nalan Yanran.

"Sister Yanran, you're a smart person. You should understand what I mean."

Nalan Yanran fell silent.

Of course she understood.

The other party had not taken the Misty Cloud Sect seriously at all. The unspoken meaning behind "giving Ya Fei face" was, "If not for Ya Fei's sake, none of you would be walking out of this door today."

Such a young Sixth Grade Alchemist must have an unimaginably powerful force backing him.

Yet she had actually tried to recruit him. Nalan Yanran's face alternated between pale and flushed. It truly had been far too wishful.

"I understand." Nalan Yanran rose to her feet and solemnly bowed to Ya Fei. "Thank you for your guidance, Sister Ya Fei."

There was no longer the slightest trace of confusion on Nalan Yanran's face. A new flame burned within her cool eyes.

"I'll return to the sect at once."

Ya Fei escorted her to the door. Watching the girl's resolute departing figure, the corners of her lips lifted slightly.

Nalan Yanran walked out of the Miter Auction House and looked up at Wutan City's sky.

She suddenly felt that this sky was truly very small.

"The Three-Year Pact..."

She murmured softly.

That Xiao Yan, and his words, "Never despise a poor youth," no longer stirred much emotion within her.

He was merely a stumbling block on her path of cultivation, one she needed to move aside with dignity.

Her true goal was to see the wider world Xuan Jin had spoken of.

Xiao Family.

Xiao Yan sat cross-legged on his bed. The excitement and burning passion from before gradually cooled.

In their place came immense pressure.

"Three-Star Dou Practitioner..." Xiao Yan muttered.

He had seen clearly the three glittering golden stars on Nalan Yanran's chest today.

A fifteen-year-old Three-Star Dou Practitioner!

Even across the entire Jia Ma Empire, she was undoubtedly a top-tier genius.

Moreover, Nalan Yanran was already the Misty Cloud Sect's Young Sect Leader. Over the next three years, resources would naturally never be lacking.

"What realm will she reach in three years?"

Xiao Yan's mind raced.

With the Misty Cloud Sect's resources and her talent, breaking through to Dou Master, reaching the higher ranks of Dou Master, or even challenging the Da Dou Shi realm in three years was not impossible.

And what about himself?

Dou Disciple Stage Four.

That starting point was truly too low.

Xiao Yan spread open his palm and felt the weak Dou Qi within his body. An intense sense of urgency drowned him like a tide.

"Not enough. Far from enough!"

He closed his eyes, immersed his mind within his body, frantically circulated the Dou Qi throughout his body, and greedily absorbed the energy of heaven and earth.

Every tiny increase in Dou Qi gave him a sliver of peace of mind.

He could not lose.

This battle concerned not only his personal honor and disgrace, but also the dignity of his father and the entire Xiao Family.

Outside the door, Xiao Xun'er stood quietly.

Looking at the tightly shut door to Xiao Yan's room, a trace of worry showed on her delicate face.

More than anyone else, she knew just how vast the gap between Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran was.

Although Master Xuan Jin's pills possessed extraordinary effects, catching up to—or even surpassing—Nalan Yanran within three years was still as difficult as ascending to heaven.

After all, Xiao Yan's starting point was simply... too low.

"Brother Xiao Yan..."

She pushed open the courtyard gate and walked in.

Inside the room, Xiao Yan was still cultivating tirelessly, his clothes already soaked with sweat.

Seeing his tightly furrowed brows and pale face, Xiao Xun'er felt a sharp pang in her heart.

She did not speak to disturb him. She merely retreated silently and closed the door.

After returning to her own courtyard, Xiao Xun'er sat on a bluestone bench.

"Hard training alone won't be enough," Xiao Xun'er murmured.

Xiao Yan needed stronger cultivation techniques, more supreme pills, and more powerful Dou Skills.

A moment later, she seemed to have made up her mind.

Life in Wutan City flowed on peacefully amid Xiao Yan's mad cultivation and the undercurrents stirring among the various factions.

Xuan Jin remained at Tianxiang Tower for another half month.

He spent most of his time cultivating, occasionally refining pills.

And Ya Fei still had not gathered all the medicinal ingredients for the Sixth Tier Lingxi Meridian-Connecting Pill, so Xuan Jin did not intend to stay any longer.

One day, Xuan Jin summoned Ya Fei to his room.

Xuan Jin casually tossed several jade bottles to Ya Fei.

"These contain some Fourth Grade Qi Gathering Powder and Fifth Grade Healing Pills. Take them and use them as you please, whether for yourself or for auction."

"As for the Gold Coins from the auctions, use all of them to purchase high-grade medicinal ingredients."

Ya Fei accepted the jade bottles. Feeling their smooth warmth and smelling the rich medicinal fragrance, her heart warmed.

The young master was paving the way for her future.

"Thank you, Young Master."

"I'll be leaving Wutan City for a while," Xuan Jin said.

Ya Fei's heart suddenly tightened, and a trace of reluctance appeared on her face.

"Where is the young master going?"

"To take a look at the Magical Beast Mountain Range," Xuan Jin answered without concealing it.

Ya Fei nodded and did not ask any further questions.

She knew what she should and should not do.

"Before I leave, take this."

Xuan Jin handed Ya Fei a pitch-black Jade Slip covered in intricate patterns.

"It contains the power of one of my attacks. If you encounter danger you cannot resolve, crush it directly."

Ya Fei accepted the Jade Slip with both hands. Its heavy weight gave her an unprecedented sense of security.

She lifted her head, and her alluring peach-blossom eyes shimmered with tears.

"Young Master, Ya Fei will be here... waiting for your return."

Xuan Jin gave a hum, and with a flicker, vanished from the room.

Ya Fei held the cool Jade Slip. Only after a long while did she turn and leave.

Since Xuan Jin thought so highly of her, she naturally had to work hard. Through their time together, Ya Fei had also understood that Xuan Jin would remain on the Northwest Continent for some time.

And during that time, she naturally needed to serve Xuan Jin diligently. After all, someone like him could not possibly handle every matter personally.

Half a day later, Qingshan Town.

Unlike Wutan City's prosperity, this small town appeared far rougher.

Because it was close to the Magical Beast Mountain Range, there were many mercenaries in town. Men carrying broadswords and wearing fierce expressions could be seen everywhere on the streets.

Xuan Jin walked slowly along the bluestone road, heading directly toward the Myriad Medicine Pavilion at the eastern end of town.

The Myriad Medicine Pavilion's storefront was not large, but it was filled with all kinds of medicinal ingredients. A faint herbal fragrance permeated the air.

A young girl dressed in a simple hemp dress stood behind the counter, carefully dressing the wound of a middle-aged man with a bluish complexion.

The girl appeared to be around sixteen or seventeen. She wore a pale white dress, and while she could not be called devastatingly beautiful, she was still an exceptionally rare beauty.

Her faintly smiling face exuded a fresh, ethereal air. That distinctive temperament immediately made her charm rise greatly.

It was Xiao Yi Xian.