First Meeting

(The romance scenes might be pretty awkward. I can't write them anymore.)

Phew~

Xiao Li had no idea how long he had cultivated before he slowly opened his eyes. He was now at the peak of the Da Dou Shi realm; in as little as a few days or as long as half a year, he would be able to break through to the Dou Ling realm.

Xiao Li stood and stretched his body, a smile on his face as he watched the Dou Qi within him slowly rise.

Cultivation really is addictive.

"You're awake? Then sit." Old Wang's voice rang out.

Xiao Li looked over and found a young girl standing beside Yun Shan. She was breathtakingly beautiful, her lovely features calm and serene, yet carrying a trace of grace and nobility. She would undoubtedly become a beauty capable of toppling kingdoms in the future.

"Ahem."

Yun Shan coughed, staring at Xiao Li with a face full of black lines. The Stinky Boy had just finished cultivating and was already staring at his disciple!

Yun Yun, meanwhile, looked at Xiao Li curiously. She was pondering a question: why was this youngster, who appeared to be around her age, so much stronger than her?

Xiao Li awkwardly scratched his cheek, then obediently sat beside Old Wang.

This old man Yun Shan is way too petty. I only looked at your disciple—was there really any need to glare at me so fiercely? She's so pretty; can't I even appreciate her?

"Li'er, this girl is Sect Leader Yun's high disciple, Yun Yun. You are close in age, so get to know each other," Old Wang said with a chuckle.

At Old Wang's introduction, Xiao Li looked at Yun Yun, who was also looking at him.

"I am Xiao Li. Greetings, Young Sect Master." Xiao Li cupped his fists.

"Yun Yun greets Master Xiao." Yun Yun placed her hands together.

Both sides were very polite. Xiao Li was the personal disciple of a Rank 6 Alchemist and a Rank 4 Alchemist himself, so he was worthy of being called Master in the Jia Ma Empire.

Though Yun Yun was still young, she was indeed the Young Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect.

After getting acquainted, there was nothing more to say. They each sat beside their own master in silence.

Yun Shan & Wang Ming: ...

"Ahem. Li'er, you are now a Nine Star Dou Grandmaster. Breaking through to the Dou Ling realm is only a matter of half a year.

"Sect Leader Yun's disciple also happens to need another half year of training in the Magical Beast Mountain Range. For these next six months, you will take her with you to train.

"Your master and Sect Leader Yun have important matters to attend to. Remember not to provoke the powerful beings of the Magical Beast Mountain Range. Remember that!"

Old Wang finished arranging the matter, and Yun Shan nodded with a dark expression.

Why had Yun Shan agreed to Old Wang's decision? Because Old Wang was offering too much! Old Wang had offered an Imperial Origin Pill.

The Imperial Origin Pill was a Rank 6 Top-grade Pill. Its effect was simple: it could allow a Dou Emperor Expert to raise their level by one to two stars in a relatively short time. Moreover, the Imperial Origin Pill had another effect—it strengthened the meridians and tempered the bones. The residual medicinal power left behind after increasing one's strength would help the user strengthen their body once.

Although Old Wang's success rate in refining Imperial Origin Pills was not high, he had indeed refined one successfully before.

Yun Shan had never taken an Imperial Origin Pill. Any Dou Emperor would be tempted by one.

But Yun Shan was also an old fox. His precious disciple would most likely be impossible to keep, so he raised the price! Add another Rank 6 Imperial Wind Spirit Pill.

Old Wang: Deal!

After Old Wang finished his instructions, he gave Yun Shan a look, then spread his Dou Qi Wings and departed.

Yun Shan's face darkened, but he quickly composed himself and said to Yun Yun, "Yun'er, Master has some matters to handle with Master Wang. You will train alongside young friend Xiao. Listen to all of his arrangements.

"Young friend Xiao Li, Yun'er's safety is in your hands. If she gets hurt, you understand the consequences!"

Xiao Li hurriedly cupped his fists and bowed. "I will definitely keep the Young Sect Master safe!"

Whoosh!

In the next moment, Yun Shan also spread his Dou Qi Wings and flew away.

Only Xiao Li and Yun Yun remained in the cave, staring at each other wide-eyed.

"Ahem, well, Young Sect Master, let's not keep standing. Sit down. We can rest for a full day before going out to train," Xiao Li said with a cough.

Yun Yun had yet to process what was happening. Why had her teacher just left like that? Her training was not even complete yet.

Xiao Li scratched his head. He truly did not know how to make conversation, so he might as well do his own thing. Since his teacher had arranged for him to protect Yun Yun, he should make more thorough preparations.

Xiao Li took out the Blue Flame Cauldron, then brought out some medicinal herbs he had gathered and prepared to refine pills.

"Are you going to refine pills?" Yun Yun asked as she watched his series of actions.

"Mm."

"I heard President Wang say that you are a Nine Star Dou Grandmaster? How old are you? You don't look much older than me," Yun Yun continued.

"Fifteen. Almost sixteen."

"I'm fourteen. You're only one year older than me? Yet your realm is so far ahead of mine." Yun Yun felt somewhat disheartened. Ever since she had begun cultivating, she had displayed astonishing talent.

Yun Shan often praised her, saying that she would surpass the Successive Sect Leaders of Misty Cloud Sect in the future.

"It's all thanks to Teacher's nurturing. The pills never stopped coming. Even so, my talent would only be average in the center of the continent."

Xiao Li shrugged. He believed he had some talent, but he was not worthy of being called a genius. Who knew when someone might defeat him despite being weaker? In any case, he was here to take it easy and wait for Xiao Yan to rise.

Xiao Yan was the Genius Corrector. All he needed to do was retire in peace.

"I heard from Master that the Northwest Continent is barren, while Central Continent is where geniuses gather. Our Misty Cloud Sect's ancestor, Shattering Heaven Venerable, came from Central Continent.

"I will take Ancestor Po Tian as my goal and lead the Misty Cloud Sect to a new peak!" Yun Yun's eyes seemed to blaze with fire.

"Then good luck to you. As for me, I also have things I want to accomplish. You defend your sect, while I want to protect my clan. In that sense, our goals are quite similar. Let us encourage each other!"

Xiao Li said with a smile. The Xiao Clan was now his home, and it was a good home. He did not want Chimei Wangliang to destroy it.

"Let us encourage each other!"

Xiao Li smiled. Little Yun Yun was truly adorable. He then placed the medicinal herbs into the Blue Flame Cauldron, released Purple Flame from his right hand, and began refining pills.

"By the way, Young Sect Master..."

Yun Yun interrupted Xiao Li. "Calling me Young Sect Master feels too distant. You may call me Yun'er. Master Xiao is one year older than me; may I call you Brother Xiao Li?"

"Is that so? Of course you can. And don't treat me as some Master either. I'm not worthy of that title. We can simply associate as equals," Xiao Li said with a smile.

"Mm." Yun Yun revealed a sweet smile, and that smile left Xiao Li somewhat dazed.

"Ahem, Yun'er, your cultivation seems to be at the Five Star Dou Practitioner level, and you mainly cultivate Wind Attribute Dou Qi, right?" Xiao Li felt like this girl was about to win him over. No wonder Gu He loved her to the point of madness.

"That's right."

"Then you're in luck. Some time ago, while gathering herbs, I found a Wind Spirit Fruit. Using it as the main ingredient to refine a Fourth Grade Wind Spirit Gathering Qi Pill would be perfect.

"Now all that's missing is a Rank 3 Wind Attribute Magical Core."

Xiao Li said with a smile.

"A Fourth Grade Pill? I'm only a Dou Zhe right now. Taking a Fourth Grade Pill should be dangerous, shouldn't it?" Yun Yun suddenly asked.

Although she could take some pills, their grade could not be too high. A Fourth Grade Pill was a little too high-level; most pills of that grade were meant for Da Dou Shi.

"That won't be a problem. I'll refine some medicine liquid that will help you absorb the pill. Taking it while soaking in a medicinal bath will work best, and it won't harm your body."

Xiao Li patted his chest in assurance. What a joke! He was an Alchemist—could he not solve such a problem?