First Meeting

(The romantic scenes might be a little awkward. I can't write them anymore.)

Phew~

Xiao Li did not know how long he had cultivated before slowly opening his eyes. He was now at the Peak Da Dou Shi stage; in as little as a few days or as long as half a year, he would be able to break through to Dou Ling.

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

"Cultivation really is addictive."

"Awake? Then have a seat." Old Wang's voice came from nearby.

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

"Ahem."

Yun Shan coughed, glaring at Xiao Li with a dark expression. This brat had just finished cultivating and was already staring at his disciple!

Yun Yun, meanwhile, looked curiously at Xiao Li. She was pondering a question: why was this young man, who looked about her age, so much stronger than she was?

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

That old Yun Shan is way too stingy. I only looked at his disciple. Did he really have to glare at me so fiercely? She's so pretty—am I not even allowed to 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.

Hearing 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 clasped his hands in salute.

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

Both were very polite. Xiao Li was the direct disciple of a Rank 6 Alchemist and a Grade 4 Alchemist himself, so he was worthy of the title of 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, that was that. They each sat beside their respective teachers without saying a word.

Yun Shan & Wang Ming: ...

"Ahem, Li'er, you are now a Nine Star Dou Grandmaster. Breaking through to Dou Ling 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 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 made the arrangements for what came next, and Yun Shan nodded with a dark expression.

As for why 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 within a relatively short period of time. Moreover, the Imperial Origin Pill had another effect—it could strengthen the meridians and temper the bones. The residual Medicinal Power left behind after raising one's strength would help reinforce the consumer's body once.

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

Yun Shan had yet to consume 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 hard to keep safe, so he raised the price! Add another Grade 6 Imperial Wind Spirit Pill.

Old Wang: Deal!

After Old Wang finished giving his instructions, he gave Yun Shan a look. Then, he spread his Dou Qi Wings and left.

Yun Shan's face darkened, but he quickly composed himself and said to Yun Yun, "Yun'er, Master Wang and I have some matters to handle. You will train alongside young friend Xiao. Listen to all 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 clasped his hands. "This junior will definitely protect the Young Sect Master well!"

Whoosh!

The next moment, Yun Shan spread his Dou Qi Wings as well and flew away.

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

"Ahem, well, Young Sect Master, let's not just stand around. Have a seat. It won't be too late to begin training after resting for a day," Xiao Li said with a cough.

Yun Yun still had not processed what was happening. How could her teacher just leave like that? Her training was not even finished 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 thorough preparations.

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

"Are you going to refine pills?" Yun Yun asked as she watched Xiao Li's series of actions.

"Mm."

"I heard President Wang say that you have the cultivation of 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 a year older than me? Yet your realm is so far ahead of mine." Yun Yun felt somewhat discouraged. Ever since she began 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 my teacher's cultivation. I've never lacked pills. Even so, my talent would only be average in the center of the continent."

Xiao Li shrugged. He considered himself somewhat talented, 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. He only needed to wait for Xiao Yan to rise.

Xiao Yan was the Genius Corrector. He only needed to live out his retirement in peace.

"My teacher said that the Northwest Continent is barren, while Central Continent is where geniuses gather. The Shattering Heaven Venerable, the ancestor of our Misty Cloud Sect, 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 burn with flames.

"Then I wish you luck. 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's 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's encourage each other!"

Xiao Li smiled. Little Yun Yun was truly adorable. Then, he placed the medicinal ingredients 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 can just call me Yun'er. Master Xiao is a 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 sort of master either. I am not worthy of that title. We can simply interact as equals," Xiao Li said with a smile.

"Mm." Yun Yun revealed a sweet smile, and Xiao Li was momentarily dazed by it.

"Ahem, Yun'er, your cultivation seems to be at Five Star Dou Practitioner, and you primarily cultivate Wind Attribute Dou Qi, right?" Xiao Li felt that this girl was about to win him over. No wonder Gu He loved her so desperately.

"That's right."

"Then you're in luck. Some time ago, while gathering herbs, I picked up a Wind Spirit Fruit. Using it as the main ingredient to refine a Grade 4 Wind Spirit Gathering Qi Pill would be perfect.

"All that's missing now is a Rank 3 Wind Attribute Magical Core."

Xiao Li said with a smile.

"A Grade 4 Pill? I'm only a Dou Zhe right now. Wouldn't it be dangerous for me to consume a Grade 4 Pill?" Yun Yun suddenly asked.

Although she could take some pills, their grade could not be too high. A Grade 4 Pill was somewhat excessive; most pills of that grade were meant for Da Dou Shi.

"That's not a problem. I'll refine some Medicine Liquid from pills that will help you absorb it. Taking the pill while soaking in a Medicinal Bath will have the best effect and won't harm your body."

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