An Agreement

Xiao Li carried Yun Yun swiftly through the forest. Upon reaching the Dou Ling realm, one could fly at low altitude for a short time, but to keep a low profile, Xiao Li still ran on two legs. After all, he would make a much bigger target in the air.

This Magical Beast Mountain Range instance was still quite difficult for the current Xiao Li.

Carrying Yun Yun, Xiao Li dashed all the way to the outskirts of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, then found a cave to rest and recover.

Meanwhile,

"Old Yun, what are you doing? Are you trying to cause such a commotion that the experts of the Magical Beast Mountain Range gang up on us?" Old Wang said angrily.

"What's there to fear? The strongest creatures in this Magical Beast Mountain Range are only Rank 6 Magical Beasts, and there are only a few of them. Rank 6 Magical Beasts possess intelligence equal to humans. With two Dou Emperors like us here, they certainly won't act rashly!"

Yun Shan was different from Wang Ming. Yun Shan himself was a Seven Star Dou Emperor, a high-level Dou Emperor. Apart from Jia Xingtian, he had no opponent in the entire Jia Ma Empire.

Old Wang, on the other hand, had suffered too many injuries in his early years. Combined with having his physique stripped away, he could only bring out seventy to eighty percent of his combat strength.

"Fine, you're strong, so you're right. This Old Man is exhausted, though. Still, our gains from this trip to the Magical Beast Mountain Range weren't bad. It's time to head back." Old Wang wiped the sweat from his forehead, spread his Blue-Green Dou Qi Wings, and flew toward a certain location.

Not long after,

"Where's my disciple?" Old Wang was dumbfounded. The cave was still the same cave, but where had his disciple gone?

"Yeah, where's my disciple? Where did she go?" Yun Shan was also stunned. His disciple had disappeared.

"There are signs of a fight at the cave entrance. They most likely moved elsewhere. Let's look for them!" Old Wang said gravely.

"Alright!"

Just as the two old men were about to search for their disciples, a Rank 5 Magic Tiger suddenly charged out.

"Hm? Great Wind Hand Seal!"

A terrifying aura surged from Yun Shan's body. His hands rapidly formed seals, and with a wave of his right hand, a gigantic energy palm seal nearly several zhang wide appeared above the Rank 5 Magic Tiger's head and smashed down viciously.

Bang—

The Magic Tiger's head burst apart like an overripe watermelon.

Yun Shan flashed over to the Magic Tiger's corpse, dug out its Magical Core, and tossed it to Old Wang.

"Old Wang, that's another Rank 5 Magical Core added to the pile."

Old Wang took the Magical Core and smiled. "Mm, not bad. Quite a harvest. Don't forget, you still owe seven Rank 5 Magical Cores, or two Rank 6 Magical Cores. Only then can you afford this Old Man's pills."

"I know, I know, stop nagging me!" Yun Shan's Old Face darkened. His heart ached whenever he heard that price, but it was all for his disciple.

Old Wang looked every bit the shady merchant. No one knew what deal the two old men had struck again, but from their conversation, Yun Shan seemed only one step away from signing himself over.

Yun Shan sighed. As her Teacher, suffering a little for his disciple was nothing. As long as he could nurture Yun Yun into a Dou Zong, he would have done right by the past Sect Leaders of the Misty Cloud Sect.

At the outskirts of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, inside the cave where Xiao Li and Yun Yun were staying.

"Bear with it. The Bones here are dislocated, so I'm going to set them back in place." Xiao Li supported Yun Yun's left arm.

"Do it!" Yun Yun clenched her Silver Teeth, looking fully prepared.

Crack—

A crisp pop of joints rang out.

"Phew. I've corrected all the dislocated Bones in your body, and the Bone Regrowth Pill has taken effect too. Rest for half a month, and you'll be fine." Xiao Li helped Yun Yun lie down, resting her head on his thigh.

Xiao Li continued, "I'm sorry, Yun'er. My breakthrough made you suffer so much this time. I almost got you..."

Xiao Li himself had not expected his breakthrough into the Dou Ling realm to cause such a huge commotion. He had nearly gotten Yun Yun killed.

"It's nothing." Yun Yun said softly.

"You nearly lost your life because of me. How can that be nothing?" Xiao Li grew anxious. He did not like owing anyone anything.

Yun Yun smiled slightly. "As long as Elder Xiao does not find me troublesome in the future."

Looking at Yun Yun's sly smile, Xiao Li felt as though he had fallen into a trap.

"Tsk, the Young Sect Master really is thinking far ahead. So, are you interested in me as a person, or in my Alchemy?" A shadow crossed Xiao Li's brow.

Xiao Li felt like he was about to become Gu He. A simp who kept simping until he had nothing left.

Yun Yun was also taken aback. She had not expected Xiao Li to ask that question, and she did not know how to answer. At first, she truly had been interested in Xiao Li's Alchemy, but there was one condition: she did not dislike Xiao Li himself.

Yet when Yun Yun had just faced a life-or-death crisis, Xiao Li had been the first person to enter her mind. She had hoped he would emerge from seclusion in time to save her.

Every young girl dreamed of being saved by a hero, and Yun Yun was no exception.

Facing Xiao Li's question, Yun Yun said seriously, "I think Eldest Brother Xiao Li is a very good person."

Good Guy Xiao Li's face darkened. He had been handed another good guy card.

"If Eldest Brother Xiao Li is willing, Yun'er is willing to spend the years with you." A sweet smile appeared on Yun Yun's face, like a blooming rose—especially enchanting.

Xiao Li's heartbeat seemed to skip a beat, and the gloom in his mood transformed into clear skies stretching for miles.

Spending the years with Yun Yun... Xiao Li's mind was now filled with moonlit romance among flowers, racing hearts, mutual affection, wedding candles in the bridal chamber, being inseparable, supporting each other through hardship, and loving each other until the seas ran dry and the rocks crumbled.

By the time he reached the last part, Xiao Li's face had reddened, and his eyes had gone especially blank.

Seeing this, Yun Yun had no intention of disturbing Xiao Li. The corners of her lips curled up as she thought, So he can look like this too. He isn't so unattainable after all.

Xiao Li ran through a life of happiness with Yun Yun in his mind. Then his gaze became firm. He came to Yun Yun's side, slowly crouched down, and stroked her head.

"Well, Yun'er, I'm not good with words, and I can't say any sweet nothings. Flirting comes right out of my mouth, but I promise I will never betray you."

Yun Yun chuckled. "If you betray me, even if my cultivation is inferior to yours, I'll still have to slash you a few times."

"Haha, then I definitely won't resist. I'll let you slash me."

Yun Yun said, "You've broken through to the Dou Ling realm now. You're leaving, right?"

Xiao Li nodded. "Yes. According to Teacher's plans, I'm going to the Black Horn Region next to gain experience. First, I'll go to Jia Nan Academy and see some of the continent's prodigies, then make a name for myself alone in the Black Horn Region.

"This is the graduation assignment Teacher left me. In terms of Alchemy, I can graduate once I reach the fifth tier. I barely count as having reached it. For cultivation, I need to reach the Dou Wang realm and kill five Dou Wangs to pass."

Yun Yun frowned. "That really is difficult. Is Old Wang that strict?"

Xiao Li laughed. "Who knows? Still, it's good to be stricter. Pressure creates motivation."

Yun Yun smiled as well. "Indeed. Don't let me catch up to you. Although my Misty Cloud Sect has declined, our inheritance remains. Be careful—I might surpass you in cultivation someday."

"Then let's wait and see."

"Old Yun, I found them! They're here!" An aged voice mixed with excitement rang out.

The next instant, two old men flew into the cave. Who else could they be but Yun Shan and Wang Ming?

"Teacher! ×2"

That was more or less how Yun Yun and Xiao Li's relationship developed: they met, became familiar, and made an agreement. It was simple and pure—they had simply caught each other's eye.

I didn't write the romance scenes very smoothly—that's my problem. Also, this is my first time writing Battle Through the Heavens, so I'm still inexperienced. Please forgive me.