Learning and Applying It! A Small Test of Skill

"This cave dwelling actually had another world hidden within it."

After repeatedly confirming the information conveyed by the Notes, Xiao Ting was filled with surprise.

His third brother, Xiao Yan, was a Child of Luck. By all rights, whenever he appeared somewhere with a fortuitous encounter, it should have been like locusts passing through—he would take everything.

That cave dwelling had hundreds of thousands of gold coins, spirit herbs planted by its former owner before death, a Flight Dou Technique, a Xuan Tier cultivation method and the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture, as well as the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame Fragment Map.

And those had only been the surface-level gains!?

"But it seemed explainable too." Xiao Ting's eyes filled with anticipation.

Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian had not explored that cave dwelling very thoroughly.

Even one of the three boxes placed out in the open had been snatched away by the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. It had been a fortuitous encounter interrupted midway.

Looking at it from another angle, the person who had left behind the inheritance had been able to capture a Fifth Rank Black Flame Purple Cloud Eagle and use its wings and soul to create a Dou Technique.

Anything involving the soul would certainly not be weak. Therefore, an opportunity that could be taken away by a mere Dou Zhe only appeared superficial.

"Brother Yan found the deeply hidden Void Swallowing Flame Fragment Map, so he must have thought he had fully explored the place. Otherwise, he definitely would have gone back."

Thinking of this, Xiao Ting began looking forward to what gains he might find within the cave dwelling.

Nothing happened overnight, and dawn broke.

Qingshan Town was a gathering place for mercenaries, and it became lively early in the morning.

Xiao Ting, Xiao Yi Xian, and Xun'er all rose early. After having breakfast together, they entered the Magical Beast Mountain Range on foot.

The trio of handsome young man and beautiful young women, all so youthful, immediately drew countless gazes. People whispered among themselves and discussed them animatedly.

"Did some young master and young ladies come out for a stroll?"

"They're so young. Who knows whether they even have the strength of a Dou Zhe? Aren't they afraid of dying in the mountains?"

"Are you blind? Look at the badge that kid is wearing. He's a Four-Star Dou Zhe."

"A Four-Star Dou Zhe at such a young age? Maybe he comes from a Dou Ling family. No wonder he has beauties accompanying him."

"Heh, his talent is decent, but taking two little beauties alone into the Magical Beast Mountain Range with that strength... I'm afraid, tsk..."

"Afraid my ass. There might be Dou Shi or even Da Dou Shi guards protecting them in secret. I'd advise you not to court death."

"..."

Gazes containing disdain, envy, jealousy, greed, scrutiny, wariness, and all sorts of other emotions continuously appeared in the eyes of the mercenaries.

Xiao Ting casually recorded these matters.

This was also part of his observation of the Dou Qi Continent.

The myriad faces of humanity, a thousand people with a thousand visages—the weaker circles that Dou Zhe came into contact with.

After finishing his notes, Xiao Ting smiled at Xiao Yi Xian. "It seems you really have changed greatly. No one actually recognized you."

After awakening her Woeful Poison Body, Xiao Yi Xian's hair color, height, figure, skin condition, gaze, and temperament had all changed. Even her features had become increasingly refined and three-dimensional, while her clothing had also become different.

Unless someone was extremely familiar with her, they could not recognize her at all. A few of the surrounding mercenaries found her somewhat familiar, but none recognized who she was.

"When I look in the mirror, even I feel unfamiliar with myself. It's normal that others can't recognize me." Xiao Yi Xian's expression remained calm.

"It's good that you think that way." Xiao Ting nodded in approval. "In Qingshan Town, how could anyone possibly not recognize Xiao Yi Xian?"

Hearing the teasing in Xiao Ting's words, Xiao Yi Xian shot Xun'er a glance.

"Yes, just like in Wutan City, everyone recognizes Brother Xiao Ting." Xun'er spoke up for Xiao Yi Xian.

"Geniuses always attract attention. I can't help it." Xiao Ting wore a helpless expression. "You'll get used to it."

"Brother Xiao Ting, stop fooling around." A trace of amusement and indulgence flashed in Xun'er's eyes. "Since last night, someone has been watching us from the shadows. Didn't you notice?"

"Not even one Dou Shi among them. Too weak." Xiao Ting's tone was full of disdain.

Knowing he had things under control, Xun'er said no more.

After walking for some time, Xiao Ting looked up at the sky and said, "I'll deal with the tails. We'll need to pick up the pace afterward."

Xun'er and Xiao Yi Xian understood. They moved beneath a large tree nearby and waited there.

Xiao Ting pretended that he needed to relieve himself and walked into the bushes.

Whoosh!

As soon as he reached an open patch of ground, three people leaped down from the trees, longswords in hand, their attacks vicious and deadly.

Bang!

The three swords were blocked an inch from Xiao Ting's body.

"Dou Qi Armor!?"

Shock appeared in the three men's eyes.

Hadn't they been told to kill a Four-Star Dou Zhe?

He was already one of Wutan City's foremost geniuses. How could he be a Dou Shi!?

Splat!

Xiao Ting had no interest in explaining anything to three people destined to die. His figure flashed as he swiftly struck.

A longsword appeared in his hand from thin air, slicing through the three men's throats with lightning speed.

"Urgh!"

Clutching their throats, the three fell with unwillingness in their eyes.

They were merely three Seven-Star Dou Zhe. He did not even need to use a Dou Technique; he simply crushed them with raw "stats."

This was the proper way for a Dou Shi to kill a Dou Zhe. Beneath the protection of Dou Qi Armor lay absolutely overwhelming speed and strength.

Whoosh!

After dealing with the three men in one strike, Xiao Ting felt no discomfort at all. He turned toward a large tree and shot forward.

"Retreat!" A young man's panicked voice rang out.

He was a direct descendant of the Jia Lie Family, a Nine-Star Dou Zhe who had a chance of breaking through to Dou Shi before the age of thirty.

Yet facing Xiao Ting, who could instantly kill three high-level Dou Zhe with a single sword, he had no chance of winning.

Splat!

Had the young man joined forces with the few clansmen beside him, they could have held Xiao Ting off for a while.

But he chose to flee, which only made things easier for Xiao Ting.

Thud!

In less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea, many corpses lay around Xiao Ting.

One Nine-Star Dou Zhe, three Seven-Star Dou Zhe, and five Five-Star or Six-Star Dou Zhe—all were from the Jia Lie Family.

One Eight-Star Dou Zhe, two Seven-Star Dou Zhe, and several mid-level Dou Zhe—all were from the Aoba Family.

Clearly, Xiao Ting and Xiao Zhan's plan had worked, causing the Jia Lie Family and Aoba Family to send people to intercept and kill him.

"I hope there'll be a Dou Shi next time."

Xiao Ting put away his longsword and returned to meet up with Xiao Yi Xian and Xun'er.

"What's with this First Rank Blue Eagle?"

The moment Xiao Ting emerged from the trees, he saw a blue bird crouched in front of Xiao Yi Xian, affectionately rubbing against her.

"I raised it. Its name is Xiao Lan." Xiao Yi Xian smiled. "By chance, I saved it when it was injured."

"That's perfect. We won't have to travel on foot from now on." Smiling, Xiao Ting took out a medicinal pill from his Storage Ring and held it out.

This was an ordinary First Rank medicinal pill, specifically used to replenish expended Dou Qi.

To magical beasts, it was an alternative kind of Bigu Pill and could also slightly increase their strength.

"Awooo~"

Blue Eagle leaned closer and sniffed it. After confirming that the pill was fine, it happily swallowed it in one bite.

After that small interlude, the three jumped onto Xiao Lan's back and flew into the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

About half an hour later, they arrived at the cliff where Xiao Yi Xian had discovered the cave.

"Go straight down." Xiao Ting nodded to Xiao Yi Xian.

"Xiao Lan, go to that cave." Xiao Yi Xian gently gave the command.

Xiao Lan dived downward, moving as swiftly as a powerful gust of wind.

As they neared the enormous rock in front of the cave, a sharp sound suddenly rang out from the cliff face.

A huge Rock Snake, nearly fused with the mountain itself and possessing wings on its back, suddenly appeared and opened its mouth to bite Xiao Lan's neck.

"Get lost!"

Xiao Ting had long been prepared. Before the Rock Snake launched its sneak attack, he had already begun forming hand seals and mobilizing his Dou Qi.

Snake Transformation Seal!

Dense Dou Qi surged from his body, condensing into a silver lightning serpent several zhang long. Moving after yet arriving first, it struck the Rock Snake at its vital point.

Boom!

The Rock Snake did not even have time to let out a pained scream before its body broke into several pieces, falling from the cliff like shattered stones and quickly disappearing from sight.