Xiao Yi Xian

Qingshan Town had been built entirely along the mountainside.

Because it was close to the Magic Beast Mountain Range, it was also known as Magic Beast Town.

Most of the people in town were mercenaries. Men outnumbered women, so the only things these louts discussed every day were which women were the prettiest and where the strongest liquor could be found.

Since it was close to the Magic Beast Mountain Range, the town had no shortage of magic beast materials. This had also given rise to all kinds of side businesses, such as restaurants and medicine shops.

Beneath the setting sun, a white-robed youth walked along a road paved with bluestone. Not a speck of dust clung to him, making him stand out from the mercenaries passing by.

He raised his still-youthful face and gazed at the mercenaries moving between shops to ask about prices, as well as the burly men manning the stalls all around him.

Xiao Ling narrowed his eyes slightly. A smile tugged at his lips, and he put on an utterly harmless expression, ready to bait someone into trouble.

Just then, a young attendant in coarse clothes spotted him and hurriedly scrambled up from the corner, trotting over to greet him.

"Young master, anyone can see you're a fine-looking gentleman... This must be your first time in Qingshan Town, right? Would you like me to show you around?"

"I don't charge much—just ten gold coins."

At this, Xiao Ling looked at the youth running toward him. He was no more than fifteen or sixteen, thin, and wearing a fawning smile that made him seem sharp and capable.

"Sure. Show me around, and tell me a little about Qingshan Town while you're at it."

Xiao Ling casually tossed him a small cloth pouch, then strode ahead.

Though he was short on money, he could still afford a few dozen gold coins. Besides, he really did need to learn about Qingshan Town so he could compare it with his memories.

"Thank you, young master."

The attendant caught the pouch and weighed it in his hand. His eyes lit up, and he hurried to catch up, walking beside Xiao Ling as he began to explain.

"Young master, if you're here to train in the Magic Beast Mountain Range, you can sell the materials from the magic beasts you hunt to Old Liu at the west end of town. He offers the best prices... If you're buying medicinal herbs, I recommend Wanyao Pavilion. It's the most famous herbal shop in Qingshan Town, and they have just about everything..."

After pausing to glance around and make sure no one was paying attention, the attendant stepped closer and lowered his voice.

"Young master, if you need to join a team to enter the Magic Beast Mountain Range while you're in town, make sure you don't choose the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. Those guys are no good."

Hearing this, Xiao Ling turned to look at the attendant and replied gently, "All right, I'll keep that in mind."

Though that was what he said, it wasn't what he thought.

What he lacked most now wasn't money, but lifespan.

After all, he had only nine years and ten months left to live. He couldn't even spare enough lifespan to exchange for a means of protecting himself.

He almost hoped some fool would come looking for trouble.

Then he could take their lifespan without the slightest guilt...

With his current cultivation, he could practically do as he pleased in Qingshan Town, so he wasn't afraid of offending some big shot.

As they walked, Xiao Ling listened to the attendant's explanations and compared them with his memories of Qingshan Town. When he found that nothing had changed much, he finally let out a sigh of relief.

What had happened with Wu Ming had served as a warning.

This was the Dou Qi Continent, not the peaceful city of his previous life. People could die at any moment here.

Though he had the memories of his previous life and knew most of the plot of the Dou Qi Continent, none of that was absolute. It couldn't guarantee that he would always stay one step ahead.

"Young master, Wanyao Pavilion is here. Would you like to buy some medicinal herbs?"

The attendant following Xiao Ling glanced at a shop to their right, a glint in his eyes, and called out to the white-robed youth in front of him.

Hearing him, Xiao Ling put aside his jumbled thoughts and looked up at the shop beside the street.

He paused on the three characters "Wanyao Pavilion" for a second, then looked at the long line inside.

At the end of the queue, his gaze settled on a little girl in white. She looked no more than eight or nine years old.

She was standing on a small stool, applying medicine to a mercenary in front of her. Her movements were gentle, and a sweet smile graced her little face. She looked like a tiny angel in white.

His eyes narrowed slightly, and he sighed inwardly. Who could have guessed that this little angel in white would one day become the Poison Sect's feared leader?

"Life is full of surprises!"

Xiao Ling sighed. Just as he was about to look away, the girl glanced toward him. Her eyes were as clear as autumn waters. She smiled warmly at him and gave a polite little nod.

Xiao Ling returned her polite smile, then turned to the attendant beside him.

"Let's go. Take me to the biggest inn in Qingshan Town."

"Of course, young master."

The attendant's eyes lit up, and he answered respectfully.

The little angel in white had just finished bandaging a burly man's wound.

She looked toward the entrance again, but the youth who shared her fondness for white robes was nowhere to be seen. She didn't think much of it and went back to treating the mercenaries in front of her.

The burly mercenaries, usually decisive and ruthless, showed the kindest side of themselves in front of Xiao Yi Xian.

That's right—the little girl had no name.

She was known only as Xiao Yi Xian.

The mercenaries had given her the name because she was a healer and liked wearing white. Over time, the people of Qingshan Town had also come to call her Xiao Yi Xian with affection.

On the other side of town, Xiao Ling looked at Jude Restaurant and nodded with satisfaction. He tossed a small cloth pouch to the attendant beside him, waved him off, and walked inside.

After paying five hundred gold coins, Xiao Ling successfully rented a room upstairs. Once he had sent the waiter away, he shut the door and hung up the Do Not Disturb sign.

Only then did he sit cross-legged on the bed and consider his next move. He had two goals this time. The first was to seize enough lifespan to prepare for his breakthrough to Da Dou Shi.

The second was to find that cave.

After all, that cave meant a great deal to him. If he could obtain the wealth inside, reaching the Third-grade Alchemist rank would no longer be a dream.

So he had no intention of joining a team. Instead, he planned to enter the mountains alone, just like Xiao Yan had in the original story.

His main goal was to seize lifespan, and he couldn't let anyone find out about that.

If word got out, trouble would keep coming his way.

As he thought it over, Xiao Ling furrowed his brow slightly.

He realized that if he wanted to find the opportunity hidden in the cave, he might have to apply to join Wanyao Pavilion's team after all.

There were so many caves in the Magic Beast Mountain Range. He couldn't possibly search every one of them. How long would that take?

"Forget it. I'll go with Wanyao Pavilion's team tomorrow and see how it goes."

Xiao Ling settled on his plan and entered a state of cultivation.