"You're all right—that's all that matters." Xiao Ning patted Xiao Chen on the shoulder, concern written all over his face. "If anything had happened to you, I'd never have forgiven myself."
The Great Elder listened from beside them and nodded.
"Ning'er was just worried about you. You brothers have always been close, and that puts my mind at ease."
Xiao Chen gave a cold laugh inwardly.
Close?
Close enough to leave him to die in the Magical Beast Mountain Range?
"Chen'er, go back and rest for now," the Great Elder said. "You've had a fright. Get some good rest."
"All right." Xiao Chen nodded and turned toward his lodgings.
Xiao Ning watched Xiao Chen's retreating figure. The concern in his eyes vanished in an instant, replaced by shock.
He had clearly left Xiao Chen in the territory of a fifth-tier magical beast.
And it had been a fifth-tier magical beast—the Black Scale Python.
How could Xiao Chen possibly have come back alive?
And without a single injury.
Xiao Ning stood there, countless thoughts racing through his mind.
He couldn't make sense of it.
Whatever the reason, Xiao Chen had made it back.
But next time, he wouldn't be so lucky.
A ruthless glint flashed in Xiao Ning's eyes.
Xiao Chen returned to his lodgings and shut the door.
Sitting on the bed, he took out the Black Scale Python's Magic Core, glanced at it, then casually tossed it onto the table.
[Quest triggered: Xiao Ning plotted against the host, nearly getting the host killed by a magical beast. The host should get revenge.]
[Upon completing the quest, you will receive one extra replication opportunity.]
Xiao Chen looked at the system panel, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
Xiao Ning had wanted him to die in the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
Then Xiao Chen would let Xiao Ning experience what it felt like to be hunted by a magical beast.
As Xiao Chen was thinking, footsteps sounded outside the door.
"Brother Lin, are you there?"
Xiao Ning's voice came from outside.
Xiao Chen raised his head, his expression instantly turning cool and distant.
"Come in," he said.
Xiao Ning pushed open the door and walked in with a smile.
"Brother Lin, I'm not disturbing your rest, am I?" Xiao Ning asked.
"What do you want?" Xiao Chen said.
"Brother Lin, I've noticed your strength still hasn't recovered, and I'm worried about you," Xiao Ning said. "How about I go with you to train outside the city this afternoon?"
Xiao Chen looked at him without saying a word.
"Don't worry. There definitely won't be any problems this time," Xiao Ning promised, patting his chest.
At that, Xiao Chen sneered inwardly.
Protect him?
Was Xiao Ning planning to lead him somewhere to die again?
"Sure," Xiao Chen replied coolly.
Seeing how readily Xiao Chen agreed, Xiao Ning was overjoyed.
He had prepared plenty of arguments to persuade him, but it seemed he wouldn't need a single one.
"Then it's settled," Xiao Ning said.
With that, he turned and left.
That afternoon.
Xiao Ning arrived at Xiao Chen's lodgings right on time.
"Brother Lin, let's go."
Xiao Chen nodded and followed Xiao Ning out of the Xiao Clan's gates.
They walked out of the city, with Xiao Ning leading and Xiao Chen following behind.
As they walked, Xiao Chen realized Xiao Ning was heading toward the Magical Beast Mountain Range again.
"Brother Lin, the Magical Beast Mountain Range is dangerous, but the beasts near the outskirts aren't very strong. It's just right for your training," Xiao Ning said.
"We'll find a safe spot this time. I promise it won't be like last time."
Xiao Chen watched him put on an act without calling him out.
"Sounds good," Xiao Chen said.
Seeing how agreeable Xiao Chen was, Xiao Ning grew even more pleased with himself.
The two entered the Magical Beast Mountain Range, with Xiao Ning leading the way.
He gave a cold laugh inwardly.
Xiao Chen, Xiao Chen. You were lucky last time, but you won't be so lucky this time.
He had planned it all out long ago.
This time, he was taking Xiao Chen to the territory of a fifth-tier magical beast.
That beast was even more vicious than the Black Scale Python.
He refused to believe Xiao Chen could make it back alive this time.
After walking for about half an hour, Xiao Ning stopped.
A dense forest lay ahead.
Looking at the forest, Xiao Ning's lips curled into a smile.
This was the place.
A Iron Thread Python lurked in this dense forest. It was a fifth-tier magical beast, too.
"Brother Lin, let's train here," Xiao Ning said.
Xiao Chen glanced around and nodded.
"The surroundings are nice. This is a good place to train," he said.
A good place to train?
More like a good place to die.
Xiao Ning sneered inwardly.
He was about to make an excuse to leave when a low sound came from farther away.
Xiao Ning turned to look at Xiao Chen. He was standing still, his face expressionless.
"Brother Lin, I just remembered I have something to take care of. You train here first, and I'll come back for you later," Xiao Ning said.
Xiao Chen looked at him without saying a word.
Xiao Ning was about to turn and leave when he suddenly stopped.
He turned back to Xiao Chen, a smug smile spreading across his face.
"Xiao Chen, did you really think I was going to help you train?" Xiao Ning said.
Xiao Chen looked at him without saying a word.
"Why don't you take a good look at yourself? You're a useless Three-Stage Dou Qi. What makes you think you're worth helping?"
Xiao Ning's face was full of smugness.
He could hardly wait to see the terror on Xiao Chen's face.
But Xiao Chen remained where he was, expressionless.
Xiao Ning froze.
Why wasn't this going the way he'd imagined?
Just then, a thunderous hiss came from deep within the forest.
A giant serpent as thick as a barrel burst out of the trees, its body covered in iron-gray scales and its vertical pupils gleaming with a cold light.
A fifth-tier magical beast, the Iron Thread Python.
"Stay right here and wait to die!" Xiao Ning laughed. "I'm leaving."
With that, Xiao Ning turned and ran.
After a few steps, he couldn't help glancing back.
At the sight, Xiao Ning froze completely.
Xiao Chen stood where he was, a pair of Dou Qi Wings unfurling behind him.
The wings glowed faintly, standing out in the dim forest.
Dou Qi taking wing.
Only a Dou Wang expert could do that.
Xiao Ning's eyes widened. He was utterly dumbfounded.
His mouth hung open, but he couldn't get a word out.
How was this possible?
Xiao Chen was a Dou Wang expert?
How could a good-for-nothing with Three-Stage Dou Qi possibly be one?
Xiao Ning's mind went blank.
Xiao Chen didn't look at him. He lightly tapped his toe against the ground and shot into the sky.
With Xiao Chen no longer in its sights, the Iron Thread Python fixed its vertical pupils on Xiao Ning.
Xiao Ning's face turned deathly pale.
He turned and ran, but there was no way he could outrun the Iron Thread Python.
The Iron Thread Python lunged, jaws gaping wide, and snapped at Xiao Ning.
Xiao Ning screamed and ran for his life.
The Iron Thread Python clamped its jaws around Xiao Ning's leg and flung him into the air.
Xiao Ning's screams rang through the forest.
Xiao Chen hovered in midair, looking down at the scene without any expression.
Xiao Ning had wanted him to die in a magical beast's jaws.
So Xiao Chen had let Xiao Ning experience it for himself.
Xiao Chen didn't watch any longer. He turned and flew toward the edge of the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
He hadn't flown far when a system notification appeared before his eyes.
[Quest completed.] [Received one extra replication opportunity.] [Use it now?]
Xiao Chen saw the system notification and smiled faintly.
He had another replication opportunity.
[Use now.]
Xiao Chen said inwardly.
[Replication target: Pill King Gu He.] [Replication successful.] [Congratulations, host. You have acquired Gu He's sixth-grade alchemist abilities.]
Xiao Chen felt information flood into his mind, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
Gu He's sixth-grade alchemist abilities.
The properties and ages of various medicinal ingredients appeared clearly in his mind.
So did the pill recipes, refining techniques, and control of the flame.
Xiao Chen folded away his Dou Qi Wings and landed on the ground.
He glanced back toward the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
Xiao Ning's screams had stopped.
Xiao Chen looked away and turned toward Wutan City.
Before you continue