Going Out for Training, Desert Rock City!

On the mountain behind the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan sat cross-legged atop a massive boulder, his eyes closed in cultivation.

The Dou Qi within Xiao Yan's body flowed through his meridians, cycle after cycle; he did not know how much time had passed before he finally opened his eyes.

Within Xiao Yan's mind, a system panel suddenly popped up.

[System Mission Issued: Assist Xiao Yan in obtaining the Green Lotus Core Flame.]

[Mission completion will grant a random reward.]

Xiao Yan looked at the panel, his heart stirred. The Green Lotus Core Flame, ranked nineteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, was born within the magma of the earth's core and took the form of a green lotus—this was truly a treasure.

For an alchemist, possessing a Heavenly Flame would significantly increase both the success rate and quality of pill refinement, and the power of the Heavenly Flame itself was far greater than ordinary Dou Qi.

Xiao Yan withdrew his thoughts and muttered to himself in his heart, accepting the mission.

Xiao Yan stood up and brushed the dust from his clothes.

Since he had to go find the Green Lotus Core Flame, he would need to leave the Xiao Clan for a period of time; he should first go and greet his father.

At Xiao Zhan's residence, Xiao Yan pushed the door open and walked in.

Xiao Zhan was sitting in a chair drinking tea, and a smile appeared on his face when he saw Xiao Yan enter.

"Yan'er, why have you come?"

"Father, I am going out to gain some experience for a while," Xiao Yan said.

Xiao Zhan was stunned for a moment. "Where to?"

"I am not yet certain," Xiao Yan said.

Xiao Zhan was silent for a moment before nodding. "Go then, be careful on the road."

"I will," Xiao Yan said.

"When will you return?" Xiao Zhan asked.

"It is not certain," Xiao Yan said. "I will return once I have finished my business."

Xiao Zhan stood up and walked over to Xiao Yan, patting him on the shoulder.

"Be careful out there, and do not force yourself if you encounter danger."

Xiao Yan nodded.

Xiao Zhan did not say anything more; he knew that Xiao Yan had grown up and had his own path to walk, and going out to gain experience was for the best.

"Father, I am leaving," Xiao Yan said.

"Go," Xiao Zhan said.

Xiao Yan walked out of the Xiao Clan gates and followed the street toward the edge of the city.

Just as he reached the city gate, a voice came from behind him.

"Young Master Xiao Yan."

Xiao Yan stopped his footsteps and turned around.

Ya Fei stepped down from a carriage, dressed in a long red gown.

"Miss Ya Fei," Xiao Yan said.

Ya Fei walked up to Xiao Yan and looked at him. "Is Young Master Xiao Yan leaving the city?"

"Yes, going out to gain some experience for a while," Xiao Yan said.

Ya Fei nodded. "Then the Xiao Clan..."

"While I am away, I would trouble Miss Ya Fei to look after them," Xiao Yan said.

Ya Fei smiled. "Young Master Xiao Yan can rest assured; the Miteer Auction House will do its utmost to protect the Xiao Clan and will not allow the people of the Misty Cloud Sect to harass them."

Xiao Yan looked at Ya Fei. "Many thanks."

"Young Master Xiao Yan is too polite," Ya Fei said. "Safe travels."

Xiao Yan nodded and turned to leave.

Ya Fei stood at the city gate, watching Xiao Yan's back as he gradually drifted into the distance.

Ya Fei did not know where Xiao Yan was going, but she knew that when he returned, he would certainly be even stronger.

Xiao Yan walked out of Wutan City and circulated the Dou Qi within his body.

Dou Qi wings unfurled from behind Xiao Yan, and with a tap of his toes, his figure soared into the sky.

Xiao Yan flew in the direction of Desert Rock City.

In Desert Rock City were his eldest brother Xiao Ding and second brother Xiao Li, as well as Qing Lin, that girl who possessed the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils.

Xiao Yan flew through the air, the whistling sound of the wind rushing past his ears.

The flight speed of a four-star Dou King was very fast; it would not take long to reach Desert Rock City.

Inside the great hall of the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Leng sat in his chair with a gloomy expression.

A disciple knelt on the ground, head bowed, not daring to speak.

"What did you say?" Yun Leng's voice was low and heavy.

"First Elder, the Third Elder and several senior brothers are all dead," the disciple said.

Yun Leng's fists clenched. "Wiped out?"

"Yes," the disciple said. "Not a single survivor."

Yun Leng took a deep breath, suppressing the fury in his heart.

The Fourth Elder was dead, the Third Elder was dead, and five core disciples at the Dou Ling level had been lost as well.

Xiao Yan, a teenager, had killed two elders of the Misty Cloud Sect in succession.

"Was it the work of the Xiao Clan?" Yun Leng asked.

"It was Xiao Yan alone," the disciple said.

Yun Leng's expression turned even uglier. One person had killed the Third Elder and five Dou Ling experts; just what was Xiao Yan's true strength?

"Does the Sect Master know?" Yun Leng asked.

"Not yet," the disciple said. "This disciple came to report to the First Elder first."

Yun Leng nodded.

"What should we do next, First Elder?" the disciple asked.

"This old man has his own plans," Yun Leng said. "Where is Xiao Yan now?"

"According to intelligence, Xiao Yan has already left Wutan City," the disciple said. "He claimed to be going out for training."

A cold glint flashed in Yun Leng's eyes. "Going out for training?"

"Yes," the disciple said. "It is not yet clear exactly where he went."

"Investigate," Yun Leng said. "Have this old man's orders carried out—find out where he went, who he met, and what he did. Investigate everything."

The disciple nodded vigorously. "Yes."

"Report to this old man the moment you find Xiao Yan's whereabouts," Yun Leng said. "This old man will kill him with his own hands."

The disciple acknowledged the order and turned to leave.

Yun Leng sat in his chair, his expression terrifyingly gloomy.

Xiao Yan, you cannot escape. You killed people from the Misty Cloud Sect and still expect to live? Keep dreaming. Even if you flee to the ends of the earth, this old man will find you.

Yun Leng muttered to himself in his heart.

On the mountain behind the Misty Cloud Sect, Nalan Yanran stood under a tree, looking at the distant peaks.

A maidservant walked over from behind.

"Young Miss."

Nalan Yanran turned her head. "What is it?"

"The Third Elder and those senior brothers..." The maidservant hesitated.

"What happened?" Nalan Yanran asked.

"They are all dead," the maidservant said. "Killed by Xiao Yan."

Nalan Yanran's expression shifted. "What did you say?"

"The Third Elder and several senior brothers all died at the Xiao Clan," the maidservant said. "Not a single survivor."

Nalan Yanran stood frozen in place for a long time without speaking.

The Third Elder was a Dou King expert, and he had brought five Dou Ling experts with him. How could such a lineup be completely wiped out? Just what was Xiao Yan's true strength?

"Is the news confirmed?" Nalan Yanran asked.

"Confirmed," the maidservant said. "The First Elder already knows."

Nalan Yanran gritted her teeth.

Nalan Yanran had assumed that with the Third Elder going, Xiao Yan would surely die, but what was the result? The Third Elder was dead, and Xiao Yan was still alive.

Time and time again, he left Nalan Yanran disappointed.

"What did the First Elder say?" Nalan Yanran asked.

"The First Elder has ordered people to track down Xiao Yan's whereabouts," the maidservant said. "He said he wants to kill him with his own hands."

Nalan Yanran nodded and said nothing more.

Seeing this, the maidservant turned and retreated.

Nalan Yanran stood under the tree, an indescribable feeling in her heart.

Nalan Yanran hated Xiao Yan to the bone, yet she had to admit that Xiao Yan was truly strong—strong enough to exceed her imagination.

But Nalan Yanran did not believe Xiao Yan could continue to act so recklessly.

The Misty Cloud Sect still had the First Elder, the Sect Master, and so many other experts; how could Xiao Yan, alone, fight the entire Misty Cloud Sect?

Nalan Yanran pulled back her thoughts and turned to leave.