Training in the Valley—Finally, After a Month!

Just as Xiao Yan had expected, Xiao Yi Xian brought him to the small valley from the original story.

The valley was well hidden, making it difficult for outsiders to discover or enter.

Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian had only gotten in because Xiao Yi Xian had once treated a first-tier magical beast.

The valley's scenery was beautiful. All sorts of rare medicinal herbs grew within it, their rich fragrance mingling with the dense mist hanging above the valley.

"This place is really nice. Xiao Yi Xian, your place is really nice," Xiao Yan praised.

Xiao Yi Xian lifted her chin and gladly accepted the compliment.

"Let's live here from now on. You teach me alchemy, and I'll take care of your food and daily needs. How about it?"

"Of course."

Having received his answer, Xiao Yi Xian skipped toward the small wooden cabin in the middle of the valley.

Clearly, this was not her first time here. This place was something like her secret base.

Realizing that, Xiao Yan rubbed his nose, unsure how he felt.

Even the Xiao Yan from the original story had only been brought here after saving Xiao Yi Xian twice and wiping out the Wolf Head Mercenary Group.

How had things progressed so quickly after he had only gone through one adventure with Xiao Yi Xian? He could not make heads or tails of it.

Unable to figure it out, Xiao Yan stopped thinking about it.

This was a good place, perfect for improving his strength.

Since he was going to deal with the Amethyst Winged Lion King, a flying Dou technique was his highest priority.

Next came Earth Rank Dou techniques. It was time to try learning one.

He did not intend to learn the low-grade Earth Rank Dou technique Flame Splitting Wave Ruler that Yao Lao had taught in the original story.

He preferred the feeling of fists striking flesh.

Among the inheritance of that Dou Di he had received, Earth Rank Dou techniques were the lowest grade and also the most numerous.

Xiao Yan searched through his memories and chose a low-grade Earth Rank Dou technique called Flame Burst Fist.

This fist technique suited those with fire-attributed Dou Qi. It condensed fire-attributed Dou Qi around the fist and erupted violently after striking an enemy.

Unlike Flame Splitting Wave Ruler, this Dou technique did not possess long-range, wide-area destructive power, but its single-point explosive force was far greater. It suited him perfectly.

Xiao Yan made up his mind. Once he had gotten started with Flame Burst Fist and mastered the Purple Cloud Wings, he would go blow up the Amethyst Winged Lion King.

If he remembered correctly, Yun Yun would soon come to the Magical Beast Mountain Range for her beloved disciple, Nalan Yanran, to exchange for Purple Spirit Crystal from the Amethyst Winged Lion King, sparking a fierce battle.

At that time, he could play the mantis stalking the cicada while the oriole waited behind. It would save him quite a bit of effort.

Time passed day by day in cultivation.

Xiao Yan had already mastered the Xuan Rank flying Dou technique, Purple Cloud Wings, on his first day in the valley.

His stronger soul power prevented the lingering soul of the Purple Cloud Eagle within the flying Dou technique from interfering with him, allowing him to quickly master it.

Thus, he spent all his remaining time learning the low-grade Earth Rank Dou technique, Flame Burst Fist.

Yao Lao was puzzled about where this fist technique had come from, but he did not ask.

He and Yao Lao had reached an unspoken understanding, with both of them keeping some secrets of their own.

Xiao Yan had read the original story and knew what Yao Lao was hiding, so he was not curious in the slightest.

Yao Lao, on the other hand, was filled with curiosity about the source of Xiao Yan's inheritance. Whether it was the Body Tempering Medicinal Bath, the secret technique for purifying one's bloodline, or this low-grade Earth Rank Dou technique, he desperately wanted to know.

But as his teacher, Xiao Yan had never taken the initiative to pry into his privacy. How could he bring himself to pry into Xiao Yan's?

To suppress his curiosity, Yao Lao simply devoted all his attention to pill refinement.

With the Blood Lotus Essence and Ice Spirit Flame Grass they had gathered earlier, along with the supplementary ingredients he had long prepared in the Storage Ring, he could refine another Blood Lotus Pill.

A Blood Lotus Pill was an essential item for absorbing a Heavenly Flame.

Xiao Yan could not refine a fifth-grade pill, but Yao Lao could do so with ease, so he directly refined one.

Xiao Yan now had two fifth-grade Blood Lotus Pills. Combined with the Ice Spirit Cold Spring that the Xiao Clan had collected for him long ago and stored in his Storage Ring, if he encountered two Heavenly Flames now, he could absorb both at once.

Of course, that was merely wishful thinking.

How rare were Heavenly Flames?

Even Xiao Yan only knew the locations of the Heavenly Flames that had appeared in the original story.

As for the Green Lotus Core Flame, once his plans in the Magical Beast Mountain Range succeeded and his cultivation improved, he would go straight to Medusa and seize the Heavenly Flame by force.

Otherwise, as in the original story, it would be far too risky and dependent on luck.

He had no desire to gamble.

Therefore, Xiao Yan's goal was to accumulate enough gains in the Magical Beast Mountain Range and raise his strength to the point where, with Yao Lao possessing him, he could defeat Medusa.

At present, he had made some progress.

More than a month had passed in the small valley.

Xiao Yan had already gotten started with Flame Burst Fist.

However, because his amount of Dou Qi was insufficient, he could only use it three or four times in a single battle.

Fortunately, Yao Lao's possession was his trump card. When Yao Lao possessed him, every aspect of his abilities would be greatly enhanced, allowing this Earth Rank Dou technique to display its true power.

Aside from his progress in Dou techniques, Xiao Yan had not stopped advancing in alchemy or cultivation.

Advancing from a seven-star Dou Master to an eight-star Dou Master had come naturally.

As for alchemy, his success rate in refining pills had increased again. He was only lacking an improvement in cultivation before breaking through to the next grade.

His physical body and soul power, on the other hand, had not improved much.

"Young Master Xiao, dinner's ready! Come over quickly!" Xiao Yi Xian called from the small wooden cabin.

Xiao Yan, who had been cultivating his Dou technique outside, stopped throwing punches and returned to the cabin.

Sitting across from Xiao Yi Xian, Xiao Yan asked, "How is your study of alchemy going? You haven't given up yet?"

Xiao Yi Xian pouted. "Why do you always start by saying something I don't want to hear?"

"I've already given up. Satisfied now?"

Xiao Yan rubbed his nose. "Don't be angry. I didn't mean it that way."

"You're clearly exceptionally talented as a poison master, so why insist on getting so caught up in becoming an Alchemist?"

Xiao Yi Xian looked somewhat dejected. "I suppose it was admiration."

"But I've accepted my fate now."

"I just don't have the talent to become an Alchemist. Sigh."

Xiao Yan comforted her, "It's fine. Even if you can't refine pills yourself, you can have me do it."

"As a good friend, I won't make you provide three portions of medicinal ingredients, and I won't charge any handling fee. I'll refine pills for you for free."

Warmth rose in Xiao Yi Xian's heart. "Hehe, then I won't hold back."

The meal ended amid cheerful conversation.

Xiao Yan walked out of the wooden cabin and looked toward the depths of the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

He thought to himself, Judging by the timing, Yun Yun should be arriving in the Magical Beast Mountain Range soon, right? I've waited so long I'm getting anxious.

Suddenly.

Within Xiao Yan's field of vision, purple and pale azure radiance collided in the sky above the depths of the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

"Finally!" Xiao Yan's eyes lit up. His back spread wide, and the Purple Cloud Wings instantly unfurled.

Xiao Yi Xian stepped out of the wooden cabin. As she stared blankly at Xiao Yan suddenly flying away, she only heard the words he left behind: "I have something to do outside. I'll be back before long!"