Yao Lao was surprised.
Physical strength, cultivation realm, technique rank.
All three had already been mentioned, so what other gains could there be that he did not know about?
Xiao Yan rubbed his forehead. This time, he did not keep him guessing and said directly, "Teacher, you know that my Body Refining Technique can absorb magical beast blood essence and natural treasures to grow stronger, right?"
Yao Lao nodded. "Yes. And judging from the conversion efficiency when you absorbed magical beast blood essence, the Body Refining Technique you cultivate is Initial Heaven Rank?"
Xiao Yan nodded, then shook his head. "Heaven Rank is correct. Initial is wrong."
"The Body Refining Technique I cultivate is at Higher Heaven Rank."
"Not only can it raise my physical strength by devouring and absorbing magical beast blood essence and natural treasures, but every time my physical strength breaks through a major stage, it can awaken a Heaven-Swallowing Talent. As for what rank and type of Heaven-Swallowing Talent is awakened, that depends on what I devoured and absorbed to strengthen my body before awakening it."
After Xiao Yan explained it, Yao Lao quickly grasped and accepted the truth, saying delightedly, "You just absorbed the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame. That means you can awaken a Heaven-Swallowing Talent through it!"
"What Heaven-Swallowing Talent did you awaken?!" Yao Lao hurried closer, immensely curious.
Xiao Yan held up three fingers. "I call this Heaven-Swallowing Talent Myriad Beast. It has three effects."
"First, it makes all magical beasts naturally close to me. At the very least, they will regard me as a friend. If the difference in strength is too great, they may even obey my every word."
"Second, whenever I fight any magical beast, my attacks can exert greater power, allowing me to defeat stronger opponents."
"Third, like the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame, I myself now possess the ability to slowly evolve and strengthen magical beasts. The Myriad Beast Spirit Flame relies on fire, while I rely on blood."
As he listened to the three effects one by one, Yao Lao's eyes grew brighter and brighter. He could not help saying, "That Heaven-Swallowing Talent of yours is truly incredible. If word got out, those powerful magical beast clans would surely treat you as an honored guest. You could immediately have a Dou Saint-level expert escorting you."
Xiao Yan shrugged. "But I might also be raised in captivity and lose my freedom completely, wouldn't I?"
Yao Lao stroked his beard and hummed in agreement. "That is true. So try not to expose the third effect of this Heaven-Swallowing Talent. If it is only the first two, it should not draw too much attention."
"Even so, those two Heaven-Swallowing Talents of yours can still prove quite useful."
"You brat... I have become numb from saying the word 'envy.'"
Xiao Yan touched his nose and said wistfully, "Teacher, I miss home a little."
Yao Lao fell silent for a moment. "Yes, we have been away for quite a long time before we knew it."
"Then how about going back once after we leave the Magical Beast Mountain Range?"
Xiao Yan shook his head. "No."
"Hm? Didn't you say you missed home? Why are you saying you will not return now?" Yao Lao asked in confusion.
"Of course, it is to become stronger. I am not weak now, but that is only within the Jia Ma Empire. In the entire Northwest Continent, or in the Central Plains, I would only barely be able to get by."
"Next, I plan to go to the Tagor Desert. There is information about Heavenly Flames there, and my two older brothers are there as well. Seeing them can ease my longing too." Xiao Yan smiled brightly.
Yao Lao nodded approvingly. "Not bad. With such awareness, you will surely achieve great things in the future."
"But I must also tell you not to push yourself too hard. Let us not speak of the future for now. At least at present, I can still serve as someone you can rely on."
Xiao Yan's heart warmed, and his nose stung.
"Alright, alright, stop being sentimental here. Even I am getting goosebumps." Yao Lao put on an exaggerated expression.
"By the way, matters in the Magical Beast Mountain Range are basically settled. Once we leave, that Yun Zhi should be leaving too, right? Don't you feel... hehehe." Yao Lao asked gossipily.
Xiao Yan's expression turned slightly complicated. "Teacher, you know about my former fiancée, right?"
Yao Lao nodded. "Of course."
Xiao Yan continued, "Then do you know my former fiancée's teacher?"
Yao Lao nodded again. "I have heard of her. She is the sect leader of that Misty Cloud Sect, supposedly with the strength of a Dou Emperor. To break through to Dou Emperor in a small place like the Jia Ma Empire means her potential is not low. In the Central Plains, she has a chance of becoming a Venerable."
Xiao Yan asked, "Then, Teacher, do you know how many Dou Emperors there are in the entire Jia Ma Empire?"
Naturally, Yao Lao did not know. "How could I know? I have never specifically looked into it. Still, I imagine there are not many."
Xiao Yan sighed. "That is right. The number of Dou Emperor experts in the entire Jia Ma Empire probably does not exceed the fingers on one hand."
"Then think about it, Teacher. A female Dou Emperor with the surname Yun—who do you think she is?"
Yao Lao furrowed his brow. Then his eyes widened as he exclaimed, "This Yun Zhi is your former fiancée's teacher, the sect leader of the Misty Cloud Sect?!"
"Then you!"
"Ah, this is a mess, a complete mess! You brat, you knew all along, so why did you still..."
Even Yao Lao, an open-minded old rascal by nature, did not know how to comment on it.
Xiao Yan rubbed his temples in distress. "Yes. At first, I only wanted to borrow her strength to become stronger quickly. I did not want things to feel too awkward between us, so I used a false identity. Who would have thought we would get along so well, and gradually..."
Yao Lao clicked his tongue. "Yan, do not forget that there is not much time left until the Three-Year Agreement between you and your fiancée."
"When that time comes, how could her teacher not come to oversee it? And as one party to the marriage contract, you cannot possibly stay away, or the Xiao Clan will become the subject of gossip."
"When you meet her and your identity is exposed, what will the two of you do?"
"Your former fiancée's teacher... her disciple's former fiancé. Even in the Central Plains, that relationship would be quite rare."
As he spoke, a smile suddenly appeared on Yao Lao's face. "Ah, why am I worrying about this? It is your problem."
"Interesting, truly interesting. I will not help you think of a solution. When the time comes, I will be watching a fine show."
With that, Yao Lao directly retreated into the ring, leaving Xiao Yan alone to sigh helplessly.
Honestly, he did not know what to do either.
"Forget it. I will deal with it as it comes." Xiao Yan rubbed his face and shamefully chose to avoid the issue.
At the entrance of the cave.
Yun Yun had been guarding the place for a long time. When she sensed the fiery aura within the cave gradually fading and Xiao Yan's aura recovering instead, a smile returned to her face.
"Xiao Huo~"
As she murmured the name that made her heart race, scenes of her time with the youth in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, along with the moment he had recklessly saved her just now, unconsciously surfaced in Yun Yun's mind.
"Yanran's Three-Year Agreement with her fiancé is about to begin. Once this matter is over, I should quickly groom her to take over as sect leader... I should also put down some of my burdens."
Yun Yun touched her cheek. As she imagined scene after scene of a future with Xiao Huo, a maiden-like shyness unexpectedly appeared on her mature and beautiful face.
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