The First Talent, [Myriad Beast]

Yao Lao was surprised.

Physical strength, cultivation realm, cultivation technique grade.

Those three had already been mentioned. What other gains could there be that he did not know about?

Xiao Yan rubbed his forehead. This time, he did not keep him in suspense and said directly, "Teacher, you know that my body-tempering technique can absorb Magical Beast essence blood and natural treasures to grow stronger, right?"

Yao Lao nodded. "Yes. And judging by the conversion efficiency when you absorb Magical Beast essence blood, the body-tempering technique you cultivate is Heaven Rank low-tier?"

Xiao Yan nodded, then shook his head. "Heaven Rank is correct. Low-tier is wrong."

"The body-tempering technique I cultivate is Heaven Rank high-tier."

"Not only can it increase my physical strength by devouring and absorbing Magical Beast essence blood and natural treasures, but every time my physical strength breaks through a major stage, it awakens a talent. As for the grade and type of talent awakened, that depends on what I devoured and absorbed to strengthen my body before awakening it."

After Xiao Yan explained it, Yao Lao swiftly understood and accepted the fact. He said in delight, "You just absorbed the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame. That means you can awaken a talent through it!"

"What talent did you awaken?!" Yao Lao quickly leaned closer, filled with curiosity.

Xiao Yan held up three fingers. "I call this talent Myriad Beast. It has three effects."

"First, it makes all Magical Beasts naturally friendly toward 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 will display greater power, allowing me to defeat those above my level."

"Third, just like the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame, I now possess the ability to slowly help Magical Beasts evolve and grow stronger. The Myriad Beast Spirit Flame relies on flames, 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, "Your talent truly is formidable. If it were exposed, those powerful Magical Beast clans would definitely treat you as an honored guest. You could immediately have a Dou Saint-level expert protecting you."

Xiao Yan shrugged. "But I could also be kept in captivity and lose my freedom completely, couldn't I?"

Yao Lao stroked his beard and grunted in agreement. "That is true. So do your best not to reveal the third effect of this talent. The first two alone should not draw too much attention."

"Even so, these two talents of yours can still be put to great use."

"You brat... I have said the word 'jealous' so many times that it has gone numb."

Xiao Yan touched his nose and said wistfully, "Teacher, I miss home a little."

Yao Lao fell silent for a moment. "Yes, it has been quite a long time since we came out."

"Then how about we go back once after leaving the Magical Beast Mountain Range?"

Xiao Yan shook his head. "Better not."

"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 scrape 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 gave a hearty smile.

Yao Lao nodded approvingly. "Good. With such resolve, you will surely achieve greatness in the future."

"But I must also tell you not to push yourself too hard. Leave the future aside for now; at least for the present, I can still serve as someone you can rely on."

Xiao Yan's heart warmed, and his nose stung.

"All right, all right, stop getting sentimental here. Even I am getting goosebumps," Yao Lao said with an exaggerated expression.

"Oh, right. The 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 that... hehe." Yao Lao's tone turned gossipy.

Xiao Yan's expression became somewhat 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, or something. I hear she has the strength of a Dou Emperor. To break through to Dou Emperor in a small place like the Jia Ma Empire, her potential is not low. In the Central Plains, she might have a chance to become 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 would I know? I never specifically looked into it. But I imagine there are not many."

Xiao Yan sighed. "That is right. There are probably no more than five Dou Emperor experts in the entire Jia Ma Empire."

"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 cried out in shock, "This Yun Zhi is your former fiancée's teacher, the sect leader of the Misty Cloud Sect?!"

"Then you!"

"Ah, it is a mess, it is a mess! You brat, you knew all along, so how could you still..."

Even Yao Lao, an old eccentric with an open-minded 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 grow stronger quickly. I did not want things between us to be too awkward, so I interacted with her under a false identity. Who would have thought that we would get along too well, and little by little, it just..."

Yao Lao clicked his tongue. "Brat Yan, do not forget that there is not much time left before the Three-Year Agreement between you and your fiancée."

"When that time comes, would her teacher not be there to oversee things? And as one party to the marriage agreement, you cannot possibly stay away, or the Xiao Clan will become the subject of gossip."

"When you meet her, and your identities are exposed, what will the two of you do?"

"Your former fiancée's teacher... her disciple's former fiancé. Even in the Central Plains, a relationship like yours is quite rare."

As he spoke, a smile suddenly appeared on Yao Lao's face. "Ah, why am I worrying about this? This is your problem."

"Interesting, interesting. I will not help you think of a solution. When the time comes, I will watch a fine show."

With that, Yao Lao directly retreated into the ring, leaving Xiao Yan alone to sigh helplessly.

To be honest, he did not know what to do either.

"Forget it. I will take things one step at a time." Xiao Yan rubbed his face and shamefully chose to avoid the matter.

At the entrance of the cave.

Yun Yun had guarded the place for a long time. When she sensed the fiery aura within the cave gradually fading while Xiao Yan's aura steadily recovered, 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 surfaced in Yun Yun's mind, along with the moment when he had just risked his life to save her.

"Yanran's Three-Year Agreement with her fiancé is about to begin. Once this matter is over, I should quickly train her to take over as sect leader... I should also put down some of my burdens."

Yun Yun touched her cheek. As scenes of her future with Xiao Huo filled her mind, a maiden's bashfulness unexpectedly appeared on her mature, beautiful face.