Yun Yun Leaves, a Promise to Meet Again, One Month Later

"Yun... Yun Zhi, let's go."

Xiao Yan suddenly emerged from the cave and spoke to Yun Yun, whose cheeks were flushed. After hesitating, he still did not call her by her real name.

Yun Yun came back to her senses. The lingering afterglow had yet to fade from her face, and strands of hair clung to her cheeks with fine sweat, lending her a hazy beauty.

"Xiao Huo, are you all right?" Yun Yun asked with concern.

Xiao Yan smugly struck a tai chi pose, the muscles across his body faintly bulging and outlining graceful lines. "Heh heh, not only am I fine, I gained quite a lot too."

"Now, if we're only talking about physical strength, I can fight you head-on."

"Fight me~" Yun Yun covered her chest and lowered her head slightly. The blush that had yet to fade climbed back up her cheeks. "What nonsense are you talking about!"

Xiao Yan immediately became displeased and frowned. "You don't believe me? Then we can find a chance to have a fight after we get out."

Yun Yun hurriedly shook her head. "No... I believe you. I just..."

Yao Lao, hiding in the ring, saw through everything and shook his head.

"The more dignified and composed a woman is, once she falls for someone and becomes infatuated, afterward she'll... Heh heh, Yan brat just has too little experience. Otherwise, how could he fail to see that this woman had just thought of that sort of thing? Looks like she's really been suppressing herself for too long."

After muttering to himself, Yao Lao sent a soul transmission to Xiao Yan. "Stop pressing her with questions, brat. Hurry up and leave this place."

After hearing the transmission, Xiao Yan no longer stubbornly dwelled on it. He said to Yun Yun, "Fine, don't believe me if you don't want to. In any case, we should leave this place first."

Yun Yun secretly let out a breath, her expression returning to its usual composure as she nodded.

After leaving the cave, Xiao Yan stored away the corpse of the Silver Moon Wolf King at the entrance, intending to return to the small valley and raise the Tier Five Magical Beast physique to the Sixth Rank.

Very soon, one violet and one green streak of light cut across the sky, flying from the deepest part of the Magical Beast Mountain Range all the way back to the small valley on its outskirts.

In the valley, Xiao Yi Xian was feeding her pet, Xiao Lan, a massive blue bird that was a Tier One Magical Beast.

Normally, Xiao Lan would leave whenever it saw Xiao Yan return.

That was because Xiao Yan hunted Magical Beasts and used the blood essence in their hearts to temper his body. His hands were stained with the lives of many Magical Beasts, making him terrifying in Xiao Lan's eyes.

As a result, whenever it saw Xiao Yan around, it would not stay in the valley.

However, this time was different.

When Xiao Yan landed, Xiao Lan unexpectedly did not flee in fear as usual. Instead, it cautiously moved closer to him.

The corner of Xiao Yan's mouth curled up. He immediately understood that his [Myriad Beast] talent was at work.

He crooked a finger and called Xiao Lan over, then vigorously rubbed its head. Satisfied, he said, "All right, go find somewhere to stay by yourself."

Xiao Lan obediently complied, tilting its head as it slowly shuffled away step by step.

Xiao Yi Xian revealed a delighted expression at the sight. "How did you do that? Xiao Lan wasn't afraid of you at all. Teach me, teach me!"

Xiao Yi Xian hugged Xiao Yan's arm and shook it coquettishly.

Xiao Yan was not loose-lipped enough to reveal his talent immediately. He merely snapped his fingers, and a flicker of the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame appeared in his palm.

"There, the Heavenly Flame ranked twenty-second on the Heavenly Flame Ranking—the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame, also known as the flame of Magical Beasts."

"This flame is naturally beneficial to Magical Beasts. Xiao Lan must have sensed its aura, which is why it wasn't afraid of me."

Xiao Yi Xian blinked, then suddenly asked softly, "Absorbing a Heavenly Flame was painful, wasn't it?"

Xiao Yan's heart warmed, but then he felt a trace of awkwardness.

"Painful? Probably, haha." He laughed awkwardly.

Yun Yun suddenly spoke from the side. "That battle was extremely dangerous. In order to save me, he nearly lost his life."

Xiao Yi Xian froze, then immediately looked at Xiao Yan anxiously. "Lost his life? What exactly happened?!"

Xiao Yan helplessly glared at Yun Yun and briefly recounted the course of the battle, though he deliberately played down his injuries.

But Yun Yun suddenly spoke again, personally describing just how miserable Xiao Yan had been at the time.

Xiao Yi Xian's heart clenched as she listened, and tears streamed down her face.

"You nearly died, yet I couldn't help you at all... I..."

Seeing Xiao Yi Xian blame herself like this, Xiao Yan felt uncomfortable as well and glared at Yun Yun again.

Xiao Yan always felt that Yun Yun had told Xiao Yi Xian about this not to let her know the truth, but to let her know how much he cared about Yun Yun.

Though the thought was somewhat narcissistic, Xiao Yan felt that it was the truth.

Noticing Xiao Yan's displeasure, Yun Yun pressed her lips together and said, "Xiao Huo, Xiao Yi Xian, I'm leaving."

Xiao Yan was stunned. "So suddenly?"

Yun Yun's expression darkened. "The faction I belong to cannot go too long without me. Now that you're in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, you no longer need me either. It's time for me to leave."

Xiao Yan did not try to stop her, because Yun Yun was not someone who could easily abandon her responsibilities. Apart from their original agreement, the only reason she had helped him for so long was because she was worried about him.

Now that his strength was no weaker than Yun Yun's, it was only natural for her to plan to leave.

"I'll be attending the Alchemist Conference of the Jia Ma Empire," Xiao Yan suddenly said.

Yun Yun's eyes lit up, because Xiao Yan's words indirectly conveyed one thing: he did not want to lose contact with her!

"I'll attend it then! I'll bring the Beast Flame I promised you as well!" Yun Yun quickly responded.

Xiao Yan smiled and held out his hand.

Yun Yun reached out and slapped his palm, thoroughly satisfied. The wings on her back spread open. "Goodbye, Xiao Huo!"

Yun Yun left the small valley.

Xiao Yan turned around, only to find Xiao Yi Xian looking at him with a somewhat resentful gaze.

"Young Master Xiao, come eat," Xiao Yi Xian said in a deliberately cold tone.

Xiao Yan rubbed his nose and sighed. "This is troublesome."

After Yun Yun left, Xiao Yan's life returned to its previous intensely driven routine. Every day was packed to the brim, and he had something to do every moment.

In the mornings, when his mind was clearest, he studied alchemy and began using the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame to refine pills.

After that came the cultivation of Dou Techniques. Xiao Yan found a Dou Technique in his memories.

It was the Earth Rank intermediate movement Dou Technique, Flash Step. Once used, the user's figure moved as though teleporting, unpredictable and unfathomable. It prioritized speed and was suited for rapidly closing in on enemies after locating them, engaging them in close combat.

At noon, he cultivated the Flame Mantra to raise his cultivation. With the Fire Spirit Body's support, his progress was not slow.

In the afternoons, he chatted with Xiao Yi Xian, watched the sunset and moon, and counted which star in the sky shone the brightest.

And so, more than a month passed in the blink of an eye.

Xiao Yan had fully digested all his gains. His alchemy, Dou Techniques, physique, and every other aspect had improved to some extent.

Compared with when he had first entered the Magical Beast Mountain Range, calling his improvement astounding would not be an exaggeration!