Three Months Later, Before Setting Out to Train

After delivering the gift to Xiao Xun'er, Xiao Yan's life returned to a state of cultivation.

Dou Qi cultivation, alchemy studies, and tempering his physique.

At the same time, Xiao Yan instructed his old father, Xiao Zhan, to ask Ya Fei to purchase the medicinal ingredients needed to refine the Blood Lotus Pill, as well as acquire Ice Spirit Cold Spring.

Both were essential for absorbing Heavenly Flames.

Xiao Yan naturally had no plans to absorb Heavenly Flames anytime soon, but it was best to prepare these things as early as possible, lest he miss the opportunity when the time came.

Of course, both primary ingredients for the Blood Lotus Pill had appeared in the original work, and Xiao Yan remembered where to obtain them.

However, the appearance of Blood Lotus Essence depended far too much on luck. He had no intention of placing his hopes on it. At most, he would take a look when the time came and try his luck.

In any case, thanks to the Xiao Clan selling medicinal baths and Foundation Building Spirit Liquid, their wealth was reaching new heights every few days.

Both products had practically been sold all the way to the imperial capital of the Jia Ma Empire.

They were truly swimming in money.

Even Xiao Yan had developed some concerns because of it, worried that with Xiao Zhan's Da Dou Shi cultivation, he would be unable to fend off the covetous eyes lurking in the shadows.

Thus, he directly entrusted Yao Lao with refining Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills, along with other medicinal pills to aid breakthroughs.

As long as Xiao Zhan's cultivation broke through to the Dou Ling realm, there would basically be no problem.

Time passed amid cultivation and alchemy.

Xiao Yan stayed at home for three months, and his cultivation advanced to Seven-Star Dou Master.

That was a full major realm and seven minor stages of advancement.

Such improvement in merely three months seemed somewhat unreasonable.

In truth, the Xiao Clan had contributed greatly.

The effort expended on preparing medicinal baths and Foundation Building Spirit Liquid had paid off.

Somehow, the Xiao Clan had directly obtained the corpse of a Tier Five Magical Beast.

After Xiao Yan absorbed it, his body directly broke into Tier Four, while his soul power naturally advanced to the fourth tier as well.

The improvement in his cultivation was merely a minor bonus by comparison.

It was worth mentioning that in the original work, the Jia Lie Clan had hired a first-tier Alchemist during this period to compete with the Xiao Clan.

But here, after Xiao Yan revealed his talent by testing at Nine-Star Dou Zhe during his coming-of-age ceremony, the Jia Lie Clan immediately moved out of Wutan City at lightning speed and headed to another city to start anew.

There was one more matter.

Jia Nan Academy had already come to the Xiao Clan to recruit students.

Xiao Yan had not participated at all.

He had opportunities of his own to seek. He would go to Jia Nan Academy, but not now.

Rather than join and then take a long leave of absence, placing restraints on himself, it was better not to go from the beginning.

As long as his cultivation was high enough and his potential great enough, even if he did not meet the requirements, joining Jia Nan Academy in the future would definitely not be difficult.

After learning of his thoughts, Xiao Xun'er chose to support him. At the same time, she revealed to Xiao Yan that people from the Ancient Clan had begun urging her to return as soon as possible.

She could hold on for, at most, a few more years. By then, someone powerful enough would come to take her back.

Recalling the original plot where Xiao Xun'er was taken away, Xiao Yan confidently declared that before then, he would raise his cultivation to a level sufficient to protect her from being taken away.

Xiao Xun'er was deeply moved. She then left aboard Jia Nan Academy's Flying Boat.

Since Xiao Yan was going out to train, there was no need for her to remain in the Xiao Clan either.

Xiao Clan main hall.

Xiao Zhan had been summoned by Xiao Yan. Looking at his gradually maturing third son, he revealed a concerned expression. "Yan'er, don't put too much pressure on yourself."

"You spend every day cultivating and never interact with your clansmen. If this goes on for too long, problems will inevitably arise. Remember to communicate more with people your own age."

Xiao Yan did not argue, but he had no intention of heeding the advice.

Other than him, no one in the entire Xiao Clan knew that the Soul Hall had already set its sights on them.

If he did not work hard to improve himself now, then in the future, when he watched the Xiao Clan be destroyed, it would be too late for regrets.

Naturally, he did not intend to tell Xiao Zhan such things.

He changed the subject. "Father, I called you here this time because I want to go out and train."

"Go out and train? That's fine. With your current strength, Yan'er, I'm afraid even I may not be your match." Xiao Zhan smiled bitterly.

Xiao Yan had never hidden it from him.

In the entire Xiao Clan, he was the one who understood Xiao Yan's overall strength best.

Dou Master-level cultivation, a terrifying body comparable to a Tier Four Magical Beast, and one punch was enough to scatter his old bones.

Moreover, he was an Alchemist himself.

Others merely assumed that the Foundation Building Spirit Liquid was mixed together like the medicinal baths.

But Xiao Zhan had once accidentally seen that it was clearly refined by Xiao Yan through alchemy.

Sometimes, when facing such an unbelievably outstanding son, Xiao Zhan felt immense pressure.

"Father, while I'm out training, I trust you can handle the clan's affairs."

"But human hearts are difficult to predict. The clan is earning more and more money through medicinal baths and Foundation Building Spirit Liquid. Da Dou Shi cultivation is already no longer enough to protect it."

Xiao Zhan nodded troubledly. "Yes, your father finds it quite a headache as well. Some Dou Ling-level factions have already begun eyeing our Xiao Clan."

"Your father can only cultivate diligently and break through as soon as possible."

"Fortunately, your father bought a high-grade Xuan Rank wind-element cultivation technique, Wind Scroll Technique, from the Mittal Auction House. It suits me perfectly, so my breakthrough should be much faster."

Xiao Yan's heart sank.

Wind Scroll Technique

It was a cultivation technique that had also appeared in the original work.

However, in the original work, Xiao Zhan had auctioned Foundation Building Spirit Liquid for him and ultimately lacked the money to outbid Jia Liebi, missing out on this cultivation technique that suited him.

"A father's love is as solid as a mountain," Xiao Yan sighed.

He then composed himself and took out a Storage Ring, handing it to Xiao Zhan.

"Father, this Storage Ring contains some medicinal pills I refined."

"The first- and second-tier pills can be sold by the clan. The third-tier pills can be auctioned off. As for the fourth-tier ones, they are Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills that I asked my teacher to refine. There are two in total, and they can help you break through quickly."

Xiao Zhan accepted the Storage Ring somewhat blankly. For a moment, he did not even know where to begin asking. After thinking briefly, he finally blurted out, "Yan'er, you have a teacher?"

Xiao Yan rubbed his nose and laughed awkwardly. "I took him as my master long ago. I just kept forgetting to tell you. He is a powerful Alchemist, and both my cultivation technique and alchemy skills came from him."

Xiao Zhan was highly adaptable. He nodded and smiled. "Yan'er, I won't ask too much. You are a child with your own ideas."

"Your father cannot help you much, but if you ever grow tired in the future, come home. Your father will always be there to support you."

Xiao Yan nodded solemnly before turning and leaving.

After cultivating like a madman for a year and one month, it was time for him to go out and train.

With his current strength, coupled with Yao Lao possessing him, it was time to gather all those opportunities into his hands.

His Spirit Devouring Body Forging Mantra now had a full four innate abilities waiting to awaken.

Xiao Yan returned to his residence, stored the things he needed in his Storage Ring, and quietly left the Xiao Clan.

His next destination: Green Mountain Town!