Surrounded

The hidden compartment slowly slid out and locked into place; Li Xingluo withdrew his Dou Qi and pulled back his hand.

He hadn't expected that opening a single compartment would consume nearly half of his own Dou Qi—this was more exhausting than a real fight.

Li Xingluo let out a long sigh before taking three items from the compartment, which were different from the Dou Techniques he had obtained from the first layer.

As he removed the items, the compartment closed. He stared at the three objects in his hands.

The first was for becoming an alchemist, the second was a pill formula, and the third was... seeing the third item, Li Xingluo felt a surge of excitement. According to the instructions, this was the material needed to carve out a space within one's body to store Heavenly Flame.

This was a rare treasure; he remembered that when Yao Lao helped Xiao Yan refine this very thing, it had triggered a scramble among many powerful figures.

Li Xingluo tucked them away carefully. The most important thing now was to figure out how to become an alchemist.

He hadn't expected such a reward. Thinking of the Woeful Poison Body within Xiao Yi Xian, these items were essential, though one piece was still missing.

Forget it, no use dwelling on that now. Li Xingluo opened the scroll and sat down on the spot to begin his study.

He didn't know how much time had passed, but suddenly, a dazzling white light flashed before his eyes. The next moment, he found himself back on the bamboo bed, still maintaining his meditative posture.

His mind was now filled with new knowledge; it seemed he had truly learned it. He wondered what grade of alchemist he was now—perhaps he should give it a try?

Li Xingluo asked Xiao Yi Xian about some of the herbs required by the pill formula. Xiao Yi Xian was quite surprised, as they had been in the valley all this time and he hadn't been injured or anything of the sort.

"That..." Li Xingluo didn't know how to start, so he scratched the back of his head.

Xiao Yi Xian noticed his hesitation and stopped asking.

"Here, these are the herbs you wanted, but there is one I don't have."

Li Xingluo took the herbs from Xiao Yi Xian's hands. Fortunately, the pill formula also contained illustrations of the ingredients.

Having spent this time actively learning about herbs from Xiao Yi Xian in addition to his cultivation, he recognized quite a few, and thus understood which one she was missing.

"The place where this herb grows is usually guarded by magical beasts. The Magical Beast Mountain Range should have it."

As Xiao Yi Xian continued to explain, Li Xingluo's brows knit together; it seemed he would have to make a trip out.

"I'll go with you!"

Xiao Yi Xian naturally saw right through what Li Xingluo was thinking.

"I'd better go alone."

"Why? Are you afraid I'll hold you back?"

"No, that's not what I meant."

"Then it's decided. I happen to need to gather some other herbs as well."

Xiao Yi Xian didn't give Li Xingluo any chance to argue, making the final decision.

Helpless, Li Xingluo had no choice but to agree, and the two of them set off from the valley on the back of Xiao Lan.

After traveling for a long time outside the valley, Xiao Yi Xian pointed to a forest in the lowlands not far ahead.

"If I remember correctly, the herb you need is right there."

Following the direction of Xiao Yi Xian's finger, Li Xingluo felt a vague sense of unease, especially when Xiao Lan circled in the sky and slowly descended without a single bird taking flight.

"What are you dazing for? Let's go down."

Xiao Yi Xian turned her head and called out to the distracted Li Xingluo. Xiao Lan flapped its wings, and Li Xingluo snapped back to reality.

Xiao Yi Xian had already jumped down first, and Li Xingluo followed without hesitation.

"It should be nearby. I came here with a Herb Gathering Group the year before last."

Xiao Yi Xian walked forward while looking back, explaining things like a tour guide.

Li Xingluo was somewhat absent-minded; in truth, he was observing his surroundings. The further they walked, the more obvious his unease became.

"Xiao Yi Xian..."

Li Xingluo suddenly called out to her. Xiao Yi Xian had been walking on her own, but hearing the urgency in his voice, she stopped and turned around, looking at him in confusion.

"What's wrong?"

"Watch out."

Li Xingluo's pupils dilated; from the mist behind Xiao Yi Xian, an Ice Snow Magic Wolf had suddenly lunged out.

In an instant, Li Xingluo flashed in front of Xiao Yi Xian like a bolt of lightning. The Wind Spirit Split-Form Sword was already in his hand, and with a single strike, he knocked the Ice Snow Magic Wolf back.

Xiao Yi Xian slowly turned her head to see a magical beast nearby, staring at her with predatory eyes. If not for Li Xingluo's quick reaction, the consequences would have been dire.

After repelling the Ice Snow Magic Wolf, Li Xingluo tilted his head toward Xiao Yi Xian, not forgetting to ask with concern, "Xiao Yi Xian, are you alright?"

Xiao Yi Xian shook her head, indicating she was fine.

However, wolves were generally pack animals; the appearance of one meant others were likely nearby.

Sure enough, more than a dozen Ice Snow Magic Wolves slowly emerged from the mist, standing behind the one that had launched the sneak attack.

They surrounded Li Xingluo and Xiao Yi Xian in a semi-circle.

Xiao Yi Xian couldn't help but frown. It hadn't been like this the year before last; it was clearly a different magical beast, and there had only been one.

Li Xingluo saw the surprise on Xiao Yi Xian's face; it seemed the situation was not at all what they had expected.

Fortunately, these Ice Snow Magic Wolves were only Tier 2 Magical Beasts, and Li Xingluo, having already reached the Dou Shi realm, still had the ability to deal with them.

"Xiao Yi Xian, do not leave my sight."

Xiao Yi Xian slowly retreated behind Li Xingluo, and the two stood back-to-back as the Ice Snow Magic Wolves, under the command of their leader, surrounded them.

Following a roar from the Ice Snow Magic Wolves, the siege began. Li Xingluo swung his sword incessantly, repelling the incoming wolves, while Xiao Yi Xian assisted from the side. For the moment, aside from the two fallen Ice Snow Magic Wolves, the two of them remained unharmed.

The lead Ice Snow Magic Wolf raised its head and howled as if issuing commands, causing all the Ice Snow Magic Wolves to retreat in unison and open up the distance.

With a howl that served as an order, all the Ice Snow Magic Wolves flicked their tails, launching ice spikes from the tips toward Li Xingluo and Xiao Yi Xian.

Over a dozen ice spikes attacked from all directions, and Li Xingluo swung his Wind Spirit Split-Form Sword continuously around Xiao Yi Xian to parry them.

The relentless assault did not cease; the Ice Snow Magic Wolves attacked frantically as if their internal Dou Qi were inexhaustible.

The poison that Xiao Yi Xian released during the opening was unexpectedly blocked by the Ice Snow Magic Wolves using ice shields, which greatly exceeded Li Xingluo's expectations.

Even when Xiao Lan flew over to provide support, it was repelled by the ice spikes spat out by the Wolf King. Xiao Lan circled anxiously in the sky, unable to get anywhere near the two of them.

The depletion of Dou Qi was accelerating, and if this continued, both of them would be in danger.

"Xiao Yi Xian..."

"Hm?"

Li Xingluo felt somewhat embarrassed, but there was only one way to break the deadlock.

"Xiao Yi Xian, I need you to hold them off..."

Xiao Yi Xian followed Li Xingluo's gaze and immediately understood what he intended to do.

"Alright!" Xiao Yi Xian answered decisively, without a moment's hesitation.

Seeing the worried expression on Li Xingluo's face, Xiao Yi Xian comforted him, "Rest assured, I will be fine. If we continue like this, neither of us will make it out."

Having received Xiao Yi Xian's affirmative response, Li Xingluo gave a slight nod.

Xiao Yi Xian did not stand on ceremony and charged toward the nearest Ice Snow Magic Wolf, a move that drew the attention of the other wolves.

Taking advantage of this opening, Li Xingluo leaped over the Ice Snow Magic Wolves in front of him in a few bounds; his goal had always been only one thing.