Farewell, Xiao Yi Xian

In the Magical Beast Mountain Range, there lies a secluded and tranquil valley rarely visited by men.

Yao Chen stepped alone into this mysterious place, preparing to cultivate the profound Earth-tier high-grade movement technique: Gale Shadow Step.

Towering peaks surrounded the area, shrouded in mist, while ancient trees and tangled vines filled the valley.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows below.

Yao Chen stood upon a massive blue stone, eyes closed, adjusting his breathing to guide his mind into a state of ethereal clarity.

A moment later, he snapped his eyes open, a flash of firm resolve gleaming within them.

Yao Chen began to circulate the vast Dou Qi within his body; it surged through his meridians like a torrential flood, radiating a powerful aura.

With a sudden shift of his form, he instantly transformed into a blurred shadow, darting rapidly through the valley.

His speed was as swift as lightning, whipping up a gale that sent the surrounding leaves fluttering to the ground.

Yao Chen focused all his concentration on grasping the essence of the technique, attempting to leave a soul imprint upon the objects he passed.

Yet, his first few attempts ended in failure; he furrowed his brows slightly, though he felt not a shred of discouragement.

Increasing his speed once more, Yao Chen's figure became nearly one with the wind.

His robes snapped violently in the gale, and beads of sweat gradually began to seep from his forehead.

Just then, he successfully left his first soul imprint upon the trunk of a thick tree.

The soul imprint flickered with a faint light, nearly impossible to detect without careful observation.

Yao Chen felt a surge of joy and continued to dash through the valley, constantly leaving soul imprints on various objects—jagged rocks, winding streams, and even insects in flight.

As time passed, Yao Chen's mastery of the technique grew increasingly proficient.

He suddenly halted his movement, gazing at a moss-covered boulder in the distance; with a thought, he vanished from his spot.

The next instant, he appeared steadily beside that very boulder.

"Haha, success!" Yao Chen could not help but laugh aloud, his voice echoing through the valley.

However, he was not satisfied with this alone.

Yao Chen began to shift his targets toward moving objects, setting his sights on a spirit monkey leaping through the branches.

The moment the spirit monkey passed by him, Yao Chen successfully left a soul imprint upon it.

Immediately following, his figure flashed, and when he appeared again, he was already standing exactly where the spirit monkey had been a moment prior.

Though Yao Chen appeared slightly fatigued, his eyes were filled with excitement and anticipation.

He knew well that once he fully mastered this Gale Shadow Step, should his disciples ever face danger on the Dou Continent, he would be able to rush to their side in an instant.

As the sun set, Yao Chen's figure continued to weave through the twilight.

Thus, Yao Chen cultivated for a week, and his Gale Shadow Step was finally a success.

Now, Yao Chen could traverse at will to any location where he had left a soul imprint.

"It is time to go to Green Mountain Town to see Xiao Yi Xian and leave a soul imprint on her."

Yao Chen shifted his form, leaving behind a wisp of a white afterimage, and in the blink of an eye, he had exited the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

Throughout this past week, aside from treating the occasional injured mercenary group, Xiao Yi Xian had spent all her time in her room, cultivating diligently.

Naturally, the poisons from the Ten Thousand Herb Pavilion were brought into her room for her cultivation as well.

Ever since Yao Jinbao had been disciplined by Yao Chen, he avoided Xiao Yi Xian whenever he saw her, merely instructing his subordinates to satisfy her every request, terrified of displeasing this little ancestor in the slightest.

Xiao Yi Xian, of course, did not go out of her way to make things difficult for Yao Jinbao; she simply went to collect some poisonous herbs.

At this moment, Xiao Yi Xian was in her room, using the poisons to cultivate her strength, her power showing faint signs of a breakthrough.

"Little girl, your master has arrived!" Yao Chen called out while standing outside Xiao Yi Xian's room.

Hearing someone calling her from outside, Xiao Yi Xian guessed that the visitor was her master, Yao Chen.

She slowly set down the poison she had been holding for cultivation and called out toward the window.

"Master, please wait a moment. This disciple will tidy up the room and come out to see you."

"Take your time; I shall look around the courtyard."

With that, Yao Chen retrieved a long chair from his storage ring and reclined upon it.

The area within fifty centimeters of Xiao Yi Xian's room was devoid of life due to her cultivation, but the flowers and plants in the rest of the courtyard were well-tended by her.

After a while, Xiao Yi Xian stepped out the door wearing a pale green and white dress; her hem fluttered, making her look like a fresh sprout blooming in spring, full of vitality and spirit.

Seeing Yao Chen lying in the courtyard, she bowed respectfully.

"Master, it has been a long time! This disciple has missed you dearly."

Seeing Xiao Yi Xian emerge, Yao Chen nodded with satisfaction.

"Little girl, it has been a long time; you have become even more beautiful!"

Upon hearing this, a faint blush appeared on Xiao Yi Xian's face, and she smiled at Yao Chen.

"Little girl, I have come here today to bid you farewell!"

Yao Chen sat up from the long bench, stroked his beard, and spoke to Xiao Yi Xian.

"Master, what is wrong? Where are you going?"

Xiao Yi Xian looked at Yao Chen with her large, puzzled eyes and asked.

"Little girl, your master must head to the Tagor Desert. This trip requires discretion, so it is not convenient to bring you along. You should focus on your cultivation, and as soon as I have finished my business, I will come to find you immediately."

"Master, we have only just met and you are already leaving! And to the Tagor Desert, no less—that is the territory of the Snake-People Tribe. They hold a grudge against humans, so Master must be careful!"

Faced with Yao Chen's plan to go to the Tagor Desert, Xiao Yi Xian could not help but feel worried.

"Little girl, the main reason I came to see you is that I have recently mastered a Di-tier Advanced Dou Technique. Should I encounter any danger, I can escape immediately, so you need not worry about me."

"If you ever find yourself in danger, I can use this technique to teleport to your side in an instant and protect you."

Listening to Yao Chen's explanation and hearing of the miraculous nature of this technique, the worry in Xiao Yi Xian's heart slowly began to ease.

"Master, this technique is so amazing, will you be able to teach it to me in the future?"

"That goes without saying, though you must wait until your cultivation has reached a certain foundation before you can practice it. Without sufficient Dou Qi within your body, it is impossible to execute."

Yao Chen spoke to Xiao Yi Xian with doting affection.

"I will first leave a wisp of my soul imprint upon you. When you are in danger, activate the imprint, and I will arrive at once to rescue you, little girl!"

Yao Chen stood before Xiao Yi Xian, his expression solemn and focused.

He gazed at Xiao Yi Xian, his hands slowly rising as white light flickered in his palms.

Xiao Yi Xian tilted her head slightly, her eyes filled with trust and a hint of curiosity.

Yao Chen chanted under his breath, and the light gradually converged into a complex rune that drifted slowly toward Xiao Yi Xian.

The rune touched her forehead and vanished into it instantly, leaving only a faint glimmer that flashed and disappeared.

Xiao Yi Xian frowned slightly, feeling a strange power surge into her body, yet she felt no discomfort. Yao Chen let out a long breath and said, "The soul imprint is complete. Activate it only in critical moments; do not use it casually under normal circumstances."

"I understand, Master. I have encountered some confusion in my cultivation recently, and I hope Master can provide some guidance."

"..."