In the blink of an eye, half a year passed.
During that time, under Yao Chen's tutelage, Xiao Yan had made considerable progress in both his soul power and his control over Heavenly Flames. He could now refine high-quality Fourth-grade Pills on his own, and with the boost from Heavenly Flames, he could even just barely manage to refine some simple Fifth-grade Pills.
After Yao Chen had passed on cultivation to him several times, Xiao Yan had broken through to Three-Star Dou Wang.
Because of her constitution, Xiao Yi Xian couldn't become an alchemist, but during the final month, she trained every day in Heavenly Flames. In the end, she successfully adapted to both Yao Chen's and Xiao Yan's flames.
Thanks to the poisonous medicinal herbs Yao Chen brought back from outside every few days for her to eat, Xiao Yi Xian's cultivation had surpassed Xiao Yan's, reaching the astonishing level of One-Star Dou Emperor. But the Woe Poison Body's eruption was drawing ever closer.
Over the past six months, Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian had spent every day together, and their feelings for each other had deepened considerably.
But at crucial moments, Xiao Yan always thought of Xun Er back home. He had never managed to take that final step.
During this time, the multipliers returned by the system had never been especially high, so Yao Chen's cultivation had only reached Peak Nine-Star Dou Zong. He was just one step away from One-Star Dou Zun.
Early one morning, Yao Chen suddenly addressed Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian with a grave expression.
"Little Yan, girl, you've both grown a lot over the past six months. There are some things I need to tell you."
Seeing their teacher so serious—something that rarely happened—Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Yan quietly sat to one side and listened.
"Before I took you in, I had another disciple."
When Yao Chen spoke of that unworthy disciple, his voice turned hoarse, and his eyes reddened.
"He was still young then, wandering the streets with no father or mother. I took pity on him and brought him in. He was so sweet and sensible. I took him with me to cultivate, taught him to identify medicinal herbs, and showed him how to refine pills."
At this point, Yao Chen's voice caught in his throat.
"Later, someone led him astray. He did it for a scroll of cultivation arts: Flame Mantra, the technique I passed on to you, Little Yan. I had only just obtained it from a secret realm, and knew nothing about it. I planned to try cultivating it myself before passing it on to him."
"But who could have known he'd be so impatient? He couldn't even wait that little while. That night, he suddenly attacked me from behind, destroying my physical body. I used my powerful cultivation to forcibly split off a wisp of my soul and escape, and eventually fell into a deep sleep inside a ring."
Yao Chen wiped his eyes. His voice grew louder, and he looked as though he could hardly bear the disappointment.
"Little Yan, I mean the ring that was your mother's keepsake."
"After sleeping for a while, my soul power recovered somewhat, and I left the ring to rebuild my physical body. After that, I took the two of you as my disciples."
"Using secret techniques I'd learned in the past, I've spent the past six months recovering enough strength to teach that unworthy disciple a lesson."
Yao Chen gazed at his two disciples, his voice turning gentle. But then his expression grew stern once more as he addressed them.
"Now I'm going to clean up the sect and deal with that traitor. Are you willing to come with me?"
Hearing their teacher recount how he'd been ambushed, Xiao Yi Xian was the first to break down. She wept, feeling his pain as if it were her own. Xiao Yan's eyes also brimmed with tears. He only wished he'd been there at his teacher's side back then.
At Yao Chen's final question, they both shouted without hesitation at the same time.
"We're willing to go with you, Master! We'll clean up the sect together!"
Hearing their resolute words, Yao Chen's face filled with relief. He embraced them both and said,
"This old man truly chose the right disciples."
As he told them what had happened, Yao Chen had deliberately concealed the system's existence. After all, who on the Dou Qi Continent would believe him if he spoke of it?
At that moment, the three master and disciples clung to each other and wept. Anyone else witnessing the scene would never have imagined just how moving it was.
The embrace lasted a few minutes before they finally parted and quietly collected themselves.
Xiao Yi Xian was the first to break the silence. She turned to Yao Chen and asked,
"Master, where is that beast who betrayed the sect now?"
Seeing that Xiao Yi Xian had asked, Yao Chen replied,
"Not long ago, when I went out to gather medicinal herbs, I happened to hear some people discussing that traitor. That's when I learned he'd been hiding in the Black Corner Region ever since he ambushed me."
"The Black Corner Region? Isn't that next to Jia Nan Academy? Jia Nan Academy comes to recruit from my clan every year. Last year, they sent an instructor who said I was a little young, but talented enough to attend. If I hadn't met you, Master, I probably would've gone there to study in a couple of years."
Hearing that he was in the Black Corner Region, Xiao Yan immediately thought of Jia Lan Academy nearby and told Yao Chen.
"That's right. It's right next to Jia Nan Academy."
Yao Chen confirmed it.
"Get your things together first. Once we reach the Black Corner Region, I'll need you to go to Jianan Academy."
"Master, why are we going to Jianan Academy? With our strength, we could probably be elders there already."
Xiao Yan was puzzled about why Yao Chen still wanted them to go to Jianan Academy. After all, with one of them at Three-Star Dou Wang and the other at One-Star Dou Emperor, they could only become elders there.
"We're going to Jianan Academy because I sensed the presence of Heavenly Flames in the Inner Academy there."
"Before you go, I'll place a restriction on you to temporarily lower your cultivation to the Dou Ling level. Then you'll enter the Inner Academy and look for information about the Heavenly Flames on my behalf. Just let me know when you find something."
Yao Chen planned to send the two of them to Jianan Academy as undercover agents.
"Master, if we go to Jianan Academy, how will we go with you to clean up the sect?"
Hearing that they were being sent to Jianan Academy, Xiao Yi Xian wondered if Yao Chen intended to leave them out of the reckoning. She spoke up to ask.
"Girl, I can't clean up the sect without the two of you. You'll come with me first, and after we deal with that traitor, you'll go to Jianan Academy to investigate for me."
Seeing that Xiao Yi Xian looked a little displeased, Yao Chen smiled and explained.
"That's good. I thought you weren't going to let us witness that moment."
"Hahaha! I said I'd take you with me, so of course I will."
"Go get your things ready. We'll set out soon."
After saying that, Yao Chen told them both to pack up and prepare to leave.
Yao Chen, Xiao Yan, and Xiao Yi Xian slowly walked out of the thatched cottage. After half a year there, each of them felt a touch of reluctance.
Xiao Yan glanced back at the familiar cottage. Remembering the moments they'd spent there, he was filled with emotion.
Xiao Yi Xian stood quietly to one side, her gaze carrying a hint of longing.
This place had once been their cozy haven from wind and rain, where they had cultivated together.
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