Return to the Xiao Clan

Magical Beast Mountain Range.

Xiao Yixian's emotions had gone through a turbulent upheaval, but they were gradually calming down. However, the way she looked at Lin Hai had changed completely, now filled with reliance, trust, and an indescribable flutter of the heart.

Walking by his side, feeling that reassuring strength and gentleness, she felt a sense of stability she had never known before.

As the sun began to set, Lin Hai checked the sky and said in a gentle voice, "It's about time. Let's head back."

"Mm." Xiao Yixian nodded obediently.

The two returned to Qingshan Town.

Standing before the wooden hut, Xiao Yixian looked at the place where she had lived for many years. A trace of reluctance flickered in her eyes, but it was overshadowed by her anticipation for the future.

Lin Hai looked at her and spoke at the perfect moment, his tone sounding entirely natural: "I should be heading back. There are some matters in the clan, and the elderly alchemist I mentioned to you is also visiting us recently."

He paused, looking at Xiao Yixian with a sincere gaze as he issued the final invitation: "Would you... be willing to come back with me? Let him take a look at you; perhaps the matter of apprenticeship can be settled. As for the issue with your constitution, we can also explore solutions more conveniently there."

Come home with me. These four words struck Xiao Yixian's heart like the most moving melody.

Almost without a moment's hesitation, she nodded vigorously, her voice firm yet tinged with a hint of shyness: "I'm willing! I'll go with you!" To her, this person before her was the source of all her trust and hope; wherever he was, her future lay there as well. Though she felt a pang of reluctance for Qingshan Town, it was no longer worth lingering over.

"Good." Lin Hai smiled slightly, stepped forward, and naturally wrapped his arm around her slender waist.

Xiao Yixian let out a startled cry, her face instantly flushing bright red. Her body stiffened, and her heart hammered like a drum.

Before she could even react, she felt her feet lighten, and the scenery around her plummeted and shifted with dizzying speed!

"Ah!" She instinctively squeezed her eyes shut and gripped Lin Hai's lapels tightly.

Whistling winds roared in her ears, but strangely, she felt none of the stinging pain of the gale, as if an invisible barrier was shielding her from everything.

After a few breaths, she finally gathered the courage to carefully open her eyes.

The next moment, she was completely stunned. Her red lips parted slightly, and her beautiful eyes were filled with indescribable shock!

Beneath her, mountain ranges and winding rivers flashed by, and cities had shrunk to the size of tiny chessboard squares!

White clouds swirled around them, and birds were left far behind!

They were traveling through the nine heavens at a speed she could not comprehend!

Flight! This was the flight that only a Spirit King expert could barely achieve!

Yet, seeing Lin Hai's relaxed and effortless demeanor, moving so fast that he tore through the clouds, his strength was simply unfathomable!

She looked up at the calm profile of the man beside her, her shock reaching its peak.

Just... just how strong was he?

She had known he was formidable before, but she never imagined he was strong to this extent!

Sensing her gaze, Lin Hai looked down and gave her a gentle smile: "Hold on tight, we'll be there soon."

This smile dispelled the fear in her heart, leaving only a sense of absolute security and an indescribable pride.

She gave a soft "Mm" and pressed her burning cheek slightly against his chest. Listening to his strong, steady heartbeat, she felt it was the most reassuring sound in the world.

The speed of a Peak Spirit Saint was terrifying; in less than the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, the outline of Wutan City appeared below.

Lin Hai descended directly from the sky with Xiao Yixian, landing in the backyard of the Xiao Clan without drawing the attention of any ordinary clansmen.

Xiao Yixian's feet touched solid ground, yet her legs still felt weak. Looking at the grand courtyard before her, she felt both nervous and expectant.

Lin Hai took her hand (Xiao Yixian's cheeks flushed red again, but she did not pull away) and led her straight toward Xiao Yan's small courtyard.

Pushing open the door, they found Yao Chen instructing Xiao Yan on identifying medicinal herbs. The room was filled with an even stronger medicinal fragrance and energy fluctuations than before.

"Uncle, you're ba—" Xiao Yan turned around at the sound, but stopped mid-sentence as he caught sight of the ethereal, beautiful girl in white standing beside Lin Hai, and he froze.

Yao Chen's soul form also turned around. His gaze fell upon Xiao Yixian, flashing with a hint of surprise before his powerful soul perception seemed to detect something, causing his expression to tighten and turn serious.

"You're back?" Yao Chen looked at Lin Hai.

"Mm." Lin Hai gently brought Xiao Yixian forward and said to Yao Chen, "Yao Chen, this is Xiao Yixian. I met her while out; she has immense talent in the path of alchemy and a pure heart." He paused, his tone deepening, "However, she possesses the 'Woeful Poison Body' and has suffered greatly for many years. I brought her back hoping you could take a look and see if there is a solution."

"The Woeful Poison Body?!"

Yao Chen's phantom drifted closer, his soul power carefully scanning Xiao Yixian's body. His expression grew increasingly grave until he finally let out a long sigh: "It is indeed the Woeful Poison Body, and... it seems there are signs that it has already erupted. Child, you have suffered."

Hearing Yao Chen identify her secret so easily, and hearing the pity rather than disgust in his tone, Xiao Yixian felt a pang of sorrow and nearly wept. She bowed deeply to Yao Chen: "I beg the old master to save me."

Yao Chen stroked his beard and mused: "A solution is not impossible. Ancient texts record that if one can gather three types of Heavenly Flame and use a special method, one can fundamentally balance or even control the power of the poison body, turning it to one's own use. However..." He glanced at Xiao Yan, who was only at the Spirit Disciple stage, "This method requires at least three Heavenly Flames and demands extremely high control from the wielder; it is not a task for a single day. I fear... we must wait until this lad, Xiao Yan, can skillfully master three Heavenly Flames before we can attempt it."

Three Heavenly Flames? And he had to wait for Xiao Yan to master them? Xiao Yixian's heart sank; the conditions were far too harsh. Heavenly Flames were legendary divine objects; obtaining even one was a stroke of immense fortune, let alone three?

However, Lin Hai spoke calmly, his tone carrying an unquestionable certainty: "No matter. It is only three Heavenly Flames; within a year, I will surely find them for little Yanzi. At that time, I must ask Elder Yao to exert your full effort." He looked at Xiao Yixian and comforted her: "Rest assured, a year will pass quickly. For this year, just settle in here and follow the old master to learn the basics of pharmacology."

A year? Finding three Heavenly Flames?! Yao Chen and Xiao Yan were left dumbfounded, feeling that this uncle/lord's words were becoming increasingly terrifying.

Xiao Yixian, however, was completely soothed by Lin Hai's absolute confidence and nodded vigorously: "Mm! I believe in you!" A year was nothing compared to the endless despair she had known in the past.

At this moment, Lin Hai thought of another issue and looked at Yao Chen: "By the way, Elder Yao. Yixian does not possess Fire or Wood attributes, so by rights, she cannot become an alchemist. But she has a great love and talent for this path; is there any other way for her to achieve her wish?"

Upon hearing this, Yao Chen examined Xiao Yixian carefully once more, a look of contemplation in his eyes. After a long while, he said slowly: "Ordinary methods naturally will not work. But if it is her Woeful Poison Body... there is indeed one path, though it is incredibly perilous, it is the only possibility."

"Oh? Please, tell me." Lin Hai's eyes brightened.

"Find the 'Nether Poison Fire', ranked twentieth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking!" Yao Chen's tone was grave. "This flame was born in an ancient land of toxic miasma, nurtured for a thousand years by the earth's poison veins. It inherently contains extreme toxicity and is essentially of the same origin as the Woeful Poison Body. If she can use the power of her poison body to forcibly refine this flame, she might be able to use it as a medium to bypass the attribute restrictions and derive a unique 'Poison Fire', thereby gaining the ability to refine medicine! Even the pills she refines might possess special toxic or antidotal properties, making them truly one of a kind!"

"Nether Poison Fire..." Lin Hai repeated the name to himself, then nodded, his tone remaining as indifferent as if he were talking about picking up a head of cabbage, "Fine, I have noted it. I will keep an eye out for news regarding this fire."

Yao Chen and Xiao Yan were already numb. Keeping an eye out for news of the Nether Poison Fire? He made it sound so easy!

Xiao Yixian, however, felt her beautiful eyes bloom with a brilliant radiance upon hearing this!

She had never expected that there would be such a path specifically suited for her!

Although it sounded incredibly dangerous, with Lin Hai by her side, she felt no fear at all!

Hope had become unprecedentedly bright and tangible!

The gaze she fixed upon Lin Hai was filled with endless gratitude, reliance, and a sentiment that had taken deep root within her.