Leaving and Growth

The blazing sun hung in the sky, endlessly spewing flames and scattering scorching heat.

Xiao Wujiu had already packed his things and was ready to leave.

Xiao Yi Xian had also finished gathering all the medicinal herbs. Aside from those that had not matured enough, she took everything that could be taken.

He looked at Xiao Yi Xian as she stored everything in her Storage Ring, then held out his hand. "Are you ready? Our journey of training is about to begin."

"Mm!"

Xiao Yi Xian shyly reached out and took Xiao Wujiu's hand.

He wrapped an arm around the finest waist in Battle Through the Heavens. Eight wings appeared behind him, and with a light flap, he shot straight into the sky.

The two of them cast one last look at the small valley, a place filled with the beautiful memories of their past month.

The house stood quietly, willow branches swayed gently, and the stream flowed in silence...

"Let's go."

Wutan City, Xiao Clan.

Compared to Xiao Wujiu's peaceful month, things had not been going well for the Xiao Clan.

After he left, the Jia Lie Clan somehow hired a First-Grade Alchemist and began relentlessly suppressing the Xiao Clan's marketplaces.

Their profits were constantly being squeezed, to the point that it was already threatening the very foundation of the clan.

Xiao Zhan had been worrying so much that he could barely sleep. Although Xiao Wujiu's pills had raised his strength to an Eight-Star Da Dou Shi, he still did not dare resolve the matter through force.

The reason was Liu Xi. It was said that Liu Xi had a fairly powerful teacher, one who was also a Fourth-Grade Alchemist, making Xiao Zhan wary of acting rashly.

And at such a time, Yan'er told him that Xiao Wujiu had left to train some time ago and would not return until Jia Nan Academy began its admissions half a year later.

Thus, his final source of support had vanished as well.

"Alas, these are truly troubled times. If Wujiu were still here, how could my Xiao Clan have fallen into such a state?"

Looking at the account book in his hand and its steadily dwindling revenue, Xiao Zhan felt a headache coming on. Just as he was about to crush the teacup in his hand again—

"Father, I have a way to turn the clan's crisis around!"

At that moment, Xiao Yan entered the main hall, causing Xiao Zhan to stop.

Seeing Xiao Yan enter, his expression brightened. "Yan'er, why are you here?"

Some time ago, with Xuner's help, Xiao Yan had broken through to Nine-Section Dou Qi. After consolidating his cultivation for a while, he then used the perfect Qi Gathering Powder provided by Xiao Wujiu to break through to the Dou Zhe realm in one go!

Xiao Zhan had been overjoyed by this, but now he asked doubtfully, "Yan'er, can the method you mentioned really help the clan escape its current predicament?"

"Of course." Xiao Yan smiled confidently, recalling the words Xiao Wujiu had said when they chatted before. He puffed out his chest, confidence shining in his eyes. "I can become an alchemist and refine medicine for the clan, can't I?"

After saying that, Xiao Yan felt utterly refreshed.

My cousin was right after all!

Old Yao, within the ring, felt as though his eyes had been opened.

"What that Wujiu brat said really does make sense. He's making even me want to give it a try."

Although Xiao Zhan was only a Da Dou Shi, the astonishment in his eyes and those stylish words just now suited Yao Chen's taste perfectly. This was exactly the effect he wanted!

Right, that word "style" had also been coined by Xiao Wujiu. That brat really had a quick mind.

Looking at his younger son before him, Xiao Zhan felt his eyes grow moist. His eldest son had resolutely gone to the Tagor Great Desert to become a mercenary, all so Yan'er would have a way out and the clan would have a backup plan.

As his father, Xiao Zhan had been deeply moved by that sense of responsibility. And now Yan'er had stepped forward as well, bravely taking on the clan's burden, filling his heart with countless emotions.

"Good! Good! The sons of Xiao Zhan are all outstanding!"

Tears glimmered faintly at the corners of his eyes as he nodded in relief...

After leaving the valley, Xiao Wujiu and Xiao Yi Xian headed deeper into the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

While they were still in the valley, he had found several suitable Battle Skills for Xiao Yi Xian to practice, allowing her to bridge the period before her Woe Poison Body had been sufficiently developed. Now was the time to test the results.

The first- and second-tier magical beasts they encountered all became test subjects for Xiao Yi Xian's strength.

Xiao Wujiu stood atop a large tree, watching Xiao Yi Xian fight a Fierce Azure Wolf that had just entered the second tier below.

The second-tier Fierce Azure Wolf was simply too fast, making the battle extremely difficult for Xiao Yi Xian. With only the strength of a Six-Star Dou Zhe, she could only form a poisonous barrier around herself for protection.

Yet the situation was becoming increasingly dangerous. Under the Fierce Azure Wolf's relentless attacks and the wind blades that occasionally swept past, Xiao Yi Xian was hard-pressed to cope.

"This really is difficult to handle. Beyond the difference in strength, the issue lies in their attributes."

Xiao Wujiu analyzed the battle as he stood guard for Xiao Yi Xian.

The Fierce Azure Wolf's wind-attribute Battle Qi completely countered the poisonous gas Xiao Yi Xian released. Not only was it fast, but she could not get close to it at all.

However, he was not worried, because Xiao Yi Xian had already proven both her strength and talent. Taking down this Fierce Azure Wolf would not be much of a problem.

"It's about time."

Xiao Wujiu thought to himself.

The poisonous barrier around Xiao Yi Xian gradually began to thin. The deadly poison that would kill ordinary plants at a touch was slowly fading, and her figure within it became faintly visible.

The not particularly intelligent Fierce Azure Wolf sensed an opportunity. After aiming two wind blades at Xiao Yi Xian, it darted through the forest behind them, charging toward her at high speed!

The moment the wind blades entered the poisonous barrier, an unexpected change occurred after they struck "Xiao Yi Xian"!

The "Xiao Yi Xian" they hit actually turned into poisonous mist and slowly dispersed, while a stream of poison shot out from within the barrier at incredible speed!

"Low Xuan-Class Battle Skill, Mysterious Female Poisonous Miasma!"

Xiao Yi Xian's cold shout rang out as the poisonous miasma struck the Fierce Azure Wolf with perfect accuracy. In mere moments, purple-black color began spreading across its blue-black fur!

"Awoo!"

With a pained whimper, it collapsed to the ground and slid forward for some distance under its momentum.

By the time it stopped, it was already dead.

"Not bad." Xiao Wujiu instantly appeared beside the Fierce Azure Wolf and found that the poisonous miasma had struck directly into its chest. The poison had clearly attacked its heart and killed it swiftly. "You first used the Poison Illusion Body to deceive it and lure it closer, then seized the chance to kill it in one blow. That's very good battle instinct."

He looked toward the poisonous barrier with a smile.

"Hehe, I suppose so~"

After Xiao Yi Xian withdrew all of the poisonous barrier, she skipped over to Xiao Wujiu's side. Her tone and smile both showed that she was in an excellent mood.

"Next, we'll be entering the core region of the Magical Beast Mountain Range. Magical beasts of the fourth tier and above may appear there, so I won't have you practice against them."