"What?"
"Yan'er, you're leaving Wutan City for a while?"
Hearing Xiao Yan's request, Xiao Zhan sprang to his feet, his face full of worry.
"Father, there's no need to worry."
Xiao Yan smiled faintly, his tone calm.
"I'm only going out to train and look for a few opportunities. I'll be back before long."
With his strength now, there was probably no one in the entire Jia Ma Empire who could stand against him.
"This..."
Xiao Zhan opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but realized he had no reason to stop him.
That was true...
Yan'er was already a Dou Wang. How many people in the entire Jia Ma Empire could hurt him?
What was more, he had a master like Medicine Elder to guide him. His strength and trump cards were surely extraordinary.
As his father, his cultivation was now inferior to his son's. What did he have to worry about?
"Very well."
Xiao Zhan sighed softly and patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder. "Yan'er, you've grown up. Your father can't stop you anymore."
"But when you're away from home, be careful in everything."
"If you run into danger, don't try to tough it out. Retreat when you need to."
"The Xiao Family will always be your strongest backing."
Xiao Yan felt warmth well up in his heart and nodded firmly. "Don't worry, Father. I understand."
"And one more thing—"
Xiao Zhan suddenly lowered his voice, a knowing smile appearing on his face. "Are you planning to take that girl Xun'er with you?"
Xiao Yan paused, then shook his head. "No. I plan to go alone this time."
Although Xiao Xun'er had already broken through to Two-Star Dou Wang and was quite strong, well... in a place like the Monster Mountain Range, taking her along would be inconvenient...
As for the reason, ahem, ahem... you know what I mean!
Xiao Yan shook his head to himself. He wasn't heading out this time just to look for Heavenly Flames.
Given the system's usual ways, stealing "Xiao Yan's" opportunities was the right path.
And Xiao Yan's confidantes from the original story...
Mm, so going alone would be more convenient.
Hearing this, Xiao Zhan's face showed some disappointment. "If that girl finds out, she'll probably be heartbroken."
Xiao Yan smiled but didn't answer.
After taking care of the Xiao Family's affairs and speaking with Medicine Elder, Xiao Yan prepared to set off.
However—
"Brother Xiao Yan!"
Just as he was about to walk out of the Xiao Family's gate, a clear voice came from behind him.
Xiao Yan stopped and turned around. Xiao Xun'er was hurrying toward him, her purple skirt fluttering and her dark hair streaming behind her.
"Xun'er?" Xiao Yan paused slightly. "What brings you here?"
Xiao Xun'er ran up to him, breathing lightly, a faint blush on her pretty face.
She lifted her head and looked at Xiao Yan with clear eyes, full of reluctance.
"Brother Xiao Yan, you're going on a long trip. Why didn't you tell Xun'er?"
Her voice was gentle, but carried a hint of hurt.
Xiao Yan's heart softened, and he reached out to ruffle her hair. "I'm only going out to train. I'll be back before long. Stay home and cultivate well until I return."
Xiao Xun'er bit her lip, wanting to say, "Take me with you," but the words died on her tongue.
She knew Xiao Yan must have his reasons for not bringing her along.
"Then... Brother Xiao Yan, you must be careful."
She spoke softly, her eyes growing slightly red. "Xun'er will wait for you at home."
Xiao Yan smiled faintly and nodded.
"Wait for me."
With that, he flashed into the air as a streak of crimson-gold light, soaring upward and vanishing into the distance in the blink of an eye.
Xiao Xun'er stood at the gate, gazing at the light as it grew farther and farther away, silent for a long time.
"Brother Xiao Yan..."
She murmured, her voice so soft it seemed the wind might carry it away.
"I'll miss you."
High in the sky, Xiao Yan hovered in midair, looking down at Wutan City as it grew smaller and smaller beneath him. An inexplicable feeling welled up in his heart.
He hadn't been in this world for long, but the people and events here had already bound him to it deeply.
"Next..."
He turned his gaze toward the distance, a glint flashing in his eyes.
"It's time to visit the Monster Mountain Range!"
A smile tugged at Xiao Yan's lips. He sped up once more and shot toward the Monster Mountain Range.
He knew that although the Monster Mountain Range wasn't a secret realm on the level of the Central Plains, it was the "ultimate beginner's package" on Xiao Yan's path to growth in the original story.
It had provided the energy sources for breakthroughs in cultivation—the Amethyst Origin and Purple Fire—and brought him opportunities that changed his fate—the Heavy Profound Ruler and the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame Fragment Map. It had also introduced him to two important women who would affect his life: Yun Yun and Xiao Yi Xian.
At the same time, it had helped him build the three foundations of wealth, resources, and combat experience, paving the way for the Three-Year Agreement and his later adventures across the continent.
It could be said that the Monster Mountain Range was an "important opportunity" on Xiao Yan's path to growth!
And he had come this time to claim those opportunities for himself!
With his current cultivation at Three-Star Dou Zong, and the vast, boundless Dou Qi within him, Xiao Yan's speed in full flight was terrifying.
A streak of crimson-gold light cut across the sky like a shooting star, sweeping past countless cities and mountains in the blink of an eye.
Before long, he had left the prosperous heartland of the Jia Ma Empire and entered a region of rolling, rugged mountains.
Below him, dense primeval forests stretched out like a green sea, their edge nowhere in sight.
Towering trees blotted out the sky and sun. From time to time, roars echoed out from the forest, reverberating through the valleys.
He had reached the outskirts of the Monster Mountain Range.
Xiao Yan slowed down, descended, and swept his gaze across the forest below.
The Monster Mountain Range stretched for thousands of miles, straddling the Jia Ma Empire and several neighboring nations. It was a paradise for countless magical beasts and a gold mine for countless adventurers and mercenaries.
Hidden within this vast mountain range were countless natural treasures, as well as countless deadly dangers.
"According to the timeline of the original story, Xiao Yi Xian should be in some small town on the outskirts of the Monster Mountain Range..."
Xiao Yan murmured, his eyes flickering.
It wasn't that he was in a hurry to find Xiao Yi Xian. Rather—
Buzz!
But suddenly—
Just as Xiao Yan was thinking, a violent fluctuation of Dou Qi came from the forest ahead.
The fluctuation wasn't very strong, roughly at the Dou Shi level, but it was intense. Someone was clearly fighting.
Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow and quietly extended his soul power, instantly covering the area for several miles around.
In the next moment, he "saw" what was happening ahead.
In a clearing not far away, more than a dozen mercenaries dressed in black had surrounded a girl in white. Their blades were drawn, and killing intent filled the air.
The mercenaries were led by a burly, hulking man with a face full of flesh. An odd light glinted in his eyes.
The broadsword in his hand was still stained with blood. He had clearly just been through a fight.
And the girl in white—
Xiao Yan's gaze fell on her, and a flicker of surprise passed through his eyes.
The girl looked around fifteen or sixteen. She wore a white dress, her figure slender, and her dark hair flowed like a waterfall. Her features were exquisitely delicate, her skin as fair as snow and her brows and eyes as lovely as a painting. Most striking of all was her long, pale-purple hair, which shimmered faintly in the sunlight and drew the eye.
Yet her situation was not good.
Several spots of blood stained her dress. It was unclear whether the blood was hers or someone else's.
Her face was pale and her breathing was ragged; she had clearly expended a great deal of Dou Qi.
But her gaze remained clear and stubborn as she stared fixedly at the man before her, not backing down in the slightest.
Behind her, she was also protecting several injured mercenaries, evidently her companions.
"Ke-ke-ke—"
The burly man let out a harsh laugh, his eyes roaming over the girl without restraint, brimming with greed and madness.
"Xiao Yi Xian, I gave you a chance, but you just had to refuse. Come back with me obediently and become my woman, serve me well, and I might just spare your life."
Before you continue