Little Fairy Doctor

Having broken through to the rank of Dou Shi, Xiao Li casually sought out a few magical beasts to test his strength; first-order magical beasts were simply no match for him.

After harvesting the valuable materials from these beasts, Xiao Li departed the Magical Beast Mountain Range. Remaining there for long at the Dou Shi level was equally dangerous, and he needed to head out to purchase supplies and prepare for a long period of secluded cultivation.

At the entrance of Green Mountain Town facing the Magical Beast Mountain Range, mercenaries were busy seeking out teams.

"Fire-attribute three-star Dou Zhe, which mercenary group is hiring?"

"Water-attribute two-star Dou Zhe, hire me for only five hundred gold coins."

The mercenaries in the small town were roughly divided into three types. The first were those already organized into strict mercenary groups. There were only three such groups in Green Mountain Town, each with about a hundred members. Most of the members were above the rank of Dou Zhe, and the leaders of all three groups were powerful Dou Shi experts, making them some of the most formidable forces in Green Mountain Town.

The second type consisted of temporary mercenary teams, which usually disbanded after completing a single mission; their level of mutual trust and coordination was far inferior to that of the formal mercenary groups.

The third type were the lone-wolf mercenaries, individuals who generally possessed a few trump cards to ensure their own survival.

Many noticed Xiao Li walking out alone. The magical beast blood staining his clothes had yet to dry, and having just broken through to Dou Shi, he could not yet fully control his aura. A stray wisp that leaked out was enough to make those around him tremble with fear.

"Which family's genius is this? His aura is astonishing."

"He's covered in blood and alone. Could it be that he was attacked by a powerful beast in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, and he's the only one who made it back?"

The surrounding mercenaries kept a wary distance from Xiao Li, not daring to be careless despite his somewhat youthful face.

Xiao Li found the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion in Green Mountain Town and placed a bundle on the counter.

"Does your Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion buy magical beast materials?"

The clerk did not dare to be negligent; although the other party was young, he might be selling items on behalf of his group.

"We do, we do."

Xiao Li opened the bundle, revealing several body parts of magical beasts and a single magical core.

"See how much these are worth."

The clerk rubbed his hands together and, not minding the gore, picked up the blood-stained parts to inspect them.

"First-order wood-attribute magical core, purchase price four hundred and twenty gold coins."

"First-order Fire Pig fangs, purchase price one hundred and eighty gold coins."

"..."

The total value of the various magical beast materials came to about one thousand gold coins. Xiao Li did not bother haggling and made the sale decisively; he would rather spend that time killing a few more beasts or cultivating a bit longer.

Xiao Li took the money bag handed over by the clerk and was about to leave when the clerk called out to him.

"Little brother, you must have people backing you, right?" the clerk asked with a smile.

Hearing this, Xiao Li replied calmly, "Why do you ask?"

Seeing that Xiao Li did not deny it, the clerk's smile widened. "It's like this: our Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion's herb-gathering team is heading into the mountains tomorrow and we need guards. You could go back and tell your people; if you're interested, just find the team at the entrance of the Magical Beast Mountain Range tomorrow. We'll certainly make the pay worth your while."

Xiao Li nodded. Without agreeing or refusing, he walked straight out of the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion and found an inn to stay in.

He didn't have much money right now, so earning some extra cash while heading into the mountains wasn't a bad idea.

Early in the morning, Xiao Li circulated the Thunder Derivation Art, drawing wisps of heaven and earth energy into his body to strengthen his cyclone.

A day's plan starts in the morning; the effects of morning cultivation were quite good, though the cultivation speed of the Huang-tier high-grade Thunder Derivation Art had slowed down a notch now that Xiao Li had broken through to Dou Shi.

According to Xiao Li's estimation, if he wanted to break through to a two-star Dou Shi, it would likely take two or three months.

"Once my strength increases further, I must go to a large city to find a high-grade lightning-attribute cultivation method and Dou technique."

Xiao Li made up his mind, though in the Gama Empire, obtaining such things required not only strength but also immense wealth.

If he were in the Black-Corner Region...

Xiao Li thought of that chaotic land where order did not exist.

"My strength as a Dou Shi is still far from enough. To gain a foothold in the Black-Corner Region, I need at least the strength of a Dou Ling."

Shaking his head, Xiao Li felt somewhat helpless. Without strength, one could get nowhere; he still had to work hard at his cultivation.

At the entrance of the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

Xiao Li relied on his powerful physique to squeeze into the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion's recruitment spot.

The person in charge was somewhat surprised by Xiao Li's age.

"Little brother, we only recruit those who are two-star Dou Zhe or higher. Do you meet the requirements?"

"Of course," Xiao Li replied.

He clenched his fists, and pure purple Dou Qi swirled around them, extending up his arms like a tassel of Dou Qi armor.

"Regional Dou Qi armor—so young, very good, very good. You meet the requirements. The pay is eight hundred gold coins."

The person in charge's eyes widened. To be able to manifest regional Dou Qi armor, one had to be a high-level Dou Zhe. He hadn't expected the youth before him to be so strong at such a young age.

Within the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion's herb-gathering team, a young girl with fair skin tilted her head, looking at Xiao Li with curiosity.

Xiao Li seemed to sense something and turned his head to look at the girl.

A girl stood there clad in a pale white dress. While her features could not be called peerless, she was nonetheless a rare beauty in the making. Her mischievous face radiated a fresh, ethereal aura, a unique quality that significantly amplified her charm.

Xiao Li's eyes widened in admiration. What a beautiful little girl.

Meeting Xiao Li's gaze, the girl hurriedly turned her head away, shyly twisting the hem of her dress.

The man beside her paid no mind, continuing to speak to himself, "Little Fairy Doctor, Master Yao instructed me to teach you more about medicinal herbs during this trip, so you must study hard."

Little Fairy Doctor frowned. Naturally intelligent, she knew Master Yao was no good man and was merely using her.

Despite the dissatisfaction in her heart, her tone remained sweet. "Then I will have to trouble you, Uncle Li."

The man addressed as Uncle Li waved his hand, saying nothing more.

Xiao Li's ears twitched. His heightened hearing, sharpened after becoming a Dou Shi, allowed him to faintly catch the man's words.

"Little Fairy Doctor?"

Xiao Li looked at the girl's back, observing the adorable, undeveloped child, and felt his head spin.

Xiao Yan had first come to the Magical Beast Mountain Range at sixteen, at which time Little Fairy Doctor was fifteen. Right now, Xiao Yan was only eleven...

That was right. The Little Fairy Doctor should only be ten years old right now; she ought to look like a mere child.

Although people on the Dou Qi Continent matured faster both mentally and physically due to cultivation, a ten-year-old child still could not stir any thoughts in Xiao Li beyond finding her cute.

However, now that he knew the other party was the Little Fairy Doctor, Xiao Li could not help but have some ideas.

The Woeful Poison Body could increase its cultivation level simply by consuming poison, which was far faster than the average person. If he could recruit the Little Fairy Doctor now and have her begin cultivating early...