Xiao Yi Xian left the Myriad Medicine Pavilion.
From that day on, the Myriad Medicine Pavilion never opened its doors again.
Before leaving, Xiao Yi Xian had already dismissed all the maids at the Myriad Medicine Pavilion.
As for where Mr. Yao and his assistant, Lifei, went, no one knew, and no one cared.
[Whoa, no wonder this valley helped Xiao Yan and Zi Yan break through to the Dou Huang Realm. The energy of heaven and earth here really is dense.]
He hadn't been able to understand its wonders from the original story, but after experiencing it firsthand, he finally understood how incredible it was!
The energy in the air was so dense it had nearly turned to mist!
Just one deep breath was enough to lift his spirits.
This was definitely a blessed place, a paradise on earth!
He felt that if he cultivated here, with his Flawless Body and his high-tier Earth-rank Primordial Creation Art, he could probably break through to Dou Zong in just two and a half years.
By then, forget Medusa—even Yun Shan would be no match for him with one hand tied behind his back.
[Too bad I don't have enough time left...]
[ Ding, congratulations on obtaining the Spirit Gathering Array.]
[Effect: Gathers the energy of heaven and earth, accelerating cultivation.]
Xiao Yuan: ???
He'd noticed that this Dog System was getting more and more considerate.
It was just like having a pillow handed to him when he was sleepy.
Now it wouldn't take two and a half years. He could probably make it in a year or so!
"How is it?"
"Pretty nice place, huh?"
"This little valley is completely cut off from the outside world, and the thick clouds overhead conceal it, making it extremely well hidden. If Xiao Lan hadn't wandered in here by chance, I probably never would've discovered this wondrous place."
Seeing Xiao Yuan's astonished expression, Xiao Yi Xian clasped her hands behind her back and stood on the steps of the wooden cabin, smiling smugly.
"Mm... It really is a paradise away from the world. If I ever get the chance, living in seclusion here wouldn't be a bad choice."
Xiao Yuan rubbed his chin and looked around, his thoughts beginning to wander.
[Spend each day fishing and sunbathing, and maybe have a couple of kids...]
"Of course, I'd bring Big Sister Xiao Yi Xian along."
Xiao Yi Xian didn't mind fishing and sunbathing, and living in seclusion here really would be a fine choice.
But having children...
And bringing her along?
"You little rascal! What goes through your head all day?! I'm not talking to you anymore!"
A blush spread across Xiao Yi Xian's fair cheeks. She gave Xiao Yuan a light scolding and hurried into the cabin without looking back.
That left Xiao Yuan standing there, blinking dumbly.
"Wait, what did I say? Is it wrong to want to retire and take it easy with you?"
[Xun'er, Ya Fei, even that crazy woman Nalan Yanran...]
[Why are they all so strange?]
If it had only been one or two of them, he'd have thought something was wrong with them. But when they were all like this, the most likely explanation was that he was the problem.
In the end, Xiao Yuan stopped thinking about it and chalked it up to Xiao Yi Xian suddenly acting up.
He found a fairly open spot and first took the Ice Spirit Flame Grass out of his Storage Ring, transplanting it among the many rare spirit herbs growing there.
Then he casually watered all the plants with Life Spirit Flame.
Only after that did he take out the reward he'd just received from the system.
"So this is the Spirit Gathering Array? It's not quite what I imagined."
Rather than giving him the Spirit Gathering Array itself, the system had given him instructions for setting it up, along with eight formation flags that glimmered with a faint golden light.
Xiao Yuan didn't know what grade the flags were. As far as he knew, nothing like them existed on the Dou Qi Continent.
All he knew was that their golden gleam made them look incredibly powerful.
He only needed to plant the flags in order, then activate them with a wisp of Dou Qi, and the Spirit Gathering Array would start working.
Without a second thought, Xiao Yuan followed the knowledge that had been transmitted into his mind and planted the flags one after another around himself.
Then he sent out a wisp of Dou Qi to activate them.
Hum—!
The array sprang to life, and the energy of heaven and earth around him began to gather at a furious pace.
"Whoa, it's that powerful?!"
The instant he was surrounded by the vortex of energy, Xiao Yuan jumped in surprise.
He watched as the energy around him grew denser and denser, swirling around him like a vortex.
At first, it formed a thick mist that wrapped around him like a cocoon. Then it even condensed into drops of spiritual liquid inside the array, as if it meant to gather all the energy in the little valley there!
Not wanting to waste any of it, Xiao Yuan hurriedly circulated his cultivation art and entered a state of cultivation.
By now, the Dou Qi sea urchin inside him had retracted three of its spikes, and the fourth was slowly shrinking as well.
When all nine spikes had completely retracted, turning it into a smooth, round Dou Crystal, he would have entered the Dou Wang realm!
Meanwhile.
Xiao Yi Xian was tidying up inside the cabin.
No one had lived here for a long time, so it had long since gathered a layer of dust.
As she cleaned, Xiao Yuan's words from earlier kept echoing in her mind.
Living in seclusion here, marrying, having children, and sharing the joys of family life...
These were things she'd never dared to imagine in the past.
But now...
Xiao Yi Xian looked up through the window at Xiao Yuan, who was already immersed in cultivation, and the corners of her mouth lifted into a smile she couldn't help.
Wasn't she moved?
Of course she was.
She'd never needed much. Just a little trust was enough to make her feel happy and content.
So if it were possible, she'd gladly accept.
But then she thought of how this little brother Xiao Yuan was such a smooth talker, and of the things he'd mentioned in his inner thoughts—his cousin Xiao Yu's legs, Ya Fei, and the like.
She was certain of one thing.
"This little brother Xiao Yuan is definitely a womanizer!"
Xiao Yi Xian clenched her fists and fumed inwardly.
But that sweet smile on her face refused to fade.
The sun and moon turned.
Time flew by in this secluded valley, cut off from the outside world.
Before they knew it, they had been here for three months.
Over those three months, Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yi Xian had grown increasingly close. They were now at the point where only a thin sheet of paper remained between them.
At the same time, Xiao Yuan had once again experienced what it meant to live a life of leisure.
All he had to do was keep cultivating.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yi Xian carried a basket each day, her hair bound with a pale green cloth, softly humming as she went about her business. She was just like a beautiful young wife.
She washed his clothes whenever they got dirty.
When the food was ready, she called Xiao Yuan over to eat.
She kept everything in perfect order.
At first, Xiao Yuan had felt a little awkward, but in time he gradually got used to it.
He never complained about the food Xiao Yi Xian made, and ate whatever she served him.
Every time, he cleaned his plate.
That made Xiao Yi Xian very happy, too.
Every so often, Xiao Yuan would praise her cooking and say that whoever married Big Sister Xiao Yi Xian would be living in bliss.
But every time, Xiao Yi Xian would only smile and shake her head before replying:
"You should know that poison masters are the profession least likely to marry on the Dou Qi Continent. Not many people would dare share a bed with a wife who could release deadly poison with the slightest movement.
Would you really be willing to, little brother Xiao Yuan?"
"Why wouldn't I be? The Woeful Poison Body isn't some incurable disease. It's not like there's no way to deal with it. Besides, would Big Sister Xiao Yi Xian really be willing to poison me to death?"
Whenever he teased her like this, Xiao Yi Xian would break into a fit of giggles, then ask:
"What about the girls around you?"
After all this time together, the two of them could talk about anything. Xiao Yi Xian also knew that Xiao Yuan had a childhood sweetheart named Xiao Xun'er.
And a woman named Ya Fei.
That was why Xiao Yuan always fell silent at this point.
He could only mutter to himself.
[Can't a man have three wives and four concubines? That's perfectly normal on the Dou Qi Continent, isn't it...]
If Xiao Yuan dared to say that aloud, Xiao Yi Xian would show him exactly how much authority a big sister had, tugging his ear and asking which one was the wife and which one was the concubine.
Since he hadn't said it aloud, she pretended not to hear.
She could only tap him lightly on the forehead with her jade-white finger and hum:
"Hmph, just eat your food. You're too young to be thinking about such things."