Xiao Yi Xian

"Senior, pardon the disturbance."

Xiao Feng clasped his hands and bowed to the skeleton. He removed the three keys, then felt around its arm bone for a while before pulling out the Fragment Map of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame hidden within.

After putting away the valuable Fragment Map, Xiao Feng took the three keys and opened the three stone boxes on the bluestone platform one by one.

Each stone box contained a scroll: the Seven-Colored Poison Manual, the Mystic High-Rank Flight Fighting Skill "Purple Cloud Wings," and the Mystic High-Rank Dou Skill "Furious Lion's Roar."

The Seven-Colored Poison Manual contained a wealth of information about poisonous substances, along with many formulas for concocting poisons.

Some of its most potent poisons could even kill Dou Wang-level experts.

In the original story, Xiao Yan had no interest in the Seven-Colored Poison Manual mainly because he was an alchemist and had no need to divide his attention by studying poisons.

Xiao Feng, however, was different. He lacked the talent to become an alchemist, and with his Poison-Immune Body, he was quite suited to working as a Poison Master on the side.

Xiao Feng gave the Seven-Colored Poison Manual a brief read before shifting his gaze to the scroll of "Purple Cloud Wings."

Compared to ordinary Dou Skills, Flight Fighting Skills were more like special tools.

Since most Flight Fighting Skills were refined from the wings of flying magical beasts, the stronger the original owner had been, the faster the Flight Fighting Skill would be.

The Purple Cloud Wings before Xiao Feng had been refined from the wings of a fifth-tier flying magical beast, the Black Flame Purple Cloud Eagle. At full speed, it could far surpass ordinary Dou Wang experts.

However, with Xiao Feng's current cultivation as a Three Star Dou Zhe, even if he refined the Purple Cloud Wings, he would be unable to unleash its true power. At most, he could only glide at low altitude for a short time.

Furthermore, judging from the original story, the Purple Cloud Wings still contained a wisp of the Black Flame Purple Cloud Eagle's remnant soul. When refining the Purple Cloud Wings, the user would have to withstand the soul attack of that remnant soul.

If they failed to block the remnant soul's attack, its violent consciousness would affect them, turning them into a beast that knew only slaughter.

Xiao Feng was not an alchemist. His soul strength could not compare to Xiao Yan's, so refining the Purple Cloud Wings now was far too risky.

Therefore, Xiao Feng planned to try refining the Purple Cloud Wings only after breaking through to Dou Master.

As for the "Furious Lion's Roar" recorded on the third scroll, it was a Mystic High-Rank spear technique Dou Skill.

Although Xiao Feng was not particularly interested in spear technique Dou Skills, he could bring it back to bolster the Xiao Family's foundations.

After looting all the treasures in the stone chamber, Xiao Feng took a shovel from his Storage Ring, dug a large pit in the corner, and buried the skeleton inside.

"Senior, although I do not know who you were, since I have taken your inheritance, I have received your favor. My thanks."

After speaking, Xiao Feng took out a flask of fine wine and poured it before the crude stone grave. He bowed once more, then left without looking back.

Within the dense forest, dozens of figures moved forward in silence.

The fully armed mercenaries vigilantly scanned the shadows beneath the surrounding trees, gripping their weapons tightly as they prepared for any sudden danger.

Most of the mercenaries hired by the Ten Thousand Medicines Pavilion were veterans who had spent years in the Monster Mountain Range. Thus, even though they had been temporarily assembled, they maintained a basic level of coordination.

At the very center of the group were more than a dozen herb gatherers carrying medicine baskets—the Ten Thousand Medicines Pavilion's herb-gathering team.

Among those herb gatherers, the most eye-catching was a young woman dressed in fitted white clothing.

She appeared to be around fifteen or sixteen years old. Though her beauty was not devastatingly stunning, she was still a rare beauty.

She exuded a fresh, ethereal air, and when she smiled, it felt as though it could heal the heart.

Her slender waist, so slim it seemed it could be grasped in one hand, drew frequent glances from many of the mercenaries.

This white-clad young woman with her exceptional temperament was none other than the Ten Thousand Medicines Pavilion's specially hired physician—Xiao Yi Xian!

Physicians could barely be considered a branch of alchemists, but compared to true alchemists, their status was far inferior.

After all, physicians could not refine true medicinal pills. They could only use ordinary flames to refine and blend medicinal ingredients into various powders and ointments, thereby treating illnesses and healing injuries.

Therefore, most physicians dreamed of becoming alchemists one day, and Xiao Yi Xian was naturally no exception.

Unfortunately, becoming an alchemist required a specific talent; it was not something that could be achieved through hard work alone.

Although Xiao Yi Xian was not an alchemist, her medical skills were excellent. The Healing Medicine she prepared was cheap and effective, making her very popular in Green Mountain Town.

Moreover, Xiao Yi Xian was kind-hearted. Whenever she encountered patients short on money, she would treat them for free.

At least half the mercenaries in Green Mountain Town had received some favor from Xiao Yi Xian, so she was also the dream lover of many men.

After walking without rest for several hours through the rugged paths of the Monster Mountain Range, many mercenaries had begun to feel exhausted, let alone Xiao Yi Xian, who was not even a Dou Zhe.

Xiao Yi Xian held a white handkerchief and gently wiped the sweat from her brow. Her breathless appearance was truly pitiful and endearing.

If they had not feared provoking public outrage, some mercenaries would have wanted to step forward and carry Xiao Yi Xian on their backs.

Just as the mercenaries were silently feeling sorry for her, a handsome young man suddenly stepped out from the crowd and walked over to Xiao Yi Xian's side, whispering something to her.

After the two spoke quietly for a while, Xiao Yi Xian smiled and shook her head, politely declining the young man's offer to carry her. She then continued onward.

The young mercenary who had been rejected by Xiao Yi Xian showed no anger whatsoever. Instead, he stayed close by her side and acted as her personal bodyguard.

"Damn! What is that guy so proud of? Doesn't he just have a good father?"

"Xiao Yi Xian isn't that shallow. There's no way she'd fall for a spoiled young master like him."

"Exactly..."

Seeing the young mercenary use the convenience of his status to stay so close to Xiao Yi Xian, many mercenaries could not help grumbling sourly.

The young mercenary who followed Xiao Yi Xian around like a tail was named Mu Li. He was the young leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, one of Green Mountain Town's Three Major Mercenary Groups.

For this expedition into the Monster Mountain Range to gather herbs, the Ten Thousand Medicines Pavilion had hired more than fifty mercenaries.

More than twenty of them belonged to the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, while the rest were unaffiliated mercenaries recruited temporarily.