Preparations Before Setting Out

Without the slightest hesitation, Xiao Tianci released his divine sense, pushing it to the very limit of what he could currently achieve.

Yet, within his perception, there was not the slightest trace of Soul Hall.

However, Xiao Tianci knew that his divine sense could not have been wrong. The people from Soul Hall were nearby!

"I still need to find a way to keep improving my strength. I can't slack off just because I've achieved a little."

Xiao Tianci took a deep breath.

The sense of crisis in his heart drove his desire to grow stronger to become even more intense!

"Right now, aside from the system, the easiest way to become stronger is through pills."

He muttered, "But the medicinal ingredients needed for pills that can help a Da Dou Shi advance are probably relatively rare. The Mite'er Auction House likely won't have them readily available."

Xiao Tianci raised his head and looked at a map hanging on the wall opposite him.

The area covered by the map was not large, encompassing only Wutan City and two nearby cities.

However, most of the map was covered in green.

This vast expanse of green had one unified name: the Magical Beast Mountain Range!

And Xiao Tianci's gaze was now fixed upon that enormous Magical Beast Mountain Range!

A determined look appeared in his eyes.

The Magical Beast Mountain Range could be said to be the largest mountain range in the entire Jia Ma Empire.

Within the mountains were countless natural treasures. With good luck, all kinds of rare medicinal ingredients could be found there with ease.

It was said that the mountains also held treasures and inheritances left behind by many great experts of the past. If one was fortunate enough to obtain even one or two of them, they might soar to greatness at once and become someone admired by all!

Yet beyond those opportunities, the Magical Beast Mountain Range also contained dangers that could not be ignored.

Even at the outermost edge of the range, countless magical beasts lurked within. Although the magical beasts on the outskirts were not particularly strong, when they gathered in groups of two or three, they could still cause considerable trouble.

As one ventured deeper into the mountains, the magical beasts would grow stronger and stronger. Even an experienced mercenary group could suffer utter destruction from a single careless mistake!

"Then it'll be the Magical Beast Mountain Range. The magical beasts there can also serve as a way for me to train!"

Xiao Tianci took a deep breath, having already made his decision.

Yet at that moment, the system's LCD screen suddenly appeared before Xiao Tianci.

"Ding. New mission: Read Ten Thousand Books, Travel Ten Thousand Miles."

"Blindly burying yourself in books can sometimes be less useful than going outside for a look. This system's purpose is to create a host who is knowledgeable, versatile, and proficient in everything, not a bookworm who only knows how to read."

"Special system reminder: During the mission period, aside from reading, the host's travels will also count toward Experience Points."

After carefully reading through the mission, Xiao Tianci could not help but sigh.

"This is like being handed a pillow just when I was about to sleep. This mission from the system came at exactly the right time."

He had decided only a moment ago to head out to the Magical Beast Mountain Range in search of medicinal ingredients, and the very next moment, the system told him to go out for a walk.

He even began to wonder whether someone was controlling the system's mission program behind the scenes. Otherwise, this system was far too intelligent!

Taking a deep breath, Xiao Tianci suppressed the distracting thoughts in his heart.

Since he had already decided to leave, Xiao Tianci began making preparations for the journey.

After tidying up his room, he headed out.

His destination was clear: the Mite'er Auction House.

After issuing the mission, the system had given Xiao Tianci the first-stage reward, which included quite a few pill formulas.

These formulas covered many types of pills, including Qi Recovery Pills for quickly restoring Dou Qi, Obstacle Avoidance Pills that granted immunity to poisonous gas, Inedia Pills, and more.

Although these pills were generally not of high grade, with the highest being only fourth-grade, they were practically indispensable for Xiao Tianci's upcoming journey.

Naturally, his purpose in going to the Mite'er Auction House was to find some spiritual herbs and refine a batch of pills.

After entering the Mite'er Auction House, Xiao Tianci put on the mask he had prepared in advance, then presented the VIP card Ya Fei had given him before.

After submitting the materials and supplies he needed to the staff waiting nearby, he was respectfully led into a VIP room.

However, the moment he opened the door and entered, Xiao Tianci discovered a familiar figure seated in a chair inside the VIP room.

Ya Fei sat elegantly in her chair, her right leg crossed over her left. A tantalizing stretch of snowy-white skin was revealed beneath her long qipao.

At that moment, Ya Fei was holding the list Xiao Tianci had submitted just moments earlier.

After a moment, she finished reading it, and a trace of surprise appeared on her alluring face. "Tianci, these supplies you need... are you planning to travel far?"

Xiao Tianci was not at all surprised by Ya Fei's appearance. He merely nodded. "Staying in the Xiao Clan all the time won't noticeably improve my strength. Rather than that, I might as well go out and train early."

"Mhm. With your talent, a tiny place like Wutan City definitely can't hold back your footsteps." Ya Fei nodded and spoke softly.

Then, an unexpected hint of reluctance appeared in her eyes.

"Then... do you still plan to come back?"

"Of course." Xiao Tianci took a sip of tea and smiled. "Though I can't say for sure when I'll return."

"Please prepare the supplies I need. The gold coins required will certainly be enough on this card."

With a flick of Xiao Tianci's hand, a dark-green card slid across the table and stopped before Ya Fei.

After gathering all the materials, Xiao Tianci bid farewell to Ya Fei and returned to his room.

Over the next few days, Xiao Tianci never stepped beyond his door. He stayed cooped up in his room every day, either refining pills or reading books, living an extremely simple life.

With such diligent effort, the stockpile of pills in Xiao Tianci's Storage Ring increased rapidly.

Three days and three nights passed amid that simple routine.

When the night faded and dawn arrived, with sunlight once again spilling across the earth, Xiao Tianci's door finally opened softly.

Facing the sunlight, Xiao Tianci stepped outside.

Three days of pill refinement had not left the slightest trace of fatigue on his face. Instead, he looked full of energy.

"Ding. Detected that the host has read every day recently without interruption. Congratulations, host, on obtaining one mount: Green Ox."

The system delivered its reminder in the form of a voice.

Then, Xiao Tianci saw a Green Ox slowly emerge from behind the house.

This Green Ox looked exceedingly ordinary, no different from a domesticated cow.

But Xiao Tianci knew that as a reward from the system, this Green Ox was definitely not as simple as it appeared!

He mounted the Green Ox backward and slowly headed out.

At the same time Xiao Tianci set off, another member of the Xiao Clan also walked out of his room.

Judging by his appearance, it was Xiao Yan!

Meanwhile, at the Misty Cloud Sect, a graceful figure flew directly out of the sect. Her destination was none other than the Magical Beast Mountain Range!