Battle Through the Heavens: The Rise Begins at Canaan Academy, Section 22

Yao Lao's voice drifted through his mind. "Pick up the pace. Reach the destination before nightfall."

"Yes... Teacher." Xiao Yan replied weakly. Gritting his teeth, he dragged his heavy body onward toward Green Mountain Town.

A month later, in a small valley brimming with heaven-and-earth energy.

"The Woeful Poison Body has awakened?" Hearing footsteps behind him, Qin Chen asked without looking back as he refined medicine.

"Mm."

"How do you feel now?"

"It's complicated. I can't really describe what it feels like."

"Then don't. You're in charge of cooking today, so hurry up. Don't think awakening the Woeful Poison Body lets you shirk that responsibility." Qin Chen abruptly changed the subject and gave the order as if it were only natural, as though Xiao Yixian were his maid.

"You really don't know how to cherish a beauty."

Xiao Yixian shot Qin Chen a fierce glare and huffed coquettishly, but then she resigned herself to it, rolled up her sleeves, and walked toward the ingredients nearby.

That one sentence from Qin Chen was worth more than any sweet talk.

After that treasure hunt ended, Qin Chen had sent Xiao Yixian back to Green Mountain Town while he continued cultivating in the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

Many things had happened over the past month. First, the Wolf Head Mercenary Group spread rumors and repeatedly caused trouble for Xiao Yixian. Then there was Mr. Yao's covetous gaze. Even many mercenaries whom Xiao Yixian had saved in the past began eyeing the treasures she had obtained in the cave...

One matter after another left Xiao Yixian exhausted.

Thus, when she saw that familiar figure again, she finally made up her mind to awaken the Woeful Poison Body.

After resolving the matter in Green Mountain Town, Xiao Yixian brought Qin Chen to this small valley.

Thinking back on everything that had happened recently, Xiao Yixian gradually returned to herself. She helplessly glanced at the medicinal cauldron before her and could not help complaining, "Are all alchemists like you? I thought you were supposed to be elegant!"

A few days ago, while she had been stewing meat, Qin Chen had said the pot she was using was too small.

When she asked what to do, she had not expected him to take a huge medicinal cauldron straight out of his storage ring.

"What do you know? A medicinal cauldron is much more convenient than your iron pot."

With a smile, Qin Chen continued, "I have a friend who loves using medicinal cauldrons to stew meat. Every time, she complains that I make too little. If there's a chance in the future, I'll introduce you to her. My friend is very cute."

Qin Chen had not originally been in the habit of cooking meat in a medicinal cauldron, but Zi Yan liked it.

Back in the deep mountains of Canaan Academy, he had often used a medicinal cauldron to cook for Zi Yan. By now, he had gotten used to it.

"The food's ready. Come over."

"Alright."

And so, another two months passed.

During that time, Xiao Yixian had already broken through to the Dou Shi realm.

All Qin Chen could say was that the Woeful Poison Body truly lived up to its reputation. It was terrifying indeed!

"You're leaving?" Qin Chen asked in a low voice as he looked at the lovely girl standing before him.

"Mm." Xiao Yixian nodded gently.

After much deliberation, Xiao Yixian had ultimately decided to travel through the Chu Yun Empire.

"Alright."

Qin Chen did not try too hard to keep her. Instead, he took a storage ring from his robes and handed it to Xiao Yixian. "These are pills I refined. As for their effects, I've written them down on that black scroll."

"As for the red scroll, it contains the alchemy techniques I studied during this time. Once you reach the Dou Wang realm in the future, you should be able to use what's written there to refine your first pill."

Rubbing his nose, Qin Chen smiled warmly. "The pill you refine probably won't be of a very high grade, but it's better than nothing. It's quite good for cultivating one's character and temperament."

"Alchemy? Can I become an alchemist too?" Xiao Yixian took the storage ring, a trace of uncertainty and anticipation flickering in her clear eyes.

"Of course."

Qin Chen nodded firmly and explained, "Alchemy doesn't necessarily require a fire affinity mixed with wood. As long as you're strong enough, you can refine some low-grade pills."

"Thank you."

After putting away the storage ring, Xiao Yixian raised her head after a long while. Tears filled her eyes as she looked at Qin Chen, her vision already somewhat blurred.

Becoming an alchemist had always been Xiao Yixian's dream. Even if she could only refine low-grade pills now, that was enough to satisfy her.

"Why should you thank me?"

Qin Chen and Xiao Yixian had already confirmed their relationship a few days earlier.

He smiled and waved his hand, though his tone turned more serious. "Remember this: never seek death. I'll help you find a way to resolve the Woeful Poison Body."

Xiao Yixian nodded heavily, her voice thick with tears. "I understand..."

"That's more like it. Come on, let's have a big hug before we part."

Qin Chen opened his arms, a gentle smile on his face.

Xiao Yixian hesitated for a moment, but she still gently leaned into him and buried her head against Qin Chen's shoulder.

"Can you promise me something?" Qin Chen asked softly after a moment of silence.

"What is it?" Xiao Yixian raised her head, a hint of confusion flashing through her eyes.

"Once you go to the Chu Yun Empire, your strength will probably grow rapidly. I hope you won't start any meaningless wars. Also, I want you to protect the Snake-People Tribe if the critical moment comes."

"Alright, I promise you."

"There's one more thing. On the Battle Qi Continent, there is an evil faction called the Soul Hall. These people will stop at nothing to collect souls. If they come looking for you in the future and claim they have a way to cure your Woeful Poison Body, you must never believe them."

"Mm, I'll remember. I'll definitely be careful."

"Oh, and one last thing."

Perhaps because the atmosphere had become too heavy, Qin Chen's eyes shifted as he leaned close to Xiao Yixian's ear. "Don't go messing with your body for certain reasons. I still prefer the natural kind."

Xiao Yixian's Departure

"What?"

Xiao Yixian froze at first. Then, she noticed Qin Chen looking at her with a mischievous grin.

Following the youth's gaze, Xiao Yixian realized that her body was pressed tightly against his, without the slightest gap between them.

"You lecher!"

Xiao Yixian's cheeks instantly turned red. She shoved away the man holding her, and still not satisfied after scolding him, she raised her delicate fist and swung it at Qin Chen.

In the Magical Beast Mountain Range, atop a cliff.

"I hope everything goes well for you."

Playing with the strand of silky hair in his hand and feeling the lingering warmth on his lips, Qin Chen murmured softly.

The storage ring he had given Xiao Yixian contained pills from the first to sixth tier, including Dou Ling Pills and Emperor's Extreme Pills.

He had only succeeded in refining that Emperor's Extreme Pill after failing twice.

Even Little Lan, her flying magical beast, had been raised to the second tier by Qin Chen using fifth-tier magical beast essence blood and supplementary ingredients.

And that was not all. There were several Earth Core Thunder Pearls, along with precautions for refining a Heavenly Flame, and all sorts of other things.

It could be said that Xiao Yixian's journey to the Chu Yun Empire would absolutely hold no danger.

Even if Xie Bi Yan entered the fray early, Xiao Yixian could still blast him into the air!

Buzz!

At that moment, the space around Qin Chen rippled. Immediately afterward, a voluptuous and enchanting figure appeared beside him.

"Your methods are quite impressive. You captured a young girl's heart so quickly." Looking at the strand of hair Qin Chen had yet to put away, Medusa's narrow phoenix eyes were full of disdain.

She still remembered how, when Qin Chen had invited her to leave the Snake-People Tribe with him, he had confidently claimed he would broaden her horizons. Yet over the past three months, this damned fellow had spent all his time with that woman named Xiao Yixian.

Cough, cough!

Qin Chen did not feel embarrassed at all. Instead, he smiled and said, "It seems Her Majesty the Queen cares greatly about my relationship with other women?"

"Care? You think you're worthy?" Medusa snorted coldly, her voluptuous body turning slightly aside. "I merely want to remind you not to forget the important matter."

"How could I?"

Qin Chen put the strand of hair away in his storage ring, then lightly swiped over it. A strange fruit appeared in midair. "This is an Eight-Ridge Demon-Needle Fruit I found in the valley, one of the main ingredients for the Spirit Fusion Pill."

"You still have some conscience." Medusa's eyes immediately lit up at those words, and the expression on her face softened considerably.

This fellow might normally be frivolous and unreliable, but at least he had not deceived her in their deal.

Wait!

Medusa suddenly froze. Why was she thinking that?

Wasn't the only reason he had gone to that small valley because of that woman Xiao Yixian?

As for the Eight-Ridge Demon-Needle Fruit, he had only found it by coincidence. It had not been his intention at all.

That damned Seven-Colored Heaven-Devouring Python—it was all its fault!

A flash of irritation passed through Medusa's eyes. She clenched her silver teeth and forcibly suppressed the inexplicable emotion in her heart, her pretty face once again taking on that icy expression.

Qin Chen looked utterly confused as Medusa changed her expression faster than one could turn a page.

Women's thoughts really were impossible to fathom...

Shaking his head helplessly, he stopped dwelling on it and said in a low voice, "Since the matters here are settled, it's time to meet that Dou Zun expert. But before that..."

Qin Chen turned to Medusa. "Your Majesty, I need your help with something."

Medusa lifted her head and glanced at him. "What is it?"

Qin Chen let out a light breath, his gaze turning serious. "I want you to command some of the low-tier magical beasts in the mountains to search for a youth carrying a giant ruler."

"Also, you absolutely cannot go in person. You can only use the small magical beasts of the Magical Beast Mountain Range to monitor him. And those magical beasts must not remain near that youth for too long, lest he notice them."

Medusa's slender brows furrowed slightly. Clearly, she did not understand this strange request.