First Meeting with Xiao Yan

The journey was much the same as the trip there: flying by day, resting at night.

Whenever they stopped to rest, Qin Yu would calm his mind and quietly sense the land beneath his feet.

On the plains, the Earth Vein Force was sparse, but it was stable, unlike the mountain earth veins, which were so heavy they were difficult to bear.

Where forests grew thick, the earth veins were full of vitality; where rivers converged, their power became gentler.

Every patch of land had its own "personality."

Drawing on these different powers, Qin Yu's cultivation continued to improve steadily throughout the journey.

And since flying during the day was truly too boring, Qin Yu even took the time to study the cultivation technique Xiao Yu practiced and ponder it.

Nearly two months later, the griffins flew over the final ridge of the Magic Beast Mountains. The view ahead suddenly opened up, and a sizable city appeared on the horizon.

Wutan City.

Seeing this familiar little city again, Qin Yu did not feel particularly delighted. His heart was simply as calm and relaxed as still water.

If not for this so-called system, he might not have chosen to return this year.

"All right, students. Wutan City is up ahead. Those who need to return home may leave on their own after we land."

Before the Griffin Beast landed, Instructor Ruo Lin rose to her feet and called out to the group.

After speaking, she gave Qin Yu a deep look.

Clearly, she had already learned that Qin Yu had requested a year's leave from the academy.

How should she put it...

She admired Qin Yu's courage in accepting the challenge of breaking through eight levels within a year.

She was also looking forward to seeing how the academy's teachers, students, and higher-ups would react if Qin Yu truly succeeded.

Perhaps even...

If Qin Yu exceeded the challenge and reached a Five-Star, or even higher-ranked Da Dou Shi...

Tsk, her path to promotion would be more secure than the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower in the Inner Academy!

The Griffin Beast slowly descended into an open field outside Wutan City.

Xiao Yu was the first to jump down. Turning around, she held out her hand to Qin Yu.

"Brother Yu, come on, let's go to my house! If my grandfather sees your current realm, his jaw will definitely drop."

Qin Yu jumped down from the griffin, took her hand, and chuckled.

"You go back first. I want to go home and take a look."

Xiao Yu froze for a moment, then understood.

She knew Qin Yu's parents had long since passed away. That little house... had probably stood empty for a long time.

"Then... do you want me to come with you?"

"No need. Go see your grandfather first. I'll come find you at the Xiao Household later."

Xiao Yu hesitated for a moment, but ultimately nodded.

Qin Yu watched her figure disappear through the city gates before turning and walking in the opposite direction.

Wutan City's streets were no different from how they had been a year ago.

The shops on either side were still the same ones. Even their signs had not been changed.

A few rough-looking mercenaries by the roadside chatted at the top of their lungs. Occasionally, someone recognized him and cast him a curious glance or two, but no one said anything more.

Without slowing down, Qin Yu crossed two streets and turned into an alley.

At the end of the alley stood a low brick-and-wood cottage.

The door was still the same door, and the window was still the same window.

But the window paper had yellowed, and the stone steps before the door were covered in dust and dead leaves. A few unknown weeds had even sprouted from the cracks.

Qin Yu stood before the door for a while before reaching out and pushing it open.

Creak—

A stale smell rushed at him: the scent of dust, mingled with the mildew and stuffiness of a long-uninhabited home.

The room was dark. Qin Yu stepped inside and pushed open the window. Afternoon sunlight streamed in, and dust drifted slowly through the beam of light.

Several old garments, folded neatly, still lay in the cabinet in the corner.

Qin Yu walked around the house once, gathering the few remaining belongings into the Storage Ring he had exchanged for at the academy.

The house was so quiet that only the occasional birdsong from outside the window and the faint voices of the distant market could be heard.

The little house was still the same little house, but it was empty and devoid of life.

Still...

He needed this little house to continue existing.

It did not matter what it became, nor did it matter whether it had any life left in it. As long as it remained, that was enough.

After staying inside for roughly the time it took to burn an incense stick, Qin Yu stood, closed the window again, walked outside, and gently shut the door behind him.

It was time to go to the Xiao Household.

To get from the western part of the city to the Xiao Household, he had to pass through the busiest market street in Wutan City.

Qin Yu walked at an unhurried pace, his gaze sweeping over the shops and passersby as he planned out the year ahead.

Just as he was thinking, a commotion suddenly broke out ahead.

"Xiao Yan, you piece of trash. What right do you have to stand beside Miss Xun'er?"

Qin Yu stopped. The voice sounded somewhat familiar.

He quickened his pace and rounded the street corner. The sight before him made his brow rise slightly.

Two groups were confronting each other at the corner of the market street.

One side had only two people: a black-clad youth and a girl in a light blue dress.

The other had five or six people. Standing at the front was someone Qin Yu knew—Jia Lie Ao.

As expected of the rookie village's little villain. A year had passed, yet this guy was still the same.

Qin Yu's gaze settled on the black-clad youth.

The youth was around fourteen or fifteen. His features were handsome, and his eyes carried a steadiness that did not match his age.

He stood in front of the girl in blue. Though he faced five or six opponents, there was not the slightest trace of fear on his face.

So this was Xiao Yan?

This was Qin Yu's first time seeing the future Flame Emperor in person.

Judging by the timeline, there was still over a year until Nalan Yanran came to break off the engagement. Xiao Yan should still be at Third-Stage Battle Qi.

"Jia Lie Ao, where's your guard?"

Xiao Yan's voice was neither warm nor cold as his gaze swept across the men behind Jia Lie Ao.

"Why did you replace him? Did you fire that Six-Star Fighter from before?"

Jia Lie Ao's expression stiffened. This was hardly a glorious memory in Wutan City.

He had sent his guard to trouble Xiao Ning and Qin Yu, only for that guard to be beaten until he vomited blood by Qin Yu, a One-Star Dou Practitioner. It had left his face burning for quite some time.

"Xiao Yan, you're just trash at Third-Stage Battle Qi. What right do you have to bring that up?"

Jia Lie Ao sneered, then looked past Xiao Yan and fixed his gaze directly on the girl in blue behind him.

Yet the girl did not so much as lift her eyelids. She merely stood quietly behind Xiao Yan, as though Jia Lie Ao did not exist at all.

"That's enough, Jia Lie Ao. This is the Xiao Household Market. If you keep making trouble here, don't blame me for not warning you in advance."

As Xiao Yan's words fell, the guards of the Xiao Household Market swiftly arrived and surrounded Jia Lie Ao's group.

Jia Lie Ao's face darkened. Seeing Xiao Yan's unconcerned expression, he gritted his back teeth so hard they nearly shattered.

Qin Yu was at least a Dou Zhe, but Xiao Yan, this trash at Third-Stage Battle Qi, actually dared to humiliate him like this!

"Xiao Yan, you..."

Before Jia Lie Ao could finish speaking, the corner of his eye suddenly caught sight of Qin Yu standing amid the crowd, watching the spectacle.