Joining the Team

Over the past few days, Xiao Yao had been like a sponge, greedily absorbing the knowledge of battle techniques bestowed by the system. They were like brilliant stars, illuminating the path ahead of him.

During that time, Xiao Yao began cultivating the first two fingers of the Great Wilderness Heaven-Prisoning Finger and mastered them. Even the Secret of the Battle Character had initially reached the Minor Achievement Realm.

He cultivated tirelessly day and night, sweat and tears intertwining, yet they forged his unyielding will.

Finally, Xiao Yao began studying the Great Void Technique. During one late-night training session, he followed the system's guidance and attempted to use the Great Void Technique, a miraculous battle technique capable of manipulating space.

Xiao Yao took a deep breath, closed his eyes, gathered all his spiritual power and battle qi, and began guiding that mysterious force.

Xiao Yao felt as though he had entered a boundless void, surrounded by misty nothingness that seemed ready to devour him at any moment.

Xiao Yao was startled, but he did not panic. Instead, he quickly adjusted his breathing and state of mind. Following the system's instructions, he began circulating the cultivation method of the Great Void Technique, attempting to control his body as it traveled through the void.

After strenuous effort, Xiao Yao finally succeeded in crossing a stretch of void. Though it was only a short distance, it was an enormous breakthrough for him.

He looked at himself, already several hundred meters away.

Xiao Yao's heart was filled with excitement. He had never imagined that he could travel through space before even reaching the Dou Ancestor level.

After some more time passed, Xiao Yao noticed that those who had come to the Magic Beast Mountain Range in search of opportunities were gradually leaving. He thought it was time to head back and take a look.

At that moment, a pair of golden Battle Qi Wings extended from Xiao Yao's back. Upon close inspection, one could vaguely see a trace of invisible flame flickering over them.

Xiao Yao flew toward the other side of the Magic Beast Mountain Range. When he was about to reach Green Mountain Town, he descended and immediately put away his wings to avoid being seen.

Just as Xiao Yao was about to enter the town, he found quite a few mercenary groups gathered at the entrance. They were shouting loudly, apparently promoting something.

Curious, he walked closer and heard a middle-aged man say, "Myriad Medicine Pavilion is entering the Magic Beast Mountain Range to gather medicinal herbs. Little Fairy, who joined Myriad Medicine Pavilion not long ago, will also be accompanying us. We are now recruiting thirty experts, each with strength of at least a five-star Dou Practitioner. Seize the opportunity, everyone. Time is limited."

Xiao Yao walked to a spot not far from the man and saw that the middle-aged man, dressed in Myriad Medicine Pavilion attire, was standing on a stool and shouting.

Once he finished, the mercenary groups that met the requirements immediately lined up to register. Seeing this, Xiao Yao hurried over and stood behind them, remembering the system's hidden mission.

When it was Xiao Yao's turn, the middle-aged man stared blankly at the handsome youth before him, who looked no more than sixteen or seventeen. Then he smiled and said, "Little brother, we're recruiting people with the strength of five-star Dou Practitioners, and the work is quite dangerous. Can someone as young as you handle it?"

The people lined up behind Xiao Yao laughed as well. "Where did this little brat come from? You haven't even grown all your hair yet, and you dare compete with your grandpa here for work?"

"Yeah, yeah! Kid, get out of the way for this lord. Don't waste my time!"

The others also began laughing at him. Seeing this, Xiao Yao smiled helplessly. "How can sparrows understand the ambitions of a swan?"

After saying that, Xiao Yao condensed his battle qi into a Battle Qi Veil that covered his body, drawing exclamations from the crowd.

Amid everyone's astonished gazes, Xiao Yao smiled and said, "Is this level of cultivation enough to join?"

The middle-aged man patted Xiao Yao's left shoulder and smiled in satisfaction. "Not bad, little brother. You're quite impressive. You actually have the cultivation of a one-star Battle Master. What a little genius."

After pausing, the middle-aged man continued, "Little brother, the original payment for protecting our Myriad Medicine Pavilion herb-gathering team was five hundred gold coins. But since you've reached the Battle Master level at such a young age, you only need to personally protect Little Fairy. The reward will be doubled. We'll pay you half in advance—five hundred gold coins. The remaining five hundred will be paid once we return safely. How does that sound?"

Upon hearing the middle-aged man's words, Xiao Yao was delighted. Just as he had been considering how to approach Little Fairy, such a heaven-sent opportunity had appeared. Smiling, he said, "Alright. I'll protect Little Fairy."

Xiao Yao did not care how much the reward was anyway. He knew how to quickly complete the system's hidden mission.

After some time, once the middle-aged man had recruited enough people, Xiao Yao followed them into the Magic Beast Mountain Range.

Within the silent forest, a group of people walked quietly. The recruited guards vigilantly watched their surroundings, their hands gripping the weapons at their waists, ready at all times to face any danger.

After traveling for a while, the leader of the guards looked at the sky, then turned to the herb-gathering team from Myriad Medicine Pavilion behind them and said, "After walking a little farther, we'll reach the herb-gathering area. The deeper we go into the Magic Beast Mountain Range, the more likely we are to encounter magic beasts. Let's rest here for a while and adjust ourselves. Everyone must be even more vigilant along the way ahead."

Xiao Yao spotted a petite white figure among the Myriad Medicine Pavilion team. He walked over, sat beside the girl in the white dress, and said, "Long time no see, Little Fairy. I accepted this mission to protect you, and I also came to visit you."

The girl in the white dress raised her head, a trace of surprise in her clear eyes. "Oh? It's you, Xiao Yao. Why are you here?"

Xiao Yao smiled and pointed toward the distant mountain range. "I happened to be training nearby. When I passed through Green Mountain Town, I saw that Myriad Medicine Pavilion's team was recruiting guards to enter the Magic Beast Mountain Range, so I signed up. The captain saw that I was strong, so he assigned me to personally protect you."

Little Fairy listened, a faint smile appearing in her eyes as she softly said, "Xiao Yao, you're only a few years older than me. How high can your cultivation possibly be?"

Xiao Yao secretly laughed. If I weren't afraid that revealing my real age would bring trouble, I would have taken off my disguise mask already.

He used a little battle qi, covering his hand with a layer of golden Battle Qi Veil.

After seeing it, Little Fairy's face filled with shock. She touched the Battle Qi Veil formed on Xiao Yao's hand and said in astonishment, "Th-this is a Battle Qi Veil? How could you have reached the Battle Master realm?"

Xiao Yao smiled faintly. Rather than directly answering her question, he changed the subject. "Alright, stop asking. It's enough that you know I'm capable of protecting you now."

Although Little Fairy still had some doubts after hearing Xiao Yao's words, she knew that this was not the time to press him for answers.

The two continued sitting there and chatting about their recent lives, and the atmosphere gradually became more relaxed. Xiao Yao occasionally cast concerned glances her way, while Little Fairy occasionally revealed a sweet smile.

Not far away, the other members of Myriad Medicine Pavilion also noticed the interaction between the two and cast envious looks at them.

Someone said, "From afar, they look just like a perfect young couple."

A middle-aged man from the mercenary group agreed. "Yeah, they really suit each other standing together. Xiao Yao is so brave, while Little Fairy is so gentle. They're simply a match made in heaven."