Battle Skills

"Let's go back. I want my sister to watch the sunset with me." Xiao Yuting said to Xiao Yan, confidence written across her face. She believed that one day, she could make her sister recover again. If that truly proved impossible, then she would protect her sister herself. Xiao Yuting had no mind to admire the sunset now. Though the sunset was beautiful, it only meant something when shared with the person one hoped to be with.

"Don't tell your sister I said that." Xiao Yan shot Xiao Yuting a glance.

"Don't tell my sister what? Don't tell her you're a heartless man?" Xiao Yuting stared at Xiao Yan.

"Heartless man? When did I become a heartless man?" Xiao Yan said coldly.

"Little Doctor Fairy gave so much for you, yet you still won't marry her. If that doesn't make you a heartless man, what does?" Xiao Yuting replied.

"How did you know Little Doctor Fairy gave so much for me?" Xiao Yan asked guiltily. He had never told her, had he?

"Instinct. A woman's sixth sense. Tomorrow at noon, I'll treat you to a meal. If you don't want Battle Skills, you don't have to come." A smug curve appeared at the corner of Xiao Yuting's lips.

After saying that, Xiao Yuting left, leaving behind a mysterious silhouette. Xiao Yan was rather astonished. How did Xiao Yuting know what he needed?

"I'll go, then. It's not like you can eat me." Xiao Yan said.

Xiao Yan returned to his room, where Xiao Jian was cultivating. Xiao Yan thought over what he had learned about alchemists today.

What he needed most at the moment was a medicinal cauldron, medicinal ingredients, and pill formulas. With those things, his soul power at the early Emperor Realm would be enough to refine first-grade pills.

Soul power, beyond the divisions of Emperor Realm, Immortal Realm, and Divine Realm, was further divided into early, middle, late, and peak stages.

Xiao Yan spent the entire night cultivating. Yet cultivating here for one night would barely increase his strength at all. If he wanted to rapidly improve his strength, he had to obtain the Water-Fire Mutual Generation Formula.

The night passed amid cultivation. When Xiao Yan woke the next day, it was nearly noon. After washing up, he headed for the dining hall. He wanted to see what tricks Xiao Yuting could pull.

It was still the same spot as that day. Xiao Yuting sat there alone, holding a book, though it was one related to poison.

Telling her the truth might actually be a good thing for her. At least she now had a new goal to strive toward. Though it was difficult, it was not hopeless.

"You're not going to tell me you invited me here at noon just to treat me to air, are you?" Xiao Yan sat down opposite Xiao Yuting, sounding helpless.

"I forgot that food is only served at night today." Xiao Yuting said helplessly. She continued reading, ignoring Xiao Yan.

"Then forget it. I still need to go to the Battle Skill Pavilion." Xiao Yan rose, intending to leave.

"Do you know what's in the Battle Skill Pavilion?" Xiao Yuting raised her head and looked at Xiao Yan teasingly.

"The branch's Battle Skill Pavilion only has three Emperor-Tier Battle Skills, and they're all Emperor-Tier Low-Grade. Even the Xiao Clan Headquarters doesn't have any Ruler Techniques. In other words, even if you go to the Battle Skill Pavilion, you won't get a Battle Skill." Xiao Yuting continued.

"So, Xiao Yan, how about we make a deal? I can help you raise your strength as quickly as possible, but I need you to do some things for me." Xiao Yuting looked at Xiao Yan, a wicked smile curling across her lips.

Battle Skills

"What deal?" Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Yuting and found that she had become much more mature overnight.

"I can provide you with the medicinal ingredients to refine pills, but you must promise that if one day you break through to Battle Immortal, you will help my sister. There's also an additional condition: I want you to help the Xiao Clan destroy the Xue Clan and the Qin Clan." Xiao Yuting said to Xiao Yan.

"Why don't you do it yourself?" Although Xiao Yuting's terms were tempting, Xiao Yan did not agree. One should not accept rewards without merit; Xiao Yan did not want to mortgage his future in exchange for present gains.

"I know my own talent. On the World-Creation Continent, without some extraordinary opportunity, I can never break through to Battle Immortal. If one wants to go farther on the World-Creation Continent, one must have a solid foundation. Though I have my sister's guidance, my foundation is still unstable because I took pills. That is also why the Xiao Clan has found it difficult to produce a Battle Immortal. My sister was originally our greatest hope, but..." Xiao Yuting said helplessly.

"I still refuse. Although I need medicinal ingredients, I won't use my own potential as capital. Maybe I'll die someday, and then all your efforts will go down the drain. If one day I have the strength, I'll help you, but leave vengeance to your sister. I think she would want to take revenge herself as well." Xiao Yan answered.

"Hmph, you stingy miser. Fine, I won't hold it against you." Xiao Yuting said with a smile.

"I received word that there will be an auction in a city near Ten-Thousand-Zhang Mountain three days from now. There will be a Ruler Technique there, apparently an Emperor-Tier Intermediate Battle Skill. By then, the clan leaders and elders of all three clans will likely attend. In Spirit Prefecture, every Emperor-Tier Battle Skill causes no small stir. This is your chance. If your financial resources can match those of the three great clans, you can give it a try. But I don't think there's much hope." In the end, Xiao Yuting still told Xiao Yan the news she had received. At the same time, she felt sorry for him. The three clans were all powerful, and Xiao Yan had no chance at all of competing with them.

Xiao Yan had been delighted at first when he heard there was a Battle Skill, but as she continued, his mood gradually dimmed. He did not possess the wealth to compare with the three great clans.

But was he supposed to give up just like that? Xiao Yan felt unwilling. He had finally found an opportunity to increase his strength—was he really going to abandon it like this? But if he did not give up, what could he change with his current strength? For a time, Xiao Yan fell into a struggle. What should he do? Go or not go?

When the snipe and clam fought, the fisherman profited. Those words rose in Xiao Yan's mind, but he immediately dismissed them. His luck could not always be this good.

"I've already told you the news. If it were an ordinary matter, I could help you a little, but in this matter, my heart is willing while my strength falls short. Here is the map. If you want to go, set out as soon as possible." Xiao Yuting placed a map before Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan's face was filled with mixed emotions. In the end, he could only return to his room alone and sigh. He had not expected that after coming here, he could not even get his hands on a single Battle Skill.

Xiao Jian looked at the thoroughly dejected Xiao Yan. After pressing him repeatedly, Xiao Yan had no choice but to tell him. Xiao Jian also found it regrettable, and could only offer a few words about spiritual treasures choosing their masters to comfort Xiao Yan.