Consolidating His Strength, Then Returning to Qing Shan Town

Xiao Yan reluctantly withdrew his gaze and began searching through the forest.

Before long, he found the Profound Heavy Ruler embedded in the soil.

Those low-level magical beasts were not very intelligent and did not understand the value of the Profound Heavy Ruler.

The Amethyst Winged Lion King had been blasted apart by Yun Yun's "Wind's Extreme: Setting Sun Glory," its flesh scattered throughout the forest.

These chunks of flesh contained immense energy. Low-level magical beasts would gain enormous benefits after eating them.

Before long, there would likely be a new batch of fourth- and fifth-order magical beasts here.

Xiao Yan pulled out the Profound Heavy Ruler, wiped away the bloodstains, and casually slung it across his back.

Now that his physical body had reached the fourth tier and his strength had grown even greater, the Profound Heavy Ruler felt as light as an ordinary wooden stick in his hands.

Roar~

A beastly roar rang out, followed by earth-shaking tremors. A gigantic ape over three meters tall charged toward him on all fours, smashing trees and vines to pieces along the way.

The giant ape was covered in knotted muscles, its fur dark gold. Its arms were as thick as buckets. It was a third-order magical beast—a Vajra Ape.

As it ran, the Vajra Ape grabbed rocks from the ground and hurled them at Xiao Yan.

"Just what I wanted!"

Xiao Yan laughed loudly, dodging the stones shooting toward him as he charged straight at the Vajra Ape instead of retreating.

After dual cultivating with Yun Yun, his physical body had advanced to the fourth tier. Xiao Yan had been worrying about where to unleash the explosive power within him, and the Vajra Ape had appeared at just the right time.

Both sides were incredibly fast. They crossed a distance of over a hundred meters and closed in on each other in less than two or three seconds.

The Vajra Ape's thick arm shot forward in a punch. The violent wind pressure blasted the fallen leaves on the ground backward like hidden weapons.

Xiao Yan showed no fear and threw out his right fist.

One large fist and one small fist collided.

Roar~

The Vajra Ape let out an earth-shattering scream.

A powerful force surged from Xiao Yan's fist. Its thick fist, as large as a millstone, was smashed into pulp.

With a cracking sound, the Vajra Ape's arm instantly shattered and became useless.

Xiao Yan pressed his advantage without mercy, raining punch after punch onto the Vajra Ape's chest.

Like Ip Man.

The Vajra Ape's chest, as hard as stone, was pounded into pulp by Xiao Yan's small fists.

The Vajra Ape's enormous body staggered backward again and again. In the end, it could no longer endure and crashed to the ground like an earthquake.

He finished punching and withdrew his fists.

Joy appeared on Xiao Yan's face.

"Awesome!"

He let out a wild roar.

Compared to Dou Qi attacks, he preferred the feeling of fists striking flesh.

Xiao Yan crouched down and smashed the Vajra Ape's massive head with a single punch.

Unfortunately, there was no magic core inside.

For the next month, Xiao Yan did not leave the depths of the Magic Beast Mountain Range, intending to consolidate his rapidly increased strength.

Every day, he searched the mountains for lone magical beasts. He could kill magical beasts below the third order using only the power of his physical body.

Against fourth-order magical beasts, he could usually win after a fierce battle by relying on his physical body and Dou Qi.

As for fifth-order magical beasts, Xiao Yan could only flee. If he truly could not escape, he would hide in the Portable Space.

A month passed, and he had fully adapted to the power of his fourth-tier physical body.

His Eight-Star Dou Master Dou Qi cultivation had also been consolidated.

At the same time, Xiao Yan consumed a bottle of Companion Purple Crystal Source and absorbed the Purple Flame within. The Flame Mantra underwent its initial evolution and reached the mid-level Yellow Tier.

Given the Flame Mantra's unique properties, it was actually comparable to ordinary high-level Yellow Tier cultivation methods.

The increase in strength left Xiao Yan feeling clear-minded, and his Eight-Star Dou Master cultivation faintly showed signs of breaking through to the ninth star.

However, Xiao Yan suppressed it and did not rush things.

Now, he possessed a fourth-tier physical body, the Portable Space, and the Heaven Tier Dou Technique of Medicine Elder possessing him. Even against a low-star Dou Emperor, he had the power to fight.

Besides cultivating, Xiao Yan spent several hours every day accompanying Little Fairy to deepen their relationship.

Medicine Elder liked Little Fairy very much and accepted her as his disciple.

Although Little Fairy had no chance of becoming an Alchemy Master, Medicine Elder still taught her much knowledge about medicinal herbs.

Medicine Elder also taught Little Fairy three Dou Techniques.

Thunder Thread Finger: mid-level Mystic Tier. Condense extremely fine threads of lightning at the fingertips and shoot them out to electrocute targets.

Purple Thunder Force: mid-level Mystic Tier. During close combat, Dou Qi became infused with lightning, causing a brief period of stiffness when it struck an enemy.

Thundering Step: a low-level Mystic Tier movement technique. Wrap lightning around the legs and use its recoil force to burst forth with extreme speed for a short time.

Whenever he had time, Xiao Yan acted as Little Fairy's sparring partner, helping her familiarize herself with the three Dou Techniques.

With the defenses of Xiao Yan's fourth-tier physical body, he could withstand Little Fairy's attacks head-on even without using Dou Qi.

As the two practiced, they ended up practicing on the bed.

Xiao Yan's Vajra Saint Body had improved noticeably only during his first dual cultivation. Further dual cultivation had little effect.

However, after dual cultivating with Little Fairy many times, Xiao Yan had also gained some experience.

Although he could not gain any benefits himself.

During dual cultivation, however, the surrounding natural energy would be drawn toward them.

Combined with the fact that the two became one during dual cultivation, Xiao Yan's soul perception could enter Little Fairy's Qi vortex.

Xiao Yan used his powerful soul force to help Little Fairy cultivate.

Thus, in just a month, Little Fairy actually relied on dual cultivation with Xiao Yan to break through several times in succession and reach the level of a Five-Star Dou Practitioner.

After staying for a month and more or less consolidating his strength, Xiao Yan planned to head to the Tagor Desert to search for a Heavenly Flame.

Of course, Qing Lin was there as well. Xiao Yan had no intention of letting her special constitution slip away.

As for Queen Medusa, Xiao Yan naturally intended to find a chance to get acquainted with her and win her over.

When Little Fairy learned that Xiao Yan planned to go to the Tagor Desert, she wanted to return to Qing Shan Town first to retrieve some of her belongings.

The items were not valuable, but some were keepsakes left behind by her parents and held sentimental value.

Naturally, Xiao Yan could not rest easy letting Little Fairy return alone, so he accompanied her.

In just a day and a half, Xiao Yan and Little Fairy returned from the depths of the Magic Beast Mountain Range to Qing Shan Town.

Qing Shan Town had not changed much.

Since the two had not concealed their appearances, some mercenaries recognized Little Fairy.

Some greeted her warmly, while others had flickering gazes. A few mercenaries quietly left, heading toward the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's base.

Xiao Yan paid this no mind. With his current strength, he could destroy the insignificant Wolf Head Mercenary Group with a wave of his hand.

At the Ten Thousand Medicine Hall, Mr. Yao still tried to force Little Fairy to stay. But after Xiao Yan released the aura of an Eight-Star Dou Master, he meekly gave up.

Little Fairy successfully retrieved her parents' keepsakes. Qing Shan Town no longer had anything worth her lingering over.

At the exit of Qing Shan Town, Mu She led more than a hundred people to block Xiao Yan and Little Fairy's path.

"Little Fairy, you stole the treasure found by my Wolf Head Mercenary Group in the Magic Beast Mountain Range and injured more than ten of our members. You still dared to show yourself? Today, don't even think about leaving."

The moment they met, Mu Li, standing beside Mu She, loudly twisted the truth.

"This is a personal grudge between the Wolf Head Mercenary Group and Little Fairy. Uninvolved parties, leave at once."

Third Commander He Meng said in a deep, muffled voice.

Some mercenaries who had once received Little Fairy's help originally wanted to assist her, but upon seeing this, they could only choose to leave.

Over the past few months, members of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group had spread word throughout Qing Shan Town that Little Fairy and Xiao Yan had stolen their treasure, killed people, and fled.

In the distance, Mr. Yao from the Ten Thousand Medicine Hall watched the Wolf Head Mercenary Group and sneered inwardly. Qing Shan Town's number one mercenary group was probably about to kick an iron plate.

"Little Fairy, hand over the treasure from the cave, and I can ask my father to spare your life. Wouldn't following me be better than following this brat?"

Mu Li looked at Little Fairy. After not seeing her for several months, she had become even more beautiful and alluring. Desire appeared in his eyes as he spoke.

"You have chosen the path of death."

Seeing that Mu Li actually dared to covet Little Fairy, Xiao Yan said coldly.