Xiao Yan Strikes Up a Conversation, a Guide Comes Online

The next day at noon, Meng Chen slowly woke up. The other Ancient Emperor Techniques lay scattered around him, while the Purple Sun Incinerating World Heavenly Technique was spread open. The writing on it had somehow completely vanished, leaving only a blank page.

"I never expected the Purple Sun Emperor to have hidden such a trick. Good thing I cultivate battle qi. If it had been spiritual energy, I might not have been able to trigger the inheritance."

Meng Chen held his head, shook it, and muttered softly.

No wonder Qing Yanjing had said Ancient Emperor Techniques were difficult to cultivate in the Great Thousand World. The contents of this scroll were not suited to the Great Thousand World's environment, and what it cultivated was not the Great Thousand World's spiritual energy.

Moreover, the prerequisite for an Ancient Emperor Technique was that one had to be a battle qi cultivator, or possess something related to battle qi, in order to trigger an Ancient Emperor inheritance.

And within the Purple Sun Emperor's inheritance, only cultivation methods related to battle qi had been left behind. As for the methods of further cultivation, the inheritor would need to explore and innovate on their own.

Those who learned from me would live; those who imitated me would die.

Only by discarding the old and creating the new could one surpass the Purple Sun Emperor, the creator of this technique.

"Wait, my battle qi cultivation?!"

Suddenly, Meng Chen noticed something off about the battle qi within him and hurriedly turned his awareness inward to inspect his battle qi vortex.

The originally golden vortex had unexpectedly turned golden-purple under the influence of the Purple Sun Incinerating World Heavenly Technique. Purple shimmered within the gold, making it incomparably magnificent.

As the vortex spun, wisps of purple flame-light overflowed from the golden, nebula-like cloud of energy surrounding it, making it resemble a golden-purple sun, dazzling beyond compare.

Its size had also more than doubled, and the battle qi within the vortex had grown denser, two or three times what it had been before.

"Three-Star Fighter!"

Meng Chen was overjoyed. He had merely unconsciously circulated the Purple Sun Incinerating World Heavenly Technique under the inheritance's influence and cultivated for a day and night, yet he had already broken through to become a Three-Star Fighter!

The Divine King Physique paired with an Ancient Emperor Technique was truly terrifyingly effective!

"That felt amazing!"

Meng Chen stretched, a sharp gleam flashing through his eyes.

At this rate, let alone ten years, breaking through to Battle Emperor in six or seven years would not be a dream!

He rose and moved his body. His bones crackled like firecrackers as he felt strength surging through every limb and bone, filling both body and mind with delight.

After organizing the Ancient Emperor Techniques, he walked to Qing Yanjing's bedroom door and called warmly, "Aunt Qing, I'm heading out."

"Mm. Be careful in everything."

A clear, cool voice like a mountain spring came from within the bedroom.

Meng Chen answered and left the small courtyard.

Wutan City was as bustling as ever. After leaving the courtyard and turning several corners, Meng Chen entered a marketplace.

Before even entering, Meng Chen looked at the endless stream of people and suddenly felt as though he had stumbled into a rural market fair back in Northeast China. It was deafeningly lively, and the sea of bobbing heads nearly made his eyes blur.

"Friend, why are you standing at the entrance instead of going in?"

A questioning voice suddenly sounded beside Meng Chen's ear. He turned toward it and saw a young man and woman standing at the marketplace entrance as well.

The young man wore black and looked about Meng Chen's age. He was handsome, though there was still a trace of boyishness about him.

The young woman beside him was even more remarkable. Dressed in a plain long gown, she already possessed breathtaking beauty despite her young age, exuding the elegant temperament of an orchid blooming in a secluded valley.

The young man and woman were none other than Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er.

After yesterday's coming-of-age ceremony, the taut string within Xiao Yan had finally loosened. He had therefore planned to take Xiao Xun'er out for a stroll.

Unexpectedly, the moment he arrived at the marketplace, he encountered the mysterious youth who had worn clothes seemingly from Xiao Yan's past life several days ago.

Seeing Meng Chen lingering at the entrance without entering, Xiao Yan could not help stepping forward to greet him.

Meng Chen looked at the young man who had taken the initiative to strike up a conversation, as well as the stunning girl beside him, and he already had a guess in his heart.

"I just arrived in Wutan City and am not very familiar with this place. What is this?" Meng Chen pointed at the crowded marketplace and asked blandly.

Hearing this, Xiao Yan immediately introduced it enthusiastically. "You just arrived in Wutan City, friend? Then you asked the right person. This is a marketplace managed by my Xiao Clan. If you do not mind, how about I be your guide?"

"I nearly forgot to introduce myself. My name is Xiao Yan, and this is Xiao Xun'er. May I ask your name, friend?"

Xiao Xun'er gave Meng Chen a slight nod, a trace of confusion appearing in her eyes as she wondered secretly.

Why was Brother Xiao Yan being so enthusiastic toward this young man?

Xiao Xun'er's gaze swept across Meng Chen's face. She found him somewhat familiar, as though she had seen him somewhere before.

"My name is Meng Chen. Then I'll have to trouble you, Brother Xiao Yan."

Meng Chen cupped his hands toward Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan smiled, then turned and called Xiao Xun'er to enter the marketplace with them.

"Brother Meng, there are many people in the marketplace, from all walks of life. But with my Xiao Clan maintaining order here, those people would not dare cause trouble..."

Within the marketplace, Xiao Yan walked side by side with Xiao Xun'er, occasionally turning back to introduce the Xiao Household Marketplace to Meng Chen.

Whenever members of the Xiao Clan guard patrol passed by, Xiao Yan would greet them as well.

The three strolled along at an unhurried pace. Meng Chen occasionally stopped before street stalls, looking at the herbs, bloodstained magic cores, and Magic Beast pelts, curiosity toward these new things flashing in his eyes.

"Brother Meng, is this your first time seeing magic cores?" Xiao Yan asked with a smile.

Meng Chen nodded. "Mm. I had only heard elders mention them before. This is my first time actually seeing them."

"I see." Xiao Yan did not ask further.

After making a full circuit of the marketplace, Meng Chen still had not found what he wanted, so he spoke up to ask Xiao Yan.

"Brother Xiao, are there no Storage Rings for sale here?"

"Storage Rings? Rare things like that would not appear on street stalls. What, Brother Meng, you want to buy a Storage Ring? Those things are not cheap. Even the lowest-grade ones cost seventy or eighty thousand gold coins."

Xiao Yan was rather surprised to hear that. At the same time, he discreetly glanced at Meng Chen's fingers, where there were no ring marks.

Seventy or eighty thousand gold coins.

Meng Chen silently repeated the figure to himself. He had less than three hundred gold coins left on him, not even enough for a fraction of a Storage Ring's price.

It seemed he could only sell some knowledge.

The Purple Sun Emperor's inheritance contained far more than cultivation techniques; it also held numerous battle skills. The lowest were Profound Tier, High Grade, while the highest were even Emperor Tier.

Meng Chen said, "Mm, thank you for clearing that up, Brother Xiao. If you do not mind, would you like to have a simple meal together?"

"That sounds great. I'm getting a little hungry myself. I know a small restaurant with good food, low prices, and generous portions."

Xiao Yan nodded with a smile and led the way to a small restaurant with an unassuming storefront.

"Oh, Young Master Xiao Yan and Miss Xun'er are here! Come, take a seat!"

When the chef-owner saw Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er, he hurriedly greeted them.

Xiao Xun'er nodded lightly. Xiao Yan gave a thumbs-up, pointed at Meng Chen behind him, and spoke loudly.

"Old Zhao, I brought you a new customer. Don't hold back now—bring out all those ingredients you have hidden away!"

"Alright! Since Young Master Xiao Yan has spoken, how could I, Old Zhao, possibly be stingy? Watch me show you something impressive today. I guarantee you'll eat until you're stuffed."

Old Zhao patted his chest and told Xiao Yan not to worry. His cooking was famous throughout the marketplace; no one failed to enjoy it.

Meng Chen and the others sat at a small table. Xiao Yan rinsed the bowls and chopsticks with hot water before dividing them among everyone.

Before long, Old Zhao brought over the first dish.

"Here, stir-fried meat with green peppers. These green peppers are spiral peppers from the Magic Beast Mountains—spicy and full of kick. The meat is pork belly from a first-tier Rock Boar, rich but not greasy..."

"Brother Meng, hurry and try it. I guarantee you won't be disappointed."

Xiao Yan pushed the dish toward Meng Chen, then asked Old Zhao to bring over a bucket of rice.

Meng Chen did not immediately pick up his chopsticks. Smelling the aroma of the stir-fried meat with green peppers, he said to Xiao Xun'er beside him, "Miss Xun'er, please eat first."

The moment Xiao Yan heard that, he suddenly realized that he had spent the entire trip acting as Meng Chen's guide and had forgotten to look after Xiao Xun'er.

A trace of apology appeared on his face. He quickly picked up a piece of food for Xiao Xun'er.

"Sorry, Xun'er. I was too focused on Brother Meng. Here, try it and see whether Old Zhao's cooking has improved."

Xiao Xun'er shot Xiao Yan a resentful look. This big idiot only remembered her now. What a waste of time it had been coming out with him...