Qingshan Town

Xiao Yan did not dwell on it any longer and agreed.

Although he had gained nothing yet and had already made a promise for the future, if he could truly cultivate Dou Qi again someday, then he could accept everything.

"It's getting late. If you have nothing else to do, get back early."

"Complaining about fate and blaming others doesn't suit a man."

Nalan Chenfeng rose to his feet and smiled faintly.

He might have been speaking without knowing Xiao Yan's pain, but Xiao Yan's howling and wailing here in the middle of the night would accomplish nothing.

Yao Chen would not change his plans because of Xiao Yan's momentary anger.

That old man was not someone with a weak will.

And for Xiao Yan, was this not also a trial upon his heart?

"Mm."

Xiao Yan stood up as well and nodded.

He now somewhat understood why Brother Chenfeng had targeted him at every turn in the past. If he had been more low-key back then, less smug and arrogant, less contemptuous of everyone around him, he would not have ended up so despised in the Xiao Clan now.

"I'm leaving."

Without saying anything more, Nalan Chenfeng turned and prepared to depart.

"Wait, Brother Chenfeng. My current situation... the marriage agreement with your Nalan Clan..."

Xiao Yan stopped Nalan Chenfeng, unease filling his heart.

The marriage agreement between the Xiao Clan and the Nalan Clan had become known to everyone after the man before him arrived years ago. Yet given his current circumstances, he most likely was no longer worthy of the Nalan Clan's young lady.

The man before him was her elder brother, and he had not looked down on Xiao Yan for his weak strength. Xiao Yan was deeply grateful for that, but this was something he would have to face eventually.

"The marriage agreement was arranged by the elders of both families. There's no need to think about it for now. We'll talk about it later..."

Nalan Chenfeng pondered for a moment before replying.

By his calculations, Xiao Yan would likely remain at the Third Stage of Dou Qi for more than another two years. When he turned fifteen, Nalan Chenfeng's younger sister would use the Misty Cloud Sect's influence to annul the engagement with the Xiao Clan.

There was no need for either of them to think too much about it right now.

As soon as he finished speaking, Nalan Chenfeng tapped the ground lightly with his toes. After several flashes, he vanished from Xiao Yan's sight.

"Will there really be a later?"

Three days later.

Nalan Chenfeng emerged from the outskirts of the Magical Beast Mountain Range in the Jia Ma Empire and arrived at a small town called Qingshan Town.

Qingshan Town, also known as Magical Beast Town, lay along the outer regions of the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

Because of the town's unique location, mercenaries, adventurers, and merchants from all directions gathered here year-round.

The streets were bustling with voices, with hawkers calling out one after another. Even the air was thick with the fishy scent of magical beast hides and flesh.

"There are only twelve days left before I return to the academy. Finding that treasure cave in the Magical Beast Mountain Range in such a short time won't be easy."

At the town entrance, Nalan Chenfeng halted, his black eyes flickering.

In the original world, the treasure cave discovered by Xiao Yi Xian contained a Xuan Tier flying Dou technique, the Purple Cloud Wings. If he could cultivate it, he would break free from the earth's restraints and soar through the skies.

Moreover, this flying Dou technique would remain immensely useful even after reaching the Dou Wang level, when one could form wings from Dou Qi. The two sets of wings could be stacked to increase one's speed.

As for whether taking it would affect Xiao Yan's cultivation progress, that was not within his consideration.

Xiao Yan had not earned the title of Lucky Brother for nothing. Even without the opportunities of the Jia Ma Empire, under Yao Chen's guidance and assistance, Xiao Yan's strength could still grow rapidly.

Besides, treasures belonged to whoever found them first and had the strength to claim them. If he found it first, it had nothing to do with Xiao Yan.

Yet after spending an entire day searching the Magical Beast Mountain Range, he had found no clues at all.

Compared to the original world, he had arrived several years early. Even Xiao Yi Xian probably did not yet know the location of that cave.

"That cave should be near Myriad Medicine Hall's herb-gathering route through the Magical Beast Mountain Range. I'll see whether there's an opportunity..."

The thought flashed through his mind as Nalan Chenfeng asked a bearded mercenary by the roadside.

"Brother, may I ask how to get to Myriad Medicine Hall?"

The bearded mercenary froze for a moment and looked Nalan Chenfeng over.

Unlike his conspicuous attire in the past, Nalan Chenfeng wore an ordinary gray robe today. His face was concealed beneath a hood, giving him a somewhat mysterious appearance.

"Myriad Medicine Hall? Keep going along Central Street. Turn left at the end, and you'll see it."

The mercenary's eyes flickered as he answered.

"Thank you."

Nalan Chenfeng thanked him, then quickly headed toward Myriad Medicine Hall.

Since he had returned to the Jia Ma Empire, he naturally needed to gain something from the trip.

Even if he could not obtain the flying Dou technique he wanted, he still had to get acquainted with Xiao Yi Xian.

She would be a free future fighter, and a suitable candidate for a wife. The only troublesome matter was her Woeful Poison Body.

However, once he became a Dou Saint—or invited one—and found a Ninth-Grade Alchemist, creating a method to resolve Xiao Yi Xian's Woeful Poison Body would not be difficult.

Yao Chen's Poison Pill Method was not the only way to solve the problem. He did not suffer from that sort of narrow-minded misconception.

After all, Skyfire Venerable, who created a sealing method for the Woeful Poison Body, was merely an ordinary Five-Star Dou Zun. That alone was enough to show that the Woeful Poison Body was not so difficult to resolve.

In the original world, Xiao Yi Xian's poison body had seemed troublesome only because of the limits of their strength and perspective.

But he was already a Dou Ling. Before Xiao Yi Xian's poison body completely lost control, he had plenty of time to cultivate and grow stronger. He could rely entirely on himself.

Besides, the Netherworld Poison Flame and the Poison Pill Method could both serve as backup options, so there was no need to worry excessively.

Myriad Medicine Hall.

Not only was it the largest medicinal herb shop in Qingshan Town, it was also a place that healed the sick and saved the dying. Many physicians worked there.

Among the mercenaries who risked their lives in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, Myriad Medicine Hall held enormous importance and could be considered sacred ground.

People streamed along the street. Nalan Chenfeng was utterly inconspicuous within the crowd, and even his steps were exceptionally light, as though he were merely an ordinary passerby.

"Xiao Yi Xian is probably still an apprentice at this point..."

Nalan Chenfeng swept his gaze around, quietly thinking to himself.

At this point in the timeline, Xiao Yi Xian should have discovered her own condition and joined Myriad Medicine Hall.

She was one or two years older than Xiao Yan, which meant she was the same age as Nalan Chenfeng, or perhaps even slightly older.

Without further thought, Nalan Chenfeng stepped into Myriad Medicine Hall. Several attendants at the entrance were busy receiving injured mercenaries coming and going for medicine.

Through the open doors, Nalan Chenfeng could see many busy figures in the main hall. Among them, one slender figure was especially eye-catching.

She was a girl in a plain white dress, around thirteen or fourteen years old. Though she was not yet a peerless beauty, she was undoubtedly a rare beauty in the making.

Her delicate, tranquil face carried a fresh and ethereal air. That distinct charm instantly added greatly to her allure.

Nalan Chenfeng's gaze traveled over the girl before finally settling on her slender willow waist, lightly bound by a green silk ribbon.