Myriad Medicine Pavilion, Xiao Yi Xian (Please spare a few free votes)

Chapter 22: Myriad Medicine Pavilion, Xiao Yi Xian

A single strike, a fatal blow!

Driven into a frenzy by their leader's sudden death, the remaining seven Azure Wind Wolves bristled, every strand of their gray-green fur standing on end. Empowered by wind Dou Qi, they lunged from all directions, their sharp fangs gleaming coldly.

Xiao Yuan's footwork remained unhurried. His figure flickered like a silver butterfly in the wind as he wielded Thunderflash with growing proficiency. Again and again, the wolves' claws caught nothing but a faint afterimage. He did not meet their encirclement head-on, instead weaving around them while calmly searching for openings.

Whenever a wolf left an opening, his lightning-wreathed fingers stabbed out like a thunderbolt.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Dull impacts rang through the woods in succession, each followed by an Azure Wind Wolf crashing heavily to the ground.

The rich, pure Dou Qi of a Nine-Star Dou Zhe, coupled with the power of a Black Tier Dou Technique, was far beyond what these first-rank magical beasts could withstand. At best, they were comparable to Seven-Star Dou Zhe.

In barely a dozen breaths, wolf corpses lay scattered across the ground. The warm stench of blood mingled with the scent of soil and vegetation, spreading through the surroundings.

Xiao Yuan withdrew his Dou Technique, the lightning fading from his fingertips as he panted lightly.

Although he had relied mainly on evasion throughout the fight, repeatedly using Thunderflash still consumed considerable energy. Rather than resting immediately, he drew the short blade at his waist.

With practiced movements, he split open an Azure Wind Wolf's skull, extracted a first-rank wind attribute magic core the size of a pigeon's egg, shimmering pale green, and put it into his Storage Ring.

He then repeated the process on the next Azure Wind Wolf. The eight wolves yielded four magic cores—a fifty-percent rate was already exceptionally high.

His fingertips rubbed a cool, smooth magic core. With a gentle circulation of the Ten Thousand Transformations Source-Dividing Art, he could clearly sense the abundant Dou Qi energy contained within.

"Actual combat really is completely different from cultivation alone."

During that brief exchange, he had gained a deeper understanding of Dou Qi circulation and the timing of his Dou Techniques than he would have from several days of secluded training. Moreover, the Nine-Star Dou Zhe barrier in his dantian, which had stalled him for so long, once again gave a faint but distinct tremor.

He estimated that it would not be long before he reached the One-Star Dou Shi realm.

He crushed two magic cores, and pure energy instantly surged through every limb and bone, replenishing all the Dou Qi he had just expended. After carefully storing the remaining two cores in his Storage Ring, he turned his gaze toward the deep, shadowy forest again.

Without lingering, he followed the traces of magical beasts farther into the outer mountain forests, hunting low-rank beasts along the way, honing his combat skills, and accumulating energy.

Time slipped quietly by.

The setting sun sank completely behind the distant mountains, and night slowly shrouded the entire Magical Beast Mountain Range.

Heavy darkness blanketed the sea of trees, abruptly dimming the forest. The evening breeze swept through the treetops with a soft, scattered rustling. Occasional beast roars drifted from afar, lending the quiet mountain woods a touch of savage danger.

Magical beasts were more active at night, and fiercer as well. Ordinary mercenaries had long since found places to camp and rest, not daring to wander recklessly.

But Xiao Yuan felt no fear at all.

Rather than hindering his movements, the darkness sharpened his senses. Thunderfire Dou Qi quietly curled around him, dispelling the forest's nighttime chill while faintly intimidating low-rank magical beasts. With light steps, he threaded through the towering ancient trees, familiarizing himself with the nighttime terrain while searching for suitable prey and steadily refining his combat rhythm.

As he reached an open stretch of mountainside, faint voices drifted to his ears on the evening breeze.

Xiao Yuan stopped, his eyes narrowing slightly. Instinctively, he suppressed every trace of his aura and concealed himself amid the dense shadows of the trees.

Ordinary people rarely ventured deep into the outer reaches of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, and human voices were even rarer at night.

He focused and listened closely, carefully tracing the source.

In an herb field in a valley not far ahead, lamplight flickered as several figures bustled about. All wore pale blue cloth tunics with delicate herb patterns embroidered on their cuffs.

They wore the Myriad Medicine Pavilion's attire.

Judging by their setup, they were probably a Herb-Gathering Team dispatched by the Myriad Medicine Pavilion, taking advantage of a particular hour at night to harvest rare herbs that only released their medicinal properties after dark.

There were roughly seven or eight people in the group. Their leader was a stern-faced, middle-aged mercenary whose cultivation seemed to be around the peak of the Dou Zhe realm. The others were ordinary laborers and apprentices.

Their cultivation was meager, and each attended to a separate task. Some cleared weeds, while others carefully picked medicinal herbs. Their hushed conversation carried clearly through the air.

Xiao Yuan had no intention of getting involved with outsiders. He only planned to circle around them and continue his training and hunting.

Yet just as he was about to turn away, the corner of his eye caught sight of a steep cliff some hundred zhang to his left.

Vines grew thickly over the cliff, their dark tangles concealing a patch of shadow that was difficult to see into.

At that moment, a slender, petite figure was crouched within that vine-veiled shadow.

The girl wore a simple, pale white dress. Her slight, delicate figure resembled a fragile orchid in the woods. She bent forward a little and stood on tiptoe, her movements exceedingly light.

Her clear, lively eyes watched the Herb-Gathering Team in the valley below with caution. Her expression was wary and timid, and she moved stealthily, as though terrified of being discovered.

The faint nighttime light fell on her delicate, lovely profile. Her skin was fair, her features gentle, and she carried a pure, lively grace untouched by worldly dust.

Rather than staying with the main group below, she had hidden alone in a secluded corner of the cliff, as though she had secretly slipped away to search for medicinal herbs by herself.

Xiao Yuan's gaze shifted slightly, and he recognized her at once.

Xiao Yi Xian.

Realization dawned on him. He had never expected to encounter this future prodigy of poison, whose might would one day shake the continent, so early in his first training excursion into the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

At present, she was still innocent and inexperienced, gentle and pure—nothing more than an unremarkable herb-gathering girl from the Myriad Medicine Pavilion. She had yet to endure the hardships and trials awaiting her, and her eyes were clear, without the slightest shadow.

The evening breeze brushed the cliff, stirring the wisps of hair at her temples. The girl peeked out slightly and confirmed that the people below were too occupied to pay attention to this spot. Only then did she cautiously extend her slender, fair fingers toward a purple spirit herb glowing faintly in a crack in the rock face.

Secretive and quiet, with a hint of cautious slyness.

After picking the herb, the girl looked around. Seeing that no one had noticed her, she slowly made her way toward the cliff's edge, keeping to the shadows of the vines.

Her movements were light and practiced, as though she had done this countless times before.

Upon reaching the corner of the cliff, the girl looked down. In the middle of the pitch-black rock face below lay a small, concealed ledge, hidden beneath layer upon layer of trailing green vines. It was extremely secluded, impossible for an ordinary person to notice.

"Interesting... When did you discover this place?"

In the stillness of the night, a voice tinged with amusement and excitement sounded beside Xiao Yi Xian's ear.

That voice, so close to her ear, was like a night breeze suddenly sweeping past it. Xiao Yi Xian's entire body went rigid with fright!