Black Rock City

In the valley, Xiao Fan leaped from a massive boulder. Gravity pulled him downward, but just before he reached the ground, the Purple Cloud Wings on his back snapped open, instantly arresting his fall. He landed lightly, and the wings vanished again, becoming a tattoo on his back.

Xiao Fan nodded in satisfaction. He was now much more familiar with deploying and retracting the Purple Cloud Wings. In future battles, he was confident he could slip around like a loach, leaving his enemies unable to pin him down.

Combined with his elusive spear techniques, he could practically toy with his enemies in the palm of his hand.

As he walked toward the thatched cottage, Xiao Fan caught the aroma of cooking from afar.

Dressed in a long white gown, Xiao Yi Xian waited quietly beside the table in front of the cottage, which was already laden with sumptuous dishes. She looked like a wife waiting for her husband to come home for dinner.

Warmth filled Xiao Fan's heart. Then he noticed a trace of black medicinal powder at the corner of her mouth.

He slowly approached Xiao Yi Xian and reached out to wipe the poison from her lips.

"I've told you already. Even if you rely on it to cultivate, you still need to restrain yourself..."

Seeing the black powder on Xiao Fan's finger, Xiao Yi Xian inexplicably took it gently into her mouth.

Her action cut Xiao Fan's words short. He had never expected her to do something so intimate.

Xiao Yi Xian also realized what she had done and hurriedly lowered her head, hiding her face from him. Her earlobes, however, were so red they seemed ready to drip blood, betraying her embarrassment.

Xiao Fan could almost still feel that soft touch against his fingertip, along with the slippery tenderness of that fleeting contact.

He raised his other hand and affectionately rubbed Xiao Yi Xian's head, speaking gently to her.

"Let's eat first."

Because of what had just happened, they ate dinner especially quickly that evening.

Beneath the setting sun, Xiao Fan sat on the steps in front of the cottage. Watching Xiao Yi Xian bustle about, he spoke softly.

"I... have to leave."

Xiao Yi Xian's hands abruptly stopped as she tidied up. Then she pretended nothing had happened and asked.

"Where are you planning to go next?"

Xiao Fan glanced at the sunset's final glow, then turned toward her.

"The Tagor Desert! I'm going there to continue training. What about you?"

At his answer, the light in Xiao Yi Xian's eyes dimmed. Then she replied.

"I'll probably leave the Jia Ma Empire. I'll go to the Chu Yun Empire to cultivate."

Having anticipated her answer, Xiao Fan was not surprised. He continued, "Then we'll have to part tomorrow."

"Yes."

Xiao Yi Xian walked quietly over and sat on the step beside him, watching the last light of sunset with him.

Xiao Fan took a Storage Ring from his robes and handed it to her.

"I prepared a few things for you in here. It'll also make carrying things easier when you're traveling."

Xiao Yi Xian accepted his Storage Ring with a faint smile. With a thought, she brought a jade bottle into her hand and asked.

"What's this?"

Xiao Fan scratched his head and said.

"These are pills I refined myself. They can quickly restore Dou Qi. They'll be very useful to you."

Xiao Yi Xian poured out several smooth, round pills, which seemed to give off a faint halo.

"So these are medicinal pills? They really are beyond anything I can make by blending medicinal liquids together."

Xiao Yi Xian gazed at the pills with shining eyes, yet her voice carried disappointment.

Her lack of talent for alchemy was perhaps her greatest regret. She understood medicinal principles thoroughly, yet she could not refine true medicinal pills.

Looking at her, Xiao Fan smiled and said.

"Don't dismiss yourself like that. Who knows? You might blaze a new trail on the path of a poison master."

Xiao Yi Xian smiled faintly without answering. She took a bottle from her robes and handed it to him.

"This is the strongest substance I can currently make using the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture. If you encounter a powerful enemy, you can use it to escape. This bottle is the antidote. The poison doesn't distinguish between friend and foe, so don't mix them up."

Xiao Fan accepted the bottles from her and declared loudly.

"Do I look like someone who'd flee in a panic? They're the ones who should run for their lives when they meet me!"

Then, seemingly casually, Xiao Fan asked.

"If I come looking for you someday, would you be willing to... join me?"

"Join you?"

Xiao Yi Xian asked in confusion.

Xiao Fan said, "What if a lot of people hate me in the future? Would you still be willing to follow me?"

Hearing his words, Xiao Yi Xian smiled.

"If anyone's going to be hated, it should be someone with a Woeful Poison Body like me. With your incredible talent, how could you ever end up like that?"

Xiao Fan smiled faintly without speaking.

Xiao Yi Xian stole a glance at him and said softly.

"If that day really comes, I'll still stand by your side."

Beneath the night sky, Xiao Fan and Xiao Yi Xian leaned against one another on the cottage steps, slowly passing their final night together.

The next morning, beneath an azure sky, Blue Eagle circled above the cottage. Xiao Yi Xian looked at Xiao Fan and said.

"Let's go. This is our last ride together."

Xiao Fan smiled calmly, slipped an arm around her waist, and leaped onto Blue Eagle's back.

"We'll meet again."

Blue Eagle gradually climbed higher. The little valley and cottage beneath them grew smaller and smaller, finally disappearing amid the clouds and mist.

As they passed a mountain peak, Xiao Fan turned to Xiao Yi Xian.

"This will do. The Chu Yun Empire is to the east, and the Tagor Desert is to the west. Take good care of yourself."

"You too, Xiao Fan."

A mischievous smile curled Xiao Fan's lips. Before Xiao Yi Xian could react, he leaned close and lightly brushed his lips against hers. Before she could speak, the Purple Cloud Wings flashed into being on his back, and he leaped off Blue Eagle.

"Xiao Yi Xian, don't worry about your Woeful Poison Body. Someday, I'll resolve it for you."

Watching Xiao Fan's figure gradually disappear, Xiao Yi Xian's lips lifted almost imperceptibly.

"Then I'll be waiting for you..."

After leaving Xiao Yi Xian, Xiao Fan checked his bearings, then deployed his Purple Cloud Wings and cautiously sped along the outskirts of the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

His destination was Black Rock City, the nearest major city within the Jia Ma Empire.

After all, Xiao Fan had no intention of flying all the way to the Tagor Desert himself. Wasting so much time would not be worthwhile. Besides, judging by the timing, Xiao Yan and Yao Lao should already have reached Qingshan Town for training. If he did not hurry, Xiao Yan might swallow the green lotus core flame first, leaving him with a tremendous loss!

After all, his swallowing the heavenly flames would not affect Xiao Yan's advancement, but if Xiao Yan absorbed them first, he would not leave Xiao Fan even a sip of broth.

What Xiao Fan did not know was that Xiao Yan and Yao Lao had reached Qingshan Town back when the Wolf Head Mercenary Group had put a bounty on him. They had searched the Magical Beast Mountain Range for him without success, only to return to Qingshan Town and hear that he had wiped out the Wolf Head Mercenary Group.

Though Xiao Yan and Yao Lao were curious about his enormous improvement, they were not overly astonished when they recalled his remarkable talent and the mysterious way he had bid them farewell.

Now, Xiao Yan and Yao Lao were also on their way to Black Rock City.

Upon finding a nearby town, Xiao Fan spent five gold coins to hire the fastest carriage available, then rode swiftly toward Black Rock City.

Even traveling without stopping, it took over half a day before Xiao Fan reached the outskirts of Black Rock City. Gazing from afar at the enormous city, which reflected a faint sheen in the sunset's glow, he could not help breathing a sigh of relief.

After all, traveling without rest was rather exhausting.

Passing through the enormous arched gateway, Xiao Fan officially entered Black Rock City. After two months in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, he found the noisy bustle jarring. He tipped the driver a gold coin and walked away as the man gazed at him like the God of Wealth.

Ravenously hungry, Xiao Fan first found a tavern and ordered several fine dishes, intending to reward himself properly. After all, a tavern could be considered the best place to gather news about a city.

Sure enough, one piece of news in the tavern caught his attention.

"Have you heard? Master Frank's and Master Otto's disciples are going to try for First-Grade Alchemist certification again."

"I have. Once they become esteemed Alchemists, their status will be worlds apart from what it is now."

"Oh, come on. With Master Otto and Master Frank around, their becoming Alchemists is practically nailed to the board..."

Listening to their discussion, Xiao Fan suddenly remembered that although he had advanced to Third-Grade Alchemist, he had yet to visit the Alchemist Association for certification.

Alchemists enjoyed prestigious status on the Dou Qi Continent, along with many privileges. Xiao Fan could certainly obtain certification as one.

With that in mind, he decided to rest for the night and head to the Alchemist Association tomorrow to have his alchemist grade certified.

Meanwhile, outside Black Rock City, another carriage was approaching.

Seated inside were none other than Xiao Yan and Yao Lao.

After failing to find Xiao Fan in Qingshan Town and learning that he had destroyed the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, the two had stopped worrying about him and resumed Xiao Yan's training journey.

"Teacher, we've reached Black Rock City."

Looking at the enormous walls outside, Xiao Yan spoke to Yao Lao with some excitement.

After all, Wutan City could not come close to Black Rock City's prosperity. Even within the entire Jia Ma Empire, Black Rock City ranked among the largest cities. Thus, only here was there a civilian flight company offering passage across the Magical Beast Mountain Range to the Tagor Desert.

Looking at the excited Xiao Yan, Yao Lao spoke kindly.

"While we're here in Black Rock City, you should have your alchemist grade certified as well."

Hearing Yao Lao's words, Xiao Yan asked in confusion.

"Have my alchemist grade certified? Wouldn't that expose my identity as an Alchemist?"

Yao Lao did not know whether to laugh or cry. "I never told you to hide it. Being an Alchemist opens plenty of doors on the Dou Qi Continent."

Then Yao Lao explained in detail the influence Alchemists wielded on the Dou Qi Continent.

As the two conversed, their carriage slowly rolled into Black Rock City.