Settling In

The Demon Fury Fire Lotus was a move Xiao Yan had created in his previous life, and the Dou Technique that had first made his name. Back then, he had not started out cultivating any profound Dou Techniques. He had barely possessed even a handful of Black Tier ones, and had relied entirely on this Fire Lotus move of his own creation to weather countless trials.

Thus, even after he acquired more profound Dou Techniques, he still devoted considerable time to improving it, raising it from its original Black Tier level to a height that even Heaven Tier techniques could scarcely hope to catch up to.

This Dou Technique required him to fuse different flames together and unleash the destructive elements within them, thereby creating an immensely powerful Fire Lotus. It was also how Xiao Yan had earned the title of "Demon Fury Sage" in his previous life.

After obtaining the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, the power of his Fire Lotus reached the very pinnacle. To strengthen the effects of his Clan Mark further, he had also found a way to acquire two other exceptionally powerful heavenly flames and fuse them into the Fire Lotus. The result was the Destruction Fire Lotus, which struck terror into the hearts of even high-level Dou Sheng.

This was also why Xiao Yan had chosen to cultivate the Flame Mantra in this life. When he first saw this cultivation method, he had even felt as though it had been tailor-made for him. The power of his Demon Fury Fire Lotus depended on the quality of its flames, and the strongest flames in this world were undoubtedly heavenly flames.

In his previous life, Xiao Yan had initially fused only ordinary flames, so its power had merely been at the Black Tier level. With the Flame Mantra, however, he could refine multiple heavenly flames at once. When that time came, his Demon Fury Fire Lotus would only be more terrifying than it had been in his previous life.

Still, with Xiao Yan's current strength, cultivating a Dou Technique on the level of the Flame-Tending Mantra was an enormous strain. Had refining the Black Flame Purple Cloud Eagle's Soul Body not greatly increased his soul force, he probably would not even have been able to complete the very first step successfully.

Even so, Xiao Yan had spent a full four months creating that wisp of Life Transformation Fire's flame seed. His next task was to gather various beast flames to strengthen it further, allowing him to use the Demon Fury Fire Lotus. Unfortunately, he still had not gathered all the magical beast blood he had been searching for. Otherwise, he would have had another trump card.

"It's time to leave..." Xiao Yan exhaled softly. Although he had spent most of these past few months tempering the Life Transformation Fire, he had not neglected his Dou Qi cultivation. His apparent level alone was now no lower than that of his father back in Wutan City, never mind his actual fighting strength.

"Getting ready to leave?" Yao Lao teased. "What do you plan to do with that little bride you're raising? Leave her here?"

"You don't need to worry about that. I have my own arrangements." Ignoring the teasing in Yao Lao's words, Xiao Yan slowly walked toward the little wooden cabin he had built.

As usual, Xiao Yi Xian sat in front of her small medicine furnace, adjusting a new prescription. She was a little surprised to see Xiao Yan. "Why are you back so early today? I haven't started cooking yet."

Before Xiao Yi Xian could get up, Xiao Yan gently held her down and smiled. "Just rest. Let me do the cooking today."

"You can cook?" Xiao Yi Xian asked skeptically. After all, Xiao Yan had never taken charge of the kitchen before. Although he had grilled fish, grilling fish and cooking a meal clearly were not the same thing.

"To tell you the truth, the greatest master chef on the Dou Qi Continent is none other than yours truly."

"You're bragging." Xiao Yi Xian naturally did not believe him. Yet when she tasted the dishes Xiao Yan had prepared, she had to admit that his cooking was indeed far better than hers. "Damn it, why did you have to make it so delicious? What if I get fat?"

"You're a child. Eating more will help you grow," Xiao Yan said with a faint smile.

"Stop acting like such an old man. You make it sound as though you aren't a child yourself," Xiao Yi Xian complained. "Anyway, why are you being so nice today, cooking for me?"

"Because I'm planning to leave. This meal is a special treat to thank you for cooking for me all this time."

"You're planning to leave?" Xiao Yi Xian froze briefly, then nodded. "That's fine. I've been getting a little bored here too. When are we leaving?"

"In a few days. I need to find somewhere to settle you first."

Hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian immediately grew flustered. "You mean... you aren't taking me with you?"

After spending this time alone with him, she had already become deeply dependent on Xiao Yan. In fact, this was something Xiao Yan had deliberately cultivated. This Heavenly Poison Woman was still only a child. All he needed to do was isolate her and then help her a few times at the most critical moments to leave an indelible mark on her heart.

"Yes. The place I'm going this time is somewhat dangerous. Bringing you along would be inconvenient," Xiao Yan said slowly. "Don't worry. I've already arranged somewhere for you to go. Haven't you always wanted to become a Healer Who Saves Lives? I'll find a way to get you a clinic all your own."

"But..." Xiao Yi Xian opened her mouth as though she wanted to say something. Seeing Xiao Yan's expression, however, she knew he would not change his mind, and could only lower her head and glumly keep eating.

"All right, don't be so unhappy. Want to know where I'm going to settle you?" Xiao Yan watched Xiao Yi Xian sulk with interest. He knew his efforts during this time had already borne considerable fruit, and naturally would not let this trip wash them all away.

"Where?"

"My hometown, Wutan City," Xiao Yan said calmly. Even if he did not take Xiao Yi Xian to the Chu Yun Empire, he would not let her leave territory under his control. Wutan City was the Xiao Clan's domain, making it the best place to leave her. Besides, the gold coins and cultivation methods he had obtained in the cave were of little use to him. He could instead give them to his father and help increase his strength.

"You're from Wutan City?" Xiao Yi Xian could not help being surprised. Although Wutan City was a forgotten corner of the Jia Ma Empire, compared with her little village, it was undoubtedly a bustling place. After all, however small a city might be, it was still a city. Never mind her little village-even compared with the largest town nearby, it was a giant.

"Not only am I from Wutan City, I'm a young master there too," Xiao Yan teased, half joking. "Stay there and be good. Once I've finished my business, I'll come back to get you."

Xiao Yan knew very well that keeping someone by your side for good did not actually require constant companionship. Only when you left her for a while would she realize how important you were. Then, when you appeared before her again, her dependence on you would grow even stronger.