Leaving Wutan City

"Mentor Ruolin, twenty exchanges are up," Jia Lie Jun said with a beaming smile.

"You brat, you cheated!" Ruolin glared at Jia Lie Jun, slightly annoyed.

"Cheated? When did I cheat? How come I don't know about it?" Jia Lie Jun said with an innocent look, making Ruolin's pretty face flush red as her chest rose and fell incessantly.

"You know perfectly well what you did. Since you don't want to expose it, I won't say it." Ruolin was irritated, but her heart was in turmoil. She knew exactly how much power her final strike contained. Though she had not used her full strength, it was not something that could be blocked by someone with merely the cultivation of a Dou Practitioner.

"Hehe." Jia Lie Jun smiled without answering. To block Ruolin's final Water Mandala attack, he had no choice but to use his full strength; otherwise, his one-year leave would have gone down the drain. Ruolin had presumably sensed Jia Lie Jun's true cultivation, but because he had falsely claimed to be a Six-Star Dou Practitioner, she accused him of cheating.

The watching students were equally stunned. Jia Lie Jun had endured twenty exchanges against a Da Dou Shi with only the cultivation of a Six-Star Dou Practitioner. Though Ruolin had not displayed her full strength, it was surely still as difficult as ascending to heaven.

"Since you lasted twenty exchanges, this mentor will keep her word. I approve your one-year leave," Ruolin said gently.

"Mentor, I'd also like to request a year of leave," Xiao Yan said.

Ruolin rubbed her forehead, her face full of helplessness. After taking a deep breath, she said, "I, Ruolin, have been a mentor for so many years, yet I've never encountered troublesome students like you two. But since there's already a precedent, I can't let you accuse me of favoritism. As long as you can endure twenty exchanges like Jia Lie Jun, I'll approve it."

The outcome needed no further explanation. Xiao Yan endured twenty exchanges.

"To secure this year of leave, Yao Lao actually took the risk of exposing himself and acted. But whether you can reach your expected goals within this year is another matter entirely." During the battle, Jia Lie Jun had keenly sensed Xiao Yan's cultivation surge through his Spiritual Power.

Jia Lie Jun walked up to Xun Er and gazed at her with deep affection. "Xun Er, wait for me. Believe me, one day I'll ride seven-colored auspicious clouds to marry you." Then, without looking back, he turned and left with resolute steps. The blood-red sunset shone upon the young man, lending him an air of tragic grandeur. An odd thought rose in everyone's hearts: once this young man left, he would surely soar like a dragon into the heavens. Xun Er stared blankly at Jia Lie Jun's retreating figure. Seeing this, Xiao Yan snorted coldly, his expression dark as he turned and left.

The bright moon hung high in the sky, its cold light spilling across the earth as though draping it in a veil of silver. Compared with the scorching heat of daytime, Wutan City carried a touch more coolness at night. Yet the Jia Lie Family residence was brilliantly lit. People stood before its gates holding torches, and as the breeze passed, the flames swayed gently.

"Grandfather, I don't know when I'll return after leaving this time. You must take good care of yourself." Jia Lie Jun held Jia Liet's hand, his face full of reluctance. Ever since arriving in this world, Jia Liet had always looked after him. His parents, meanwhile, spent most of their time traveling for the family business and were rarely home, so Jia Lie Jun shared a deep bond with his grandfather.

"Jun'er, go out and make your mark. Don't worry about me. I believe that one day, my grandson's name will resound throughout the entire Dou Qi Continent." Jia Liet's eyes brimmed with tears, his face filled with pride.

"Master, spread word that if Xiao Zhan cannot be killed within a month, we'll give up on revenge." Jia Lie Jun hoped Xuan Hao could delay Xiao Yan's departure, allowing him to seize the initiative. He did not dare delay Xiao Yan for too long, lest Xiao Yan grow impatient and, driven to desperation, attack their home. One month was neither too long nor too short; Xiao Yan should be able to wait that long.

Although Xuan Hao did not know why Jia Lie Jun wanted this done, he agreed. "Disciple, make sure you regularly study the alchemy manuals I gave you. Your talent in alchemy is outstanding, so do not let it go to waste," Xuan Hao earnestly instructed.

"Rest assured, Master. Grandfather, your grandson is leaving now." Jia Lie Jun looked over everyone, swung himself onto his horse, and cracked the whip. The steed gave a long neigh before galloping away. Everyone remained where they stood, watching Jia Lie Jun's figure until it vanished into the darkness. Jia Lie Jun had chosen to depart at night for no other reason than to seize the initiative.

Under the blazing sun, Jia Lie Jun rode his steed at an unhurried pace, holding a map in his hand and murmuring softly, "This should be Qingshan Town, right?" Jia Lie Jun's first destination after leaving Wutan City was Qingshan Town. He dismounted, led his horse by the reins, and walked along the stone-paved street. There were not many pedestrians, and only a few scattered shops stood by the roadside. Compared to bustling Wutan City, it was far more desolate.

"This is the place—Myriad Medicine Pavilion." Jia Lie Jun looked up at the sign hanging above the entrance. The three large golden characters, Myriad Medicine Pavilion, glared dazzlingly beneath the sunlight. He then walked inside. The modestly sized hall contained several counters—some selling weapons, others medicinal pills—and looked rather plain.

Jia Lie Jun walked to the counter selling medicinal ingredients, glanced over them, then called out boldly to an attendant in the hall, "Wrap up all of this Yellow Lotus Essence for me."

Thanks to the original Dou Po novel rewarded by the system, which he had memorized after reading once before burning it, Jia Lie Jun was extremely familiar with the plot. Among this Yellow Lotus Essence was a piece of Blood Lotus Essence, one of the main ingredients for refining the Blood Lotus Pill. Now that he had bought the Blood Lotus Essence first, how could Xiao Yan refine a Blood Lotus Pill and absorb the Heavenly Flames?

"Certainly, sir. The total comes to two thousand four hundred gold coins." Seeing such a big sale come through, the attendant's face lit up as he looked at Jia Lie Jun ingratiatingly.

Jia Lie Jun took out the gold coins from his Storage Ring and counted them. Then he looked at the attendant apologetically. "I'm truly sorry. I only have one thousand nine hundred gold coins on me, but I urgently need this Yellow Lotus Essence. How about this? Could I work for Myriad Medicine Pavilion to repay the remaining amount?"

The smile on the attendant's face immediately froze. He gave Jia Lie Jun a somewhat disdainful glance. "Wait here. I'll go ask the boss." As he walked away, he muttered, "No money, yet he's pretending to be some big shot."

Jia Lie Jun's mouth twitched when he heard that. He truly wanted to take out the gold coins from his Storage Ring and fling them in the man's face. In truth, Jia Lie Jun did not lack money at all, but in order to get close to Xiao Yi Xian, he could only resort to this method.

Led by the attendant, a middle-aged man dressed in a blue robe and looking quite amiable came before Jia Lie Jun. He studied him for a moment, and only after seeing Jia Lie Jun's harmless expression did he speak. "Little brother, are you the one who wishes to work for my Myriad Medicine Pavilion to repay the cost of the medicine?" Jia Lie Jun nodded.

The middle-aged man pondered for a moment before saying, "All right, I agree."

Jia Lie Jun was overjoyed. Xiao Yi Xian was a physician at Myriad Medicine Pavilion. If he worked here, he would have the chance to get close to her. He had long coveted that opportunity within the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range, especially the Flight Fighting Skill and the Ice Spirit Flame Grass.

"Kid, you're lucky to have met such a kindhearted person as our boss." The attendant then looked around. Seeing no one nearby, he whispered, "Let me tell you, our Myriad Medicine Pavilion has a real beauty."