After Xiao Yan finished reading the contents of the paper, he fell silent.
"So, the ancestor wants me to train on my own?"
"He's not going to look after me anymore?"
No sooner had Xiao Yan spoken than Yao Lao raised his hand and slapped him.
"What nonsense are you spouting, you brat!"
"Train on your own?"
"What does that make me?"
"Uh..." Scratching his head awkwardly, Xiao Yan gave him an apologetic smile. "You're my teacher."
Then he grew serious. "With you here, Teacher, there definitely won't be any problems."
But Yao Lao shook his head and said evenly, "Rest assured, in the days ahead, unless you encounter mortal danger that threatens your life, I won't step in to resolve any trouble for you."
Xiao Yan's face immediately fell. "In other words, from now on, I'll have to rely on myself to deal with every bit of trouble?"
Yao Lao chuckled. "I'm afraid that with your ancestor and me constantly protecting you, you'll lose your vigilance toward danger."
Xiao Yan nodded helplessly. "I understand, I understand. An eaglet hiding beneath its mother's wings will never truly battle the vast skies. Only by facing danger can it unleash its potential and ultimately soar proudly above the heavens."
"You're a teachable lad." Yao Lao nodded in satisfaction.
"Teacher, what do we do next?" Xiao Yan asked curiously, letting out a long breath.
At his question, Yao Lao pondered briefly, then said, "For the next month, you'll remain in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, and you must hunt down at least five Tier 2 Magical Beasts every day. Only battle can make you stronger and give you a more practiced command of your own strength."
"When the time is right, try devouring the Purple Flame first and see whether it can evolve the Flame Mantra."
"This was your ancestor's idea."
"Five it is, then." Nodding nonchalantly, Xiao Yan got to his feet with the Heavy Xuan Ruler on his back, anticipation showing in his eyes.
Devour the Purple Flame?
Evolve the Flame Mantra?
The ancestor said it was worth a try. Maybe it really could work!
By then, Xiao Chen and Xiao Yi Xian had already arrived at the foot of Poison Cloud Mountain.
The mountain lay in the southwest of the Jia Ma Empire, where people rarely ventured.
It was said to harbor numerous poisonous creatures, as well as highly toxic swamps.
During his days at the Xiao Clan, Xiao Chen had already investigated it.
Within the Jia Ma Empire, this was the most poisonous place, and also the most suitable for Xiao Yi Xian's cultivation.
They had not brought the Amethyst Winged Lion King along. It was not yet time for it to make an appearance.
From afar, they could see weeds overrunning the outskirts of Poison Cloud Mountain, with graves everywhere.
Several crows with green gleaming eyes perched on bare trees, occasionally letting out harsh, hoarse cries.
Though it was early morning, the sight was still unnerving.
Yet when Xiao Chen and Xiao Yi Xian arrived, a group of people was already there preparing to enter the mountain.
Their leader was a girl in military garb.
Her dark hair cascaded like a waterfall, and she was alluring as fire. Her military garb, with a bow and sword at her waist, lent her an added air of valor.
Yet every movement carried an air of imperious command.
A group of retainers followed behind her, clustering around her like stars surrounding the moon and making her status seem exceptionally distinguished.
They appeared to be waiting for something.
Both Xiao Chen and Xiao Yi Xian felt somewhat curious.
At last, an old man arrived belatedly.
Half his face was normal, while the other half was bruised purple and black, making him look rather frightening.
The instant Xiao Chen saw the old man, his brows lifted.
He had not expected to encounter another familiar face after Tang Chengxuan!
"Little Gold, what's this old fellow doing here?"
Little Gold immediately rolled his eyes. "You're asking me? How would I know? Go ask him."
In the distance, seeing how late the old man had arrived, the girl in military garb immediately said in displeasure, "Why did you only get here now?"
The old man lowered his head.
Just then, Xiao Chen and Xiao Yi Xian walked over.
Xiao Chen spoke directly. "Hello. We'd also like to enter Poison Cloud Mountain. Since we're heading the same way, why don't we go together?"
"What?"
The girl in military garb paused and looked at Xiao Chen, clearly surprised. "You want to enter Poison Cloud Mountain too?"
Xiao Chen smiled faintly. "That's right."
"Poison Cloud Mountain is extremely dangerous. What are you going in there for?"
The girl in military garb frowned as she spoke.
"What are you going in there for, then?"
Xiao Chen asked in return.
This group clearly had no ordinary background.
After all, few people dared enter Poison Cloud Mountain.
The girl in military garb snorted coldly. "You won't answer my question, yet you want to pry into our affairs. You're not an honest fellow!"
Xiao Chen shook his head helplessly.
"Old Yin, let's go."
Xiao Chen smiled directly at the old man beside him.
"So you know each other!"
The girl in military garb waved her hand, and the nearby retainers all strode forward, hands on their weapons and unfriendly looks on their faces.
The old man seemed frightened and shrank back.
Though Xiao Yi Xian was somewhat confused by the situation, she still wore a warm smile as she said, "Little sister, we only want to enter the mountain to gather a few medicinal herbs."
Only then did the girl in military garb look at Xiao Yi Xian.
Seeing the sincere smile on her face, her expression softened a little.
"All right. Since you know each other, come along."
"Yin Yuandong, hurry up and lead the way!"
The old man called Yin Yuandong hurried forward. Xiao Chen immediately followed with a broad smile. "Old Yin, I'll go with you."
"Mm."
Yin Yuandong answered quietly.
"Uncle Gong, you go up front too. Don't let them run into any danger."
After some thought, the girl in military garb gave this instruction to the middle-aged man in black robes beside her.
The black-robed middle-aged man called Uncle Gong immediately stepped forward, following behind Xiao Chen and Yin Yuandong.
Yin Yuandong looked overwhelmed by the favor and thanked him repeatedly.
Xiao Chen inwardly shook his head.
This old fellow really knows how to put on an act.
That girl in military garb clearly sent this Uncle Gong to watch us.
It isn't as though Yin Yuandong can't see that.
Why put on such a meek and submissive act?
Next, the group set off, heading up Poison Cloud Mountain.
Along the way, they saw many graves that had long since fallen into neglect.
Dry bones, weapons, and scraps of clothing could also be seen among the weeds.
The deeper they went, the thicker the mist grew. Apart from the occasional crow's cry, it was utterly desolate and silent.
"Xiao Chen, what did you come here to do?"
Along the way, Yin Yuandong suddenly asked.
Walking behind them, the girl in military garb immediately pricked up her ears.
"First, tell me what strange or abnormal places there are on Poison Cloud Mountain."
Xiao Chen spoke casually.
This old fellow never rises early unless there's profit in it.
Yin Yuandong thought for a moment, then said, "For years, there have been legends of strange races appearing on Poison Cloud Mountain. As for strange or abnormal places, there are indeed a few."
"One is a great hall in a blackwood forest halfway up Poison Cloud Mountain. It fell into ruin and collapsed long ago. Inside is an enshrined statue seated with its back to the entrance. They say it was built for a Dou Di expert, but the statue's head disappeared a very long time ago."
"Seated with its back to the entrance? Did someone deliberately move the Dou Di statue?"
The girl in military garb could not help asking.
Xiao Chen suddenly said, "Why turn your back on the world? In lament that all living beings refuse to turn back. In my view, this Dou Di statue must have come from Buddhism."
The girl in military garb paused, then asked in puzzlement, "Buddhism? What's that?"
Xiao Chen froze for a moment, then could not help chuckling.
Right. Judging by the original novel, there didn't seem to be any Buddhist legacy on the Dou Qi Continent.
The only thing related to "Buddha" was the Buddha's Fury Fire Lotus.
Before you continue