Zhao Hu's fist was wreathed in surging Origin Qi. Before the wind from his punch even arrived, the air around him had grown scorching hot. A vicious grin covered his face. Plainly, he thought nothing of this seemingly ordinary outsider-around Northern Region City, he had seen plenty of "greenhorns" like this, freshly ascended from the lower realms and ignorant of the Great Thousand World. Most had cultivation realms but no understanding of how to use Origin Qi, making them effortless to deal with.
A few onlookers let out quiet gasps, seemingly already picturing Xiao Yan being sent flying by the punch. The guards at the gate glanced over but made no move to intervene. Clearly, a conflict of this scale was nothing unusual at the city gates, and as long as no one died, they were happy to watch.
But in the next moment, everyone's expressions froze.
Faced with that mighty punch, Xiao Yan did not retreat so much as half a step. He simply raised his right hand, his five fingers slightly spread, as though an invisible vortex had formed in his palm. Zhao Hu's fist, carrying more than half his Origin Qi, was caught lightly in Xiao Yan's hand.
"Crack..."
A faint sound of cracking bone rang out, accompanied by Zhao Hu's cry of pain. To his horror, he found that the Origin Qi on his fist vanished like a clay ox sinking into the sea, dissipating without a trace the moment it touched the other man's palm. A seemingly gentle but overwhelmingly domineering force was rebounding along his arm, sending a piercing pain through his finger bones in an instant.
"How is that possible!" Zhao Hu cried out. He could sense that the fluctuations of energy within the other man were not particularly strong, and were even somewhat weaker than his own. So why had his attack been neutralized so easily?
Xiao Yan's gaze was indifferent as he applied a little more pressure.
"Ah!" Sweat broke out on Zhao Hu's forehead from the pain, and his face turned deathly pale. Seeing this, the two followers behind him roared and started forward to help.
"Get lost!"
Xiao Yan gave a cold snort and casually waved his left hand. Two condensed streams of Dou Qi tore through the air. They were not meant to kill, but they carried an irresistible force as they struck the two followers squarely on their knees.
"Thud! Thud!"
With two muffled impacts, the followers' knees gave way and they fell heavily to the ground. They grimaced in pain but could not get up. The clean, decisive move displayed Xiao Yan's strength while leaving room for mercy, instantly cowing the people around him.
"You... you dare hurt me?" Zhao Hu was both shocked and furious. He was a squad captain in the Northern Region City guard and enjoyed some standing at the gates. When had he ever suffered such a loss?
"One more word out of you, and I'll cripple you." Xiao Yan's voice was quiet, but it carried an unquestionable authority. It was a bearing tempered by countless battles of life and death, far beyond anything Zhao Hu, who only threw his weight around at the city gates, could match.
When Xiao Yan's gaze swept over him, Zhao Hu felt an inexplicable flutter of fear and forcibly swallowed the threat on the tip of his tongue. He could sense that the young man before him seemed calm, but was in fact like a beast lying in wait. If he truly flew into a rage, the consequences would be unthinkable.
"Let go!" Zhao Hu said through clenched teeth, his earlier arrogance gone from his voice.
Xiao Yan slowly released him. Zhao Hu hurriedly pulled back his fist, revealing five fingers already slightly deformed. Clearly, he was badly hurt. He gave Xiao Yan a venomous glare but did not dare come forward again. He could only clutch his injured hand and slink away with his two equally disheveled followers, not even daring to leave a parting threat.
The onlookers were dumbstruck, and the way they looked at Xiao Yan changed completely. Their initial contempt and amusement gave way to wariness and curiosity. No one had expected this plainly dressed outsider to be an expert who concealed his abilities so well.
"Fine skills, my friend!" A somewhat elderly voice rang out. A white-haired, white-bearded old man in a green robe stepped out of the crowd, cupped his hands toward Xiao Yan, and smiled. "This old man is Qian Tong, a wandering cultivator in Northern Region City. That brat Zhao Hu was throwing his weight around by borrowing others' power just now. Thank you, friend, for giving us all a chance to vent."
Xiao Yan glanced at the old man. The fluctuations of Origin Qi within him were not particularly strong, but his presence was steady and sustained. Clearly, he was a seasoned veteran who had cultivated for many years. Xiao Yan nodded slightly. "It was nothing."
"You look unfamiliar, friend. I suppose you've just arrived from another realm?" Qian Tong asked tentatively, his eyes flickering. In the Great Thousand World, wandering cultivators like him were especially good at reading the situation. This young man had such strength at his age; he might well have a powerful background. There was no harm in establishing goodwill.
Xiao Yan neither confirmed nor denied it. "I've only just arrived and am not very familiar with Northern Region City."
"Haha, then you've asked the right person!" Qian Tong immediately said with a smile. "Northern Region City is the hub of the Northern Region. The city lord's manor is a formidable power, with dozens of cities and towns under its jurisdiction. All sorts mingle in the city. There are branches of the major powers, wandering cultivators like this old man, and trading houses that specialize in business between realms..."
The old man was clearly a talkative sort, and in a few words he gave Xiao Yan a clear overview of Northern Region City. Xiao Yan listened patiently, nodding from time to time. What he heard also confirmed some of his earlier guesses.
As expected, the Great Thousand World's cultivation system was founded on Origin Qi. Its ranks were entirely different from those of the Dou Qi Continent. From lowest to highest, they were Origin Practitioner, Origin Master, Grand Origin Master, Origin King, Origin Emperor, Origin Ancestor, Origin Venerate, Origin Saint, Origin Di, and Origin God... Each rank was further divided into early, middle, and late stages.
Zhao Hu, whom he had just faced, was only an early-stage Origin Master, roughly equivalent to a level between Dou Ling and Dou Wang on the Dou Qi Continent. No wonder he had been so easily defeated. As for the city guards, most were middle- or late-stage Origin Masters, while captains could reach Grand Origin Master, equivalent to the Dou Emperor level.
"Could you tell me more about the training expedition to Black Wind Abyss, Elder Qian?" Xiao Yan asked, recalling the notice on the stone wall.
At the mention of it, Qian Tong's smile faded somewhat. "Black Wind Abyss is a dangerous place near Northern Region City. It produces an abundance of Spiritual Origin Crystals, the main ingredient used to refine Origin Qi Pills, and they're worth quite a lot. But it's also extremely dangerous. Not only are there powerful exotic beasts, spatial rifts frequently appear, and other participants kill one another over Spiritual Origin Crystals..."
"The city lord's manor recruits participants partly to obtain Spiritual Origin Crystals and partly to select talent. If you distinguish yourself during the expedition, you really could catch the manor's eye and rise straight to the clouds from then on." Qian Tong paused and looked at Xiao Yan. "With your strength, friend, going to Black Wind Abyss for some training would be a good choice. Just remember to put your safety first."
Xiao Yan nodded, having already made up his mind. What he needed most now was to understand this world's cultivation resources and rules, and the Black Wind Abyss expedition would serve both purposes.
"Thank you for telling me, Elder Qian." Xiao Yan cupped his hands in thanks.
"Think nothing of it." Qian Tong waved a hand. "If you don't mind, friend, this old man can take you into the city and show you somewhere to stay along the way."
"Then I'm sorry for the trouble, Elder Qian." Xiao Yan did not refuse. Having someone lead the way was far more convenient than finding his own way around.
The two followed the flow of people toward the city gate. The guards had already seen what Xiao Yan could do, and now, seeing him with Qian Tong, they merely gave him a routine inspection before letting him through.
As soon as Xiao Yan entered Northern Region City, his eyes lit up.
The architecture within the city was completely different from that of the Dou Qi Continent. Most buildings were constructed from a blue-green stone with a metallic sheen, and the streets were wide enough for dozens of exotic beasts to travel abreast. Shops lined both sides of the streets, their signs shimmering with strange runes formed from Origin Qi. Streaks of light occasionally crossed the sky-powerful cultivators flying on Origin Qi artifacts.
Rich Origin Qi filled the air, several times purer than that in the void outside the city. When Xiao Yan took a deep breath, he could feel the Dou Qi within him transforming more quickly.
"Northern Region City's Origin Gathering Array was built by the city lord's manor at enormous expense. It constantly draws Origin Qi from the surrounding world, so the cultivation environment inside the city is far better than outside," Qian Tong explained, noticing Xiao Yan's surprise. "But if you want to stay in the city long-term, you have to pay in Origin Qi Pills. The closer you get to the city center, the higher the cost."
Xiao Yan understood. It seemed that in the Great Thousand World, too, strength reigned supreme and resources came first.
As they walked and talked, Qian Tong told Xiao Yan more about the distribution of powers in the city. The strongest was naturally the city lord's manor, whose lord was a late-stage Origin Ancestor with experts as numerous as clouds under his command. Next came several long-established clans, such as the Li Clan and the Wang Clan, which controlled many of the city's businesses. There were also branches of outside powers, such as the Beast Hunting Pavilion, which specialized in hunting exotic beasts, and the Myriad Treasures Tower, which bought and sold all manner of heavenly materials and earthly treasures.
"Azure Wind Street, where wandering cultivators gather, is just ahead. Lodging here is relatively cheap, and news travels quickly. Since you've just arrived, friend, this is the best place for you to stay." Qian Tong pointed to a somewhat noisy street ahead.
Xiao Yan looked in the direction he pointed. Pedestrians jostled shoulder to shoulder along the street, most of them cultivators with a mix of different presences, including quite a few members of other races. Cries of vendors and sounds of arguments rose and fell, filling the street with the bustle of everyday life.
"This will do," Xiao Yan said with a nod.
Qian Tong led him to an inn called the Ying Inn and called to the proprietor, "Shopkeeper Wang, give this friend a superior room and put it on my account."
The proprietor was a plump middle-aged man. When he saw Qian Tong, he quickly put on a broad smile. "So it's Elder Qian! No problem, no problem! This way, friend!"
Xiao Yan took out a high-grade medicinal pill he had brought from the Dou Qi Continent and handed it to the shopkeeper. "I'll pay for the room myself. There's no need to trouble Elder Qian." He knew that pills from the Dou Qi Continent might be quite valuable in the Great Thousand World, but it was never wise to reveal too much recklessly.
Shopkeeper Wang accepted the pill, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes. He weighed it in his hand and smiled. "You're truly generous, friend! This pill is worth enough for three months in a superior room." He had clearly recognized that the pill was extraordinary, but knew better than to ask more.
"Elder Qian, thank you for today." Xiao Yan cupped his hands to Qian Tong once more. "I, Xiao Yan, will remember this favor."
"Haha, there's no need to stand on ceremony, young friend Xiao Yan," Qian Tong said with a smile. "I practice at the Hundred Herbs Hall on the next street. If you need any help, feel free to come find me." With that, Qian Tong turned and left.
Xiao Yan followed the shopkeeper upstairs. The room was not luxurious, but it was clean and tidy. Its window faced the street, offering a broad view. Most importantly, the concentration of Origin Qi in the room was a little higher than outside. Clearly, the inn had also set up a small Origin Gathering Array of its own.
"If you need anything, friend, just call for me." Shopkeeper Wang gave a fawning smile and withdrew.
After closing the door, Xiao Yan walked to the window and looked at the bustling crowd below, his gaze gradually growing distant.
"Origin Practitioner, Origin Master, Origin King... Is there even an Origin God above Origin Di?" he murmured, sensing the progress of the fusion between the Dou Qi and Origin Qi within him. "According to Elder Qian, a Dou Di who ascends can probably reach the Origin King or Origin Emperor level at first. But to advance further, they must completely transform their Dou Qi into Origin Qi, or they'll make no further progress."
He could feel the Dou Qi within him slowly being assimilated by Origin Qi. The process was not easy; it was even somewhat painful, as though the foundation he had built over many years had to be shattered and reforged. But he understood that this was a path he had to take.
"Xun'er's clan seems to be here in the Great Thousand World, and there's Cai Lin too..." Xiao Yan clenched his fists, longing flashing in his eyes. "Wait for me. It won't be long before I find you."
Just then, a building across the street caught his eye. It was a pavilion black from top to bottom, with the words "Beast Hunting Pavilion" written on its sign in blood-red runes. The bones and hides of many exotic beasts hung at the entrance, giving off a fierce air.
"The Beast Hunting Pavilion..." A thought stirred in Xiao Yan's mind. Perhaps he could go there to learn the details of Black Wind Abyss and see if he could exchange something for Origin Qi Pills. After all, Origin Qi Pills were the common currency in the Great Thousand World.
He straightened his clothes, opened the door, and went out.
He had just come downstairs when he collided head-on with someone.
"Sorry." Xiao Yan apologized instinctively. When he looked up, however, he paused in surprise.
Before him stood a young woman in a pale purple dress. She was about sixteen or seventeen, with skin fairer than snow and picturesque features, especially her eyes, which were as clear as a mountain stream. At the moment, however, a trace of anxiety showed on her face. Xiao Yan's collision had made her stumble, and a jade bottle in her hand had fallen to the ground and shattered.
"My... my Spirit Concentrating Liquid!" The young woman looked at the fragments on the floor, her eyes reddening instantly. She raised her head and looked at Xiao Yan with a hint of anger. "Don't you watch where you're going?"
Xiao Yan looked at the remains of the medicinal liquid on the floor. He could sense a trace of gentle Origin Qi within it; clearly, it was a medicinal preparation that aided cultivation. Feeling somewhat apologetic, he said, "Sorry, I was careless. How much was the Spirit Concentrating Liquid worth? I'll compensate you."
"Compensate me? Do you know how hard Spirit Concentrating Liquid is to prepare?" the young woman said indignantly. "I had to go through so much trouble to get it from the Myriad Treasures Tower. I was going to use it to break through in the Origin Master realm, and now it's all gone!"
The guests around them gathered over, pointing and whispering about Xiao Yan.
"Isn't that Liu Fei, the Liu Clan's eldest young lady?"
"I heard she's quite talented, just a little impatient."
"This kid has only just arrived, and he's already run afoul of someone from the Liu Clan. He's probably in trouble."
Xiao Yan frowned slightly. He could sense that the fluctuations of Origin Qi within the young woman were already close to the middle stage of the Origin Master realm. She did indeed have some talent. He did not want to invite trouble so soon after arriving in Northern Region City, so he spoke again. "I am Xiao Yan. It truly was an accident. If you need Spirit Concentrating Liquid, Miss Liu, I can help you refine another bottle, or compensate you with the equivalent in Origin Qi Pills."
"You can refine Spirit Concentrating Liquid?" Liu Fei looked at him doubtfully. "Do you know what medicinal ingredients it takes? Don't think you can talk your way out of this with a few careless words!"
Xiao Yan said calmly, "The main ingredients of Spirit Concentrating Liquid are Calming Heart Grass and Condensing Dew Flower, supplemented by three auxiliary ingredients. Refine them slowly with a gentle fire source, and it isn't difficult to make."
Although this was the first time he had heard of Spirit Concentrating Liquid, his top-tier medicinal refining skills from the Dou Qi Continent had allowed him to deduce the ingredients and refining method in broad strokes from a single glance at the remnants of the liquid.
Liu Fei, however, froze, her eyes full of surprise. Spirit Concentrating Liquid was not a particularly high-grade medicinal preparation, but its formula was not something just anyone would know. Yet this seemingly ordinary young man had described it without the slightest error?
Just then, a commotion came from outside the inn. Several guards in matching uniforms rushed in, led by a grim-faced middle-aged man.
"Young miss, what happened?" The middle-aged man hurried over when he saw Liu Fei. His gaze swept over the fragments on the floor and Xiao Yan, and his eyes instantly sharpened. "Did this brat bully you?"
Before Liu Fei could speak, the middle-aged man had already shouted angrily at Xiao Yan, "Insolent scoundrel! How dare you bully the Liu Clan's eldest young lady in Northern Region City! Seize him!"
The guards immediately surrounded Xiao Yan, each giving off the presence of an early-stage Origin Master. Clearly, they were the Liu Clan's private soldiers.
Xiao Yan's gaze turned cold. He had only just arrived in Northern Region City, yet trouble was coming to his door one thing after another. It seemed the Great Thousand World was not peaceful everywhere either.
He looked at the middle-aged man and said slowly, "Miss Liu and I merely collided by accident. This has nothing to do with you Liu Clan guards, so please don't press the matter."
"Press the matter?" The middle-aged man sneered. "In Northern Region City, anyone who dares hurt our Liu Clan's eldest young lady has to pay the price, even if it was an accident! Attack!"
The guards immediately lunged at him upon receiving the order, their fists and feet carrying fluctuations of Origin Qi. Clearly, they were fighting for real.
Xiao Yan took a deep breath, and the Heavenly Flames within him quietly began to circulate.