The next day.
After making all the necessary preparations, Xiao Yan chose a route marked on the map and stepped into the Magical Beast Mountain Range, beginning his trial.
Xiao Yan carried on his back the black massive ruler he had named the Black Heavy Ruler, advancing step by step through the Magical Beast Mountain Range. Under the ruler's bizarre ability to suppress Dou Qi and its terrifying weight, his progress could truly be described as arduous. Before long, he was already breathing heavily.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Xiao Yan looked at the dense forest ahead that blotted out the sky. Suddenly, his heart jolted. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a crimson shadow pouncing toward him from behind and to the side. Acting on instinct, Xiao Yan threw himself forward, narrowly dodging the perilous strike, though a lock of hair was left behind.
He sprang to his feet, smoothly drawing the Black Heavy Ruler into his hand, and looked toward the crimson shadow. It was a fox covered entirely in fiery red fur.
"A First-Rank magical beast, the Scarlet Flame Fox. Its greatest strength lies in its speed. Xiao Yan, being able to dodge its sneak attack isn't bad at all. Be careful—this isn't over yet," Yao Lao's voice sounded within Xiao Yan's heart.
With Xiao Yan's battle against the Scarlet Flame Fox, his training in the Magical Beast Mountain Range officially began.
One day later.
When a First-Rank magical beast, the Ghost Cat, fell beneath Xiao Yan's Black Heavy Ruler, Xiao Yan collapsed onto the ground, hurriedly taking out several Qi-recovering pills and tossing them into his mouth.
"This Magical Beast Mountain Range is really dangerous. In just one day, I've already run into several very powerful First-Rank magical beasts," Xiao Yan said, panting.
"Now you finally understand what training really means. Staying in a comfortable environment will never allow you to become a true expert," Yao Lao said as his soul body drifted out from the Bone Chilling Ring, beginning to instruct Xiao Yan.
Not far away, in the grass by the roadside, a First-Rank magical beast, the Scarlet Ice Snake, seemed to be intimidated by Xiao Yan's killing of the Ghost Cat and quietly slithered away.
At the same time, Qing Lin, who was sitting cross-legged in cultivation, suddenly opened her lightly closed eyes. A faint smile appeared on her face. She picked up the map beside her and glanced at it, then closed her eyes again and sent a message to the distant Purple Jade Scale Snake.
After that, she closed her eyes once more and continued cultivating.
"So that's how it is. Discovered in Area Eleven?" Lin Yuan, who had received the message through the Purple Jade Scale Snake, began analyzing the unavoidable key nodes along Xiao Yan's upcoming route.
"At the waterfall area, is it? Then I should make some preparations and go there to wait for him," Lin Yuan said with a soft chuckle as he turned and flew toward the direction of the waterfall.
Due to certain considerations, Lin Yuan had no intention of directly seeking out Xiao Yan and Yao Lao. Instead, he planned to let them encounter him by chance. After all, behind Xiao Yan, aside from Yao Lao, there was also an extremely troublesome individual—Gu Xun'er, the daughter of the Gu Clan. She paid close attention to anything related to Xiao Yan, especially information about those who had intentions toward him. The level of attention she would give to someone who actively sought Xiao Yan versus someone whom Xiao Yan happened to encounter was entirely different.
The feelings between Gu Xun'er and Xiao Yan were a point that could be exploited. If used well, it could produce remarkable results. However, such exploitation was also extremely dangerous. Lin Yuan had some schemes in mind, but it was not yet time to lay them on the table. He still needed to gather a few more cards.
One day later, Lin Yuan sat cross-legged on a bluestone beside a pool beneath a waterfall in the Magical Beast Mountain Range. At this moment, his mind was divided in two—one part maintaining the circulation of his cultivation technique, the other deducing the Mountain and River Seal.
Suddenly, the Purple Jade bangle on his arm stirred slightly. Lin Yuan halted his cultivation and Dou Technique research and glanced toward the southwest, thinking to himself, "They're here? Then it's time for me to prepare as well."
Recalling the map in his mind, Lin Yuan said to the Purple Jade Scale Snake, "Have Qing'er command the Fourth-Rank magical beasts in Area Twenty-One to act."
With a blink of its eyes, the Purple Jade Scale Snake conveyed Lin Yuan's intent to Qing Lin, who promptly issued the command.
Meanwhile, on a road some distance away to the southwest of the pool, Xiao Yan was making his way toward the pool.
A beast tide was brewing behind Xiao Yan. Before long, a small beast tide led by a snake-type Fourth-Rank magical beast erupted. As time passed, a massive beast tide composed of several Fourth-Rank magical beasts, dozens of Third-Rank magical beasts, and nearly a hundred first- and second-rank magical beasts fully broke out behind Xiao Yan, surging forward in his direction.
At this moment, Xiao Yan was still slowly advancing toward the northeast.
Suddenly, Yao Lao's soul drifted out, casting a glance toward the southwest. His expression turned grave, and he decisively said, "Xiao Yan, put away the Black Heavy Ruler and run! A fairly large-scale beast tide has erupted behind us and is heading this way."
Hearing this, Xiao Yan's expression changed drastically. He had already witnessed a small beast tide yesterday, that was absolutely not something he could withstand. He hurriedly stored the Black Heavy Ruler back into his storage ring and sprinted forward at full speed.
However, how could Xiao Yan's speed possibly match that of a horde of magical beasts running at full speed? When he was still a short distance from the pool, he was already about to be caught.
Very soon, the swarm of magical beasts entered Xiao Yan's field of vision.
"My life ends here!" Xiao Yan sighed toward the heavens as he looked back at the approaching mass of magical beasts.
"What nonsense are you shouting? Your teacher is still here. Do you think I'd let you die here? Relax your body," Yao Lao said irritably. He wanted to temper his disciple, not send him to his death. At a moment like this, it was naturally time for him, the teacher, to step in.
Hearing this, Xiao Yan obediently released control of his body. Yao Lao's soul power poured into Xiao Yan's body. In an instant, Xiao Yan's eyes transformed from youthful sharpness to profound, timeworn wisdom. Immediately after, pale, chilling flames ignited around "Xiao Yan," and a powerful pressure swept toward the beast tide.
"Beasts."
Sensing this terrifying pressure, the charging magical beasts seemed to awaken from a dream and instantly scattered in all directions, fleeing in panic. Seeing this, the pale white flames transformed into a white fire spear that pierced straight through a Fourth-Rank Frost Sky Wolf. When Yao Lao made his move, he had already set his sights on the Frost Sky Wolf's Fourth-Rank ice-attribute magic core. With this strike, he conveniently obtained one of the main ingredients needed to refine the Blood Lotus Pill.
Suddenly, Yao Lao's voice rang out within Xiao Yan's heart, "Not good, there's someone here."
Without sparing a glance at the fallen Frost Sky Wolf, "Xiao Yan" turned to look ahead. Within his line of sight, a green-robed youth about the same age as Xiao Yan was walking toward them. A faint, unfathomable smile hung on the youth's lips as he sized up "Xiao Yan" with evident interest.
"Interesting—truly interesting! Such powerful soul strength, and those pale white flames." A light chuckle reached the ears of Xiao Yan and Yao Lao as the youth examined "Xiao Yan," his eyes filled with an intense desire to explore.
"Xiao Yan" gazed at the youth with a solemn expression. The person before him was not simple. If his appearance truly matched his actual age, then his level of cultivation at such an age was not something an environment like the Jia Ma Empire could produce.
Paying no heed to the gravity in "Xiao Yan's" eyes, Lin Yuan stared at Xiao Yan. After seeming to ponder for a moment, his pupils suddenly contracted, as though shocked by his own speculation. He drew in a sharp breath and let out an astonished exclamation.
"Though it's hard to believe, that flame is the mark of that senior."
"If my guess is correct, Senior, could you truly be the legendary number one alchemist of the continent—Yao Chen, Venerable Yao?"
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