Over half an hour later, a small mountain of medicinal ingredients and magic cores had accumulated in front of Xiao Yan.
Beside the medicinal ingredients, there was also a pile of gold coins, seemingly numbering in the thousands.
"No wonder they say that killing and arson are the road to riches…" Xiao Yan shook his head with a wry smile. "Just dealing with a mercenary squad earned me nearly twenty thousand gold coins. That's more than the Xiao family's market earns in a month."
Old Yao was still studying the Battle Skill Xiao Yan had just created. After observing it for a long time, he sighed with regret, "If your Dou Qi wasn't so limited, the power of this Battle Skill could be even stronger!"
Looking at the deep gash that stretched several meters across the ground, Old Yao's eyes seemed to still see the brilliant starlight of that move.
With one blow, the seemingly indestructible Rock Crystal Fist shattered instantly, and even He Meng, who cultivated rock-type Dou Qi, was split in two.
The released energy surged outwards, and the five other mercenaries didn't even have time to react.
Six Dou Zhe, who were by no means weak, died almost without realizing it. That was truly extraordinary.
This Battle Skill demanded a high degree of power and Dou Qi concentration. Xiao Yan's execution was incredibly precise, flawless, and truly remarkable.
Generally, a Battle Skill that allowed someone to exert several levels of strength beyond their own was already quite impressive. However, Xiao Yan's previous move, Star Transformation: Wolf Fang Break, had an enhancement that Old Yao had rarely seen in his lifetime.
It was difficult to judge this Battle Skill based on its rank; it was more akin to a secret technique that highly concentrated power and Dou Qi.
As Xiao Yan's strength increased, he could still execute it without falling short of an Earth Rank Battle Skill.
Hearing Old Yao's sigh, Xiao Yan shook his head with a smile: "This is only temporary; my Dou Qi will eventually improve."
"That's true." Shifting his gaze from the ravine, Old Yao looked at Xiao Yan, still marveling inwardly.
Most people, upon acquiring a Battle Skill, would simply use it. But this little brat, Xiao Yan, was constantly coming up with new ideas. It started with improving Eight Extremes Collapse, and now he had extended it to the Black Heavy Ruler! Truly, he was drawing inferences about other things from one thing.
After a cursory glance at Xiao Yan's gains, Old Yao said, "You're still one short of a second-tier Fire-attribute Magic Core."
"Not anymore." Xiao Yan waved his hand, pointing to the pile of gold coins. "With this money, buying a second-tier Fire-attribute Magic Core won't be difficult."
"You little rascal, you certainly know how to be lazy..." Old Yao smiled slightly.
Originally, he had planned for Xiao Yan, this young master from a wealthy family, to train in the Monster Beast Mountain Range for a few months. This was to familiarize him with Battle Skills and also to temper his character.
However, Xiao Yan's comprehension of Battle Skills was simply too strong. If he continued to train like this, Xiao Yan's Dou Qi wouldn't be enough to support the Battle Skills he could create.
Glancing at the small mountain of medicinal herbs, including the Vitality Fruit and Blood凝草, Old Yao's heart stirred. Being exceptionally gifted in Battle Skills didn't necessarily mean he'd be as formidable in Alchemy.
Being qualified as an Alchemist was just the beginning. Countless medicinal ingredients and the Alchemy process were needed to gain experience.
Old Yao pondered, "Go to the auction house. Now that you're a Dou Zhe, you can also refine medicine with your own Dou Qi. It's time to teach you Alchemy techniques."
"Become an Alchemist! Now?" Hearing this, Xiao Yan was somewhat surprised. He wasn't done having fun yet.
"We can't keep relying on this old man, can we?"
Xiao Yan chuckled, rubbing his hands together. "Teacher, the cauldrons used by Alchemists are quite valuable. This disciple can't afford one."
Seeing Xiao Yan's sly expression, Old Yao sighed. "Don't worry. Since you're my disciple, I'll naturally prepare one for you. You'll get to see some real Alchemy techniques then!"
With a wave of his hand, Old Yao stored the pile of items on the ground into the Bone Flame Ring. He then placed his hand on Xiao Yan's shoulder. The space around them rippled, and they vanished from the campsite, reappearing in the Xiao family's back mountain.
Without the constant supply of Dou Qi from Xiao Yan these past few years, Old Yao would have been hard-pressed to restore his soul power to this extent.
Looking at the unfamiliar surroundings, Xiao Yan hadn't recognized the place. He asked in confusion, "Teacher, you didn't get us lost, did you? Is this really our Xiao family's back mountain?"
"You little rascal, you don't even know your own home?" Old Yao's figure slowly returned to the Bone Flame Ring. "Get ready, we're going to your Wutan City's auction house."
Xiao Yan shrugged, muttering, "It's not like someone's been sucking up all my Dou Qi, leaving me with no time for anything but cultivation."
After returning to the ring, Old Yao fell silent, offering no reply.
Sighing, Xiao Yan started walking. Fortunately, the back mountain wasn't large, so finding his way wouldn't take long.
Walking along, the air around him suddenly became humid, and Xiao Yan, who had been using his soul perception to scout the path, perked up.
"Xiao...Cousin Xiao Yu!"
Only then did Xiao Yan realize that he had unknowingly arrived near a hot spring located in the back mountains of the Xiao family.
"Perfect timing to ask for directions." Xiao Yan nodded in agreement, his expression serious. He then crouched down and silently slipped into the bushes, his dark eyes focused.
Not far from him, in the water of the pool, a stunningly beautiful girl in a swimsuit was bathing.
Her ink-black hair, wet and flowing, cascaded over her shoulders. Her smooth, round shoulders were so fair and delicate that they would make the most beautiful jade in the world pale in comparison.
The girl cupped water in her hands and gently smoothed it over her long, graceful legs. These sexy legs, even the alluring Ya Fei didn't possess.
As the young master of the Xiao family, Xiao Yan had naturally visited the Mittel Auction House, the largest in Wutan City, many times. He couldn't help but compare her to Ya Fei, the enchantress who captivated Wutan City.
At her young age, Xiao Yu was already this alluring. Who knows what she'd be like in a few years? Those legs...
A moment later, Xiao Yu slowly emerged from the hot spring. After drying off, she changed into a light blue silk top.
The silk top clung to Xiao Yu's skin, outlining her graceful figure.
Embroidered on the top was a white crane, so lifelike it seemed ready to take flight at any moment.
Wearing the top made Xiao Yu's skin appear even more fair and delicate, utterly captivating.
As she was tying the silk ribbons, Xiao Yu's beautiful eyes suddenly caught sight of a black object, and her pupils constricted.
"Who's there!"
Xiao Yu nervously clutched the front of her top and shouted sharply.
Xiao Yan's heart skipped a beat: I've been discovered? How is that possible!
Immediately, Xiao Yan remembered that he was still carrying the Black Heavy Ruler on his back.
He hadn't expected that thing to give him away! Xiao Yan cursed inwardly, and at the same time, an idea sparked in his mind.
"Run, there's a monster beast!" Xiao Yan suddenly leaped out from the bushes, sprinting towards Xiao Yu and shouting a warning.
Seeing it was Xiao Yan, Xiao Yu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Xiao Yan was too fast. Within a couple of breaths, he was in front of Xiao Yu, grabbing her delicate wrist and trying to pull her away.
"Where's the monster beast?" Xiao Yu pulled her hand back, a little puzzled.
Although the Monster Beast Mountain Range was right next to the back mountain, the Xiao family had lived here for so many years, and they had never heard of monster beasts appearing in the back mountain!
Xiao Yu's strength was far inferior to Xiao Yan's. Suddenly exerting force like that, she lost her footing, slipped, and the two of them tumbled into the hot spring together.
Splashing water erupted from the hot spring, followed by a startled cry.
(End of Chapter)