Putting everything away, Xiao Yan crawled out of the cave. It was midday outside, and the scorching sun blazed down, baking the mountain walls until they were scorching hot. Leaping down from the cave, after a few steps, he happened to meet Little Healer Immortal, who had just returned from herb gathering with a basket of flowers. At this moment, she had a light green headscarf on her head, looking like a beautiful village girl. Xiao Yan couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly, shaking his head and greeting her with a smile.
Seeing Xiao Yan, Little Healer Immortal also smiled sweetly at him. Her gaze swept over the cave on the mountain wall, but wisely, she didn’t ask any questions. Everyone has their own secrets, including herself, so she didn’t pry into what Xiao Yan was doing in the cave. Everything was as if it had never been seen, and although Xiao Yan didn’t say anything, he undoubtedly appreciated her demeanor.
“Hungry? I’ll make lunch,” said Little Healer Immortal, walking slowly with Xiao Yan to the thatched hut. She turned her head and gave him a mischievous smile, then squatted down, rolled up her sleeves, and started a fire under the stone stove, methodically arranging all the ingredients for cooking.
Sitting on a nearby rock, Xiao Yan watched as Little Healer Immortal, while busy, hummed a song softly through her pretty nose. He couldn’t help but smile. In terms of cooking, she was indeed a skillful and clever woman. Of course, Xiao Yan wouldn’t forget that these dexterous, pure, and white hands could also be quite deadly and bizarre when it came to poisoning.
Poison Masters do not have a good reputation in the Dou Qi continent. Many people are wary of dealing with Poison Masters because their subtle and lethal methods of poisoning can make anyone, even friends, feel uneasy.
Similarly, if it weren’t for the assistance and protection of Pharmacist Elder, a Grandmaster Alchemist, Xiao Yan would not have dared to eat anything given by Little Healer Immortal. After all, caution is crucial when one is out in the world. Regardless, life is always precious.
Perhaps it was because Xiao Yan accepted everything prepared by Little Healer Immortal without hesitation that, after half a month, her attitude toward him became increasingly friendly and gentle. Of course, this gentleness was not romantic; Xiao Yan could sense that Little Healer Immortal regarded him as a male friend and confidant.
In the heart of this sensitive woman, she did not need much—just a little trust could bring a beautiful smile to her face. Unfortunately, her profession made such things rare. For this, Xiao Yan felt a bit guilty. If it weren’t for the help of Pharmacist Elder, he might not have gained Little Healer Immortal’s friendship.
Sitting on the rock, Xiao Yan watched the graceful figure bustling about preparing their lunch, and sighed lightly. After a while, he suddenly asked, “When do you plan to leave here?”
“Hmm?” Hearing Xiao Yan’s question, Little Healer Immortal turned around, brushed back her hair, and stared at Xiao Yan with a puzzled look, asking softly, “What’s wrong?”
“Don’t misunderstand. This is your place; I wouldn’t dare to chase you away,” Xiao Yan waved his hand, teasing her. Then he said, “Because of some reasons, I might stay here for another half a month to a month. I think if you have any urgent matters, you can…”
“No worries. Stay as long as you like. I don’t have any urgent matters, just the desire to travel around the Dou Qi continent sometime. But there’s no rush. My time isn’t pressing…” she replied, relieved, turning back and smiling casually.
“Traveling the continent? That’s a good idea,” Xiao Yan nodded thoughtfully. Traveling, exploring, and treasure hunting were also his dreams.
“Do you have an interest too? We can travel together,” she said, adding more wood to the fire, smiling.
“Hehe, I still have some tasks to complete, so I don’t have the leisure or time in the short term,” Xiao Yan shook his head, smiling.
“That’s a pity. It’s not easy to find a friend who suits me so well,” she said, shaking her head regretfully.
“Before you travel… as a friend, I advise you to hide your identity as a Poison Master. Otherwise, your journey will be very lonely,” Xiao Yan said seriously after a moment of silence.
Little Healer Immortal’s body stiffened slightly. She threw a few non-toxic mushrooms from the basket into the pot and sighed, watching the bubbling soup. She was well aware that her profession often made people uncomfortable.
“Actually, you’re not a full Poison Master yet, hehe. You can travel as a Healer, which is easier to gain respect,” Xiao Yan said, noticing her silence, laughing dryly.
“I will become a Poison Master eventually, and perhaps one of the most disliked ones,” she sighed softly.
“Whether you become a Poison Master or not depends on you. No one is forcing you, right?” Xiao Yan asked, confused.
“You wouldn’t understand…” she murmured, lowering her head, her face hidden by her hair. “If we meet again in the future, I hope you can still consider me a friend.”
Xiao Yan scratched his head, bewildered by her mysterious words.
“Alright, done,” she said, shaking her head lightly, watching the pot. She then took a small bowl, filled it with mushroom soup, and carefully handed it to Xiao Yan.
Taking the bowl, Xiao Yan sniffed the delicious aroma, salivating. He swallowed and gave her a thumbs-up before gulping down the hot soup without hesitation.
Watching Xiao Yan drink the soup without any hesitation, Little Healer Immortal smiled, pleased with his trust.
Sitting on the rock, Xiao Yan drank several bowls of soup, finally handing the empty bowl back to her, patting his round belly, and saying with a smile, “Good skills. Whoever marries you will be lucky.”
“Marry me?” she laughed, covering her mouth. “You should know that Poison Masters have the least number of marriages. Not many people have the courage to sleep with a wife who can release lethal poisons with a single gesture.”
Shaking his head, Xiao Yan felt she was too pessimistic. Although Poison Masters are feared, her current strength is far from that level. Those Grandmaster Poison Masters who strike fear with their names are not something anyone can become.
“Remember, if we meet again in the Dou Qi continent, you mustn’t hate me. Otherwise, I’d be very sad,” she said, putting away the dishes and heading towards the thatched hut. Pausing at the entrance, she turned and smiled at Xiao Yan before disappearing inside, leaving him baffled.
Staring at the thatched hut for a long time, Xiao Yan sighed. Even if she became a Poison Master, would that change anything? Would he really hate her just because of that?
After mulling over his thoughts for a while, Xiao Yan lazily stood up and walked to the base of a cliff. Looking up at the blazing sun, he flexed his ankle, then stomped his foot on the ground. With a crisp sound, his body shot up like a cannonball, leaping onto the cliff. Just as his strength was about to wane, he stomped again, his body continuously surging upward along the cliff.
After the fifth stomp, Xiao Yan’s body flipped in the air, landing steadily on a peak above the valley. From there, the thatched hut below was only the size of half a fist.
It was noon, and the sun’s rays burned fiercely, making the exposed rocks almost unbearable to touch. Xiao Yan’s landing point was a protruding platform, where he could bask in the hottest sun.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Xiao Yan shook his head, sighing at the hardships of cultivation. He sat down on the scorching rock, feeling the intense heat sear his buttocks, causing him to grimace.
Sitting cross-legged, Xiao Yan ignored the sweat rolling down his face. He formed the cultivation seals and gradually stabilized his mind. As soon as he entered the cultivation state, he noticed the surrounding fire energy rushing into his body. His mind skillfully channeled the energy through his meridians, finally pouring it into the vortex. After rotating in the vortex, it was infused into the central purple flame.
Feeling the fiery energy, the purple flame roared, and after consuming it, the tiny flame seemed to grow slightly. Under his focused observation, he saw the slight growth of the purple flame, and was pleasantly surprised by the results.
After absorbing more energy, Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes and took out the small jade bottle containing the purple crystal essence from his ring. He carefully dipped his finger in, put it in his mouth, and quickly swallowed it with his saliva.
As soon as the purple crystal essence entered his stomach, Xiao Yan’s face turned red, and his skin began to redden. Feeling the changes in his body, he quickly focused and circulated his Dou Qi to neutralize the fierce, hot energy.
On the scorching mountain, under the blazing sun, the young man gritted his teeth, enduring the internal inferno like a silkworm pupa suffering before its transformation. The pain was followed by rebirth!
But the transformation process required the crucible of pain!
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