From her first encounters with ordinary beasts—creatures not even ranked—Nannan had faced the brutality of combat. During her first battle, she was nearly gravely injured. After all, for a child, not being paralyzed by fear in a life-and-death fight was already a rare feat. But instead of shrinking away, she pressed forward, confronting each danger head-on. By her third encounter, she could already slay an unranked beast.
As the battles continued, she grew more experienced and adept. She began applying the combat techniques she had learned—techniques handpicked by Yi Tianxing himself: Dragon Seizing Hand, Jade Breaking Finger, Willow Catkin Movement Technique, and Jade Shattering Palm. Her comprehension was astonishing. She grasped these techniques with ease and could proficiently apply them after just three tries, executing them during battle with impressive fluency and effectiveness.
Her combat strength took another leap when Yi Tianxing gifted her a pair of silk gloves. These gloves were impervious to blades and weapons. When infused with true qi, they made her palm strikes sharp enough to cut through gold and jade, rendering her hands invulnerable and deadly. With them, she could control the battlefield, reacting swiftly and decisively.
She was a natural-born cultivator—specifically, a battle cultivator, someone who thrived in the heat of combat. Within her realm, Nannan's combat ability was already at the peak. Her talent had dramatically amplified her power.
"Brother, where are we going now?"Nannan asked, looking up at Yi Tianxing.
"Nowhere.""Your task today is to skin the wolf you just killed, clean the organs, start a fire, and cook our meal. The food today is the wolf you hunted.""In the wilderness, you must not only have the strength to kill but also the skills to survive—to gather and cook your own food. We are human, not primitive creatures who eat raw meat. You must learn how to process ingredients and prepare a proper, hot meal. This time, I won't help you. You must do it all yourself."
Yi Tianxing spoke calmly, his tone serious. This was the next step in Nannan's journey.
Being strong didn't guarantee survival. One must know how to live with dignity, even in harsh conditions. A person must remain a person, not a beast.
"Got it. Today Nannan will cook."
She didn't question or resist. She trusted that whatever Yi Tianxing asked of her, it was for her own good. Still, it wasn't an easy task. For a six- or seven-year-old girl, these were burdens few children her age could bear.
In the past, girls her age would be attending school, playing games, and enjoying candy and ice cream. They wouldn't even know the meaning of "firewood, rice, oil, and salt." But now, she had to face the cruel reality of survival.
Dragging the wolf's corpse with ease, Nannan brought it to a small stream in a nearby valley. Without hesitation, she took a dagger and began the process of skinning. It was her first time, and the result was far from elegant. The pelt was uneven, full of cuts and holes—useless, really—but it served as practice. She tossed it aside and moved on.
Next, she slit open the abdomen and cleaned out the internal organs. Though the bloody stench made her frown, she didn't flinch. She persisted.
"When you handle internal organs, you must either throw them into rivers where fish can eat them, bury them deep to hide the scent, or destroy them by fire. Any trace of blood can attract ferocious beasts. In the wild, even small mistakes can lead to death. Bravery and caution are both essential to survival."
Yi Tianxing reminded her.
"Understood."
Nannan thought for a moment, then tossed the innards into the stream. Soon, fish surged to the surface, fighting for the scraps. In this ecosystem, any hesitation or gentleness could mean extinction.
She gathered firewood next.
Yi Tianxing didn't let her use true qi to ignite the fire. Instead, she had to use the most primitive method—fire by friction. Magic can run out, but this technique would serve her no matter the circumstances.
Though it was her first attempt, with her current strength and some guidance, she succeeded after a few tries. A healthy flame soon danced in front of her.
She skewered the wolf carcass and began roasting it over the fire.
"You can't let the fire roast just one side—it'll burn. Rotate it constantly for even heat. In the wild, seasoning is scarce, but one thing is essential: salt. Salt brings out flavor, even when nothing else is available."
Yi Tianxing handed her a container of refined salt, white and pure—stored from before the cataclysm. Under his direction, she sprinkled the salt evenly, cutting grooves into the meat to ensure it cooked thoroughly.
The aroma of roasting meat soon filled the air.
"Brother, come taste Nannan's cooking!"
Nannan beamed as she looked at her work. Some parts were charred, but for a first attempt, it was commendable.
"Alright, let me see how you've done."
Yi Tianxing smiled, walked over, and sat beside her. He sliced a piece of meat, took a bite, and chewed thoughtfully.
"Well? Is it good?"
Nannan looked at him with sparkling eyes, eager for praise.
"The meat's a bit tough—that's the nature of wolf meat. The salt was well distributed, and it's flavored properly. You rotated the meat, but not evenly—some parts got burned. Still, for a first try, it's more than decent. When I first roasted meat, I didn't do as well as you."
His praise was sincere. And Nannan, hearing it, lit up with joy.
"Nannan will work even harder!"She declared, taking a bite herself. Though it couldn't compare to the gourmet meals Yi Tianxing had made before, the satisfaction of eating her own cooking made each bite delicious.
"After the meal, start cultivating the Diamond Dragon Elephant Technique. Your body will better absorb the food's essence right after eating—it's the most efficient time to grow."
After eating, Nannan didn't delay. She began her training. Her appetite had grown with her cultivation—she ate four to five times what a grown man would eat. The rest of the meat went to Yi Tianxing, who also absorbed it swiftly into his cultivation.
Two months passed in a flash.
During this time, Yi Tianxing led Nannan through the wilderness. They visited villages and towns, not just for supplies, but to observe the people's conditions. No one can live detached from society—Nannan, too, would eventually have to live among people. These visits were also a lesson in human nature and survival.
One day, on a small hill outside a town, the two stood together in silence.
"Brother… you're leaving, aren't you?"Nannan looked up at Yi Tianxing, her eyes full of reluctance.