Climbing back to the cliff's edge, Xiao Heng felt a surge of confidence. With the Eagle Wings technique, his escape options had vastly improved, allowing him to tangle with slightly stronger magical beasts. Time to test my wings, he thought.
He'd entered the cave at dusk, and by the time he emerged, the night had deepened, the air growing chilly. Finding another suitable cave for rest, Xiao Heng unrolled the scroll for the High-Level Xuan Class flying Dou Technique, Eagle Wings, also known as Purple Cloud Wings. The dark wings bore purple veins, their feathers hard as steel, sourced from a fifth-tier flying beast, the Black Flame Purple Cloud Eagle, and suitable for one cultivator.
After a brief meditation to steady his mind, Xiao Heng placed his hands on the wings, probing with his soul force. The residual eagle soul within instinctively attacked his soul.
"Bold fool, daring to challenge me!" Xiao Heng's soul, fused with his Devouring Blue Flame like Yao Lao's, clashed with the eagle's. "Take this, you silly bird!" Bolstered by the flame, his soul swiftly overpowered the eagle's, grinding it into submission.
Pathetic little bird, how laughable! With the eagle soul subdued, Xiao Heng began cultivating the technique. Channeling Dou Zhi Qi along the scroll's prescribed pathways, he focused it into his palms. The wings on the scroll flickered before merging into his body.
Purple-black light coursed through his meridians, carving a tiny new pathway at his spine, where a black eagle wing tattoo formed. The process stung, but flight was now within reach. He directed Dou Zhi Qi into the tattoo, and his pale blue qi transformed into purple radiance, coalescing into a pair of tangible purple wings with a two-meter span.
Pouring more qi into the tattoo, the Purple Cloud Wings quivered, lifting him four meters into the air. Testing them, he found climbing consumed the most qi, hovering used little, and speed or altitude increased consumption. Slow flight with occasional glides mimicked bird flight, conserving energy. Like a bird, glide to save qi, he noted. Though his Dou Zhi Qi reserves were modest, his Mid-Level Di Class Fire Cloud Art allowed hours of full-speed flight.
The next morning, Xiao Heng left the Magical Beast Mountain Range for Qing Shan Town. Four months in the wild hadn't turned him into a savage—he valued his appearance. With Devouring Blue Flame, a hot bath's just a flame away.
Arriving at Ten Thousand Herb Hall early, before Xiao Yi Xian began her rounds, he waited at a nearby tea stall. Halfway through his cup, a white-clad figure appeared. "Xiao Heng, you're finally out of the mountains!" Xiao Yi Xian said, sitting across from him, her white robes accentuating her grace.
"Needed some fresh air, or I'd turn into a wild man," Xiao Heng replied, grinning.
"Right. Have you eaten? My treat if not," she said, her delicate smile captivating him briefly.
"Huh? Oh, not yet," he said, snapping out of his daze.
"Come on, big sister's treating!" Xiao Yi Xian teased. She was slightly older, likely by no more than two years.
Following her to a restaurant, Xiao Heng took a few bites before pulling out the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture scroll. "Found this by chance. It suits you perfectly," he said, handing it over. Their hands brushed as she took it—Xiao Heng remained unfazed, but Xiao Yi Xian's cheeks flushed slightly.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Open it and see," he urged.
"It's the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture, detailing poison recipes. Where'd you find this?" she asked, scanning it eagerly.
"In a cave. It's useless to me, but perfect for you, so I brought it," Xiao Heng said, his gaze calm and steady.
"It's ideal for me, but I've nothing to offer in return," she said, torn between desire and reluctance to accept it freely.
"No worries, you can owe me. Though, if you want to pledge yourself to me, I could make do," he teased, smirking.
"Hmph, thinking big for a kid. I'll owe you for now," she retorted, rolling her eyes, though her look held no real disdain.
"By the way, a secret—don't tell anyone," Xiao Heng said, glancing at the private room's door. "I'm an alchemist. If you hit a wall with your poison crafting, come to me."
"I will if I need help," she said, nodding. "Shame my Dou Zhi Qi attribute isn't suited for alchemy." Sighing, she returned to Ten Thousand Herb Hall.
Before parting, Xiao Heng gave her his address, saying he'd stay in town for a while and could help her find a way to become an alchemist. The Poison Scripture's notes on the Calamity Poison Body will tempt her, and my offer to help with alchemy seals the deal. She'll come to me, he thought.
Settling at the inn, Xiao Heng focused on alchemy. With gold coins, he bought herbs and magic cores, which were plentiful for first- and second-tier pills. First-tier refining caused no unusual phenomena, making it safe to practice indoors.
Alchemy was tedious, but after a month, his skill soared, with first-tier pill success rates climbing steadily. His Nine-Star Dou Zhe cultivation didn't advance—the leap to Dou Shi required vast Dou Zhi Qi, and Qing Shan Town lacked the environment for it. Still, repeated qi depletion and recovery from refining solidified his foundation.
Another half-month passed when Xiao Yi Xian knocked on his door. As she entered, Xiao Heng's keen soul perception caught a subtle new scent on her, slightly altering her fragrance. She'd started taking poisons. Her Dou Zhi Qi's rising faster, too, he noted, his purposeful probing revealing these changes.
Xiao Yi Xian sat a bit distant, asking about cultivating healing herbs. Though he had only six months of alchemy experience, Xiao Heng's expertise as an alchemist far surpassed ordinary herb-brewing methods. His answers were precise, offering innovative improvements. It's just cauldron versus pot, but the principles are the same.
"Xiao Yi Xian, no other questions?" Xiao Heng asked, locking eyes with her. She averted her gaze instinctively, but at sixteen or seventeen, she was no centuries-old schemer—her eyes betrayed her secrets.
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