Chapter Seventeen: Return to Wutan City

With the successful cultivation of the Purple Cloud Wings, although Chen Xiao was still in the familiarization phase, they already provided him with tremendous assistance.

Take the beasts on the outskirts of the Demon Beast Mountain Range, for example—ninety-nine percent of them ran on land or swam in water.

Those capable of flight were exceedingly rare.

Therefore, by flying just two meters above the ground, Chen Xiao could avoid the vast majority of troubles, greatly accelerating the speed of a round trip.

It was also thanks to the Purple Cloud Wings that Chen Xiao managed, in just three days, to completely clear out the gold coins from the cave’s stone chamber, storing them all into a gold coin card.

“A total of 813,296 gold coins. Esteemed guest, please take good care of this,” said a graceful maid, holding the gold coin card with both hands. Her smile was as refreshing as spring, and she harbored no fanciful thoughts despite the black-robed man before her being shorter than herself.

Without a word, Chen Xiao took the card and nodded slightly in thanks before turning away without looking back.

Over eight hundred thousand gold coins—this was all his current savings.

Ninety-nine percent of it came from the cave chamber, with only a small portion earned from hunting magical beasts.

Leaving Black Flame City, Chen Xiao took half an hour to rush back to the Green Mountain Town inn, where he packed many hidden boxes of medicinal herbs before hoisting the bulky package on his back and heading to the Myriad Medicine Pavilion.

It was noon, and with ninety percent of the mercenaries bustling about, the spacious main hall felt rather deserted.

The girl in a white dress standing atop a wooden crate glanced at Chen Xiao carrying the bundle, a flicker of curiosity crossing her face.

“I’m leaving Green Mountain Town. Could you spare some of the medicinal powders you usually use for me to keep on hand?” he asked.

Upon hearing this, the young healer’s eyes brightened with understanding.

Her crafted medicinal powders were unmatched in cost-effectiveness throughout Green Mountain Town, and mercenaries often came to purchase them as reserves—it was nothing unusual.

“If I gave you all of it, I wouldn’t have any left for today. However, if you have any of those formulas, I’d be willing to consider it,” she said.

Chen Xiao set the package aside and began to copy the formulas with paper and pen.

At first, the girl watched curiously from behind the counter, but as Chen Xiao’s writing grew longer, she hurried upstairs and returned carrying a pile of bottles and jars.

A quick glance revealed about fourteen or fifteen bottles.

Chen Xiao raised his eyes, his gaze filled with doubt.

At this moment, silence spoke louder than words.

The young healer smiled sheepishly. “That’s really all I have. I promise, not a single bottle is left behind.”

Chen Xiao nodded and continued to write.

Returning to the wooden crate, the girl fetched paper, pen, and adhesive water, carefully labeling each bottle.

There were powders for treating bruises and sprains, stopping bleeding, dispersing clots—various types covering almost every common ailment.

Fifteen minutes later, Chen Xiao put down his pen and handed several pages of formulas to the girl.

By this point, he had copied every volume of the Seven-colored Poison Scripture except for the one on the Calamity Poison Body.

“Thank you. I know even if I gave you all my powders, I couldn’t exchange for so many formulas. But I really enjoy studying these things, so I shamelessly took advantage of you today,” the girl said honestly, a bit embarrassed.

Chen Xiao shook his head slightly, saying nothing further, which made the girl a little puzzled.

Opening the package, Chen Xiao began to pack the bottles, his eyes catching the neat and elegant handwriting on each label.

The writing reflected the person.

“Thank you for your care these days. I bid you farewell.”

“You’re welcome. By the way, what’s your name?”

“Chen Xiao.”

“I’m Little Healer.”

“I know. Your reputation in Green Mountain Town is quite well-known.”

Smiling, Chen Xiao hoisted his pack and waved goodbye as he stepped outside the Myriad Medicine Pavilion.

His mission accomplished, it was time to return and fully digest what he had learned.

Just as Chen Xiao left Green Mountain Town, three mercenaries bearing wolf-head insignias glanced at his tempting bundle and exchanged looks before silently following him.

“That kid’s no pushover. On his first day in Green Mountain Town, he showed strength above a six-star Dou Master, ventured alone into the Demon Beast Mountain Range several times and came out unscathed. The three of us aren’t enough to handle him. Tieshan, you go back and gather some men. We’ll tail him for now,” said a sharp-faced mercenary seriously.

Upon hearing this, the one called Tieshan nodded and quickly turned away.

Walking on the steaming main road, Chen Xiao glanced back with a shake of his head.

The Wolf-Head Mercenary Corps was truly a rotten presence in Green Mountain Town.

However, with the Purple Cloud Wings as his trump card, Chen Xiao feared no one in the town.

Turning into a small path, he pressed on.

Half an hour later, seven or eight mercenaries escorted a clearly high-ranking youth to the edge of a dense forest, following trail markers.

“Why do the marks stop here?”

“Young Leader, there are two bodies here!”

“They’re Skinny Monkey and Fatty!”

“Damn! Trying to steal eggs only to lose the nest. But that kid dared to kill our Wolf-Head Mercenaries—this isn’t over!”

…

Two days later.

Outside Wutan City.

Gazing at the small city where he had lived for nine years, Chen Xiao shed his black robe and revealed an innocent smile.

When he left Wutan City earlier, he had nothing—not even the means to purchase basic cultivation resources.

But now, his fortune rivaled that of the three great families, filling him with confidence.

In terms of cash flow and the foundational cultivation arts and Dou Techniques he possessed, even the three great families paled in comparison.

“Next time I leave, it will be a true journey.”

Murmuring to himself, Chen Xiao strode into Wutan City.

Upon entering, he was surprised to find the city bustling with an unusual crowd far exceeding the usual flow.

It was as if, in just a month, Wutan City’s population had tripled or quadrupled.

Moreover, the crowd was converging toward the city’s central square.

“Could it be the Canaan Academy recruitment team?”

Passing by the square, the throng was so dense Chen Xiao was amazed.

He tiptoed to peek inside but, aside from a flag fluttering in the wind, all he saw were countless heads.

“Well, it’s none of my business.”

Chen Xiao shook his head resignedly and headed straight back to the Xiao family estate.

The Canaan Academy was a great opportunity, but Chen Xiao had no plans to attend for now.

Inside the Xiao family estate.

The young members were all drawn to the recruitment spectacle at the central square, leaving the training ground empty and deserted.

This worked to Chen Xiao’s advantage; he returned to his quarters unnoticed by most.

Of course, Xiao Xun’er, who lived in the estate’s core, was an exception.

Ling Ying, a Dou Emperor at his peak, was still far too powerful for the small Wutan City. Nothing the Xiao family did escaped his perception.

“Miss, Chen Xiao is back—a nine-star Dou Master. He looks like he’s made good progress.”