Amidst the swirling Cloud and Mist Enshrouded, a streak of emerald Mountain Peak broke through the clouds. At the Mountain Summit, within a small pavilion, two people faced each other.
Pouring two cups of Water, and raising his cup in a gesture, Zhao Li took a sip for himself. As if remembering something, he said,
"You've arrived?"
Xiao Yan was slightly startled. A certain memory surged up, and he tried to answer,
"I have arrived."
Seeing the slight nervousness in Xiao Yan's expression, Zhao Li felt like teasing him. He straightened his face, and a subtle, almost imperceptible pressure emanated from him.
"You shouldn't have come."
One must know that to this Pocket World, he was an existence comparable to the Heavenly Dao. In that instant, Xiao Yan felt as if he had been abandoned, with a sense of falling into the Abyss, never to return.
Fortunately, it was only for an instant. What followed was the relief of having matched the secret code, and a joy akin to meeting an old acquaintance in a foreign land, but even more indescribable.
"But I still came!"
After speaking, the nervousness seemed to vanish with his words. Xiao Yan picked up the teacup and drained it in one gulp.
Seeing this, Zhao Li no longer teased the young man before him. He simply refilled his cup and said unhurriedly,
"You seem to have many Doubts. Tell me, what do you want to know?"
Xiao Yan became serious again. Although they were from the same hometown, Zhao Li had already reached the peak of this world and had bestowed favor upon a corner of it, earning the respect of him, a Junior. After a moment of contemplation, he finally asked the Doubt in his heart:
"Senior seems to treat me differently from others. Is it because of my origin?"
He used to think that Zhao Li's kindness towards him was a result of loving the house and its crow, an investment from a Senior in a Junior. But now, it seemed to be more than that.
"Yes and no. No need to overthink it. I bear you no ill will."
Zhao Li did not deny it.
Xiao Yan stopped, not dwelling on this, and then asked what he wanted to know:
"Senior, I vaguely feel that Earth has been destroyed by the Outer Realm Evil Race. Is that true? Do we still have a chance to go back?"
Zhao Li truly didn't know this news. He couldn't help but size up Xiao Yan, capturing some scattered information from the surrounding spiritual energy that was leaking out. He slightly frowned.
Xiao Yan seemed not to be from the Earth that he knew. To be precise, the Earth where Xiao Yan was located was itself a galaxy within the Great Thousand World, but...
After a brief thought, Zhao Li did not jump to conclusions. After some deliberation, he said,
"When your Strength is sufficient, you can indeed cross the Chaos. However, the Chaos is endless. Without coordinates, it is very difficult to find a world, and..."
After a slight pause, Zhao Li continued,
"What you remember is very likely true."
Because there was no other information about Earth on the Dou Qi Continent, even the Origin of Heaven and Earth could not create something from nothing. Everything Xiao Yan saw was derived from his own cognition.
Xiao Yan gently bit his lip and took another large gulp of tea. Although he had long been mentally prepared, he still held a bit of expectation. Now...
But he adjusted very quickly. After the tea went down, he nodded slightly, indicating that he understood, as if he had just asked an insignificant question. Then, he began to talk about how similar the corner of Great Li he had seen was to the country in his memory, with enthusiasm in his words. Finally, he subtly flattered,
"When I was in the Jia Ma Empire before, I wondered why the Dou Qi Continent was different from other fantasy novels. It turns out the root cause is with Grandmaster."
Zhao Li's movements paused, and his gaze slowly lost focus. At that moment, Xiao Yan felt as if he had no secrets whatsoever. However, Zhao Li's gaze seemed to pass through him, through Space-Time, and landed on the world outside. Then he shook his head slightly and sighed,
"It's still far from enough, and I also have selfish motives. This will require your cooperation."
Xiao Yan's eyes widened like copper bells. He pointed at himself, opened his mouth, and finally asked in disbelief,
"Huh? Me?"
In his opinion, with Zhao Li's Strength, anything he wanted to do should be effortless. Yet now he said he needed his cooperation. Although he didn't know exactly what it was, Xiao Yan still felt a bit strange.
Zhao Li nodded and comforted him,
"It's nothing major. You know Journey to the West, right?"
Xiao Yan nodded, still confused, not understanding what this had to do with Journey to the West. Before he could ask, Zhao Li continued,
"I intend to make an Eastward Journey to Spread the Teachings, on one hand to raise the Strength of the upper-level Cultivators on the Dou Qi Continent, and on the other hand to raise the lower limit of Mortals and strengthen the Continent's Foundation."
Zhao Li had vaguely sensed that this Sudden Impulse to make an "Eastward Journey" was no longer just to satisfy his malicious interests. It seemed to be connected to the Origin of the Dou Qi Continent. If handled properly, perhaps it could elevate the Dou Qi Continent's Origin to another level...
However, there was no need to explain these details to Xiao Yan. He only needed to improve his Strength during this journey. It would be even better if he could complete the Dou Di Route.
Xiao Yan quickly understood Zhao Li's intention to promote the Great Li model throughout the entire Dou Qi Continent. Naturally, he was very willing to contribute to it. However, he was still a bit timid and said,
"Grandmaster, I do want to help you, but if I accidentally mess things up and ruin Grandmaster's grand plan, that wouldn't be good..."
Zhao Li raised his hand, interrupting Xiao Yan, showing no intention of changing people. He even analyzed calmly,
"Don't panic. Firstly, you are a Dou Sect Cultivation Level, and your Combat Power is extraordinary. You can be considered a master on the Continent. Secondly, you need to search for Heavenly Flames, so it's impossible for you to be confined to one region, which is perfect. Thirdly, you will eventually have to deal with those Ancient Clans..."
In fact, the most important point was that Xiao Yan's destiny was connected to the Dou Qi Continent. Only in this way might the Origin be awakened.
As for the points Zhao Li mentioned, because the current Xiao Yan didn't know much, he didn't understand how a small family from Wutan City like himself could be involved with those Ancient Clans that sounded so powerful. But the first two points he truly couldn't refute.
Feeling that he couldn't refuse this task, Xiao Yan prepared to accept his fate. Thinking that Tang Sanzang had several bodyguards while he was just a small Dou Sect, he was still a bit timid, so he said,
"Grandmaster, look, I'm only a Dou Sect. Shouldn't I also be assigned a few bodyguards?"
"You don't need to worry about those. They have already been prepared for you. Hmm, I'll give you half a year. You can first digest some of these things in this Pocket World. If you have any Doubts, you can ask me directly."
Zhao Li threw out a Jade Slip. That was the Dao that would be Spread during this trip. It mostly contained books for enlightenment and education, and the practical uses of skills like Formation Crafting, Artifact Forging, and Talisman Crafting in daily life. The main idea was to teach people how to fish rather than just giving them fish. Of course, on the Dou Qi Continent, Cultivation Techniques for Dou Qi would not be missing. However, there was only one volume. This was not being stingy; rather, it was universally applicable and its upper limit was not low.
As for how to spread them, make people believe in them, and apply them to their lives to truly change their living standards, that would be student Xiao Yan's test.
At this time, Xiao Yan, who had received the Jade Slip, didn't know what was inside. He was overjoyed, thinking that Zhao Li was going to give him Special Tutoring since he had been entrusted with a heavy responsibility. He was fantasizing that after half a year, he would be like Sun Wukong and possess the Strength to cause Havoc in Heaven as soon as he went out. For a moment, a foolishly infatuated smile actually appeared on his face
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