Xiao Se said solemnly, "You probably don't lack cultivation techniques, battle skills, or pills—but this immortal herb can be of enormous help to you. Its name is Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, a rare heavenly herb seldom seen in this world."
"It not only strengthens the foundation and nourishes vitality, but can also directly increase your cultivation and talent, greatly amplifying the power of fire-attribute attacks."
"For us fire-attribute cultivators, it's simply perfect. I consumed one myself back when I was at the Da Dou Shi stage. Not only did it immediately raise my cultivation by one star, it also fully refined all the medicinal residue accumulated in my body from pills, allowing me to jump two entire levels in one go."
Hearing this, Xun'er's heart trembled slightly.
Although she never lacked cultivation resources, even she had never seen such a miraculous item.
"Thank you, Brother Xiao Se."
A gentle smile bloomed on her delicate face as she accepted the immortal herb.
"Go refine it first. Remember—do not chew it. Swallow it directly. There may be pain later on, but as long as you endure it, the benefits will be immense. For someone with your talent, it's merely icing on the cake," Xiao Se said, his gaze a little complicated.
Xun'er obediently nodded and walked over to sit beside Xiao Yu.
Soon, Little Fairy Doctor, Xiao Yu, and Xun'er all entered cultivation states.
Inside the room, only Xiao Se and Zhu Zhuqing remained standing.
"Zhuqing, they'll probably need several hours," Xiao Se said with a smile. "Let's go take a walk outside. We can familiarize ourselves with the surroundings."
Zhu Zhuqing vaguely understood that in the coming days, the time Xiao Se could spend with her would only decrease.
Naturally, she agreed without hesitation.
Hand in hand, the two left the pavilion.
This building had been specially allocated to Little Fairy Doctor by Hu Qian. It had plenty of rooms, so Xiao Se and Zhu Zhuqing stayed here as well.
Xiao Yu had originally wanted to move in too, but despite her bold appearance, she was actually quite shy inside. Afraid of being teased by Xue Ni and the others, she ultimately didn't dare come.
As for Xun'er—among everyone, Xiao Yu was the one she was closest to. Since Xiao Yu didn't move in, she naturally wouldn't either.
Time flowed quietly.
Before anyone realized it, an entire month had passed.
—
Jia Nan Academy.
Within a certain mountain valley of the Outer Academy.
Beneath a waterfall a hundred zhang tall, a massive boulder jutted from the deep pool below.
Xiao Se sat cross-legged upon it, the demonic sword laid horizontally across his knees.
His entire being had entered a profound, ethereal state—mind and body forgotten.
The roaring torrent crashed endlessly into the pool, producing thunderous booms that shook the valley.
Yet none of it disturbed him in the slightest.
Within his perception, the valley was no longer the same valley.
The waterfall was no longer the same waterfall.
Sound vanished completely.
The rushing water slowed… slower… until it finally stopped altogether.
Droplets spinning in midair froze in place.
Under the warm sunlight, they shimmered with strange brilliance—like countless dazzling gemstones suspended in the air.
At that moment—
Xiao Se suddenly opened his cold, sharp eyes.
Grip the sword.
Slash.
The movement flowed seamlessly, without the slightest hesitation.
Silently, the hundred-zhang waterfall before him split cleanly down the middle, cascading separately to the left and right.
Boom! Boom!
Two thunderous explosions echoed one after another as water sprayed violently outward.
Only after a long moment did the divided waterfall merge once more.
"From the looks of it, you're becoming more and more like a true swordsman."
A familiar voice sounded beside him.
At some unknown moment, Queen Medusa had appeared, standing gracefully at his side with a faint smile.
From that strike earlier, she had sensed something terrifying.
Though it was still extremely weak and posed no threat to her now, if it continued to grow, it would eventually become something truly dreadful.
She herself favored swords.
In battle, she often condensed two serpent-shaped long swords from Dou Qi in her palms. With those alone, she had once easily shattered Hai Bodong's Ice Dragon.
"Hah…"
Xiao Se exhaled slowly, mist-like breath shooting from his mouth.
"Is that so? But I still have a very long road ahead."
He rose to his feet, his body trembling slightly as the three-tenths sword intent radiating from him instantly withdrew. With a casual flourish, he twirled the blade and returned the demonic sword into his body.
"It seems Your Majesty's strength has increased again," Xiao Se said with a smile. "Did something happen?"
Under normal circumstances, Queen Medusa would never show herself without reason.
She nodded lightly, her expression turning serious.
"There's still some time before the Inner Academy Selection Tournament. The so-called courses in the Outer Academy are utterly useless to you."
"This is the Black Corner Region. Gathering materials for the Spirit Fusion Pill won't be too difficult."
"So… you understand what I mean."
"Tsk tsk."
Hearing this, Xiao Se looked her up and down, clicking his tongue repeatedly.
"What are you clicking for?" Queen Medusa's slender brows drew together as she demanded.
Xiao Se chuckled. "Nothing. I just remembered how you used to call yourself This Queen and order me around. Now you're suddenly using a negotiating tone—it caught me off guard."
"Oh?"
A dangerous smile appeared on her noble face.
"Should this queen switch back then?"
"N-no need!" Xiao Se waved his hands quickly. "A gentle queen is charming too."
"Then hurry up and go!" she snapped.
"Uh… I'm going. I'll call Little Fairy Doctor first—I need some things myself anyway."
The corner of Xiao Se's mouth twitched.
He put on his clothes as the Purple Cloud Wings burst forth from his back. With a single flap, he turned into a streak of light and vanished into the sky.
"Three days without discipline and he starts climbing onto the roof…"
She muttered softly.
"But… he really is becoming more and more like one."
Her figure turned into a red streak of light that shot forward, instantly catching up to Xiao Se. The glow dispersed, transforming into a seven-colored little snake that slipped straight into his robes.
—
Black Seal City.
"Ah! A Dou Huang expert—run! Aah!"
On a wide street, two black-robed figures stood calmly.
One of them flicked their sleeve.
Dense purple-red poisonous mist condensed into lethal needles and shot outward.
Dozens of burly men collapsed instantly—foam spilling from their mouths, skin turning bluish-purple.
Among them were even Dou Ling-level cultivators.
"That's really chaotic," a clear, bell-like female voice said leisurely as the poison mist was withdrawn.
"I thought the Poison Masters of the Chu Yun Empire were already bad enough. Compared to this place, that was practically paradise."
The speaker was none other than Little Fairy Doctor.
The other black-robed figure was Xiao Se.
Their first stop was naturally Black Seal City.
Xiao Se clearly remembered that the third fragment of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame map was located in the Black Seal City auction house.
It had remained unsold for a long time—until Xiao Yan arrived in the original story and snatched it away from the Blood Sect's wastrel heir, together with the seventh-grade pill Yin-Yang Profound Dragon Pill.
"Get used to it," Xiao Se said calmly with a faint smile.
"The Black Corner Region is famous for chaos. In a place where people devour people, sometimes there's no need to treat these people as humans."
"Because they're no longer human."
He raised his hand toward the corpses.
With a suction force, dozens of storage rings flew up from the bodies and gathered neatly into Xiao Se's palm.
(End of Chapter)
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