Chapter 62: The Third Stone Box

The Soul Shock technique isn't high-level, and cultivating it isn't difficult, let alone for Xiao Yan, an Alchemist with exceptionally strong Soul Force.

Moreover, the destructive power of Soul Shock has nothing to do with proficiency in Dou Techniques—it depends entirely on the user's Soul Strength and the opponent's Soul Strength.

Facing these mercenaries who didn't even know Soul Cultivation Techniques or Soul Techniques, Xiao Yan's Soul Shock wasn't merely an attack—it was a terrifying Dou Technique, like Death itself, reaping lives.

For a moment, the entire tomb chamber fell silent; all shouts ceased abruptly. Xiao Yixian staggered back two steps, her beautiful eyes filled with terror as she stared at that familiar yet alien back.

Is this Xiao Yan's true strength?!

Xiao Yan looked at Mu Li, who had collapsed in terror, and smiled warmly as he stepped closer and asked, "What else do you want? I'm always generous with the dead."

Seeing Xiao Yan approach step by step, Mu Li wet himself—he had no time for pride now, and shouted desperately, "Y-you can't kill me! My father is the leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Corps! He's a Second-Star Dou Master! If you kill me, he'll hunt you to the ends of the earth—there won't be a single place for you to survive in Qingshan Town!!"

Thud—the sound was clean and sharp. Xiao Yan kicked Mu Li out of the stone chamber with one swift motion; mid-flight, hidden force erupted, and his body burst into red sparks.

Xiao Yan brushed the dust off his clothes, in high spirits, and slowly walked toward Xiao Yixian.

Seeing Xiao Yan approaching, Xiao Yixian couldn't claim she wasn't afraid—but after careful thought, she realized: if Xiao Yan had truly intended to kill her and claim the tomb for himself, she'd already be a corpse.

"You're definitely not just a Second-Star Dou Practitioner," Xiao Yixian stated firmly.

Xiao Yan smiled faintly. "Your Qingshan Town really is quaint—when I said I was a Second-Star Dou Practitioner, you actually believed me?"

Xiao Yixian gave him a disgruntled look. "Who'd expect a boy of fifteen or sixteen to have such terrifying cultivation? You're no ordinary person."

"I don't change my name or my ways—I'm Xiao Yan, Young Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan from Wutan City. If you ever visit Wutan City, just say my name at the Xiao Clan—I'll protect you." Xiao Yan patted his chest.

Xiao Yixian furrowed her delicate brows; she'd heard of Wutan City—it was one of the major cities of the Jia Ma Empire.

"Can't this stone box be opened?" Xiao Yan turned to the unopened stone box; compared to the Wolf Head Mercenary Corps, he cared far more about what lay inside the third stone box.

Judging from what's here, the tomb's owner likely had the power of a Dou Wang. The Seven Color Poison Classic, though unmarked in rank, is at least Arcane-Rank High-Level. Add to that the rare Flying Dou Technique—the tomb's owner's strength must be substantial.

Xiao Yan guessed the third stone box would contain another Arcane-Rank High-Level Cultivation Method or Dou Technique, and likely a special one.

At Xiao Yan's question, Xiao Yixian snapped back to focus, slowly turning the key. Soon—click—the stone box opened.

As expected—it was another Scroll.

"Arcane-Rank High-Level Dou Technique: Roaring Lion's Fury."

"When perfected, the Roaring Lion technique fuses the body's blood qi with one's own Dou Qi, forming a Blood Fury Lion—offensively, it can unleash Blood Fury Shattering Strikes; defensively, it can guard with Lion's Roar—a body-strengthening Dou Technique that balances offense and defense."

"Only those with a formidable physique can cultivate it—the stronger the body, the stronger the Blood Fury."

Xiao Yan's eyes lit up—this was a body-strengthening Dou Technique that balanced offense and defense, just like Eight Extreme Crash!

Xiao Yan had already perfected Eight Extreme Crash; his physical strength far surpassed ordinary people. For him, this meant he'd skipped the entry stage of Roaring Lion's Fury—his foundation was already solid.

Seeing Xiao Yan's gaze, Xiao Yixian knew he wanted this Dou Technique. She waved her hand. "Fine, it's yours. I don't want to turn myself into a muscle-bound brute."

Xiao Yan rubbed his nose, slightly embarrassed—he'd taken too much already. Two of the three stone boxes, a precious Residual Map he'd secretly stolen, and even the most valuable Medicinal Material.

"Here, take these."

"No need. Gold and jewels mean nothing to me. Since you're the Young Clan Leader, you'll make better use of them."

"I'm not talking about those gold coins."

Ding-ding-ding—several crisp sounds rang out as Xiao Yan pulled out a Pill Bottle and shook it; the pills clinked inside, producing a peculiar melody.

Shh—the moment Xiao Yixian saw the Pill Bottle, she snatched it instantly, carefully pouring out a pale green pill, no larger than a Dragon Eye.

Her delicate nose caught the scent—a refreshing fragrance that soothed the spirit. She lightly scraped it with her fingertip and exclaimed, "This must be a Two-Rank Pill—probably a healing type."

"Impressive—you can tell that already. This is a Second-Rank Pill: Xiao Huan Dan. It heals both external and internal injuries." This was Xiao Yan's own brewed Xiao Huan Dan—he didn't want to owe Xiao Yixian too much.

He'd taken far too much already!

Xiao Yixian joyfully clutched the Xiao Huan Dan, skipping happily toward the Cave. As for the gold coins, Xiao Yan could only sigh and stuff them into his Storage Ring, unwilling to waste them.

In a place like Qingshan Town, even a One-Rank Pill was rare—let alone a Two-Rank Pill. And what Xiao Yixian most wanted to become was an Alchemist.

At the entrance to the Cave, Xiao Yan opened his palm; Black Flame surged like a tide into the chamber, burning everything inside—even the stone boxes, chairs, and medicinal garden were destroyed by Void Swallowing Flame.

Xiao Yan wasn't afraid the Wolf Head Mercenary Corps would destroy the bodies—he was wary of that strange Residual Map, fearing someone might find even a trace of evidence.

"There are still a few Wolf Head Mercenary Corps members above. They might cut the rope." Xiao Yan's Soul Force Perception detected several people directly above the Cave—likely Mu Li's backup plan.

"I have a first-rank Blue Eagle. It can take us out of here." Xiao Yixian pulled a short bamboo flute from her bosom, placed it to her lips, and blew gently. A peculiar wave of sound shot swiftly from the flute.

"You held back?!"

"What's wrong with a girl being cautious when traveling alone?!"

Soon, a massive, entirely azure eagle appeared before Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian.

"First, fly up and deal with those mercenaries."

Landing at the cliff's edge, Xiao Yan effortlessly dispatched the few mercenaries on watch.

With a slender finger brushing aside her front locks, the fierce wind pressed her robes tightly against Xiao Yixian's body, revealing faint, alluring curves.

Xiao Yixian stared at Xiao Yan's back. She knew it was time to part ways.

"Where are you headed?" Xiao Yan asked, clapping his hands.

Xiao Yixian smiled faintly. "Back to the Medicine Gathering Team. The Wan Yao Zhai's influence isn't weaker than the Wolf Head Mercenary Corps—they won't dare touch me."

Xiao Yan shrugged. "Alright then. Guess this is where we say goodbye."

He'd just acquired two Arcane-Rank High-Level Dou Techniques, both perfectly suited to him. And he still needed to cultivate the Soul Gathering Technique and search for the Ten Thousand Beast Spiritual Flame—he'd have to venture deeper into the Mo Shou Shan Mai.

Seeing Xiao Yan's expression, Xiao Yixian nodded reluctantly, leaping onto the Blue Eagle to return to the Medicine Gathering Team's camp.

"If you ever face something you can't handle, send your Blue Eagle to find me deep in the Mo Shou Shan Mai."

Xiao Yixian's lips curled slightly; a long-absent warmth welled up inside her.

"Just take care of yourself first," Xiao Yixian commanded the Blue Eagle, which shot off toward the Medicine Gathering Team, leaving behind those words laden with unspoken meaning.

Soaring through the air, Xiao Yixian suddenly remembered something. She pulled out the Seven Color Poison Classic from her bag and murmured to herself, "Strange… when I first got the Seven Color Poison Classic, what was that odd feeling?"