Xiao Yan left, and Xiao Xun'er came looking for him.

The flying boat quietly hovered on the edge of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, not immediately leaving Qingshan Town.

For the past few days, Xiao Yan and Venerable Yao stayed in the room, and the atmosphere was somewhat gloomy.

The original plan was sound: go to the Tagor Desert to Cultivate using the extreme environment, and try their luck finding the Green Lotus Core Flame.

But now.

The Heavenly Flame had long become someone else's possession, and both were a little lost about what to do next.

"Teacher, what should we do next..." Xiao Yan scratched his head, a hint of helplessness on his face.

Venerable Yao's Soul phantom floated nearby, sighing, "Forget about the Green Lotus Core Flame.

However, the desert environment is indeed beneficial for Cultivation, and... didn't you also want to go see your two Older Brothers?"

Xiao Yan's eyes lit up slightly, and he nodded.

Regardless, it would be good to go see Big Brother and Second Brother.

These past few days.

Venerable Yao spent most of his time discussing Alchemy with Shen Wen.

One was the former Venerable Yao, with profound foundations; the other was a contemporary Pill Tower Genius, with novel ideas. They both gained something from their exchange.

Xiao Yan listened nearby and benefited greatly.

A few days later, Xiao Yan finally made up his mind: he was still going to the Tagor Desert.

He walked out of the room and saw Shen Wen and Xiao Yi Xian standing at the edge of the flying boat, looking down at Qingshan Town with complex expressions.

"Are you leaving?" Xiao Yi Xian turned her head and asked softly.

"Mm," Xiao Yan nodded, trying to keep his tone light, "I'm going to the desert to see my brothers. You... take care."

Shen Wen overlooked the Magical Beast Mountain Range and said, "If you run into any trouble, you can go to the Snake-People Tribes Sacred City for help if necessary."

"Alright!"

Finally, Xiao Yan simply cupped his hands: "Brother Shen, Xiao Yi Xian! We will meet again."

"We will meet again." Xiao Yi Xian nodded. The two were friends after all, but she knew that after this parting.

It would likely be difficult to meet again.

"Perfect, I'll have Hai Bodong take you down."

At this moment, a figure descended in the distance—it was Hai Bodong, who had gone out early this morning to handle some matters.

Shen Wen had Hai Bodong escort Xiao Yan down.

Xiao Yi Xian, however, raised an eyebrow. As a healer, she was extremely sensitive to the Scent of Blood, and she faintly detected the Scent of Blood on Hai Bodong.

"What did you ask Elder Hai to do this morning?" Xiao Yi Xian was curious. In fact, these days she had discovered that Shen Wen was not the Dissolute Young Master she had imagined.

He was indeed exceptionally talented and intelligent; even the former Venerable Yao praised Shen Wen. That was true.

Now Xiao Yi Xian also knew that Venerable Yao was accompanying Xiao Yan.

"Helping you vent your anger."

Shen Wen looked at the distant scenery and said lightly.

"Helping me vent my anger?" Xiao Yi Xian's mind didn't connect immediately, but she quickly realized, "Did you go wipe out the Wolf Head Mercenary Group?"

"Mm."

Xiao Yi Xian was silent, then nodded and said, "Thank you!"

"You are my Wife. There's no need to thank me for this."

And at this moment.

Ling Ying, who had always guarded a corner of the flying boat like a shadow, finally moved. He walked up to Shen Wen and bowed:

"Mr. Shen, my Young Miss... wishes to meet you."

As soon as he spoke, Cao Ying and Dan Chen, who were discussing the properties of a certain Medicinal Ingredient, immediately stopped.

Even Cai Lin, who was instructing Qing Lin on sensing the Energy of Heaven and Earth nearby, cast her gaze over.

Five pairs of beautiful eyes, filled with varying degrees of curiosity, simultaneously focused on Ling Ying and Shen Wen.

Shen Wen had not concealed Ling Ying's background from them.

One of the Ancient Eight Clans, the Eldest Young Miss of the Gu Clan, Xiao Xun Er.

Cao Ying couldn't help but curl her lips, muttering in a voice only those nearby could hear, "What kind of Treasured Geomantic Land is this Northwest Continent? Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, Calamity Poison Body, Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python... now even the Eldest Young Miss of a Dou Emperor Family has popped up."

Cai Lin's purple eyes flickered slightly. Although she didn't speak, she felt surprised in her heart.

Back then, she ruled the Snake-People Clan and dealt with several great Empires.

She felt her knowledge was already extraordinary, but now that she followed Shen Wen, she realized the vastness of the world, and that true Top Powers far exceeded her imagination.

Xiao Yi Xian felt even more confused upon hearing this. Dou Emperor Family?

To her, that was practically a legendary existence.

Before long, a golden Stream of Light arrived from the horizon, lightly landing on the flying boat Deck.

The light dissipated, revealing a graceful figure.

The newcomer wore elegant Cyan Robes. Although she was not a Dou King, she arrived mid-air using a profound Flying Dou Technique.

Her face was exquisitely beautiful, her temperament refined and elegant, like a newly bloomed green lotus. It was Xiao Xun Er, or rather, Gu Xun'er.

Her gaze first quickly swept over the people on the Deck.

Cao Ying's enchanting charm, Cai Lin's cold elegance and nobility, Dan Chen's pure beauty, and Xiao Yi Xian's gentle grace.

And Qing Lin's timid yet strangely charming jade-green eyes... the appearance and temperament of every single woman were not inferior to hers.

A trace of imperceptible surprise flashed quickly through Xiao Xun Er's eyes, but the moment her feet firmly stepped onto the flying boat Deck.

That trace of surprise quickly receded, replaced by a nobility and majesty ingrained in her bones.

That was the bearing cultivated over countless years as the Young Lord of the Gu Clan, which did not change due to age or environment.

Xiao Xun Er stepped onto the flying boat, her gaze sweeping over Cao Ying and Cai Lin before finally resting on Shen Wen.

She nodded, her voice steady: "Mr. Shen, I am Xiao Xun Er.

Uncle Ling Ying offended you before; I apologize on his behalf."

She paused briefly, looked at Shen Wen, and continued, "I hope Mr. Shen and Brother Xiao Yan can get along well and avoid any unpleasantness."

Shen Wen smiled and shook his head: "Young Miss Xiao is too polite. However, it might not be easy for your Brother Xiao Yan to win the Three-Year Agreement."

Xiao Xun Er's brow immediately furrowed, and her gaze sharpened: "What do you mean by that?"

"I noticed the Cultivation Technique he practices is very special these past few days," Shen Wen said unhurriedly. "If I'm not mistaken, it should be the Burning Technique, which upgrades by swallowing flames."

"The Burning Technique?"

Xiao Xun Er's eyes flickered. She knew Venerable Yao existed, and she knew the Cultivation Technique Xiao Yan practiced was unusual, but she didn't know the specifics.

"There is such a Cultivation Technique in the world?"

"Naturally. This Cultivation Technique starts only at the Yellow Rank. To advance quickly," Shen Wen continued, "it requires swallowing flames to reach the Heaven Rank as soon as possible.

At the very least, Beast Fire is needed, and the best is Heavenly Flame.

But there are too few Heavenly Flames in the Northwest Continent.

The Green Lotus Core Flame is already in my Wife's hands.

The Fallen Heart Flame is at Jia Nan Academy. A Dou Zong guards that place; snatching it by force is impossible. Moreover..."

He paused deliberately, watching Xiao Xun Er's changing expression before continuing, "Mang Tianchi, who founded Jia Nan Academy, is a member of the Lei Clan. Young Miss Gu, you probably don't want to make an enemy of the Lei Clan, right?"

Xiao Xun Er was shaken internally.

It wasn't strange that Shen Wen knew about Heavenly Flames, but he even knew the background of the Academy's founder!

This exceeded her expectations.

She unconsciously clenched her hand.