Battle Through the Heavens: I can solidify the talents of all things

On the outskirts of the Monster Mountain Range, the canopies of the ancient trees no longer block out the sun as they did in the inner area.

Sunlight streamed down in patches, casting bright spots of light on the forest clearing.

The air was less filled with the lingering stench of blood and violence of the inner area, and more with the freshness of grass and trees.

Xiao Qing walked slowly, his posture upright. Although he was only eleven years old, he was already nearly 1.75 meters tall. The slender figure that originally belonged to a boy was gradually replaced by smooth and powerful lines.

He tilted his head slightly, squinted, and felt the long-lost, unobstructed sunlight, a slight ripple stirring in his heart.

This time, venturing deep into the inner sanctum, slaying the Serpent King, consolidating my talent, and achieving a breakthrough in my soul, the gains far exceeded my expectations!

To his astonishment, the Devouring Demon Serpent's [Devour] talent was actually at the initial level of the Spirit Rank!

More importantly, he now has a clearer picture of his future path.

"Woohoo!"

A deep roar, accompanied by a foul stench, came from the side and rear. A second-tier striped tiger, which had been lying in wait, pounced out, its sharp claws aimed straight for Xiao Qing's back.

This powerful monster, which was dominant in the surrounding area, chose what it thought was the perfect opportunity.

However, Xiao Qing didn't even glance at it from the corner of his eye.

Just as the striped tiger took off, a cluster of pale white flames suddenly burst forth from beneath its tough fur!

The flames grew rapidly upon exposure to the wind, instantly transforming into a cold, raging inferno that engulfed the entire tiger.

Without screams or struggles, the massive body, propelled by the momentum of its run, turned into a handful of grayish-white ashes, which were quietly scattered by the wind that swept through the forest, leaving no trace.

Xiao Qing's pace remained unchanged.

Under the shroud of the soul power of a peak mortal, the lurking of this second-tier magical beast was as conspicuous as a candle flame in the dark night.

In recent days, after emerging from the perilous inner perimeter, he has experienced far too many similar "welcome ceremonies"!

There were also many third- and fourth-tier magical beasts, which ultimately became nutrients for him to test his strength or to nurture his newly acquired talents.

With a slight thought, he sensed the newly solidified initial-level [Devour] talent within his body.

Although it has not yet been actively stimulated to improve, its very existence is like a miniature black hole opening up next to the dantian vortex, subtly drawing in the surrounding free-floating energy of heaven and earth, slowly but continuously.

This is only the most basic passive state; its active power is something to look forward to.

The only regret is that [Serpent Physique] and the other two [Violent Poison] and [Great Strength] were lost when making the selection, since the opportunities for fixed talents are limited.

【Highly Poisonous】As the name suggests, it refers to an extremely strong talent in the use of poison.

【Great Strength】is equivalent to possessing the strength of a magical beast, similar to innate divine strength.

If it continues to evolve and is cultivated to its peak, will it reach the level of "physical body becoming an emperor"?

However, comparing these talents, the [Serpent Physique] seems pretty good. If it evolves and sublimates to the end, could it transform into the [True Dragon Physique]?

But Xiao Qing didn't dare to gamble, since there were only so many fixed talents, and he might encounter better ones in the future.

"Once I break through to the Dou Wang realm, or my soul enters the Spirit Realm, I can try to upgrade the [Devour] skill. The commotion that would occur then can be concealed during the breakthrough."

Xiao Qing pondered to himself that the Dou Wang realm was no longer out of reach for him.

Just as his thoughts were racing and he was about to completely step out of the mountain range, his brows suddenly furrowed.

At the edge of his powerful soul perception, he detected an extremely faint aura, completely out of place with its surroundings—

A human girl, about seven or eight years old, carrying a small medicine basket on her back.

On the edge of the Monster Mountain Range, where even a Battle Master dares not be careless, a little girl with no cultivation and tattered clothes appeared. Her original white coarse cloth dress was now stained with mud and dirt, making it almost impossible to see her original color. It was truly bizarre.

Immediately afterwards, his soul perception "saw" even more clearly...

A small, cunning first-tier magical beast was silently approaching the little girl, using the shadows of the bushes as cover. Its tiny eyes gleamed with a cruel light, as if it were toying with its prey.

……

In the distance, a little girl of seven or eight years old was squatting on the ground, intently digging up a pale red herb with a small hoe.

Her little face was covered in mud, but she had a pair of very bright and lively eyes. At this moment, her eyes were filled with the joy of discovering a treasure.

"It's blood-nourishing herb!"

She cheered softly and carefully, her voice carrying the clear, childlike quality unique to children.

She recognized the herb in the soil; the town's doctor had said it could stop bleeding when applied externally and nourish blood and qi when taken internally.

Although the Blood-Nourishing Grass in front of us is still relatively young, it can still be exchanged for a few copper coins!

She carefully dug up the herbs by the roots, afraid of damaging them in the slightest, and then carefully placed them into the small medicine basket behind her that only contained a few herbs.

After doing all this, she stood up, habitually patted her tattered skirt covered in mud, and was about to look for the next herb when she turned around. Her bright eyes met a pair of greedy and hungry eerie green eyes that were right in front of her!

Tier 1 magical beast, Bloodthirsty Rat!

"what!"

The little girl screamed in fright at the monster, and the color drained from her face, turning her deathly pale.

Tears welled up immediately, swirling desperately in her eyes. Her small, thin body trembled uncontrollably, and even her teeth chattered.

"A...a magical beast!"

She retreated in despair, but tripped over a stone and fell to the ground, unaware that several herbs had spilled from her medicine basket.

The bloodthirsty rat seemed to enjoy the fear of its prey, letting out a low "squeak," its hind legs slightly bent, ready to pounce and enjoy this "delicious meal."

At this critical moment, an invisible yet incredibly sharp aura, like the finest needle, swept through the space in an instant.

The shadow rat, poised to pounce, suddenly froze, the fierce light in its eyes instantly fading, and it collapsed limply, lifeless.

The little girl, still shaken and with tears in her eyes, saw a figure standing not far away.

He was a tall, handsome young man dressed in a light blue shirt. His face was more striking than she had ever seen before, and his eyes were as calm as a deep autumn pool as he quietly looked at her.

"What's your name?"

Xiao Qing's gaze fell on her small medicine basket, from which a few herbs had been scattered. His voice was calm, revealing little emotion.

"Why would someone come to this Monster Mountain Range alone to gather herbs? It's very dangerous here..."

"I...I am Gu Xian'er."

The little girl, also known as Xian'er, answered timidly, "But my mother always likes to call me Little Fairy Doctor..."

For some reason, looking at this older brother, her fear inexplicably dissipated, and she felt a desire to get closer to him instead.

She struggled to get up from the ground, her little hands nervously clutching the hem of her clothes.

"Gu Xian'er... Little Fairy Doctor?!" A faint hint of understanding flashed deep in Xiao Qing's eyes.

Could it be...?

This name overlapped with that of a woman with a special constitution from his memory.

"Yes, after all, this is a real world..."

The appearance of Little Fairy Doctor differed from his memory...

"Mother... Mother is sick, very sick..."

When her mother was mentioned, Xiao Xian'er's big eyes instantly filled with tears, and her voice choked with sobs.

"The town doctor said it would cost a lot of money to cure me... I... I have no money, so I came here to collect herbs... hoping to earn some money..."

Her voice grew softer and softer as she spoke, and her head drooped lower...

But soon, she raised her head again, as if she had made some kind of decision.

She took the small medicine basket off her back again, held it out firmly in front of Xiao Qing with both hands, her arms trembling slightly, but her eyes were exceptionally determined. She said, "Big brother, thank you for saving me! I... I only have these herbs, I'm giving them all to you! To repay your life-saving grace!"

In her simple world, this small basket of herbs was the most precious thing she could offer, perhaps worth several silver coins, a great fortune.

Looking at her small hands, her knuckles white from straining, her bright eyes that were trying to hold back tears and express gratitude, and her stubborn, upright little body, a soft spot in Xiao Qing's heart was gently touched.

Her understanding and heartbreaking appearance made him vaguely see another figure.

"These herbs are your hope for curing your mother's illness; keep them safe."

His expression softened, and he reached out, but instead of taking the medicine basket, he gently pushed her hand back. His voice was gentle yet carried an undeniable strength.

"Come on, tell me where you live, and I'll take you home."

"But..." Xiao Xian'er still wanted to insist, feeling that such a great kindness could not go unreturned.

"Let's go." Xiao Qing said no more and turned to walk towards the direction of leaving the mountain.

"Huh? Oh...oh..."

Xiao Xian'er was stunned for a moment. Looking at Xiao Qing's back, which had already walked more than ten meters away, she hurriedly and clumsily picked up the scattered herbs and put them back in the medicine basket, then carried them on her back.

Then, with her short legs, she hurriedly caught up with him, carefully following a little behind him.

She would occasionally peek up her face and quickly glance at Xiao Qing's well-defined profile, then quickly lower her head like a startled deer, her little hands gripping the straps of the medicine basket tightly, her heart pounding.

"Do you recognize these herbs?" Xiao Qing asked casually, looking straight ahead, trying to dispel her tension and unease.

"I...I know some," Xiao Xian'er answered softly, her voice slightly calmer than before.

"No one taught you? You learned it all by yourself?" Xiao Qing continued to ask, slowing her pace.

"Hmm!" When this was mentioned, Xiao Xian'er seemed to regain some confidence, nodding her little head vigorously, and her voice became clearer.

"I watched the doctor in town drying herbs, so I secretly wrote them down and then went to the fields outside town to look for them. I kept mistaking them... I had diarrhea a few times, but I gradually learned to recognize them."

The afterglow of the setting sun cast long shadows of the two people onto the mountain path covered with fallen leaves.

A tall boy and a petite girl walked slowly along the winding path, one in front of the other, asking and answering questions.

The wind in the forest became gentle, fluttering the hems of their clothes.

Xiao Xian'er's initial fear and restraint gradually dissipated as she listened to Xiao Qing's calm and steady voice.

An indescribable sense of security and dependence quietly grew in her young heart...

Xiao Qing listened as the girl beside him recounted in her childish voice the hardships of identifying herbs.

Feeling her resilience and filial piety beyond her years, he had already decided that he would not easily let go of this fate that brought them together.

Her fate should not have been so tragic!

……