Battle Through the Heavens: Starting with Cao Ying as an apprentice

"Xian'er".

Little Fairy Doctor immediately raised her head.

"Cultivate diligently and solidify your foundation. When you successfully condense your Qi vortex and advance to the Dou Zhe realm," Su Baichen said, looking at her with encouragement in his eyes, "I will also prepare a suitable treasure for you."

The girl's eyes suddenly lit up, as if she had fallen into the stars, and a pure and joyful smile bloomed on her face. She nodded vigorously: "Yes! Thank you, Master! Xian'er will definitely work hard and will never let you down!"

Su Baichen nodded slightly, a hint of barely perceptible satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

Time flies, and two years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Because Little Fairy Doctor possessed the peculiar "Calamity Poison Body," Su Baichen paid special attention to strengthening her foundation. He spent a full year and a half repeatedly refining her at the Battle Qi stage until it was perfect and flawless before finally breaking through and officially entering the ranks of Battle Warriors.

During this year and a half, Su Baichen found various third and fourth-tier beast flames for Cao Ying in the Monster Mountain Range, which became the resources for Cao Ying's "Divine Journey Fire Refining Technique". With the profoundness of the technique, she refined and devoured these flames with astonishing efficiency, and her cultivation advanced rapidly, reaching the level of a nine-star Dou Zhe.

What shocked Cao Ying even more was that, as she delved deeper into her studies, she gradually realized that what her master had taught her was not the common "alchemy" of the Dou Qi Continent, but a more profound, mysterious, and complete system of knowledge, which her master called "alchemy." Its vast concepts, exquisite techniques, and masterful control of fire far surpassed ordinary alchemy.

Having grasped the essence of this art, Cao Ying's admiration for Su Baichen had reached a whole new level. With such dedicated study, she, at the tender age of nine, had already successfully refined a third-grade elixir! And its medicinal effects were extremely strong, far surpassing those of other elixirs of the same kind.

For the next six months, Su Baichen had Cao Ying take Little Fairy Doctor to the outer reaches of the Monster Mountain Range for training.

Two girls travel together, exploring, fighting, and growing stronger in the treacherous jungles and valleys. They overcome most dangers on their own through their increasingly seamless teamwork and more refined fighting skills.

Only when they encounter dangers far beyond their ability to cope will the hidden butterfly or cloud brilliance quietly step in and resolve the crisis.

These six months, intertwined with blood and fire, yielded remarkable results. Driven by both practical combat and the engulfment of flames, Cao Ying's cultivation broke through to the three-star Dou Shi level.

As for Little Fairy Doctor's progress, it can only be described as "horrifying". As the potential of the "Calamity Poison Body" was gradually activated and partially awakened, her cultivation speed was simply against the law. She surpassed others and, in just half a year, she soared from the initial Dou Zhe to the eight-star Dou Zhe!

Such a terrifying speed of cultivation left Cao Ying speechless, and she almost popped her eyes out several times.

She prided herself on possessing the "Divine Journey Fire Refining Technique," a miraculous skill that allowed her to rapidly increase her cultivation by absorbing flames, a privilege she considered exceptionally gifted, allowing her to surpass her peers in cultivation progress. But Little Fairy Doctor's physique... was simply too domineering! Increasing her cultivation by consuming poison!

This is only the initial sign of awakening! If it weren't for the "Divine Journey Fire Refining Technique" bestowed by her master, Cao Ying had no doubt that she would have been ruthlessly surpassed in cultivation by this junior sister long ago.

"This physique is simply unreasonable..." Cao Ying would occasionally look at Little Fairy Doctor, who was cultivating with her eyes closed and surrounded by a faint, strange mist, and a sense of amazement, mixed with a touch of helplessness and fighting spirit, would always pass through her mind.

The pressure also became a powerful driving force for her to work even harder and not dare to slack off in the slightest.

And now that my junior has overtaken me, I hope I won't get "special treatment" in return.

In the past two years, Xiao Yixian has truly integrated into the group. As for the "special benefits" treatment, Xiao Yixian really wants to try it on her senior sister Cao Ying!

Chapter 85 The Unlucky Amethyst Winged Lion King

Monster Mountain Range, the lair of the Amethyst Winged Lion King.

The Amethyst Winged Lion King lay lazily in the open area in front of its cave, the afternoon sun casting dappled light on its amethyst-like fur. As the overlord of this mountain range, it had lost count of how long it had lived—a hundred years? Two hundred years? Perhaps even longer.

"Roar—!" (The sun is shining brightly, my belly is sunbathing, I don't know how long I've lived, but today...)

The Amethyst Winged Lion King let out a deep hum from the depths of its throat, its self-composed tune stretching out in the sunlight.

The lyrics are stuck halfway through.

The sky darkened.

It wasn't dark clouds, nor was it night; instead, a gigantic hand, capable of blotting out the sky, tore through the clouds without warning and slowly pressed down from the heavens, causing even the space itself to tremble.

The amethyst winged lion king's amethyst fur suddenly stood on end, a fear of absolute power that originated from the depths of its bloodline.

It wanted to escape, but its limbs seemed nailed to the ground; it wanted to roar, but its vocal cords seemed to be strangled by an invisible force. Only its ferocious lion's mouth continued to hum the second half of the song uncontrollably and absurdly—

"Roar—!" (My life's over!)

After the song ended, the giant hand landed.

There was no earth-shattering roar, no earth-shattering scene. The hand simply pressed down lightly, as if brushing away dust. The massive body of the Amethyst Winged Lion King trembled slightly, and the light in its pupils quickly dimmed and dissipated.

It didn't even have time to utter a complete cry before its life vanished under that single blow.

The overlord of the Monster Mountain Range, a sixth-tier magical beast that had ruled this land for hundreds of years, has fallen. Only its gradually cooling corpse lies in its favorite sunbathing spot, its amethyst-like fur still shimmering in the sunlight, but it has lost all vitality.

Immediately afterwards, the space above the corpse of the Amethyst Winged Lion King was silently torn apart.

A black rift appeared out of nowhere, its edges flowing with silver spatial turbulence. A young man in white stepped out from it, his movements as calm as if he were merely crossing a threshold.

He stood suspended in mid-air, his clothes motionless amidst the turbulent air currents, his handsome face indifferent, his eyes calm as a deep pool, without the slightest ripple.

Su Baichen.

He glanced down at the corpse of the Amethyst Winged Lion King, his eyes devoid of pride, pity, or even the arrogance of a victor. To him, it was merely a trivial task, like casually plucking a leaf from his path.

Raise your right hand slightly, with your five fingers slightly closed.

From the head of the Amethyst Winged Lion King, a fist-sized, shimmering purple sixth-order magic core burst forth. Simultaneously, a deep purple flame separated from the corpse—the Amethyst Winged Lion King's natal beast fire, the "Purple Flame" that had burned for hundreds of years. The two treasures streaked through the air and landed steadily in Su Baichen's outstretched palm.

The magic core felt warm to the touch, and purple flames danced quietly within its aura.

Su Baichen looked at these two things, which were enough to cause bloodshed in the Northwest Continent, sighed almost inaudibly, and shook his head.

"The strong prey on the weak; weakness is the original sin."

He muttered to himself, his voice carrying an almost imperceptible hint of helplessness, yet also an air of self-righteousness.

On this continent, this truth is etched in every inch of land, every piece of history, and every life-and-death struggle. Today he holds the power of life and death over others only because he is strong; but if one day an even stronger person descends, he too will be nothing more than a puppet in someone else's grasp. The cycle of fate is nothing more than this.

Putting aside his emotions, Su Baichen's gaze returned to the corpse of the Amethyst Winged Lion King. A sixth-tier magical beast is a treasure trove from head to toe—its fur, bones, essence blood… After a moment's thought, he flicked his sleeve, and the massive lion king's corpse vanished instantly, stored in his storage ring.

Then he turned and walked toward the deep cave.

The cave is not dark; the rock walls are inlaid with natural amethysts, which emit a hazy purple glow, making the entire cave seem like a dreamlike place.

A faint fragrance mingled with the distinctive stench of magical beasts in the air. Deep within the cave lay the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King's centuries-old collection: several fist-sized "Purple Spirit Crystals" with liquid flowing within them; "Companion Purple Crystal Sources" sealed within purple crystal stones, their source liquid slowly flowing within the crystals; and some medicinal herbs of the fifth rank and below, which, while not peerless treasures, were complete in variety and of sufficient age.

Su Baichen walked slowly, and wherever he went, whether it was the Purple Spirit Crystal, the accompanying Purple Crystal Source, or the medicinal herbs, he put them all into his storage ring. His movements were fluid and graceful, as if he were the master of this place, taking stock of his own storeroom.

"Waaah...waaah..."

A faint sob came from the corner.

Su Baichen turned his head and saw a young amethyst lion huddled in a recess in the rock wall. It was no more than half a person's height, its amethyst fur was still soft, and its pair of purple eyes were wet, filled with fear and confusion. It clearly did not understand why the powerful aura of its father had suddenly disappeared, or why this strange human had appeared in its home.

The little beast let out a threatening growl at Su Baichen, its voice childish, but its four hooves trembled involuntarily.

Su Baichen paused in his steps.

He looked at the small beast, his gaze remaining calm. There was no murderous intent, nor any pity, as if he were looking at a stone or a blade of grass.

Then, he raised his hand and waved it lightly in the air.

A gentle breeze swept by.

The little animal's whimpers stopped abruptly. It collapsed limply, its life fading away.

Send it to reunite with its family!

To cut the weeds, you must pull out the roots. This is another ironclad rule for survival on the mainland, regardless of good or evil, only a matter of life and death.

Su Baichen didn't linger and turned to walk towards the entrance of the cave. Sunlight fell on his shoulders again. He looked up at the rolling mountains of the Monster Mountain Range and made a gesture in front of him.

The space was neatly cut open like a piece of cloth, revealing the void behind it. He stepped in, and the crack silently closed behind him, as if it had never existed.

Only the empty platform in front of the cave, and the faint lingering scent of blood and power in the air, prove that a hegemon once fell here, and a powerful figure once came and went.

The inn, the top-class room.

The space rippled slightly, and a crack silently opened. Su Baichen stepped out, his clothes spotless, as if he had just taken a stroll in the backyard.

"master!"

He had barely steadied himself when a fragrant pink figure rushed towards him like a swallow returning to its nest, crashing into his arms and wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.

Cao Ying tilted her head up, her usually bright and mischievous eyes filled with undisguised dependence and joy, as well as a hint of resentment at being left alone.

"Where did you go? You didn't even say goodbye, you disappeared in the blink of an eye!"

The girl's voice was sweet and gentle, with a unique softness, and her warm breath brushed against Su Baichen's chin as she spoke.

Su Baichen lowered his eyes, looking at the girl he had raised himself in his arms. A barely perceptible tenderness flashed deep in his eyes, but his expression remained as calm as ever. He curled his finger and flicked Cao Ying's smooth forehead lightly.

Chapter 86 The Path of the Rebellious Disciple Begins

"Ouch!" Cao Ying cried out in pain, immediately letting go of her hand and covering her forehead. She exaggeratedly scrunched up her face and said dramatically, "It hurts so much, Master!"

"You," Su Baichen's voice carried a hint of helpless laughter, "always just fooling around, never serious."

"I just missed you, Master!" Cao Ying lowered her hand, leaned closer, her eyes sparkling, and said matter-of-factly, "I was worried when you suddenly disappeared."

A faint, sweet fragrance wafted into his nose, and Su Baichen subtly pulled away slightly, his tone turning serious: "Alright, stop being cheeky. I just went to find something for you."

He opened his right hand, and above his palm, a ball of pure battle qi floated quietly, enveloping a deep purple flame—the Purple Flame of the Amethyst Winged Lion King.

"Refine the sixth-tier beast fire first to lay a solid foundation. This will give you a better chance when absorbing other fires in the future."

Cao Ying's gaze was instantly drawn to the ball of purple flame. Now that she was an alchemist, she naturally understood the preciousness of high-level beast fire and the deeper meaning behind her master's actions.

A warm feeling welled up from the bottom of her heart, instantly drowning out that little bit of resentment. Her master was always like this, seemingly indifferent, yet always considering everything for her sake.

Overwhelmed with joy and emotion, Cao Ying almost without thinking, tiptoed, and swiftly touched Su Baichen's cheek with her soft lips.

"Thank you, Master!"

Like a dragonfly skimming the water, they parted as soon as they touched it.

Mwah!

The clear sound was especially distinct in the quiet room.

Su Baichen stiffened slightly, a rare hint of surprise flashing across his usually calm eyes. The fleeting, soft touch on his cheek, carrying the unique fresh scent of a young girl, made him momentarily lose his composure.

In that moment of stunned silence, Cao Ying, like a frightened rabbit, grabbed the ball of purple flame enveloped in battle aura. Her cheeks flushed red at a visible speed, and she turned and ran, leaving behind only a series of hurried footsteps and the sound of a door slamming shut.

A few breaths later, Su Baichen slowly raised his hand and touched the cheek that had just been kissed. The temperature from his fingertips was normal, but the sensation seemed to linger.

He glanced in the direction of Cao Ying's closed door, then simply shook his head with a wry smile. The hint of surprise in his eyes transformed into a faint, almost imperceptible, indulgence. He muttered a low, chuckled curse:

"That brat... she's getting more and more unruly."

He attributed this sudden intimacy to his young apprentice's excitement and overjoyment at obtaining his desired treasure, and to the apprentice's simple dependence on and affection for his master.

It was just a small, unexpected interlude. He didn't, and didn't want to, ponder whether there were other, untimely ripples hidden beneath that rapidly beating heartbeat.

The next room.