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

Xiao Yu didn't sit down immediately, but stood gracefully in front of her grandfather, her bright eyes curving into crescents: "Grandpa, guess what good news we have today?"

"Oh?" Xiao Shan stroked his white beard, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes: "What could make Yu'er so happy... could it be that you've made another breakthrough in your cultivation?"

"Grandpa is amazing!" Xiao Yu nodded excitedly, then lowered her voice mysteriously and said, "But you'll never guess how I broke through."

Seeing his granddaughter's lively appearance, Xiao Shan's smile deepened. But then, as if he suddenly thought of something, his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

"Wait!" Xiao Shan's expression turned serious.

"Yu'er, if Grandpa remembers correctly, you only broke through to the eighth stage of Dou Qi at the beginning of last month, right? It's only been a month..."

He stood up, walked to Xiao Yu, gently placed his hands on his granddaughter's shoulders, and scrutinized her sharply: "Tell Grandpa, did you use any forbidden methods, or take any pills to forcibly enhance your cultivation?"

Xiao Shan's voice carried obvious worry. In the Dou Qi Continent, the path of cultivation is most averse to seeking quick success and instant benefits.

Those methods that forcibly enhance cultivation through unorthodox means or forbidden drugs often come with huge hidden dangers, which can damage the foundation at best, and ruin one's cultivation for life at worst.

He knew all too well the hardships of cultivation, and he had seen too many geniuses ruin their futures because of their eagerness for quick success. Xiao Yu was his most beloved granddaughter, and he absolutely could not allow her to go astray.

Seeing the worry etched on her grandfather's face, Xiao Yu felt a warmth in her heart, knowing that he cared about her. She quickly waved her hand and explained, "Grandpa, you've misunderstood! I didn't use any forbidden techniques or drugs. Cao Ying gave me a bottle of Foundation Establishment Elixir yesterday!"

"Foundation Building Elixir?" Xiao Shan was taken aback, then a look of realization flashed in his eyes.

As the eldest elder of the Xiao family, he naturally knew what Foundation Establishment Elixir was. It was a special medicinal liquid that had quietly appeared in Wutan City this month, specifically for cultivators at the Battle Qi stage, capable of gently and effectively accelerating the condensation and growth of Battle Qi.

The appearance of this medicinal liquid caused quite a stir among the major families in Wutan City. The Xiao family also spent a lot of money to purchase several bottles and distributed them to the most promising young members of the family.

As the Grand Elder, Xiao Shan naturally tried to secure some for Xiao Yu, but the quantity was limited, and Xiao Yu only received one share.

"That girl Cao Ying actually has Foundation Establishment Elixir?" Xiao Shan sat back down on the stone bench, looking thoughtful, and asked with some doubt, "And she just gave it to you like that?"

Xiao Yu sat down opposite her grandfather, resting her chin on her hands, a hint of pride on her face: "Not only that, the Foundation Establishment Elixir I used is far more effective than those available on the market! I only used it once last night, and I successfully broke through today."

She paused, a sly glint in her eyes: "Grandpa, I bet those Foundation Establishment Elixirs on the market are mostly made by Cao Ying! And this bottle she gave me must be a specially made premium one!"

The thought that her good friend kept the best for her and sold the less desirable items to others filled Xiao Yu with a sweet feeling, like she had eaten honey.

Although she and Cao Ying hadn't known each other for long, they got along exceptionally well. Despite Cao Ying's unusual background and the fact that she came from that mysterious little courtyard, she never put on airs with her. On the contrary, she sometimes shared her cultivation insights with her, and now she was even gifting her such a precious medicinal liquid.

(Cao Ying: You're overthinking it. The ones circulating in the market are the ones I refined. The one I gave you is a rare collector's edition that my master refined back then!)

"This...how is this possible?" Upon hearing his granddaughter's guess, Xiao Shan's face showed disbelief for the first time.

He certainly knew the value of the Foundation Establishment Elixir. Although this elixir was only suitable for the Battle Qi stage, it was extremely difficult to refine, requiring at least the skill of a second-grade alchemist to succeed.

As far as he knew, Cao Ying looked similar to Xiao Yu.

A ten-year-old second-grade alchemist?

Xiao Shan felt that his understanding had been overturned.

It should be noted that in the entire city of Wutan, the most skilled alchemist is only at the peak of the first rank.

Second-grade alchemists are only found in big cities, and each one is a highly respected figure.

If Cao Ying could really reach the level of a second-grade alchemist at such a young age, how terrifying must her talent be?

No, this can no longer be simply described as "genius," it's downright monstrous!

This is a prodigy from a mysterious force, far beyond the reach of geniuses from small places like theirs.

Seeing her grandfather's shocked expression, which made his beard tremble slightly, Xiao Yu felt both amused and inexplicably proud. Although this pride should actually belong to Cao Ying, wasn't it also something to be happy about for her good friend's achievement?

However, Xiao Yu quickly stopped smiling and her expression became serious.

She recalled the news she had heard when she went to see Xun'er that morning. Some thoughts had been swirling in her mind all morning, making her feel vaguely uneasy.

“Grandpa!” Xiao Yu spoke softly, interrupting Xiao Shan’s shock: “This morning I went to Xun’er to ask her some questions…”

She recounted her conversation with Xun'er that morning in detail, and also mentioned that she had waited for Xun'er the night before, only to find that Cao Ying, the Little Fairy Doctor, had brought Xun'er back.

Chapter 122 The Grand Elder's Guesses (2)

As his granddaughter recounted her story, Xiao Shan's expression gradually became serious.

In fact, Xiaoshan had already received some rumors early this morning.

Last night, Jia Lie'ao of the Jia Lie family led a group to that mysterious courtyard in the west of the city, and has not come out since.

This morning, the entire Jialie family was suddenly wiped out; everyone in the family, from the maids to the clan leader, was dead.

This tactic sent a chill down Xiao Shan's spine. Although the Jialie family was relatively weak among the three major families in Wutan City, it still had several hundred members, including many experts at the Dou Shi level.

What terrifying power would it take to make such a family disappear silently overnight?

Now, based on what Xiao Yu relayed from Xun'er, Xiao Shan was even more certain that the person living in that small courtyard was no ordinary person.

He had a rough idea of ​​Xun'er's background. The fact that she was able to enter that courtyard meant that the courtyard was related to Xun'er, which confirmed his previous guess.

Xiao Shan took a deep breath, his gaze falling on his granddaughter's delicate face. Xiao Yu was looking at him with those clear eyes, waiting for his response.

"Yu'er!" Xiao Shan spoke slowly, his voice low and serious, "Remember your grandfather's words. From now on, you must get along well with Cao Ying and the others, treat them sincerely, but never try to please them, and never try to find out their secrets."

He paused, then continued, "This may be the greatest opportunity of your life, so you must seize it. But opportunities are often accompanied by dangers, so you must know your limits, understand what you should ask and what you shouldn't ask, what you should do and what you shouldn't do."

Xiao Shan stood up, walked to Xiao Yu's side, and affectionately patted her head: "Grandpa is getting old. My greatest achievement in this life is watching you children grow up healthy. You have good talent and a good character, but this world is too big, and Wutan City is just a small corner. If you can take advantage of this opportunity to see a wider world, that will be a blessing for your whole life."

Xiao Yu felt a warm current welling up in her heart as she listened to her grandfather's earnest words.

Of course she wasn't stupid; she knew that Cao Ying and her group came from extraordinary backgrounds, and what it meant for her to befriend such people.

But what moved her even more was her grandfather's care and expectations for her—not that he required her to gain any benefit from the relationship, but that he hoped she could seize this opportunity and go out into a wider world.

"Yes, I understand, Grandpa." Xiao Yu nodded seriously, her eyes shining with determination, and said, "I will cherish this friendship."

She's not stupid; it would be foolish not to cling to a powerful figure like Cao Ying. But more importantly, she genuinely likes Cao Ying as a friend.

Although Cao Ying has a mysterious identity and amazing talent, she has never put on airs in front of her. Instead, she acts like an ordinary girl, sharing good things with her, discussing the confusion in cultivation with her, and lending a helping hand when she encounters difficulties.

Such a friendship is worth cherishing. And if this friendship can bring some additional opportunities, that would be even better.

Seeing his granddaughter's sensible appearance, Xiao Shan smiled with satisfaction. He took out a small jade bottle from his pocket and handed it to Xiao Yu: "There are three pills inside. Although they are not as good as Foundation Establishment Elixir, they will still help stabilize your cultivation. You have just broken through, so you should consolidate your progress these few days and not be impatient for quick results."

"Thank you, Grandpa!" Xiao Yu happily accepted the jade bottle. Although it was only a first-grade pill, it was still a rare item in Wutan City. The fact that the Grand Elder gave her three at once showed how much he valued her.

"Go ahead." Xiao Shan waved his hand and said with satisfaction, "Cultivate well and remember your grandfather's words."

Xiao Yu bowed and turned to leave the courtyard. Sunlight shone on her back, gilding her with a golden edge.

Xiao Shan stood there, watching his granddaughter leave, his eyes filled with both relief and a complex worry.

He had lived most of his life and seen too many storms. The people in that small courtyard were definitely not someone the Xiao family could afford to offend.

The downfall of the Jia Lie family is the best proof of this. But now it seems that those people have no ill intentions towards the Xiao family, and are even quite friendly towards Xiao Yu.

This could be an opportunity for the Xiao family, but it could also be a crisis. Everything depends on how these young people get along.

"Yu'er, I hope you can seize this opportunity..." Xiao Shan murmured to himself, then turned and walked into the house. He needed to talk to the clan leader, Xiao Zhan, about the small courtyard, about the destruction of the Jialie family, and about the future of the Xiao family.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yu had already returned to her residence. She carefully took out the jade bottle that Cao Ying had given her from her bosom; the remaining Foundation Establishment Elixir inside glowed faintly in the sunlight.

"Thank you, Cao Ying," Xiao Yu said softly, her eyes filled with gratitude.

She didn't know Cao Ying's true identity, nor did she know what kind of people lived in that courtyard.

But she knew that Cao Ying was genuinely good to her, and that was enough. As for the rest, as her grandfather said, don't ask what you shouldn't ask; you'll find out when the time is right.

Xiao Yu sat cross-legged on the bed and began to circulate her battle qi to consolidate her newly advanced cultivation. She felt the battle qi within her body was much stronger than before, and her heart was filled with anticipation for the future.

Utan City is small, but the world outside is vast. And she wants to see that bigger world. And now, it seems she has found a path to that world.

At the same time, within the courtyard's protective barrier, three figures were flashing back and forth.

Yun Yun, who personally annihilated the entire Jia Lie family last night, is now calm and composed, fighting two opponents at once to provide sparring for Cao Ying and Little Fairy Doctor.

Her white robes fluttered, and the sword energy flickered at her fingertips, as if the bloody massacre had never happened.

Within the barrier, poisonous mist surged and strange flames swirled. Little Fairy Doctor's hands flew, and streaks of dark green poisonous gas emerged like serpents from their holes, coiling towards Yun Yun from all directions; Cao Ying's palms swirled with flames, and the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame transformed into several blazing fire arrows, sealing off all of Yun Yun's escape routes.

Attacks came one after another, and poison and fire almost turned the barrier into two bizarre worlds.

Yun Yun merely turned slightly to the side amidst the overwhelming killing intent.

Poisonous gas brushed past her sleeve, and strange fire grazed her flowing hair—she always shifted half a step at the last second, causing all attacks to miss. Her movements were as fluid as thin clouds in the wind, each dodge was effortless, and there was even a lingering aftertaste as she spun, leaving two wisps of sword energy that startled the two women into hastily changing their moves.

Before half an incense stick had burned, Cao Ying and Little Fairy Doctor were already breathing heavily.

The poisonous fog gradually thinned, and the strange fire flickered erratically. Eventually, both of them collapsed to the ground, exhausted, sweat beading on their foreheads, unable to muster any more strength.

Yun Yun withdrew her sleeves, and the barrier quietly dissipated. She walked up to the two women, her gaze calmly sweeping over their pale faces, and gently shook her head.

“You encountered more monsters than people in the Monster Mountain Range. Although the monsters’ attacks were fierce, they were straightforward.”

Her voice was soft, but every word was clear: "The changes in people's hearts are far more unpredictable than those of beasts, and their perception is much more flexible and unpredictable. If you encounter a truly cunning person, you will likely suffer a great loss with your current ability to fight."

She paused, then her tone turned stern: "From today onward, you will spar with me once every seven days. The training is not about fighting spirit, but about eyesight, adaptability, and the awareness to grasp a glimmer of hope even in dire circumstances."

Having said that, she said no more and turned to walk out of the courtyard. The morning light lengthened her slender figure, her posture still composed, as if the bloodshed of last night and the strict discipline of this morning were all part of the scenery she was simply passing by.

Once her figure had completely disappeared, Cao Ying collapsed to the ground, groaning, "Once every seven days..."

The little fairy doctor beside him also slumped down, looking up at the sky, and then let out a long sigh:

"No--"

The two cries of agony overlapped, drifting across the quiet courtyard. In the distance, under the eaves, Yun Yun listened to the faint cries, her lips curving into an almost imperceptible smile before quickly returning to calm.

Chapter 123 begins the "layout"!!

The days passed in the blink of an eye. Cao Ying and Little Fairy Doctor, enjoying a rare day off, excitedly ran to the Xiao family early in the morning. The courtyard instantly became much quieter, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind.

Cai Lin and Yun Yun stood side by side outside Cai Die's room. The morning light slanted across the corridor, casting long, thin shadows of the two of them.

Cai Lin, dressed in a red dress, stood tall and straight like a pine tree, while Yun Yun, in a plain white dress, possessed a cool and aloof demeanor like the moon. Both of their gazes were fixed on the tightly closed door, as if they could see through the heavy wooden door to Cai Die, who was undergoing a breakthrough in her cultivation within.

The atmosphere emanating from inside the room fluctuated like the tides, sometimes surging and sometimes as calm as a mirror.

As Cai Lin sensed the ever-increasing energy fluctuations, the corners of her rosy lips turned up slightly, revealing a relieved smile.

"Judging by the time, Cai Die's cultivation should be almost stable by now." Her voice was clear and melodious, with a hint of the doting and pride that comes with being an older sister.

Yun Yun turned her head slightly, also sensing the faint aura of breakthrough, and nodded in agreement: "What the mistress said is true, this aura is solid and profound. After all, I also broke through not long ago, so I have a deep understanding of this."

Her words conveyed just the right amount of respect, neither overly flattering nor distant.