'My current strength is still a bit too weak.'
After a night of quiet cultivation, Yang Xiao didn't fully recover until the sun rose.
Yesterday, in order to kill Yang Lang, he had continuously gathered power, placing a huge strain on his spirit. His physical body had also struggled to endure it.
The Gathering Essence Finger was just a Small Divine Technique he had created casually.
It couldn't even be considered a true Divine Technique.
However, its power would continuously increase along with his own strength.
'But my strength is still just too weak.'
'It was such a struggle just to kill an ungrateful bastard at the 1st Layer of the Innate Grand Martial Master realm.'
'I had to spend several hours gathering power.'
'If it hadn't been a surprise attack, but a direct confrontation, my chances of survival would have been slim.'
'When experts fight, the slightest difference can mean life or death. A few hours might not seem long, but when it comes to battling the truly strong, I am still far from ready!'
After refining his body and spirit with Red Flame Essence Qi, Yang Xiao's current state was not yet at its peak Perfection.
Neither his 1st-Layer Martial Master body nor his Spiritual Power at the Observing Micro Threshold was anywhere near its current limit.
'The Red Flame Realm corresponds to the Third Realm of Body Refining. My physical body is only at the 1st-Layer Martial Master stage, so there's still a lot of room for improvement. I can reach the Peak of the Ninth Layer Martial Master. As for going higher, I'll need to break through to the Orange Flame Realm. The same goes for my Spirit Will. Through continuous refinement, it can reach the Peak of the Initial Stage of Micro Observation.'
Once Yang Xiao cultivated his body to Martial Master Peak and raised his Spirit Will to the Peak of the Initial Stage of Micro Observation, he wouldn't be much weaker than Yang Lang even in a direct confrontation. But that would take time.
However, if he could break through to the Orange Flame Realm, things would be different. Upon entering that level, he would gain two more opportunities to refine his body and spirit. Even if Yang Xiao did nothing, his strength would increase dramatically.
At that point, killing Yang Lang again would be as easy as slaughtering a dog.
Moreover, upon reaching the Orange Flame Realm, Yang Xiao could begin to use some of the methods from his past life. For instance, he could start cultivating the most formidable body cultivation Techniques from the Ancient Era.
He could also begin practicing the Saint-level Technique passed down by his master, the Nine Yang Celestial Skill, which would bring immense benefits.
But breaking through to the Orange Flame Realm was not so easy.
Yang Xiao knew this very well.
'Don't let the fact that I've reached the limit of the Red Flame Realm fool you. It took eighteen stalks of Fourth-Grade Spirit Medicine just to get here.'
'And if I want to break through using only Fourth-Grade Spirit Medicine, it would be impossible, not even with another eighteen stalks—no, not even with one hundred and eighty.'
'Because for a Heaven and Earth Origin Flame that has reached its limit, advancement requires quality, not quantity.'
'This kind of qualitative leap will probably require Spirit Medicine at the Peak of the Fifth Level at the very least. It might even need Level 6, or perhaps even Level 7.'
Having just arrived in this world, he had yet to even see a Fire Attribute Spirit Medicine at the Peak of the Fifth Level, so Yang Xiao couldn't judge for sure.
'Looks like I'll have to find a chance to visit Spirit Medicine Peak again. If that doesn't work, I'm afraid I'll have to check out the Celestial Cloud Mountain Range.'
There were only two places in the Purple Sun Sect to obtain Spirit Medicine.
Spirit Medicine Peak and Spirit Medicine Street.
Yang Xiao had already given up on Spirit Medicine Street.
The largest spirit medicine shop there only had five stalks of Fifth-level Spirit Medicine, and none of them were Fire Attribute.
Now, his only hope was that there were Level 5 Fire Attribute Spirit Medicines on Spirit Medicine Peak.
However, even if there were, they likely wouldn't be easy to obtain.
'The highest parts of Spirit Medicine Peak all require a large amount of Contribution Points. Last time, to gather that Fourth-Grade Spirit Medicine, the Thousand Pearl Grass, my predecessor nearly used up all the Contribution Points in Father's Elder Order. Even if there are Spirit Medicines of Level 5 or higher up there, I probably don't have enough points. Looks like I'll have to wait for Father to return before making any plans.'
Contribution Points could only be earned by accepting missions from the Purple Sun Sect.
To a certain extent, they could be used as currency.
And with Yang Xiao's current status as an Outer Disciple, he wasn't qualified to accept Sect missions at all.
Only disciples of the Inner Sect and above were qualified.
To be promoted to an Inner Sect Disciple in the Purple Sun Sect, one had to participate in the Outer Sect Grand Competition. Only by reaching the Martial Artist level and placing in the top ten could one be promoted.
Only then could one enter the Inner Sect.
'Rather than wait until then,' Yang Xiao thought, 'I might as well trouble my father again.'
'He can help me save up some more Contribution Points.'
'But before that, I should first confirm whether Spirit Medicine Peak even has the Spirit Medicine I need.'
A thought suddenly occurred to Yang Xiao.
He thought of someone.
Elder Yao.
Yang Xiao's eyes lit up.
"Young Master, Young Master, there's someone outside looking for you."
Just then, Yun'Er's voice suddenly called out.
Yang Xiao frowned.
'In this life, I don't really have any friends. Who would come looking for me?'
"Who's looking for me?" Yang Xiao asked.
"It's... it's a female Outer Disciple. She said she has something to tell you about Tang Xiaoyu, Young Master."
Yun'Er seemed a little nervous.
In truth, she really didn't want the Young Master to go out and meet that female disciple. Deep down, she strongly disliked the woman called Tang Xiaoyu.
Because every time the Young Master met with that woman, he would end up trying to do something incredibly difficult.
It started with giving her Second-level Spirit Medicine and First-Grade Pills.
Then, a few days ago, he'd nearly fallen to his death climbing Spirit Medicine Peak.
It was all because of that woman.
That was why Yun'Er disliked Tang Xiaoyu so much.
But as a maid, Yun'Er would never lie to her Young Master.
No matter how reluctant she felt, she still hurried to report it.
'Tang Xiaoyu?' "I won't see her. Tell her to leave."
'That woman sending someone to find me... she's probably up to some trick again.' Yang Xiao was focused on improving his strength and had no time to play her games.
"Ah? Young Master, what did you say?"
Yun'Er was stunned.
'That's not right.'
'Wasn't it every single time he heard something about Tang Xiaoyu, he would immediately rush out?'
'What's different this time?'
"What is it? Is there something else?" Yang Xiao asked curiously.
"N-no, it's nothing. It's just... are you sure you don't want to see her, Young Master?" Yun'Er asked again.
Yang Xiao frowned. "I already said I won't see her. By the way, are you busy right now?"
"Me? No," Yun'Er answered honestly.
In fact, as Yang Xiao's personal maid, her job was to take care of him. Under normal circumstances, she didn't really have much to do.
"Then come with me to Juhua Studio."
After speaking, Yang Xiao headed for the door.
Yun'Er froze for a moment. Seeing Yang Xiao about to leave, she finally snapped out of it and followed him with a delighted expression.
'The Young Master is actually taking me out!'
'The last time I went out with the Young Master... it feels like it was three years ago.'
At this thought, Yun'Er's heart filled with glee.
She had always been a lively person, and when Yang Xiao was young, the two of them had gotten along very well.
Otherwise, Yang Zhentian would never have let Yun'Er become Yang Xiao's personal maid.
But in recent years, especially four years ago when Master Wang declared that the Young Master was unable to cultivate, he had changed completely.
He became quiet and withdrawn.
Over time, even Yun'Er, who had once been closest to him, grew hesitant to approach him.
Needless to say, asking the Young Master to go out and have fun with her was out of the question.
It was an extravagant hope.
A dream.
But today, that dream had come true.
Naturally, Yun'Er was overjoyed.
Like a little lark, she skipped and bounced as she chased after Yang Xiao.
Seeing the little maid act this way, Yang Xiao couldn't help but smile. "You're much cuter like this. The way you were acting so prim and proper earlier, I thought you were some old maid who couldn't get married off."
"Pfft! You're the old maid who can't get married off!"
Yun'Er retorted subconsciously.
But the moment the words left her mouth, she clapped a hand over it and looked cautiously at her Young Master.
To her surprise, the Young Master didn't seem to mind at all. In fact, he laughed.
He laughed brightly.
'Could it be? Has the Young Master truly emerged from the shadows? Is he back to how he used to be?'
At this thought, Yun'Er's eyes reddened.
Tears nearly spilled from her eyes.
"Why are you crying?" Yang Xiao frowned.
Yun'Er shook her head repeatedly.
"I-I'm fine. I'm just so happy to see you smile, Young Master."
Hearing this, a pang of sorrow struck Yang Xiao's heart.
'My predecessor was a real bastard. He had such an adorable little maid right here but didn't cherish her, choosing instead to be duped by that woman, Tang Xiaoyu.'
'When you really look at them, Tang Xiaoyu isn't even as cute or pretty as Yun'Er.'
'What an idiot.'