Breaking the Masked Man

"Hey~"

With a coquettish voice, a white fox with bluish-green fur appeared on Yao Yan's shoulder. Its loose tail draped around its neck like a winter scarf, and its emerald green eyes looked ingratiating as it tilted its head up and rubbed against Yao Yan's cheek.

This fox was a pet that Yao Yan had captured on the road. At the time, it was carrying a white jade ginseng and was running away. It was being chased by two third-tier four-winged flying snakes.

Yao Yan was stunned at the time.

Because this fox was only a second-tier Green Wood Fox, it dared to snatch food from the mouths of two third-tier four-winged flying snakes. You should know that even fourth-tier magical beasts rarely dare to provoke flying magical beasts like flying snakes. Moreover, four-winged flying snakes are also highly poisonous. They can easily kill you while flying you like a kite.

Among low-level magical beasts, the third-tier four-winged flying serpent is an extremely troublesome one.

As it turned out, the little guy was not afraid at all, and even dared to tease the two four-winged flying snakes. Relying on his innate supernatural ability to control the vegetation, he actually made fun of the two four-winged flying snakes like monkeys.

Intrigued, Yao Yan naturally stepped in to help, rescuing the seemingly mutated second-tier Green Wood Fox from the mouths of two four-winged flying snakes. He then took the reward from its mouth, which infuriated the little guy. It really got angry and started whimpering at Yao Yan, almost making him laugh to death.

Amused, Yao Yan casually concocted a few medicinal essence pills for it, and then it became attached to him.

A fox that can whine is quite interesting.

Yao Yan was also lonely, so he kept it as a pet. He also noticed that this second-tier Green Wood Fox had mutated. The fur of ordinary Green Wood Foxes is greenish-blue, but this Green Wood Fox is snow-white all over, with greenish-blue tips on its fur. From a distance, it looks similar to a Green Wood Fox.

Unlike the blood-red eyes of the Green Fox, its eyes are emerald green, its tail fur is looser, it is full of intelligence, and its talent for controlling vegetation is stronger than that of the ordinary Green Fox.

If not.

This second-tier little guy was already eaten by the four-winged flying snake, how dare he still tease it?

"If you eat so much, what will happen if you turn into a pig?"

Yao Yan glanced at the glutton, chuckled, and then affectionately handed him a medicinal essence pill.

During their time together, he discovered that the little guy had an amazing appetite, was also quite useless, or perhaps it should be said that he had amazing potential. He had eaten so much medicinal essence, yet he showed no sign of breaking through. Sometimes Yao Yan was worried that he would overeat. It was simply outrageous that such a small body could absorb so much herbal essence.

Little Green Fox didn't care what Yao Yan thought. She swallowed the essence pill in one gulp, raised her head comfortably, and had a smiling expression on her face.

"Be careful not to overeat and upset your stomach."

Yao Yan tapped the little guy on the head and said something with concern.

Little Green Wood Fox nudged Yao Yan's hand with its head and let out a soft, coquettish sound.

Yao Yan rubbed the nice-feeling fur a few more times, then his gaze turned to Shennong City. Without further hesitation, he strode towards the city. With his Yao clan surname, he didn't need to worry about being attacked in crowded places. This place wasn't far from the Yao clan's Medicine Realm, and no one would be foolish enough to kill a member of the Yao clan in public, even if the other party wasn't a core member of the Yao clan.

If someone has the surname of a medicine clan, the blood flowing through their body must be the genuine bloodline of a Dou Di (Battle Emperor).

This bloodline is the reason why others dare not touch him casually.

He planned to go into the city to buy a map, not just of the Shennong Mountains, but also of the outside world. If he had the chance, he would definitely go to the Jia Ma Empire. Both the Burning Scripture and the Demon Flame Remnant Map were priceless treasures. As for Xiao Yan's path to rise... it's better to be a little selfish, especially since the two of them had no connection whatsoever.

As for whether the Dou Qi Continent and the Great Thousand World will collapse without Emperor Yan...

Yao Yan always believed in one sentence: Don't take yourself too seriously. The world will keep turning even if someone is missing. Even if Emperor Yan is gone, someone else will step up.

Compared to the so-called hard work in the original work, Yao Yan believes more in the choices of fate.

Just like Mu Chen in this vast world.

Was his cultivation level truly the result of his own arduous practice?

Perhaps in the early stages, but later... Yao Yan is more convinced that he was chosen by the will of the Great Thousand Worlds and obtained the life template for saving the world. Xiao Yan is the same. He is very curious whether the protagonist template will fall on him since he took the Burning Technique.

There's a saying that goes something like this: life is like a play, and everyone is the protagonist of their own play.

You have to live up to your life and the role you played!

……

Shennong City is vast, far exceeding the scale of Dan Ding City. Above it, there are numerous floating islands where many giant flying magical beasts and powerful individuals who can fly land. As for the cities below, they naturally belong to those below the Dou Wang level. Those like Yao Yan, who cannot fly, can only obediently enter through the main gate.

A number of people had already gathered at the city gate to enter the city, some in twos and threes, others in large groups.

The largest group of people were naturally the mercenaries who spent their days spitting blood on the front lines. They gathered in groups, arms clasped together, discussing animatedly at the city gate where they would go for drinks, or how their day's harvest had been, or where they had encountered ferocious monsters...

Mercenaries are all ordinary people with poor talent and no background. If they don't have the right opportunity, they can only stay at the level of Battle Master or Great Battle Master for the rest of their lives.

Talent determines the ceiling.

In this world, apart from parents, no one or any power would be willing to raise a person without talent.

Yao Yan's arrival naturally attracted a lot of attention, mainly because of his handsome appearance. He was wearing a moon-white brocade robe, and a delicate and cute little green fox was perched on his shoulder, which was in stark contrast to the mercenaries who were licking blood off their blades.

This doesn't seem like an ordinary person making a living in the Shennong Mountains at all; rather, it seems like a young master or nobleman traveling around.

Immediately, the city gate became much quieter.

“I once saw a member of the Medicine Clan wear similar clothes. Could he be a member of the Medicine Clan?”

Even if it isn't, it's definitely not someone we can afford to mess with.

……

Yao Yan ignored the stares and whispers. He walked slowly to the city gate, looked at a Grand Master guarding the gate, and asked softly, "Are there any rules for entering the city?"

He had just seen other people entering the city, and it seemed they had to pay a fee. He didn't have any money on him, but for an alchemist, money was never a problem.

"May I ask if you, young master, are a member of the Medicine Clan?"

The other person looked at Yao Yan somewhat reservedly and asked.

He could see what the mercenaries could see. If he didn't have eyesight, how could he do this kind of gatekeeping job? You never know who you're dealing with, so it's impossible for him to look down on others.

"Young man Yao Yan, I've come to the city to buy a map and gather some information. I wonder if you would be willing to help me, brother? This Grade One Qi-Returning Pill can be my reward."

Yao Yan took out a Qi-restoring pill from his storage ring and asked.

This Qi Pill was naturally something he made casually. Neither the herbalist nor Hun Xuzi would prepare such a low-grade pill for him. After all, he himself is now a genuine fourth-grade alchemist, and he can make his own if needed.

In fact, if it weren't for the limitations of his battle qi, he could have easily tried refining a fifth-grade pill.

Unfortunately, a three-star Dou Shi's Dou Qi is already at its limit for refining fourth-grade pills, and it simply cannot withstand the Dou Qi consumption required for fifth-grade pills.

Upon hearing this, everyone around cast envious glances at the gatekeeper. To receive a first-grade pill simply for showing the way was incredibly lucky. Many even wanted to offer to help, but they held back, fearing that offending the gatekeeper might mean losing their place in Shennong City in the future.

"Of course, please, young master."

The security guard's face immediately lit up with excitement, and he quickly responded.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 19 Rich and Rich

Led by the gatekeeper, Yao Yan soon arrived at a shop that specializes in selling maps.

The gatekeeper enthusiastically introduced the shop to Yao Yan: "Young master, this shop sells maps of most of the Shennong Mountains, which should meet your requirements. If you wish to purchase more detailed maps, you will have to go to the floating island to buy them..."

"No need, this is fine, thank you."

Yao Yan interrupted the other person, tossed them a Grade One Qi-Returning Pill, and then strode into the shop.

The gatekeeper looked at the Qi-restoring pill in his hand and realized that Yao Yan didn't want to have much contact with him. He could only sigh and turn to leave. He had already made a huge profit by getting a Qi-restoring pill just by leading the way. If he were to be greedy, he might anger the other party. Not all the disciples of the Yao clan were good-tempered.

Yao Yan entered the shop and found it to be extremely spacious and clean, well-organized, with many people inside buying maps, including mercenaries and adventurers.

"Is this your first time visiting Shennong City, young master?"

Just then, a young shop assistant came up to them. He had a good eye and could tell that Yao Yan was no ordinary person.

Yao Yan nodded upon hearing this and said, "Yes, I've come here to buy some maps. Besides the Shennong Mountains, I'd also like to buy some maps of other regions, preferably detailed ones. Price is not an issue."

“Then you’ve come to the right place, young master.”

A hint of joy flashed in the young shop assistant's eyes, and his attitude became even more enthusiastic. He raised his hand and said with a smile, "Please, sir, let's go inside and talk in detail."

Yao Yan did not refuse and followed the other party into the inner room.

The inner chamber has a separate room, which is more luxuriously decorated, and there are also pretty maids serving you. Tea and pastries are also readily available.

The young shop assistant invited Yao Yan to sit down before speaking slowly and deliberately, "May I ask if you are a member of the Yao clan?"

"A branch of the clan."

Yao Yan remained calm and spoke without changing his expression.

He had no intention of concealing his identity. In the Shennong Mountains, the Medicine Clan was an indisputable name, and no one would take the huge risk of offending a member of a branch of the Medicine Clan, especially since the other party was relatively young and no one knew who was behind him.

Even a Dou Zong expert would have to consider the consequences.

The young shop assistant was not surprised to hear this. He had roughly guessed Yao Yan's identity. As for the core members of the Yao clan, they were all of noble status and were accompanied by guards when they went out. Even if they came to Shennong City, they would only go to the shops on the floating island, not to the city below. Moreover, they were very easy to recognize, as they all had a gourd-shaped clan mark between their eyebrows.

Only members of certain branches of the clan would come here when they went out to gain experience.

As for ordinary people... Yao Yan's temperament and appearance are obviously not like that; people who are really struggling to make a living at the bottom of society do not have this kind of demeanor.

“I am Wang Xiao, a disciple of the Shennong Sect, and I am in charge of managing several shops in Shennong City. If you have any needs, please tell me and I should be able to help you.”

Wang Xiao's expression turned serious, and he said in a deep voice.

"A Grand Master is quite confident..." Yao Yan muttered to himself. With his soul power, he could naturally tell the other party's strength at a glance. He pondered for a moment and said, "Let's talk about the map first. What is the price of the most detailed map you have here?"

Instead of answering, Wang Xiao asked, "That depends on what kind of detailed map you need, young master. If it's just a detailed map within a radius of ten thousand miles, we can produce one. It contains detailed records of major dangerous areas and the territories of magical beasts. All of this information has been verified by the Shennong Sect and will not be wrong. As for more distant areas, I'm afraid I can't help you with that."

Ten thousand miles... Well, for the Dou Qi Continent, this distance is indeed not far. You should know that traveling between the two regions of the Dou Qi Continent is done using spatial wormholes.

"Ten thousand miles is not necessary, a thousand miles is enough. In addition, I need a map of the Dou Qi Continent, preferably with markers indicating the routes between different regions."

Yao Yan made a request: what he most wanted to know about the location of the Gama Empire was when he bought the map.