While in Battle Through the Heavens, one can pre-appoint oneself as an emperor.

Chen Xiao knew that investing in Qinglin was simple: if you treat her with sincerity, she will repay you a hundredfold. It was so simple, yet it still moved him.

No one can predict what the world will look like in ten years or a hundred years, or what they themselves will become.

But Chen Xiao now believed that the two questions and answers he had just received would be enough to make him remember them for a long time to come.

"Pack your things, we're going to Mo City."

Looking at the girl in front of him who was as timid as a kitten, Chen Xiao gently raised his right hand, wanting to rub her head to comfort her, but then felt it would be too abrupt and might frighten her, so he quietly withdrew his hand.

Qinglin nodded emphatically, filled with anticipation for the future, and trotted into the house. Under Chen Xiao's watchful gaze, she deftly began packing up their meager belongings.

From beginning to end, he didn't ask a single extra question.

Her experiences in the Stone Desert City over the years have taught her one thing at a young age.

Talking too much will only make you more disliked.

"Young master, I'm all packed."

In less than five minutes, Qinglin had packed up all the things she was going to take, even the two steamed buns left in the bowl on the table, which she stuffed into her bosom.

"Well, give me the things. It's not far to Mo City, but it's not close for you either."

Looking at the two small bags she had tied together with thin rope, Chen Xiao spoke up.

Seeing her hesitation, Chen Xiao added another sentence.

"I have a storage ring, which saves me trouble."

Upon hearing this, Qinglin handed the items to Chen Xiao.

After locking the hut from the outside, the two headed one after the other toward the gate of Stone Desert City.

Because he was carrying Qinglin, Chen Xiao did not rush to unfold the Purple Cloud Wings to travel, but chose to walk instead.

This would greatly extend the required time.

As the sun began to set, Chen Xiao estimated that he had covered about half of the journey.

Seeing that it was getting late and Qinglin's face showed signs of exhaustion, Chen Xiao reached out his hand at the right time.

"Hold on tight, I'll fly you there, otherwise we'll have to travel in the dark later."

Actually, Chen Xiao didn't need to be in such a hurry to return to Mo City; he could have set off early tomorrow morning.

However, he harbored a selfish desire: he wanted Qinglin to open her eyes tomorrow in a completely new place, seeing the sunrise from a completely new perspective, just as her life should also turn a new page.

Qinglin hesitated as Chen Xiao offered his hand.

Because the only properly fitting garment she usually wore had been changed and washed, her robes were now slightly oversized.

If she were to extend her hand, the fine, bluish scales on her arm, resembling snake scales, would inevitably be revealed. She wondered if the man she was meeting today would feel the same disgust towards her as the mercenaries she had encountered before.

Little did she know, her worries were completely unnecessary for Chen Xiao.

"Don't worry about it, I already saw it when we were in the cabin."

Qinglin felt a pang of anxiety, but found that Chen Xiao's gaze was the same as when he first met her, showing no sign of anything amiss.

Realizing that she wasn't being disliked, Qinglin finally mustered up the courage to speak up.

"Doesn't the young master find Qinglin's abnormality disgusting?"

A question that didn't sound very coherent seemed to have drained all of Qinglin's courage.

The timid nature that was forced upon me from childhood is not something that can be changed overnight.

Sensing her nervousness, Chen Xiao shook his head slightly.

"What is called normal is just a standard set by the majority of people to seek recognition and exclude those who are different. In my opinion, so what if you are not normal? You don't need to care about other people's opinions, including mine."

"Besides, if we're really going to be serious, I feel uncomfortable seeing anything asymmetrical. If I see two trees that are different heights, I want to cut them down to the same height. If I have these kinds of thoughts that are hard for ordinary people to understand, then am I not normal either?"

"So just regard the doubts of others as flickering will-o'-the-wisps and boldly walk your own path."

Chen Xiao is not usually a very talkative person, but he is willing to say a few more words to the girl next to him.

Hearing Chen Xiao's words, a light seemed to appear in Qing Lin's clear eyes.

A seed called "self-confidence and self-reliance" is quietly planted in your heart. One day, it will take root, sprout, and grow into a towering tree.

"Let's go."

Chen Xiao reached out his hand again.

This time, Qinglin did not hesitate.

Chen Xiao's hands, which possessed ice attributes, were slightly cool, as were the girl's hands.

They seem to truly be of the same kind.

With the help of the Purple Cloud Wings, the speed increased significantly.

Even though Chen Xiao was carrying Qing Lin, the weight of less than 100 pounds posed no obstacle whatsoever.

In less than an hour, the two arrived in Mo City.

In this much larger city, accommodation is not a problem at all.

After finding an inn relatively close to Haibodong Map Shop, Chen Xiao booked two rooms and then let Qinglin go upstairs to rest first.

"Shopkeeper, prepare more food and send it to her. Also, please ask your wife to make a trip and buy her a few new outfits."

Chen Xiao took out a small bag of gold coins and handed it to the shopkeeper and his wife.

He had promised to ensure the girl would no longer go hungry, so he couldn't go back on his word.

While they were traveling, Chen Xiao had already heard the other person's stomach rumbling. If he hadn't prepared some food, given Qing Lin's personality, she would probably have taken out those two hard steamed buns to fill her stomach.

"I cannot accept your invitation. You may return to your room to rest for a quarter of an hour at most. I will then deliver the clothes to that young lady."

Chen Xiao nodded and returned to his room alone.

He took out an enhancement pill from his storage ring and swallowed it. He cultivated for less than a quarter of an hour when he heard a knock on the door of the next room.

Without paying any more attention, Chen Xiao withdrew his mind and devoted himself entirely to cultivation.

...

Silent all night.

When Chen Xiao knocked on the door, it was already early morning of a new day.

"Come in."

After receiving a response, the door was gently pushed open.

Immediately following, a girl who had changed into a new blue dress came into view carrying a basin of water.

"Young master, it's time to wash up."

Qinglin didn't sleep well last night, but she looked great right now, with a big smile that made her seem much more confident.

Chen Xiao had never been served before in his life, and this situation made him quite uncomfortable.

However, he did not speak out to stop it.

After washing up, with nothing to do, Chen Xiao resumed his cultivation.

He didn't stop meditating until it was almost noon.

After having lunch at the inn, Chen Xiao extended the stay for two rooms for another month, and then took Qing Lin to the outskirts of the city.

"Qinglin, do you want to cultivate?"

As soon as he said it, Chen Xiao burst out laughing at his own stupid question.

In this world, who doesn't want to cultivate?

"I'll teach you how to cultivate qi later."