Battle Through the Heavens: Starting from the Jia Ma Empire

Chapter 138 Monster Mountain Range

In the Northwest Continent, stretching for countless miles, the Beast Mountain Range seems to cover the entire world. Inside an unnamed cave, a master and apprentice are studying the art of alchemy.

"Zzzzz."

Before the four enormous medicine cauldrons, a young man in black sat cross-legged, his hand seals constantly changing. Inside the cauldrons, a multicolored flame also changed, burning the herbs inside.

Yao Chen, who stood suspended in mid-air to the side, remained silent throughout; this was his teaching method. Unless it was a very important elixir, he never spoke during the refining process, even if the refining failed.

After the alchemy was completed, Xiao Yan would summarize his findings before offering his own opinion. Perhaps this method was the most important reason why Xiao Yan in the original story was able to reach the pinnacle of alchemy on his own, relying on Yao Lao's legacy, after Yao Lao was captured.

While this master and apprentice were refining pills, far away on Mount Yunlan, another master and apprentice were also having a conversation.

"Yanran, do you still remember our three-year promise?"

On the mountain range where the sect leader of Yunlan Sect resided, a noble and elegant figure slowly spoke, her voice gentle and moving.

"Master, are you going to blame Yanran for this?"

"Since it has already happened, there's no point in blaming you anymore." The noble and gorgeous figure turned slightly, revealing a face of unparalleled beauty and elegance. "Today, my spy reported that Xiao Yan, whom you made a promise with, has regained his talent and is even more outstanding than before."

"In fact," Yun Yun paused, looking at her disciple whose face had calmed down, "Anzi suspects that he has a master guiding him. It is said that he has already gone to the Monster Mountain Range to experience life-and-death battles. If you cultivate normally in the sect, I'm afraid you won't be his match."

"What!" The girl with pigtails exclaimed in disbelief. "Teacher, even if Xiao Yan's talent was originally higher than mine, after years of training in the sect, and his three-year stagnation, and starting from the third level of Dou Qi again, how could he possibly surpass me?"

"Yanran, no matter what, you must not be careless. Originally, I planned to go to the Monster Mountain Range myself to find a treasure for you, but since the Empire has ceded the area around the Monster Mountain Range to the Snake-People, it is not appropriate for a powerhouse of my level to approach rashly."

Looking at her young disciple, Yun Yun had an idea.

"Since Xiao Yan is also training and gaining combat experience in the Monster Mountain Range, why don't you go too, Yanran?"

"Yes!" Nalan Yanran's lips twitched slightly, knowing that she couldn't object to her master's decisions.

"Don't worry, I will send a Douling Elder to protect you."

Xiao Yan was naturally unaware of what was happening at Yunlan Sect. At this moment, however, he was beaming with joy and slightly stopped practicing.

"call"

After exhaling a breath of stale air, he reached out and made a slight gesture, and a crystal-clear pill came from the medicine cauldron into his hand.

"Master, look, it's a top-grade recovery pill, and of excellent quality, with pill patterns all over its body."

Xiao Yan gently wiped the sweat from his face, not paying much attention to it, his face full of joy. After many days of practice, he had finally reached the pinnacle of a first-grade alchemist, and now he could try to advance to the second-grade alchemist realm.

"Hmm, Little Yanzi, you do indeed have some talent in alchemy." Yao Chen said with his hands behind his back, his voice ethereal. He glanced at the young disciple and saw a hint of pride in him. Then he changed the subject.

"However, this is far inferior to what I was like back then. When I was your age, I was already a peak third-grade alchemist, and I even advanced to the fourth-grade alchemist realm in the same year."

After giving his disciple a slight rebuke, Yao Chen encouraged him again once he saw that his disciple had regained his senses.

"Of course, if you study diligently, I am confident that I can help you reach Lin Feng's level."

"Really, Master?" Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan's eyes lit up. The alchemist Lin Feng was now a household name in the Jia Ma Empire and Xiao Yan's idol, or rather, the goal he was pursuing.

"Hmph, when have I ever lied to you? Take the Burning Technique for example, it has now evolved to the level of a peak Yellow Rank technique."

"Hehehe, Master is right."

Xiao Yan chuckled, feeling proud of his choice of this cultivation technique. Since becoming a disciple of Canaan Academy, Xiao Yan had been in the Monster Beast Mountain Range for more than half a year. During this time, he would refine the beast fire of any fire-attribute monsters he killed and devour them.

This is why, although the Burning Technique is still only at the intermediate level of the Yellow Rank, it can be compared to the peak of the Yellow Rank.

Of course, the most important factor was during one of his trips to exchange for survival supplies, when Yao Chen personally refined a high-grade pill. In exchange for this, he obtained two high-grade beast flames. This is the real reason for the evolution of the Burning Blade's power. Otherwise, how could Xiao Yan have improved the Burning Blade again with just the first and second-tier magical beast flames he absorbed?

This guy has been terrified of alchemists' lack of stamina, so he'll absorb any beast fire he encounters, regardless of whether it's effective or not—a departure from the original story. Of course, this also makes him much stronger than in the original work.

"Little Yanzi, now that you've advanced to the Dou Shi realm, while the Magical Beast Mountain Range will still be useful to you, it's time for us to set off and search for that legendary treasure of heaven and earth—the Strange Flame!"

"Yes, Master, let's set off now."

"Bang!"

"Old man, why did you hit me?"

"Let's go! Why are you so excited? Are you afraid others won't notice?" Yao Chen slapped Xiao Yan on the head, his tone becoming subtle. "And what did you call your master just now, you rebellious disciple?"

"Master, your disciple knows he was wrong."

"Do you really know you were wrong? I think you're itching for a beating, Little Yanzi. Let your respected master examine you, hehehe."

"ah"

The next morning, a young man dressed in black, carrying a huge black ruler on his back, glanced back at the towering, boundless Monster Mountain Range behind him, then resolutely turned around and embarked on his journey once more.

Meanwhile, atop Cloud Mist Mountain, a smartly dressed woman with pigtails, having already made her preparations, bid farewell to her master and, accompanied by a female elder of the Fighting Spirit Sect, left the Cloud Mist Sect. Riding on a flying magical beast tamed by the sect, she sped towards the distant Magical Beast Mountain Range.

"Xiao Yan, just you wait. I will make rapid progress in the Monster Mountain Range and defeat you at the three-year agreement, proving that everything I did back then was right."

The woman atop the flying magical beast gazed towards the direction of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, her bright eyes filled with uncertainty.

(End of this chapter)