I want to tread the heavens

After setting his grand plan to "make money," Ling Xiao didn't act immediately. Like a wounded wolf, he knew he needed to quickly regain the sharpness of his fangs before he could hunt. Three consecutive days of traveling, fighting, and mental strain, coupled with the discomfort of being in a new place, had left him physically and mentally exhausted. More importantly, Fa Cai's condition worried him. Since moving into this dilapidated courtyard, Fa Cai had been unusually quiet. Most of the time, it lay in the shadows of the inner room, eyes closed, seemingly asleep, but beneath its silver-gray fur, its muscles would occasionally twitch slightly involuntarily, and its breathing was longer and heavier than usual. Occasionally, it would open its eyes, its amber pupils gleaming as if looking at something Ling Xiao couldn't see, before quickly closing them again. It ate very little and drank very little water.

Ling Xiao could sense a restless, shifting power within Fa Cai's body. It wasn't due to injury, but rather a natural eruption after long accumulation. He recalled Fa Cai's slumber and evolution after absorbing moonlight in the Old Land. Here, the spiritual energy of the Azure Profound Continent, in both concentration and "quality," far surpassed that of the Old Land, making it an excellent tonic for Fa Cai. He didn't disturb it, simply leaving a little extra of his daily share of hard biscuits and water beside it. He, meanwhile, focused on recovering while repeatedly studying the jade slip, pondering the possible forms of the "Path of Inquiry," simulating various battle scenarios in his mind, and disassembling and recombining the essence of "Swimming Fish Step" and "Star Thunder Finger," attempting to find a more effortless and efficient way to apply them. The dilapidated courtyard was silent, save for the whistling of the wind through the thatched grass and the distant, indistinct sounds of the city. Time flowed slowly in a near-frozen focus and waiting.

On the third day, late at night. There was no moon, and the starlight was obscured by thin clouds, shrouding the courtyard in a thick, inky darkness. Ling Xiao didn't light a candle; he simply sat cross-legged on the threshold of the main room, facing the courtyard, his eyes slightly closed. His mind, like the finest spiderweb, was scattered across the simple warning signs he had set up in the courtyard, while also keeping an eye on Fa Cai's movements in the inner room. Suddenly, he opened his eyes. It wasn't that he heard a sound, nor that the warning signs were triggered. It was a kind of… “feeling.” It was as if the surrounding darkness had become “denser,” and the thin, mixed spiritual energy in the air was silently and slowly gathering towards that corner of the inner room, not quickly, but steadily and continuously. Even stranger, despite the lack of moonlight, he seemed to “see” extremely faint, cool, silvery light piercing through the dilapidated roof, ignoring the physical barriers, and precisely landing on the sleeping Fa Cai.

In the darkness, Fa Cai's body began to emit a hazy, intermittent silver light. It wasn't a blinding gleam, but a restrained, subtle radiance, as if emanating from beneath every hair and inch of skin. The silver light shifted, faintly forming indistinct, mysterious patterns that vanished in an instant. Its once steady, long breaths became intermittent, sometimes barely audible, sometimes heavy as thunder, and its body would occasionally tremble violently, as if enduring immense pressure, or undergoing a transformation from within. Holding his breath, his hand rested on the hilt of the broken sword, he neither approached nor uttered a sound. He knew this was a crucial moment. All he could do was protect it, preventing any external disturbance.

Time passed slowly. The gathering spiritual energy and moonlight grew increasingly pronounced, and the silvery glow emanating from Fa Cai intensified, gradually illuminating the dim inner room in a hazy, silvery-white light. Its silver-gray fur, bathed in the glow, seemed to have shed its dust, becoming as smooth as the finest silk. The natural, barely noticeable crescent-shaped silver mark on its forehead was now crystal clear, radiating a faint, captivating luster. Just as the silvery glow reached its peak, as if about to explode—Fa Cai's tightly closed eyes suddenly snapped open! There was no intimidating glint, nor any aura of violence. Its amber eyes were now as clear as the purest glass, within which seemed to swirl and settle tiny silver stars, deep and calm, yet possessing an indescribable spirituality and…wisdom. Its former wildness and vigilance remained, but seemed to be governed and tempered by something clearer and more transparent.

The silvery glow emanating from its body receded rapidly, like a receding tide, disappearing completely without a trace being wasted, all returning to its body. The room fell into darkness again, but Ling Xiao could clearly "see" Fa Cai—not with his eyes, but through a more direct, almost blood-bound connection. Fa Cai's aura became extremely restrained, almost indistinguishable from that of an ordinary wild beast, but Ling Xiao could sense that beneath that calm exterior lay a more solid and powerful force dormant. It seemed... to have touched a certain boundary, poised to break through at any moment, yet firmly in control. It slowly stood up, its movements fluid and graceful, carrying an elegance and composure it had never possessed before. It shook its body, its silver-gray fur fluffing up, faintly shimmering with a metallic sheen in the extremely dim light. Its physique seemed unchanged, but its muscle lines were more fluid and perfect, brimming with inner explosive power. It raised its head, looking at Ling Xiao in the doorway. The moment their eyes met, a clear, stable, and far more complex thought than before flowed naturally into Ling Xiao's mind like a gentle stream.

"Ling Xiao. I'm all better. I had a very long 'dream'... I saw a lot of light, cold and hot, running through my body. Now, I understand. The energy here is very 'delicious'." It was no longer the fragmented, instinctive vocabulary and emotions of before, but complete, logical sentences expressing clear understanding and feelings. Although the essence of telepathic communication hadn't changed, the "bandwidth" and "clarity" had improved by more than one level. He felt a jolt of emotion, but a relieved smile appeared on his face. He walked over, squatted down, carefully looked into Fa Cai's eyes, and stroked its glossy fur. "How are you feeling? Is anything bothering you?"

It nuzzled his hand with its head, conveying a sense of comfort and reassurance. "Very good. I have more strength in my body. I can see further, hear more clearly, and 'smell' more. Especially at night, the 'cold light' (moonlight) enters my body much faster than before. It seems... I can grasp more." Its absorption efficiency of moonlight has greatly increased! Ling Xiao immediately realized this. This is crucial for its growth. Moreover, judging from its eyes and expressions, its intelligence has improved significantly. This means that in future actions, it can better understand his intentions, execute more complex commands, and even provide more precise and effective warnings and assistance.

"It seems this Azure Profound Continent is a treasure trove for you." He patted its neck. "Perfect timing, I also need your help with something." He didn't leave the house for the next two days. On one hand, he needed to finalize his condition, completely heal his left arm injury, and bring his energy to its peak to prepare for the preliminary selection for the "Ascension Tournament." On the other hand, he needed to re-familiarize himself with the upgraded Fortune and test its new abilities. The changes were comprehensive. The most obvious were the five senses, especially smell and hearing. It could accurately distinguish dozens of different scents amidst the mixed smells of the marketplace, judging their source, intensity, and even emotional state (such as tension, malice, excitement). Through the courtyard wall, it could hear the hushed conversations of pedestrians in distant alleys, and even detect the faint hum of machinery operating in certain buildings further away. This perceptual ability was invaluable in the chaotic environment of Falling Star City.

Secondly, there's its perception of spiritual energy and fluctuations. It can not only detect subtle differences in spiritual energy concentration, but also vaguely "smell" the residual spiritual power of different attributes. It even has an instinctive alertness and sensitivity to the energy fields generated by formations and restrictions. The rudimentary warning systems set up by Ling Xiao are as clear to its senses as fireflies in the dark. Finally, there's its own strength and intelligence. Its strength is more refined, with significant improvements in explosive power, speed, and endurance. Its claws and teeth, in particular, seem to possess a moonlit sharpness and chill, tearing through ordinary iron as easily as tearing leather. The enhanced intelligence makes its combat instincts more efficient, enabling it to understand and execute tactics such as flanking maneuvers, luring enemies, and coordinated attacks, rather than simply relying on savage hunting.

More importantly, it began to proactively take on the responsibilities of vigilance and reconnaissance. Without being ordered, it would take turns lurking in the courtyard and on the roof (though it leaked), its ears and noses constantly at work, transmitting any abnormalities it sensed to Ling Xiao in real time with clear thoughts. At night, it would quietly leap onto the nearby high, dilapidated walls, bathed in the thin moonlight (although the moonlight in the city was polluted by tall buildings and lights), while simultaneously monitoring the activity in the surrounding alleys.

With the all-encompassing, high-precision "biological radar" of wealth, his control over this dilapidated courtyard instantly increased several levels. He could even "see" the snoring of a drunkard in the neighboring yard, hear the commotion in a gambling den two streets away, and "smell" the approach of strangers dozens of breaths in advance. This sense of security was the most precious thing when in unfamiliar and dangerous places.

On the morning of the third day, he stood in the courtyard, stretching his left arm, which had fully recovered and even slightly strengthened due to the continuous operation of the "Zhou Tian Xing Chen Body Refining Technique." The woman squatted at his feet, head held high, her silver eyes clear and bright in the morning light.

Today marks the start of registration for the preliminary rounds of the "Ascension to Immortality" competition.

"Let's go, let's make a fortune." He straightened his starched but still plain gray-brown shorts, wrapped the broken knife tightly in cloth and slung it behind his back, carefully putting away the jade pendant and the jade slip from the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion. He touched the only remaining cloth bag in his arms, containing an unknown black stone and two Rejuvenation Pills. "Let's go meet the 'talents' of Falling Star City." He stood up and walked half a step ahead of him, his ears twitching like the most loyal sentinels, clearing the "sounds" and "scents" ahead of him. The man and the wolf pushed open the creaking, dilapidated courtyard gate and stepped once again into the noisy and dangerous streets of Falling Star City.

This time, they were no longer clueless intruders. With his sharpened senses and heightened awareness, Fa Cai became Ling Xiao's most acute eyes, nose, and ears in the shadows. As for Ling Xiao himself, after several days of reflection, digestion, and recovery, his energy and spirit had also been adjusted to their best possible state.

Destination: Jixian Square.

That place will be the first touchstone for him to show his talent on the Qingxuan Continent, and it may also be... the first narrow gateway to a wider world.