Battle Through the Heavens: Oh no, I've become the succubus Xiao Yan!

early morning.

Xiao Yan, carrying the Xuan Heavy Ruler, stood in front of the Xiao family gate.

The Xuanzhong Ruler was given to Xiao Yan by Yao Lao—who said it was a weapon he used back then, ridiculously heavy, but just right for him. He used it as weights for physical training and as a weapon in battle, serving two purposes in one.

He hadn't slept a wink last night, but his energy was actually higher than usual. The warmth of Xun'er in his arms still seemed to linger in his chest; that small, soft feeling of support made him suddenly feel that the weight on his shoulders had increased.

This feeling of being cared for and missed.

Xiao Zhan and his mother stood in front of him.

Xiao Zhan's lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he only said, "Go, be careful out there."

His hand lingered on Xiao Yan's shoulder for a long time before slowly letting go.

His mother gently patted Xiao Yan's head and told him to be careful while he was away.

Xiao Ding stepped forward and handed over a small cloth bag: "Inside are dry rations and a water bag. Eat sparingly on the road."

"Understood, brother."

Xiao Li squeezed in from behind and patted Xiao Yan on the back: "Third brother, don't forget my monster core! Let the monsters outside see how powerful you are."

After saying that, Xiao Li hugged Xiao Yan tightly. "Be careful, Brother Yan."

"I won't forget, I'll be careful."

Xun'er stood in the crowd, silent. She simply looked at Xiao Yan, a faint bluish tinge beneath her eyes—she had slept well the previous night, but when she woke up this morning to find the space beside her empty, her eyes still welled up with tears.

  

Xiao Yan walked over and squatted down.

"Xun'er, I'll be back soon."

Xun'er bit her lip and nodded: "I'll wait for you, Brother Xiao Yan."

She didn't cry, but her fingers gripped the hem of her clothes tightly.

Ya Fei stood on the periphery of the crowd, not stepping forward. She merely glanced at them from afar, a faint smile playing on her lips. Everything that needed to be said had been said yesterday, and everything that needed to be hugged had been hugged yesterday.

Xiao Mei peeked half her head out from behind a pillar. She had already formally said goodbye yesterday; today she was just watching from afar. She clutched another packet of osmanthus cake in her hand—this one was for herself.

Xiao Yu is not here.

She told him to "be careful on the road" last night, and didn't want to repeat herself today. Some things only need to be said once. Right now, she's packing her luggage in her room—the Canaan Academy's admissions office is opening in the next few days, and she and Xiao Ning have arranged to leave today.

---

Xiao Yan turned around and strode out of the Xiao family gate.

Behind me were the eyes of my family, and ahead lay the road to the Monster Mountain Range.

The morning light shone on his back, casting a long shadow of Xuan Zhongchi.

After walking about a hundred paces, he suddenly stopped and looked back.

The Xiao family's gate stood quietly in the morning light, and the people at the gate were still standing there. Xun'er, Xiao Zhan, Xiao Ding, Xiao Li... The windows of the distant pavilion were empty; Xiao Yu probably wouldn't come to see him off.

Xiao Yan withdrew his gaze, turned around, and continued walking.

A breeze blew from behind, carrying the familiar scents of Wutan City—smoke from cooking fires, earthy smells, and the aroma of roasted meat wafting from the distant market. He had smelled this for fifteen years, and from today onward, he didn't know how long it would be before he could smell it again.

The old doctor's voice echoed in his mind, unusually refraining from teasing, simply saying softly, "Gone?"

"Let's go, teacher."

After a few seconds of silence, the old apothecary spoke: "You know the situation deep within the mountains; there are fifth and sixth-tier magical beasts. Don't try to force your way in just because you have the Fire God Physique. If you encounter something you're unsure about, retreat first."

Xiao Yan smiled and said, "Are you worried about me? You should have confidence in my abilities, teacher."

"Hmph, stop being so glib." The old apothecary snorted, paused, and then lowered his voice, "...This is your first time traveling far from home, you don't have much real combat experience, be careful."

"Don't worry, Master," Xiao Yan patted the Xuanzhong Ruler on his back, "I've been waiting for this day for eight years."

The old doctor didn't say anything more.

After a few seconds, he added sullenly, "Don't be so focused on getting on the road that you starve to death. Your master is too lazy to take on any more disciples."

Xiao Yan was stunned for a moment, then the corners of his mouth turned up.

---

Once outside of Wutan City, the scenery on both sides of the road begins to change.

The flat farmland was gradually replaced by shrubs, and the air was filled with the smell of soil and grass. The further north he went, the fewer people there were. Occasionally, passing caravans would cast curious glances at Xiao Yan, who was walking alone on the road carrying the giant ruler.

A fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy traveling alone along the northern route must be either incredibly brave or exceptionally capable.

While resting by the roadside at noon, he encountered a group of mercenaries returning from the north. There were seven or eight of them, with varying levels of equipment. The leader was a man with a scar on his face, and he had a chipped broadsword at his waist with a gleaming scabbard—he was clearly an experienced soldier.

The man was squatting by the roadside eating dry rations when he saw Xiao Yan walking over carrying a giant ruler, and he glanced at him a few more times.

"Young man, heading north? To the Monster Mountain Range?"

"Yes, go to the Monster Mountain Range for training."

"Are you alone?" The man looked him up and down. "You're about fifteen or sixteen?"

"fifteen."

The man clicked his tongue: "Alright, you've got guts. But things haven't been peaceful around the mountains these past few days. A pack of second-tier wolf-like magical beasts has gathered at the foot of the mountains, in large groups. Anyone below the Great Battle Master level who encounters them is just easy prey. Be careful."

"Thanks for the reminder," Xiao Yan nodded. "Approximately how many second-tier wolves are there?"

"There are at least thirty or forty of them, and the leader looks like he's at the peak of the second tier." The man gestured. "If you run into them, don't try to fight them head-on, just take a detour."

Xiao Yan smiled and said, "I'll remember."

The man stood up, dusted himself off, took a couple of steps, then turned back: "That ruler of yours—it looks pretty heavy!"

"It's alright, I'm used to it."

"Hey," the man grinned, "that's how capable people talk."

He led his team south. Xiao Yan watched their backs—the scarred man's gleaming broadsword, and the slightly outward-pointing gait of several people in the group—they were all seasoned veterans who had spent years navigating the mountains.

A second-tier wolf pack? Thirty or forty of them? Xiao Yan shook his head. To him, second-tier magical beasts were no different from wild rabbits by the roadside. What he was truly concerned about now were the fifth-tier and even sixth-tier magical beasts deep within the mountains.

---

On the first night, he sat down on a large rock by the roadside, ate the dry rations Xiao Ding had prepared, and drank some water. Then he sat cross-legged to cultivate, circulating his Fire God Body's battle qi through his meridians for thirty-six cycles.

The old apothecary floated out and looked at him: "You didn't sleep last night?"

I don't really feel sleepy.

"Get some rest early tonight. There are still two days' journey to the Monster Mountain Range, and once we get there, it'll be a long and arduous journey for you."

Xiao Yan hummed in agreement and leaned against the rock, closing his eyes.

The bracelet woven by Xun'er on his wrist was pressed against his skin, the firestone slightly warm. There was still half of the osmanthus cake that Xiao Mei had made in his storage ring—it tasted much worse than her usual ones, a bit burnt, but he ate it piece by piece very carefully.

He remembered how Xun'er had nestled in his arms last night, the awkward expression on Xiao Yu's face when she said "Be careful on the road," and Ya Fei's slightly trembling shoulders when she leaned against him.

Then he snapped out of his thoughts and looked ahead.

On the northern horizon, a dark outline can be faintly seen—the edge of the Monster Mountain Range, like a sleeping behemoth lying across the land.

Monster Mountain Range. Little Fairy Doctor. Tagor Desert. Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame.

The regrets from the original story, the unfulfilled promises, the people we didn't get to meet—

Xiao Yan has arrived.