25: The gift from Xiao Yan on the eve of departure

The Nalan Family's probing was like a thorn in Xiao Chen's heart. He knew that the peaceful days were over, and he had to leave Wutan City, this place of trouble, as soon as possible.

Returning to his small room, he immediately began to make his final preparations. There were less than twenty days left until the Mittel caravan departed.

He first took stock of his assets:

Finances: Through frantic synthesis and the sale of power storing pills and qi recovery powder, he had accumulated a massive sum of nearly four thousand gold coins! This was enough for him to splurge for a while in Black Flame City.

Energy Reserve: The energy pool was stable at [350 / 10000]. Although unlocking higher permissions was still a long way off, it was enough to support daily synthesis and emergency use.

Soul Realm: Spirit Movement Late-stage (500 / 2000). With the aid of the Spirit Nurturing Art, his progress was rapid, and he was not far from Spirit Movement Late-stage.

Combat Ability: Iron Bone Fist was perfected; a single punch was enough to split stone tablets. Swimming Fish Steps was at minor accomplishment, making his movements agile and greatly increasing his evasion ability. Although he still had no Dou Qi, with his soul perception and physical fitness, he could already contend with ordinary opponents at Dou Qi seven or eight segments.

Material Reserves: He had purchased a large quantity of medicinal ingredients for synthesizing power storing pills and qi recovery powder through the Mittel Auction House, enough to last him for a long time after reaching Black Flame City. In addition, he also bought some healing medicine, detoxification pills, insect repellent powder, and other necessities for wilderness survival, as well as a detailed map of the eastern Jia Ma Empire.

With preparations complete, Xiao Chen began to live in seclusion, minimizing his outings to avoid complications. He dedicated most of his time to a final sprint in his cultivation, aiming to elevate his soul realm to Spirit Movement Late-stage before departure!

Days passed. Xiao Chen could feel that the surveillance around the Xiao Family had increased. There were eyes from the Nalan Family, and seemingly also from the Jia Lie Family and the Oba Family. The air in Wutan City grew increasingly tense due to Xiao Yan's rise and the appearance of him, this "variable."

One evening, Xiao Chen had just finished a round of soul cultivation and was about to rest when familiar footsteps came from outside the courtyard.

It was Xiao Yan.

Xiao Chen opened the door and saw Xiao Yan standing outside, a trace of fatigue on his face, but his eyes were exceptionally bright, and his aura was much stronger than when they last met, with faint signs of Dou Qi overflowing!

"Big Brother Xiao? You're... about to break through?" Xiao Chen asked in surprise.

Xiao Yan nodded, a smile on his face: "Yes, I feel it will be in the next few days. Thanks to the qi recovery powder you provided, my breakthrough has been much smoother."

"Congratulations, Big Brother Xiao!" Xiao Chen was genuinely happy. The stronger Xiao Yan became, the greater the help he could provide in the future.

Xiao Yan walked into the small room, his gaze sweeping over Xiao Chen's neatly tidied, somewhat empty room, and he paused slightly: "Brother Xiao Chen, are you... going on a long journey?"

Xiao Chen did not hide it and nodded: "Yes, I plan to leave Wutan City for a while to gain experience outside."

Xiao Yan heard this and was silent for a moment. He had long felt that Xiao Chen was no ordinary person, and Wutan City was indeed too small. He sighed and said, "That's good. Wutan City is currently rife with undercurrents; it's good that you're leaving. Just... the outside world is dangerous, so you must be extra careful on your own."

As he spoke, he took out a palm-sized object wrapped in oilcloth from his embrace and handed it to Xiao Chen: "This is for you."

Xiao Chen took it with a puzzled expression; it felt slightly heavy in his hand. Opening the oilcloth, inside was a black leather incomplete diagram of special material, with some tattered edges! The incomplete diagram was drawn with some blurry routes and peculiar symbols, exuding an ancient and obscure aura.

[Scan: Unknown incomplete diagram (2 / 4)]

[Grade]: ???

[Composition]: Contains ancient soul sealing and spatial coordinate information (severely incomplete).

[Can be copied]: No (Insufficient energy, insufficient authority, rule-level blockade).

[Energy recoverable]: 1000 units (Warning! Forcibly recovering will result in permanent loss of information!).

[System evaluation]: Confirmed to be related to ancient soul cultivation inheritance. Collecting all four incomplete diagrams can unlock the preliminary seal. The current incomplete diagram points to the area near 'Demon Flame Valley' deep within the Black-Corner Region. Extremely dangerous! It is recommended that the host's strength reaches the Dou Wang level before exploring!]

The second incomplete diagram!

Xiao Chen's heart skipped a beat! He never expected that Xiao Yan would give him a incomplete diagram of the Illusory Spirit Realm! Moreover, this incomplete diagram pointed to the Demon Flame Valley deep within the Black-Corner Region! It seemed that it could be pieced together with the one Ya Fei had (which pointed to near Black Flame City)!

"Big Brother Xiao, this... what is this?" Xiao Chen suppressed the excitement in his heart and asked, feigning confusion.

Xiao Yan's expression was somewhat complex, and he whispered, "This is a incomplete diagram that my teacher obtained by chance during his early travels on the continent. It is said to be related to an ancient ruin, but what exactly it is, my teacher also couldn't say clearly. This map is too incomplete to be of much use to us at the moment, and it might even bring trouble. You are about to embark on a long journey, perhaps you can use it. Remember, this item is no small matter; do not easily show it to others!"

Obtained by Yao Lao in his early years? Xiao Chen suddenly understood. No wonder the incomplete diagram in Ya Fei's hand pointed to Black Flame City, while this one pointed to Demon Flame Valley. It seemed that these four incomplete diagrams were scattered in different places. Yao Lao gave this not-so-useful incomplete diagram to Xiao Yan, and Xiao Yan, in turn, gifted it to him – this was simply fate!

"Thank you, Big Brother Xiao! I will keep this item safe!" Xiao Chen solemnly put away the incomplete diagram, his gratitude towards Xiao Yan deepening. The value of this gift was immeasurable!

"We are brothers, no need to be polite." Xiao Yan patted Xiao Chen's shoulder, his tone sincere, "If we meet again outside one day, we must drink and talk happily!"

"Absolutely!" Xiao Chen nodded heavily.

After seeing Xiao Yan off, Xiao Chen looked at the newly acquired incomplete diagram in his hand, his heart surging. With two incomplete diagrams in hand, his confidence in exploring the Illusory Spirit Realm had increased by several folds! Although the system's warning remained, the opportunities were also greater!

He carefully hid the two incomplete diagrams close to his body, placing them with the mysterious black token. These three items all contained immense secrets and energy, and they were his greatest reliance for his future rise!

For the last ten-plus days, Xiao Chen was single-minded, fully focused on breaking through to Spirit Movement Late-stage. With the aid of the Spirit Nurturing Art and abundant resources, his soul power advanced by leaps and bounds.

Finally, three days before the caravan's departure, Xiao Chen's soul power reached a critical point!

Late at night, inside the small room.

Xiao Chen sat cross-legged, his eyes tightly closed, an invisible fluctuation emanating from his body. Within his sea of consciousness, soul power surged like a tide, and the progress bar representing his soul strength had reached the limit of [Spirit Movement Mid-stage (1999 / 2000)]!

Just one more step!

"Break!"

Xiao Chen let out a low cry in his heart, operating the method of the second stage of the Spirit Nurturing Art, guiding the vast soul power to launch the final assault on that invisible barrier!

"Boom!"

It was as if spring thunder had erupted, or an ice river had thawed! A more vast, more agile, and clearer sense of power instantly filled his entire soul!

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for breaking through in soul realm! Current realm: Spirit Movement Late-stage (1 / 5000)]

[Soul perception range increased to fifty meters! Soul power recovery speed increased by 100%! Precision of energy manipulation greatly improved!]

[System authority slightly increased. [Scan] function precision enhanced. [Copy] function consumption reduced by 15%! [Energy Absorption] efficiency increased to 0.2 units / day!]

Spirit Movement Late-stage! He finally broke through!

Xiao Chen slowly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing through them. His entire demeanor seemed to have undergone a transformation, becoming more reserved and profound. A fifty-meter soul perception range was enough for him to detect most potential dangers in advance! The surge in soul power also gave him stronger confidence in synthesizing higher-grade pills!

"It's time!" Xiao Chen stood up, looking at the predawn light outside the window, his eyes filled with anticipation and determination for the unknown journey.

Two days later, in the early morning.

Xiao Chen, carrying a simple backpack, quietly left the small courtyard where he had lived for several months. He did not alarm anyone, only leaving a letter for Xiao Yan and a small bag of gold coins on the table, as thanks for the accommodation during this period.

He arrived at the back gate of the Mittel Auction House, where a sizable caravan was already prepared for departure. Dozens of fully loaded carriages, hundreds of elite guards, and several stewards were conducting final checks.

Steward Li was already waiting there. Seeing Xiao Chen, he quickly came forward: "Young Master Xiao Chen, you're here! Everything is ready. This is the caravan's guard leader, Captain Mu Li, a Three-Star Dou Shi!"

Next to Steward Li stood a burly, stern-faced middle-aged man, dressed in leather armor, with a saber at his waist. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, and a powerful Dou Qi fluctuation emanated from his body. He nodded slightly at Xiao Chen, acknowledging him. His attitude was neither humble nor arrogant, but there was a hint of scrutiny in his deep-set eyes.

A Three-Star Dou Shi! Xiao Chen's heart slightly tightened; this guard force was indeed not weak.

"Thank you, Steward Li, Captain Mu Li." Xiao Chen cupped his hands.

"Young Master is too polite. Your carriage is in the middle of the procession, the safest position. On the road, just follow Captain Mu Li's arrangements." Steward Li whispered, "Miss Ya Fei asked me to tell you to be careful in all things and looks forward to your good news."

Xiao Chen nodded, took one last look in the direction of Wutan City, then resolutely turned and boarded his assigned carriage.

Wheels rolled, and the caravan slowly set off, leaving Wutan City, heading east towards the Black-Corner Region border, a place full of danger and opportunity, winding its way.

A new journey officially began!

What Xiao Chen didn't know was that shortly after the caravan departed, several hidden figures also quietly left Wutan City, trailing far behind the caravan. One of these figures had a cold aura, clearly reaching the Fighting Master level!

The Nalan Family, or rather the Yunlan Sect, clearly had no intention of easily letting go of him, this "variable."

The road ahead was destined not to be smooth. But Xiao Chen's heart was filled with unprecedented fighting spirit. The system that could copy everything would demonstrate its true power in this wider world!