353: Successfully left the city

The inherent domineering aura and confidence she exuded were not something ordinary people possessed.

Thinking of this, Mo Ming couldn't help but feel a pang of bitterness in his heart.

Once, he too was a genius standing at the pinnacle of martial arts, admired and respected by all. At that time, his eyes were filled with anticipation and confidence for the future.

However, things were different now; his martial path had long since collapsed, leaving behind only endless desolation and sighs.

But this bitterness only flashed through his heart for a moment before quickly disappearing without a trace.

After all, times were different now; he was a man who possessed the empire technology system.

Take, for example, the seemingly ordinary gloves on his hands. The immense power they contained was comparable to that of a Profound Penetration Realm expert. This miraculous power, which transcended the realm of martial arts, reignited Xiao Ran's hope for the future.

He firmly believed that he could, with the help of the system, forge his own glorious path.

"But the strongest among us is only Big Sister Head (Team Leader) who has reached Body Tempering Ninth Layer (Cultivation Level). The rest of us are only at the seventh or eighth layer of cultivation. What if we encounter a Mid-Grade Fierce Beast outside the city?"

A Team Member asked with a worried expression, his brows tightly furrowed, his eyes revealing fear of the unknown danger.

The fierce beasts outside the city had always been incredibly ferocious, and Mid-Grade Fierce Beasts possessed formidable strength, requiring at least a Profound Penetration Realm expert to resist them. Moreover, if it was a high-grade Mid-Grade Fierce Beast, it could be comparable to a Profound Penetration Realm expert. With their current cultivation, encountering a Mid-Grade Fierce Beast would undoubtedly be a near-fatal experience.

"Didn't we all agree on this before? Are you scared now?"

Hua Mulian raised an eyebrow slightly, a playful smile on her face, her gaze fixed on the man who spoke.

"If you're scared, then hurry back. A grown man, actually less courageous than a woman like me, aren't you ashamed?"

At this, the man's face instantly flushed crimson, like a ripe apple.

Embarrassed and anxious, he quickly waved his hands in explanation.

"I... I'm not scared. I'm just thinking about everyone's safety. Never mind, never mind, I'll listen to you. Let's go!"

The man gritted his teeth, as if making a great decision, a determined look gradually appearing in his eyes.

After all, in front of everyone, he really couldn't lose face. Being teased like this by a girl, if he backed down, he would likely be laughed at in the future.

Just as everyone was arguing, Xiao Ran, as if gathering his courage, suddenly stepped forward and interjected.

"Um, everyone, if you really are going out of the city, could you take me with you?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it stood out particularly in the noisy atmosphere.

At this, everyone was stunned for a moment, then quickly looked towards Xiao Ran in unison.

"Xiao Ran? What are you doing here?"

Hua Mulian was the first to speak, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

She never expected to run into Xiao Ran here. The Xiao Ran in her memory was once so dazzling, but now he seemed to be shrouded in the shadows of fate.

"Yeah, didn't you only reach Body Tempering Third Layer in your martial arts exam? What are you going out of the city for?"

Another Team Member couldn't help but ask curiously.

The few of them were all top talents in Jiangcheng High School, so they naturally knew about Xiao Ran's situation.

Unlike those who only offered sarcasm, they felt more pity for Xiao Ran's predicament, so they wouldn't mock this once-brilliant but now fallen genius like others did.

"Uh..."

Xiao Ran lowered his head slightly, a somewhat awkward smile appearing on his face, and scratched his head, saying,

"I have something I need to do outside the city. It's just that I really can't find another way, you know the reason."

He didn't explicitly state the specific reason, only spoke vaguely.

These few people in front of him were once acquaintances, but after he lost his martial arts talent, their interactions gradually decreased. Now, making such an abrupt request, he inevitably felt a little uncomfortable.

At this moment, Xiao Ran's heart was filled with apprehension.

He knew his request was a bit abrupt, after all, with his current cultivation, leaving the city was indeed an extremely risky endeavor.

But in order to complete the system's mission, earn rewards, and thus improve his strength, he had no choice but to pluck up the courage to try.

He secretly prayed, hoping that these former acquaintances would remember their past connection and agree to his request.

"Xiao Ran, you absolutely must not do anything foolish!"

Hua Mulian looked anxious, her eyes filled with concern, and she quickly stepped forward to dissuade him.

"The fierce beasts outside the city are not something you can contend with at your current cultivation level. Although you've lost your former talent, wouldn't it be good to just live as an ordinary person, living a stable life? Why take such an unnecessary risk?"

Hua Mulian felt genuine sympathy for this genius, who was once hailed as one of the "Twin Prodigies" alongside her.

She recalled how they once advanced side by side on the martial path, shining brightly, but now Xiao Ran had fallen to such a state, which couldn't help but evoke sighs of regret.

"No, classmate Hua Mulian, I'm really not going to take risks. I just have something to do outside."

Xiao Ran's eyes darted around, trying to make his tone sound as calm as possible.

"Then tell me, what exactly are you going to do?"

Hua Mulian wouldn't give up so easily. She stared intently at Xiao Ran, her gaze carrying an unyielding interrogation.

In her opinion, with Xiao Ran's current Body Tempering Third Layer cultivation, going out of the city was almost equivalent to suicide. She had to find out Xiao Ran's true intentions no matter what.

At this, Xiao Ran was instantly speechless, unable to utter a word for a moment.

After all, he couldn't very well tell them the truth, that he was preparing to go out and kill fierce beasts, could he?

If he really said that, they would definitely be even less likely to take him out of the city.

Xiao Ran lowered his head, feeling secretly anxious but not knowing how to answer.

Seeing Xiao Ran's silence, Hua Mulian's face showed an expression of 'I knew it'.

She sighed softly, slowly walked in front of Xiao Ran, the concern in her eyes not diminishing in the slightest.

She gently opened her backpack, carefully took out a bottle of liquid from inside, and handed it to Xiao Ran.

"This is?"

Xiao Ran looked at the bottle Hua Mulian handed him with confusion in his eyes.

The bottle was light blue, and within its transparent body was a liquid that emitted a soft glow, with faint wisps of mist rising, looking quite extraordinary.

"This is Body Tempering Fluid."

Hua Mulian explained with a smile, her eyes showing sincerity and care.

"I've already reached Body Tempering Ninth Layer (Cultivation Level), so this Body Tempering Fluid doesn't have much effect on me anymore. I'll give it to you, classmate Xiao Ran. Although you've temporarily lost your talent, who can say what the future holds? Maybe your talent will return someday. So, don't give up easily, and certainly don't do anything foolish!"

As she spoke, she gently placed the Body Tempering Fluid into Xiao Ran's hand, her movements soft yet firm.

After speaking, Hua Mulian gave Xiao Ran a deep look, then turned around and slowly left with her Squad.

Her figure gradually faded into the distance among the crowd, but it left an indelible mark in Xiao Ran's heart.

Coming back to his senses, Xiao Ran looked down at the Body Tempering Fluid in his hand, his heart filled with a myriad of emotions.

This bottle of Body Tempering Fluid was not just an item to improve cultivation, but also Hua Mulian's care and encouragement for him.

At this moment, when everyone else was avoiding his downfall, Hua Mulian's friendship seemed especially precious.

"Alas... Hua Mulian, I, Xiao Ran, will remember this kindness."

Xiao Ran murmured softly, his voice small but filled with immense determination.

Although Hua Mulian ultimately didn't agree to take him out of the city, Xiao Ran understood in his heart that she wasn't looking down on him, but genuinely feared he would encounter danger and worried he might impulsively do something foolish.

In fact, upon careful thought, if he really was contemplating suicide due to losing his talent, there would be no need to risk going out of the city; he could simply find a rope at home and end it all.

But Xiao Ran had never had such thoughts. His heart always burned with a desire for power and a determination to change his fate.

"Oh well, oh well. Since they won't take me, I'll have to find a way to sneak out."

Xiao Ran shook his head helplessly, carefully put away the Body Tempering Fluid, and then once again cast his gaze towards the city gate.

His eyes showed a resolute determination as he began to carefully observe the situation at the city gate, racking his brains to think of a way to leave the city.

"Mulian, you just gave him the Body Tempering Fluid like that?"

Not long after Hua Mulian led her team away from the city gate, a girl with a ponytail in the team quickly walked up to Hua Mulian, her face full of surprise, and asked eagerly.

"Do you know that stuff costs over a hundred thousand per bottle! Isn't it too wasteful to just give it away so easily?"

The girl's eyes were filled with heartache, as if that bottle of Body Tempering Fluid was her own treasure.

"Anyway, I can't use that stuff anymore. Keeping it would be a waste, so I might as well give it to him."

Hua Mulian looked indifferent, a nonchalant expression on her face.

"He was a genius after all. Maybe this Body Tempering Fluid will still be useful to him."

She looked up slightly, gazing into the distance, seemingly reminiscing about the time she and Xiao Ran shone together.

However, the others in the team felt a bit regretful upon hearing this.

One must know that this Body Tempering Fluid was no ordinary item. It contained precious energy that could assist martial artists in tempering their bodies and improving their cultivation.

But this Body Tempering Fluid had a characteristic: it could only be effective when used by someone with a certain level of martial arts talent.

In their eyes, for Xiao Ran, who was now considered a Waste (wasted) genius by everyone, even drinking this Body Tempering Fluid like water wouldn't have any effect.

Instead of giving it to Xiao Ran, it would be better to keep it for themselves, perhaps even using it to break through their cultivation.

However, this was Hua Mulian's own possession, and she had the right to decide how to dispose of it.

Although everyone felt it was a pity, they couldn't say much more and could only silently keep this regret in their hearts.

The team continued to move forward, though occasionally someone would still secretly turn back, looking towards the city gate, seemingly still regretting that valuable bottle of Body Tempering Fluid... On the other side, after observing and lingering at the city gate for a long time, Xiao Ran finally made a new discovery.

"Brother Chen, why are so many people leaving today?"

Xiao Ran followed the sound and saw a mighty procession, like a winding dragon, moving towards the city gate.

A small portion of the people in the team were well-equipped and had solemn expressions, clearly well-trained.

Upon seeing this, the City Guard team already on duty at the city gate immediately became alert. The captain, who was in charge, quickly stepped forward and greeted the leader with a beaming smile.

"We just took on a big order, escorting a merchant caravan to Hong City."

The man referred to as Brother Chen was burly and had a powerful aura, responding with a booming voice.

He was dressed in a black, tight-fitting suit with golden patterns embroidered on it, shimmering brightly under the sunlight.

A long saber hung at his waist, its hilt inlaid with a large gem that emitted a mysterious glow.

And Xiao Ran naturally knew this Brother Chen.

In Jiangcheng, his hunting Squad was one of the top existences, widely renowned.

Brother Chen himself was exceptionally strong, having already reached the Profound Penetration Realm Sixth Layer, and was considered a formidable expert among all martial artists in Jiangcheng.

With his strength, even when facing an ordinary high-grade fierce beast, he could exchange several blows without falling into a disadvantage.

"Isn't this a good opportunity..."

Xiao Ran's heart stirred, and he pondered to himself.

He knew that this might be his best chance to leave the city.

Seeing that Brother Chen was still chatting animatedly with the City Guard, Xiao Ran made a decisive move, quickly shouldering his simple bag, crouching low, and cautiously blending into the team.

He tried to make his movements appear natural, so as not to attract the attention of others, but his heart was pounding like a drum.

"Alright, then I wish Brother Chen a smooth journey."

The City Guard captain said with a smile, cupping his hands respectfully.

"I'll bring you back some Hong City specialties."

Brother Chen laughed heartily and patted the City Guard captain's shoulder.

"That would be too kind of you."

A hint of surprise flashed in the City Guard captain's eyes, and he quickly responded.

With that, the City Guard Team Members quickly sprang into action. With a heavy "creak," the massive city gate slowly opened.

Brother Chen waved his hand, and the team began to move orderly towards the outside of the city.

Xiao Ran, mixed in with the crowd, felt both excited and apprehensive.

He knew that he was one step closer to completing the system's mission.

And Xiao Ran, blended into the team, was like a drop in the ocean, attracting no one's attention.

After all, in common perception, who would risk their life to sneak out of the city?

The world outside the city was a dangerous place, overrun with fierce beasts. A slight misstep could cost one's life there, so no one would expect someone to do such a thing.

Thus, Xiao Ran cautiously followed the team, moving forward.

As the team gradually moved away from Jiangcheng, the surrounding scenery became increasingly unfamiliar.

Finally, when the team had completely left the vicinity of Jiangcheng, Xiao Ran seized an opportunity, and while no one was paying attention, he quietly slipped out of the team.

Xiao Ran stood on this unfamiliar land, looking at the never-before-seen environment around him, his heart filled with novelty.

Before him were all sorts of strange flowers, plants, and trees. Some flowers were as big as millstones, their colors as vibrant as a dream; some trees towered into the clouds, their trunks covered with peculiar patterns.

All of this, for Xiao Ran, who had never stepped a foot outside Jiangcheng since birth, was filled with a mysterious allure.