The sun blazed fiercely, the scorching heat baking the clay ground until it cracked open in countless fissures. With each step, a wave of heat surged up from the soles of the feet, making travelers, already drenched in sweat, constantly cursing the unbearable weather. On the broad clay road, a plain-looking youth walked with a heavy perspiration, his every step landing with the weight of a heavy object, crashing down onto the ground and sending up a cloud of yellow dust. Up close, one could see that behind him, he carried an enormous black greatsword—though more accurately, it resembled a thick, solid iron beam rather than a blade with edge or point. The sword itself had no sharp tip; at its end, it appeared as though severed cleanly in two by something, revealing a smooth, mirror-like transverse cut. On the surface of the obsidian great sword, intricate and slightly blurred patterns are drawn, nearly covering the entire blade and extending into the hilt. Combined with its ancient, deep black hue, the sword exudes a sense of mystery. The sword's length surpasses the boy's height, creating a striking and unusual appearance that draws curious glances from passersby who occasionally encounter it on their way. After walking several hundred meters, the boy finally begins to falter, breathing heavily as if a windmill is turning, dragging his feet that feel as heavy as a thousand pounds, and slowly making his way toward the shade of a roadside tree. Reaching the base of the tree, he collapses face-up onto the cool grass, his sweat flowing down like a gentle stream. "Teacher, this thing is absolutely terrifying. Since I've been carrying it, my internal qi flow has grown sluggish—so slow, in fact—and it's simply too heavy!" The journey that should have taken just one day now stretches to two days, and we haven't even reached our destination yet!" Taking deep, labored breaths, Xiao Yan's voice, weakened by exhaustion, came out slightly hoarse. "Heh, the cultivation journey has officially begun. You wouldn't think that sending me out here is just about strolling around, would you? Since it's called rigorous training, get ready to endure the most demanding conditions—your comfortable life in Wutan City is already fading away." A slightly pleased, elderly voice, that of Yao Lao, echoed from within the ring. Hearing this, Xiao Yan shook his head with a wry smile and slightly turned his body, glancing over his shoulder at the massive black sword, bladeless and edgeless, and a look of astonishment flickered in his eyes. He hadn't expected that something so unimpressive would be so terrifying—it wasn't only capable of suppressing the swiftly flowing qi within his body, making it flow as slowly as a turtle crawling, but its own extraordinary weight was nearly enough to bend his waist even when he was fully channeling his qi. Over the past few days, Xiao Yan had finally experienced what true exhaustion felt like. Carrying this strange, massive black sword on his back, his combat prowess had dwindled down to only matching that of a novice just beginning to master the art of battle. Although the sword imposed numerous constraints, its very suppressive effect had also allowed Xiao Yan to avoid the risk of his true strength being revealed through his aura. As a single traveler in an unfamiliar terrain, exposing his baseline capabilities to others would have been a rather foolish move. Gently stroked the vow scroll with his fingers, a pale green pill materialized in his palm—a well-performing pill that could accelerate the restoration of qi over a short period. This pill had been specially crafted by the elder physician for Xiao Yan the very day he departed from Wutan City. However, due to the relatively scarce ingredients required for such a pill, even with the capabilities of the Mitel Auction Hall, only enough materials were gathered to produce about thirty-five pills. As a result, Xiao Yan had generally been cautious about consuming them freely. Yet in this current situation, such frugality was no longer feasible. With careful eyes scanning the path ahead, he waited until he confirmed no one was nearby, then swallowed the pill whole, leaning against the tree trunk and slowly awaiting the onset of its effects. Although it was generally believed that one had to enter a state of cultivation after taking the pills in order to fully harness their medicinal power, Xiao Yan clearly lacked the quiet, conducive environment for focused cultivation at this moment. The constant flow of pedestrians on the street continually disrupted his attempts to settle into a meditative state. With his eyes slightly closed, the already profoundly exhausted Xiao Yan could clearly sense that his muscles, which felt nearly stiff and tingling, were greedily absorbing the gradually diffusing, soothing medicinal energy. After the final traces of the energy had been fully absorbed, Xiao Yan felt as though the explosive potential within his muscles and cells had subtly strengthened compared to before. Though his rigorous cultivation journey had only just begun for two days, he was confident that if he removed his heavy sword from his back, he would be able to defeat a six-star Battle User without any doubt. "It seems the pills are actually making a difference." Whispering to himself, Xiao Yan suddenly smiled, lazily stretching out his arms. The vibrant energy flowed through him, giving him the sensation of a complete renewal from within. Rising up from the ground, he both hated and loved to pat the strange, cumbersome great sword he had always considered a burden, then took another slow, heavy step forward, heading steadily toward his destination, now growing ever closer. ... Before the sky fully darkened, Xiao Yan finally reached a small town located closest to the Beast Mountains. The town was named Qingshan, and due to its proximity to the Beast Mountains, it was also known as the Beast Town. The largest group of people in the town were the mercenaries, who spent their days dashing between life and death, often gathering in groups, arms linked, passionately discussing which women in town were most alluring, which wines were most robust, and which beasts were most fierce. On both sides of the street, there were numerous shops, and thanks to their prime location, they were bustling with activity. Xiao Yan glanced with evident interest at the brightly lit stores, pausing when his gaze settled on a spacious herb shop. After a brief pause and thoughtful consideration, he stepped inside the shop named "Wan Yao Zhai." While Xiao Yan had little interest in weapons and armor, he was deeply enthusiastic about rare herbs. As long as he could find these precious herbs, the elderly pharmacist could refine them into various pills that enhanced his strength—on the perilous, densely populated paths of the beast mountains, such pills were truly the most vital and reliable means of survival. Inside the spacious shop, the walls illuminated by moonstone crystals made the interior bright as day. At this moment, the shop was crowded with customers, and the staff were busily attending to their duties, so no one immediately noticed or greeted the newly arrived Xiao Yan. No one greeted him, and Xiao Yan was quite content with the quiet. His eyes slowly swept across the transparent counter. When his gaze landed on a small jade box, he paused slightly. "Medicines for healing wounds? Does it mean there are alchemists here as well?" He stared at the information written beneath the small glass vial, his expression momentarily stunned, murmuring in surprise. Shaking his head, Xiao Yan continued scanning the counter, but after reviewing everything, he sighed with a sense of disappointment. Though several mid-tier herbs were present, they weren't particularly useful to him at the moment. Just as Xiao Yan was about to leave without making a purchase, his eyes—haphazardly scanning—suddenly stopped. Through the transparent counter, his eyes locked onto a pale yellow block-shaped object in the far corner. After a long moment, he gently licked his lips, composed himself, and walked steadily toward the counter, lowering his head to examine the pale yellow object once more. "Excuse me," he said, "could you please retrieve this item for me?" Gently withdrawing his somewhat greedy and excited gaze, Xiao Yan raised his head and smiled at a young male staff member who had approached. The young staff member, glancing first at Xiao Yan's ordinary appearance, then at the item he requested, frowned slightly upon realizing it was merely a basic Yellow Lotus Essence. With a stiff expression, he retrieved it from the counter: "Yellow Lotus Essence, a basic herb—one hundred gold coins." Not bothered by the server's condescending attitude, Xiao Yan sneered inwardly, casually taking the block of yellow lotus essence—considered the lowest grade—and gently traced his fingernail across its surface. The slightly yellowed surface revealed a subtle, crimson hue, reminiscent of fresh blood. Gazing at that faint red, Xiao Yan's eyes twitched slightly. Without making a sound, he subtly rubbed his nose and inhaled deeply the distinct, slightly blood-like aroma lingering on his fingers. Instantly, a spark of wonder shimmered in his eyes. "It's definitely it—the Blood Lotus Essence!" As Xiao Yan's heart surged with excitement, the slightly surprised voice of Yao Lao echoed clearly within his mind. "Little one, your luck seems quite good—having encountered such a rare herb!"