Chapter 14: Outing

Xiao Bei did not return to his courtyard with Jiang Yuan. He had already told her that he had discussed with the old bearded man and agreed to practice under him for a month. The old man had promised to help him, which was the reason he was not worried about what would happen after a month.

Jiang Yuan, understanding and considerate, did not ask about these matters. She only advised Xiao Bei to take care of his body and not to push himself too hard due to the heavy responsibilities, suggesting that they could run away together if necessary.

When she said this, Jiang Yuan's eyes were resolute, and Xiao Bei knew that if he said they should run away, she would not hesitate.

After telling Jiang Yuan these things, Xiao Bei returned to the courtyard and went to his mother Zhang Lan's room to repeat the same. However, he did not mention his bet with Xiao Li, only saying that he would be going out for a month to train.

Zhang Lan gave him a lecture and then took out some silver coins given by the steward to Xiao Bei and herself, handing them over to Xiao Bei.

Xiao Bei thought for a moment and, to avoid worrying his mother, accepted part of the money. He returned the rest to her.

For the rest of the afternoon, Xiao Bei stayed in his room, continuing to use the Central Town Star as a foundation, gradually circulating his power throughout his body, and began to practice.

When he felt it was enough, he went to Zhang Lan's room and chatted with her for a long time. Under her caring and worried gaze, he returned to his own room.

Regarding his mother Zhang Lan's safety, Xiao Bei knew he did not need to worry. First, the steward, under Xiao Zhan's instructions, was very concerned about Zhang Lan, so nothing would happen to her. Second, with Jiang Yuan around, even if some servants had ulterior motives, they would not dare to do anything in front of a Seventh Rank Later Heaven martial artist like Jiang Yuan.

Late at night, Xiao Bei thought for a moment and, with some silver coins in his pocket, left the Xiao residence.

Moreover, Xiao Bei deliberately wandered out of the residence without using his powerful abilities to directly escape.

Xiao Bei knew that from the moment the steward called him to Xiao Zhan's courtyard, he had been under surveillance. His actions were definitely being monitored, so he could not act too out of the ordinary.

However, the current situation left him no choice but to go out.

Otherwise, it would be impossible for Xiao Bei to completely defeat a Seventh Rank Later Heaven martial artist like Xiao Li within a month, relying solely on his exposed Fourth Rank Later Heaven martial artist strength.

After all, even with heaven-defying techniques, a Fourth Rank Later Heaven martial artist could not withstand the overwhelming martial aura of a Seventh Rank Later Heaven martial artist.

To avoid arousing suspicion, Xiao Bei could not just go to the martial arts hall every day to train.

Otherwise, he would have to advance a rank every ten days.

Even heaven-defying drugs could not continuously boost his strength to the point where he would advance a rank every ten days!

Therefore, Xiao Bei had to make his advancement seem related to the old bearded man.

Although this excuse was a bit forced, Xiao Bei could not think of a better way. After all, he had to be cautious about the hidden strong figures on this unknown continent.

This was not fear, but caution!

...

Xiao Bei chose to leave the residence from the back mountain of the Xiao residence, not the main gate.

The back mountain of the Xiao residence was where Xiao Bei used to cut firewood and was also where the Xiao family's strong figures practiced.

The entire mountain belonged to the Xiao family and was connected to many other mountain ranges, naturally harboring some beast monsters. However, because the mountain was connected to the Xiao residence and guarded by the Xiao family's strong figures, as well as the Tianlong Army stationed there, the closer to the Xiao residence, the fewer beast monsters there were. Even if there were any, they were only a few. However, beyond a few miles, it was the domain of the beast monsters.

Feeling that the person following him was a Holy Rank martial artist, Xiao Bei could not help but smile, thinking, "Xiao Zhan, you really spared no expense, sending a Holy Rank martial artist to follow me. But you will be disappointed."

Not long after, Xiao Bei increased his speed, using all the strength a Fourth Rank martial artist could muster.

After about three hours, Xiao Bei, based on the aura he sensed, knew that he had entered the outer area of the training ground for the Xiao family's strong figures.

After walking for a while, Xiao Bei felt it was enough and headed straight toward the direction where he sensed a very powerful beast monster.

Xiao Bei was confident that this move would make the person following him hesitate. Indeed, the aura of the Holy Rank martial artist remained in one place for a long time before finally moving to catch up with him.

According to Xiao Bei's investigation, the beast monster he was heading toward had the aura of a Royal Rank martial artist.

The fact that the Holy Rank martial artist dared to follow him in such a situation, besides the value of his tracking, had no other explanation.

So, where did his tracking value come from?

Xiao Bei asked himself, and then he realized. The reason he, a "waste," could attract so much attention was that he could practice, and the old bearded man he lied to Xiao Zhan about was a Divine Rank martial artist.

According to the information Xiao Bei had obtained, the Zhou family of the royal dynasty in Luzhou was also afraid of the growing power and military control of the Xiao family.

"Could it be because of the Zhou family and the Xiao family...?"

After a moment of doubt, Xiao Bei finally nodded slightly, looked behind him, and changed direction.

Then, Xiao Bei directly used the strength of a Divine Rank martial artist to conceal his aura.

Watching the black-robed Holy Rank martial artist from a tree, who, after looking around and not seeing him, stomped his foot and returned the way he came, Xiao Bei revealed himself.

"Fine, fine. Although the Xiao family treated me harshly, I cannot add to their troubles by sending a Holy Rank martial artist to his death. This can be considered repaying a debt to the Xiao family."

After saying this, Xiao Bei raised his head and headed straight for the place where he had sensed the aura earlier.

He wanted to see the beast monster.

During this time, Xiao Bei used the strength of a Divine Rank martial artist and released his martial aura, discovering that with his current strength, using the burst of martial aura to fly in the air was no longer difficult. However, due to the limitation of his power, he could only sustain it for about seven hours.

At the same time, Xiao Bei gained a deeper understanding of martial aura. Martial aura was a form of communication between a martial artist and the elemental energy of the world after practicing a technique.

After entering the innate realm, he saw through the essence of the elemental energy, which was merely a form of energy. By using this energy, his own power and the elemental energy of the world could interact, allowing innate realm strong figures to control objects with martial aura and form sounds with martial aura, among other abilities.

After flying for about ten minutes, Xiao Bei saw the beast monster with the aura of a Royal Rank martial artist.

It was a creature with a body like a python, about thirteen meters long, with two antennae on its head and a pair of claws on what seemed to be its neck, its entire body as black as ink.

This form was somewhat similar to the mythical creature known as a "jiao" in Earth's culture, but Xiao Bei was certain that this beast was not a jiao. He had seen a jiao in Xiao Feng's courtyard, which looked exactly like the depictions on Earth.

Even if this beast was a jiao, it was a mutated one.

At this moment, it was swallowing and spitting out a silver-glowing pearl. Xiao Bei could sense that the pearl was absorbing elemental energy under the beast's control.

Xiao Bei concealed his aura, so the beast did not notice his arrival.

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