When Hei Xue met Xiaoyao, he hadn't broken through basic foundation. Although Xiaoyao's abilities made her click her tongue in amazement, it definitely wasn't martial force. Not to mention back then—even at their last separation, Hei Xue felt that Xiaoyao wasn't her opponent in terms of pure martial force.

"What? Less than five years?" Qi Yanran was stunned. From basic foundation to Late Emperor Level in just five years, with so many restrictions added—this was simply unimaginable.

"Yes, it should only be a bit over four years. At that time he was still at basic foundation, but he cultivated basic foundation for a very long time. This might also be one reason for his fast breakthrough speed," Hei Xue said.

"How long did you cultivate basic foundation?" Qi Yanran asked.

"About ten-something years," Xiaoyao thought for a moment. He was too lazy to calculate the specific time—it was roughly this long.

"..." Qi Yanran fell silent. To think he had cultivated basic foundation for so long. Actually, she could calculate it—five years ago, Xiaoyao was already eighteen years old. Almost no one cultivated basic foundation until eighteen.

Generally, people should start cultivating around five or six years old, and cultivating until thirteen or fourteen was already quite rare. Finishing at fifteen or sixteen was almost unheard of, let alone eighteen.

"Don't ask me why. This was helpless—it's not like I wanted to cultivate for so long," Xiaoyao replied. He knew Qi Yanran would definitely ask and would want to know why.

Most people would have this question, thinking that with such a long basic foundation period, Xiaoyao must have been planning for the future, wanting to become the world's number one. But if that were the case, why would he cultivate the Divine Farmer's Art?

"How so?" Qi Yanran still asked.

"I had a cultivation deviation before and almost died, so I had to cultivate the Divine Farmer's Art and suppress the after-effects of the deviation. I could only cultivate basic foundation," Xiaoyao replied. He didn't want to talk about this, but still had to continue.

"So that's how it was..." Qi Yanran nodded. She didn't ask more.

"This should be a blessing in disguise. At your speed, even God Level isn't impossible," Hei Xue said from the side. Less than five years to reach Late Emperor Level—even cultivating the Divine Farmer's Art, there was still the possibility of becoming God Level.

Saint Level? That was obvious—definitely possible.

"I can responsibly tell you that I will definitely become God Level," Xiaoyao said. His confidence was self-evident, and the two women beside him seemed to have no objections.

Hei Xue felt this was already possible with high probability, so naturally there was no need to refute anything. Qi Yanran was already at God Level herself, so naturally she felt this wasn't that difficult.

Some people, after succeeding, don't feel their success is unique or that others can't achieve it. Instead, they feel that what they can accomplish, others can accomplish too.

"Actually, becoming God Level is the same—there aren't any special benefits," Xiaoyao said another sentence.

"... Only you would say this, and only you would think this way," Hei Xue said somewhat helplessly. She understood that Xiaoyao's words were true, but how many people would believe this truth? Believing it, apart from the few people who understood Xiaoyao, no one else would believe it.

Becoming a God Level existence meant standing at the top of the pyramid, having whatever you wanted. How could such an existence have no special benefits? If this could be said to have no benefits, then it must be someone with no desires.

Could Xiaoyao be considered someone with no desires? Not quite yet. He wasn't a saint—he had his own selfish interests and things he wanted. He just hadn't found them yet, which didn't mean he wouldn't have them in the future.

Becoming God Level, for him, just meant being a bit stronger martially, the same as becoming Saint Level. Anyway, there wouldn't be much difference. That's right, he only said becoming God Level had nothing special, but currently he still very much wanted to become Saint Level. Saint Level could give him sufficient self-protection ability—even if God Level appeared, he could still protect himself.

For him, being able to protect himself was enough. As for other matters, he would use other methods to replace them. The simplest was to have Guxing and others do it for him. One purpose of cultivating them was this—though this didn't mean Xiaoyao contributed without any selfish motives.

However, Xiaoyao wouldn't necessarily have them help. For things he could solve, he wouldn't let others help. They were trump cards in his hand that wouldn't be easily activated unless it was important.

Such selfish motives, probably everyone would allow—they might even beg Xiaoyao to be selfish toward them. Even if it meant going through fire and water, they would be willing, because Xiaoyao could cultivate people to God Level. This was such a terrifying thing.

Fortunately, no one knew about this, otherwise Xiaoyao would become the most sought-after person, more important than those at God Level.

Experts are respected because of themselves and how many people can benefit, but even those who benefit don't get the same benefits as the experts themselves. Xiaoyao's method allowed the self to benefit completely, which would naturally be what everyone hoped for most.

No one would think being friends with an expert was better than being an expert themselves. This was the simplest logic.

"No, quite a few people think this way. At least I've met several," Xiaoyao said. Although people with no desires were rare, they still existed.

People were like this—all kinds of personalities existed, whether good or bad.

"Let's not talk about this. I have something I need your help with. You must help me," Hei Xue suddenly changed the topic and became serious.

"I knew you definitely had something for me to do, otherwise you wouldn't wait for me like this," Xiaoyao said with a smile.

"What do you mean? This is just secondary, by the way," Hei Xue rolled her eyes and said irritably.

"Really secondary? Then I'll refuse," Xiaoyao said directly, looking at Hei Xue. He knew what Hei Xue would do next.

"It's not like that. Although it's secondary, it's also very important. Don't refuse," Hei Xue looked at Xiaoyao with pitiful eyes that could easily touch people's compassion.

"Don't look at me like that. You know it's useless. Just tell me directly what you need," Xiaoyao said. He really found Hei Xue troublesome. Hei Xue brought him quite a bit of trouble, some of which wasn't unintentional on her part.

Hei Xue cared about Xiaoyao, but she could abandon everything for her career, including Xiaoyao. This had historical precedent—their last meeting before.

Before, Hei Xue was for the Demon Cult. Now it was for the Demonic Sound Sect...

"I want you to go somewhere with me to get a manual that belongs to the Demonic Sound Sect," Hei Xue said.

"Can't you go yourselves? Why do you need me to go?" Xiaoyao expressed confusion. Were there specific conditions required?

If it could be solved with pure martial force, even if the Demonic Sound Sect needed help, it wouldn't be his turn. Hei Xue wouldn't let him take risks for meaningless things.

That's right, Hei Xue might abandon Xiaoyao for the Demonic Sound Sect, but the probability of such situations was very, very small. Things that could make her abandon Xiaoyao almost didn't exist.

Xiaoyao's position in her heart was second, but don't underestimate this second place. Even her own life came after this second place. So unless it was absolutely necessary, she wouldn't let Xiaoyao do dangerous things.

"Others won't work. This matter doesn't need a warrior, but someone proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting," Hei Xue looked at Xiaoyao. The meaning was obvious—you are that person.

"Right, I do know a bit about music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. I don't deny this," Xiaoyao nodded.

"You call this knowing a bit? Then everyone else is just beginning. Your chess skills needn't be mentioned, I've heard your musical skills before. Although I haven't seen your calligraphy and painting, I believe they won't be too bad either. You perfectly fit the conditions," Hei Xue said.

"Stop talking so much nonsense. Just tell me directly what you want me to do, then I'll see if I can agree," Xiaoyao continued eating while speaking directly.

"It's a small matter. Just go to a place and pass through some questions they've set up—questions related to music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. But it must be one person," Hei Xue said, as if it were very simple.

Xiaoyao frowned slightly. He believed this was definitely not simple. If it were simple, Hei Xue could handle it herself. Don't forget, she was also a talented woman—her music, chess, calligraphy, and painting weren't simple either. Problems she couldn't solve were definitely very difficult.

At the same time, Xiaoyao wanted to say to Hei Xue: "You're still talking nonsense. I can guess these things. Tell me where to go and why you need to pass through these to get your manual."

"Sigh, this is the Demonic Sound Sect's tragic history. Back then, a sect master of the Demonic Sound Sect somehow offended another sect, and they stole our important manual. The other party didn't want the manual and was willing to return it, but we had to solve several questions they set up," Hei Xue said.

"Are the questions very difficult?" Xiaoyao asked.

"Of course. This actually happened several hundred years ago. Do you think the questions are difficult?" Hei Xue said.

"..." Xiaoyao was speechless. He had thought this was a recent matter, but it turned out to be a historical legacy issue. If it hadn't been solved for several hundred years, then these questions were extremely difficult.

(End of Chapter)