After a brief period of communication and study with the beautiful Mages, Xu Tiancai felt his desire to grow stronger burn brighter than ever within his heart. Hearing that the mountainous region was filled with all sorts of powerful magical beasts and served as an exceptional place to temper his magic and martial arts, he resolutely hoisted his pack and stepped into the mountains.
At the entrance of the mountain range, Xu Tiancai looked up to see undulating mountain ranges winding like a giant dragon, their lush trees draped over the dragon like a green cloak. He took a deep breath, feeling the crisp air of the mountains, and a surge of ambition rose in his chest.
"Heh, this mountain looks thrilling! Xu Tiancai is here!" he shouted loudly, as if announcing his arrival to the entire mountain range.
Stepping firmly into the mountains, Xu Tiancai gripped his longsword tightly, his eyes filled with vigilance. He knew that powerful magical beasts could appear at any moment, but instead of fear, he felt only anticipation.
After walking for a while, Xu Tiancai began to practice his magic. Chanting an incantation, he condensed a small fireball in his palm. Looking at the flame, a satisfied smile spread across his face.
"Hehe, this Fireball Technique is getting more and more fluent. Still, I need to work on its power." With that, he hurled the small fireball toward a large tree. With a loud *boom*, the tree was blasted into a massive crater, and leaves fluttered down in a shower.
"Not bad, not bad. It actually packs some punch now." Xu Tiancai chuckled smugly.
Right at that moment, a massive wild boar burst out of the woods. The beast was huge, with blood-red eyes and drool dripping from its jaws, looking utterly ferocious.
Startled, Xu Tiancai hurriedly raised his longsword. "Aiya, this wild boar couldn't have picked a worse time."
The boar charged straight at him. Xu Tiancai sidestepped in a flash, dodging the attack, and used the momentum to slash his sword across the beast's back. However, the boar's hide was incredibly tough, leaving only a shallow scratch.
"Heh, this pig has a tough hide." Xu Tiancai frowned.
Enraged, the wild boar charged at him again. Xu Tiancai quickly cast a spell, sending a fireball flying toward the beast. The boar shrieked as it was struck by the fireball, but instead of retreating, it attacked even more frantically.
Dodging the wild boar's onslaught, Xu Tiancai alternated between magic and martial arts—slashing with his sword one moment and hurling a fireball the next—engaging the beast in a fierce battle.
After an arduous fight, Xu Tiancai finally defeated the wild boar. Panting heavily, a triumphant smile bloomed on his face.
"Ha! This wild boar was pretty tough, but it still lost to me," he said proudly.
Continuing deeper into the mountains, Xu Tiancai actively sought out magical beasts to fight. Through this process, his magic and martial arts steadily improved.
One day, while walking through the mountains, he suddenly heard shouts in the distance. His heart stirred, and he hurried toward the source of the sound.
Drawing closer, he discovered several squads battling a horde of magical beasts. The members of these squads possessed extraordinary skills, but outnumbered by the beasts, they were gradually falling into a predicament.
After a brief hesitation, Xu Tiancai decided to lend a hand. He cast a spell, launching a massive fireball into the midst of the beast horde. With a deafening *boom*, the monsters were blasted scattering in all directions.
Overjoyed at his sudden appearance, the squad members rushed over to express their gratitude.
"Many thanks for your assistance, brother!" a burly man said.
Xu Tiancai waved a hand dismissively. "Think nothing of it. We're all training in the mountains; helping each other out is only right."
Joining the fray, Xu Tiancai fought alongside the squad members against the magical beasts. His formidable strength on the battlefield earned him the profound respect of everyone present.
When the battle ended, the squad members invited Xu Tiancai to rest with them. He readily agreed. During the break, he exchanged cultivation experiences with them, gaining a wealth of insight.
However, friction arose between Xu Tiancai and one particular squad. Its leader was an arrogant man who had grown intensely envious upon witnessing Xu Tiancai's overwhelming strength.
"Hmph, what's so great about training alone in the mountains? Our squad has plenty of people, and our strength is no less than yours," the squad leader sneered.
Xu Tiancai smiled faintly. "I never said I was anything special. I'm just training in the mountains and learning from the experience."
Stung by the reply, the leader grew even angrier. Believing Xu Tiancai was mocking him, he decided to challenge him to a contest.
"Since you're so amazing, let's have a spar," the leader demanded.
Though he had no desire to spar with the man, Xu Tiancai saw how persistent he was and reluctantly agreed.
The two moved to a clearing as the surrounding onlookers gathered around, eagerly anticipating the match.
The spar began with the squad leader taking the initiative. Brandishing his longsword, he charged at Xu Tiancai, who simply sidestepped and effortlessly evaded the strike.
Frustrated by his missed attack, the leader grew even more furious and pressed the assault with a much sharper sword technique. Unflustered, Xu Tiancai cast a spell, sending a fireball flying toward his opponent. The leader scrambled out of the way, though the flames still grazed him, scorching a patch of his clothing.
"Hmph, can you only use magic?" the leader taunted.
Xu Tiancai smiled. "I know both magic and martial arts. If you're not convinced, we can keep going."
Livid, the leader lunged forward once more, putting everything he had into the attack. Turning serious, Xu Tiancai raised his longsword and engaged him in an intense duel.
Following a fierce clash, Xu Tiancai emerged victorious. Though resentful, the leader had no choice but to acknowledge his opponent's formidable strength.
"Hmph, I'll let you win this time. But next time, I'll definitely beat you," the leader declared.
Xu Tiancai offered a gentle smile. "Anytime."
Bidding farewell to the squad, Xu Tiancai resumed his training in the mountains. One day, he encountered a beautiful young woman. Dressed in a flowing pink dress with long hair trailing in the breeze, her eyes radiated a gentle warmth.
The moment he laid eyes on her, Xu Tiancai's heart skipped a beat. He stepped forward and said politely, "Miss, wandering the mountains alone is very dangerous."
The woman glanced at him and smiled faintly. "I'm not afraid. I'm a Mage and I can take care of myself."
Deeply impressed, Xu Tiancai replied, "Ah, so you're a Mage! Forgive my discourtesy. I'm also training in the mountains—why don't we travel together so we can look out for one another?"
After a moment of hesitation, the woman agreed. Xu Tiancai didn't seem like a bad person, and given his impressive strength, traveling together sounded like a good idea.
And so, Xu Tiancai and the young woman trained in the mountains side by side. They fought magical beasts together and explored the hidden secrets of the mountains, their bond growing steadily warmer along the way.
One day, they encountered a powerful magical beast. Enormous in size and possessing terrifying offensive power, the creature drove Xu Tiancai and the woman into a desperate predicament.
"This beast is too strong! What should we do?" the woman asked, her voice tinged with tension.
"Don't be afraid, we'll figure something out together," Xu Tiancai said calmly.
He cast a massive fireball directly at the beast, eliciting a roar of pain as it struck. Seizing the moment, the woman also cast a spell, conjuring an ice wall before them to block the beast's charge.
Taking advantage of the opening, Xu Tiancai lunged forward, thrusting his longsword toward the beast's vital spot. The monster shrieked as the blade pierced it, but instead of collapsing, it launched into an even more frantic assault.
Working in seamless coordination, Xu Tiancai and the woman continued their battle against the beast until they finally brought it down.
When the dust settled, both stood panting heavily, yet triumphant smiles graced their faces.
"Ha! We finally beat that beast," Xu Tiancai laughed.
Looking at him with undisguised admiration, the woman said, "You're amazing. If it weren't for you, I probably would have been defeated by the beast long ago."
Xu Tiancai smiled. "We fought it together. I couldn't have beaten it without you."
From that day on, the relationship between Xu Tiancai and the young woman grew even closer. They continued to train and grow together in the mountains. Xu Tiancai knew his journey of adventure was still a long one, but with her companionship by his side, he felt full of confidence.