Li Lin gently patted Little Dragon's small head and then exerted a lot of effort to pull out the tusks from the Thick-Skinned Demonic Elephant. The tusks were the most valuable part of the elephant, worth tens of thousands of gold coins if made into weapons.

After tidying up, the duo continued on their journey, with sunlight streaming through the forest canopy and casting a long shadow of Li Lin on the forest floor.

At night, in a secluded cave, Li Lin sat cross-legged on a spiritual jade bed. He took out a jade bottle containing Soul Spirit Divine Liquid and, without hesitation, consumed one-tenth of the amount he had previously taken. The small sip of the Soul Spirit Divine Liquid felt cool in his mouth, but as soon as it reached his stomach, it transformed into an intensely hot flow, spreading ferociously.

Li Lin immediately started refining it with his Yin-Yang Spirit Martial Art. The immense energy caused sharp pains in his brain, the energy too terrifying to handle. Although he had experienced this energy surge before, Li Lin had to endure it a second time.

However, this time it was somewhat easier. With his steadfast will, Li Lin managed to withstand the energy onslaught.

"Refine," he commanded himself, enduring the pain and beginning to refine the liquid. His spiritual power in the brain increased continuously.

On the spiritual jade bed, energy accompanied Li Lin's refinement process, significantly enhancing his spiritual power.

As he refined the liquid, Li Lin felt his progress. An invisible aura spread within his spiritual sea, reaching deep into his mind, nourishing his increasingly solid soul. The intangible soul was now becoming more tangible, allowing Li Lin to perceive its location, an indescribable mystery.

After refining another tenth of the Soul Spirit Divine Liquid, Li Lin pondered for a long time. Currently at the eighth layer of martial warriors, his spiritual level was only at the sixth layer. Having consumed the liquid before, it was the right time to refine again.

Dual cultivation of spirit and martial arts required simultaneous breakthroughs, so Li Lin prepared in advance. With many pills at his disposal, he estimated it wouldn't take long to break through to the ninth layer of martial warriors and then to the martial master level. The consumption of the Soul Spirit Divine Liquid should also significantly advance his spiritual level, making the breakthrough to a spiritual master easier.

In the Misty Mountain Range, Li Lin was constantly thinking about strengthening himself. Without power, one's life was always at risk here.

Moments later, Li Lin was enveloped in an invisible, dazzling white circle of light, with Little Dragon guarding outside the cave.

As dawn approached, Li Lin stopped refining and exhaled a breath of turbid air. He and Little Dragon set off again towards the ancient domain.

Traveling by day and cultivating at night, ten days passed. Li Lin easily advanced to the seventh layer of spiritual warriors and was close to the eighth layer. However, he had already refined five-sixths of the Soul Spirit Divine Liquid, and the higher the breakthrough, the more energy it required.

"In the woods," Li Lin, with his Qi flashing under his feet, lunged forward, unleashing his Furious Flame Punch. The violent energy dispersed, striking the head of a grotesque, large, second-stage late-phase water elemental beast.

The beast's head burst open, and its body collapsed to the ground, soon becoming Little Dragon's food.

The training in this dangerous area subtly changed Li Lin. He now carried an invisible aura of slaughter – an aura that could only be acquired through bloodshed.

In action, Li Lin's various martial arts techniques were becoming increasingly refined and skilled. Second-stage late-phase demonic beasts were no longer a significant threat to him.

"This dangerous area, it's been almost a month, should be about to leave it soon," Li Lin murmured softly, his gaze fixed ahead with determination and a hint of coldness. He stood motionless, like a rock.

After tidying up, Li Lin continued forward, estimating that he was nearing the end of this perilous region based on the distance he had traveled.

"Help me..." A sharp scream broke the calm of the forest. Judging by the voice, it seemed to belong to a young girl, not too old, with a hint of immaturity in her tone.

On a hillside, an old woman and a young girl had fallen to the ground. The girl, about eleven or twelve years old with messy hair, had eyes filled with fear. The other, an old woman in her fifties, dressed in blue, was now disheveled and bloody, her face pale.

The terrified girl clung to the old woman, staring at two masked figures in front of them.

"Where is the Sect Leader's seal token?" Both figures were clad in black with covered faces, revealing only their eyes.

"What people are you, skulking about like this? The seal token is not on me, killing me won't help you," the old woman said protectively, hugging the girl.

"Alright, if you don't tell us, I'll kill you first," one of the masked figures stepped forward, raising a large knife that gleamed coldly, the murderous intent palpable.

"Don't kill my Granny Lan," the frightened girl broke free from the old woman and stood protectively in front of her.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"Xintong, step back," the old woman struggled to pull the girl back.

"So you care about her. If you don't hand over the Sect Leader's seal token, I'll kill her," the other masked figure threatened, raising the knife over the girl's head.

"Don't, you can't kill her, she is the bloodline left by the Sect Leader," the old woman cried out in despair, too injured to do much.

"Hmph, all the more reason to kill her," the masked man sneered. "Last chance, will you hand over the seal token?"

"Brother, no need to waste words with her, kill them both and search for the token. If we find the token, we'll be greatly rewarded," said the other masked figure, bringing the knife down towards the girl.

"Whiz..." Suddenly, a sharp whistling sound pierced through the air, carrying a fierce wind that instantly penetrated the man's knife, leaving a hole in it. The masked figure staggered back several steps, dropping the knife, a blood hole appearing on his neck. "Who's there?" the other masked man looked around in panic, unable to see anyone.

"Killing even the old and young, I didn't want to meddle, but I can't stand idly by," a deep voice sounded, followed by a blue figure landing in front of the masked man. The newcomer was a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy in black robes, with clear and deep eyes and a slender figure. On his shoulder was a pale yellow mini snake. The boy was none other than Li Lin.

"It's you, brat, I'll chop you down," the man, initially panicked, now emboldened upon seeing just a young boy, swung his knife towards Li Lin.

With a sharp whistling sound, the blade gleamed coldly, cutting through the air.

"Merely the strength of a seventh-layer martial warrior, seeking death," Li Lin snorted coldly, releasing a surge of Qi. His Mountain Splitting Palm materialized, a pale yellow palm imprint meeting the knife head-on.

"Bang bang!" The knife fell to the ground as Li Lin's palm imprint struck the chest of the masked man, causing a spray of blood. The man fell to the ground without a struggle.

Li Lin patted his hands and searched the two men, but found no space bags, eliciting a wry smile from him.

"Thank you, sir, for saving us," the old woman on the ground said gratefully to Li Lin.

"No need to thank me, I just couldn't stand by and do nothing," Li Lin replied, explaining that he had been hiding nearby and didn't want to get involved unnecessarily. Seeing the two men threaten the defenseless old woman and child, however, he felt compelled to intervene.

"Sir, please, I beg you, take this child with you. She's all alone now. If I die, she'll be left here to the beasts. Please, take her with you," the old woman pleaded, struggling to rise and then kneeling before Li Lin.

"What are you doing, old lady?" Li Lin hurriedly laid the woman back on the ground, noting her severe injuries and limited martial ability.

Looking at the panicked young girl, Li Lin felt a twinge of pity, recalling his own past of being alone and helpless. But, considering his current situation and the added danger of caring for a child, he hesitated.

"Old lady, I really can't take her. I'll try to get her out and find her relatives," Li Lin offered, looking at the girl.

"There's no one left. Xintong has no mother, and the sect leader was murdered. She'll be all alone once I'm gone," the old woman wept, handing Li Lin a pure white jade token, the size of a palm, with patterns and a faint energy. "This is the Flying Spirit Sect's leader seal token. Whoever possesses it can claim the sect leader's position. I give it to you."

"Old lady, old lady..." Li Lin began to speak, but the old woman had already closed her eyes for the last time.

"Granny Lan, Granny Lan," the young girl cried, shaking the old woman, then sobbing uncontrollably.

Seeing the girl's plight, Li Lin knew he couldn't leave her alone in the mountains. Though he never considered himself a good person, abandoning a helpless child was something he couldn't do.

"Little sister, Granny Lan is dead, don't cry," Li Lin said after a moment, knowing her cries could attract beasts.

"Uh-huh... Uh-huh..." The girl lifted her head, her eyes red and swollen from crying, and then began to sob quietly without making noise.

"I'll bury Granny Lan for you," Li Lin offered gently, then dug a simple grave and buried the old woman.

The girl gradually stopped crying and watched Li Lin silently, not speaking.

"What's your name, and how old are you?" Li Lin crouched down, wiped the girl's tears with his sleeve, and carefully observed her. Dressed in slightly tattered red clothes, with delicate features, big eyes, small mouth, long eyelashes, and two dimples, she was undoubtedly a beautiful child.

"My name is Li Xintong, I'm ten years old," the young girl softly spoke, yet she appeared somewhat frightened by the little dragon perched on Li Lin's shoulder.

"Li Xintong," Li Lin murmured, slightly surprised to share the same surname. It seemed like fate.

"It's called Little Dragon; it won't hurt you. Don't be afraid," Li Lin reassured the young girl.

"Chichi..." Little Dragon flicked its tongue and shook its head, seemingly communicating with the girl, who gradually seemed less afraid upon sensing Little Dragon's goodwill.

"Xintong, come with me. From now on, you can stay by my side. Is that okay?" Li Lin offered, feeling responsible for the girl since the old woman had passed away.

"Xintong has no family left... They were all killed by those bad people..." Xintong broke into tears again.

"Don't cry, Xintong. Be strong. Get strong and seek revenge. From now on, I am your brother, your family," Li Lin said, feeling a pang in his heart and hugging Xintong tightly, reminded of his own lonely past.

"Brother, can you really be my brother?" Xintong looked up at Li Lin, fearing he might say no.

"Of course, from now on, you are my sister, Li Lin's sister. Nobody will dare to bully Xintong again," Li Lin assured her.

"Okay, brother," Xintong said softly, finding solace and happiness in her newfound family.

"We should leave this place," Li Lin suggested, inspecting the bodies of the masked men. They appeared to be young men in their mid-twenties.

"Xintong, do you recognize these men?" Li Lin inquired.

"They were apprentices of Elder Huang. I've seen them before," Xintong replied in shock. "Why did they want to kill me and Granny Lan?"

"Was your father the leader of the Flying Spirit Sect? And was Elder Huang also from the same sect?" Li Lin asked, furrowing his brows.

"Yes, my father was the leader of the Flying Spirit Sect. Elder Huang was one of the elders. My father was killed by masked men, and Granny Lan and others who tried to protect us were also killed," Xintong said, tears welling up again.

"Let's go, Xintong," Li Lin said, holding the sect leader's seal token he had received from the old woman, understanding more about the situation.

"Chichi..." Little Dragon transformed into a large creature and devoured the bodies of the two men.

Startled by Little Dragon's sudden transformation, Xintong was initially frightened but calmed down under Li Lin's reassurance.

On their journey, Li Lin learned from Xintong that her father, Li Qing, was the leader of the Flying Spirit Sect, a small sect of about a hundred people. She had grown up in the sect without practicing martial arts, raised by Granny Lan after her mother died in childbirth.

"Brother, will you teach me to practice martial arts? I want to become a martial artist," Xintong suddenly asked Li Lin, her eyes full of longing.

"Why do you want to become a martial artist?" Li Lin queried.

"I want to be as strong as you, brother, and avenge my father," Xintong declared, her eyes filled with determination.

"To become a martial artist, you'll have to endure a lot of hardships," Li Lin warned.

"I'm not afraid of hardship," Xintong replied firmly, her gaze resolute.