Reencountering Xiao Yan

"Cousin Xiao Ning, lost!?"

Looking at Xiao Ning, who had been defeated cleanly and decisively in the arena, the spectators below fell briefly silent before quickly erupting into an uproar. Shock slowly churned in their hearts.

The younger generation of the Xiao Family stared dumbfoundedly at Xiao Ning, who had vomited blood and collapsed to the ground. As his peers, they naturally knew Xiao Ning's battle prowess very well. Among the younger generation of the Xiao Family, apart from Xun'er, who could suppress him by a notch, he could be said to have almost no opponents. Yet now, after merely exchanging a blow with Mo Yu, he had been defeated utterly. This sudden turn of events had caught everyone completely off guard.

"Mo Yu's strength just now was the Eighth Stage Dou Strength, right?"

"And the Dou Technique Mo Yu used just now—the aura filled with Thunder Power. How come I've never seen it in the Xiao Family before?"

After their initial shock, everyone gradually recovered and began discussing animatedly.

No one had expected that Mo Yu, who had always kept a low profile, was actually a hidden Genius!

"Cousin Mo Yu, impressive strength. I never thought that besides Cousin Xun'er, someone like you would appear in my Xiao Family."

Seeing that he had been defeated with a single strike and that Mo Yu had displayed the Eighth Stage Dou Strength as well, Xiao Ning might have been arrogant and confident, but he was not a fool. He immediately understood that Mo Yu's attitude earlier had been backed by genuine strength.

At this thought, the viciousness in Xiao Ning's eyes faded, replaced by deep wariness.

At this moment, after seeing that his single strike had intimidated everyone present, Mo Yu did not reveal the slightest trace of pride. Instead, he calmly walked off the training grounds, as if what had just happened had merely been a warm-up.

"The might of the Thunder Adamant Body isn't bad. Although Xiao Ning's strength was only average, he still possessed the Eighth Stage Dou Strength and a Yellow-tier Intermediate Dou Technique. I defeated him easily with only two Lightning Patterns. My painstaking cultivation during this period wasn't in vain."

Feeling the powerful energy hidden in his right arm, Mo Yu's lips curved into a faint smile.

Xiao Ning had ended up serving as his free punching bag.

After dealing with this trouble and reading quite a few books earlier, Mo Yu felt somewhat tired. He was preparing to turn and leave when he saw the Youth approaching from not far to his left.

The Youth had an immature face, with a faint curve on his small face that was difficult to tell whether it was seriousness or a smile. His expression was carefree, as if no one else was around.

"Oh? Judging by that expression, Xiao Yan has escaped his depression and pulled himself together. In that case, Old Yao has probably appeared as well."

The Youth before him was Xiao Yan.

Over the past few months, Mo Yu had been focused on improving his own strength and had not had the time to pay attention to matters concerning the Xiao Family or Xiao Yan.

However, meeting him by chance today could also be considered fate.

At this moment, Xiao Yan also noticed Mo Yu. With Old Yao's help over the past few days, he had already learned the reason his Dou Qi had disappeared from his body and had begun anew. With the assistance of this latter, a top Alchemist on the continent, both his strength and confidence were rapidly recovering.

However, in Xiao Yan's heart, Mo Yu's encouragement from the past remained vivid, and he was extremely grateful for it.

Today, Xiao Yan had merely come to the family Skill Hall to see whether he could find a suitable low-level Dou Technique. He had not expected to witness a match between Mo Yu and Xiao Ning.

What surprised him even more was that Mo Yu had actually won!

One had to know that apart from Xun'er, Xiao Ning could almost be called the number-one Genius in the Xiao Family now. Even Xiao Yan, having risen only recently, admitted that he was not Xiao Ning's opponent at present.

Yet Mo Yu had defeated him with a single move. Such mystery and strength were even no weaker than Xun'er's...

"Cousin Mo Yu, we haven't seen each other for a few months. I never thought you'd surprise me so pleasantly again."

Xiao Yan had, after all, endured three years of tempering. His mind quickly steadied, and he greeted Mo Yu calmly.

"You're not bad either, Cousin Xiao Yan. I imagine your strength has improved quite a bit as well." Mo Yu stared intently at the Youth before him, as if he wanted to see through him.

Others might not have sensed it, but Mo Yu's extraordinary Soul Perception detected that Xiao Yan had faintly broken through to the Fifth Stage Dou Strength.

Breaking through two stages in two months—such an achievement further confirmed Mo Yu's conjecture.

The Youth before him was about to take flight!

Stared at by Mo Yu's deep eyes, Xiao Yan felt as if he were standing naked. Fortunately, Mo Yu's gaze vanished in an instant, so much so that Xiao Yan wondered whether the feeling had merely been an illusion.

"Hehe, Cousin Mo Yu, you flatter me. I just recently found the reason behind what happened to my body, so my strength has recovered somewhat."

Xiao Yan did not want to deceive Mo Yu, so he revealed some information. However, he did not mention Old Yao at all. After all, this was the Youth's greatest secret, one he had not even revealed to his father.

Mo Yu nodded inwardly in understanding. Just as Profound Thunder was his greatest secret, Old Yao was the same to Xiao Yan.

After three years at rock bottom, Xiao Yan was no longer the naive child he had been several years ago. He naturally understood what it meant for disaster to come from careless words.

After exchanging a few more casual pleasantries, the two were both cultivation fanatics, so they quickly ended the conversation and went about their own business.

At the end of their conversation, Xiao Yan hesitated before saying, "By the way, Cousin Mo Yu, the family is holding a family gathering soon. I recommended you to my father, and he agreed that you could attend.

"If you have time, you can come by and meet the family elders."

After recovering his talent, Xiao Yan felt that a small family could no longer restrain him. His two older brothers had also left the family and established their own foundations, so he had thought of recommending Mo Yu to his father, allowing Mo Yu to become his father's right-hand man.

But now, it seemed that neither the Xiao Family nor even the entire Jia Ma Empire could retain this Cousin.

As Xun'er had said, Mo Yu was not someone destined to remain beneath others for long. Although Xiao Yan's talent was outstanding, having come from a small family, his horizons at this moment were naturally not as sharp as Xun'er's.

Hearing this, Mo Yu was stunned, then nodded and said, "Mm, I'll go if I have time."

It was merely a family gathering. It showed that his talent had earned the Xiao Family's recognition and that he was worth winning over. Mo Yu neither accepted nor rejected the notion.

The Xiao Family was only one stop in his life.

Seeing Mo Yu agree, Xiao Yan also breathed a sigh of relief. For some reason, he did not want to see Mo Yu leave the Xiao Family.

After agreeing on the time of the family gathering, Mo Yu turned and left.

Watching Mo Yu's back, Old Yao's voice suddenly echoed in Xiao Yan's mind.

"What's going on? Isn't your Xiao Family just a small family in an empire? How did so many Perverts appear? That little girl aside—even though her background is extraordinary, I can still see through her origins.

"But your Cousin—I can't even see through him. How strange. Could there really be a problem with your Xiao Family's feng shui...?"

Listening to Old Yao mutter to himself, Xiao Yan's mind fell into a daze.

Cousin Mo Yu, you're truly mysterious...