Old Father Xiao Zhan

"Seven-Star Dou Shi?" Xiao Yan froze, murmuring the words under his breath. The others, meanwhile, completely shut down, their minds blank, with only the phrase "Seven-Star Dou Shi within a year" echoing in their heads.

Although Xiao Yan fared somewhat better, he was still momentarily dazed by the shock. Surpass those elders in the clan who had cultivated for decades within a single year?

Zhang Tian, however, found it perfectly normal. After all, that was just how overpowered people with protagonist fate were. Moreover, he knew Xiao Yan would definitely manage it. In fact, Seven-Star Dou Shi was merely a conservative estimate.

As long as he learned the Flame Mantra and swallowed a Heavenly Flame, Xiao Yan's strength would leap an entire major realm at a time.

"Can I really do it?" Xiao Yan could not help but suspect that Zhang Tian was simply amusing himself at his expense.

"You definitely can." Zhang Tian immediately began brainwashing Xiao Yan. If you didn't believe in yourself, did you not believe in me either?

In the end, Xiao Yan nodded in acceptance, though he still had some doubts. There was also something he did not say aloud: You're only a Four-Star Dou Ling. What makes you think you can guarantee that I'll be able to do whatever I want in the Gama Empire?

Zhang Tian, meanwhile, was calculating inwardly. Once Xiao Yan reached Seven-Star Dou Shi, his own strength would rise to the level of a Dou Huang.

A Dou Huang was already among the Empire's most formidable combatants. Jia Xing Tian had guarded the imperial family alone for hundreds of years; that was the deterrent power of a Dou Huang.

The strength of a Seven-Star Dou Huang would surpass both Yun Yun and Hai Bo Dong at the peak of Five-Star Dou Huang. Aside from Yun Shan and Jia Xing Tian, practically no one would be his match.

Zhang Tian irritably knocked Xiao Yan on the head, signaling him to stop doubting him. Soon afterward, he arrived at the Xiao Family once more. Unlike last time, when he had sneaked in, he entered the Xiao Family openly this time.

Xiao Zhan had not yet received word. At the moment, he was likely still handling family affairs in the clan hall.

"Come on, take me to see your father." Zhang Tian gestured at Xiao Yan with his chin. Xiao Yan immediately understood and stepped forward to lead the way. Though Zhang Tian knew the place like the back of his hand, it would indeed be inappropriate for him to show it now.

They had not gone far when a young girl emerged from one direction.

The girl was around thirteen or fourteen and had not yet fully developed. She wore a graceful purple gown, her extraordinary bearing making her resemble a noble purple lotus. Her pretty face carried three parts delight and four parts worry, and without a trace of makeup, she was still strikingly beautiful.

Perhaps it was merely a psychological effect, but knowing about the Golden Emperor Sky Burning Flame, Zhang Tian sensed a faint, intangible pressure from the little girl before him. It was not an imposing aura, but a suppressive force that acted upon one's soul and bloodline.

Zhang Tian snorted softly. So what if it was the Golden Emperor Sky Burning Flame? Once Xiao Yan broke through to Dou Zong one day, he would become the only Dou Di on the Dou Qi Continent in ten thousand years. Even if Xiao Yan only reached Half-Step Dou Zong, as a Half-Step Dou Di, Zhang Tian would fear no one.

With strength equivalent to an Emperor Pill Embryo with no weaknesses, taking on five opponents such as the Void Ancient Dragon Emperor, Hun Tiandi, and Gu Yuan alone would not be a problem.

Though the Golden Emperor Sky Burning Flame was powerful, it ranked only fourth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. At most, it possessed combat power at the Dou Sheng level. What truly gave Zhang Tian pressure was Gu Xun'er's bloodline, said to be the purest Dou Di bloodline the Gu Clan had seen in a thousand years.

However, Gu Xun'er's strength certainly had not exceeded that of a Dou Shi yet. As the gap between their realms grew wider, the suppression from her bloodline would become increasingly negligible.

"I heard that Ga Lie Mi caused trouble for Brother Xiao Yan at the market today, and Brother Xiao Yan ended up giving him a beating." Gu Xun'er smiled sweetly, as though the worry in her heart had finally completely settled.

Unaware that Gu Xun'er had breathed a sigh of relief, Xiao Yan nodded. Compared to a minor fry like Ga Lie Mi, what he wanted more now was to learn from Zhang Tian.

If he had possessed the strength of a Dou Shi today, who would have dared to humiliate him so freely?

"That little brat didn't know any better, so I taught him a lesson." Xiao Yan smiled faintly, showing no sign of taking Ga Lie Mi seriously. He was not even willing to describe him as an idiot, lest it lower his own standards.

"Pfft." Gu Xun'er giggled. Though he was still so young, he called Ga Lie Mi, who was less than two months younger than himself, a little brat.

"Brother Xiao Yan has changed so much recently." Gu Xun'er covered her mouth, her eyes gleaming with amusement as she looked curiously at Xiao Yan with her large, lively eyes.

How long had it been since Brother Xiao Yan had been this high-spirited? More than two years, probably.

Really, that confident look of his was exceptionally charming.

"Ahem, Miss Xun'er, the Clan Leader is already waiting." A Xiao Family disciple beside them could not help quietly interrupting the two.

If someone wanted to see Xiao Zhan, Xiao Zhan naturally had to be informed in advance. Otherwise, was he supposed to let people barge in on him?

"Then Xun'er will wait for now. Brother Xiao Yan, go see Uncle Xiao Zhan first." Xun'er was exceptionally obedient and considerate. She nodded understandingly and stepped aside to clear the way.

"This is... the Yun Lan Sect?" Watching Xiao Yan and Zhang Tian's backs gradually recede, Gu Xun'er furrowed her delicate brows and gave Zhang Tian, dressed in brocade robes, a strange look.

Why would a Four-Star Dou Ling appear in the Xiao Family?

Though she had been sent here as an undercover agent, how could Gu Xun'er have come unprepared? She knew a little about the distribution of various forces across the continent, the Gu Clan's secret arts, and all kinds of hidden secrets and ancient legends.

Not to mention that she had paid particular attention to the forces around the Gama Empire.

"Miss, would you like me to investigate?" Though there was no one around, an aged voice sounded directly beside Gu Xun'er's ear, imperceptible to anyone else.

"No need. It seems he came to help Brother Xiao Yan. By the way, Elder Ling, have you found the reason why Brother Xiao Yan's Dou Qi was leaking away?" Gu Xun'er clearly did not wish to expose Ling Ying, so she stopped him from acting.

"This old servant is incompetent. I originally thought there was something wrong with Young Master Xiao Yan's Dantian, but in recent days, he has strangely recovered. This old servant does not know the reason either." Ling Ying's aged voice contained a trace of shame, but there was nothing he could do.

After all, he was only a Dou Huang. Furthermore, he spent all day guarding Gu Xun'er and rarely had a chance to see Xiao Yan. They were usually far apart, and he was not an alchemist either. He could hardly go directly examine Xiao Yan's Dantian.

"Then forget it." Gu Xun'er felt somewhat disappointed at his words. When Xiao Yan had encountered a problem, she had wanted to offer what little help she could. But Ling Ying had said it might be an issue with his Dantian, and pills capable of repairing a Dantian were far too precious—at least Fifth Rank Pills, and more than five times as expensive as ordinary Fifth Rank Pills.

Gu Xun'er could not use the Gu Clan's resources, so the matter had been left unresolved.

Gu Xun'er had originally planned to return to the clan to obtain the pill after her own cultivation broke through. She had not expected Xiao Yan's condition to improve ahead of time, and for his talent to even surpass what it had been before.

Meanwhile, Zhang Tian met Xiao Zhan in the clan's main hall. Xiao Zhan received Zhang Tian in the Xiao Family's council chamber, a place they only used when guests arrived or important matters were to be discussed.

Hearing footsteps, Xiao Zhan looked up. His eyes immediately filled with astonishment.

"Esteemed expert, may I ask what you wish to discuss with me?" Xiao Zhan rose to his feet and walked down from his seat.

"Clan Leader Xiao Zhan, I have long admired your name." Looking at the middle-aged man whose brows and features bore a forty to fifty percent resemblance to Xiao Yan's, Zhang Tian politely returned the greeting.

"May I ask why this sir from the Yun Lan Sect has come to my Xiao Family? As I recall, your sect has no dealings with the Xiao Family." Xiao Zhan first had someone bring over a chair. Only after Zhang Tian sat down did he return to his own seat, then had servants serve two cups of tea.

Xiao Zhan lightly rubbed the lid against the rim of his teacup. After taking a sip, he courteously asked Zhang Tian his question.

"Several years ago, Junior Sister Nalan joined the Yun Lan Sect, and she has now even been accepted by Sect Leader Yun Yun as her last disciple. I came here for two reasons: first, to offer congratulations; second, because I think highly of Xiao Yan and wish to take him as my disciple." Zhang Tian slowly took a sip of tea. Finding it cool and fragrant, leaving a lingering sweetness on his lips and teeth, he praised it as fine tea before slowly speaking.

"Nalan Yanran? Oh, so it's that little girl. Niece Nalan is truly fortunate to have caught the favor of the Yun Lan Sect's Sect Leader." Xiao Zhan was momentarily stunned, but then remembered that his father seemed to indeed have made such an agreement with Lionheart Marshal Nalan Jie of the Gama Empire.

It had merely been a joke back then, yet he had never expected them to still remember it. He could not help but feel deeply gratified.

"Yaner is a good girl."

Xiao Zhan first sighed with emotion. As for taking Xiao Yan as a disciple, he saw the determination in his son's eyes and nodded as well.

He knew that his son had been sensible since childhood. Moreover, this man was a Four-Star Dou Ling; perhaps he truly had a way to help Xiao Yan grow stronger.

Although he was the Xiao Family's clan leader, there were many times when he had no choice in the matter. After all, he had to worry about the entire clan, and its resources could not all be tilted toward Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan had been criticized by the clan members all these years. Xiao Zhan saw it all and felt the pain in his heart, yet he could do nothing. Now that Xiao Yan's cultivation had only just begun to show promise, he did not want to discourage his son. Besides, taking a Four-Star Dou Ling as his master could only be beneficial.

"Someone, bring the incense tea and red altar table. Prepare the wine for the apprenticeship ceremony." Having made up his mind, Xiao Zhan immediately instructed the servants to get to work.

The red altar table and incense tea were set out one by one. Three long incense sticks were planted atop the red table to pay respects to Heaven and Earth. On a yellow wooden table sat a cup of rich, fragrant wine, a cup of bitter jasmine tea, a cup of sweet crisp tea, and a half-finger-length stick of incense.

Since this was Xiao Yan's personal apprenticeship ceremony, it was not made into a grand affair. Xiao Zhan merely served as a witness.

Zhang Tian had lived on the Dou Qi Continent for more than a decade, so he understood some of these rites as well.

The bitter jasmine tea on the yellow altar table gave off billowing steam, and a faint fragrance spread through the air as smoke from the burning incense curled upward.

The red altar table faced the main entrance, while the yellow altar table was placed inside the room, signifying that after paying respects to Heaven and Earth, they would become one family. Zhang Tian drank half the rich wine, and Xiao Zhan took the remaining half and drank it, signifying that one should honor one's master as one's father. Zhang Tian drank most of the sweet crisp tea, and Xiao Yan drank the rest. Zhang Tian then took a small sip of the bitter jasmine tea, and Xiao Yan swallowed all that remained with a pained expression, signifying that master and disciple would share sweetness and hardship alike.

Xiao Yan smacked his lips, his mouth full of bitterness. He nearly spat out his gall.

Zhang Tian took the incense, lit it at the incense altar, and shook off the ash three times before fumigating Xiao Yan with it. Rolling up his sleeves, he waved the incense over Xiao Yan's entire body for a while, paying particular attention to his head and the soles of his feet.

"Greetings, Master." Xiao Yan had been left dizzy and disoriented. Only after a full half hour did he finally seize the chance to kneel and offer up a normal cup of tea.