Testing Affinities

After discussing Xiao Zhan's future marriage, everyone turned their attention to Xiao Zhen.

Xiao Lin said to Xiao Zhen, "Zhen'er! Now that you've become a Dou Zhe, you can cultivate a Cultivation Technique. In a moment, go to the Combat Skill Pavilion and find yourself a good technique and a few suitable combat skills."

Xiao Zhen nodded. The reason he had come to find his father was precisely because he had become a Dou Zhe and needed a suitable Cultivation Technique and fitting combat skills.

Especially after learning that his elder brother was about to get married, Xiao Zhen felt an even greater sense of urgency. He had to quickly cultivate a technique and combat skills to improve his strength.

Only then could his safety be guaranteed when completing the system's Adventure Missions. That low-intelligence system had said that the Adventurer System would never issue missions its host could not complete.

Before long, Xiao Zhen arrived outside the Combat Skill Pavilion. The imposing pavilion stood before him, with four Dou Masters guarding its entrance around the clock.

This was not Xiao Zhen's first time here. He had previously come to collect several combat skills, but since he had not yet broken through to become a Dou Zhe, all he had received were Low-Mid Yellow-tier Combat Skills.

Only after Xiao Zhen presented the access token his father had given him did the four meticulous Dou Masters at the entrance allow him through.

Although Xiao Zhen was the clan leader's son, the rules within such a great clan were strict. Even as the clan leader's son, he still had to abide by certain rules. Without an access token, he would not even be allowed through the door.

After entering, Xiao Zhen went straight to Elder of Imparting Skills. Seeing the old man again, Xiao Zhen still found him unfathomable. Sometimes, he even wondered whether this was some expert left behind by the Xiao Clan. Could he be a Dou Sheng? Or a Dou Zun?

Judging by his appearance, Elder of Imparting Skills was no younger than the First Elder. Yet for some reason, he rarely showed himself outside and had diligently guarded the Combat Skill Pavilion all this time. Only occasionally did he offer guidance to the Xiao Clan's younger generation. Wasn't this exactly the image of a hidden master that often appeared in novels?

Xiao Zhen could not help muttering inwardly, "System! Can you check the information on the old man in front of me?"

Though the Adventurer System was not particularly intelligent, it readily fulfilled Xiao Zhen's requests.

"Ding! Searching..."

"Ding! Search complete!"

Before long, the system transmitted Elder of Imparting Skills' complete information to Xiao Zhen.

Name: Xiao Shan

Age: 88

Cultivation: Half-step Dou Wang

Evaluation: A large number of hidden injuries remain in his body, causing his cultivation to stagnate and preventing further advancement.

After seeing this evaluation, Xiao Zhen was somewhat disappointed. The system's report ruthlessly shattered his fantasy.

He had thought the old man before him would at least be a Dou Zun-level expert, some hidden foundation left behind by the Xiao Clan.

Though his fantasy had been shattered, this Elder of Imparting Skills had still reached the level of a Half-step Dou Wang, and he carried many hidden injuries within his body.

Xiao Zhen thought carefully. If this elder had no hidden injuries, did that mean he could have broken through to the Dou Wang realm long ago?

Xiao Zhen carefully observed Elder of Imparting Skills and secretly thought that this old man must have had quite a story in his youth. No wonder his face bore such traces of hardship.

Elder of Imparting Skills Xiao Shan noticed that the junior before him had been staring at him without stopping. For some reason, he felt as though he had been seen through.

Coming back to his senses, Xiao Shan asked, "So our little genius is here. What brings you here today?"

Xiao Zhen curled his lips and said proudly, "What else could it be? I'm here to collect a Cultivation Technique and combat skills, of course."

"Oh!" Xiao Shan gave a surprised exclamation. After carefully examining Xiao Zhen, he said in astonishment, "You brat, you've advanced to Dou Zhe."

Xiao Zhen nodded. "Elder, you have sharp eyes. That's right, I've become a Dou Zhe, so Father sent me here to collect suitable combat skills and a Cultivation Technique."

Elder of Imparting Skills nodded in satisfaction. In terms of talent, the boy before him was even more gifted than he had been in his youth.

Back when he was young, he too had been a prominent figure in the Jia Ma Empire. If not for his youthful recklessness, he would not have remained unable to break through to Dou Wang even now. Ah, best not to dwell on it.

Xiao Shan walked ahead and beckoned to Xiao Zhen behind him. "Xiao Zhen, follow me."

"Oh!" Xiao Zhen nodded and hurried after him.

Very soon, Xiao Zhen was led before a crystal. If he was not mistaken, this thing should be used to test Dou Qi Affinity.

Xiao Shan pointed at the crystal and said to Xiao Zhen beside him, "Xiao Zhen, this is a crystal specially used to test Dou Qi Affinity. In a moment, inject some Dou Qi into it and see what your affinity is. That way, you can choose a suitable Cultivation Technique."

Xiao Zhen nodded. He was also rather curious about his own affinity. What he hoped for most was Fire Affinity with Wood Affinity mixed in. If that were the case, he would have a chance to become an alchemist. After all, alchemists held an exceptionally respected status on the Dou Qi Continent.

Moreover, his future protagonist nephew would be a top-tier alchemist. Many cultivators on the Dou Qi Continent could not do without the aid of medicinal pills, which only further highlighted the importance of alchemists.

Xiao Zhen took a deep breath, slowly placed his hand on the crystal, and injected a stream of Dou Qi into it.

Immediately, blue and red light radiated from within the crystal, mixed with faint strands of green.

Xiao Zhen looked at Xiao Shan beside him and asked expectantly, "Elder, it seems I have three affinities. The blue one is Lightning Affinity, the red one should be Fire Affinity, and that trace of green should be Wood Affinity, right?"

Xiao Shan nodded approvingly. "Mm! Looks like you've done your homework, brat. That is indeed the case."

Xiao Zhen was thrilled. Though he had an additional Lightning Affinity, Fire Affinity with Wood Affinity mixed in meant he might be able to become an alchemist.

Xiao Zhen continued, "I have Fire Affinity and Wood Affinity. Does that mean I can become an alchemist?"

Xiao Shan pondered for a moment before saying uncertainly, "Your Lightning Affinity should not be a problem. Theoretically, as long as your Spiritual Power is sufficient, becoming an alchemist should not be difficult."

Only after receiving confirmation from Elder Xiao Shan did Xiao Zhen finally relax. Elder Xiao Shan was so old and had weathered so many storms; he surely knew quite a lot.

As for Spiritual Power, Xiao Zhen was extremely confident. As a transmigrator, how could his Spiritual Power possibly be lacking?

Seeing the irrepressible excitement in Xiao Zhen's bones, Xiao Shan added, "Becoming an alchemist is not so easy. Aside from powerful Spiritual Power, you also need guidance from an experienced mentor.

"This old man cannot help you with that. You'll have to find your father. He is our clan leader and a Dou Wang expert. Have him take you to the Alchemist Guild and find you an outstanding mentor."

Xiao Zhen nodded. Indeed, without a mentor's guidance, relying only on the knowledge in books, he had no idea how long it would take him to become an alchemist.

The mentor Xiao Zhen most wanted was Old Yao, who had already been sold out by his own disciple and was now hiding somewhere unknown.

But he could only think about it. Yao Chen would likely end up in the hands of his future sister-in-law, but his elder brother was still single. Who knew where his future sister-in-law was now?

Even if he truly found Venerable Yao, Xiao Zhen did not think he could successfully become his disciple. The old man had once been betrayed by the disciple he had painstakingly raised and treated like a son. Even Xiao Zhen's future protagonist nephew, who had not even been born yet, would have to endure three years of testing before successfully becoming his disciple.