Going Further

Early the next morning, sunlight streamed through the window into the room. Xiao Yan slowly woke up and stared blankly at the ring hanging from his chest, remaining motionless for a long while.

"Kid, what's wrong? Still dazed from sleep?"

The sudden voice in his mind snapped Xiao Yan back to his senses. He gave an embarrassed, sheepish laugh.

"No. It's just that I thought what happened last night was only a dream."

Indeed, anyone would have found last night's events unreal.

At the lowest point of his life, a Beautiful as a Celestial Being woman had suddenly appeared, taken him as her disciple, helped him improve his strength, and even planned to teach him alchemy. It would have been impossible not to feel as though it were all an illusion.

"Hmph~" Yao Chen gave a Cold Snort and urged, "Now that you're awake, hurry up and buy the medicinal ingredients."

"Yes!"

Xiao Yan answered and got up to put on his clothes.

While dressing, Xiao Yan seemed to recall something and asked awkwardly.

"Um... Elder Yao, when you're inside the Ring, can you see outside?"

"I can see~ Clearly, too. Including how you, kid, were dragged by your cousin to Ningchun Tower the day before yesterday." Said This, Yao Chen suddenly became interested and began teasing him. "Looks like you're still a virgin, kid? How can that do? If you don't get used to women, you might get cheated out of even your underwear someday~"

"Mm..."

Xiao Yan's face reddened slightly as he awkwardly asked in return.

"What about you, Elder Yao?"

"Back then, there were countless men pursuing me. I simply didn't think any of them were worthy."

Yao Chen said this with great pride, and Xiao Yan did not think she was lying.

Yao Chen herself looked like a Celestial Maiden Descended. She was also an alchemist, and her original strength was likely far from weak. Naturally, she would not have lacked suitors.

Though her personality truly left people at a loss for words—she was practically a Female Ruffian.

But that was not actually what Xiao Yan wanted to ask.

"What this Disciple actually wanted to ask was whether Elder Yao is... Never mind. Pretend I didn't say anything."

"If you've got something to ask, ask it. Stop hemming and hawing!"

Yao Chen cursed impatiently, but then connected it to what she had just said and immediately understood what Xiao Yan wanted to ask. She sharply rebuked him.

"You rebellious disciple! How dare you offend your own teacher?!"

"This Disciple admits his mistake!"

Xiao Yan did not hesitate in the slightest and directly apologized to Yao Chen.

Yao Chen gave a Cold Snort and did not speak again.

Even so, Xiao Yan still had no answer.

Was his teacher really...

Xiao Yan immediately shook his head, casting aside the disrespectful thought in his heart. Taking the scroll he had written yesterday, he left his room and happened to run into Xiao Mei and Xiao Xun'er, who had come to wake him.

"Cousin Xiao Yan!"

The moment Xiao Mei saw Xiao Yan, she excitedly threw herself at him. Xiao Yan neither dodged nor avoided her, looking lovingly at his Sister.

"Good morning, Mei'er." Then Xiao Yan Looked Towards Xiao Xun'er. "Good morning to you too, Xun'er."

"Mm, good morning, Brother Xiao Yan."

Xiao Xun'er smiled and nodded. Xiao Yan then pulled Xiao Mei out of his arms, gave a slight wave, and passed between them.

"I need to make a trip to the Council Hall. Please ask everyone for leave on my behalf. I'm going into town to buy some things today."

"Mm~ Take care, Brother Xiao Yan~"

Xiao Xun'er smiled and waved at Xiao Yan. Only after he had gone far away did she suddenly react, exchanging a startled look with Xiao Mei.

"Going into town to buy things?!"

The two women understood each other without a word and immediately returned to their rooms.

Normally, Xiao Yan always stayed in the Clan, training the Xiao Family Disciples. He rarely wandered around the streets.

How could they possibly miss such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?!

Meanwhile, Xiao Yan had also arrived at the Council Hall and paid his respects to the Three Elders and Xiao Zhan.

"Father, Three Elders."

"Yan'er." Seeing Xiao Yan enter, Xiao Zhan smiled and asked, "What is it?"

"Xiao Yan wishes to contribute a dou technique to the Clan for the family's Disciples to use."

Xiao Yan clasped his hands around the scroll and spoke solemnly.

In fact, this was not the first time Xiao Yan had contributed dou techniques. Most of them merely aided the use of strength or movement techniques, things Xiao Yan had figured out while training his body. They were a great help to Xiao Family Disciples at their current level, but once their levels rose further, they would no longer be of much use.

Even so, Xiao Zhan and the Three Elders had stored those dou techniques in the Xiao Family's Dou Technique Pavilion.

It was not merely because these dou techniques truly helped the younger generation. Even if the scrolls had been filled with nonsense, they would still have done the same.

There was no other reason than that Xiao Yan was the one who had brought them!

"Let me see."

Xiao Zhan extended his hand to Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan stepped forward and handed over the scroll, which Xiao Zhan immediately opened and read.

Yet as time slowly passed, Xiao Zhan's expression gradually turned grave, until it finally became one of shock.

"Clan Leader, is there something wrong with this dou technique?"

"..." Xiao Zhan did not answer. He merely handed the scroll to the other Three Elders. "Three Elders, please take a look as well."

The Three Elders accepted the scroll and opened it for inspection. Moments later, their faces bore the same grave expressions as Xiao Zhan's.

Terrifying!

How Terrifying was this dou technique!

Even without putting it into practice, the Three Elders could clearly determine just how terrifying this dou technique called Eight Extremes Collapse was.

"Yan'er, where did this dou technique come from?"

Xiao Zhan gazed at Xiao Yan and asked in a Deep Voice.

This Eight Extremes Collapse differed from the dou techniques Xiao Yan had contributed in the past. Even Da Dou Shi like them could greatly increase their combat strength after learning it.

No one knew a son better than his father. Though Xiao Zhan had always been very satisfied with Xiao Yan, he absolutely did not believe that this dou technique was something his son could have created.

"Replying to Father, I went to the Back Mountain last night to reflect in peace and happened to encounter a senior. Xiao Yan had a pleasant conversation with that senior, and the senior bestowed this dou technique upon me."

"This..."

Xiao Zhan was somewhat astonished. He naturally believed his son's words, but he had Never Expected his son to encounter such a fortuitous opportunity.

"Yan'er, did that senior tell you what grade this dou technique is?"

Xiao Zhan asked with tightly furrowed brows. Xiao Yan clasped his hands and lowered his head.

"Your son cannot say."

!!!!!

The moment those words were spoken, Xiao Zhan and the Three Elders' expressions changed once again.

It was not that he did not know, but that he could not say.

This proved that Xiao Yan knew the grade of this dou technique, yet had no way to tell them.

There could only be one reason: in the tiny city of Wutan City, this dou technique was absolutely a Rare Treasure!

Once outsiders learned this dou technique's grade, it would bring enormous trouble upon the Xiao Family!

"I understand." Xiao Zhan came back to his senses and said softly, "The Three Elders and I will discuss how to handle this dou technique. Go attend to your matters."

"Yes."

Xiao Yan turned and left the Council Hall. Gazing At Xiao Yan's departing Back View, Xiao Zhan and the Three Elders were speechless for a long time.

Xiao Yan had obtained such a rare treasure. He could have kept it all for himself without anyone ever knowing, yet he was willing to offer it for the Clan's Disciples to use.

Such broad-mindedness was truly rare.

"It seems that even if Xiao Yan becomes Clan Leader in the future, no one will feel dissatisfied."

The Three Elders gave this evaluation. Xiao Zhan looked at the scroll the Three Elders had placed on the table and smiled faintly.

"No." Xiao Zhan picked up the scroll and spoke slowly. "I have a feeling that Yan'er Will Never be content to remain in this small Xiao Family of Wutan City."

"His future will surely take him even farther!"