Will You Accept the Challenge?

Hun Susu's gaze was very calm as she looked at Xiao Han with gratification. "All right, Han'er, it's late. Get some rest early!"

Hun Susu clearly did not believe that Xiao Han could break her seal. The sorrow in her eyes vanished in an instant, and she turned to leave Xiao Han's Courtyard House.

"Forgive me, Mother."

Xiao Han sighed helplessly and reached out to grasp Hun Susu's jade-like hand. At the same time, his other hand grabbed the leaves of an orchid in a nearby potted plant.

"Grafting Flowers onto Trees!"

"Ding dong!"

"Please select the target from which Grafting Flowers onto Trees will extract!"

"Hun Susu!"

"Ding dong!"

"Please select an item from Hun Susu. It may be a Dou Technique, cultivation method, or seal. The Dou Techniques and cultivation methods currently available on Hun Susu are..."

"Seal!"

"Ding dong!"

"The host has selected Hun Susu's seal. Please select the item to which it will be transferred."

"Ding dong!"

"System reminder: the item to which it is transferred must be a living being. It may be an animal or a plant!"

"Orchid."

"Ding dong!"

"Congratulations. Using the divine ability Grafting Flowers onto Trees, you have successfully transferred Hun Susu's seal onto the orchid."

Faintly, a ray of light transferred from Hun Susu's body to Xiao Han's, then flowed into the orchid in the potted plant.

Thud!

As the seal was removed, a fierce shockwave burst outward from Hun Susu, sweeping through the surroundings.

All the potted plants in the Courtyard House's yard were reduced to powder by the shockwave. In an instant, the yard became a complete mess. Naturally, the orchid bearing the seal was the sole exception.

"My seal... has been removed?"

Hun Susu's eyes widened, filled with delighted surprise. With a thought, a terrifying surge of Dou Qi erupted from her body.

Bang!

Under the force of that aura, Xiao Han was sent flying backward until he was pressed against the wall.

"Mother!" Xiao Han's heart trembled. From this aura alone, he could tell that his mother's cultivation was far above that of the Black Robed Person. By his initial estimate, Hun Susu was likely at least a Dou Zong.

"Hehe..."

Hun Susu realized she had lost her composure, quickly withdrew her aura, and walked up to Xiao Han. "Han'er, are you all right?"

"I'm fine." Xiao Han wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. That single burst of aura alone had caused his Qi and Blood to churn violently.

So this is what a strong person is like?

Xiao Han looked at Hun Susu, and the Heart of the Strong rose within him.

Still somewhat excited, Hun Susu pulled Xiao Han into her embrace. "Han'er, you truly are Mother's precious treasure."

Huff...

Held tightly in Hun Susu's arms, Xiao Han could not help but feel his mind stir at the strange, soft sensation. Then, he had no choice but to face reality and said breathlessly, "Mother, I can't breathe like this."

"Hehe..."

Hun Susu hurriedly released Xiao Han. She had truly been too excited tonight. After taking several deep breaths to calm herself, she said, "Han'er, it's getting late. Get some rest early!"

"Mother, you should still send her away. I don't need her!" Xiao Han pointed at the Black Robed Person, who had remained kneeling at the side. He would be traveling to other planes in the future, and having the Black Robed Person by his side would be extremely inconvenient!

Hun Susu glanced at the Black Robed Person and said earnestly, "Han'er, although you are now a Three-Star Dou Zhe and possess unparalleled talent, this world is far more terrifying than you imagine. Before you have fully grown, let Lan Er protect you in secret."

"Mother, I have the ability to protect myself!" Xiao Han knew it was time to let his strength speak. With a flip of his empty hand, a wisp of Dark White flame floated above his palm.

"This is... Bone Spirit Cold Fire?" Hun Susu stared at Xiao Han in stunned disbelief.

"Yes, Mother." Xiao Han smiled faintly. With a Different Fire, even experts at the Dou Emperor realm would not dare ignore him.

"How did you obtain a Different Fire?" Hun Susu was immensely curious. As the Miss of the Hun Clan, she knew exactly what a painful price Medicine Saint Yao Chen had paid back then to acquire this Different Fire.

Yet now, her son Hun Susu, who usually never even stepped outside, actually possessed the Different Fire ranked eleventh on the Different Fire Ranking!

This truly left Hun Susu no choice but to be shocked.

"Hehe..." Xiao Han said with a smile, "That's a secret I can't tell."

"You child!"

Hun Susu smiled helplessly. As she looked at Xiao Han, pride overflowed from her eyes. After a long while, she waved her hand. "All right, Lan Er, from today onward, stay by my side."

"As you command."

As Hun Susu left Xiao Han's Courtyard House, the Black Robed Person transformed into a breeze and vanished from Xiao Han's yard as well.

"Grafting Flowers onto Trees—truly miraculous!"

Xiao Han clicked his tongue inwardly. A seal that even an expert at least at the Dou Zong level had been helpless against had actually been lifted just like that.

"At this time, Yao Lao should be refining Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid for Xiao Yan!"

Xiao Han looked toward the Courtyard House where Xiao Yan lived. As direct-line disciples, Xiao Han and Xiao Yan each had a Courtyard House to themselves.

"According to the story of Battle Through the Heavens, Yao Lao will teach Xiao Yan combat techniques over the next few days. When the time comes..."

Xiao Han chuckled. If he used this combat technique on Xiao Yan, then...

At that thought, the smile on Xiao Han's face deepened.

"Still, it probably won't be necessary. I never expected Mother to be a Miss of the Hun Clan."

After fantasizing for a while, Xiao Han calmed down and thought, "Mother, me, and that maid whose strength has reached the Dou Emperor level—after tomorrow, there will no longer be a Xiao Yan in this world."

A flash of Killing Intent passed through Xiao Han's eyes.

Xiao Han was not an indecisive person. Since enmity had already been formed, Yao Lao and Xiao Yan could not be spared. Xiao Han understood the saying that raising a tiger invites calamity.

Hun Susu, Xiao Han, and that black-robed maid—Xiao Han was confident that they could kill Xiao Yan and Yao Chen in his Soul Body state.

Thinking this, Xiao Han entered his room and went to sleep.

However, Xiao Han, who had left, did not know that not long afterward, a black shadow appeared in his courtyard. The shadow solemnly surveyed the wrecked courtyard, seeming deep in thought, before vanishing into thin air once more.

The next day

When Xiao Han awoke from his sleep, he found that his father, Xiao Long, was already standing in his room.

Xiao Long stood with his back to Xiao Han, gazing at the scenery outside through the window. His hands were clasped behind his back, holding a sheet of letter paper. He seemed to have been standing there for quite some time.

"Father, why are you here?" Xiao Han asked doubtfully.

"Han'er, you're awake. Take a look at this. Your mother left it behind." Xiao Long handed the letter paper to Xiao Han.

"Mother?"

Xiao Han's heart tightened as he took the letter.

From the letter, Xiao Han learned that his mother, Hun Susu, had already left. She said she was going to seize something that should have belonged to Xiao Han. She had most likely returned to the Hun Clan. She told Xiao Han not to rush to find her; once he went to the Central Plains, mother and son would naturally meet again.

"Father!" Xiao Han wanted to say something, but for a moment, he did not know what to say.

"This is yours as well." Xiao Long handed another item to Xiao Han.

"A Challenge Letter?" Xiao Han's eyes widened in astonishment.

"Yes."

Xiao Long replied, "It is a Challenge Letter from Xiao Xun'er. Will you accept it?"

"Why not?" Xiao Han said with a slight curl of his lips.

Now, because Hun Susu had left, Xiao Han's plan to kill Xiao Yan last night had to be shelved. Almost at the same time, a new plan was born in Xiao Han's mind.