An Enormous Surprise

"That little Xiao Han is quite clever."

Yao Lao had not fled far. Using the cover of darkness, he mingled with the Xiao Clan disciples rushing up the mountain to put out the fire and returned once more to the summit of the Back Mountain.

By the time he returned, he found Xiao Han already lying on the ground, pretending to sleep. Clearly, he intended to deny knowing anything about it.

"Kid, Xiao Han is extremely strange. From now on, the two of you will likely be irreconcilable enemies!" Seeing Xiao Yan's icy gaze and tightly clenched fists, Yao Lao could feel the anger in his heart.

"Obviously. He plotted against me like this. From now on, if there's Xiao Han, there won't be Xiao Yan!" Xiao Yan replied in a low voice, his bright eyes fixed on Xiao Han, whom Xiao Clan's Third Elder, Xiao Dingtian, had already lifted from the ground.

"Kid, do you want to grow stronger?" Yao Lao's voice drifted into Xiao Yan's ear again.

"Isn't that obvious?" Xiao Yan answered irritably. Who did not want to become strong?

In this world, if one could not become strong, one's fate would be worse than dog shit. At least no one was willing to step on dog shit!

"Kid, if you want to grow stronger, you must listen to me. Leave the Xiao Clan from now on. With my guidance, you will only need one year. In a year, you will surely be able to avenge this grudge!" Yao Lao said temptingly.

"Leave the Xiao Clan?"

Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Zhan, who was busy directing the Xiao Clan disciples to search the Back Mountain, and shook his head. "No!"

"Kid, the Xiao Clan's resources are limited. It may be one of Wutan City's three great clans, but once you leave the Gamma Empire, it is nothing at all. If you remain in the Xiao Clan, even I will be unable to make your cultivation advance by leaps and bounds in a short time." With Yao Lao's revival at stake, he once again spoke earnestly. "Only by leaving this little place will you have more opportunities, and your life will hold more possibilities. A true man aspires to roam the world. Are you willing to be bound by a tiny clan for the rest of your life?"

Uh!

Xiao Yan's gaze became somewhat troubled. Everything Yao Lao said made sense.

After a pause, Xiao Yan's eyes became resolute. He said firmly, "Still no. Xiao Han already bears such hostility toward me, and his grandfather is the Xiao Clan's Third Elder. If I leave, I'm worried he'll harm my father. At the very least, now is not the time for me to go out and train. Until I understand Xiao Han's motives, even if there is danger, I must stay by my father's side."

Sigh!

Faced with Xiao Yan's deep loyalty and affection, Yao Lao could only sigh helplessly.

Yao Lao had slept within the Ring for more than a decade. Over those years, he had come to understand Xiao Yan's character all too well. This was also why he had not chosen the more talented Xiao Han.

Seeing Xiao Yan's determination, Yao Lao compromised. "Fine, but you needn't worry too much. For Xiao Han to forcibly seize my Heavenly Flame, he must have used some unknown Forbidden Technique. Any such Forbidden Technique will bring severe aftereffects once used. We can stay and observe him for a while. When necessary, we can give him a fatal blow."

The next day

When the first rays of dawn shone upon the earth, Xiao Han opened his eyes and stretched comfortably on the bed.

"Han'er, you're finally awake."

Before Xiao Han could make sense of things, a pair of warm, jade-like hands had already taken hold of his hand. The soft, smooth sensation made his thoughts wander.

"My child, do you know you nearly scared your mother to death?"

"Mother!"

Xiao Han looked at the beautiful woman before him. Deep in his memories, he knew that this gentle-eyed beauty with her long black hair was his mother, Chen Susu.

Looking around the room, Xiao Han discovered that not only was his mother there, but so were his father, Xiao Long, and his grandfather, the Xiao Clan's highly respected Third Elder, Xiao Dingtian. "Father, Grandfather!"

"You little brat, you're finally awake."

Xiao Dingtian was fine, but Xiao Long scolded Xiao Han with a smile. His tone held three parts blame and seven parts worry as he lectured, "You're almost an adult already. When will you stop making your mother worry? Do you know how worried she was about you last night?"

"Worried?"

Only then did Xiao Han recall what had happened yesterday.

Explaining what had happened on the Back Mountain last night would have been troublesome, so he had intended to pretend to sleep for a while. He had not expected to be so exhausted after obtaining the Heavenly Flame. In the end, lying in his grandfather Xiao Dingtian's arms, he had unknowingly fallen asleep.

"Father, Mother, Grandfather, I've made you worry again!" Xiao Han scratched the back of his head and smiled sheepishly.

Although Xiao Long was stern, Xiao Han keenly noticed the dark circles beneath his eyes. He looked exhausted and unwell. He had clearly kept watch in Xiao Han's room all night.

Not only Xiao Long and Chen Susu, but even Xiao Dingtian looked the same.

"Han'er, go on a blind date for me tomorrow. You're not getting any younger. Before we leave the Xiao Clan's main branch, this matter must be settled!" Xiao Long said, a faint sorrow showing in his voice.

"Leave the Xiao Clan's main branch? Why are we leaving the Xiao Clan's main branch?" Xiao Dingtian suddenly asked.

Xiao Long's eyes fell upon Xiao Han, and he said sorrowfully, as though disappointed by his failure to live up to expectations, "Father, although you are a clan elder, the Patriarch and the other two elders are all waiting for you to make a mistake. According to the Xiao Clan's rules, if Han'er has not reached at least the seventh stage of Dou Qi by next year's coming-of-age ceremony, he must be assigned to one of the clan's businesses!"

"The seventh stage of Dou Qi? Who says my precious grandson hasn't reached the seventh stage of Dou Qi?" Xiao Dingtian raised his brows, delight flashing in his eyes. His burning gaze made Xiao Han feel a little embarrassed.

"Father, what nonsense are you talking about? Han'er was born with blocked Qi Seas. Forget the seventh stage of Dou Qi, he doesn't even have the first stage of Dou Qi." Xiao Long's gaze fell on Xiao Han again. To be honest, as a Great Dou Shi, he had even begun to wonder whether Xiao Han was really his son. Why could Xiao Han not cultivate?

"The first stage of Dou Qi? Who says my precious grandson doesn't have it?" Xiao Dingtian asked in a strange tone.

"Father!" Xiao Long's face darkened as he barked.

"Sigh!"

Xiao Dingtian smiled helplessly and looked at Xiao Han. "Grandson, you should explain properly to your father how the Qi Seas throughout your body suddenly opened up. And how you entered the realm of a Dou Zhe in one stroke!"

"What?"

At the side, Xiao Long stared at Xiao Dingtian in utter disbelief, then turned to Xiao Han. "Father, are you saying Han'er's Qi Seas have opened?"

"Yes, and he has even condensed a Dou Qi Cyclone within his Dantian, becoming a true Dou Zhe!" Xiao Dingtian stroked his goatee, his expression filled with satisfaction toward Xiao Han.

Back when he had condensed his Dou Qi Cyclone, he had failed twice. Yet his grandson Xiao Han had not only opened the Qi Seas throughout his body, but had also condensed a Dou Qi Cyclone in one stroke.

Back then, Xiao Dingtian had only successfully condensed his Dou Qi Cyclone at the age of twenty-five. Xiao Han, however, had done so at fifteen.

This was simply an enormous surprise!