Xiao Yan's Crisis

Wutan City, Xiao Clan.

Today, as usual, Xiao Yan had become a Dou Zhe at the age of twelve, making him a treasured figure within the Xiao Clan.

At this moment, Xiao Yan was heading toward Xiao Xun'er's courtyard with a smug look on his face.

"I wonder how Sister Xun'er will praise me. A Dou Zhe at twelve! There has never been one in all of Wutan City, or even the Jia Ma Empire.

With talent like mine, becoming a Dou Wang or Dou Emperor in the future will be as easy as drinking water.

Hehe! When the time comes, I refuse to believe Xun'er's clan will object to my marriage with her!"

Xiao Yan could never have known that the clan his Sister Xun'er belonged to did not care about Dou Wangs or Dou Emperors. Even if Xiao Yan could become a Dou Zun, Gu Yuan likely would not be willing to marry his daughter to him.

Xiao Xun'er was not merely Gu Yuan's daughter. She also possessed the Gu Clan's God Grade Bloodline and was tied to the Gu Clan's future. Naturally, if Xiao Xun'er wished to choose a spouse, she could not simply pick someone at random.

Without the approval of those clan elders, even Gu Yuan, a Peak Dou Saint, would find it somewhat difficult.

Before long, Xiao Yan arrived at Xiao Xun'er's courtyard again. Even through the door, his proud voice rang out.

"Sister Xun'er, open up! I have good news for you! Your Brother Xiao Yan has become a Dou Zhe!"

Inside the room, Xun'er had originally intended to cultivate properly. But before she could truly calm her mind, Xiao Yan's booming voice shattered her previously tranquil state.

Over the past few years, Gu Xun'er had come to realize that there was no possibility between herself and Xiao Yan.

And since several years ago, she had discovered that she no longer seemed to like Xiao Yan very much. Sometimes, she even found him rather irritating.

Like now. Becoming a Dou Zhe was indeed worth celebrating, but there was no need to run to her room and shout about it so loudly, as though she did not already know.

Though she was unhappy inside, Xiao Xun'er still got up and opened the door for Xiao Yan.

As soon as the door opened, Xun'er saw the incomparably brilliant smile on Xiao Yan's face. Though his features were still somewhat youthful, the feeling he gave off was exceptionally greasy.

Xun'er had already grown used to that.

"Brother Xiao Yan, congratulations on becoming a twelve-year-old Dou Zhe!"

Xun'er did not want to say anything more. Her feelings toward Xiao Yan were truly fading more and more, and she genuinely did not wish to say anything overly affectionate.

However, Xiao Yan had not noticed that Xun'er's attitude toward him had changed. He was still excitedly eager to share his talent with Xiao Xun'er.

"Xun'er, of course! A Dou Zhe at twelve—my father even said that I will lead our Xiao Clan to greatness in the future, that my future achievements will be limitless!

What do you think, Xun'er? Isn't your Brother Xiao Yan amazing?

Once I become a Dou Emperor, I'll go to your clan and ask for your hand. I believe they'll acknowledge me."

After saying that, the wicked smile on Xiao Yan's face grew even more unrestrained. It was as though he had thought of something exciting, making him look somewhat frightening.

Looking at the Brother Xiao Yan she had spent every day with, Xun'er felt that she no longer recognized him.

Uh...

Honestly, at this moment, Xun'er felt that even if Xiao Yan truly gained her clan's approval, she would still hesitate.

The main reason was that Xiao Yan felt so unfamiliar, almost like a pervert.

In truth, Xun'er was not wrong. Xiao Yan had never been normal to begin with.

An adult soul playing at raising a girl from childhood—when he thought of getting Xun'er in the future, it was already commendable that he did not drool on the spot.

It would be hard to call Xiao Yan a good person in that regard.

"Brother Xiao Yan, although Xun'er does not wish to discourage you, merely becoming a Dou Emperor truly will not earn my clan's approval.

Only if Brother Xiao Yan can become one of the continent's peak experts in the future might you gain recognition from my clan. Otherwise, my clan will absolutely never agree to anything between us."

"Huh? One of the continent's peak experts? How many years would that take to cultivate? And wouldn't only a legendary Dou Zun qualify as one of the continent's peak experts?

Sister Xun'er, how about we elope? In the future, your Brother Xiao Yan will take you traveling across the continent. Who cares about clan matters? Once my strength reaches the required level, we can go back to your clan!"

Xiao Yan had his own thoughts. Whether what Xun'er said about her clan was true or not, there was no way he would wait until he became one of the continent's peak experts before getting Xun'er.

Let alone becoming a Dou Zun—he could not even wait until he became a Dou Emperor. What did raising a girl mean? It meant plucking the flower at its most beautiful stage.

If he had to wait until he became a Dou Emperor or reached an even higher realm, the flower would have already withered.

Hearing Xiao Yan say that he wanted to elope with her, Xun'er did not know what to say.

Leaving aside the fact that it could not possibly succeed, even if it could, she no longer wanted to do it.

Xiao Yan had already lost countless points in Xun'er's heart. That feeling she had once held for him was gradually fading away.

Moreover, she was not the only one who could decide for herself. Having enjoyed all that the clan had given her, she had to contribute to it in return. If she simply left with Xiao Yan, the losses inflicted upon the clan would be unimaginably severe. Gu Xun'er was no fool.

What was more, the Gu Clan was so powerful that if they were determined to find her and Xiao Yan, they could find them even if they had to search the entire continent.

Thus, Xiao Yan's words sounded like complete nonsense to Xun'er.

She was not some innocent young girl from an ordinary family who knew nothing of the world. She understood the Gu Clan too well, and she understood her father too well!

Furthermore, she had not told Xiao Yan that a peak expert of the continent was not merely a Dou Zun. Without becoming a Dou Saint, one could not be considered a true peak expert on the continent. At most, they would only be considered to have entered the ranks of the strong.

After all, for the Emperor Clans, a Dou Zun was not something rare. A Dou Zun was dispensable. Only a Dou Saint could gain some degree of authority within an Emperor Clan. As for Dou Zuns, they were merely somewhat more advanced errand-runners.

"Brother Xiao Yan, Xun'er cannot elope with you and abandon my clan, just as Brother Xiao Yan could never abandon the Xiao Clan.

And even if we fled to the ends of the earth, my clan would still find us.

So Xun'er can only say that she is sorry."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan felt inexplicably displeased. He was already this talented, yet Xiao Xun'er's clan would still refuse him?

And when he suggested eloping with her, she would not even agree? Even if she agreed and they were later captured, that would still be better than rejecting him outright!

Xiao Yan could not help wondering whether this was still the adorable Sister Xun'er he had raised since childhood. Why was she treating him like this?

No matter what Xiao Yan thought, he could never understand the gap between himself and Xiao Xun'er.

In the end, Xiao Yan had come excitedly to share the joy in his heart with Xiao Xun'er, only for things to end on an unhappy note.

Xiao Xun'er was the first to feel that she had nothing left to say to Xiao Yan. She casually chatted about a few things, intending to send him out.

Xiao Yan, meanwhile, felt somewhat dejected and unwilling, but he did not continue bothering his Sister Xun'er and returned to his own courtyard.

At night, beneath the hazy moonlight, Xiao Yan sat atop the roof of his courtyard, gazing at the beautiful scenery.

At this moment, he was wondering why Xiao Xun'er's attitude toward him had changed so drastically. But after thinking for a long time, he still could not figure out when he had made Xiao Xun'er unhappy.

Soon, Xiao Yan stopped dwelling on it. There was no use thinking about such meaningless things. It would be better to cultivate properly and increase his strength. When the time came, he refused to believe that he, Xiao Yan, could not earn Xun'er's clan's approval.

He acted as soon as he thought of it. Xiao Yan sat cross-legged on the roof.

A great amount of Dou Qi surged toward him from every direction. One portion was guided into his Dantian, while another great amount gathered outside his body, forming a thick layer of energy shield. Moonlight shone upon it and was swiftly reflected away, making the space around him seem distorted.

Looking closely, Xiao Yan's slightly disheveled long hair was tied with a silk ribbon and hung behind his head. From the front, his features were well-defined, with sword-like brows at his temples and tiger-like eyes beneath them. His complexion was exceptionally fair.

Judging by Xiao Yan's appearance alone, he was quite handsome. Otherwise, how could he have become entangled with so many women?

However, just as Xiao Yan was immersed in cultivation, the ring hanging from his neck began to gleam. That ring was Yao Chen's hiding place, and after so many years of recuperation, Yao Chen awakened at this moment.

Upon awakening, Yao Chen sensed the situation outside through his weakened soul and discovered that Xiao Yan was diligently cultivating.

At this moment, Yao Chen could not help but say that he was truly fortunate.

The next moment, Yao Chen directly seized all the Dou Qi Xiao Yan had absorbed into his body. Still unsatisfied, he extended his hand toward Xiao Yan's Dantian.

As Yao Chen absorbed it, Xiao Yan discovered that the Dou Qi within his body was rapidly draining away. But before Xiao Yan could react, his strength directly fell from a one-star Dou Zhe to Eight Stage Dou Qi!

At this moment, Xiao Yan was completely dumbfounded.

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