5. Calling Off the Engagement

After Xiao Tian returned home, he resumed his training—practicing combat techniques and soaking in medicinal baths. This routine continued without interruption until eighteen days later, when Xiao Tian successfully broke through to become a One-Star Dou Practitioner. His Sucking Palm had reached perfection, while his Instant Cloud Ladder had achieved major mastery.

Xiao Tian left home and went to the Xiao Family's Combat Technique Hall. He sparred with ten people in succession, easily defeated them all, and completed the mission.

Xiao Tian left the Xiao Family and headed to the Miter Auction House. Ya Fei handed him the things she had prepared, while Xiao Tian gave her the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid he had refined in his spare time over the past few days. He said, "This is the last time I'll be refining it. I won't continue after this!"

"Ah, then what am I supposed to sell?" Ya Fei asked, looking somewhat dejected.

Xiao Tian felt a little reluctant to disappoint her, so he said, "Don't worry. Even if I stop refining it, someone else will definitely start making it before long."

"Could it be one of your fellow disciples?" Ya Fei asked with a puzzled expression.

"I don't have a master. I've already told you that," Xiao Tian replied calmly.

Although Ya Fei did not believe him, she still asked, "Then who will refine it?"

"Xiao Yan. He took an Alchemist as his master, though his teacher is a soul. As for how I know that, I'm not telling you," Xiao Tian said.

After thinking for a moment, he added to Ya Fei, "And don't tell anyone about this. Especially not about me. I'm guessing Xiao Yan won't come see you in his real appearance, but no matter what, you'll at least have something to sell in the future."

"A soul? How is that possible? And how do you know?" Ya Fei asked.

"You only need to remember what I told you. Don't tell anyone, or a devastating disaster will befall you."

Hearing that, Ya Fei snorted.

"Haha, all right. I've solved your problem too, so I'm leaving," Xiao Tian said.

"Will you come see me again?" Ya Fei asked.

"If there's something I need to buy, I'll come find you."

"Will you only come find me when you need to buy something?" Ya Fei said with some disappointment.

"I don't have the power to get involved with you right now. I'm not even as good as Xiao Yan. He has a teacher now, and he's the Xiao Family's Third Young Master. I can't compare, can't compare."

"Hmph! Do whatever you want. Leave," Ya Fei said.

Xiao Tian smiled and walked over to Ya Fei. He lifted her delicate little face with one hand and boldly kissed her fragrant lips. Ya Fei neither refused nor responded; she merely stared blankly at Xiao Tian. A moment later, Xiao Tian released her and said, "Women who act spoiled are the most lovable, especially since I can never resist them. See you."

"Damn it! You shameless hooligan! Taking advantage of me!" Ya Fei huffed. Then she licked her lips. That felt so good... See you. She foolishly called out toward the door.

Xiao Tian was absolutely thrilled after coming outside. This feeling of happiness was simply wonderful. A seductive woman like that had actually given him her first kiss. Hahaha!

"Host, look at how pathetic you are. It was only a kiss—it's not like she slept with you. Look how happy you are!"

"What do you know, Crappy System? Go back to lurking and stop coming out to make trouble!"

"Trash Host! Just you wait!"

Xiao Tian happily hummed, "La la la~ My system is an Er Gou Zi, an Er Gou Zi~" He directly ignored the system and even started singing.

"Damn it, this system will remember this!"

Hearing that, Xiao Tian said, "Tch, as if you haven't been remembering me every day. You Crappy System, Er Gou Zi."

After returning home, he quietly resumed training. In the blink of an eye, three days passed.

One morning, an elderly butler came to summon Xiao Tian, saying that guests had arrived at the family home and that the clan leader had asked the younger members of the family to gather in the reception hall. Xiao Tian secretly shook his head. They came to break off an engagement, and you're making all the family juniors come watch the show!

Xiao Tian thought, Forget it. I'm bored anyway. I might as well go watch the "thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river—never bully the poor youth" scene. Hehe.

In the Xiao Family reception hall, Xiao Tian walked in and nodded at Xiao Zhan and the three elders before looking toward the three people from the Misty Cloud Sect. He directly ignored the old man who was a Seven-Star Da Dou Shi, and he could not even be bothered to glance at the useless fellow beside him.

He looked at Nalan Yanran. This beautiful young girl seemed to be about the same age as him. Her still-developing figure was already curvy, and her delicate little face was no less beautiful than Xiao Xun'er's. Xiao Tian felt that there truly were too many beauties in the world of Battle Through the Heavens.

He then walked over and sat beside Xiao Xun'er. "Can I sit here?"

Xiao Xun'er smiled. "You're already sitting down, and you're still asking me?"

"If you didn't agree, I could get back up," Xiao Tian said. Xiao Xun'er replied, "No need. Just sit."

Xiao Tian smiled without saying anything. He simply had no interest in sitting at the front and listening to their pointless chatter, so he hid in this quiet corner instead. One after another, the younger members of the family and several core figures of the clan entered and took their seats.

A short while later, Xiao Yan entered. After greeting Xiao Zhan and the others, he discovered that they had not even prepared a seat for him! Xiao Tian had come unexpectedly, and the family elders had not expected him to attend, so they had not prepared a seat. As it happened, Xiao Tian had no intention of sitting at the front anyway.

Xiao Zhan glared angrily at the three elders. At that moment, the First Elder said, "Oh dear, we forgot about the Third Young Master." As he spoke, he smiled and said, "Quick, bring the Third Young Master a small stool!" Xiao Yan looked at the little stool and said angrily, "No need. I can stand for a while." Then he looked around and, when his gaze fell on Xun'er, saw that she was chatting happily with Xiao Tian.

Xiao Yan was furious inside. Hmph! Is she laughing and chatting with another man because she sees that I've lost my talent? I'll make you regret this! Then he sighed again. Damn it, why did things turn out like this? Why can't I cultivate anymore?

While he was lost in thought, the atmosphere in the hall had reached a heated point. Xiao Zhan unleashed his "Profound Rank Mid-Level Technique: Raging Lion's Fury," while Ge Ye unleashed his "Profound Rank Low-Level Technique: Azure Wood Sword Art."

The two were locked in a standoff when the three elders called out to stop Xiao Zhan. Xiao Zhan suppressed his anger and said calmly, "Nalan Yanran, I am merely the clan leader of a small family and cannot bear such a form of address from you. You will become the sect leader of the Misty Cloud Sect in the future, and we will have no dealings with each other again."

Nalan Yanran then took out the Qi Gathering Powder. At that moment, Xiao Yan stepped forward and threw down a letter of divorce. "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river—never bully the poor youth! In three years, Xiao Yan will definitely arrive for the Three-Year Pact!"

He then bowed to Xiao Zhan and said, "Father, the humiliation you suffered today because of your son will surely be repaid in three years!" With that, he walked out of the room.

Xiao Tian knew that Old Yao was about to appear, which meant his Flame Mantra was about to arrive too!

After saying something to Xiao Xun'er, he followed Xiao Yan out without paying attention to anyone else. The group from the Misty Cloud Sect also departed. Xiao Xun'er, who had been laughing happily after Xiao Tian's teasing, said nothing and returned to her room.

Xiao Tian shouted, "System, system! Yao Chen is about to appear! Hurry up and come out to copy the technique for me!"

"Why are you shouting? Follow quietly. This system will help you conceal your aura!"

This time, Xiao Tian did not retort. After all, he still needed this Crappy System to steal the technique. He followed Xiao Yan to the back mountain, sat down quietly, and waited silently for Old Yao to appear.

"Strength, strength! In this world, without strength, you're nothing! Why did you send me here?" Xiao Yan shouted.

"Little fellow, it seems you've encountered a problem that is difficult to solve?" Then, just like in the original story, the two began talking. Yao Chen took out the Flame Mantra, then said, "Forget it. I'll give it to you once you become a Dou Zhe."

Meanwhile, Xiao Tian asked, "Well? Did you copy it?"

"Could this system possibly fail when it acts?" With that, it implanted the technique into Xiao Tian's mind.

Xiao Tian was overjoyed and nearly cried out loud, but he quickly covered his mouth and quietly slipped away.

Old Yao felt as though someone had been watching him. After a moment, however, that sensation disappeared. Was I imagining it? Forget it. He should focus on guiding Xiao Yan's cultivation.

That was what mattered most. Nothing else was important. He then brought up the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, and Xiao Yan said, "But the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid you mentioned is sold at the Miter Auction House. My father even bought some for me to use."

"What?" Yao Chen was stunned. "No wonder I noticed your Dou Qi had increased so much that day! It seems that person's alchemy methods are no worse than mine."

"But mine are not bad either. Prepare the ingredients, and I'll refine it for you! After all, Yao Chen has Heavenly Flames!" He then told Xiao Yan what materials were needed.

Xiao Yan gritted his teeth. "All right." However, because he could no longer borrow money from Xun'er, he went to find Xiao Zhan instead.

Since Xiao Yan's mother had died early, Xiao Zhan had always doted on him especially. When he learned that Xiao Yan needed certain materials to recover his cultivation, he immediately gave Xiao Yan ten thousand gold coins and told him to come find his father again if it was not enough.

Xiao Yan was deeply grateful. He was happy and content with Xiao Zhan's love and protection.

Xiao Yan bought three portions of the medicinal liquid and began the first steps of his cultivation journey, while Xiao Tian began cultivating the Flame Mantra. Two months later, Xiao Tian successfully learned the Flame Mantra!

Two months later, Xiao Tian had reached the level of a Four-Star Dou Practitioner, while Xiao Yan was also about to break through to the fifth stage of Dou Qi. Just as in the original story, Xiao Yan donned a black robe and went to the Miter Auction House to start making money, because the Miter Auction House no longer had any Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid.

When Ya Fei saw Xiao Yan pretending to be an old man, she felt a wave of displeasure. This Xiao Yan is obviously just a child, yet he insists on pretending to be an old man and making me call him Senior. That's too much!

As a result, Ya Fei's attitude toward him was quite indifferent. After gaining a source of income, Xiao Yan continued cultivating, while Xiao Tian spent every morning playing with Xun'er for a while and cultivated in the afternoons. Her favorability toward him rose rapidly.