Xiao Yan's Calculations

After the sound rose outside, Gu Fang lifted his eyes and glanced over!

Though the other party had deliberately lowered her voice, Gu Fang knew that the person standing outside the door was Xiao Yu, whom he had seen during the day.

After all, voices and other things could be concealed, but one's soul aura could not be changed.

He rose, stretched lazily, casually tidied himself up, then pushed the door open and stepped outside.

Once outside, he saw Xiao Yu standing off to one side.

Xiao Yu was still wearing the same clothes as before, her hair tied behind her back.

Her training-uniform-like clothes outlined her slender waist, while the most eye-catching part...

Was the pair of slim, long jade-like legs beneath her fitted shorts.

Their creamy white skin resembled a work of art. Her legs were lightly crossed, carrying a unique sort of beauty.

When Xiao Yu saw Gu Fang come out, she straightened up. "Young Master Gu, my name is Xiao Yu. Thank you for what happened earlier!"

"Cousin Xiao Yu, there's no need to be polite!"

Gu Fang replied with a smile, "By rights, I should be the one thanking you, Cousin Xiao Yu. After all, with Sister Xun'er here, she must have caused everyone quite a bit of trouble!"

"Not at all. On the contrary, we may have caused Xun'er a great deal of unnecessary trouble!"

As Xiao Yu spoke, she turned and led the way. "Cousin Gu Fang, come with me. The welcoming banquet is in the reception hall. The Patriarch and the others are waiting there."

Gu Fang nodded and followed behind Xiao Yu.

About half an hour later, Xiao Yu led Gu Fang into the reception hall. The instant he entered, the entire hall fell silent.

Then Xiao Zhan's laughter broke the silence. "Little Friend Gu Fang, come sit over here!"

Xiao Zhan pointed at a seat beside his daughter's.

Today's seating arrangement was somewhat unusual, with no distinction between places of honor and lesser places. Even so, comparatively speaking, Xun'er and Gu Fang's seats...

Were the most important ones!

Gu Fang nodded and did not stand on ceremony. He walked straight over and sat down.

Throughout the short distance from where Gu Fang had moved to where he took his seat, everyone present, young and old alike, kept their eyes on him.

Soft murmurs of conversation drifted between them.

"That's him? The one who killed Jia Lie Bi and wiped out the Jia Lie Family? He's so young!"

"Isn't that so? At his age, he's about the same age as us, maybe even younger!"

"A Dou Shi with the combat strength of a Da Dou Shi... what kind of monster is that?"

"Keep your voices down and show some respect. If you anger him, even the Patriarch won't be able to protect you."

While the others whispered among themselves, the Great Elder and Second Elder seated on either side of Xiao Zhan exchanged looks. Both saw the shock in the other's eyes.

They were shocked by Gu Fang's age and his talent.

The moment Gu Fang settled into his seat, the Great Elder smiled and said, "Young Master Gu is truly a remarkable talent. To possess such strength at your age...

Us old fellows can only bow in admiration!"

"Just luck, just luck. Jia Lie Bi was simply too weak!"

Gu Fang said it casually, but as his words fell, everyone at the banquet except Xun'er froze.

Each of them wore an awkward, forced smile.

Jia Lie Bi was weak?

Then what did that make those of us who had confronted the Jia Lie Family for so many years?

Yet despite thinking this, not a single person refuted Gu Fang, because he had the strength to say such words.

In Gu Fang's eyes...

Jia Lie Bi's strength truly amounted to nothing.

After that, the welcoming banquet continued, but no one mentioned strength again.

Outside Wutan City, Beneath the city walls!

A ragged man crawled up from the base of the wall and sat up. Then hate-filled words spilled from his mouth. "Gu Fang, was it? Just you wait.

Once I find Liu Xi's master, I will avenge this grudge.

When that time comes...

The hatred of my clan's destruction and the vengeance for my father's death—I will reclaim it all from you!"

After Jia Lie'ao finished speaking, he lowered his head, rose to his feet, and headed away from Wutan City.

But before he could take more than two steps, several people suddenly blocked his path.

Each of the people blocking the road wore black robes, their faces concealed behind black masks. Short daggers were clutched in their hands.

"Who are you? What do you want? I don't have any money on me, I have nothing!"

Jia Lie'ao took half a step back, rummaging through his tattered clothes to display just how poor he was.

But...

The people opposite him had no intention of listening. The person in the middle suddenly stepped forward, emotionless words leaving his mouth.

"It doesn't matter if you have no money. We only want your life!"

As the words fell, the blade had already plunged into Jia Lie'ao's heart!

Jia Lie'ao's eyes widened in disbelief as he collapsed to the ground. Blood gushed from the wound, and his life soon came to an end.

The last thing Jia Lie'ao saw...

Was the Mite'er Family crest on the dagger's hilt!

Xiao Yan's room...

Xiao Yan shut the door tightly and sat cross-legged to one side. As his mind settled, he recalled Gu Fang's combat stance from earlier that day and let out a soft breath.

"Such talent is too terrifying. I wonder if I'll ever be able to catch up to him!"

As he spoke, Xiao Yan's palm stroked the round ring on his finger, though this time, he used a little more force than before.

"Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Do you think I don't know what's going through that little head of yours? You just want to squeeze a few high-tier Dou Techniques out of these old bones of mine, don't you?"

Old Yao teased as his illusory figure emerged from the ring. "I'll give them to you eventually. Whether you can endure that kind of hardship when the time comes is another matter!"

Hearing Old Yao's words, Xiao Yan immediately sat up straight and replied with a broad grin.

Then, as if recalling something, Xiao Yan's smile faded and his expression turned serious. "Teacher, is Xun'er's family really that powerful?

Can any random descendant possess so many Dou Techniques?

And...

Was the flame he used in battle a Heavenly Flame?"

As he spoke, longing and eagerness flickered in Xiao Yan's eyes.

"It was indeed a Heavenly Flame, but it was somewhat strange," Old Yao said softly, recalling the feeling from their exchange.

"Then if I devour it, can it upgrade the Burning Art?"

"Don't set your sights on that boy. And Heavenly Flames aren't so easily devoured. If you try to devour one without any preparation, then if something goes wrong, even I won't be able to save you!" Old Yao said sternly.

Hearing Old Yao's serious warning, Xiao Yan nodded.

"I understand. But just how powerful is Xun'er's family? Teacher, compared to them, how would you at your peak measure up?"

"Hahaha..."

Old Yao gave a dry laugh. "Stop trying to pry information out of me, brat. A family like that is something you can only face once you have enough strength.

No matter how strong I am, that strength is mine, not yours!"

"I understand, Teacher!"

After saying that, Xiao Yan sat cross-legged and entered a state of cultivation.

Old Yao's illusory body floated in the air. Looking at Xiao Yan cultivating with a tranquil expression, he recalled Xiao Yan's earlier question and could not help shaking his head.

Before such a colossal force, even at his peak, he would probably have been only slightly bigger than an ant in their eyes!

Only a Dou Saint was worthy of being taken seriously by them!

"However..."

Old Yao murmured. His eyes rested on Xiao Yan, who was cultivating earnestly, and a smile bloomed across his old face like a chrysanthemum. "With the Burning Art to assist him, along with such decent talent, it may not be impossible for him to reach that stage. Perhaps one day, he might even make a family like that take notice of him!"

With that thought, Old Yao's soul form left the ring. He glanced toward the window and sensed the room where Gu Fang was staying.

"At such a young age, he already possesses a Heavenly Realm soul. Why would such a little monster come looking for me? Still, he immediately called for someone from his family to intervene, so he probably bears no ill intent!"

Muttering to himself, Old Yao's figure flashed as he left the room!