Soul Returns to Yan's Body

The faint light of dawn, like scattered gold leaf, filtered through the gaps between the Bluestone Slabs of the Xiao Family Training Ground in Wutan City, casting mottled specks of light. The air carried the fresh scent of grass mixed with the sweat left behind by youths practicing martial arts, forming a fragrance unique to the morning training ground. He suddenly opened his eyes, his heart pounding in his chest as though crushed beneath a boulder. His hand instinctively pressed against his chest, feeling the rapid throbbing—before him was not the familiar ceiling of his rented apartment, but an ancient wooden viewing stand several zhang high. Boisterous voices rose and fell around him, mixed with the excited shouts of youths and the calm, expectant reminders of the clan elders. Everything was strange and absurd.

"Xiao Yan, why are you spacing out? It'll be your turn to test soon!" A slightly urgent voice sounded beside him, carrying the clear brightness unique to a young man. Turning toward it, he saw a youth in a fitted green outfit looking at him with concern. His features still retained some youthful immaturity, and a black belt embroidered with the character "Xiao" was tied around his waist—Xiao Ning, a younger clansman of the Xiao Clan, the youth who had always harbored goodwill toward Xiao Yan in the original story.

His gaze casually swept toward a corner in the distance, where a slender figure stood quietly. The young woman wore a pale violet dress embroidered with delicate silver patterns along its hem, gleaming softly beneath the morning light. Her long black hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, held by a simple jade hairpin that revealed her smooth forehead and exquisite profile. She held a thread-bound book of Ancient Texts in her hand, yet her gaze rested on him. Her eyes were clear and gentle, filled with undisguised concern—it was Xun'er, the young lady of the Ancient Clan who had been fostered in the Xiao Clan since childhood, Xiao Yan's childhood sweetheart, and the one who had always believed he would not fall into despair.

Sensing his gaze, Xun'er lifted her chin slightly and gave him a faint smile. Her lips moved as she whispered softly, in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Brother Xiao Yan, don't be nervous. I believe in you." Her voice was like a mountain spring, carrying a soothing power that instantly calmed some of his chaotic thoughts.

Xiao Yan? The name exploded through his muddled mind like thunder. He stiffly raised his hand and saw a palm with distinct knuckles, yet the slenderness of a youth. Its skin was a healthy wheat color from years of martial practice under the sun. Thin calluses from punching remained on his palm, and even a little stubborn dirt was lodged between his fingers—this was not his hand! He abruptly lowered his head. He wore the uniform gray training clothes of Xiao Clan disciples, the cloth rough yet unusually durable. As it brushed against his skin, he could feel its texture. The black belt at his waist fit perfectly, and the small embroidered character "Xiao" upon it was neat and firm, every stitch fine.

Chaotic memories surged into his mind like a Tide Breaking Through the Levee. Eighteen years of life belonging to "Xiao Yan" intertwined and collided with more than twenty years of his modern memories, making his head buzz. The Xiao Clan, one of Wutan City's three great clans. A former genius youth who had successfully refined qi at four, entered the Dou Zhe realm at ten, and made a single leap into the Dou Practitioner realm at eleven, becoming the focus of all Wutan City. Yet when he turned twelve, everything came to an abrupt halt. His Dou Qi not only stopped advancing, but regressed year after year. Within three short years, he had been Reduced to a "waste" in everyone's eyes from a genius admired by thousands, suffering mockery and contempt both within and outside the clan... And there was the seemingly ordinary Black Ancient Ring on his right index finger, which actually held mysteries within. Its surface was Engraved with blurred patterns, and it felt cold with the weight of passing years. As for Xun'er, she had remained by "Xiao Yan's" side from beginning to end. Even at his lowest point, she had never shown him a hint of disdain. Instead, she often secretly gave him herbs that aided cultivation and encouraged him with gentle words.

He instinctively Reached towards the ring. Its icy metallic touch spread from his fingertips into his heart, perfectly overlapping with the sensation of "Xiao Yan" caressing it alone countless times in the dead of night. The instant his fingertips touched it, a faint yet exceptionally clear suction force quietly came from within the ring, spreading along the meridians of his fingers toward his Dantian—this suction! The classic opening plot of Battle Through the Heavens flashed through his mind, and his heart suddenly clenched. The reason Xiao Yan's Dou Qi had failed to advance and instead regressed for three years was that Elder Yao's remnant soul was hidden inside this ring. This former Medicine God of the Central Plains had unconsciously absorbed the Dou Qi Xiao Yan cultivated while sleeping, causing him to become the "trash" others called him!

"Next, Xiao Yan!" In the center of the Training Ground, Elder Xiao Shan, the Xiao Family's Great Elder responsible for the test, stood beside a dark green Testing Stele half a man tall. His aged voice carried authority. The stele was made entirely of Black Gold Rock, its surface Engraved with ancient Dou Qi patterns. Though weathered by several centuries of wind and rain, it still gave off a steady sheen. At its top was set a milky-white crystal the size of a fist, the core that sensed Dou Qi—the Dou Qi Testing Stele passed down through generations of the Xiao Clan, before which the fates of countless Xiao Clan disciples had been decided.

Elder Xiao Shan's gaze swept over the crowd before finally settling on him, and disappointment was impossible to hide in his tone. This white-haired old man, whose face was engraved with wrinkles, had once thought the highest of Xiao Yan's talent. He had praised him countless times in public as the hope of the Xiao Clan's future. But now, seeing the former genius reduced to this state, regret nearly overflowed from his eyes, along with a trace of helplessness that was difficult to notice.

The murmurs around him erupted like a boiling pot. Those words were like countless fine needles, pricking at his ears again and again:

"Ah, Xiao Yan again. I really don't know what face he has left to come for testing. He's just wasting everyone's time..."

"What could he possibly test out? Last year, the crystal atop the stele only lit up one-third of the way. Just three stages of Dou Qi, barely better than the children in the clan who had just started refining qi. What a waste of his former genius reputation."

"I heard Miss Nalan Yanran of the Nalan Clan has looked down on him for a long time. If their families weren't bound by a marriage agreement, she'd probably have brought people to annul the engagement already. When that happens, he'll disgrace the Xiao Clan completely!"

"Exactly. How could a waste even the Testing Stele 'dislikes' be worthy of the Nalan Clan's heavenly daughter? Not to mention Miss Xun'er, who has always been good to him. Miss Xun'er is truly being wronged!"

That final remark pierced his heart like a sharp thorn. He instinctively looked toward Xun'er and saw her frown slightly before casting a cold glance at those who had been talking. Though she said nothing, the voices immediately lowered. Then she turned back to him, her gaze firm as she encouraged him again in a soft voice. "Brother Xiao Yan, don't listen to them. You were never trash. You can definitely do it today."

These cutting words were exactly the same as the ridicule "Xiao Yan" had endured day after day over the past three years. He took a deep breath and forced down the shock and chaos in his heart, his fingertips turning slightly white from exertion. Since he had transmigrated into Xiao Yan, and since he knew the truth behind the disappearance of his Dou Qi, he absolutely could not betray Xun'er's trust. He Absolutely cannot end in humiliation amid everyone's laughter as in the original story, allowing the name "Xiao Yan" to continue bearing the insult of "waste."

He stepped forward, walking toward the Testing Stele in the center of the Training Ground one step at a time. The Bluestone Slabs beneath his feet were wet with morning dew and cool to the touch. Every step seemed to tread upon the humiliation and unwillingness of "Xiao Yan's" past three years, heavy enough to tighten his chest. Behind him, Xiao Ning called worriedly, "Xiao Yan, keep it up! Don't mind what they say!" His voice was not loud, but it held sincere encouragement. In the distance, Xun'er set down the Ancient Texts in her hands and hurried to the edge of the viewing stand. Her hands lightly clenched her skirt as her eyes followed him closely, full of expectation. From the viewing stand came his father Xiao Zhan's somewhat heavy cough. As the Xiao Clan's patriarch, Xiao Zhan had endured pressure from many elders over the years to protect him, even risking conflict with other branches of the clan, all to preserve his son's last shred of dignity.

He stopped before the Testing Stele. Elder Xiao Shan stood to one side and raised a hand to indicate the patterns on its surface. "Place your palm against the stele's markings. Circulate the Dou Qi within your body and let the stele sense your aura. The brightness of the crystal at the top will correspond to your Dou Qi level." His gaze rested on Xiao Yan's face, carrying a final faint expectation, as though he still hoped for a miracle—after all, this was the youth who had once Achieved the miracle of becoming a Dou Practitioner at eleven.

The noise around them gradually subsided. Everyone's gaze focused on him and the Testing Stele like spotlights. There was undisguised mockery, affected sighs of regret, indifferent detachment, and the unconcealed concern and hope in the eyes of Xiao Zhan, Xiao Ning, and Xun'er. Xun'er in particular rose slightly onto her toes, her eyes full of nervousness, yet she forced out a smile and nodded softly at him, silently mouthing, "Keep it up."

He slowly raised his Right Hand and looked at the black ring pressed against his index finger. Elder Yao, whether you are awake now or not, this time, I will never let you so easily absorb Xiao Yan's Dou Qi again. I will never let him suffer such humiliation again, and I will never betray Xun'er's trust!

He lightly pressed his palm against the markings of the Testing Stele. The cold touch of stone spread through his palm, and the ancient patterns on the stele seemed to come alive, becoming Slightly Bright with an obscure gleam. Following the opening cultivation method of the Blazing Art practiced by "Xiao Yan" in his memories, he Mobilized the pitifully thin Dou Qi in his Dantian—it was the tiny remnant of power left after this body had cultivated painstakingly through countless days and nights, only for most of it to be secretly absorbed by the ring.

Sure enough, just as the Dou Qi began to surge in his Dantian and gather along his meridians toward his palm, the ring on his right index finger suddenly produced a stronger suction force than before. Like an invisible hand, it greedily tried to drain away the last trace of Dou Qi in his Dantian. Even the Dou Qi that had already surged toward his palm began flowing backward.

Now! His heart tightened. Relying on his memory of the original story, he knew Elder Yao was still asleep and did not absorb Dou Qi especially quickly. He could only passively absorb Dou Qi flowing near the ring. As long as he forcibly interrupted the flow toward the ring and directed all the power into his palm, he could temporarily stop the absorption. He abruptly gathered his focus and concentrated all his will, as though building an invisible floodgate inside his body. He forcibly drove the Dou Qi that had begun circulating and nearly been absorbed by the ring back toward his palm. At the same time, he mobilized the remaining spiritual power in his body and guarded the connection between his Dantian's qi sea and his arm meridians, refusing to let a single thread of Dou Qi deviate from its course as it all surged toward the palm pressed against the stele.

The patterns on the Testing Stele became Slightly Bright the moment his palm touched them. Then the milky-white crystal at the top also gave off a faint halo. Though the light was dim, it was enough for those around him to see clearly. Surprise flashed through Elder Xiao Shan's eyes, and his formerly clouded gaze widened slightly as he unconsciously stepped half a pace forward. In the distance, Xun'er excitedly clenched her fists, delight appearing on her face, yet she held herself back from making a sound for fear of disturbing him. A small commotion also rose from the crowd.

"It reacted? The stele actually lit up? Has he really improved this year?"

"Impossible, right? Wasn't he already ruined? The crystal only lit one-third last year. Could it really shine brighter this year?"

But the crystal's light lasted only an instant before it began flashing violently like a Flickering candle in the wind. The halo brightened and dimmed, even showing signs of fading away entirely—the ring's suction was still pulling at it. The Dou Qi in his Dantian had already been sparse, and the forced redirection sent a Stinging pain through his meridians, as if tiny needles were pricking them. Fine Sweat Beads seeped from his forehead, slid down his cheeks, and dripped onto the front of his clothes, instantly spreading into a small dark stain.

"Brother Xiao Yan, hold on!" Xun'er's voice trembled slightly, yet it reached his ears with exceptional clarity. "I believe you can do it!"

Hearing Xun'er's encouragement, strength instantly surged through his heart, and even the pain seemed to lessen somewhat. Resisting the ring's suction force was far more difficult than he had imagined. A mild swelling pain came from his Dantian, while his meridians ached faintly, as though two forces were pulling against each other inside his body. Every second was agonizing. He Gritted his teeth so hard they became sore, and he could even taste a faint Smell of Blood, yet he still refused to give up. Again and again, he mobilized his will and squeezed the Dou Qi in his Dantian toward his palm bit by bit, as though squeezing water from a sponge. Even if there was only a thread, he would direct every bit of it into the Testing Stele.

Finally, through unrelenting effort, a more concentrated stream of Dou Qi broke free from the ring's restraint and poured entirely into the Testing Stele.

Buzz—

The Testing Stele suddenly let out a soft hum. The ancient patterns on its surface instantly lit up like glowing little snakes, spreading across the stele before gathering at the crystal on top. The flickering milky-white halo miraculously stabilized and ceased shaking. Though the glow remained faint, it was nearly half again as bright as before, and a trace of pale silver radiance even Appeared at the crystal's peak—this was the sign of four stages of Dou Qi!

Elder Xiao Shan hurried forward, his clouded eyes fixed on the crystal atop the stele. He stretched out a hand and shakily touched the lingering warmth on the stele's surface, disbelief filling his face. He could not help rubbing his eyes, then stepped back twice to confirm it from different angles. Even his voice trembled distinctly. "Th-this... this is... four stages of Dou Qi? Xiao Yan, you actually broke through to four stages of Dou Qi?"

"What? Four stages of Dou Qi? Did I hear that right?"

"Last year, the crystal only lit one-third of the way. This year it's more than half lit? How is that possible!"

"Four stages of Dou Qi may be nothing in the clan, not even enough to qualify for the outer clan selection, but for him, improving at all is already a miracle. Could his Dou Qi stagnation really be getting better?"

"Maybe he hit bottom and bounced back? If he can keep improving, perhaps it won't be long before he returns to the Dou Zhe realm?"

The discussion around them exploded at once. The previous mockery had completely turned to shock and disbelief. Stunned expressions filled many faces, and the way they looked at him shifted from contempt to complexity. On the viewing stand, Xiao Zhan abruptly rose from his seat, the chair scraping harshly against the ground. His face was filled with excitement, his eyes slightly red. His hands unconsciously clenched into fists, the joints whitening from force, as he stared fixedly at the figure in the center of the Training Ground. His lips moved, but he could not utter a word. His chest merely Heaved violently, showing that he was overcome with emotion.

Xiao Ning waved his fists even more excitedly, ignoring the gazes around him as he shouted, "That's great! Xiao Yan, you did it! I knew you could! I told you that you weren't trash!"

Xun'er had already run quickly to the edge of the Training Ground. A brilliant smile bloomed on her face, brighter than the morning sunlight. She waved vigorously at him, her voice brimming with joy. "Brother Xiao Yan, you were amazing! I knew you could do it!" Her smile was pure and sincere, instantly filling his heart with warmth and making all his exhaustion and pain vanish.

He slowly withdrew his palm. It felt slightly numb from being pressed against the cold stele for so long, and the Stinging pain in his meridians and swelling ache in his Dantian had yet to fade, but he did not care in the slightest. He Exhaled a sigh of relief, as though a thousand-pound burden had been lifted from him. Exhaustion swept through his entire body, but what he felt more was relief. Though it was only four stages of Dou Qi, far below Xiao Yan's strength at his peak and even inferior to ordinary youths in the clan, this was the first time since his transmigration that he had used his will to stop Elder Yao from absorbing his Dou Qi. It was the first time he had broken the curse of "Xiao Yan will never advance" before everyone, silenced those mockers, and not betrayed Xun'er's trust.

Elder Xiao Shan looked at him, the disappointment in his eyes entirely gone, replaced by gratification and surprise. He walked over and patted Xiao Yan's shoulder. The force was not great, but it carried weighty affirmation. "Xiao Yan, not bad. Though your progress is not great, breaking through the bottleneck that troubled you for three years already puts you above many youths in the clan who are content with their current state. Work hard. Do not betray yourself, and do not betray the expectations of the patriarch and Miss Xun'er. The Xiao Clan's future still needs young people like you to support it."

He nodded without saying much, merely bowing slightly to Elder Xiao Shan—at this moment, any words would have seemed superfluous. Actions were the best proof. He turned toward the viewing stand. As he passed Xiao Zhan, the usually imposing patriarch Exhaled a sigh of relief, and the tension on his face instantly faded. He reached out and firmly patted Xiao Yan's shoulder. His palm was warm and strong, carrying a father's expectations and encouragement for his son. His voice was slightly hoarse, yet exceptionally clear. "Yan'er, well done! Your father knew you would not remain lost forever. In your bones runs the Xiao Clan's blood that refuses to yield!"

When he reached Xun'er, she immediately handed him a clean handkerchief and said with a smile, "Brother Xiao Yan, wipe your sweat. You really scared me just now, but you Achieved it in the end. You were incredible!" Her eyes sparkled as though stars were hidden within them, filled with admiration. He accepted the handkerchief, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and smiled. "Thank you, Xun'er. Without your encouragement, I might really not have been able to hold on."

"You don't need to thank me. I have always believed in Brother Xiao Yan!" Xun'er's cheeks flushed slightly. She lowered her head in embarrassment, then quickly raised it again and said earnestly, "If you encounter difficulties in cultivation later, you can come to me anytime. I still have some cultivation insights Grandfather gave me. Perhaps they can help you."

When he returned to Xiao Ning's side, Xiao Ning immediately leaned close, his face full of excitement and curiosity as he eagerly asked, "Xiao Yan, tell me quickly. How exactly did you cultivate this past year? You actually broke through! Did you use some special cultivation method? Hurry and teach me!" Xiao Yan smiled and shook his head, casually replying, "Nothing special. It's just that lately, when I cultivate, I occasionally feel that my Dou Qi circulates more smoothly. Maybe my previous bottleneck has loosened. I should also thank Xun'er for the herbs she gave me. They helped me greatly."

He could not tell him the ring's secret, at least not yet. Elder Yao's existence was too extraordinary. Once exposed, it would not only attract the covetous eyes of other clans, but might even alert the Soul Hall forces hidden in the shadows. By then, forget growing stronger—even keeping himself and those around him alive would be difficult.

His gaze fell once more upon the black ring on his Right Hand, then he looked at Xun'er's radiant smile beside him, his Thoughts tumultuous. Elder Yao, the soul mentor who had once helped Xiao Yan advance step by step from Wutan City to the Central Plains and ultimately become a peak expert of the Dou Qi Continent, was still asleep within the ring, completely unaware of everything outside. In the original story, Xiao Yan had only accidentally awakened Elder Yao after being injured and having his blood drip onto the ring. But now that he knew all this in advance, he had to make thorough preparations. He needed to make use of Elder Yao's vast cultivation knowledge and alchemy skills to grow rapidly and shed the label of "waste," while also finding a way to control how quickly the ring absorbed Dou Qi. He might even need to find a balance that allowed Elder Yao to absorb enough to remain awake without affecting his own cultivation, avoiding the original story's early situation where every trace of Dou Qi he cultivated was immediately taken away. More importantly, in this life, he would protect those beside him well. He would no longer make Xun'er worry for him, and he would let her see that "Xiao Yan" would ultimately become a powerhouse able to shelter her from wind and rain.

The testing at the Training Ground continued. The youths stepped forward one after another, pressing their palms to the Testing Stele. Some rejoiced wildly when the crystal at its top lit more than halfway, shouting in excitement. Others hung their heads in dejection when the crystal only lit a small portion, silently walking to the corners with dim eyes. Yet as he stood among the crowd, he had Xun'er's gentle gaze beside him, Xiao Ning's sincere congratulations, and his father's gratified eyes. Feeling the faint yet truly existing Dou Qi in his Dantian, and sensing how those around him had changed from mockery to surprise, his heart was filled with unprecedented determination.

The sky over Wutan City still seemed to be the same sky full of mockery and pressure. The sunlight remained, and the breeze blew as usual. Yet he knew clearly that from this day onward, "Xiao Yan's" fate would be completely rewritten. Nalan Yanran's annulment? The humiliation of the Three-Year Pact? The tangled Grudges with the Misty Cloud Sect? The Soul Hall's schemes? These problems that had once tormented the original Xiao Yan and even driven him into desperate situations several times might now have a different ending, with him, an "outsider" who knew the plot, involved—and with Xun'er's companionship and support.

He clenched his Right Hand, feeling the cold touch of the ring, and looked toward Xun'er beside him. She was giving him a gentle smile. He silently made a vow in his heart. Elder Yao, wait for me. It will not be long before I awaken you with my own hands and let you shine again. Xun'er, wait for me. I will grow stronger as quickly as possible and become someone worthy of you, someone who can shield you from every storm. But before that, I will make this body bloom once more with the radiance that belongs to "Xiao Yan," and make every person who once mocked him shut their mouths. Dou Qi Continent, I am here. In the name of Xiao Yan, I will climb step by step to the summit and make the entire world remember this name—once looked down upon, yet never willing to give up!