Profound-tier High-grade Dou Technique-Eight Extremes Collapse

Seeing the dead silence, Xiao Tian slowly picked up the broom and continued sweeping the leaves he hadn't finished clearing from the square, like a monk sweeping the grounds. He remained calm and composed, as though nothing had happened.

The crowd that had jeered and sneered gradually fell silent, staring at Xiao Tian with complicated expressions as they privately wondered what had happened to him.

Even the tester, a Dou Zhe, had lost his composure and stared blankly at Xiao Tian's slender figure.

At that moment, they suddenly realized how unfamiliar Xiao Tian seemed. In a daze, it was as if he had become a different person.

They could no longer tell whether Xiao Tian had anything to do with the testing stele's damage, nor could they be sure he really had one hundred million stages of Dou Qi. They only knew that he had truly grown stronger!

The change was shocking!

The result had taken everyone by surprise!

In the square, Xiao Xun'er stood smiling faintly. A soft smile graced her elegant face, and her beauty was beyond compare.

She gazed at Xiao Tian, tilting her head as she smiled at Xiao Yan beside her.

"Brother Xiao Yan, you once said that a golden-scaled carp was no ordinary creature, and that once it encountered wind and cloud, it would transform into a dragon. Brother Xiao Tian is a true Flood Dragon now!"

"Mm." Xiao Yan nodded, a relieved smile appearing on his handsome face.

After all, Xiao Tian was his cousin, and they got along well. Xiao Yan had once wanted to help him cultivate Dou Qi, but Xiao Tian's constitution was simply too poor. No matter what Xiao Yan tried, he could do nothing.

Now, though, Xiao Tian had surged against the current and surpassed him. Xiao Yan was genuinely happy for him.

But as he thought about it, Xiao Yan's fists clenched slightly. The bitterness on his face eventually turned into self-mockery.

At eleven, he had condensed a Dou Qi Vortex and become the youngest Dou Zhe in the Xiao Clan in a century. Yet, to his surprise, his strength had steadily declined over the next three years, until he had fallen to Three stages of Battle Qi. From then on, he had endured countless contemptuous glances and jeers.

Xiao Xun'er noticed the change in Xiao Yan's expression. Her lovely eyes blinked, and she smiled softly at him.

"Brother Xiao Yan, one day you'll be able to rise up again, too. I believe in you!"

Hearing Xiao Xun'er's gentle words of comfort, Xiao Yan's face lit up with a brilliant smile. The two then walked toward Xiao Tian, who was not far away.

At the edge of the square, Xiao Tian swept the ground and silently recited in his mind.

"Sign in at the Xiao Family square!"

[Beep!]

[Congratulations, host. Sign-in successful. Reward: Profound-tier High-grade Dou Technique—Eight Extremes Collapse]

[Comprehended automatically]

As the system's notification sounded, information immediately appeared in Xiao Tian's mind.

Profound-tier High-grade Dou Technique—Eight Extremes Collapse. A close-combat technique with tremendous power. When mastered, its attacks could conceal eight layers of force. Stacked together, they could unleash immense power, comparable to an Earth-tier Dou Technique.

"Eight Extremes Collapse is practically made for me!"

After reading the description, Xiao Tian's face broke into a radiant grin.

Now that he possessed the strength of one hundred million stages of Dou Qi, with an invincible body and immense strength, he had also mastered a close-combat martial technique like Eight Extremes Collapse. It was like adding wings to a tiger.

Still, Xiao Tian couldn't understand why he was unable to condense a Dou Qi Vortex and advance to Dou Zhe, despite possessing such an enormous amount of Dou Qi.

"System, why do I still feel like I can't condense a Dou Qi Vortex?" Frowning, he immediately asked the system in his mind.

If he couldn't condense a Dou Qi Vortex, he might never advance to Dou Zhe, let alone reach the realms of Dou Zun, Dou Saint, or even Dou Emperor.

[Why rush, host? If you find enough Origin Qi, you can become the strongest Dou Emperor in a single step.]

"Become an emperor in one step? And the strongest?" Xiao Tian froze, shocked by the words.

However, Origin Qi had almost vanished from the Dou Qi Continent. No Dou Emperor had appeared in a long time. Finding Origin Qi would be no easy task.

Still, with the Strongest Sign-in System of All Heavens, Xiao Tian wasn't in much of a hurry.

"Brother Xiao Tian, want to go for a stroll around the marketplace?"

Just then, Xiao Xun'er's pleasant voice reached his ears, interrupting his thoughts.

Looking up, Xiao Tian saw Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Yan walking side by side toward him.

"Sure."

Xiao Tian smiled and nodded. He left the square with Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Yan, heading outside.

The three soon disappeared through the gate...

The Xiao Family Marketplace lay to the south of Wutan City. It was the Xiao Family's busiest commercial district, with a dazzling array of goods and currencies for trade.

Shops lined both sides of the street, their displays neatly arranged with colorful clothing, Magic Cores, weapons, pills, medicinal herbs, and more. It was a scene of bustling prosperity.

When the three appeared, three Xiao Family guards immediately came over and followed respectfully behind them to protect them.

Xiao Tian was a little surprised. He knew these guards; they often mocked and sneered at him. But today they treated him with such deference. The events at the Xiao Family square must have already reached their ears.

That was the benefit of strength. It could make people admire you, and it could make them fear you, too!

After following Xiao Xun'er around the marketplace, the three eventually reached one of its most important districts.

The goods here were expensive, far beyond what ordinary people could afford. Only a few people with deep pockets or great influence were willing to come here to hunt for treasures.

"Brother Xiao Yan, Brother Xiao Tian, what do you think of this Ice Pure Glazed Necklace?" Xiao Xun'er pointed at a string of icy-blue beads on a vendor's stall and smiled sweetly at them.

Xiao Tian followed Xiao Xun'er's finger. The necklace was crystal clear, smooth and lustrous, like the purest pearl in the world. Its deep-blue surface shimmered with a dreamy glow, making it dazzling to behold.

The necklace was called the Ice Pure Glazed Necklace. It had been crafted from a small piece of Outer-world Meteorite Iron and, according to legend, had been bathed in the Nine Nether Cold Spring for many years. Its wearer could calm the mind, ward off Inner Demons, and enjoy excellent effects. It was truly a treasure.

However, it was extremely expensive, beyond the means of most people.

"It's quite nice." Xiao Tian nodded in approval.

At his words, Xiao Xun'er gave a soft laugh, then took out a large number of gold coins and bought the expensive Ice Pure Glazed Necklace on the spot without batting an eye.

"Brother Xiao Tian, Brother Xiao Yan and I discussed it, and we'd like to give you this Ice Pure Glazed Necklace. Wearing it can calm your mind and help with cultivation!" Xiao Xun'er held the necklace out to Xiao Tian, a sweet smile on her lovely face.

Beside her, Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Tian and nodded solemnly, urging him to accept it.

Seeing their expressions, Xiao Tian couldn't refuse. He could only nod slightly and hang the Ice Pure Glazed Necklace around his neck.

They hadn't said it outright, but Xiao Tian could guess a little of what they were thinking. Perhaps Xun'er and Xiao Yan were worried that his unusual cultivation might lead him astray and cause him to lose control.

The thought warmed Xiao Tian's heart.

"Well, well, if it isn't Miss Xun'er! What a coincidence. I didn't expect to run into you here!"

A shrill young man's voice suddenly rang out, making Xiao Xun'er and the others freeze.

They followed the sound and saw a pale young man with a leering face standing not far away. A mocking smile played on his lips as his shameless gaze roamed over Xiao Xun'er's figure without once looking away.