Fallen Genius

"Ding! The Hero Template is fusing. Fusion progress: 20%. Estimated remaining fusion time: 12 hours."

Under the service of the little loli Qinglin, Xiao Han bathed and changed into a new set of clothes. As for his original outfit, he had Qinglin take it away to throw out—it was simply too disgusting, practically marinated in filth.

Besides, Xiao Han had earned a bit of money over the years; he wasn't so hard up that he couldn't spare the cost of a couple of garments.

"Delicious! Qinglin, your cooking is still as good as ever. This braised fish is absolutely fragrant!"

Wolfing down three plates of food, Xiao Han drained the cup of water in one gulp, then raised the empty vessel in praise.

Qinglin, standing by to attend him, gave a shy smile. "Young Master, please eat slowly. If it's not enough, Qinglin can make you more."

Burp~

"No need, I'm full. You can clear the dishes."

Picking his teeth with a homemade toothpick, Xiao Han seemed to remember something and looked up at Qinglin, who was tidying the desktop. "By the way, how's your Dou Qi cultivation coming along?"

"Ah—?"

Startled by Xiao Han's sudden check-in, Qinglin shook her head nervously. "Still the same as before, no real progress. I'm only at the 6th stage of Dou Disciple."

"Is that so?"

Xiao Han furrowed his brow. So it was just as he'd thought? The Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils could subdue snake-type magical beasts and continuously absorb Dou Qi from them. The subdued snakes would act like batteries, slowly drained of their cultivation and growing weaker over time.

That was exactly why Qinglin could become a Dou Saint despite her mediocre talent—no other reason. The Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils were simply too domineering against snake-type beasts!

Xiao Han had no doubt that if they were on the same cultivation level, the Meduza Queen wouldn't last long before those eyes of Qinglin's.

'Looks like I'll have to bring Qinglin to the Magical Beast Mountain Range to subdue some snake-type beasts earlier than planned. But that's fine—once my Demon Armor finishes fusing, as long as I don't run into a Dou Master, I'll have a fighting chance against anyone below that level!'

Lost in thought, Xiao Han waved his hand to dismiss Qinglin.

Just as she was about to step out the door, Qinglin slapped her forehead, turned around, and said to Xiao Han, "Oh, right, Young Master Xiao Han. Today is the clan's testing day. Aren't you going to take a look?"

"Clan testing?"

Xiao Han murmured to himself at the words. "Well, the Demon Armor fusion still needs some time. I might as well go and watch the excitement. Since I've already advanced to Dou Practitioner, it's time to let those people know about my cultivation progress."

Shaking his head, Xiao Han clasped his hands behind his back and walked out of the separate courtyard he shared with Qinglin, heading toward the clan square. There, the clan's only Testing Stone was located.

Along the way, the Xiao Clan disciples greeted Xiao Han one after another. On ordinary days, aside from the awe his high cultivation talent inspired, Xiao Han was easygoing and never put on airs. In a word, he was approachable.

Sometimes, he even used the small amount of money he'd earned to treat the Xiao Clan disciples to snacks. Over time, this had earned him quite a bit of goodwill.

Thinking back to when he'd first transmigrated here, Xiao Yan had been as arrogant as a peacock, strutting around like he owned the place. Apart from Xiao Han, who had caught up later, and his adorable younger sister Xiao Xun'er, he'd looked down on everyone else with his nose in the air.

With that kind of attitude, no wonder Xiao Yan got trampled so badly the moment his cultivation dropped to the 3rd stage of Dou Disciple. He'd brought it entirely on himself.

So even with Xiao Han stepping in to mediate, the Xiao Clan disciples still bullied Xiao Yan whenever Xiao Han wasn't around.

"Cousin Xiao Han is here!"

"Cousin Xiao Han, why are you so late?"

"Cousin Xiao Han, have you eaten?"

"Cousin Xiao Han's cultivation seems to have improved again! Truly worthy of being the genius of our Xiao Clan!"

"Ahhh! Cousin Xiao Han, I want to have your babies!"

"Get lost, you little hussy! Cousin Xiao Han is mine."

"Heh, you two should find a mirror and look at yourselves. Cousin Xiao Han has Miss Qinglin—why would he ever fancy a pair of mediocre-looking goods like you?"

"Alright, alright! Stop arguing."

"Xiao Qiushui, Dou Disciple, 3rd stage! Grade: Low!"

Amid the cacophony of voices, Xiao Han merely smiled in response to the greetings from the Xiao Clan disciples.

"Silence!"

Just as the crowd was buzzing with chatter, a roar like a lion's fury echoed across the entire Xiao Family Square. That single shout alone was enough to reveal the formidable strength of its owner—at the very least, a Dou Grandmaster!

A figure leaped down from the high platform, landing lightly.

Seeing the newcomer, Xiao Han greeted him. "Uncle, I'm here."

"You little brat, why are you so late?"

Patting Xiao Han on the shoulder, Xiao Zhan looked at his nephew with affectionate eyes. The boy had a hard fate—his parents had died in an accident when he was young, leaving him an orphan with no one to rely on. Over the years, Xiao Zhan had treated him like his own son.

And among all the clansmen, Xiao Han was one of the few who hadn't mocked or sneered at Xiao Yan after he became a waste. Instead, he had encouraged him.

"Heh, I've got a surprise."

Xiao Han rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish grin. Say what you will, but as an uncle, Xiao Zhan had been nothing but good to his nephew.

"Could it be...?"

Xiao Zhan's breath caught, and his eyes lit up as he looked at his nephew. "Quick, get up on the Testing Platform and show me."

"Heh—as you command, Clan Leader!"

With a playful laugh, Xiao Han lightly tapped his toes and leaped onto the three-meter-high Testing Platform. He then channeled his Dou Qi into the Testing Stone.

"Xiao Han, Dou Practitioner, One Star!"

Boom—!!!

As the tester's words rang out, the entire square erupted.

A 14-year-old Dou Practitioner!

Although it was two years behind Xiao Yan at age 12, it was still a rare talent!

If he kept cultivating like this without any obstacles, the Xiao Family might even produce a Dou King!

When that day came, the Xiao Family would surely flourish!

Xiao Han felt nothing from the clansmen's chatter below the testing platform. He looked around, as if searching for someone.

"Uncle, where are Xiao Yan and Xun'er?"

Hearing Xiao Han bring up his most worrisome youngest son, Xiao Zhan smiled bitterly and shook his head: "You, still so worried about Yan'er—"

"They're at..."

"No need to say it, definitely at the back mountain..."

Xiao Han cut off Xiao Zhan's words, "After every family test, he goes to Aunt's grave..."

Xiao Zhan was silent for a moment, then looked up and sighed long into the sky: "Go on, go on."

His youngest son's matter pained him as a father too, but no matter how many famous doctors he sought, he couldn't find the reason for the regression in cultivation.

The clansmen didn't treat his son well, but as the clan leader, he couldn't interfere, only stay neutral.

Toward Xiao Yan, Xiao Zhan felt guilt.

'Thankfully, Han'er and Xun'er never joined others in adding insult to injury or sneering at Yan'er. Sigh—'

"Family test continues. Next, Xiao Feng!"

Meanwhile, at the Xiao Family's Back Mountain.

Walking toward him was a stunning young girl named Xiao Xun'er. Dressed in a purple gown, her elegant and ethereal aura bloomed like a green lotus—visible from afar but not to be profaned.

Her peerless beauty even surpassed Qinglin's. Her long, graceful slender body stood like a green lotus. So beautiful at such a young age, it was hard to imagine how breathtaking Xiao Xun'er would become when she grew up!

"Brother Han? Why are you here?"

"Every time the family test ends, he comes here to clear his head. What do you think? Xun'er, is Xiao Yan alright?"

Xiao Han channeled his Dou Qi, crossing ten meters in the blink of an eye to reach Xiao Xun'er.

"Brother Xiao Yan is still the same as always."

Shaking her head helplessly, the young girl pointed into the distance at Xiao Yan, who was leaning against a large tree, lost in thought.

"Forget it, I'll go see."

Stepping around the Graceful and Upright young girl, Xiao Han slowly walked up to Xiao Yan.

Seeing this cousin sprawled under the tree snoring loudly, he kicked him over.

"Ouch! Who kicked me?"

With Xiao Yan's cry of pain, he opened his eyes to see his cousin brother standing before him.

Though they were cousins, Xiao Yan and Xiao Han were only a month apart in age, so they always addressed each other by name.

"Xiao Yan, how was the Dou Qi test?"

Xiao Han crossed his arms, looking down at Xiao Yan from above.

"What do you mean 'how was it'? Same old crap—"

Muttering, Xiao Yan rubbed his butt where Xiao Han had kicked him, his expression dark. This brother he once never took seriously had now successfully broken through the nine stages of Dou Disciple and advanced to Dou Practitioner.

Though his strength was gone, Xiao Yan still had his eyes. When Xiao Han had used his footwork technique to rush over just now, that Dou Qi fluctuation—what else could it be but a Dou Practitioner?

"Come back. Uncle Xiao Zhan and Xun'er are both worried about you."

"Worried about me?"

Xiao Yan laughed bitterly, looking up at Xiao Han, who was now out of his reach: "Worried about this waste? Worried about this cripple who shames the family?"

The moment the words left his mouth, a gust of wind brushed past Xiao Yan's head and slammed heavily into the tree trunk to his right, blasting a half-meter-deep Wood Pit.

Boom!!!

Wood chips flew everywhere. The atmosphere between the two brothers stiffened.

"If you think you're a waste, then get ready to be one for the rest of your life!"

Xiao Han's voice turned cold at Xiao Yan's attitude. He pulled back his fist, turned, and walked away, as if angered by Xiao Yan.

"Brother Xiao Yan..."

Xiao Xun'er, who had walked over, also heard Xiao Yan's self-defeating words. Her small face turned pale.

"Let's go."

Xiao Han reached out, took Xun'er's hand, and led her away: "Let Xiao Yan be alone for a while."

"Mm."

Xun'er didn't resist, only letting go of his hand after they had left the back mountain.

The two walked one behind the other, neither speaking, the atmosphere heavy with tension.

'I must find a way to cure Brother Xiao Yan's illness.'

Xiao Xun'er lowered her head, pondering whether to summon an expert from her clan to examine the reason behind Xiao Yan's disappearing Dou Qi.

'What should I have Qinglin make tonight? Garlic ribs? Or osmanthus fish?'

Lost in their own thoughts, the two walked on. Suddenly, Xiao Xun'er, trailing behind, glanced at the brooding Xiao Han and furrowed her willow brows.

She flicked her finger, and a ring on her hand glowed, producing a Dou Qi Cultivation Jade Slip.

"Brother Han! Wait a moment!"

"Hm?"

Xiao Han paused, turning to look at Xiao Xun'er. "Were you calling me, Xun'er?"

"Cousin Xiao Han, have you already advanced to Dou Practitioner?"

A mysterious smile played on Xiao Xun'er's face as she hid her hands behind her back, one of them holding a jade slip.

"I have. How did you know?"

Xiao Han raised an eyebrow.

"Hehe, Xun'er has her ways."

The young girl asked again, "Have you found a cultivation technique to practice, Brother Han?"

At this, Xiao Han gave a bitter smile. "The highest-ranked technique in the clan doesn't match my attribute at all. What's left are just Yellow Rank techniques—it's really a headache."

"Hehe, Xun'er guessed as much. Here."

Xiao Xun'er smiled softly and handed the jade slip to Xiao Han.

Taking the cultivation jade slip from Xun'er, Xiao Han sank his Soul Power into it, then quickly withdrew.

"This is? An Earth Rank High-Grade Cultivation Technique? Where did you get this? What a generous gift!" Xiao Han exclaimed in surprise, pretending not to know Xun'er's background.

"Brother Xiao Yan, why must you be so surprised? Haven't you known for years that Xun'er isn't really a member of the Xiao Family?"

Xiao Xun'er pursed her lips and smiled. "Cousin Xiao Han, please don't refuse. Consider this technique a token of thanks for all the care you've shown Xun'er over the years. An Earth Rank High-Grade technique is nothing I'd think twice about."

"Younger Sister Xun'er is truly generous."

Cupping his hands, Xiao Han gave a wry smile. "This is indeed something Your Brother urgently needs. Since you're offering with such sincerity, it would be too hypocritical of me to keep refusing."

"Mm."

Xiao Xun'er stepped past Xiao Han, moving with Lotus Steps toward the Xiao Family, leaving him staring at her retreating figure.

After a few steps, she stopped again.

"Is there something else, Xun'er?"

Xiao Han asked from where he stood.

"Cousin Xiao Han, the reason I gave you this technique is that you're different from the others in the Xiao Family. They're all ordinary mediocrities, who might never touch true greatness in their lifetimes.

But you and Brother Xiao Yan are two exceptions. Your talents are no worse than anyone's—all you lack is an opportunity to grow stronger. That's why I'm giving you this technique, hoping you can restore your clan's...

Ah, never mind. It's nothing."

Speaking with her back to Xiao Han, Xun'er stopped mid-sentence, as if interrupted by someone. She let out a long sigh and walked toward her room.

Watching Xun'er's departing figure, Xiao Han smiled faintly to himself: Not bad. All those years of building goodwill weren't wasted—today finally paid off.