3, The Fallen Genius

"Ding! Kai's Hero Template is merging. Completion: 20%. Estimated time remaining: 12 hours."

With the little Qinglin waiting on him, Xiao Han took a bath and changed into fresh clothes. As for his old ones, he had Qinglin throw them away. They were simply too disgusting—they'd soaked up the stench.

Besides, Xiao Han had earned a little money over the years. He could afford to buy a few new clothes.

"Delicious! Qinglin's cooking is just as good as ever. This braised fish smells amazing!"

After wolfing down three plates of food, Xiao Han drained his cup and praised her, holding up the empty cup.

Standing nearby to wait on him, Qinglin just smiled shyly. "Take your time, Young Master. If you're still hungry, Qinglin can make you more."

Burp~

"No need. I'm full. Go clear the dishes."

Picking his teeth with a toothpick he'd made himself, Xiao Han seemed to remember something. He looked up at Qinglin as she cleared the table. "By the way, how's your Dou Qi cultivation going?"

"Ah—?"

Caught off guard by Xiao Han's sudden check-in, Qinglin shook her head nervously. "It's the same as before. I haven't made much progress. I'm still only at the Sixth Stage of Dou Qi."

"I see."

Xiao Han frowned. So it really was the same. The Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils could subdue snake-type magical beasts, and their wielder could continually absorb Dou Qi from the snakes she subdued. The subdued snakes, in turn, were like batteries: their Dou Qi and cultivation would gradually be drained, and their strength would slowly decline.

That was why Qinglin had managed to become a Dou Sheng despite having only modest cultivation talent. There was no other reason—the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils were simply far too powerful against snake-type magical beasts!

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

Looks like I'll have to take Qinglin to the Magical Beast Mountain Range to subdue some snake-type magical beasts sooner than planned. No matter. Once my Demon Armor finishes merging, I'll be able to fight anyone below the level of a Dou Master, as long as I don't run into one.

Lost in thought, Xiao Han waved Qinglin away.

Just as she was about to leave, Qinglin slapped her forehead and turned back to Xiao Han. "Oh, right, Young Master Xiao Han. Today is the family evaluation. Aren't you going to watch?"

"The family evaluation?"

Xiao Han murmured to himself. "Well, the Demon Armor still needs some time to finish merging. I might as well go and see what's happening. Now that I've become a Dou Zhe, it's time to let everyone know how far I've advanced."

Shaking his head, Xiao Han clasped his hands behind his back and left the Separate Courtyard he shared with Qinglin, heading for the family square. That was where the family's only testing stone was kept.

Along the way, the Xiao Clan disciples greeted Xiao Han one after another. Aside from being in awe of his talent for cultivation, they liked him because he never put on airs. In a word, he was approachable.

Sometimes, Xiao Han even used the little money he'd earned to treat the Xiao Clan disciples to snacks. All in all, he'd won quite a few people over.

Back when Xiao Han had first arrived in this world, Xiao Yan had been a genius, and he'd acted as if he owned the place. Aside from Xiao Han, who eventually caught up with him, and his adorable little sister Xiao Xun'er, he'd looked down on everyone.

With an attitude like that, it was no wonder everyone had trampled on Xiao Yan once his cultivation fell to the Third Stage of Dou Qi. He'd brought it on himself.

So even with Xiao Han intervening, the Xiao Clan disciples still bullied Xiao Yan whenever he wasn't around.

"Cousin Xiao Han's here!"

"Cousin Xiao Han, what took you so long?"

"Cousin Xiao Han, have you eaten?"

"Cousin Xiao Han seems to have improved again. No wonder he's a genius of the Xiao Family!"

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

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

"Heh, you two should look in a mirror. Cousin Xiao Han has Miss Qinglin. Why would he be interested in two plain-looking girls like you?"

"All right, all right! Stop arguing."

"Xiao Qiushui, Dou Power, Third Stage! Level: Low!"

All kinds of chatter mingled together. Xiao Han answered the Xiao Clan disciples' greetings with nothing more than a smile.

"Silence!"

As the crowd buzzed with conversation, a roar like a furious lion echoed throughout the Xiao Family Square. The force behind that single shout was enough to show how powerful its owner was. He had to be at least a Da Dou Shi!

A figure leaped down from the high platform and landed lightly.

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

"You little rascal. What took you so long?"

Xiao Zhan patted Xiao Han on the shoulder, looking at his nephew fondly. The boy had had a hard life. 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 after Xiao Yan had become a cripple, Xiao Han was one of the few among the clan who hadn't mocked him, but had instead encouraged Xiao Zhan's son.

"Hehe, I've got a surprise."

Xiao Han rubbed the back of his head and grinned sheepishly. Whatever else one could say, Xiao Zhan had been a wonderful uncle to him.

"Could it be?"

Xiao Zhan held his breath, his eyes lighting up as he looked at his nephew. "Quick, get up on the testing platform and find out!"

"Heh—yes, Clan Leader!"

With a playful laugh, Xiao Han lightly tapped the ground with his toe and leaped onto the three-meter-high testing platform. Then he channeled his Dou Qi into the testing stone.

"Xiao Han, One-Star Dou Practitioner!"

The entire square erupted at the evaluator's announcement.

A fourteen-year-old Dou Practitioner!

He was two years behind the twelve-year-old Xiao Yan, but it was still an extraordinary level of talent!

If he kept cultivating without any other setbacks, the Xiao Family might one day produce a Dou Wang!

And when that day came, the Xiao Family would surely flourish!

Xiao Han paid little attention to the clan members' excited discussion below the platform. He looked around, as if searching for someone.

"Uncle, where are Xiao Yan and Xuner?"

Hearing Xiao Han mention his youngest son, the one he worried about most, Xiao Zhan shook his head with a bitter smile. "You're still so worried about Yan'er..."

"They're..."

"No need to tell me. They're definitely at the back mountain..."

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

Xiao Zhan fell silent for a moment, then sighed up at the sky. "Go on, then."

He was heartbroken about his youngest son, too. But no matter how many famous doctors he'd sought out, none could explain why Xiao Yan's cultivation was regressing.

The clan members didn't like his son, but as Clan Leader, Xiao Zhan couldn't interfere. All he could do was stay out of it.

Xiao Zhan felt guilty toward Xiao Yan.

At least Han'er and Xun'er haven't joined the others in kicking Yan'er while he's down or mocking him. Sigh...

"The family evaluation will continue. Next, Xiao Feng!"

Meanwhile, at the Xiao Family's Back Mountain.

Walking toward him was a peerlessly beautiful young woman named Xiao Xun'er. Her elegant purple dress and refined, otherworldly air made her seem like a green lotus in bloom, beautiful to admire from afar but not to be touched.

Her features were even more stunning than Qinglin's, and her slender, graceful figure stood tall as a lotus. She was already so beautiful at such a young age—it was hard to imagine just how breathtaking Xiao Xun'er would be when she grew up!

"Brother Han? What brings you here?"

"He always comes here to clear his head after the family evaluation. What do you think? Xun'er, is Xiao Yan all right?"

Xiao Han circulated his Dou Qi and crossed more than ten meters in the blink of an eye, reaching Xiao Xun'er.

"Brother Xiao Yan is the same as ever."

The young woman shook her head helplessly and pointed toward Xiao Yan, who was leaning against a tree in the distance, lost in thought.

"Never mind. I'll go check on him."

Walking past the graceful young woman, Xiao Han slowly approached Xiao Yan.

Seeing his cousin asleep beneath the tree, he kicked him.

"Ow! Who kicked me?"

At Xiao Yan's cry of pain, he opened his eyes and saw his cousin.

Though they were cousins, Xiao Yan was only a month younger than Xiao Han, and they'd always called each other by their names.

"Xiao Yan, how'd the Dou Qi test go?"

Xiao Han folded his arms and looked down at Xiao Yan.

"How do you think it went? Same old crap..."

Muttering, Xiao Yan rubbed the spot where Xiao Han had kicked him, his expression dark. This brother he'd once looked down on had now passed the Ninth Stage of Dou Qi and become a Dou Practitioner.

His strength might be gone, but Xiao Yan still had a good eye. When Xiao Han had used a movement Dou Technique to get here, the surge of Dou Qi around him could only mean he was a Dou Practitioner.

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

"Worried about me?"

Xiao Yan gave a bitter laugh and looked up at Xiao Han, who seemed utterly out of reach to him now. "Worried about a cripple like me? Worried about the useless wretch who's brought shame on the family?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a blast of wind grazed Xiao Yan's head and slammed into the tree to his right, carving a hole half a meter deep into the trunk.

Boom!!!

Wood chips flew everywhere, and the two brothers fell into a tense silence.

"If you think you're a useless wretch, then get ready to spend the rest of your life as one!"

Xiao Han's voice turned cold at Xiao Yan's attitude. He drew back his fist, turned around, and walked away, apparently infuriated by Xiao Yan.

"Brother Xiao Yan..."

Xiao Xun'er, who had come over, had heard Xiao Yan's self-pitying words as well. Her face had gone pale.

"Come on."

Xiao Han took Xuner's hand and led her away. "Let Xiao Yan have some time alone."

"Okay."

Xuner didn't resist. She only let go once they'd left the back mountain.

They walked one after the other without speaking, the atmosphere heavy between them.

I have to find a way to cure Brother Xiao Yan.

Xiao Xun'er lowered her head, wondering whether she should call in experts from her clan to examine why Xiao Yan's Dou Qi was disappearing.

What should I ask Qinglin to make for dinner tonight? Garlic spareribs? Or osmanthus fish?

The two walked on with their minds elsewhere. Suddenly, Xiao Xun'er glanced at Xiao Han, who was walking ahead with his head lowered in thought, and furrowed her brows.

She flicked a finger, and the ring on it flashed. A Dou Qi Cultivation Jade Slip appeared in her hand.

"Brother Han! Wait a moment!"

"Hm?"

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

"Has Cousin Xiao Han already become a Dou Practitioner?"

Xiao Xun'er wore a mysterious smile. She had a jade slip hidden behind her back.

"That's right. How did you know?"

Xiao Han raised an eyebrow.

"Hehe, Xun'er has her ways."

The young woman asked, "Brother Han, have you found a cultivation technique yet?"

Xiao Han smiled wryly. "The highest-ranked technique in the clan doesn't match my attributes at all. The rest are all Yellow Rank techniques. It's a real headache."

"Hehe, I'd already guessed as much. Here."

Xiao Xun'er smiled and handed him the jade slip.

Xiao Han took the Technique Jade Slip from Xuner, sent his Soul Power into it, then quickly withdrew it.

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

"Why are you acting like that, Brother Xiao Han? You knew long ago that Xun'er wasn't from the Xiao Family, didn't you?"

Xiao Xun'er smiled and said, "Cousin Xiao Han, please don't refuse. Consider this technique a token of thanks for how well you've looked after me all these years.

"An Earth Rank High-Grade Cultivation Technique is nothing special to Xun'er."

"Xun'er, you're certainly generous."

Xiao Han cupped his hands and smiled wryly. "This is exactly what I need. Since you're offering it so sincerely, it would be rather insincere of me to refuse."

"Mm."

Xiao Xun'er walked past Xiao Han with light steps, heading toward the Xiao Family and leaving him to watch her go.

After walking a few steps, Xiao Xun'er stopped again.

"Is there something else, Xun'er?"

Xiao Han stood where he was and asked.

"Cousin Xiao Han, I gave you this technique because you're different from the others in the Xiao Family. They're all ordinary talents, and many of them may never reach the true pinnacle in their entire lives.

"But you and Brother Xiao Yan are exceptions. Your talents are no worse than anyone else's. All you lack is a chance to grow stronger. That's why I gave you this technique. I hope you can help your clan regain..."

Xiao Xun'er had only gotten halfway through her words when it seemed as if someone had interrupted her. In the end, she sighed and walked toward her room.

Watching Xiao Xun'er walk away, Xiao Han smiled. You little rascal. All those years of building up goodwill weren't wasted after all. Today finally paid off.