Xiao Yan: Living off a Woman Was Great, and It Tasted Sweet

"They lured me in here to kill me."

Watching Xiao Ting and Xun'er radiate the sour stench of romance, Xiao Yan was speechless.

But then he remembered that he had been the one to call Xiao Ting over, and realized he was practically killing himself.

"Ahem!"

Suppressing his resentment, Xiao Yan said seriously, "Little Ting, I need to tell you something."

"Mm." Xiao Ting watched Xiao Yan attentively, wondering why he had asked him here.

Could it be that he wanted to tell him about Yao Lao?

But with Xun'er present, would he still say it?

He would probably make up some excuse first, then find another chance to talk later.

"Do you know why I was able to raise my Dou Qi by five stages in one year and master several Xuan Tier Dou Techniques?" Xiao Yan suddenly asked.

"You probably found a good teacher." Xiao Ting was surprised that Xiao Yan was actually going to come clean in front of Xun'er, without holding anything back.

Xiao Yan nearly lost his composure. "..."

"How did you guess?"

"Was it that hard to guess?" Xun'er answered for Xiao Ting. "Cousin Xiao Yan's inability to cultivate went unresolved for three years."

"Then the Miteer Auction House auctioned Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, and a mysterious alchemist helped Uncle Xiao Zhan."

"Miss Ya Fei of the Miteer Auction House also seemed to favor you greatly, Cousin."

"Clearly, the alchemist capable of refining Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid was connected to you. He might even be your teacher."

"That's right." Xiao Ting nodded. He had thought the same.

Xiao Yan: "..."

You two are making me look stupid. I thought I had hidden it well.

No, Xun'er was taking an open-book test from the start. My little brother Ting was genuinely smart.

If Xun'er knew what Xiao Yan was thinking, she would surely grumble inwardly: Xiao Ting was the one taking the real open-book test—and he was even the grader.

"Third Brother, are you introducing your teacher to me?" Xiao Ting asked with a smile. "A lot of people could guess, including Uncle and several elders, but no one would risk offending an alchemist just to verify it. Everyone understood without saying it. As long as you were doing well, that was enough."

Xiao Yan smiled and shook his head, secretly thinking that he had underestimated everyone else. Taking a deep breath, he cupped his fists toward the empty air. "Teacher."

Yao Lao's soul emerged from the Bone Flame Ring and condensed into form in an instant, floating in midair.

Appropriate surprise appeared on Xiao Ting's face. He naturally stepped in front of Xun'er and watched Yao Lao warily.

"This old man's surname is Yao. You may call me Yao Lao, just as Xiao Yanzi does." Yao Chen was very satisfied with Xiao Ting's reaction. With his hands behind his back, he said, "I invited you here today because your talent is excellent. At your cousin's request, I will offer you some guidance."

Yao Chen did not need Xiao Ting to thank him excessively. Instead, he placed the credit on Xiao Yan.

The truth was that he wanted to nurture Xiao Ting because of Xiao Yan. Of course, Xiao Ting's talent and character were also crucial. All three conditions were indispensable.

"Thank you, Senior, for helping Brother Yan regain his talent for cultivation." Xiao Ting withdrew the wariness from his eyes and cupped his fists in greeting.

Xun'er stepped forward to stand beside Xiao Ting. Raising her head, she met Yao Lao's gaze, and a flash of golden flame passed through her eyes. "Senior, your surname is Yao. Are you from that Yao?"

"Yes, and no." Yao Lao's gaze grew distant. "Just as you, young lady, are not truly surnamed Xiao."

What he meant was that Xun'er should not probe too deeply into his identity.

Did Xun'er not have secrets of her own? She could not tell Xiao Ting everything either.

Under normal circumstances, Xun'er would indeed have been wary. But now, she was not afraid.

No one on the entire Dou Qi Continent knew more than Xiao Ting, or understood her better.

Still, she did not overstep on his behalf. She merely turned to Xiao Ting and blinked lightly.

"Xun'er, since Senior does not wish to reveal his identity, why force the matter?" Xiao Ting smiled gently.

He was also saying that he would not force her to reveal her identity.

"If Brother Xiao Ting wants to know anything, Xun'er can tell you." Xun'er blinked playfully, though her tone was utterly sincere.

Xiao Ting was somewhat surprised by how candid Xun'er was, but he assumed she was merely playing along with him and did not think much of it. "Let's talk about it after I become stronger. Since Senior Yao is Brother Yan's teacher, he is also my teacher. What guidance do you intend to give me, Senior?"

Yao Lao became even more satisfied with Xiao Ting. Restraining one's curiosity was also a sign of maturity.

"I cannot help you too much. In my current state, I have the will but lack the strength. Moreover, once Xiao Yanzi breaks through to Dou Zhe, I will send him out to gain experience." With a casual wave, Yao Lao produced two scrolls in midair. "These are two cultivation methods: the Low Earth Tier fire-attributed Earth Flame Art, and the high-grade lightning-attributed Mystic Thunder Scripture."

"You may take both and cultivate them together, but that will be extremely difficult. Or you may choose one to focus on first. Before Xiao Yanzi leaves, this old man can guide you whenever you wish."

"Teacher, aren't you giving him ten or eight Heaven Tier cultivation methods and Dou Techniques?" Xiao Yan, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke in a teasing tone. "Don't tell me you don't have any."

"Do you think Heaven Tier cultivation methods and Dou Techniques are common street goods?" Yao Lao was rendered speechless by this bastard disciple. "I do not have any either."

Though I do have a cultivation method stranger than a Heaven Tier one, but I cannot mention it yet.

If this little girlfriend of Xiao Ting's held a sufficiently high position in her clan, she could come into contact with Heaven Tier cultivation methods. But she certainly could not take them out for an outsider to learn.

"Besides, Heaven Tier cultivation methods are not something you can learn at your current level." Yao Lao's tone turned serious. "Even if you become a Dou Zong, you still would not be able to learn a Heaven Tier cultivation method."

"Fine." Xiao Yan rubbed his nose and smiled. "Then high-grade Earth Tier will do."

Yao Lao and Xiao Ting: "..."

Xun'er: If Brother Xiao Ting made such outrageous demands too, I would not have to think so much.

"Ahem!" Xiao Ting accepted the two scrolls with both hands and directly stored them in his Storage Ring. Smiling, he said, "A gift from an elder should not be refused. This junior will not stand on ceremony with Senior Yao."

"As for cultivation methods, Xun'er gave me an Earth Tier lightning-and-fire dual-attributed cultivation method. I do not need these two for the time being. How about Senior gives me a few Earth Tier fire- or lightning-attributed Dou Techniques instead?"

Yao Lao: ?

Yao Lao: !

That tone was exactly the same as Xiao Yan's.

Did this old man enter the Xiao Clan or a bandit den?

I only absorbed a little of Xiao Yan's Dou Qi and deliberately made him a useless good-for-nothing for three years, yet they want to squeeze me dry.

"Little Ting, Cousin Xun'er gave you a Low Earth Tier cultivation method?" Xiao Yan's expression turned strange.

"Yes." Xiao Ting nodded slightly. "There is no need for Xun'er and me to stand on ceremony. Working hard to become stronger is what truly matters. Everything else is unimportant."

"You... really see things clearly." Xiao Yan's countless thoughts turned into a mixture of emotion and envy.

When you were young, you did not know the hardship of striving, and a rich woman could put your name in the family register; when you were young, you did not know how sweet living off a woman was, and wasted your youth working yourself to the bone; when you were young, you did not know how wonderful rich women were, and mistook ordinary girls for treasures.

But when the girl herself was a rich woman, he would gladly finish this bowl of rice!

"You have Yao Lao, Brother Yan, and I have Xun'er. We are about the same, about the same." Xiao Ting smiled modestly, and it was obvious that he sincerely believed it.

"Since you already have a suitable Low Earth Tier cultivation method, why did you still accept mine?" Yao Lao recovered from his speechlessness and shock.

Xiao Ting raised a finger to scratch his cheek, looking puzzled. "Just because I have a suitable Low Earth Tier cultivation method, does that mean I cannot accept another?"

"You can. Of course you can." Xiao Yan gave him a thumbs-up.

Yao Lao: "..."

Xun'er covered her mouth and laughed softly.

"Forget it." Yao Lao could not possibly ask for the cultivation methods back after giving them away. After thinking briefly, he took out another scroll. "Most of the Dou Techniques and cultivation methods I possess are fire-attributed, followed by wood-attributed. I only have a few lightning-attributed ones because lightning and wood share the same origin."

"These Bagua Lightning Chasing Steps are a mid-grade Xuan Tier movement technique. Lightning-attributed cultivators can learn it with half the effort, and once mastered to perfection, its effects are even stronger than a high-grade Xuan Tier technique."

"Do you want it?"

Why did this old man's tone sound a little strange?