Xiao Yan Obtains a Heavenly Flame, Double Reward!

Xiao Chen arrived before the Xiao Clan gates with Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin.

He stepped inside.

Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin followed behind him, looking around the Xiao Clan courtyard.

Several clan members saw Xiao Chen return and hurriedly bowed.

"Third Young Master."

Xiao Chen nodded and headed straight for the main hall.

Xiao Zhan was drinking tea in the hall. Upon seeing Xiao Chen enter, he quickly set down his cup.

"Chen'er, you're back."

Xiao Chen nodded.

Xiao Zhan's gaze fell upon Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin behind him.

"And these two are?"

"Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin," Xiao Chen said.

Xiao Zhan nodded and smiled at the two of them.

"Since they are Chen'er's friends, they are guests of the Xiao Clan."

Xiao Yi Xian gave a slight bow. "Clan Leader Xiao."

Qing Lin followed suit, looking somewhat reserved.

Xiao Zhan had someone arrange guest rooms for them and serve tea.

"Chen'er, where did you go on this trip?"

"Shimo City," Xiao Chen said.

Xiao Zhan's eyes lit up at once.

"You saw your eldest and second brothers?"

Xiao Chen nodded.

"I did."

Xiao Zhan hurriedly asked, "How are they? How are things over there?"

"Eldest Brother and Second Brother are both doing well," Xiao Chen said. "The Mo Tie Mercenary Group is doing well too. Eldest Brother asked me to pass along his greetings."

A smile appeared on Xiao Zhan's face.

"Good."

Xiao Zhan asked a few more questions about Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, and Xiao Chen answered each one.

The more Xiao Zhan heard, the happier he became, the smile on his face impossible to suppress.

"Those two boys have been out making their way in the world for so many years. They've finally made something of themselves."

Xiao Chen rose to his feet.

"Father, please help settle Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin in."

"I'm going to the back mountain to see Xiao Yan."

Xiao Zhan nodded. "Go on."

Xiao Chen turned and left the hall, heading toward the back mountain.

Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin remained in the hall while Xiao Zhan had someone take them to their rooms to rest.

"Sorry to trouble you, Uncle Xiao."

Back mountain.

Xiao Yan sat cross-legged atop a large boulder, his hands resting on his knees and his eyes closed.

Dou Qi circulated slowly within his body.

He could clearly feel that the Dou Qi within him had become a little more solid.

He was only one final step away from breaking through to the next level.

Yao Lao floated beside him, watching Xiao Yan cultivate with a satisfied nod.

"Not bad. Your cultivation speed is even faster than I expected."

Xiao Yan opened his eyes and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"It is all thanks to your excellent guidance, Teacher."

Yao Lao waved a hand.

"Stop flattering me."

"At your current cultivation speed, you are already among the best of the younger generation in a small place like the Jia Ma Empire."

However, Xiao Yan was not particularly pleased by those words.

"Even so, Teacher, compared to Third Brother, I'm still far too lacking."

Yao Lao paused, then nodded.

"Your Third Brother truly is remarkable."

"I have lived for so many years, yet I have seen few geniuses like him."

"A Nine-Star Dou Emperor Peak, a Tier 7 Alchemist, and capable of taming a Tier 6 Magical Beast."

"Any one of those achievements would be enough for someone to boast about for a lifetime."

"But he has them all."

Listening to Yao Lao's words, Xiao Yan quietly made up his mind.

Third Brother is so strong. I cannot hold him back.

I have to cultivate diligently and catch up to him.

Seeing the determination in his eyes, Yao Lao smiled in satisfaction.

Just as he was about to say something, his expression suddenly changed slightly.

"Someone is coming."

With a flash, he slipped into the Storage Ring on Xiao Yan's finger.

Xiao Yan also sensed the sound of footsteps and turned his head.

He saw Xiao Chen walking up from the foot of the mountain.

"Third Brother?" Xiao Yan hurriedly stood up.

Xiao Chen walked up to him and looked him over.

"How is your cultivation going?"

"Not bad," Xiao Yan said. "I'm not far from a breakthrough."

Xiao Chen nodded.

"Third Brother, when did you get back?" Xiao Yan asked.

"Just now," Xiao Chen said.

Xiao Yan looked at him and could not help asking.

"Third Brother, where did you go this time?"

"Shimo City," Xiao Chen said.

Xiao Yan's eyes lit up.

"Eldest Brother and Second Brother's place?"

Xiao Chen nodded.

"How are Eldest Brother and Second Brother?" Xiao Yan asked quickly.

"They're both doing well," Xiao Chen said. "The Mo Tie Mercenary Group is doing very well. Eldest Brother and Second Brother specifically told me to tell you to cultivate properly and not lose to Nalan Yanran in the Three-Year Agreement."

Xiao Yan nodded heavily.

"Rest assured, Third Brother. I definitely won't let Eldest Brother and Second Brother down."

Xiao Chen looked at him and took something from his Storage Ring.

A cluster of azure flames floated quietly above his palm.

The flames radiated terrifying heat, and even the surrounding air became scorching.

The instant Xiao Yan saw that flame, he froze completely.

"Third Brother, this is..."

Even his voice trembled.

Xiao Chen said calmly, "The Green Lotus Core Flame."

"Ranked nineteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking."

Xiao Yan drew a sharp breath.

A Heavenly Flame.

The thing in Third Brother's hand was actually a Heavenly Flame.

Although he had heard Yao Lao speak of Heavenly Flames before, he had never seen one with his own eyes.

This was the first time he had seen a true Heavenly Flame.

From within the Storage Ring, Yao Lao's voice rang out as well, unable to conceal his shock.

"The Green Lotus Core Flame? It really is the Green Lotus Core Flame?"

"Where did your Third Brother get it?"

Xiao Yan asked inwardly, "Teacher, are you sure this is a Heavenly Flame?"

"I'm sure." Yao Lao's voice trembled slightly.

"This truly is the Green Lotus Core Flame, ranked nineteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking."

Yao Lao's voice was filled with amazement.

"Your Third Brother actually managed to obtain a Heavenly Flame. I truly find him harder and harder to fathom."

Xiao Yan took a deep breath and suppressed the shock in his heart.

He looked at Xiao Chen and was about to speak.

Xiao Chen extended his hand toward him.

"It's for you."

Xiao Yan froze.

He thought he had heard wrong.

"Third Brother, what did you say?"

"It's for you," Xiao Chen repeated.

Xiao Yan's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.

"Third Brother, this is a Heavenly Flame."

"It's far too precious. I can't accept it."

Xiao Chen looked at him and said calmly.

"If I tell you to take it, then take it."

Xiao Yan opened his mouth, still wanting to say something.

But when he saw Xiao Chen's gaze, he swallowed the words that had reached his lips.

He stretched out his hand and tremblingly accepted the azure flame resting upon a lotus pedestal.

The Green Lotus Core Flame floated above his palm, radiating terrifying heat.

Xiao Yan could feel the terrifying energy contained within it.

"Third Brother..."

His eyes reddened, and his voice choked slightly.

Ever since they were young, Third Brother had always treated him so well.

He gave him Dou Techniques, medicinal pills, cultivation methods, and Magic Cores.

And now, he had even given him a Heavenly Flame.

This debt of gratitude was one Xiao Yan could never repay in his lifetime.

"Thank you, Third Brother." Xiao Yan took a deep breath and spoke earnestly.

Xiao Chen patted him on the shoulder.

"Cultivate well."

"For the Three-Year Agreement, don't lose to that woman from the Nalan Clan."

Xiao Yan nodded heavily.

"Rest assured, Third Brother. I definitely won't disappoint you."

Xiao Chen said nothing more and turned to leave the back mountain.

Xiao Yan stood where he was, watching Xiao Chen's retreating figure while staring fixedly at the Green Lotus Core Flame in his hand.

Yao Lao's voice emerged from the Storage Ring.

"Xiao Yan, your Third Brother truly treats you exceptionally well."

"Very few people on the entire Dou Qi Continent would be willing to give away something like a Heavenly Flame."

"Yet he gave it to you without even batting an eye."

Xiao Yan nodded, his voice slightly choked.

"That's why I have to work hard. I cannot disappoint Third Brother's expectations."

Yao Lao smiled in satisfaction.

"Good. You have ambition."

"Since your Third Brother has given you the Heavenly Flame, we must work even harder in cultivation."

"In the future, you must subdue this Heavenly Flame as soon as possible."

Xiao Yan responded and sat down cross-legged.

After leaving the back mountain, Xiao Chen returned to his Side Courtyard.

He had just entered the room when the system's voice rang out in his mind.

"Ding, detected that the bonded target, Xiao Yan, has obtained a Heavenly Flame."

"Heavenly Flame: Green Lotus Core Flame."

"Heavenly Flame Ranking: Nineteenth."

"The host has received doubled feedback."