Living Off a Rich Girl

News of Xiao Ce breaking through to Dou Zhe had not been widely spread throughout the Xiao Clan. Only a handful of senior members knew.

After all, Xiao Yan's cultivation had inexplicably regressed, and the cause had yet to be found. They feared he might have been sabotaged.

Thus, the Xiao Clan's higher-ups unanimously agreed that news of Xiao Ce's breakthrough to Dou Zhe should not be publicized.

Xiao Ce naturally had no objections. It was always better to be cautious.

Under the setting sun, Xiao Ce sat cross-legged beneath a great tree in a quiet little courtyard, his eyes closed. He looked like an old monk deep in meditation.

Ever since breaking through to Dou Zhe, he had eagerly begun cultivating the Xuantian Yin-Yang Dao, sinking his consciousness into his dantian.

During his cultivation, the Dou Qi Cyclone in his dantian shifted once more from golden-yellow into black and white.

The black and white energies intertwined and revolved, greedily devouring the energy drifting between heaven and earth and converting it into Yin-Yang Dou Qi.

Whenever the Yin-Yang Dou Qi completed one circulation through Xiao Ce's body according to the Xuantian Yin-Yang Dao's route, his aura quietly grew stronger.

As a Doudi inheritance, even without a dual cultivation partner, the Xuantian Yin-Yang Dao's boost to Xiao Ce's cultivation speed was no weaker than any high-grade Heaven-tier technique.

Xiao Ce, who was personally cultivating the Xuantian Yin-Yang Dao, had the greatest say in this matter.

In less than half a month, he had already faintly sensed signs of another breakthrough.

Xiao Ce was fairly self-aware.

He knew that his cultivation talent might count for something within the Jia Ma Empire, but across the entire continent, it was probably only second- or third-rate.

Yet the Xuantian Yin-Yang Dao had elevated his cultivation speed to a level that countless people could only gaze upon from afar.

Beyond that terrifying cultivation speed, Xiao Ce's foundation was astonishingly solid. Though he was merely a one-star Dou Zhe, the abundance of his Dou Qi was not the least bit inferior to that of a three-star Dou Zhe.

Before he knew it, the sky had darkened.

Outside the courtyard, the gate was gently pushed open, and a pale green figure peered inside.

The newcomer was none other than Xun'er.

She immediately spotted Xiao Ce sitting beneath the tree with his eyes closed in cultivation. Seeing that he was cultivating, she softened her footsteps as she entered the courtyard, making no sound at all.

Yet when she stepped through the gate and looked toward Xiao Ce again, she found that he had already emerged from his cultivation state and was smiling at her.

"Little Sister Xun'er, what brings you here?"

Seeing that Xiao Ce had stopped cultivating, Xun'er no longer held back and jogged over.

"Does Brother Xiao Ce not welcome Xun'er?"

"Ever since Brother Xiao Ce broke through to Dou Zhe, he only comes to see Xun'er once every few days. Has Brother Xiao Ce stopped liking Xun'er?"

As she spoke, Xun'er puffed out her little cheeks, pretending to be angry.

Seeing this, Xiao Ce smiled. He stood up and reached out to pat Xun'er's little head, speaking as though coaxing a child.

"Xun'er is so adorable. How could Brother Xiao Ce not like you?"

"It's just that Brother Xiao Ce needs to cultivate diligently so that he can protect Xun'er in the future!"

Upon hearing that, Xun'er's attitude made a complete reversal. A sweet smile instantly bloomed across her delicate, adorable face, and she stepped forward to hug Xiao Ce's arm as she acted coquettishly.

"I knew Brother Xiao Ce would never stop liking Xun'er. Brother Xiao Ce is the best."

"But..." Xiao Xun'er drew out the word and blinked at Xiao Ce. "To do a good job, one must first sharpen one's tools."

"If Xun'er guessed correctly, Brother Xiao Ce should currently be cultivating the high-grade Yellow-tier technique Lianhuofen, right?"

The reason Xun'er asked this was naturally because she had already learned Xiao Ce's Dou Qi attribute from Xiao Hai. The highest-ranked fire-attribute technique in the Xiao Clan was precisely Lianhuofen.

Seeing Xun'er's expression that practically said, "I'm clever, aren't I? Praise me," Xiao Ce could not help but laugh. Then he shook his head. "Xun'er guessed wrong."

Xun'er's brows immediately furrowed slightly.

"Wrong?"

"How could that be?"

Elder Ling had told her this information. There should not have been any mistake.

"Brother Xiao Ce, if you are not cultivating Lianhuofen, then what technique are you cultivating?"

A trace of curiosity appeared on Xun'er's face.

The Xiao Clan's highest-ranked fire-attribute technique should have been Lianhuofen.

"Let's not talk about that yet." Xiao Ce reached out and scraped Xun'er's little nose, his tone teasing. "From what Xun'er said just now, could it be that this little rich girl wants to keep me with a high-grade technique?"

Xun'er's little face instantly turned bright red, as though steam were rising from her head.

"Brother Xiao Ce is terrible." She lightly slapped his hand away, her voice both embarrassed and annoyed. "What do you mean, keep you? Xun'er just thinks ordinary techniques are unworthy of Brother Xiao Ce's talent."

With that, she opened her hand, and a dark red scroll instantly appeared out of thin air in her palm.

"This is the high-grade Xuan-tier technique Yanhuang Jue. For now, Xun'er can only offer a technique of this level. Brother Xiao Ce should take it and cultivate it first."

"This isn't charity. Once Brother Xiao Ce finds a higher-grade technique in the future, you can return the favor to me."

As though worried that Xiao Ce might refuse, Xun'er added another sentence.

But Xiao Ce naturally would not accept this technique. Smiling, he said, "I appreciate Xun'er's kindness, but forget about this technique."

Xun'er immediately grew anxious.

"Brother Xiao Ce, how can we just forget it? You know perfectly well that having a high-grade technique early on brings tremendous benefits to future cultivation..."

"Hahaha." Seeing how anxious Xun'er looked, Xiao Ce could not help laughing out loud.

"You're still laughing!"

Xun'er glared at Xiao Ce with puffed cheeks. Though she was still only a little girl, the maturity she displayed far surpassed that of her peers.

Xiao Ce smiled. "All right, all right. I won't tease you anymore. Didn't Xun'er just ask what technique I'm cultivating?"

"Could it be..." Seeing Xiao Ce's expression, Xun'er's heart stirred as she thought of a possibility.

And Xiao Ce's next words immediately confirmed her guess.

"The technique I cultivate is indeed not the clan's Lianhuofen. It is a mysterious technique that I happened to pick up at the market. Its grade is certainly no lower than high-grade Xuan-tier."

"Just as I thought..." With her guess confirmed, Xun'er finally relaxed. Smiling brightly, she said, "Xun'er was really afraid that Brother Xiao Ce would rather cultivate a low-grade technique than accept the one Xun'er gave you."

The Douqi Continent was filled with countless opportunities. It was not particularly strange for Xiao Ce to find a high-grade technique at the market.

At the very least, Xun'er knew that some eccentric experts liked to use special methods to hide their techniques and Dou Skills within ordinary objects, leaving them behind for those destined to discover them.

"How could I?" Xiao Ce rubbed Xun'er's soft hair and teased with a smile, "Who would refuse such fragrant, sweet soft rice? Only a fool would do that."

"Don't you agree, Xun'er?"

Xun'er nodded vigorously.

"Xun'er will provide Brother Xiao Ce with soft rice for the rest of your life."

"Oh?" Xiao Ce teased. "Then shouldn't Xun'er first take out a few high-grade Dou Skills and let your Brother Xiao Ce see what you're capable of?"

"Mm-hmm!"

Xun'er's eyes lit up. The next moment, she took five scrolls from her Storage Ring.

"Brother Xiao Ce, pick whatever you like!"