Wutan City, the Xiao Clan.
After Xiao Zhan announced the reward for last place, the Year-End Assessment came to a successful close.
The Xiao Clan's younger generation began to leave in twos and threes.
The commotion surrounding the assessment had already become a popular topic of conversation among the youngsters during their breaks.
"Yu Er, go back and get some rest. And think over the key points I taught you about Sword Finger and Phantom Nine Steps. I'll be checking your progress when I get back next week."
"If you don't meet the standard... just you wait and see what I'll do to you..."
In the small courtyard, Xiao Ling sat in a grand armchair. He glanced at the pair of long legs beside him, then let his gaze drift up to Xiao Yu's distracted little face. He raised a hand and flicked her smooth forehead.
"Thump!"
"Ah!"
Xiao Yu shot him a resentful look, then stood and walked out of the courtyard reluctantly, her long legs carrying her away.
But just as she stepped through the gate, she seemed to remember something and took a step back, poking her little head inside.
"Brother Xiao Ling, remember to bring Yu Er something fun from your training trip!"
"Got it."
Xiao Ling waved dismissively, and Xiao Yu left, satisfied.
Only after making sure Xiao Yu was gone did Xiao Ling let out a relaxed breath. Recalling the commotion that morning, he gently rubbed the white jade ring on his right thumb.
No, to be precise, it was a Storage Ring.
As for why it was shaped like this, that was because it was made from a whole piece of Spirit Gathering Stone.
That's right—it was the thumb-sized piece of Spirit Gathering Stone that Yao Lao had traded for at the cost of his pride in the original story.
If Yao Lao found out... well... it seemed he wouldn't know for a while.
Xiao Ling's fingers stopped rubbing the white jade ring. A ruthless glint flashed through his dark eyes.
He had just thought things over carefully, and Wu Ming seemed suspicious.
Wu Ming hadn't existed in the original story, much less at this point in time. There was only one possibility: the man definitely had a secret he didn't want anyone to know.
Even if he didn't, Xiao Ling still didn't intend to let him go. From the look Wu Ming had given him as he left, it was obvious the man had no intention of being friends.
Since that was the case, Xiao Ling planned to pay a price to ask Ling Ying to act. As for why he wouldn't act himself, it was mainly because he was only a Nine-Star Dou Shi. If he made a move, there was no guarantee of success.
Besides, though Wutan City wasn't large, finding someone hiding in it would take far too long with his Nine-Star Dou Shi strength—and the odds of finding him weren't high.
But it was different if Ling Ying acted. After all, he was the Ancient Clan's only Dou Huang expert.
Even if they failed to find Wu Ming, Ling Ying's presence could still serve as a warning to the two great clans and to Wu Ming—or the forces behind him.
Various thoughts raced through Xiao Ling's mind. He narrowed his eyes, opened the pill section of his cheat, and typed "Sixth-grade Breakthrough Pill" into the search box...
[ Ding! Sixth-grade Breakthrough Pill. The transaction requires four months of lifespan. Confirm? ]
"Confirm."
Xiao Ling replied.
Then he turned and looked meaningfully at the little girl in the purple dress who had been watching him the whole time.
When he looked her way, Xun'er's delicate, porcelain-doll face flushed instantly, and her beautiful eyes darted away.
"B-Brother Xiao Ling, why are you staring at me like that? You're kind of scaring me."
Looking at the little girl who was fumbling for words, Xiao Ling smiled faintly. "Xun'er, I'd like to ask you a favor. Would that be all right?"
At that, Xun'er blinked her beautiful eyes and smiled, revealing two adorable dimples. "Whatever Brother Xiao Ling needs is what Xun'er needs. If you put it like that again, I won't talk to you anymore~"
"Hmph~"
Looking at the girl's adorable expression, even Xiao Ling couldn't help wanting to pinch her little cheek. But he restrained himself and smiled.
"I'd like to ask Elder Ling to help me once. Of course, I can pay him for his trouble."
"After all, I can't ask him to make the trip for nothing."
At this, a flash of shock crossed Xun'er's beautiful eyes. She thought hard, trying to figure out whether she had let slip Elder Ling's existence...
In the end, she couldn't think of anything she'd done to give him away, so she looked at Brother Xiao Ling, who was watching her, and asked, "Brother Xiao Ling, h-how did you know Elder Ling was here?"
She didn't deny Elder Ling's existence. For some reason, she simply didn't want to lie to him...
Xiao Ling had naturally prepared an explanation. Smiling, he asked, "Xun'er, do you remember the Dou Technique I comprehended yesterday?"
"I do! It took Brother Xiao Ling more than half a month to comprehend it."
Xun'er chuckled.
"What if I told you I discovered Elder Ling because of that Dou Technique? Would you believe me?"
Xiao Ling asked seriously.
"I believe you!" Xun'er nodded, then asked curiously, "Brother Xiao Ling, what's your Dou Technique called?"
At that, Xiao Ling raised his right hand, palm upward. With a thought, a Bagua Seal appeared in his palm. Seeing Xun'er's curious gaze, he smiled.
"I named it Bagua Palm."
"With one strike, I form a realm; life and death are mine to decide."
"Wow~ That sounds amazing! From what you've said, Brother Xiao Ling, this Dou Technique must be at least Heaven Tier, right?"
As soon as Xiao Ling looked up, he saw Xun'er gazing at him with admiration. Her beautiful eyes sparkled as if they could speak.
His face reddened, and, uncharacteristically, he looked a little embarrassed. "Ahem... well... my strength is too weak right now. I can only maintain it for ten seconds when I use it. After that, I'll be completely drained...
"But from the way you put it, it does seem to have the beginnings of a Heaven Tier Dou Technique."
"But my Bagua Palm seems to be able to grow?"
Xiao Ling said uncertainly.
Xun'er smiled and reassured him. "Brother Xiao Ling, you're being modest. When I saw you use it last time, even though it only lasted ten seconds, it should still have been enough to barely trap a Dou Ling expert. That's already very powerful."
But as soon as she finished speaking, she heard him say it could grow. She froze, her mouth forming an O, and stared at him in shock with her delicate, porcelain-doll face.
It took Xun'er a long while to recover. Her expression turned grave.
"Brother Xiao Ling, try not to mention your Dou Technique to outsiders. Otherwise, someone will definitely plot against you...
"I've read all kinds of books, but I've never heard of a Dou Technique that can grow. The temptation would be enormous to top experts."
After a pause, Xun'er looked behind her.
"Elder Ling, come out and meet Brother Xiao Ling. Also, please keep his Dou Technique a secret. I hope only the three of us know about everything we've discussed today."
"Rest assured, Miss. I won't breathe a word of it to anyone!"
A blurry figure emerged from behind the pillar behind Xun'er, taking the form of an elderly man dressed in black robes.
He bowed to the girl before him.
Then he turned to the white-robed youth beside him and smiled.
"What would Young Master Xiao Ling like this old servant to do?"
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