Xiao Xun'er

"Brother Xiao Ling, you jest. How about a low Earth Tier Dou Technique as payment?"

Gu Yuan smiled warmly at the young man before him.

In his experience, the young man was clearly the sort who wouldn't lift a finger without seeing what was in it for him.

So he didn't beat around the bush.

He was confident that a low Earth Tier Dou Technique would be enough to sway him.

Actually, he wasn't wrong. Unfortunately, he'd run into someone with a cheat!

Xiao Ling glanced at the shocked Xiao Zhan and the others, thinking to himself,

Pathetic...

But when he thought about it, it made sense. In a small place like Wutan City, even a mid-Mysterious Tier technique was a treasure, let alone an Earth Tier one.

"Senior Gu, I'm not that sort of person, but for the sake of my clan, I'd like to ask you for a low Earth Tier fire-attribute Cultivation Method. I hope you'll grant my request."

Xiao Ling looked at Gu Yuan with sincere eyes and cupped his hands.

To be honest, he had considered swindling Gu Yuan.

But he didn't want to use the little girl before him as a bargaining chip and damage the impression he'd made on her.

Although he couldn't trade for Cultivation Methods or Combat Skills above Earth Tier right now, he didn't think much of a low Earth Tier Dou Technique.

Unless Gu Yuan offered him a Heaven Tier Dou Technique, but that was obviously unrealistic.

Even in the Ancient Clan, not just anyone was qualified to practice a Dou Technique of that level.

But Xiao Ling's words left Xiao Zhan and the others feeling ashamed. They exchanged complicated looks, each silently resolving to support Xiao Ling in whatever he said from then on.

After all, the Dou Qi Continent had never lacked for geniuses, but their character varied greatly. Geniuses like Xiao Ling, who wholeheartedly considered the clan, were rare.

Looking at the young man before him, Gu Yuan nodded inwardly in approval. Then he glanced at his daughter beside him and said warmly,

"Very well. This is a mid-Earth Tier fire-attribute Cultivation Method. Consider it a gift to you. I'll be entrusting my daughter, Xun'er, to your care."

"Rest assured, Senior Gu. I'll take good care of Xun'er."

Xiao Ling accepted the jade slip and promised him.

"Good. In that case, I can rest easy. I have some matters to attend to, so I won't stay any longer."

As he finished speaking, Gu Yuan's figure slowly faded away.

"Take care, Senior."

Xiao Zhan and the others rose and bowed respectfully.

Seeing this, Xiao Ling casually tossed the Cultivation Method to Xiao Zhan. "Uncle Zhan, I'll leave the Flame Sun Technique with you. I have things to do, so I'll head back first." Then he looked at the little girl before him and smiled. "Xun'er, let's go."

"Oh~"

Xun'er came back to her senses and replied. She gave Xiao Zhan and the others a polite nod, then hurried after Xiao Ling.

"Brother Xiao Ling, wait for me~"

Inside the hall, Xiao Zhan and the others exchanged glances and shook their heads helplessly. Then an order spread throughout the Xiao Clan.

Lift the lockdown!

Congratulations to Xiao Xun'er, a member of the Xiao Clan's collateral branch, on returning to her ancestral clan.

That was all. No explanation was given.

However, the clan's higher-ups all warned their younger relatives not to provoke this new member.

In the western side room of the small courtyard, Xiao Ling clapped his hands and surveyed the room they'd prepared. He nodded with satisfaction, then turned to the little girl beside him and smiled.

"Xun'er, you can stay here from now on. It's close to my room, so I'll be able to look after you."

At this, Xun'er lifted her porcelain-doll face and blinked her beautiful eyes at the boy standing two heads taller than her. She smiled faintly.

"Sorry for the trouble, Brother Xiao Ling."

"Haha, it's no trouble." Xiao Ling waved his hand and turned to leave the room. "All right, get some rest. I'm going to cultivate. Call me if you need anything."

"Mm~"

Xun'er nodded with a smile.

After Xiao Ling left, the smile on her face gradually disappeared, replaced by a trace of confusion.

Her father had originally sent her to the Xiao Clan to find a piece of Ancient Jade. But now he wanted her to stay close to Xiao Ling, and had even told her that if the Ancient Jade was with him, she could abandon the plan and build a good relationship instead.

She was a little confused~

Just then, the shadows behind a nearby pillar shifted slightly, and a voice came from within them.

"Miss, there's no need to worry. This old servant will always be by your side."

"Elder Ling, I'm fine."

Xun'er composed herself and smiled faintly.

It was no wonder she had a God-Tier Bloodline. She really was far more mature than other children her age.

At this, Ling Ying tried to lift the girl's spirits and said softly, "Miss, from what I've observed, the Xiao Clan has quite a few young geniuses—more than ten. Even across the Northwest Continent, they'd rank among the top hundred."

"Oh~"

Xun'er raised her delicate brows in surprise and asked softly, "Then can you see through Brother Xiao Ling's strength, Elder Ling?"

"Well... This old servant can't see through Young Master Xiao Ling's strength, but I estimate he's at least a Dou Zhe," Ling Ying replied.

"I see..."

Xun'er murmured softly.

Meanwhile, Xiao Ling sat cross-legged on his bed, recalling Gu Yuan's attitude toward him that day. A glint flashed in his eyes.

"It seems... strength really is everything..."

If Gu Yuan had seen through his Nine-Star Dou Shi strength today, the effect would certainly not have been as strong as it was.

After all, it was the unknown that invited speculation.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking,

Xiao Ling had already arrived at Xun'er's door. But before he could knock, it opened.

"Brother Xiao Ling, come in~"

Xun'er stood at the doorway, smiling faintly.

"Uh, no."

Xiao Ling looked at the little girl before him, who had used Ling Ying to know he was coming in advance. Then he smiled and said,

"Since Senior Gu entrusted you to me, I have to take responsibility for you. Come with me to morning practice today."

As the little girl blushed, Xiao Ling took her hand and led her out of the courtyard.

"Brother Xiao Ling, are you the one who organizes morning practice?"

Xun'er tilted her head up toward the young man's profile, her face flushed as she asked.

At this, Xiao Ling replied with a smile,

"Of course."

Although it had been his predecessor who organized morning practice, Xiao Ling now occupied his body, so technically, he was the one who organized it. That was fair enough.

Thinking this, Xiao Ling walked along the quiet path, holding Xun'er's little hand.

At this, Xun'er didn't say anything else~

She kept her head lowered along the way, lost in thought. Every now and then, she tilted her head and glanced at the young man's profile, and her porcelain-doll face would instantly flush.

Seeing this, Xiao Ling glanced at Xun'er in confusion. Noticing her evasive gaze, he couldn't help wondering what was going on.

Just then, several young boys approached from the path ahead. When they saw him, they all came forward to greet him.

"Good morning, Brother Xiao Ling..."

"Good morning, Cousin."

"Mm."

Xiao Ling returned to his usual impassive expression and walked past them, still holding Xun'er's little hand.

"Th-that little girl beside Brother Xiao Ling is Xiao Xun'er, right?" one Xiao Clan youth asked uncertainly.

"Probably." Another Xiao Clan youth looked at the pair walking away, then suddenly asked curiously, "What do you think Cousin Xiao Yu would say if she saw them?"

Xiao Yan: "???"

The other Xiao Clan youths: "..."

Once they caught on, the others gave him a disdainful look and hurried after Xiao Ling.