Eight Months of Growth, the Coming-of-Age Ceremony Arrives

With a goal in mind, Xiao Yan had no intention of setting out so soon.

Unlike the original Xiao Yan, the so-called Three-Year Agreement did not give him any sense of urgency.

He could defeat Nalan Yanran now, and he would still be able to do so in the future.

His real sense of crisis came from the Soul Hall Protector hidden within the Misty Cloud Sect.

That was why risking his life for opportunities to grow stronger while he was still weak did not fit his plans.

With talent and cultivation techniques surpassing those of the original Xiao Yan, he could grow rapidly and seize opportunities with greater cultivation.

Especially with Yao Lao as his cheat.

He did not need to immediately reach the Dou Emperor realm. As long as his own strength reached Da Dou Shi, then with Yao Lao possessing him, he would have the strength to contend against a Dou Emperor.

If he had the cultivation of a Dou Ling, then with Yao Lao's help, even a Dou Zong would not be beyond his ability to challenge.

Such strength would already be enough for him to reap the opportunities of the Jia Ma Empire.

Therefore, Xiao Yan had only one goal now.

Over the next year, he would raise his cultivation and alchemy skills as much as possible.

He did not want to narrowly escape death. He only wanted absolute certainty!

After setting his goal, Xiao Yan made full use of every moment.

He divided each day into three parts: one for cultivating Dou Qi, one for learning alchemy, and one for studying Dou Techniques.

Limited by his cultivation, it was still too early for him to learn the Heaven Rank and Earth Rank Dou Techniques in his mind. Xiao Yan specifically asked Yao Lao for a Xuan Rank Dou Technique.

Without question, it was the Xuan Rank High-Level Dou Technique that had played a major role in the original story: Eight Extremities Collapse!

In the blink of an eye, eight months passed.

Xiao Yan was about to turn sixteen, and it was time for the Xiao Clan's coming-of-age ceremony.

Inside the Xiao residence, Xiao Yan sat cross-legged. Within his body, nine stars shone in harmony inside his Dou Qi Vortex.

Nine-Star Dou Zhe!

Eight months of diligent cultivation had sent his cultivation soaring to the Nine-Star Dou Zhe realm, just one step away from becoming a Dou Master.

This speed was even faster than that of the original Xiao Yan.

The reason for this was entirely his innate Fire Spirit Body.

Although he did not yet have any unusual flames for him to devour and increase his cultivation.

His affinity with fire had already begun to show its effects.

He himself possessed fire-attributed Dou Qi and cultivated the fire-attributed Burning Mantra.

The Fire Spirit Body's affinity with fire thus produced its greatest possible effect.

As a result, although the Burning Mantra was merely a Yellow Rank Low-Level technique, its cultivation speed was no weaker than that of a Yellow Rank High-Level technique.

At the same time, because of the Spirit Devouring Body Forging Mantra, Xiao Yan often had Yao Lao refine pills for him—not to eat, but to sell.

Then he used the money from those sales to buy the corpses of various second- and third-tier magical beasts, rapidly strengthening his body.

Some of that energy would be converted into Dou Qi during the process, slightly raising his Dou Qi cultivation as well.

His physical strength was now no weaker than that of a third-tier magical beast, not far behind his soul power, which had already reached the peak of the third grade.

Would his physical strength eventually overtake his soul power?

Xiao Yan was not worried about that in the slightest.

Because even now, he had yet to actively begin improving his soul power.

Even so, his soul power had risen from ordinary third grade to the peak of the third grade, with one foot already in the fourth grade.

It was not that he did not value soul power.

It was simply that he had no use for such high soul power at the moment.

Over these eight months, his alchemy had improved remarkably, and he had now reached the level of a second-grade Alchemist.

He was already the one preparing the Foundation Building Spirit Liquid sold by the clan.

The reason he was stuck at the second grade was because his Dou Qi cultivation could not keep up.

No matter how strong his soul power was, it could not change the reality that he lacked sufficient Dou Qi.

Soul power did not greatly improve combat strength in the early stages, while he was currently focused on improving his cultivation, strength, and alchemy.

There was no helping such trade-offs.

"Xiao Yan Brother!" A young girl's clear, lively voice rang out.

There was a knock on the door from outside. Xiao Yan emerged from his cultivation state, and a smile appeared when he heard that familiar voice.

He got down from the bed and went to open the door.

Outside stood Xiao Xun'er in a purple dress, graceful and slender, her skin fair as snow. Her smiling eyes curved as she looked at Xiao Yan. "Xiao Yan Brother, let's go. The coming-of-age ceremony is about to begin."

"Mm, let's go. The sooner we go, the sooner we can come back."

Xiao Yan did not have much anticipation for the coming-of-age ceremony.

Previously, his Dou Qi cultivation had been stuck at the eighth stage rather than the third, so passing the ceremony had never been in doubt.

Going through it again now would merely display his talent and further bolster the Xiao Clan's prestige.

"Xun Er, you look beautiful today," Xiao Yan praised bluntly.

Xiao Xun'er blushed slightly and awkwardly brushed back her hair. "Xiao Yan Brother, don't talk nonsense. Hurry and come with me."

Xiao Yan only found Xiao Xun'er utterly adorable. He said to her, "Xun Er, cultivate well. Once you reach the Dou Zhe realm, I have a gift for you."

"A gift?" Xiao Xun'er's eyes lit up, and she smiled radiantly. "Then wait and see, Xiao Yan Brother. I'll definitely give you a shock in a little while."

"Alright, I'll wait." As Xiao Yan spoke, his gaze dipped downward. He reached out and took Xiao Xun'er's slender, jade-white hand in his palm.

Xiao Xun'er froze, her cheeks swiftly flushing red. "Xiao... Xiao Yan Brother."

Xiao Yan met her eyes boldly. "Xun Er, I'm afraid you'll get lost."

Xiao Xun'er lowered her head and softly murmured, "Mm."

Inside the ring, Yao Lao watched this scene and felt as though he had suffered ten thousand points of critical damage.

Xiao Clan Square.

Before the Black Stone Test Stele, the Xiao Clan's many disciples had long been waiting. Xiao Zhan and the three elders were also already in position.

Yet despite this, the coming-of-age ceremony had not begun.

Everyone was waiting for the truly important person to arrive.

Very soon, Xiao Yan appeared in the square holding Xiao Xun'er's hand, immediately drawing everyone's attention.

Facing the onlookers, Xiao Yan's expression did not change. After nodding in greeting to his father seated on the platform, he casually led Xiao Xun'er to find a place to stand.

On the platform, Xiao Zhan saw that his precious son had arrived, and only then did he nod to the Second Elder, Xiao Ying, who was presiding over the coming-of-age ceremony, signaling that they could begin.

The Second Elder smiled brightly and had no objections whatsoever toward Xiao Yan.

After all, he knew that the medicinal baths and Foundation Building Spirit Liquid sold by the Xiao Clan all came from this Third Young Master.

As for what the Xiao Clan disciples thought?

Who cared?

The strength Xiao Yan had displayed when he defeated Nalan Yanran several months ago had left them utterly afraid to run their mouths.

Especially since they had vaguely heard that the formulas for the medicinal baths sold by the clan and used by them were provided by Xiao Yan.

Forget insulting Xiao Yan—even if they did not kneel and kowtow to him, they were already being restrained.

The coming-of-age ceremony began.

Beside the Black Stone Test Stele, Xiao Ying called out the names of the Xiao Clan disciples who had reached the required age one after another.

Xiao Yan did not listen closely at all. He focused on chatting with Xiao Xun'er, occasionally tossing out a joke that made the girl roll her eyes adorably, her smile bright and sweet.

Finally, after a while longer, Xiao Yan at last heard his own name.

"Next, Xiao Yan!" called the Xiao Clan elder in charge of presiding over the coming-of-age ceremony.