Yao Chen

"So you want me to look into why Xiao Yan's Dou Qi vanished and his talent disappeared?"

After listening to Xiao Zhan, Xiao Chen narrowed his eyes slightly and spoke calmly.

His tone was as calm as ever, without the slightest change.

To be honest, since arriving at the Xiao Family, he had yet to meet Xiao Yan, this Child of Destiny.

As for the reason Xiao Yan had lost all his Dou Qi, Xiao Chen actually knew it well. He simply did not wish to interfere.

Of course, Xiao Zhan had no other choice. He had originally thought that the Qi Nourishing Powder Xiao Chen left behind would restore Xiao Yan's talent, or at least raise his Dou Qi by a few levels and allow him to pass the coming-of-age ceremony.

Unfortunately, it had been completely useless. Xiao Yan's cultivation remained fixed at the third stage of Dou Qi, utterly unmoving.

The Xiao Family elders turned a blind eye to Xiao Zhan's actions. After all, if Xiao Yan's talent recovered, it would be greatly beneficial to the Xiao Family as well.

"Fine. Let's go take a look."

After a while, Xiao Chen decided to meet Xiao Yan, the protagonist.

Inside the room, a bare-chested youth sat cross-legged in a wooden tub. His hands were joined before him in a strange seal, his eyes tightly shut, his breathing steady and powerful. The tub was filled with azure liquid. As it swayed gently, it reflected faint glimmers of strange light, making it seem rather miraculous. The youth's chest rose and fell softly, his breathing carrying an extremely rhythmic cadence. As his cultivation continued, the azure liquid in the tub gradually gave off faint streams of air. Tinged with green, they slowly rose before entering the youth's body through his breathing. The moment the streams entered his body, the youth's tender face seemed to take on the luster of warm jade. Sensing the increasingly abundant Dou Qi within him, a faint, gratified smile appeared on his young face.

But soon, the ancient black ring on the youth's finger glowed faintly once more in a strange manner, then fell silent...

"Huff..." The youth slowly exhaled a breath of stale air and abruptly opened his eyes. A faint white gleam flashed through his dark pupils. It was Dou Qi that had just been absorbed but not yet fully refined.

"The Dou Qi I worked so hard to cultivate is disappearing again... Fuck!"

After focusing inward and sensing his body, fury suddenly filled the youth's face, and he cursed in a shrill voice.

He clenched his fists tightly. After a long while, he gave a bitter smile and shook his head, then climbed wearily out of the wooden tub. Stretching his slightly numb ankles and thighs, he could not ignore physical exhaustion with merely three stages of Dou Qi.

After moving his body around the room for a bit, an aged voice came from outside. "Third Young Master, the Clan Head requests your presence in the main hall!"

As the Xiao Family's Ancestor, Xiao Chen naturally could not personally summon Xiao Yan. Thus, Xiao Zhan could only send someone to invite him.

"Oh." Xiao Yan answered casually. After changing into a set of clothes, he left the room and smiled at an old man in green robes outside. "Let's go, Steward Mo."

Looking at the youth's tender face, the old man in green nodded kindly. As he turned around, a trace of barely perceptible regret passed through his clouded old eyes. With the Third Young Master's former talent, he should have long since become an outstanding Dou Zhe. What a pity...

With the rise of Xiao Mei, Xiao Ning, and the others, Xiao Yan's position had become increasingly awkward.

Following the old steward through the rear courtyard, they eventually stopped outside the solemn reception hall. After respectfully knocking on the door, the old steward gently pushed it open and entered.

The moment the door opened, Xiao Yan's gaze landed almost instinctively on Xiao Chen.

At that moment, only Xiao Chen, Heavenly Fire Venerate, Xiao Zhan, and several Xiao Family elders were in the hall.

"Your son greets Father and the elders."

Xiao Yan glanced at Xiao Chen, who was likewise observing him. Rather than ask about the latter's identity, he first greeted Xiao Zhan and the others.

"Yan'er, this is Mister Chen, an expert your father went to great lengths to invite."

Hearing this and seeing this familiar scene, warmth rose in Xiao Yan's heart, though the corner of his mouth could not help twitching.

Over the years, Xiao Zhan had invited countless experts to examine the reason behind his vanished Dou Qi.

Unfortunately, without exception, none of them could find anything. Gradually, even Xiao Zhan had given up hope.

"Xiao Yan greets Mister Chen."

Though he grumbled inwardly, Xiao Yan did not wish to embarrass Xiao Zhan. Thus, he respectfully bowed to Xiao Chen.

"No need for formalities. All of you, leave first. I have found the reason this Little Fellow's Dou Qi vanished."

Xiao Chen's sharp gaze, filled with deeper meaning, fell on the ancient ring on Xiao Yan's hand.

"Really?!"

Before his words had even faded, Xiao Zhan shot to his feet in excitement.

Though he had immense confidence in Xiao Chen, when this moment truly arrived, he still could not restrain the excitement in his heart.

"Hm?"

Hearing that, Xiao Chen cast a glance at Xiao Zhan, whose face had flushed red with excitement.

In an instant, it was as though a basin of cold water had been poured over him, and he calmed down completely.

Though he gave an embarrassed smile, he exchanged glances with the Xiao Family elders and hurriedly left with them.

"Will you come out on your own, or shall I invite you out?"

Xiao Chen glanced at the equally excited Xiao Yan, his voice turning slightly cold.

"This junior, Yao Chen, greets Senior."

Suddenly, Xiao Yan stared in horror at the transparent, aged figure floating above the ring...

His face was the very picture of someone who had seen a ghost.

"This Little Fellow's vanished Dou Qi was your doing, wasn't it?!"

Before the words had even faded, Xiao Yan's pupils suddenly dilated. He no longer cared whether he had encountered a ghost.

Icy words struggled out from between his teeth. "The Dou Qi that has been inexplicably disappearing from my body... you were behind it?"

"Hehe, Little Fellow, I had no choice!"

Before Xiao Chen, Yao Chen did not dare act even slightly presumptuous.

During this time, he had only absorbed the Dou Qi Xiao Yan produced from refining the Qi Nourishing Powder.

As for the essence of a Dou Saint and the Xiao Clan bloodline within it, he had not dared touch even the slightest bit.

"Fuck your mother!"

Xiao Yan, who had always prided himself on being steady and calm, completely disregarded the presence of others. At that moment, he suddenly leaped about like a madman.

"Quiet!"

With a cold rebuke, Xiao Yan instantly calmed down.

"This junior has been disrespectful. I hope Senior will forgive me."

Xiao Yan did not dare offend an expert who had seen through the reason his Dou Qi had vanished at a glance.

"Enough. You may leave first. I still have matters to discuss with him."

"Later, I will come find you personally."

The moment he said that, before Xiao Yan could react, his body rose into the air. Like a fallen leaf drifting in the wind, he was sent flying straight out of the hall.

"I believe you have already guessed the origins of the Xiao Family."

"So I will not beat around the bush. One sentence: I will help revive you, and you will serve me for ten years. At the same time, to compensate that Little Fellow, you may take him as your disciple. What do you say?"

"It's a deal."

Facing a Dou Saint, Yao Chen did not dare refuse.