You've taken a liking to the mountain's demonic beasts?

"It's nothing, just a minor business matter. See if the elders can spare some time; if they are free, I won't need to go."

Xiao Zhan said casually, tucking away the stack of papers on the table.

He did not intend to tell Xiao Yu about the situation in Green Mountain Town.

It wasn't that he was intentionally hiding it; in his view, the trouble there involved several Dou Masters, while Xiao Yu was still only a Dou Practitioner.

Even if Xiao Yu knew, he wouldn't be able to solve the problem.

Hearing that it was a business matter, Xiao Yu, who had just sat down, did not press for details.

Seeing the food on the table, Xiao Yu, who had been cultivating all night, was hungry and began stuffing it into his mouth.

Xiao Zhan, sitting beside him, poured him some water and laughed, "Slow down, no one is going to snatch it from you."

He paused, "It seems like it's been a few months since the two of us sat down for breakfast together."

Xiao Yu nodded.

After his third brother returned to the academy, he had been responsible for the family's medicinal production.

Although Yao Lao helped out reluctantly, most of the work was handled by Xiao Yu.

Fortunately, he had experience points, which allowed him to directly raise his alchemy level, ensuring the normal supply of medicine remained unaffected.

Back then, Xiao Yan had worried about what would happen to the family's medicine business once he returned to the academy.

But after seeing Xiao Yu show off a little, his confidence was nearly shattered.

His younger brother, who spent all day lying beside him listening in, was actually better at alchemy than he was despite his own diligent practice. Was there any justice in this world?

"You brat, do you have something you want to tell me?" Xiao Zhan asked tentatively.

Xiao Yu nodded again. He swallowed the food in his mouth and said, "Father, I plan to go out for a trip."

"Where to?" Xiao Zhan filled Xiao Yu's empty cup with water.

Xiao Yu replied, "The Magical Beast Mountain Range."

"Where?" Xiao Zhan's hand holding the kettle trembled, spilling water onto the table.

He looked at Xiao Yu with a suspicious expression, thinking he had misheard.

What kind of place was the Magical Beast Mountain Range?

It was a paradise for magical beasts, filled with countless dangers; even an experienced Dou Practitioner would not dare to wander in there recklessly.

Let alone Xiao Yu, who had never traveled far from home.

Xiao Yu repeated himself with a calm expression.

Now Xiao Zhan knew he hadn't misheard. His face darkened, "Absolutely not. The Magical Beast Mountain Range is too dangerous. If you run into any accidents, how am I supposed to answer to your wife and child?"

"Father, I have a very important matter to attend to." Xiao Yu was not at all surprised by Xiao Zhan's attitude.

Xiao Zhan asked skeptically, "You haven't even left Wutan City before; what could possibly be worth risking your life in the Magical Beast Mountain Range for?"

"To find a wife," Xiao Yu said with a straight face.

Xiao Zhan spat out the water he had just taken a sip of.

Seeing his father's reaction, Xiao Yu felt helpless. He certainly couldn't mention the Beast Taming Experience Card.

Because if he said it out loud, Xiao Zhan would believe him even less.

Father, I'm going to the Magical Beast Mountain Range to catch a few Tier 6 magical beasts to guard our gate?

Xiao Yu thought for a moment; his father would probably think he had gone insane and lock him up.

What was the concept of a Tier 6 magical beast? It was equivalent to a human Dou Emperor!

The Xiao Clan of Wutan City, catching a Dou Emperor to guard the gate?

"You're getting married again? How long has it been since you married Ya Fei? She's still pregnant with your child, and you want to take another wife?" Xiao Zhan's face turned black, looking extremely displeased.

"I am determined to expand the Xiao Clan's lineage. If I don't take more wives, how can I make the clan flourish?" Xiao Yu said with an air of absolute certainty.

I wasn't this fickle when I was young; I was quite devoted...

Xiao Zhan was stunned for a moment.

He said slowly, "There are so many women in Wutan City; can't you just pick another one?"

Given the Xiao Clan's current status, if Xiao Yu wanted to marry, a single word from him would likely have young ladies lining up to break down their doorstep.

"Those mediocre girls in Wutan City? I don't have an eye for them," Xiao Yu shook his head.

Xiao Zhan laughed in anger, shouting, "You brat, you're even more arrogant than your brother! You don't like the people here, so you've set your sights on the magical beasts in the mountains?"

???

Xiao Yu was full of question marks; his father's thinking was a bit too advanced.

He quickly explained, "Father, what kind of person do you take me for? How could I possibly take a magical beast as a wife?"

He paused and added, "I am planning to go to a place in the Magical Beast Mountain Range called Green Mountain Town."

Green Mountain Town?

Xiao Zhan was stunned. He hadn't expected Xiao Yu to mention that place, so he asked, "Which young lady has such charm? She managed to lure you, who were in Wutan City, all the way over there."

"Her name is Xiao Yi Xian, she is a physician," Xiao Yu blurted out.

This unhesitating response actually caught Xiao Zhan off guard; he felt that his son didn't seem to be joking, but had truly investigated the matter.

He pondered for a moment and said, "Fine. As it happens, the Xiao Clan has some trouble in Green Mountain Town that needs handling. I will accompany you there."

Xiao Yu had originally worn a smile upon hearing Xiao Zhan's agreement, but that final sentence caused his smile to stiffen on his face.

Father is going too?

Then how is he supposed to enter the Magical Beast Mountain Range? Sneak in?

That certainly wouldn't be appropriate.

He hurriedly said, "Father, the Xiao Clan still needs you to hold the fort. Leave the trouble at the medicine shop to me; I can handle it."

"You?" Xiao Zhan looked him up and down for a moment before shaking his head. "You can't handle it. The Myriad Medicine Pavilion in the town has joined forces with the Wolf Head Mercenary Group to stop others from doing business at our shop. Behind the mercenary group and the Myriad Medicine Pavilion are figures at the Dou Shi level; you are still lacking a little bit."

"Dou Shi? Father, aren't you looking down on your son a bit too much?" Xiao Yu was very displeased.

He possessed the strength of a two-star Dou Shi, along with the physique that had strengthened accordingly.

A six or seven-star Dou Shi might not even be able to take a single punch from him.

Xiao Zhan put on a stern face. "You brat, if you remain this arrogant and conceited, you will definitely suffer for it in the future!"

He assumed Xiao Yu's mindset had become inflated.

After all, it hadn't even been a year since the coming-of-age ceremony. Even with a teacher behind him, no matter how fast his cultivation speed was, improving by one or two stars would be the absolute limit.

One had to know that Xiao Yan's cultivation talent was famous throughout the entire Jia Ma Empire, yet even after training at the Jia Nan Academy for so long, he had only just broken through to become a Dou Shi.

If he didn't bring out some real proof, it looked like his father was determined to accompany him!

Sensing Xiao Zhan's attitude, Xiao Yu pulled him toward the study.

"Yu'er, why are you bringing me here?" Inside the study, Xiao Zhan looked puzzled.

Xiao Yu didn't speak, but simply extended a hand as the Dou Qi within his body surged.

The next second, a thin layer of Dou Qi manifested on his palm.

Xiao Zhan, who had been closely watching his son's movements, suddenly widened his eyes.

His mouth hung open, his face filled with disbelief.

The layer of Dou Qi on Xiao Yu's palm was as thin as a veil.

Dou Qi Armor!

This was the hallmark of advancing to a Dou Shi!

At this moment, Xiao Zhan wondered if he was still dreaming.

Yu'er had broken through to become a Dou Shi?

This... this, how could it be possible? How long has he even been cultivating?

At the ceremony, the test result was still that of a three-star Dou Practitioner.

Xiao Yu smiled. "Father, want to test it?"

Hearing this, Xiao Zhan nodded immediately. "Good. Come, throw a punch at me. Don't hold back, just use your full strength. Don't worry about hurting me."

Xiao Yu nodded, stepped back with his right foot, and circled his right fist with Dou Qi.

"Be careful, Father!"

As the words fell, Xiao Yu charged toward Xiao Zhan like an arrow released from a bow.

He slammed his right fist down with force.

Because it concerned whether he could head to the Magical Beast Mountain Range alone, Xiao Yu went all out and did not hold back.

Xiao Zhan, possessing the strength of a Dou Grandmaster, raised his hand to receive it.

The next second, his expression changed drastically.

Thinking that Yu'er had only just advanced to a Dou Shi and that his punch shouldn't have much power, Xiao Zhan hadn't defended himself seriously.

But the moment he made contact with Xiao Yu's fist and felt the force behind it, his heart skipped a beat.

Oh no!

Although Xiao Zhan managed to mobilize the Dou Qi in his body to form a layer of armor just in time, it was still a moment too late.

Watching the figure fly backward, Xiao Yu stood frozen in place.

Would his father be so embarrassed that he became angry and refused completely?