"Not bad. You even knew to hide your true intentions."
On the way back to the Xiao Family residence, Old Yao teased him with a laugh from within his mind.
"I just didn't want to haggle with him. If he noticed that I was interested in that iron fragment, wouldn't I become the sucker?"
Xiao Yan replied with a faint smile in his mind.
After returning to the residence, Xiao Yan headed straight for Xun Er's quarters.
He knocked on the door and waited briefly, but received no response.
That meant Xun Er was not inside.
As long as she was in her room, even if she was cultivating, Xun Er would respond.
After a moment's thought, Xiao Yan headed for the Dou Technique Hall.
The instant he approached, he faintly heard a burst of noisy shouting.
Listening to the cries coming from the Dou Technique Hall, Xiao Yan was somewhat surprised. Few people usually came here, so why was it so lively today?
Thus, beneath the respectful gazes of the Xiao Family members on duty, Xiao Yan strode inside.
The moment he entered the Dou Technique Hall, waves of cheers and applause from young men and women came rolling toward him.
The Dou Technique Hall was divided into eastern and western sections. The eastern section stored the family's Dou Techniques, while the western section was a fairly sizable training ground. At that moment, quite a crowd had gathered around the arena, eagerly watching the two people fighting in its center.
Xiao Yan was quite familiar with the two people sparring in the arena. They were his cousin Xiao Ning and cousin Xiao Mei.
Both were at the fourth stage of Dou Qi. In terms of talent, nine-year-old Xiao Mei was far superior to twelve-year-old Xiao Ning.
Xiao Yan had no interest in watching a match between people in the Dou Qi stage. It was simply too boring.
With a sweep of his gaze, Xiao Yan spotted the beautiful young girl in a pale purple dress among the gaps between the bookshelves.
Without speaking to disturb Xun Er, who was leisurely flipping through a Yellow Tier high-level Dou Technique, Xiao Yan softened his footsteps and walked over.
But just as he approached, Xun Er lifted her head and revealed a sweet smile.
"Brother Xiao Yan!"
The girl's crisp voice and elegant smile were like a spring drizzle, silently nourishing all things and soothing the heart.
"What are you reading so seriously?"
Xiao Yan reached out and naturally took the Dou Technique scroll from Xun Er's hands. After a glance, he suddenly froze.
"Yellow Tier high-level Dou Technique: Flame Fist???"
The moment he saw the name of the Dou Technique, Xiao Yan felt that something was very off. It carried the flavor of his hometown.
Then his gaze sharpened as he carefully read the details of the Dou Technique.
"Flame Fist, a Yellow Tier high-level Dou Technique. Its offensive power is exceptionally fierce. Once trained to great accomplishment, one may unleash a self-sacrificing punch through the air, compressing Dou Qi before releasing it in an explosion to form flames. Combined with the force of the entire body, its power rivals that of a Mystic Tier Dou Technique! Note: if one possesses a special flame, its power will increase according to the strength of the flame, potentially reaching Earth Tier!"
What the hell!
The corner of Xiao Yan's eye twitched slightly.
What kind of genius had created this Dou Technique? And where was the matching Demon Sealing Slash?
"Xun Er, where did you find this Dou Technique? It's rather interesting."
Xiao Yan hid the shock in his heart and turned to Xun Er.
"Mm, I found it in that corner over there. Brother Xiao Yan, there's no need for you to go look. Those are all damaged Dou Techniques. Only this one can be considered complete, but because it is too difficult to cultivate, no one has been able to learn it, so it was tossed into the corner."
Xun Er tilted her head and thought for a moment, then pointed toward the lower right corner of the innermost bookshelf.
"Oh, I see. I think this Dou Technique is quite interesting. It shouldn't be difficult to learn."
Hearing that, Xiao Yan raised his brows and smiled.
"Since Brother Xiao Yan is so confident, once you learn it, could you teach Xun Er hand in hand?"
Xun Er blinked her clear, beautiful eyes, and her voice carried a slightly coquettish note.
"Of course."
Xiao Yan smiled and affectionately reached out to rub Xun Er's little head.
Hearing Xiao Yan's promise, a radiant smile bloomed on Xun Er's small face. She then kept whispering and laughing beside Xiao Yan, their intimate manner making all the young men in the hall burn red-eyed with jealousy.
From afar, Xiao Mei, who had already fought Xiao Ning to a draw, watched the two chatting and laughing beneath the bookshelves. Her pearly teeth lightly bit her lip, and her gaze dimmed slightly.
She had done nothing wrong. It was only that the radiance around Xiao Yan and Xun Er was too dazzling, leaving them able to see only each other and not the lone star beside them whose light had been concealed.
"Alright, if there's nothing else, come with me. I have something to give you."
Xiao Yan said with a smile.
"What is it?"
Xun Er's eyes immediately brightened. Her eyes curved into crescents as she smiled, and even Xiao Yan's mood became much brighter at the sight.
"There are too many people here. Let's find somewhere quieter to talk."
Although Xun Er was trustworthy, if he took out the Qi Gathering Powder here, it would likely throw the entire Xiao Family into turmoil.
"Okay!"
Xun Er obediently nodded, then reached out and hugged Xiao Yan's arm. Resting her little head against his shoulder, she spoke with a beaming smile.
Xiao Yan smiled back. Then, holding the Dou Technique scroll in his hand, he registered it with the Dou Technique Hall administrator before leaving the hall with Xun Er beneath the envious gazes of the young men.
Xiao Mei no longer had the heart to stay either. She politely greeted her cousin Xiao Ning before leaving alone.
As for Xiao Ning... he naturally had some affection for Xun Er as well, but Xiao Yan's brilliance was simply too dazzling, making him feel inferior. Looking at the handsome young man and beautiful young woman together, he could only sigh, find a Dou Technique scroll, and bury himself in studying it.
Inside Xun Er's room.
In the entire Xiao Family, only Xiao Yan could enter this place.
Other than him, there was Ling Ying. Without Xun Er's permission, even when reporting information, he had to kneel outside.
"Brother Xiao Yan?"
Although there were tables and chairs in the room, Xun Er directly pulled Xiao Yan to sit beside the bed. Her curious gaze fell upon him.
"I won't keep you guessing. Here."
As Xiao Yan spoke, he took out the high-quality jade box he had specifically bought from his Storage Ring and handed it to Xun Er.
"This is... Qi Gathering Powder?"
Xun Er opened the jade box and recognized the type of medicinal pill after a brief inspection.
"Mm."
Xiao Yan nodded.
"How does Brother Xiao Yan have this?"
Xun Er lowered her eyes, a trace of deeper meaning flashing through them. Then she raised her head, her face full of pleasant surprise as she asked curiously.
"It's like this. I took another master, an Alchemy Grandmaster. Aren't you at the ninth stage of Dou Qi? I thought I would ask my teacher to refine a Qi Gathering Powder for you. Although I know that even without this, you would still be able to advance to the Dou Zhe realm, it would naturally be better if you had it."
Xiao Yan said with a smile.
"An Alchemy Grandmaster?"
Xun Er looked at Xiao Yan suspiciously.
With her discernment, it was not difficult for her to see that the quality of this Qi Gathering Powder was even better than the one sent by her clan.
But how had Brother Xiao Yan encountered an Alchemy Grandmaster?
And even become his disciple...
Hm?
Xun Er suddenly understood and asked with delight, "So Brother Xiao Yan can become an alchemist?"
"Yes, that's right."
Xiao Yan nodded.
"Then Xun Er must congratulate Brother Xiao Yan. Alchemists are the most respected profession on the continent. Combined with Brother Xiao Yan's cultivation talent, you will surely become a peerless powerhouse whose name shakes the continent in the future!"
Xun Er put away the medicinal pill with a smile and spoke earnestly.
"Mm, I'll work hard to reach that point. So, Xun Er, you need to work hard too. If I stand at the very peak with no one by my side, I'll be very lonely."
Xiao Yan said with a smile.
Hearing this, Xun Er's eyes widened. Her little face suddenly flushed red, and she was completely stunned.
"Alright, put the pill away and cultivate well. I need to go study this Dou Technique."
With that, Xiao Yan rose and left. Xun Er nodded somewhat foolishly and watched him go.
Only one sentence continued echoing in her mind.
Brother Xiao Yan said that he hoped she could be by his side in the future!
Before you continue