Xiao Ze had spent the past few days consolidating his Dou Master cultivation.
Then, as he continued to consolidate it, he took another step forward in the One-Star Dou Master realm!
Xiao Xun'er stared at him, dumbfounded. She had only just finished consolidating her Dou Zhe cultivation, and Xiao Ze had already made another breakthrough?
All Xiao Xun'er could do was silently mutter, "What a monster!"
At the back of the Xiao Clan estate, Xiao Xun'er took Xiao Ze by the hand and ran with him all the way to the hot spring.
"We've been practicing all morning. We might as well wash up here!"
Xiao Xun'er said meaningfully, "Xiao Ze, keep watch for me. Don't let anyone come near."
"No problem. Leave it to me!"
Xiao Ze patted his chest and promised.
With his soul perception as powerful as it was now, even Xiao Zhan couldn't hide from him.
Besides, a high-ranking Dou Emperor was secretly standing guard nearby. What could possibly sneak up to the hot spring?
Seeing that Xiao Ze didn't seem to have gotten the wrong idea, Xiao Xun'er blushed and said, "Xiao Ze, don't even think about peeking~"
"Ahem! Do I look like the sort to abuse my position?"
Xiao Ze coughed and hurriedly replied with righteous indignation.
"Hehe, you never know!"
Though she said that, Xiao Xun'er clearly wasn't worried about Xiao Ze. She swiftly took off her clothes and slowly entered the hot spring.
Mist swirled in the air. The occasional splash of water seemed to remind Xiao Ze that a peerless beauty was bathing in the spring.
Humming to himself, Xiao Ze sat cross-legged outside the pool, looking relaxed as he chatted with Xiao Xun'er.
They were both only eleven years old, still children. What strange thoughts could they possibly have?
"Come to think of it, the clan members have been busy arranging things lately. Is something important happening in the family?"
"Have you forgotten, Xiao Ze? It's the annual adulthood ceremony. I think this year it's for Cousin Xiao Ning."
The sound of water came from the hot spring, drawing closer little by little.
"So Xiao Ning's an adult now. Time really flies."
Xiao Ze rested his hands behind his head and gazed up at the sky, his eyes filled with complicated emotions.
"I heard Xiao Ning's older sister, Xiao Yu, is coming back too. She's a genius who got into Jia Nan Academy. Maybe she'll be a Dou Zhe by the time she returns."
Xiao Ze fell silent. He had always kept a low profile, and he'd never had any dealings with Xiao Yu.
The only connection between them was that he'd recently beaten up her younger brother, Xiao Ning.
But he wasn't afraid of Xiao Yu coming to settle the score. With his current strength, he could easily take on even the Grand Elder!
"Where do you plan to go in the future, Xiao Ze? Join a sect, or enroll in an academy like Xiao Yu?"
Perhaps because Xiao Ze hadn't responded, Xiao Xun'er realized he wasn't interested in the topic and soon changed the subject.
"The Xiao Clan can no longer provide the resources I need to grow quickly. It's time I started thinking about my future."
Xiao Ze thought for a moment, then continued, "Sects have too many restrictions and rules. I don't like that."
"So you're planning to enroll in an academy, then? The same choice as Xiao Yu—Jia Nan Academy?"
Xiao Xun'er's voice sounded a little muffled through the steam.
"Jia Nan Academy really is the best choice for me right now. It can provide the resources I need to grow quickly."
Xiao Ze nodded. He was already leaning toward enrolling in Jia Nan Academy.
Jia Nan Academy imposed few restrictions and could provide cultivation methods and Dou Techniques.
Most importantly, the Inner Academy had the Fallen Heart Flame, which would be a tremendous help with cultivation.
"The family's adulthood ceremony is coming up soon, and I think Jia Nan Academy's admissions will be not long after. Xun'er, do you want to go with me?"
"Sure. We've never been apart since we were little. If you really went to Jia Nan Academy alone, Xiao Ze, I might not know how to handle it."
One sat outside the hot spring, the other soaked in its waters, and together they settled on their future goal.
The Grand Elder's residence.
The Grand Elder had behaved himself during this time, diligently helping the Xiao Clan with its affairs in hopes of regaining his position as Grand Elder as soon as possible.
He had also heard about the strange phenomenon at the back of the mountain that day. There were plenty of rumors in the clan, but none of the higher-ups had come forward to confirm them.
The Grand Elder suspected it might have been Xiao Ze!
He had investigated Xiao Ze's whereabouts during this time.
In the years when Xiao Ze kept a low profile, the place he spent the most time was the back of the mountain.
And after he became a genius, he hardly ever showed himself around the clan. The only place anyone could find him was the back of the mountain.
The Grand Elder murmured to himself, "With an unusual phenomenon like that, and his previous strength at Nine-Star Dou Zhe, could he have broken through to Dou Master?"
"Even for a Dou Master, that phenomenon would've been absurd. Terrifying!"
"No, I need to make Xiao Ning go to his door and apologize!"
"Xiao Ze has already shown the full extent of his potential. We absolutely mustn't make an enemy of him. Even falling out with him would bring us nothing but harm!"
The Grand Elder sprang to his feet, just as a cry of surprise sounded outside his door.
He stepped outside and saw a tall, slender figure wearing the uniform of Jia Nan Academy. A golden star was embroidered on the chest.
When the Grand Elder saw her, a pleased smile spread across his face. It was his granddaughter, Xiao Yu!
A student of Jia Nan Academy!
Getting into Jia Nan Academy was proof of her talent!
After all, the academy's admissions standard required applicants to reach the Eighth Stage of Dou Qi before turning eighteen!
"Grandpa!"
Xiao Yu came forward, her face filled with concern.
"I heard the clan leader stripped you of your position as Grand Elder?"
The Grand Elder nodded. "I have no objections to how the matter was handled."
Seeing that Xiao Yu was about to say something, the Grand Elder spoke first.
"Do you know the whole story?"
Xiao Yu shook her head. All she'd heard from the clan members was that the Grand Elder's position had been temporarily taken away.
"Xiao Ze isn't Xiao Yan. When Xiao Yan became a One-Star Dou Zhe, it was enough to greatly strengthen the clan leader's authority. Xiao Ze is even more terrifying—he's a Nine-Star Dou Zhe at only eleven."
The Grand Elder spoke slowly. Xiao Yu froze when she heard that.
Then she drew in a sharp breath, her chest rising and falling.
"N-Nine-Star Dou Zhe!"
Xiao Yu couldn't help looking down at her own chest, where a single golden star was embroidered all by itself.
Suddenly, she felt that the gap between people could be even greater than the gap between people and dogs!
Xiao Yu didn't doubt him. These were her grandfather's words, and he had even given up his position as Grand Elder because of Xiao Ze!
A bitter smile appeared on her lips. "An eleven-year-old Nine-Star Dou Zhe... We really can't afford to provoke him."
"That's not all! A few days ago, another strange phenomenon came from the back of the mountain. I strongly suspect Xiao Ze may have broken through to Dou Master!"
The Grand Elder said gravely, "I was just about to find Xiao Ning and have him personally apologize to Xiao Ze, so they can settle their differences."
"Ah... That makes sense. I never imagined Cousin Xiao Ze had such terrifying talent."
Xiao Yu sighed.
At the same time, she felt a little curious about Xiao Ze.
According to her grandfather, Xiao Ze had probably broken through to Dou Zhe a long time ago, yet he'd still kept a low profile!
Before long, her imagination conjured up the image of a cultivation fanatic with no vanity, wholly devoted to training.
"Grandpa, I'll go with you, too."
Xiao Yu spoke up suddenly. She really wanted to meet Xiao Ze.
The Grand Elder looked Xiao Yu up and down. He kept looking until she began to feel confused, then finally smiled.
"That's fine. You're roughly the same age, so you can get to know each other."
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