I'll Take You Through the Back Door!

Inside Ya Fei's room, Xiao Ze toyed with a thumb-sized jade bead.

Qi Gathering Bead!

The capacity within this curious object was quite decent.

As long as an outsider absorbed Dou Qi, it would automatically draw in and store the energy.

On the Dou Qi Continent, besides mainstream weapons, such curious objects emerged in an endless stream.

They were likely things accidentally concocted by blacksmiths.

Xiao Ze tried it himself, attempting to absorb the Dou Qi within the bead, and as expected, it was exceptionally difficult to extract.

But that was not a problem!

Yao Lao's remnant soul could silently absorb the Dou Zhi Qi within Xiao Yan's body.

Absorbing the Dou Qi inside the Qi Gathering Bead should not be an issue either.

Once the Dou Qi within the bead was consumed, it would automatically absorb and store more.

In this way, it should be able to significantly accelerate the progress of Yao Lao's awakening.

Xiao Yan would then be able to restore his reputation as a genius all the sooner.

Beyond hoping that Xiao Yan could return to normal, Xiao Ze actually had his own agenda.

He intended to bind Xiao Yan's alchemy!

Although binding Yao Lao's alchemy would also be good, Xiao Ze was greedy!

Xiao Yan's future achievements in alchemy would surpass his master's!

Xiao Yan's growth rate and potential ceiling were far higher than Yao Lao's!

This was the fundamental reason why Xiao Ze chose to bind Xiao Yan's alchemy!

Of course, as the future Flame Emperor, Xiao Yan certainly possessed more than just alchemy that was worth taking.

However, the system's auxiliary binding only allowed one ability per person.

In the end, Xiao Ze still chose alchemy for its highest practical value!

"Alright! This Qi Gathering Bead is useful to me, so I thank you, Sister Ya Fei!"

Xiao Ze put it away with satisfaction, along with the few other items he had bought earlier.

"Sister Ya Fei, I won't disturb you any further; I'm heading back to prepare for tomorrow's enrollment!"

"Mhm, Little Brother Xiao Ze, good luck!"

Ya Fei stood up to see Xiao Ze off.

After returning to her room, a trace of loneliness flashed across Ya Fei's face.

"A gift for his family? Does that mean this sister he recognized doesn't count as a sister? Sigh~"

Ya Fei sighed and walked over to sit in a chair.

Suddenly, her eyes caught sight of an exquisite gift box placed on a chair on the other side.

On the gift box, written in elegant, sharp calligraphy, were a few small words.

"For Sister Ya Fei!"

Ya Fei happily picked up the gift box and examined it carefully for a while.

Then she ran back into her room to see what gift Xiao Ze had left for her.

On the other side, Xiao Ze returned to the Xiao Clan.

The gifts he had prepared this time were actually only a few.

Xiao Zhan, Xiao Yan, Xiao Xun'er, Xiao Yi Xian, and Xiao Yu, who barely counted.

Although he framed them as parting gifts, the only ones he was truly parting from were Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan.

But giving them to only those two would seem like showing favoritism.

He might as well give them to everyone.

In any case, these gifts were not particularly expensive.

That evening, Xiao Ze had a long-overdue family dinner with Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan.

After eating, Xiao Ze handed the gifts he had prepared to Xiao Zhan.

With Xiao Ze's strength, he would certainly pass the Jia Nan Academy enrollment.

Therefore, his departure from the Xiao Clan in the near future was a certainty.

Xiao Zhan held Xiao Ze's gift and left with a chuckle.

He left the space to his two sons.

"Third Brother, you haven't had any troubling matters lately, have you?"

Xiao Yan pursed his lips, but still forced a smile as he spoke.

"Nothing much, just that my cultivation is as unsuccessful as ever."

"Those guys haven't been bothering you, have they?"

"No, no. They don't even dare to speak in front of me now. Come to think of it, I've actually gotten much closer with cousin Xiao Ning."

Xiao Yan said hurriedly, worried that Xiao Ze might go and beat them into pulp at the slightest provocation.

"Haha, that's good then. You and cousin Xiao Ning really didn't get to know each other without a fight, did you?"

Xiao Ze said with a laugh.

He then took out a wrist guard and embedded the Qi Gathering Bead into it.

"Third Brother, this is something good I bought specifically for you. It might provide some relief for your situation!"

Xiao Yan was a bit confused; what could be so special about a wrist guard?

"Alright, hurry up and put it on. There is a hidden mystery inside, so it's best to wear it at all times and not take it off unless necessary!"

Xiao Ze said with a serious expression.

Seeing Xiao Ze's look, Xiao Yan nodded solemnly.

He trusted Xiao Ze!

"Then I'll head back first to prepare for tomorrow's enrollment."

Xiao Ze stood up to take his leave.

Before leaving, Xiao Yan suddenly raised his hand to ask Xiao Ze.

"Fourth Brother, what is your current realm?"

"I just happened to break through to Dou Grandmaster today."

Xiao Ze left behind a lighthearted remark as his figure slowly drifted away.

Leaving only Xiao Yan petrified on the spot!

Xiao Yan murmured with a dry throat.

"A Dou Grandmaster... terrifying to this extent!!!"

At the same time, Xiao Yan's heart grew even more determined, resolving to make Xiao Ze his goal!

Early the next morning, Xiao Yu knocked on Xiao Ze's door.

"Xiao Ze, get up quickly! We need to hurry, lest there be too many people later!"

Creak—

The door opened, revealing a delicate and beautiful face, and Xiao Yu's knocking posture instantly froze.

"Who are you? Xiao Ze actually hid such a little beauty in his room!?"

"Cousin Xiao Yu, you must be responsible for what you say. This is my friend, Xiao Yi Xian."

Xiao Ze's voice came from behind Xiao Yi Xian as he walked over, putting on a white coat.

"She is staying at the Xiao Clan for the night and is also planning to participate in the Jia Nan Academy enrollment."

Xiao Yu pointed at the two of them in surprise, her red lips slightly parted as she said.

"You two are living together!"

At this moment, Xiao Xun'er's voice slowly drifted over.

"Cousin Xiao Yu, you're overthinking it. Brother Xiao Ze was with me all last night and only returned to his room to wash up and change today."

Xiao Xun'er said with a beaming smile.

Yesterday, Xiao Yi Xian had nowhere to stay, and tidying up a guest room on short notice was a hassle.

Xiao Ze had let Xiao Yi Xian stay in his room while he stayed in Xun'er's room, spending the whole night helping her nourish her meridians.

"Alright, you were the one urging me, Cousin Xiao Yu, and yet you're the one gossiping!"

Xiao Ze fastened his belt and said to Xiao Yu, who still wanted to keep digging for answers.

This finally dispelled Xiao Yu's intentions.

The group of four headed toward the square where Jia Nan Academy was holding its enrollment.

Xiao Ning and Xiao Mei did not come along.

The enrollment standard for Jia Nan Academy was to reach the eighth stage of Dou Qi before the age of eighteen.

Since they clearly hadn't reached that level, they didn't come to join the excitement.

As they approached the road to the square, the crowd suddenly grew denser.

A bad feeling emerged in everyone's hearts, and Xiao Yu remarked.

"Those people are still as crazy as ever. Some of them have been waiting in the square all night, just for the Jia Nan Academy enrollment team."

Having successfully passed the previous year, Xiao Yu felt this deeply and offered an explanation.

"Although the recruitment is held in Wutan City, it is also open to several surrounding major cities, so it is normal for many people to come."

"Then what should we do now?" Xiao Yi Xian looked at the crowd almost filling the square and couldn't help but say.

"It's fine, I'll take you through the back door!"

Xiao Yu said with full confidence.

Led by Xiao Yu, the group arrived at the rear of the square.

Here, there were troops provided by the City Lord Mansion, every one of them fully armed!

They surrounded the area layer upon layer, looking heavily guarded.

Xiao Yu asked Xiao Ze and the others to wait where they were.

She took out a green token from her bosom and went forward to communicate with the commander of the garrison.

The stern-faced garrison commander glanced at Xiao Ze and the others, his brows furrowing slightly.

I ask all my dear readers to please click to follow the updates; the current recommendation advancement depends entirely on follow-reads. I beg everyone to move your hands to the very last page of the book. I kowtow in thanks!