Cultivation

Miss Wan had been met; now it was time to truly get back on track.

With that thought in mind, Xiao Yan returned to his room. Under Old Yao's direction, he dripped the spirit liquid Old Yao had refined into the bathing barrel.

The clear hot water immediately turned a translucent blue-green.

Xiao Yan then sat down in the barrel and began cultivating.

This was hardly his first time doing such a thing. The Body Tempering Fluid Miss Wan had previously given him was used in much the same way.

However, compared to the Body Tempering Fluid, which initially caused stinging pain and discomfort, Old Yao's nourishing spirit liquid was undoubtedly much gentler.

Though this was also because his body had already endured countless trials, the Dou Qi flowing through him like water once more filled his meridians, bringing an incomparably fulfilling sensation.

Feeling the Dou Qi within his meridians grow once again after two whole years made Xiao Yan especially happy.

Even so, Xiao Yan silently suppressed his excitement. With only a faint smile on his face, he continued cultivating diligently.

Time waited for no one. If he wanted to make a name for himself in one stroke, he needed to devote even more time and energy to cultivation.

Xiao Yan cultivated from daytime until the dead of night before slowly opening his eyes.

"At this rate, I'll reach the fifth stage of Dou Qi within half a month."

Xiao Yan exhaled a breath of stale air and spoke.

Even Old Yao was somewhat surprised. Although Xiao Yan's cultivation speed should indeed have shown signs of accumulated progress finally bearing fruit, this was still a little too fast.

But upon further thought, it was only reasonable.

Xiao Yan's physical strength could now fully keep pace with his cultivation speed, so there was naturally no concern over whether his cultivation foundation was solid enough.

It was like a wooden barrel: all its staves had long since been reinforced and extended, so all that remained was to fill it with water.

Over the next half month, Xiao Yan rarely left his room. He remained inside, cultivating in peace.

The moment he opened his eyes each day, he began cultivating. Only late at night, when his teacher stopped him, would he go to bed and rest until dawn, then repeat the same routine the next day.

Though the days were harsh, whenever Xiao Yan saw his Dou Qi growing at a rate visible to the naked eye, the sense of fulfillment and achievement in his heart immediately washed away the exhaustion from cultivating day and night.

Half a month later, after Xiao Yan had fully absorbed the bottle of Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid refined by Old Yao, a soft sound echoed through his room. The Dou Qi vortex within him broke through the shackles of the fourth stage of Dou Qi, officially entering the fifth stage.

"Mm, not bad."

Old Yao stroked his beard and smiled at the side.

"Go buy some more medicinal ingredients. At this pace, reaching the seventh stage of Dou Qi or even higher by the next clan test won't be a problem."

With Old Yao's assurance and encouragement, Xiao Yan became even more resolute in his cultivation.

"I understand, Teacher."

"Also, while your Dou Qi cultivation is progressing rapidly, as a Dou Zhe, you cannot neglect the cultivation of Dou Techniques. Do not slack off in that regard either."

"Mm. Then, Teacher, do you have any Dou Techniques for me?"

"Here. I saw that your fists and kicks were quite good when you beat up Jia Lie Ao half a month ago. This Profound Tier High-grade Eight Extremes Collapse should suit you well."

After Old Yao finished speaking, the cultivation method for the Profound Tier High-grade Dou Technique, Eight Extremes Collapse, entered Xiao Yan's mind.

Xiao Yan had no choice but to temporarily set aside what he was doing. Sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, he began practicing it with utmost care.

Watching Xiao Yan's cultivation advance day by day, Old Yao was even more satisfied.

At this rate, the day of his resurrection was undoubtedly another step closer...

As for that little girl from the Yao Clan...

A trace of gloom flashed through Old Yao's eyes before turning into a helpless sigh.

Miss Wan... In that case, that little girl's name should be Yao Wan, right?

Not yet sixteen years old, yet already a Dou Wang, with a Heavenly Soul and the Living Flame... Even in the entire Yao Clan, such talent was likely unprecedented.

But why had she appeared in the Xiao Family...

Having just one little girl from the Gu Clan was one thing, but now another girl from the Yao Clan had arrived. The Xiao Family was truly lively.

However, Old Yao was not actually worried that this descendant of his own clan had ulterior motives.

After all, with such talent and the entire Yao Clan supporting her, it was entirely possible for her to one day stand at the pinnacle of the Dou Qi Continent. Why would she set her sights on a dead soul who now had nothing and a brat who was not even a Dou Zhe?

Still, the girl was quite good, and her temperament was good as well. Despite being a prodigy of the Yao Clan, she had never grown arrogant from favor. Compared to her talent, that disposition was even rarer.

The Yao Clan's fortune truly had not waned, to produce such an exceptional child.

Old Yao could not help but sigh. As for matters between Xiao Yanzi and that girl... since neither of them intended to expose it, there was no need for an old man like him to make a nuisance of himself.

Besides, there was no benefit in letting Xiao Yanzi know about the ancient Eight Clans too early. It would be better to explain it once he had the strength to come into contact with that level.

As he made these plans, Old Yao subconsciously looked toward the door, as though he had sensed something.

"Hmm? What's going on today? Why is it so lively..."

During the half month Xiao Yan devoted himself to cultivation, Yao Wan was also consolidating the realm she had just broken through to.

When she came back to herself, more than ten days had already passed.

Then she thought about it. Why had Xiao Yan come to see her so much less these past few days? Normally, whether after one or two days or three to five days, he would at least visit once.

Was he cultivating?

Should I go take a look?

Though now that Xiao Yan has taken Old Yao as his teacher, matters concerning his cultivation probably aren't for me to meddle in anymore...

After hesitating briefly, Yao Wan still put on her bamboo hat and pushed open her door.

She knew where Xiao Yan lived and needed no one to guide her. Walking along the pebble path and through the shaded trail by the lake, Yao Wan rarely walked through the Xiao Family grounds, drawing many sidelong glances.

Though the bamboo hat concealed her true appearance, her innate aura could not be hidden. Even as she passed others like the spring breeze by the lake, she inevitably drew their attention.

"That is..."

"When did the Xiao Family gain such a guest?"

Someone subconsciously voiced the question, and only afterward did others belatedly realize.

"Could she be the Dou Wang alchemist staying in the Xiao Family... 'Miss Wan'...?!"