Aftermath

"Miss Xun'er, the battle is over. We should leave."

Elder Ling suddenly spoke from the side.

"Mm, Elder Ling, let's go." Xiao Xun'er nodded lightly.

Elder Ling then carefully picked Xiao Xun'er up again, spread his Dou Qi wings, and shot into the sky.

"Whew, they finally left." Xiao Yan let out a long breath.

"Hehe, it seems your little wife cares quite a lot about you and your father."

Yao Lao teased him.

"Uh, Teacher, Uncle Xiao Zhen is in danger. Hurry and help Uncle Xiao Zhen."

Before Xiao Yan could respond, he looked up at the battlefield and cried out anxiously.

"I know, I know." Yao Lao replied unhurriedly.

Xiao Yan recalled the amusing scene from last night and stared intently at Xiao Xun'er's little face.

"Last night... last night, Xun'er slept very well."

Seeing the teasing look on Xiao Yan's face, Xiao Xun'er hurriedly explained.

"Hmph, Brother Xiao Yan, you're teasing Xun'er. Xun'er won't talk to you anymore."

Seeing the wicked smile suddenly appear on Xiao Yan's face, Xiao Xun'er immediately understood that he had been teasing her and said coyly.

"Hahaha, when did I?"

Laughing, Xiao Yan reached out and scraped Xiao Xun'er's delicate little nose.

"Eh, no... This aura... Brother Xiao Yan, you've already become a Dou Zhe?"

The coquettish Xiao Xun'er suddenly sensed the subtle change in Xiao Yan's aura.

"Mm, you clever little thing. I only broke through just now."

Xiao Yan smiled faintly.

"Brother Xiao Yan is amazing. Xun'er is only at the eighth stage of Dou Qi."

Xiao Xun'er looked at her Brother Xiao Yan with admiration.

"A Dou Zhe?" Elder Ling, hidden in the shadows, was stunned.

"How old is this boy? Even those top-tier eighth-grade Emperor Clan Bloodlines in the Ancient Clan are probably only at this level, aren't they?"

"Oh, right, Brother Xiao Yan. Xun'er remembers that you still haven't cultivated any Dou Qi techniques, have you? Xun'er will give Brother Xiao Yan one, all right? You're not allowed to refuse."

Xiao Xun'er looked at Xiao Yan.

As she spoke, she took a green scroll from her Storage Ring and handed it to Xiao Yan.

"Here, Brother Xiao Yan. This is the mid-tier Profound-class Dou Qi technique, Mountain Leaning Strike."

Xiao Xun'er looked at Xiao Yan expectantly.

"Haha, I won't refuse. Why would I refuse?"

Xiao Yan casually accepted the Dou Qi technique scroll.

"It seems Xun'er is quite the little rich girl. She can casually take out things like high-grade Storage Rings and Dou Qi techniques, luxuries even on the Dou Qi Continent."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xun'er put her hands behind her back, adorably stuck out her tongue, and said nothing.

"Come on, let's go for a walk, little sister Xun'er."

After putting away the scroll, Xiao Yan took Xiao Xun'er's hand and led her out of the courtyard.

As Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er walked along, they arrived at the Xiao Family Main Residence, where Xiao Zhan happened to spot Xiao Yan.

"Yan'er, you're here. This time, it was all thanks to your teacher's help that we were able to successfully wipe out the Jialie Clan and Aoba Clan. Be sure to thank your teacher for me."

Xiao Zhan walked over when he saw Xiao Yan, happily draping an arm around his shoulders.

"Hehe, Father and the elders were the ones who did most of the work."

Xiao Yan replied modestly.

So Brother Xiao Yan really does have a mysterious teacher guiding him. Who could it be? Xun'er is very curious too.

Xiao Xun'er listened obediently from the side, secretly thinking to herself.

"All right, Yan'er, go play with your little sister Xun'er. Father will be rather busy for a while, so make sure you protect your little sister Xun'er."

Xiao Zhan patted Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er on the head.

"Got it, Father."

Still somewhat unaccustomed to Xiao Zhan treating him like a three-year-old child, Xiao Yan tilted his head.

Xiao Zhan laughed aloud at the sight of his strong-willed son, then hurried away to attend to his affairs.

The two of them reached a secluded path and heard a burst of laughter from the courtyard beside them, so they went over. Upon entering, they found that it was their eldest brother Xiao Ding and second brother Xiao Li, playing with Xiao Ning and Xiao Yu'er from the Great Elder's family, as well as Xiao Mei'er, the daughter of a family steward.

Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Yu'er, who at five years old was already as tall as the boy Xiao Ding.

Sure enough, long legs really are something you're born with. She's already like this at five.

Xiao Mei'er walked over and tugged at Xiao Yan, who was pondering the matter of long legs.

"Brother Xiao Yan, do you want to play with us?"

Xiao Yan lowered his head and looked at Xiao Mei'er, with her pair of phoenix eyes, then at Xiao Xun'er beside him, whose lips were already pursed. He laughed inwardly. Raising them like a game seems like a pretty good choice.

Three days later, the Xiao Clan had smoothly taken control of everything and became Wutan City's undisputed overlord. Having begun to dominate a city, the Xiao Clan eagerly started absorbing the nourishment it needed to grow, and the declining Emperor Clan Bloodline began to shine once more.

Early morning, back mountain.

"Bang, bang, bang!"

A series of dull thuds echoed from the summit of the back mountain.

Xiao Yan was bare-chested, lying on a large boulder, while Yao Lao sent wave after wave of force crashing into his body.

"Ugh, damn it. I knew cultivating this Dou Qi technique would hurt, but I never expected it to hurt this much!"

"Teacher, again!"

"Teacher, again!"

"Teacher, again!"

Yao Lao looked at Xiao Yan, who had fallen unconscious from excessive training, and his gaze gradually softened.

"This child really does have a tenacious disposition."

As he spoke, Yao Lao sent a gentle current of force into Xiao Yan's body, slowly nourishing the meridians within him.

Half a month later.

"Eight Extremities Collapse!"

Amid the small forest atop the mountain, a cold shout suddenly rang out.

Xiao Yan violently drove his elbow back into a large tree.

"Bang!"

With a muffled boom, wood chips flew everywhere. Spiderweb-like cracks spread outward from the point of impact, and the tree finally crashed down.

"Whatever happens to you from now on, I doubt I'll be surprised anymore. In just half a month, you've already brought Eight Extremities Collapse to a decent level of mastery."

Yao Lao stared somewhat blankly at the fallen tree before him.

"Hehe, it's all because Teacher taught me well."

Xiao Yan smiled sheepishly.

"All right. More than half a month has passed, and your Dou Qi technique training is starting to look presentable. It's about time you went out with your teacher for a walk."

Yao Lao smiled faintly.

"All right, Teacher."

Xiao Yan looked at Yao Lao with barely concealed excitement.

"Mm, let's go. It's getting late, so we should head back. Go home and make preparations. We'll set out in two days, and you can properly say goodbye to your father and the others."

After saying that, Yao Lao flew back into the Storage Ring.

Xiao Family Main Residence, Xiao Zhan's room.

"What? Yan'er, you're leaving with your teacher to train?"

Xiao Zhan looked at Xiao Yan in surprise.

"Yes, Father. Teacher and I plan to set out in the next couple of days."

Xiao Yan replied.

"Hmm, I was worried that you were still too young, but since you've already made up your mind, then go do it. Also, properly say goodbye to your mother, your brothers, Xun'er, and the others."

Xiao Zhan quickly composed himself.

"Yes, Father."

Xiao Yan nodded.

"Mother and my brothers will be easy enough, but Xun'er...?"

The moment Xiao Yan thought of Xun'er's resentful little gaze, his head began to ache.

Sigh, I have to tell her sooner or later. Come on, let's go see Xun'er.

Gritting his teeth, Xiao Yan headed toward Xun'er's courtyard.