Aftermath

"Miss Xiao Xun'er, the battle is over. Let us depart."

Elder Ling spoke up suddenly from the side.

"Understood, Elder Ling. Let us go." Xiao Xun'er gave a slight nod.

Elder Ling then carefully scooped up Xiao Xun'er and unfurled his Dou Qi wings, shooting straight up into the sky.

"Phew, they're finally gone," Xiao Yan exhaled a long breath.

"Heh heh, it seems your little bride is quite concerned about you and your father."

Yao Lao teased him.

"Wait, Teacher, Uncle Xiao Zhen is in danger! Quickly, help Uncle Xiao Zhen!"

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

"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 small face.

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

Seeing the playful look on Xiao Yan's face, Xiao Xun'er spoke in a hurry.

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

Seeing the sudden mischievous smirk on Xiao Yan's face, Xiao Xun'er realized he had been teasing her all along and pouted.

"Hahaha, no I wasn't."

Xiao Yan laughed and reached out to flick Xiao Xun'er's delicate nose.

"Wait, that's not right. This aura... Brother Xiao Yan, you've already become a Dou Practitioner!"

Xiao Xun'er, who had been acting spoiled, suddenly sensed the subtle change in Xiao Yan's aura.

"Heh, you little sharp-eyed girl, I only just broke through myself," Xiao Yan said with a faint smile.

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

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

"A... a Dou Practitioner?" Elder Ling, hidden in the shadows, was shocked.

"How old is this kid? Even those top-tier geniuses with eighth-grade Imperial Clan bloodlines in my Ancient Clan are probably only at this level, right?"

"Oh, right, Brother Xiao Yan, I recall you haven't practiced any Dou Techniques yet, right? How about I give you one? You aren't allowed to refuse."

Xiao Xun'er looked at Xiao Yan and said.

As she spoke, she took a cyan scroll from her Storage Ring and handed it to him.

"Here, Brother Xiao Yan, this is a Profound-tier intermediate Dou Technique: Mountain Leaning Strike."

Xiao Xun'er looked at Xiao Yan with eyes full of anticipation.

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

Xiao Yan took the Dou Technique scroll casually.

"It seems Xun'er is quite the little heiress. Even high-grade Storage Rings and Dou Technique manuals—things considered luxury items on the Dou Qi Continent—are things you can just pull out at will."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xun'er put her hands behind her back and stuck out her tongue adorably, remaining silent.

"Come on, let's go for a walk, Little Sister Xun'er."

Xiao Yan tucked the scroll away and took Xiao Xun'er by the hand, leading her out of the courtyard.

As they walked, Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er arrived at the Xiao Family Main Residence, just in time for Xiao Zhan to spot them.

"Yan'er, you're here. This time, thanks to your teacher's help, we were able to successfully wipe out the Jialie and Aoba clans. You must thank your teacher for me."

Seeing Xiao Yan approach, Xiao Zhan happily wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

"Heh heh, it was mostly thanks to Father and the elders' efforts," Xiao Yan said modestly.

So it's true, Brother Xiao Yan really does have a mysterious teacher guiding him. Who could it be? I'm quite curious myself, Xiao Xun'er thought to herself, listening obediently from the side.

"Alright, Yan'er, take your Little Sister Xun'er out to play. Your father will be quite busy for a while, so make sure to protect her."

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

"I understand, Father."

Xiao Yan still wasn't quite used to Xiao Zhan treating him like a three-year-old, so he tilted his head and replied.

Xiao Zhan chuckled at his headstrong son before walking away to attend to his busy schedule.

The two walked down a secluded path and, hearing laughter coming from a nearby courtyard, headed toward it. Upon entering, they saw his older brothers, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, playing with Xiao Ning from the Great Elder's household, Xiao Yu'er, and Xiao Mei'er, the daughter of a family steward.

Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Yu'er, who, despite being only five, was already as tall as the boy Xiao Ding.

"As expected, long legs really are a gift of nature. Even at five years old, she's already like this."

Xiao Mei'er walked over and tugged at Xiao Yan, who was currently pondering the issue of leg length.

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

Xiao Yan looked down at Xiao Mei'er, who possessed a pair of phoenix eyes, and then at Xiao Xun'er, who was pouting to the side. He laughed inwardly, Raising a girl seems like a pretty good choice.

Three days later, having successfully taken control of everything, the Xiao Family became the undisputed hegemon of Wutan City. Having begun its reign over the city, the Xiao Family started hungrily absorbing the nutrients required for its growth, and the bloodline of the fallen imperial clan began to shine once more.

Early morning, the back mountain.

"Bang, bang, bang."

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

Xiao Yan was lying shirtless on a large boulder, while Yao Lao was unleashing waves of energy that struck his body.

"Ugh, damn it. I knew practicing this Dou Technique would be painful, but I didn't expect it to be this painful!"

"Teacher, again!"

"Teacher, again!"

"Teacher, again!"

Yao Lao watched Xiao Yan, who had passed out from overexertion, his gaze gradually softening.

"This child certainly has a tenacious temperament."

As he spoke, a gentle stream of energy was sent by Yao Lao into Xiao Yan's body, slowly nourishing his meridians.

Half a month later.

"Eight Extremities Collapse!"

A cold, sharp shout suddenly rang out amidst the small forest on the mountaintop.

Xiao Yan slammed his elbow violently against a large tree.

"Bang!"

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

"At this point, no matter what happens to you, I am no longer surprised. In just half a month, you've already mastered Eight Extremities Collapse to thirty percent of its potential."

Yao Lao stared at the fallen tree before him with a slightly dazed expression.

"Hehe, it's all thanks to Teacher's good instruction."

Xiao Yan laughed sheepishly.

"Alright, over half a month has passed, and your Dou Technique training is starting to look like something. It's time for you to go out and travel with me," Yao Lao said with a faint smile.

"Understood, Teacher." Xiao Yan looked at Yao Lao with a hint of excitement.

"Mm, let's go. It's getting late, let's head back. Prepare yourself at home; we'll set off in two days. It's also a good time for you to properly say goodbye to your father and the others."

With that, Yao Lao flew back into the Storage Ring.

Xiao Family Main Residence, inside Xiao Zhan's room.

"What? Yan'er, you want to go out and cultivate with your master?"

Xiao Zhan looked at Xiao Yan in surprise.

"Yes, Father. My master and I plan to set off in these next two 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 ahead and do it. While you're at it, make sure to properly say goodbye to your mother and the others, as well as Xun'er," Xiao Zhan said, adjusting his mindset.

"Yes, Father." Xiao Yan nodded.

"Mother and my brothers will be easy enough to handle, but what about Xun'er?"

The moment Xiao Yan thought of Xun'er's resentful little gaze, he started to get a headache.

"Sigh, I have to tell her sooner or later. Let's go, to Xun'er's courtyard."

Xiao Yan gritted his teeth and headed toward Xun'er's courtyard.