Xiao Chen didn't dwell on it. He readily called him "Uncle," and only then did Xiao Zhan nod in satisfaction. He asked the question that had been troubling him: "Chen'er, didn't you used to dislike cultivating? How did you suddenly become a Dou Zhe?"
He wasn't asking because he wanted to pry into Xiao Chen's secrets. He was worried Xiao Chen might have gone astray and started cultivating some forbidden technique.
"Uncle, here's what happened. I was shopping in Wutan City when I ran into a mysterious powerhouse. He said I had incredible talent and insisted on taking me as his disciple!"
"I didn't want to agree at first, but he said he was an alchemist and promised he could make me a Dou Zhe within a year..."
As Xiao Chen recounted the tale in vivid detail, Xiao Zhan's expression grew more and more peculiar. When Xiao Chen got to the part where the alchemist had offered him an Earth Tier Cultivation Method to convince him to become his disciple, Xiao Zhan couldn't take it anymore. He cleared his throat and interrupted the tall tale. "I'd been thinking of sending you to the Misty Cloud Sect, but it looks like there's no need now!"
It was only natural for Xiao Zhan to think that way. After all, there was no such thing as a wall that couldn't be breached. Xiao Chen becoming a Dou Zhe couldn't possibly stay secret forever.
If Oba Pa and Jialie Bi learned about a Dou Zhe this young, they'd probably lose sleep over it.
By then, they would likely resort to anything and everything to kill Xiao Chen, lest the Xiao Family rise up and swallow their clans.
And throughout the entire Jia Ma Empire, only the Misty Cloud Sect could protect Xiao Chen. That was why Xiao Zhan had wanted to send him there.
But after learning Xiao Chen had an alchemist for a master, Xiao Zhan gave up on the idea.
If the man could raise Xiao Chen from Qi Condensation to Dou Zhe in a year, then with skills like that, keeping him safe would be a piece of cake.
"Thank you, Uncle. But there really is no need for me to go to the Misty Cloud Sect. There shouldn't be anything in Wutan City that can threaten me!"
Xiao Chen wasn't exaggerating. With the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame, he was confident he could even kill a Da Dou Shi in a counterattack.
Of course, Jialie Bi and Oba Pa wouldn't come after him in person. At most, they'd send a few Dou Shis, which would be like delivering a feast right to his door.
Xiao Zhan had no idea what Xiao Chen was thinking. He assumed the boy simply had faith in his master, but he still wasn't entirely at ease. "Chen'er, your master may be powerful, but he can't stand guard over you around the clock. Your own strength is what keeps you alive!"
"Now that you've become a Dou Zhe, it's time you learned a Dou Technique that suits you!"
As he spoke, Xiao Zhan walked over to a corner of the secret chamber. He felt along the wall for a while, then pressed down.
As his palm pressed against it, a series of mechanical clicks rang out. The wall of the chamber began to shift, and a hidden compartment appeared.
Xiao Zhan opened it, pulled out a dark yellow scroll, and tossed it to Xiao Chen. "This is the Xiao Family's Yellow Tier high-grade close-combat Dou Technique, Mountain Crushing Palm. Take it and practice!"
Looking at the Dou Technique scroll in his hand, Xiao Chen didn't stand on ceremony. He tucked it straight into his shirt. "Thank you, Uncle. I'll practice this Dou Technique properly!"
"All right, that's everything. Hurry back. If you don't, Miss Xun'er will probably tear our Xiao Family apart!"
Xiao Zhan waved him off, shooing his guest away. Before Xiao Chen left, he couldn't resist teasing him. The two had spent every day stuck together for the past six months. Xiao Zhan wasn't blind; how could he not know what was going on between them?
Meanwhile, in Xiao Xun'er's courtyard, Ling Ying wore a look of utter shock. "Miss, did you say Young Master Xiao Chen is a One-Star Dou Zhe?!"
A nine-year-old One-Star Dou Zhe! Even in the Central Plains, he could be called a genius. And this wasn't the Central Plains—there were no great clans here with deep reserves to support him. His talent was terrifying.
If he hadn't heard it from his own young mistress, he would have suspected she was playing a trick on him.
"Mm! Elder Ling, with Xiao Chen's talent, people will surely envy him and may even try to harm him. So I'd like you to protect him for a while!"
After half a year in Wutan City, Xun'er had grown familiar with the city's power structure. She also knew Xiao Chen's current situation all too well. That was precisely why she had summoned Ling Ying in such a hurry.
"Even if Miss hadn't asked, I would have protected Young Master Xiao Chen... ahem..."
As Xiao Xun'er's guard, Ling Ying knew just how important Xiao Chen was to her. He immediately thumped his chest and promised he'd keep him safe.
Besides, with Xiao Chen's talent and his relationship with Xiao Xun'er, if he survived, he would surely become the Ancient Clan's son-in-law in the future. It was definitely worth building a good relationship with him now.
After leaving the secret chamber, Xiao Chen went looking for Xiao Xun'er. When he learned she had gone back, he hurried over.
Xiao Zhan's words had reminded him: he really was afraid the little girl Xun'er might fail to find him and tell Ling Ying to tear the Xiao Family apart. That would be quite a spectacle.
"Miss, Young Master Xiao Chen is here. I'll take my leave."
Sensing Xiao Chen approaching the courtyard, Ling Ying bowed and vanished from the spot.
Not long after Ling Ying left, Xiao Chen's voice came from outside the courtyard. "Xun'er, are you home? I'm here to see you!"
"Xiao Chen, you're back! What did Uncle Xiao Zhan want with you?"
Hearing Xiao Chen's voice, Xun'er hurried out of the courtyard and threw herself straight into his arms.
Xiao Chen patted Xun'er on the head. He didn't hide anything from her, telling her how Xiao Zhan had given him a Dou Technique scroll.
Xiao Xun'er lay quietly in Xiao Chen's arms as she listened. When he finished, she nodded in agreement. "Uncle Xiao Zhan is right. Only by becoming strong yourself can you protect yourself!"
"By the way, Xiao Chen, what's your Battle Qi affinity?"
Xiao Xun'er touched the Storage Ring on her finger, thinking over which Dou Techniques inside it would make suitable gifts for Xiao Chen.
Xiao Chen didn't think much of it and answered directly, "Fire!" That was what the system had told him.
"Hehe, congratulations on becoming a Dou Zhe, Xiao Chen! This is the gift I prepared for you. You can't refuse it!"
At his answer, a smile tugged at Xun'er's lips. She lightly brushed her finger over the Storage Ring, and two scrolls, one red and one gold, appeared in her hand. Under Xiao Chen's surprised gaze, she pressed them into his hands, giving him no chance to refuse.
Looking at the two scrolls in his hands, Xiao Chen knew they couldn't be ordinary, even without opening them. "Xun'er, these are much too precious!"
"It's fine, Xiao Chen. I have plenty of Cultivation Methods and Dou Techniques of this level!"
Xun'er shook her head, unconcerned, and pointed to the red scroll as she began to explain. "This is the middle-grade Earth Tier fire-attribute Cultivation Method, Burning Flame Separation Fire Art. The other scroll is the Low Earth Tier movement Dou Technique, Flame Shadow!"
"With a Heavenly Flame boosting this movement technique, you'll move even faster, and it'll be easier to cultivate, too!"
As she said this, Xun'er furrowed her brows, beginning to think about how to get Xiao Chen a Heavenly Flame.
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