"Yes, young master. Please rest assured!"
Medicine Elder nodded.
After all, Xiao Yan's strength was already greater than his, and he had also mastered two Heavenly Flames, so there was no need for Medicine Elder to worry.
From then on, the entire Xiao Family was busier than ever.
With the large quantity of medicinal herbs delivered by the Mite'er Auction House, the alchemy disciples Medicine Elder had been training finally had a chance to put their skills to use.
Though the pills they refined were of low quality, they made up for it with sheer quantity. Little by little, they were able to provide the Xiao Family with considerable support.
At the same time, the Xiao Family members were also cultivating like mad.
However, even after their bodies and souls had been strengthened with a large number of pills, most of the clan members could still only cultivate High Xuan Tier methods and Dou Techniques.
As for Earth Tier methods, even talented individuals like Xiao Yu, who had joined Jia Nan Academy, could only try their hand at Low Earth Tier ones at most...
Besides, Xiao Yu had only returned yesterday. When she learned that the guy she had once hated most was already a Dou Wang, she was so shocked that she stood rooted to the spot for quite some time.
Afterward, she seemed like a different person. Without saying a word, she returned to her room and began cultivating in silence.
It was as if Xiao Yan's terrifying rate of improvement had dealt her a crushing blow.
As for Xiao Yan, he didn't feel much about the woman who had mocked him in the early part of the original story, nor did he dislike her the way he had in the original. In his eyes, Xiao Yu was simply an ordinary member of the Xiao Family.
What's more, he could only be glad that Xiao Yu was working so hard to improve her strength.
The stronger the Xiao Family members were, the greater his own combat strength would be.
In short!
With the resources from the Mittel Auction House bolstering them, the strength of the entire Xiao Family began to rise at a pace visible to the naked eye.
In just these two days, many people had broken through to a minor cultivation level.
Xiao Yan's cultivation had also slowly increased under the effect of the "Clan Fortune Embodiment" trait.
Though the pace was a little too slow, it was steady. Accumulated over time, it still amounted to a considerable gain.
At dusk!
Xiao Yan sat leisurely in the courtyard, sipping tea.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows over him. A breeze drifted past, carrying the faint fragrance of flowers.
"Brother Xiao Yan!"
A clear voice came from outside the courtyard.
Xiao Yan looked up and saw Xiao Xun'er striding toward him, her purple skirt fluttering. Her exquisite face wore a delighted smile.
"Xun'er?" Xiao Yan set down his teacup and smiled. "What's the matter? Why are you so happy?"
Xiao Xun'er came to his side and sat down, her eyes brimming with joy.
"Brother Xiao Yan, after trying again last night, I just broke through to two-star Dou Wang!"
Her voice bubbled with excitement, tinged with a girl's natural innocence. "Your cultivation method is so amazing!"
"Why don't we try it again?"
After she said this, her cheeks turned rosy. She was clearly feeling rather shy.
Although that method didn't involve any physical contact, the intimacy of their souls merging already made them feel as if they were one. In that state, it was as though they were entwined together without clothes, each with the other inside them.
But... she really was enamored with that feeling.
Most importantly, her cultivation progressed countless times faster in that state than it did normally.
By now, she wished she could stay by Xiao Yan's side every day and practice the Dual Cultivation Method with Brother Xiao Yan.
"Ahem, ahem... As long as it's working!"
Xiao Yan coughed lightly, set down his teacup, and smiled as he nodded.
The Dual Cultivation Method was originally a path of cultivation that could lead to enlightenment; it was just that no one in this world had studied it in depth.
And as one of the finest Dual Cultivation Methods, the Yin-Yang Great Demon Dual Cultivation Method didn't just bring great benefits to the practitioner. It also sped up the cultivation of the partner being "drained."
After all, while their souls were merged, as long as he wasn't deliberately draining his partner, she would receive the tempering of his soul power.
Under such circumstances, even someone born without the slightest talent for cultivation could transform into a prodigy over time!
"If Xun'er wants to, then I certainly won't refuse."
Xiao Yan spoke with a chuckle, a teasing smile in his eyes.
Could this little girl have gotten addicted?
Xiao Xun'er's pretty face instantly flushed red, like a ripe apple, so alluring it seemed ready to drip. She lowered her head, twisting the hem of her clothes between her fingers, and spoke in a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz: "Brother Xiao Yan, y-you mustn't tease Xun'er..."
Xiao Yan burst into laughter and reached out to ruffle her hair. He said no more, simply using the Ten Thousand Soul Banner's power to isolate the surrounding space before beginning to circulate the Yin-Yang Great Demon Dual Cultivation Method.
Buzz—
Their souls merged once more.
The feeling of their souls blending like water and milk was more wonderful than any words could describe.
Xiao Xun'er trembled all over. She felt as though she were immersed in a warm ocean, and the pleasure welling up from the depths of her soul made her let out a soft, involuntary moan.
Xiao Yan felt the same profound sensation.
His soul power flowed through Xiao Xun'er's sea of souls. They nourished and strengthened one another, and both their cultivation levels began to climb steadily.
However—
As their cultivation deepened, Xiao Yan gradually noticed a problem.
Though this method was profound and made cultivation considerably faster than practicing alone, it was still nowhere near as fast as the rocket-like breakthroughs he achieved by directly refining Heavenly Flames.
"At this rate, even if I practice with Xun'er every day, it'll probably take several months to break through from Three-Star Dou Zong to Four-Star Dou Zong..."
Xiao Yan silently calculated.
Breaking through a minor cultivation level in a few months was already an astonishing pace for an ordinary cultivator.
But for someone like him, who had tasted the sweetness of Heavenly Flames, it was simply too slow!
"Looks like I still need to hurry and fuse with those Heavenly Flames!"
After clearly sensing how little he had gained through the Dual Cultivation Method, Xiao Yan had already made up his mind: from now on, absorbing Heavenly Flames would remain his priority.
The night passed in silence.
When the first rays of morning sunlight filtered through the window and spilled into the room,
Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes.
After a night of practicing the Dual Cultivation Method, the Dou Qi in his body had grown a little more solid, bringing him another step closer to Four-Star Dou Zong.
But—
It still wasn't enough.
Nowhere near enough.
Xiao Yan stood up and stretched. His bones crackled and popped.
He took a deep breath and pushed open the door.
The Xiao Family was already bustling that morning.
In the square, the Xiao Family's young disciples were practicing their Dou Techniques, their shouts rising and falling.
In the alchemy room, Medicine Elder was teaching the alchemy disciples to control the flames and refine pills. Their frustrated sighs rang out from time to time, mingling with Medicine Elder's patient instructions.
Xiao Yan watched, then nodded slightly.
The Xiao Family's development had already fallen into a steady rhythm.
"It's time to head out."
He murmured to himself, then turned and walked toward Xiao Zhan's room.
Before you continue