Medicine Elder, Come Out!

"That fluctuation vanished in a flash, extremely faint. This old servant initially thought his senses had played a trick on him..."

"But thinking back on it now, perhaps it was no illusion."

"I am unsure if it is related to Xiao Yan."

"If you have the opportunity, Miss, you might want to probe into his background."

Swish—

As these words fell.

A flicker of astonishment surged deep within Xiao Xun'er's pupils.

A Dou Huang?

Elder Ling sensed the fluctuation of a Dou Huang?

And it came from Brother Xiao Yan's courtyard?

This...

Xiao Xun'er felt her heart skip a beat.

No, this is absolutely impossible!

A fifteen-year-old Dou Huang?

That is simply too absurd!

Even with the inheritance of a Dou Emperor, it couldn't be this outrageous, could it?!

However—

Elder Ling's senses were always precise; he rarely made mistakes.

If he said he sensed the fluctuation of a Dou Huang, then it was nine times out of ten the truth.

But...

Xiao Xun'er's mind was in total chaos.

Brother Xiao Yan only revealed his Dou Wang cultivation today, and by nightfall, a Dou Huang's fluctuation appeared in his courtyard?

Could there be some connection between the two?

Or could it be that...

Brother Xiao Yan is hiding an even greater secret?

"Elder Ling..."

Xiao Xun'er opened her mouth, wanting to ask more, but found she didn't know where to begin.

Ling Ying shook his head.

"This old servant cannot be certain either. I only vaguely sensed a trace; perhaps it was some expert passing by, or perhaps this old servant sensed it wrong."

"Miss need not worry too much."

"This old servant takes his leave."

With that, Ling Ying's figure flashed, dissolving into a black shadow that vanished into the night.

Inside the room, only Xiao Xun'er remained.

She walked slowly to the window, gazing at the bright moonlight outside, her expression incredibly complex.

"Brother Xiao Yan..."

She murmured to herself, her voice so soft it seemed as if it would be scattered by the wind.

"What exactly has happened to you?"

"Why is it that Xun'er... can no longer see through you at all?"

Under the moonlight, the young girl's figure appeared exceptionally slender.

In those clear eyes, there was confusion, worry, curiosity, and a trace of something even she hadn't realized...

A deep sense of care.

After a long while.

Xiao Xun'er sighed softly and withdrew her gaze.

Her purpose in coming to the Xiao Family was to search for that Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade.

Yet, all these years, she had never truly searched for it, nor had she ever thought of taking anything from the Xiao Family.

Because here lived the person she cared about.

The boy who had given her a glimmer of warmth during her loneliest moments.

"Brother Xiao Yan..."

"No matter what secrets you have—"

"You will always be Xun'er's Brother Xiao Yan."

"Xun'er... will definitely protect you."

Xiao Xun'er clenched her small hands tightly, a flicker of golden flame flashing through her eyes.

Hum--

A strand of incomparably powerful, scorching air current erupted quietly around her body, instantly condensing into a Dou Qi vortex, and its momentum continued to climb...

In the past, she had kept her cultivation suppressed using secret techniques from her clan, both to protect Xiao Yan's pride regarding his regressing cultivation and because a small place like Wutan City required her to hide her strength.

As a proud genius of the Ancient Clan, bearing a divine-grade bloodline and possessing the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame, how could she possibly be only at the ninth stage of Dou Zhi Qi?

Meanwhile--

On the other side.

Inside Xiao Yan's room.

At this moment, Xiao Yan slowly stood up and stretched his limbs.

After breaking through to the Dou Huang realm, he felt like a completely different person.

The Dou Qi within his body was more refined, his senses were sharper, and even his soul power had increased significantly.

"Senior Medicine Elder."

Xiao Yan looked at the dumbfounded Yao Chen and smiled slightly.

"Does this junior's cultivation speed meet your standards, Senior?"

Medicine Elder snapped back to reality, the corners of his mouth twitching.

Meet his standards?

That was the Red Lotus Karma Fire, ranked eighth on the Exotic Flame Ranking, and he had refined it just like that!

If this didn't meet his standards, then nothing in this world would!

Back then, when he refined the Bone Chilling Flame, it had cost him a great deal of effort and nearly resulted in his soul being scattered.

However--

Medicine Elder was, after all, a man who had seen great storms; he quickly calmed his emotions.

"Kid, what kind of monster are you exactly?"

Medicine Elder couldn't help but ask.

"Breaking through to the Dou Wang realm without a cultivation technique, easily refining the Red Lotus Karma Fire, and having your cultivation soar directly to the Dou Huang realm after merging it..."

"I have lived for so many years, and I have never seen such an outrageous thing!"

Xiao Yan smiled and did not answer.

What could he say?

Tell him he had a system bug that allowed for one-click upgrades?

Tell him his "Innate Great Sun Sacred Body" was a special constitution, naturally the strongest fire-attribute sacred body, which was why he could easily refine exotic flames?

These secrets... were better left kept.

"Senior is too kind; it was merely a bit of good fortune."

Xiao Yan casually brushed him off.

Medicine Elder's mouth twitched again.

A bit of good fortune?

If this was just a bit of good fortune, then everyone else might as well stop living!

Of course, Medicine Elder did not intend to pry.

Everyone had their own secrets, and he, Yao Chen, was not the type of person to be tactless.

"Fine, fine, say what you will, kid."

Medicine Elder waved his hand and drifted back into the Myriad Dao Soul-Nurturing Jade.

"I need to calm down; the shock I've received today... is more than I've had in my entire life..."

Xiao Yan smiled, unbothered.

He looked down at his hands, a flicker of burning intensity in his eyes.

Three-star Dou Huang!

Red Lotus Karma Fire!

Ten Thousand Soul Banner!

Earth-tier high-grade cultivation technique!

After this "robbery" of Xiao Yan's "ring-dwelling old grandfather," he had truly struck it rich!

"Bugs are great! It's great that the system has bugs!"

"Next..."

Xiao Yan's eyes flickered.

According to the original plot, Nalan Yanran should be coming to call off the engagement soon.

This is a major plot point. I wonder if I can properly exploit a system bug...

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Suddenly—

Just as Xiao Yan was deep in thought, a series of knocks echoed from outside the door.

"Yan'er, it's me!"

Xiao Zhan's familiar voice came from outside, deep and tinged with a hint of urgency.

Xiao Yan frowned slightly.

His father coming over late at night was likely due to the cultivation level he had displayed today.

After all—

For a boy who had been regarded as trash for three years to suddenly reveal the strength of a Dou Wang, any father would find it hard to sit still.

But that was fine.

This kind of thing did indeed require a reasonable explanation.

Although he couldn't reveal the secret of the system, making up some excuse about a "lucky encounter" would be enough to get by.

After all, in this Dou Qi Continent, it was not uncommon for the strong to obtain opportunities and soar to the heavens.

Without the slightest hesitation, Xiao Yan opened the door.

Outside, Xiao Zhan stood in the moonlight, dressed in a simple robe.

His face bore an unconcealable look of excitement, his eyes were slightly red, and his gaze toward Xiao Yan was filled with heartache and complexity.

"Father... what is this?"

Xiao Yan was slightly stunned and stepped aside to let him in.

"It's so late, come in quickly."

Xiao Zhan nodded and stepped into the room.

He first glanced vigilantly outside the courtyard to ensure no one was following before carefully closing the door.

His cautious demeanor warmed Xiao Yan's heart.

This father truly cared for him.

"Yan'er—"

Xiao Zhan turned around, looking at the youth before him, his voice actually choking up.

He reached out and pressed heavily on Xiao Yan's shoulders, tears shimmering in his tiger-like eyes.

"All these years..."

"You clearly possessed talent, yet you hid your foundation and endured in silence until now..."

"It must have been hard on you!"

Xiao Zhan's voice was low and hoarse, every word seemingly squeezed from the depths of his throat.

He did not know how Xiao Yan had attained such an outrageous level of cultivation, but he knew clearly in his heart—

His son must have suffered hardships unimaginable to ordinary people!

Three years!

Three whole years!

His Yan'er clearly possessed world-shaking talent, yet had to pretend to be trash, enduring countless taunts and cold glares!

And he, as a father, knew nothing and could do nothing!

He could only watch helplessly as his son was mocked and bullied by others!

Whenever he thought of this, Xiao Zhan's heart felt as if it were being twisted by a knife.

"Father..."

Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Zhan's reddened eyes, and a complex emotion surged in his heart.

Although he was a transmigrator, Xiao Zhan's sincere fatherly love had truly reached his heart.

"Actually, it's alright."

Xiao Yan smiled slightly, his tone calm and gentle.

"Father, you are the one who works the hardest, managing the entire Xiao Family day and night."

"This bit of grievance is nothing, Father."

Hearing this, Xiao Zhan's eyes turned even redder.

He patted Xiao Yan's shoulder firmly, his lips trembling slightly. He wanted to say something, but found that a thousand words were stuck in his throat, unable to utter a single syllable.

After a long while, he took a deep breath, suppressing his surging emotions.

"Yan'er..."

Xiao Zhan spoke after careful deliberation, his gaze complex as he looked at Xiao Yan.

"Your father knows that everyone has their own secrets."

"If you find it difficult, you don't have to say anything."

"I only want to know, are... are you doing well?"

A warmth spread through Xiao Yan's heart.

This is fatherly love.

Asking for no reasons, demanding no explanations, caring only about whether he is well.

He smiled slightly, pondered for a moment, and spoke slowly:

"Father, there is no need to worry. Your son is doing perfectly fine."

"Come to think of it—"

Xiao Yan paused, looking at Xiao Zhan with a smile.

"You must have come in the middle of the night because you want to understand how I possess the cultivation of a Dou Wang, right?"

Xiao Zhan was startled, then nodded.

He truly wanted to know.

A fifteen-year-old Dou Wang—this was simply too outrageous!

So outrageous that even he, as a father, found it hard to believe!

"Yan'er, if it is inconvenient for you to speak of it, then don't."

Xiao Zhan said softly.

"As long as you are safe, that is enough for me."

Xiao Yan chuckled.

"Father, you are overthinking it."

"The matter is quite simple, really—"

His eyes flickered as he spoke slowly.

"Three years ago, when my cultivation suddenly regressed, it was not because my talent had been exhausted, but because..."

"Your son encountered a stroke of fortune."

He paused for a moment, then spoke directly: "Senior Medicine Elder—"

"Come out!"