Is This the Dog System's Envy?

[Ding, congratulations on obtaining the cultivation technique--Primordial Creation Art]

He had just picked up the Mystic Flame Art gifted by Xun'er when the system's notification chime rang in his mind right on cue.

He looked down at the Earth-tier technique in his hands, then looked back up at Xun'er, his expression somewhat strange.

"Brother Xiao Yuan, what's wrong? Do you not like Xun'er's gift?"

Xun'er asked with a hint of worry.

Especially since she hadn't heard Xiao Yuan's inner voice, it made her feel a little flustered.

"No, I like it very much."

Xiao Yuan immediately tucked the scroll carefully into his storage ring.

Disdain?

That was naturally impossible.

In the original story, what Xun'er gave Xiao Yan was only a high-grade Profound-tier technique, yet she gave him an Earth-tier one; the value of it was self-evident.

It was just unexpected that this damn system would give him a technique at this very moment, and one that sounded incredibly overpowered just by its name!

Xiao Yuan didn't know what kind of expression he should make.

Was this some sort of competitive spirit from the damn system?

Coincidentally, this scene was caught by Xiao Yan, who had just stepped out of a medicinal herb shop not far away.

"Heh, what's the matter, little brat? Envious?"

Xiao Yan stopped in his tracks, watching the two in the distance chatting intimately.

An aged voice rang in Xiao Yan's ear at the perfect moment.

The laughter was rather improper, earning a scolding from Xiao Yan for being an old man with no dignity.

"Heh, but you don't need to be envious, little brat. Once your cultivation level rises, you will naturally meet a suitable partner."

"Like them?"

Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow, his voice carrying a touch of banter and playfulness.

"Them? They are not a good match."

Yao Chen's voice revealed a hint of emotion and a sigh.

As soon as these words were spoken, Xiao Yan couldn't remain calm.

"Why?"

"Heh, little brat, are you getting anxious? Although I don't know the relationship between you and those two little ones, don't rush. Just listen to me explain."

If Yao Chen were to pop out of the ring right now, he would likely stroke his beard and slam a gavel for dramatic effect.

"Let's talk about that boy first. He reached the Great Dou Shi realm without relying on any cultivation technique. Such talent, even in the Central Plains, could be called a monster among monsters... Wait—"

While observing Xiao Yuan, even Yao Chen, the continent's number one alchemist, couldn't help but marvel at the monstrous level of his talent.

It could be said that he had never seen anything like it.

But halfway through his observation, he couldn't help but let out a soft exclamation.

"What is it, old man?"

"What 'old man'? Call me Teacher!"

Yao Chen first scolded Xiao Yan before speaking in a low, mysterious tone:

"This little guy is not simple. There is a faint lingering aura of Heavenly Flame on him. Judging by the vast life force emanating from it, it should be the Life Flame, ranked fifth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. Tsk tsk, if it weren't for me, I'm afraid I really wouldn't have discovered it..."

"Heavenly Flame? Life Flame? What is that?"

"Heh, Heavenly Flame is... little brat, do you remember what I told you yesterday about cultivation techniques that can evolve?"

"Are you saying that technique requires this so-called Heavenly Flame?"

"You've got some potential after all."

Yao Chen nodded in approval. "That technique indeed requires the devouring of Heavenly Flames to evolve... For your little friend to possess a Heavenly Flame at such a young age, it seems the family behind him is not simple either."

Yao Chen's tone was filled with envy.

Back when he obtained the Bone Chilling Flame, he had lost half his life and nearly died in the God-Fallen Ice Plains.

Even his teacher, Han Shanshan, had gone missing at that time and there had been no news of her since.

Xiao Yan, however, said weakly:

"Old man... you say the family behind Cousin Xiao Yuan is not simple? But he is a member of my Xiao Clan. Both his parents died early, and he was adopted by my father as a foster son. There is no support from any other family like you mentioned..."

"Hmm?"

Yao Chen's brows furrowed, then slowly smoothed out.

"If that's the case, then your little friend has had his own unique encounters. But if so, it will be even harder for him to be with that girl by his side."

Yao Chen's voice carried a hint of schadenfreude, but it was mostly heavy with concern.

Xiao Yan couldn't help but ask out of curiosity:

"Why? Xun'er's talent doesn't seem as good as Xiao Yuan's..."

"Don't ask, brat. Knowing too much won't do you any good. I can only tell you that the family behind that girl named Xun'er is terrifying; they are not people you can provoke at will."

After all, when you're out in the world, what's the use of just being able to fight?

It's more about your background and origins.

Especially for those great clans; even if you're a pig, as long as enough resources are poured into you, you can still be cultivated into something.

They have seen countless monstrous geniuses, yet without exception, every single one of them eventually vanished into the long river of time.

Only families like theirs stand proudly and endure.

But Xiao Yan didn't understand the meaning behind Yao Chen's words; he just felt the old man was brushing him off.

He curled his lips in dissatisfaction.

Seeing this, Yao Chen could only shake his head and chuckle.

However, as he observed Xiao Yuan again, Yao Chen couldn't help but feel a wave of regret.

For a genius like this to be confined to a place like Wutan City was a true waste.

After a moment of thought, he spoke up:

"Tell me, little brat, based on my observations, you haven't started practicing a cultivation technique yet, have you?"

"Yeah. The old fogies in the clan are too rigid; they insist that we wait until the coming-of-age ceremony before we can be assigned a technique."

Whenever this was mentioned, Xiao Yan would get fired up.

Let alone Xiao Yuan, even he, the Clan Head's son, hadn't been qualified to enter the Dou Qi Pavilion to choose a technique when he first stepped into the Dou Zhe realm.

That was only because the people managing the techniques were two other highly respected elders within the clan.

Those two didn't have to give any face to the Clan Head or the three elders.

What a bunch of stubborn old fools!

"Heh, that is the ignorance of your clan. If you miss the best window for cultivation, even the greatest talent will fade into mediocrity... But since you have become my disciple, I will bestow a stroke of fortune upon your little friend.

When you go back, you can deliver a cultivation technique to your friend on my behalf."

"A technique? What rank?"

"A low-tier Earth-grade fire-attribute technique. Since your friend has already swallowed a Heavenly Flame, it should be very suitable."

"Alright."

Xiao Yan agreed without a second thought, which made Yao Chen curious.

"Little brat, aren't you curious why I would do this? Aren't you jealous?"

As the words fell, Xiao Yan shook his head decisively: "Not curious, and not jealous."

This time, it was Yao Chen's turn to ask why.

But Xiao Yan just smiled and replied:

"Old man, you don't understand. In the entire Xiao Clan, besides my father, this cousin adopted by my father is the one who treats me the best. During my three years of decline, he comforted me. Even when he was dragged into trouble because of me, he never spoke a harsh word, and instead, he was the first to run over and explain things to me."

Not to mention, when he borrowed money today, Xiao Yuan handed over three thousand gold coins without a second thought.

He knew very well that this was likely all the wealth Xiao Yuan possessed—the compensation left behind after his parents passed away was no more than that.

With a brother like this, how could he, Xiao Yan, ever harbor feelings of jealousy?

Even if he gifted him an Earth-grade technique, so what!

"Besides, didn't you promise to let me practice that technique that can evolve?"

Finally, Xiao Yan added this sentence before waving to the two people not far away and heading toward them.

Hearing this final remark, Yao Chen cursed him with a laugh, calling him a brat, before sinking back into a deep slumber within the ring.