I, Xiao Yan, Will Never Fall Behind Anyone

[Innate Fire Spirit Physique: The purest fire-attribute constitution in heaven and earth, capable of perfectly harmonizing with various Heavenly Flames, and even Divine Flames.]

[Recommendation: Fuse with this physique only when you are ready to integrate a Heavenly Flame.]

[Marrow Cleansing Powder (No Grade): Capable of improving a cultivator's innate talent and bone structure; can be consumed repeatedly.]

Just reading the description was enough to make Xiao Yuan sit bolt upright on his bed in excitement.

This reward is just too invincible!

The mere ability to improve a cultivator's innate talent is enough to stir up a storm of blood and chaos across the Dou Qi Continent.

Why do so many people get stuck at a certain realm?

First, their opportunity hasn't arrived.

Second, they are limited by their talent!

Take Xiao Yan, for instance. If Yao Chen hadn't appeared and he had just cultivated step-by-step, he would have been lucky to reach the Dou Huang or Dou Zong level at best.

But if he were to consume a pill like this Marrow Cleansing Powder, he might reach the Dou Zun level or even higher!

Not to mention that it can be consumed repeatedly!

And then there is this Innate Fire Spirit Physique—it is the best of the best!

As everyone knows, the Dou Qi Continent recognizes the existence of physiques, with clear distinctions between innate and acquired ones.

For example, the Woeful Poison Body of the Little Fairy Doctor is an innate constitution she was born with.

Although it is possible to cultivate an acquired version of the Woeful Poison Body, the difficulty is immense, and the result is inferior.

Furthermore, this Innate Fire Spirit Physique can accommodate multiple Heavenly Flames; it is essentially an alternative version of the Fen Jue!

Heavenly Flames are rare and possess immense power; very few people can master two at the same time.

In the entire Dou Qi Continent, only the patriarch of the Yan Clan managed to do so without relying on the Fen Jue, and he even fused them to create a brand-new Heavenly Flame.

To improve the compatibility between her body and the Heavenly Flame, Gu Yuan even forcibly shoved the seed of the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame into his young daughter's body, forcing her to endure the torture of the flame every single night.

The goal was to forge the purest acquired fire-attribute body.

However, thinking of this, Xiao Yuan couldn't help but mutter to himself.

If Xun'er entering the Xiao Clan counts as part of the plot, then does Xiao Yan sneaking into her room in the middle of the night to nourish her bones and meridians also count as plot?

With this thought, a plan formed in Xiao Yuan's mind: tonight, he would sneak over to the wall outside Xun'er's courtyard and listen in.

Don't get him wrong, it wasn't to peek.

It was purely to complain about the plot and, incidentally, earn some rewards.

Yes, that's it.

Once his thoughts were clear, Xiao Yuan took out the Marrow Cleansing Powder, tossed it into his mouth, crossed his legs, and prepared to begin his cultivation.

As for the Innate Fire Spirit Physique, he planned to wait until he had obtained a Heavenly Flame before using it; maximizing the benefits was the priority.

Gradually, Xiao Yuan entered a state of cultivation.

Although the clan wouldn't distribute cultivation techniques until the Coming of Age Ceremony, there were still basic breathing exercises, which were at least sufficient to reach the Dou Zhe level.

Xiao Yuan formed a strange hand seal in front of his chest, his breathing light and rhythmic. With every inhale and exhale, he formed a perfect cycle. Within this cycle of breath, faint white currents of air drifted through his nose and mouth, entering his body to nourish his bones and flesh.

The medicinal power of the Marrow Cleansing Powder gradually spread to his limbs and bones, working in tandem with the Dou Qi circulating within him.

Just as Xiao Yuan was deep in cultivation, a nimble, graceful figure quietly slipped away from outside the courtyard wall.

It was none other than Xiao Xun'er, who had just arrived at the Xiao Clan.

She had originally visited this place out of curiosity about this clan member named Xiao Yuan, but the moment she reached the door, she heard many incredible things—even her own secrets had been laid bare.

She was now certain that everything she had heard was Xiao Yuan's inner voice.

Someone was planning to sneak into her room under the cover of night to nourish her meridians and bones with Dou Qi?

She naturally understood this was well-intentioned, but the problem was that at the Dou Zhi Qi stage, transferring Dou Qi inevitably required physical contact.

She was still young and didn't even have a betrothal, yet she was going to lose her innocence on her very first night at the Xiao Clan?

How could that be allowed!

Although she didn't know how Xiao Yuan learned of these things, sitting still and waiting for death was definitely not an option!

Thus, Xun'er immediately summoned her guardian.

"Ling Ying."

"Miss, what are your orders?"

An old man appeared from the shadows of the room and bowed to the young lady beside the tea table.

"Elder Ling, do something for me."

"Please speak, Miss."

"Tonight, keep a close watch on a person named Xiao Yan. The moment he tries to approach my courtyard, throw him to the Xiao Clan's patriarch, Xiao Zhan. Also, investigate this person named Xiao Yuan thoroughly."

"Yes, Miss."

Ling Ying did not understand why his mistress would care so much about a mere two members of the Xiao clan, but as long as it was her command, he only needed to execute it unconditionally.

After Ling Ying vanished from the room, Xiao Xun'er raised her eyes to gaze at the setting sun slanting outside the window.

Although she was now certain she could hear Xiao Yuan's inner thoughts, she was very curious as to how he knew of future events, and even claimed she was the wife of the Flame Emperor.

Moreover, there were some things that a junior of the Xiao clan should not have known.

Yet, she could not stir up trouble in the Xiao clan at will and ruin her father's plans.

She would have to thoroughly investigate Xiao Yuan's background and past before making any further decisions.

At this very moment, Xiao Yuan was still immersed in his cultivation, completely unaware that he had been targeted by this young lady of the Ancient Clan.

Night fell.

Xiao Yuan ceased his cultivation, leaped down from the bed, and gave a heavy stretch.

He could clearly hear the cracking of his joints, like popping beans.

"Not bad, I reached the second stage of Dou Qi in just half a day."

The Dou Qi within his body was a bit more refined and substantial.

This was not because he was exceptionally gifted, but simply the result of the medicinal properties of the Marrow Cleansing Powder.

"Alright, time to head to the Ancient Clan young lady's courtyard to farm some rewards!"

Thinking of the many generous prizes waiting for him in the prize pool, Xiao Yuan felt incredibly excited.

He couldn't wait to run out of his room and head toward Xiao Xun'er's courtyard, hiding behind a water vat outside the perimeter, holding his breath as he waited quietly.

He dared not sneak into the courtyard; he was well aware that a Dou Huang-level Ling Ying was still by Xun'er's side.

Time ticked by, and the night gradually fell into silence.

Deep into the night, Xiao Yuan still had not seen Xiao Yan arrive.

"What's going on? Why hasn't Xiao Yan come? Could it be that it wasn't tonight?"

Xiao Yuan muttered to himself, feeling quite puzzled.

That made sense, after all; the original story didn't specify which night Xiao Yan snuck into Xun'er's room to do those things, it was just mentioned in passing.

However, Xiao Yuan chose to wait a while longer and see what happened at dawn.

But he was not the only one waiting in the dead of night; Xun'er was as well.

She was also waiting for word from Ling Ying.

Little did they know, Xiao Yan was currently in his own room, striving with all his might and working hard at his cultivation.

He was desperately condensing his Dou Qi.

It was as if he had been provoked.

For no other reason.

Simply because Xiao Yuan had become a genius just like him, and no matter what, he, Xiao Yan, refused to fall behind!