Battle Through the Heavens: I Can Solidify All Talents

He gradually quickened his pace and headed toward the Xiao Family's Inner Academy, a brightness beginning to emerge in his eyes.

The future Wutan City would not be as peaceful as it had been in the original timeline...

Xiao Family Testing; Xiao Yan's Mother

Three days later, at the Xiao Family's Martial Arts Square—

The enormous square was paved with heavy bluestone slabs. Having weathered countless storms and been worn down by innumerable footsteps, their surfaces were smooth and solid.

At this moment, more than a hundred Xiao Family boys and girls between the ages of eight and fifteen had gathered in the square.

They stood in small groups of three or five, either brimming with excitement or filled with nervousness and unease.

The waves of discussion gathered together, making the place exceptionally lively.

Today was the Xiao Family's annual day for testing the Dou Qi cultivation of its younger generation.

For the younger generation, this was an important moment that would determine their resources and standing within the family for some time to come.

At the very center of the square stood a massive black stone stele roughly two people tall.

The stele was made of a special material. It was icy to the touch and smooth as a mirror, with profound runes engraved upon its surface and a transparent crystal ball embedded at its peak.

This was the Testing Magic Stone Stele, extremely costly to produce. In all of Wutan City, only major powers such as the Xiao Family were qualified to possess one.

Beside the stele stood a lean, middle-aged man with a stern expression.

He was the family steward who had overseen this test for many years. With a straight face, he swept his gaze over the young men and women below without the slightest hint of emotion, maintaining the test's solemnity and fairness.

On a set of stone steps at the edge of the square, Xiao Qing sat alone, watching the fellow clansmen of varying moods from afar.

Xiao Qing's expression was calm, forming a sharp contrast with the bustle around him.

Deep within his soul, the mysterious Golden Book began to operate, concealing Xiao Qing's true cultivation as a Three-Star Dou Zhe and revealing only the disguised fluctuations of Dou Qi.

In every previous test, Xiao Qing had displayed cultivation that, in others' eyes, "matched his age and the effort he had put in."

He would not stand out excessively and invite suspicion, nor would he lag behind and be looked down upon.

Just then, Xiao Qing sensed a gaze fall upon him. Soon after, steady footsteps approached.

Xiao Qing raised his head. Upon recognizing the newcomer, he immediately stood and respectfully bowed. "Patriarch."

The newcomer was none other than Xiao Zhan!

He wore a gray brocade robe tied with a jade belt, and a neatly trimmed long beard hung from his chin. His brows carried the authority of a family head, yet his gaze toward Xiao Qing was gentle.

As the Xiao Family's only Da Dou Shi at present, he was the pillar supporting the entire family!

"Qing'er." Xiao Zhan walked to his side, his tone gentle and concerned.

"Cultivation is certainly important, but you must know when to push and when to rest. I have seen that in recent years, you have spent nearly all your time cultivating. Do not keep yourself too tightly wound. Rest and relax when it is time to do so!"

Xiao Zhan's concern was not without reason.

Children Xiao Qing's age either spent all day playing and roughhousing, or ran up mountains and through rivers, catching fish and birds.

Compared to the other children of the clan, Xiao Qing's self-discipline and diligence were especially striking—almost abnormal!

Perhaps the maturity brought on by the early deaths of his parents had led him to devote all his energy to cultivation.

As Xiao Qing's mother's brother-in-law and the Xiao Family's patriarch, Xiao Zhan had always shown exceptional care and attention toward this nephew who had lost his parents' protection.

Not only had he never allowed Xiao Qing to lack cultivation resources, he had also done his best to provide him with a relatively peaceful environment free from trivial disturbances.

"Thank you for your concern, Patriarch," Xiao Qing said sincerely. He truly felt a great deal of gratitude toward Xiao Zhan.

Hearing this, Xiao Zhan deliberately put on a stern face and scolded him with a smile. "Brat, how many times have I told you? There are no outsiders here. Call me Uncle!"

A trace of perfectly appropriate embarrassment appeared on Xiao Qing's face. He scratched his head and smoothly corrected himself. "Understood, Uncle."

At once, a strange feeling rose within his heart.

This kind of familial care, free from ulterior motives, was especially precious in this world.

Seeing Xiao Qing's natural expression and clear eyes, without any gloom or despair, Xiao Zhan nodded faintly to himself, secretly gratified. It seemed this child had slowly emerged from the shadows of the past.

Xiao Qing's words broke the silence that followed.

Xiao Qing looked solemnly at Xiao Zhan, his brows slightly furrowed and his voice full of sincere concern. "Uncle, Auntie's illness... Is Doctor Li, along with the other physicians hired by the family, truly unable to do anything?"

At the mention of his beloved wife's condition, a heavy shadow instantly clouded Xiao Zhan's resolute face.

Xiao Zhan unconsciously clenched his hands tighter and let out a heavy sigh. His voice was filled with helplessness and disappointment. "Doctor Li is already the finest physician in Wutan City. After repeatedly examining her, he said that her foundation was damaged during childbirth and that she had lost far too much vital essence. Ordinary medicine cannot make up for it at all."

"Unless... we can invite a distinguished alchemist to act and refine a Tier 4 pill—the Foundation Strengthening Pill. Only then might it be possible to thoroughly stabilize her vital essence, replenish what she has lost, and restore her health."

A Tier 4 pill!

Those words crashed through the air like a heavy hammer.

Across the entire Jia Ma Empire, even alchemists capable of refining Tier 4 pills were exalted figures, few enough to count on one's fingers, much less here in remote Wutan City.

After all, the highest-ranked alchemist in Wutan City was only Guni, the Tier 2 Alchemist of the Mittel Auction House.

A Tier 4 Alchemist—one could easily imagine how difficult it would be to ask one to act, and the price required would be astronomical.

Xiao Zhan's eyes dimmed, filled with helplessness toward reality and heartache for his wife.

Xiao Zhan and Yan Qian shared a deep bond. They were a true married couple, deeply devoted to one another. Watching his beloved wife suffer from illness year after year while being powerless to help tormented him day and night.

"Actually..." Xiao Zhan lowered his voice further, carrying a trace of bitterness and unwillingness that was difficult to detect. "Over these years, I have been searching for a solution in secret. I called in countless favors and paid an enormous price, but I finally... finally obtained a pill formula for a Grade 4 Foundation Solidifying Pill."

The formula for a Grade 4 Foundation Solidifying Pill was already the greatest effort Xiao Zhan could think of and accomplish under his present circumstances.

"Moreover, I have also been secretly gathering the medicinal ingredients needed to refine the Grade 4 Foundation Solidifying Pill..." Xiao Zhan shook his head, the bitterness on his face deepening.

"However, every ingredient needed for a Tier 4 pill is precious and rare. Many can only be gathered by venturing deep into the dangerous regions of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, while others must be bid for at large auctions... Even after spending countless sums of money and effort, I fear I have not managed to collect even half a set of ingredients."

The world of alchemists had strict rules.

To ask someone to refine a pill, one not only needed to provide the pill formula, but usually had to prepare at least three sets of ingredients in case the refinement failed. Of course, if the alchemist successfully refined the pill using the first set, the remaining two sets would naturally enter the alchemist's Storage Ring.

Beyond that, one also had to pay the alchemist an exceptionally generous reward, enough to move their heart.

Every one of these requirements was nearly an insurmountable mountain for the current Xiao Family and for Xiao Zhan personally.

There was no end in sight...

That phrase perfectly summed up Xiao Zhan's feelings at this moment.

Hope was as faint as the stars on the horizon: visible, yet impossibly distant.

"A Grade 4 Foundation Solidifying Pill..." Listening to Xiao Zhan's low voice, Xiao Qing's gaze sharpened slightly. He unconsciously rubbed his fingers together as though pondering something, quietly repeating the pill's name.

Xiao Qing's voice was soft, as if he were merely confirming the information. Yet his faintly furrowed brows and the glint that flashed through his eyes hinted that his thoughts were far from calm.

Just then, Xiao Qing caught sight of a woman in the corner of his eye. She was holding a child's hand and slowly walking toward the Martial Arts Square.

The woman had a graceful figure and wore an elegant yet dignified dress. Her steps were unhurried, and she carried herself with natural poise, seeming somewhat out of place amid the noisy atmosphere of the Martial Arts Arena.

The little boy holding her hand was around three years old. He was sturdy and adorable, his large black eyes curiously scanning everything around him.

The woman's gaze swept about, and she soon spotted Xiao Zhan and Xiao Qing by the stone steps. A smile appeared on her gentle face, and she led the child straight toward them.

Mother's Keepsake; Old Yao's Black Ring?

"Why is Auntie here?"

Xiao Qing's heart stirred as he watched the approaching woman.

The newcomer was none other than Xiao Zhan's wife, Yan Qian, the Xiao Family's patriarch's wife!

Moreover, Yan Qian and Xiao Qing's mother were biological sisters, which meant she was Xiao Qing's own maternal aunt!

It was also because of this blood relation that Xiao Zhan took such good care of Xiao Qing.

Only when Yan Qian came closer could her features be clearly seen.

Yan Qian's appearance was delicate, and there was a faint resemblance between her brows and Xiao Qing's mother. She possessed the beauty of a refined lady from a respectable family.

Yet this beauty seemed shrouded in a layer of illness.

Her complexion held an unhealthy pallor, devoid of color. Her lips, which should have been rosy, were also somewhat pale, and even her breathing seemed lighter than that of an ordinary person.

Xiao Qing knew the root cause of it all.

When Yan Qian had given birth to Xiao Yan years ago, she had suffered a severe loss of vital essence, leaving behind this lingering illness. Several years had passed, yet she had not recovered. Instead, it showed signs of worsening.

Seeing Auntie's forced cheer, along with the weakness she could not conceal, a complicated bitterness rose in Xiao Qing's heart.

Who would have thought that such a gentle and kind woman would pass away in a little over half a year?

At that thought, the notion surfaced uncontrollably in his mind, causing his gaze to dim slightly.

The world was unpredictable, and fate could sometimes be so cruel!

Watching this warm scene, which nevertheless carried a faint hint of impending tragedy, Xiao Qing suppressed the emotions in his heart and smiled at Yan Qian. "Auntie, why have you come?"

Yan Qian had already reached them. She first glanced at her husband, Xiao Zhan, before turning her gaze to Xiao Qing. Her pale face bore a warm smile as she said, "I saw you two talking from afar. Qing'er, when it is your turn to take the test later, relax. Do not put too much pressure on yourself."

Her voice was gentle, carrying an elder's concern for a younger relative, though it also held a faint weakness from her lack of strength.

As she spoke, she gently nudged the sturdy little Xiao Yan beside her. "Yan, quickly call Xiao Qing your older cousin."

Xiao Yan raised his head. A gleam far beyond his age flickered deep in his eyes as he began sizing up Xiao Qing. He seemed somewhat curious, but still called out in a childish voice, "Older Cousin Xiao Qing..."

Xiao Yan tilted his head back. He had a vague impression of this cousin several years older than himself, though he felt even more curiosity.

In his current memories, this older cousin Xiao Qing seemed to be forever staying at home and cultivating in silence.

Wouldn't it be boring to sit facing the air for so long? Xiao Yan had not yet begun cultivating, and he could not understand it.

"My dear, why have you come? Didn't I tell you to rest properly at home?"

Xiao Zhan's tone was filled with worry and protectiveness for his wife.

The moment he saw his wife, he stepped forward and carefully supported her slender arm. When his eyes fell upon her still-pale face, his brows unconsciously furrowed, his heart full of concern.

Xiao Zhan's large palm could feel just how thin his wife's arm was, as well as the frailty that made her seem as though the wind could carry her away at any moment.

Sensing her husband's concern, Yan Qian lightly patted Xiao Zhan's large hand and gave him a reassuring smile. In a gentle voice, she said, "Isn't today the day the family tests Dou Qi? Yan is very curious about the Xiao Family's Dou Qi testing, so I brought him over to have a look. He will soon reach the age to begin cultivating Dou Qi as well!"

As she spoke, her gaze fell on the little bean sprout at her feet.

Hearing this, Xiao Zhan immediately shot a fierce glare at Xiao Yan, who was hiding beside his mother, and let out a dissatisfied snort through his nose.

Didn't this brat know his mother was unwell?

Yet seeing that his son was not even as tall as his leg, he could not bring himself to speak too harshly. He merely kept a stern face and scolded, "You brat!"

Xiao Yan shrank his neck reflexively when his father glared at him. The suppression deep in his bloodline made him lower his small head, his eyes fixed on his toes.

At the same time, he discreetly tugged at his mother's sleeve.

—Father was most afraid of Mother!

That was the valuable conclusion Xiao Yan had reached through long observation.

"Do not scold Yan." Yan Qian shook her head with an amused smile. She stretched out her other slightly cool hand and gently stroked her son's soft hair, her fingertips lightly brushing through Xiao Yan's black locks as she came to his rescue. "Actually... I wanted to come and see for myself as well. To see the children of our Xiao Family today, to see the future of our Xiao Family..."

As she spoke, her gaze returned to the lively square, her eyes filled with hopes and concern for the family's future.

Looking at his wife's gentle yet determined expression, Xiao Zhan could only shake his head helplessly, his tone full of indulgence. "You..."

He understood his wife's temperament too well. Though she appeared frail on the outside, she had her own resolve and opinions.

If he said another word, he would probably be the one lightly lectured next.

Yan Qian shifted her gaze away from her husband and returned it to Xiao Qing. She looked him over, emotion appearing in her eyes, then softly sighed. "Before I knew it, Qing'er has grown so much..."

The young man before her stood tall, nearly as tall as she was. His brows and eyes still faintly resembled her older sister's, making her heart ache while also filling her with comfort.

At that moment, Yan Qian seemed to remember something. She took an object from her robe and placed it in Xiao Qing's palm.

It was an entirely black ring with an extremely ancient design. It was impossible to tell what material it had been forged from, and it carried a heavy chill.

The ring's surface appeared to bear some long-blurred patterns, but due to the passage of time or wear, their exact shapes were no longer distinguishable.

"Ah..." Yan Qian looked at the black ring, her eyes dimming with faint sorrow. She softly sighed and said, "This is a keepsake your mother left behind. I only happened to find it recently while sorting through old belongings, and I thought... perhaps it should be entrusted to you."

A black ring...

Could this be... the ring from the original story that drained Xiao Yan's Dou Qi for three years and ultimately caused him to become worthless?!

The hiding place of Old Yao, the legendary Heaven Rank Dou Technique—Ghost Possession?!

Xiao Qing's gaze involuntarily fell upon the black ring in his palm. His pupils contracted, and his heartbeat suddenly accelerated!