Battle Through the Heavens: I Can Solidify All Talents

After seeing Xiao Zhan off, Xiao Qing led Qing Lin toward the small villa where he lived.

The closer they got to the villa, the slower Xiao Qing's steps became. His soul perception quietly spread out like invisible ripples.

Before long, the situation within the villa clearly appeared in Xiao Qing's mind.

In the courtyard, a familiar little figure was gently swaying on a swing.

And within a shadow in one corner of the villa, a hidden, powerful, and obscure aura belonged to Ling Ying, the Ancient Clan's guard.

Xiao Qing's gaze casually swept over the direction where Ling Ying was hiding. The corners of his lips lifted slightly, revealing a knowing smile.

This girl is certainly well-informed. She was waiting here so early... Looks like I'll have to spend some time coaxing her later.

He could practically imagine Gu Xun'er's puffed-up little face as she pretended to stay calm after learning that he had brought a little girl back with him.

Still, he believed that with Xun'er's kind nature, she would accept this pitiful yet adorable little sister once she learned of Qing Lin's background.

Ling Ying, hidden in the darkness, felt Xiao Qing's soul perception sweep past him.

Every muscle in his body suddenly tightened, and an intense sense of danger surged into his heart, nearly making him lose control of his aura.

"This soul power... it's Young Master Xiao Qing!"

Ling Ying was horrified. He clearly sensed the meaningful glance Xiao Qing had cast his way, as well as the vast, condensed power contained within that soul force, far beyond what it had been before.

"Such powerful soul pressure... A peerless genius, truly a peerless genius! No wonder even the clan leader once praised this young man!"

Ling Ying's face beneath the shadows was filled with shock and disbelief.

He had been ordered to protect the young lady, so he was fairly familiar with Xiao Qing.

Yet in less than a year, Xiao Qing's strength—especially his soul realm—had risen to such a terrifying level!

Even among the talent-filled Ancient Clan, such Talent would be as rare as a phoenix feather or qilin horn!

Xiao Qing held Qing Lin's hand, pushed open the courtyard gate, and walked inside.

The courtyard was still spotless and tidy. The swing made from thick vines and sturdy wooden planks hung quietly beneath the old tree.

At that moment, a delicate little girl was sitting on the swing.

She did not swing very high, yet every rise and fall carried an effortless elegance. Her skirt fluttered gently in the wind, like a vivid painting.

Xiao Qing had made this swing himself several years ago to relieve his boredom. He had never expected it to later become Gu Xun'er's favorite place to stay.

Qing Lin finally saw the "Sister Xun'er" Xiao Qing had mentioned with her own eyes.

Looking at Gu Xun'er on the swing, with her ethereal aura and features so exquisite that she hardly seemed like an ordinary girl—

Qing Lin felt as though the other girl were a little fairy wrapped in a halo of light. A sense of inferiority rose uncontrollably within her, and the nervousness and low self-esteem she had just managed to suppress resurfaced.

"Brother Xiao Qing!"

The moment Gu Xun'er caught sight of the figure entering from the corner of her eye, she lightly jumped down from the swing.

Then she rushed toward him, her clear voice brimming with irrepressible delight.

"Xun'er, I'm back." Xiao Qing smiled and opened his arms, steadily catching the little girl who had thrown herself at him. He lifted her and spun her around before studying her carefully.

"Mhm, our Xun'er has grown quite a bit taller, and she's become even prettier!"

"Of course!" Hearing Xiao Qing's praise, Gu Xun'er immediately beamed with joy, her little face full of pride. Then she suddenly remembered something, pouted, and complained with feigned displeasure.

"You dummy, Brother Xiao Qing. You've been out training for almost a year. Of course Xun'er would grow taller! You broke your promise—you said you'd be back in half a year at most!"

Seeing Gu Xun'er's adorably spoiled look as she was clearly happy but insisted on pretending to be angry, a trace of awkwardness and apology appeared on Xiao Qing's face at just the right time.

"Yes, yes, it was Brother Xiao Qing's fault. I apologize." Xiao Qing's tone was sincere, but then he changed the subject and said mysteriously.

"But I brought you a gift. Let it make up for it, all right?"

At the word "gift," Gu Xun'er's beautiful eyes instantly lit up as if they were filled with starlight.

The little dissatisfaction Gu Xun'er had been pretending to feel immediately vanished without a trace.

Gu Xun'er nodded vigorously, her voice returning to its earlier cheerfulness. "Really? Then... for the gift's sake, Xun'er will forgive Brother Xiao Qing for now!"

"Then I really must thank our generous Miss Xun'er!" Xiao Qing could not help laughing as he played along.

Xiao Qing took out a carefully polished item from his Storage Ring.

It was a crimson crystal core about the size of a baby's fist, giving off a faint warmth. It had been skillfully carved into the shape of a lifelike little person.

Upon closer inspection, the little figure's facial features, expression, and mannerisms bore a seventy to eighty percent resemblance to Gu Xun'er from a year ago!

Even her slightly raised chin and the tiny pride it carried had been carved with remarkable precision.

This was the magic core of the first Tier 5 Magical Beast Xiao Qing had killed in the Magical Beast Mountain Range—the Demon Flame Wolf. He had spent considerable effort carving it by hand.

"This is... me?"

Gu Xun'er took the little flame figure and held it in her palms, examining it fondly. The longer she looked, the more she liked it.

Not only was this the first gift Xiao Qing had personally made for her.

More importantly, this gift carried Xiao Qing's thoughts of Gu Xun'er during his travels, making it extraordinarily meaningful.

A smile brighter than sunlight bloomed across her little face as she carefully put the little flame figure away.

While Gu Xun'er was in high spirits, Xiao Qing briefly recounted his experiences over the past year.

He focused on how he had encountered the lonely and helpless Qing Lin in Desert City, on the edge of the Tagor Desert.

Then Xiao Qing gently pulled over Qing Lin, who had been standing quietly nearby and seemed somewhat at a loss. He formally introduced her to Gu Xun'er. "Xun'er, come, meet her. This is little sister Qing Lin."

Then he looked at Qing Lin and encouraged her, "Qing Lin, this is Sister Xun'er, whom I mentioned before."

Qing Lin took a deep breath, gathered her courage, raised her little face, and timidly called out in a soft voice, "S-Sister Xun'er."

That single word, "sister," seemed to possess some strange magic, instantly striking a soft corner of Gu Xun'er's heart.

After all, she had been the youngest one at home and had never experienced the feeling of being called "big sister."

Now, hearing Qing Lin's soft and timid call and seeing her clear yet uneasy eyes—

Gu Xun'er felt a novel warmth rise within her.

Even the tiny misgiving she had felt earlier because Xiao Qing had brought back a stranger disappeared in an instant.

She, Gu Xun'er, was a big sister now too!

"Yes!" Gu Xun'er answered loudly, an unprecedentedly radiant smile blooming across her face.

Gu Xun'er stepped forward of her own accord and warmly took Qing Lin's little hand.

At the right moment, Xiao Qing began telling Gu Xun'er about Qing Lin's tragic past...

Her mixed-blood identity that had been despised by the world, her mother's early death, and the passing of the grandmother who had taken her in.

He also described how she had been alone and helpless in Desert City, suffering countless cold looks, doing his best to keep his tone calm.

As she listened to Qing Lin's unfortunate experiences, a mist gradually formed in Gu Xun'er's lively eyes, turning them faintly red.

Gu Xun'er had been born into the Ancient Clan. Though she knew the world held much suffering, she had never encountered such a tragic fate from so close by.

An intense sense of sympathy and protectiveness rose in Gu Xun'er's heart.

Gu Xun'er tightly held Qing Lin's hand, her little face full of seriousness and resolve as she declared in a nearly oath-like tone:

"Little sister Qing Lin, don't be afraid! From now on, I'm your real big sister! If anyone dares bully you, tell me. Your sister will definitely teach them a lesson!"

"Sister Xun'er..."

Feeling the unreserved sincerity and warmth in Gu Xun'er's words, Qing Lin's nose stung. Her eyes instantly reddened, and glistening tears welled in them, almost falling.

Joy began to surge in her heart.

Brother Xiao Qing treats me so well, and now Sister Xun'er treats Qing Lin so well too... Qing Lin is truly so happy...

"Come on, little sister Qing Lin. Big Sister will take you to play on the swing! It's really fun!"

Gu Xun'er excitedly took Qing Lin's hand and ran toward the swing beneath the old tree.

She carefully helped Qing Lin sit on the swing, then stood behind her and gently pushed.

At first, Qing Lin was still nervous, her little hands tightly gripping the swing ropes.

But as the swing slowly rose and fell, the breeze brushed across her cheeks, and she listened to Gu Xun'er's bell-like laughter beside her.

Qing Lin's tense little face gradually relaxed, and a faint yet genuine curve slowly appeared on her lips.

Xiao Qing stood not far away, watching the two little girls on the swing beneath the sunlight, their laughter crisp and clear.

Seeing the pure and beautiful friendship rapidly forming between them, a warm, gratified smile could not help appearing on his face.

Qing Lin and Xun'er have become playmates. Their days in the Xiao Family should be happier now. They probably won't feel lonely anymore.

Xiao Qing's return, along with Qing Lin's arrival, seemed to have injected fresh life and vitality into the peaceful Xiao Family Villa.

Black-Clad Man: Damn It, Who Was That!

A month passed silently, like fine sand slipping through an hourglass.

The Xiao Family's once-every-three-years Coming of Age Ceremony arrived as scheduled amid great anticipation, bringing new vitality to the ancient family.

That day, the Xiao Family was decorated everywhere with lanterns and colorful banners. Festive red silk stretched from the main gates all the way to the Martial Arts Square deep within the estate.

Guests arrived in an endless stream, and carriages crowded the entrance. Nearly every notable figure in Wutan City had come.

Even the Oba Pa Family and the Jialie Family, which usually competed with the Xiao Family, had sent representatives.

The two clan leaders wore polite smiles, though a hidden scrutiny lay deep within their eyes.

The enormous Martial Arts Square had been carefully arranged, with banners fluttering noisily on every side.

At the center of the square stood a circular ceremonial platform over three meters high, covered in a bright red carpet. It symbolized that the Xiao Family's younger generation would now embark upon a brand-new journey in life.

Several rows of seats had been neatly arranged in front of the platform, and every single one was already occupied.

The square buzzed with voices and excitement.

Children chased and played among the crowds, while adults exchanged pleasantries. Their conversations all revolved around the Xiao Family's younger generation.

"I heard Young Master Xiao Ding is participating in the Coming of Age Ceremony this time!"

"Of course! At the last test, he had already reached Eight-Duan Dou Qi at fifteen. That's unmatched among Wutan City's younger generation!"

"The Xiao Family truly has no shortage of talent. It seems that for the next few decades, Wutan City will still be ruled by the Xiao Family..."

The guests' discussions rose and fell as their gazes occasionally turned toward the spirited Xiao Family youths standing before the ceremonial platform.

As Xiao Zhan's eldest legitimate son, Xiao Ding's Talent and performance would undoubtedly become an important measure of the Xiao Family's future potential.

Xiao Qing brought Gu Xun'er and Qing Lin to a relatively quiet spot beneath the side of the ceremonial platform, where their view remained broad and clear.

Gu Xun'er wore a light purple dress that day. Its exquisite fabric and tailoring made her jade-like skin and ethereal aura stand out even more, and she remained especially eye-catching even amidst the crowd.

Qing Lin, meanwhile, had changed into a goose-yellow blouse that Xiao Qing had specially chosen for her. Her hair was neatly combed and tied into two small braids.

Though she still seemed somewhat timid before such a grand scene, she had already adapted far more than when she first arrived a month ago, frightened and uneasy.

"So many people..." Qing Lin whispered in amazement, her little hand unconsciously tightening around Xiao Qing's sleeve.

"Don't be afraid, little sister Qing Lin!" Gu Xun'er patted her back like a little adult, her gentle tone carrying a touch of pride.

"I'm here! After the ceremony, have Brother Xiao Qing take us to the market to buy sugar figurines."

Xiao Qing smiled faintly at her words, but his gaze fell upon the enormous ceremonial platform, his eyes carrying a trace of emotion.

Time truly flew. The Coming of Age Ceremony had now reached Xiao Ding's generation.

Three years from now, he too would stand upon that stage and complete his own coming-of-age rite.

Just then, Xiao Zhan ascended the ceremonial platform with steady steps.

That day, he wore a black ceremonial robe embroidered with golden cloud patterns, with a broad jade-studded belt around his waist. He appeared especially dignified and imposing.

As the Xiao Family's clan leader, his personally presiding over this Coming of Age Ceremony showed just how much importance the family attached to it.

"Thank you all for coming to the Xiao Family to witness the coming-of-age rites of our clan's younger generation!"

Xiao Zhan's booming voice echoed across the square. Infused with Dou Qi, it reached every corner clearly.

"Today, the younger generation of my Xiao Family will complete their coming-of-age rites and formally shoulder the responsibilities and glory of the family!"

The procedures of the coming-of-age rite were rather complicated.

First came the ancestral worship ceremony. The Xiao Family youths stood in orderly lines and performed three bows and nine kowtows before the ancestral tablets.