Xiao Zhan: My Son Xiao Yan Has the Bearing of a Great Emperor!

In Heaven Dou City, carriages and pedestrians flowed endlessly along the broad, level streets.

A luxurious carriage passed through the bustling market district before slowly coming to a stop before an expansive, imposing residence.

Above the vermilion gates, the two gilded words "Xiao Mansion" gleamed beneath the setting sun.

Uncle Fu tightened the reins, and the horses snorted before coming to a steady halt.

Uncle Fu turned and called into the carriage, "Young Master, Young Miss, we're home!"

The carriage door was pushed open.

Like a bird finally released from its cage after being confined for far too long, Xiao Xiao lightly leaped down from the carriage shaft. Lifting the hem of her white academy uniform skirt, she dashed toward the gates, shouting excitedly.

"I'm back!"

Xiao Yan unhurriedly pushed open the carriage door and stepped down using the footstool.

Watching his younger sister's energetic retreating figure, he shook his head helplessly.

After giving Uncle Fu a few instructions, Xiao Yan climbed the steps and crossed the high threshold.

After passing through several exquisitely carved corridors, Xiao Xiao's cheerful laughter could already be heard from the reception hall ahead.

The spacious, brightly lit hall was lined on both sides with expensive rosewood chairs.

Xiao Zhan and his wife, Qing Wan, had been drinking tea and chatting. Upon hearing the commotion outside, they had long since set down their teacups and turned toward the doorway with delighted expressions.

Xiao Xiao plunged headfirst into Qing Wan's embrace, wrapping both arms tightly around her mother's waist. She rubbed her little head against Qing Wan's chest again and again, pouring out all the longing that had built up during their nearly year-long separation.

Qing Wan's eyes reddened slightly, filled with motherly affection.

She extended a fair hand and gently stroked Xiao Xiao's long teal hair, looking her daughter up and down.

"Let me see if you've grown taller." Qing Wan pinched Xiao Xiao's arm, a hint of surprise flashing through her eyes.

"You still look so tiny, but your bones and muscles have grown much stronger. It seems you haven't had an easy time at Shrek Academy."

The subtle transformation the sixty-thousand-year Earth-Shaking Desolate Bear Right Arm Bone had wrought upon Xiao Xiao's body naturally could not escape the eyes of Qing Wan, an eighty-ninth-level Soul Douluo.

Xiao Xiao lifted her chin proudly. "Of course! I'm incredibly strong now. I'll show you later, Mom!"

Xiao Yan strode into the hall, his posture upright and his bearing composed.

He approached Xiao Zhan and Qing Wan, then cupped his hands in a respectful salute.

"Father, Mother, I'm back."

Xiao Zhan looked at his son, who had grown increasingly steady and reserved, then nodded with satisfaction and laughed heartily.

He pointed to an empty seat beside him.

"Yan'er, sit down and talk."

Xiao Yan went over and took a seat. A maid immediately stepped forward and filled a cup with hot tea for him.

Xiao Zhan lifted his teacup, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Xiao Yan and Xiao Xiao several times.

"You siblings have returned with exceptionally solid Soul Power fluctuations. Your auras are restrained and do not leak out at all. Counting the time, you should both have reached the point where it's time to acquire Spirit Rings, correct?"

Xiao Yan picked up his teacup, blew away the floating leaves on the surface, and took a light sip with smooth, graceful movements.

"Father has sharp eyes. In truth, my Soul Power broke through the threshold of level fifty three months ago. Xiao Xiao also successfully crossed level forty a month ago."

The hall fell into brief silence.

Advancing one's cultivation was an immense temptation for any Soul Master, yet this boy had remained at the bottleneck for three whole months without showing the slightest impatience. Such composure surpassed even that of many renowned veteran Soul Masters.

"Good! Being able to patiently temper your foundation without arrogance or impatience—that is the stuff of a true cultivator!" Xiao Zhan heavily set his teacup on the table, his tone brimming with pride.

"Since that is the case, acquiring your Spirit Rings cannot be delayed any longer. Rest well at home tonight and wash away the dust of the journey. Tomorrow morning, I'll personally take you two to the Star Dou Forest to hunt Spirit Rings!"

As the largest gathering place of Soul Beasts on the continent, the Star Dou Forest contained countless varieties and was almost always the first choice for high-level Soul Masters seeking Spirit Rings.

Xiao Yan put down his teacup, raised his eyes to Xiao Zhan, and spoke firmly.

"Father, Xiao Xiao can search for her Spirit Ring in the Star Dou Forest, but my target this time is not there."

"I want to make a trip to the Extreme North."

Xiao Zhan furrowed his brow, his eyes full of confusion.

"The Extreme North? That place is frozen year-round, and its environment is exceedingly harsh. Moreover, the vast majority of Soul Beasts there possess ice and snow attributes. Your Fuxi Zither Martial Soul focuses on resonance between melody and spirit. Suitable Soul Beasts are extremely rare in the Extreme North. Going there would be like searching for a needle in the sea, and the risks are considerable."

Facing his father's doubts, Xiao Yan's expression did not change.

He knew better than anyone what the Extreme North contained.

Within that frozen land lay the Snow Empress, who was undergoing transformation with nearly seven hundred thousand years of cultivation, as well as the Ice Empress, who possessed nearly four hundred thousand years of cultivation and was approaching her final limit.

With his current foundation, ordinary Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts had completely ceased to interest him.

Not only did he want a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast-level Spirit Ring, he also wanted the foundation of the most powerful fierce beasts to pave the way for bearing the Eastern Emperor Bell in the future.

"Father, rest assured. Since I've chosen to go to the Extreme North, I naturally have a definite target and complete confidence. I am not acting blindly." Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Zhan, then abruptly changed the subject and dropped a bombshell.

"Moreover, you should be able to guess that my fifth Spirit Ring is meant to absorb a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast."

After a brief moment of astonishment, an intense fighting spirit ignited in Xiao Zhan's eyes.

He thought Xiao Yan was worried that he, as his father, could not handle a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. He immediately gave a cold snort, and an immense, abyss-like pressure burst from his body before vanishing in an instant.

The air around them visibly warped beneath that pressure. The tea on the table rippled violently, yet not a single drop spilled from the cups.

Such absolute control over power was terrifying.

"What, do you think these old bones of mine would suffer in the Extreme North?" Xiao Zhan pressed both hands against his knees, brimming with confidence.

"During the eleven months you spent at Shrek, I wasn't sitting at home every day drinking tea and raising birds. Not long ago, I also broke through another level. My Soul Power has reached level ninety-six!"

A level ninety-six Super Douluo was already among the small group standing at the very peak of the continent's pyramid.

"With me taking action, helping you hunt a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast will be more than easy!"

Seeing the formidable strength his father displayed, Xiao Yan smiled and nodded.

"Father misunderstands. I have never doubted your strength." Xiao Yan's gaze crossed the hall and fell upon Xiao Xiao, who was still held in Qing Wan's arms.

"The reason I mentioned a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast is because Xiao Xiao would have a hard time entering the Core Zone of the Extreme North."

Hearing this, Xiao Zhan followed Xiao Yan's gaze and immediately understood.

Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts inevitably inhabited the core region of the Extreme North.

The frigid temperatures there required even ordinary Soul Douluo to circulate their Soul Power at full force just to endure them.

Xiao Xiao had only just reached level forty. Entering such an extreme environment would truly be difficult for her.

"You're right. I hadn't considered it carefully enough." Xiao Zhan rubbed his brow. "That place truly isn't somewhere a little girl can set foot."

Xiao Yan rose to his feet and looked toward his mother, Qing Wan, who sat nearby.

"So, Mother will have to put in more effort." Xiao Yan's tone was gentle, and his arrangements were flawless.

"Father can accompany me to the Extreme North. Xiao Xiao's fourth Spirit Ring should be just over ten thousand years old. With Mother's strength as an eighty-ninth-level peak Soul Douluo, taking Xiao Xiao to hunt in the area between the outer region and Mixed Zone of the Star Dou Forest will be enough to ensure absolute safety."

Upon hearing this arrangement, Qing Wan nodded in agreement.

"Yan'er has considered everything thoroughly. I know the Mixed Zone of the Star Dou Forest very well. Taking Xiao Xiao to acquire a suitable fourth Spirit Ring won't be a problem at all. You father and son are the ones who must be especially careful in the Extreme North."

Although Xiao Xiao was somewhat reluctant to be separated from her brother again so soon after returning home, she understood what was important. She obediently leaned against her mother without voicing any objection.

Thus, the plan was settled.

The two parties rested and prepared separately, waiting only for dawn the next day to set out on their respective Spirit Ring hunting journeys.