Xiao Yu's Challenge

Xiao Yan walked in slowly, his face etched with deep exhaustion.

The two had long known of each other's status as transmigrators; after spending so many years together, they were already as familiar as could be.

Some might say that laying one's cards on the table was inappropriate?

But Xiao Yan was not some "Number Three."

Given Xiao Yan's character, choosing to be honest with him was a wise move.

Xiao Yan was a man who valued loyalty and affection. Back at Jianan Academy, when Yao Lao was captured by the Soul Hall, he had spared no cost and braved every hardship to seek revenge and rescue him. He was just as sincere toward his friends as he was toward his mentor.

Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Fan and poured out his grievances: "Brother Xiao, even with your protection, I can still feel the way those people in the clan look at me—full of doubt and disdain."

His brows were tightly locked, his eyes filled with helplessness and grievance, and his voice carried a slight tremor: "That feeling is like countless needles pricking my heart; it really is unbearable."

Xiao Fan smiled and comforted him: "Xiao Yanzi, pay no mind to those gazes. This is the very moment to temper your resolve; the predicament is only temporary..."

A gentle smile played on his face, his eyes filled with encouragement.

He reached out and patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder, thinking to himself: You brat are the future Flame Emperor.

Xiao Yan was half-doubting, asking: "Really? When will these bitter days ever end?"

He raised his head, his eyes full of confusion and expectation.

Xiao Fan patted his shoulder again and said solemnly: "Rest assured, within this year, things will return to normal."

Only then did Xiao Yan set his heart at ease. Before leaving, he asked Xiao Fan curiously: "What is your current cultivation realm?"

Xiao Fan replied indifferently: "Nine-star Dou Wang, almost at Dou Huang."

His tone was flat, as if he were speaking of something trivial.

Xiao Yan wore an expression of envy, jealousy, and hatred, gritting his teeth as he said: "Damn it. We're both transmigrators, so why am I doing so poorly?"

He clenched his fists, his heart filled with unwillingness.

Xiao Fan did not want to spoil the future, so he could only comfort him: "Don't worry, Xiao Yanzi. We transmigrators are all people of great fortune. You will definitely become stronger, perhaps even capable of fighting side-by-side with this Seat."

Xiao Fan said with a grin, his eyes flashing with confidence.

Xiao Yan rolled his eyes at him and snorted: "Hmph, keep bragging. When I rise to the top, just make sure you don't get surpassed by me."

Xiao Fan patted Xiao Yan's shoulder, encouraging him: "Then I shall wait for that day, but before that, you must work hard."

Xiao Yan nodded, his expression firm: "That goes without saying. I, Xiao Yan, will not admit defeat easily."

After saying this, he turned and left, his figure appearing somewhat lonely, secretly vowing in his heart to cultivate diligently.

The next day, sunlight spilled onto the bustling street, and the inn was packed with people, lively and extraordinary.

The air was filled with the aroma of food and the clamor of the crowd.

Xiao Fan stood in the center, his posture upright, gesturing animatedly as he recounted: "Since the Mythological Era, many Heavenly Venerates have 'slashed themselves' to seal their own bodies, waiting for the chance to become immortals; some later took residence in the Forbidden Life Zones. By the Desolate Era, some Supremes who could no longer endure the passage of time launched the Dark Turmoil to replenish their vitality, harvesting life-bearing planets."

He waved his hands, as if painting that magnificent and vast scene.

"They caused the deaths of countless innocent beings, leaving the world in ruins and bringing great catastrophe to the universe."

Xiao Fan's voice was impassioned, his eyes flashing with anger and compassion, as if he had witnessed that tragic scene with his own eyes.

"In my later years, this Seat suppressed the Undying Emperor's mental projection, the Undying Daoist, with one hand, and used the List of Conferred Gods to pin him to the Holy Cliff for eighty thousand years. I also used this to suppress the ominous Great Accomplishment Sacred Body within the Holy Cliff, sacrificing it when the Immortal Road on the Big Dipper opened. Although I failed to open the Immortal Road, it dealt a heavy blow to the forces of the Undying Emperor."

Xiao Fan continued to boast, speaking of his past glory as if those thrilling scenes were right before his eyes, completely immersed in his memories.

The surrounding crowd listened, enthralled. Some widened their eyes, filled with disbelief, as if they had been transported into that mysterious and grand world, muttering to themselves: "This is too incredible!"

Some had their mouths agape, unable to close them for a long time, shocked by Xiao Fan's description, stammering: "Is... is this true?"

Others nodded incessantly, their eyes filled with admiration, as if they already worshipped Xiao Fan to the extreme, shouting excitedly: "Great Emperor Xiao Fan, truly a divine man!"

An old man stroked his beard and sighed repeatedly: "Truly magnificent and exquisite, as if I saw it myself!"

Yet, not a hint of belief could be seen in his eyes, only admiration for the brilliance of the story.

A young man waved his fists excitedly: "Great Emperor Xiao Fan, mighty!"

His voice was loud, filled with reverence for Xiao Fan, his face flushed red.

Just then, Xiao Yu sought him out again.

She had a graceful figure and a beautiful face, her willow-leaf brows arched in anger.

She looked at Xiao Fan, feeling that he was failing to live up to her expectations, and simply shouted: "Aren't you a Great Emperor? Then this young lady challenges you. I am but a mere Dou Shi; Great Emperor Xiao Fan should be able to defeat me easily, right?"

Her eyes revealed stubbornness and expectation, wanting to show Xiao Fan the results of her training at Jianan Academy, hoping to make him return to his senses and focus on cultivation.

Unexpectedly, as soon as these words were spoken, the other onlookers cheered and began to jeer.

"Haha, Lady Xiao Yu has issued a challenge; Great Emperor Xiao Fan, don't be afraid to accept!"

A burly man shouted loudly, his face full of excitement, thinking that a good show was about to begin.

"That's right, don't just be good with your mouth; you need real skills to back it up!"

A rat-faced fellow chimed in, his eyes full of the excitement of watching a spectacle, wishing for the two to start fighting immediately.

"Maybe he's just a guy who only knows how to brag; he'll be exposed once they actually start fighting!"

A shrill, mocking voice drifted over, dripping with malice and brimming with schadenfreude.

Xiao Yu had already realized her impulsiveness and felt a pang of regret, wanting to pull Xiao Fan back to the family estate.

After all, whether they won or lost out here, it would reflect poorly on both of them.

Xiao Fan felt a sense of helplessness; did Xiao Yu really have no idea why she had managed to reach the rank of Dou Shi in just two short years?

It all started when he had first broken through to the rank of Dou Wang and discovered an abandoned cave dwelling while out exploring.

After inspecting it, he found some First-Pattern Green Spirit Pills and Qi-Nourishing Pills, items that were of no use to Xiao Fan, who was already a Dou Wang.

Consequently, he had distributed these pills among the younger generation of the Xiao family; Xiao Yu, Xiao Yan, and Xiao Mei had all received a share.

Xiao Yan was a lost cause; even if he swallowed a First-Pattern Green Spirit Pill, the excess Dou Qi would simply be absorbed by his ring.

Xiao Yu, however, was terrifying. Perhaps it was because the family had been poor and lacked good resources to provide for his cousin, so her special constitution had gone unnoticed.

But after she consumed the pills Xiao Fan gave her, her cultivation progress had been nothing short of meteoric.

To her, those pills seemed to have no resistance, and her cultivation level quickly soared to a Five-Star Dou Zhe, leading to her recruitment by Jianan Academy last year.

Now that she had returned, she was already a Dou Shi.

It could be said that in the current Xiao family, aside from him, his cousin Xiao Yu was the undisputed second-strongest member!

"Xiao Fan, let's go back and spar..."

Xiao Yu's face flushed red, irritated by the instigation of the onlookers.

Yet, Xiao Fan merely waved his hand dismissively, his expression indifferent. "This Emperor has lived an upright and honorable life; I do not fear being watched."

Xiao Yu gritted her teeth, thoroughly annoyed. Her charming face was covered in frost as she snapped, "If that's the case, then let's fight right here in the street."

Xiao Fan waved his hand again, his face full of disdain. "You are not worthy of a battle with me. In the past, only the Great Accomplishment Sacred Body could trade a few blows with this Emperor; others simply lack the qualifications."

This pretentious tone completely incited the crowd, and everyone began to jeer.

Someone shouted, "It's alright, Great Emperor, give this weak girl a chance to witness your skills."

"That's right, Great Emperor Xiao Fan, let us see your strength."

Xiao Fan still shook his head, stating firmly, "I do not bully the weak; that is this Emperor's principle."

If I fought just because you told me to, wouldn't this Emperor lose all his prestige? he thought to himself.

At that moment, a voice from the crowd yelled, "You won't fight because you're afraid! What kind of Great Emperor? I think you're just a fraud!"

Xiao Fan's expression darkened. He swept his gaze across the crowd and said coldly, "Do not spout nonsense. This Emperor simply does not wish to lower himself to bickering with a young woman."