That day, as the first rays of dawn broke, Xiao Fan rose early.
After Xiao Yu had tried in vain to persuade him several times, she had no choice but to return to Jia Nan Academy.
Xiao Mei, meanwhile, had gone out with the First Elder to carry out a clan mission.
Ever since the Jialie Clan had fallen into decline, the Xiao Clan had swallowed up most of its assets. Its power had expanded like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, and now it stood head and shoulders above every other clan in Wutan City.
Even the Aoba Clan, once one of the city's three great clans, had to show the Xiao Clan's people deference and keep well out of their way.
Xiao Yi Xian was still fast asleep in bed. With this rare stretch of leisure, Xiao Fan was able to quiet his mind and prepare to lose himself in contemplation once more.
But before he could fully settle into it, a graceful figure came drifting over. It was Xiao Xun'er.
The morning light spilled over her, tracing the lovely lines of her figure.
She wore a pale green dress, its hem fluttering lightly in the breeze. A moon-white sash encircled her waist, making it look so slender that one could almost encircle it with a single hand.
Her three thousand strands of dark hair fell like a waterfall, sleek and lustrous, loosely gathered with a simple ribbon.
A few wisps playfully framed her jade-white cheeks, lending her an air of liveliness and grace. She looked like an immortal maiden stepping out of a painting, untouched by the dust and smoke of the mortal world.
"Brother Xiao Fan..."
Her vermilion lips parted. Her voice was soft and sweet, like an oriole emerging from its valley.
Xiao Fan was genuinely surprised to see Xiao Xun'er. He had barely crossed paths with her at all these past few days.
Yet she had already broken through to Eight-Star Dou Zhe. Even Xiao Fan couldn't help being astonished.
He didn't need to think twice to know she must have been diligently cultivating.
As befitted the princess of the Ancient Clan, her talent and speed in cultivation were beyond the reach of ordinary people, no matter how hard they tried. Of course, that didn't apply to someone like him, with his heaven-defying cheat.
"Little Sister Xun Er, you've already reached Eight-Star Dou Zhe? You're making quick progress."
Xiao Fan's lips curved into a warm smile, and he greeted her first.
Xiao Xun'er froze for a moment, thinking to herself, I thought advancing to this level would make Brother Xiao Fan's eyes light up. I didn't expect him to see through it so easily.
Still, she soon smiled again, bright and lovely, with flecks of light seeming to dance in her eyes.
"I still can't compare to you, Brother Xiao Fan..."
[Anticipation +1, delight +1, anticipation +3]
Sensing her emotions, Xiao Fan couldn't help finding it amusing. Is this girl hoping I'll praise her?
He gave a slight nod, his gaze full of approval.
"As expected of the Xiao Clan's number-one genius beauty. To achieve so much at your age is truly remarkable."
[Happiness +2, shyness +1]
A blush instantly spread across Xiao Xun'er's fair cheeks, like rosy clouds on the horizon, all the way to her ears.
The straightforward praise left her at a loss. Her eyes began to wander.
In an effort to hide her embarrassment, she hurriedly changed the subject. "Then what realm are you at now, Brother Xiao Fan?"
"Me..."
With a thought, Xiao Fan let his aura flow. The formidable presence of a One-Star Great Dou Master burst forth in an instant.
The powerful aura washed over Xiao Xun'er. Her eyes went wide with shock, and her small mouth formed an adorable "O."
[Shock +1, shock +2, shock +3]
"H-How is that possible?"
She cried out inwardly. She had thought her cultivation speed was already fast enough.
But she hadn't expected Brother Xiao Fan to have reached the level of a One-Star Great Dou Master already.
The small bit of pride she'd felt upon breaking through vanished in an instant.
Xiao Fan quietly sensed the shift in her emotions, inwardly amused. This girl really is adorably innocent.
"Th-Then what about your maid, Xiao Yi Xian?"
Xiao Xun'er's eyes darted about as she asked, seemingly offhandedly, what she truly wanted to know.
"She's a Dou Ling..."
A mischievous glint flashed through Xiao Fan's eyes. He deliberately made it sound like nothing special.
Xiao Xun'er's bright, smiling expression froze. She stood rooted to the spot, her eyes filled with disbelief.
"She's already a Dou Ling? How old is she?"
She asked herself over and over. A wave of frustration surged through her heart.
It completely drowned the small joy she'd felt at breaking through to Eight-Star Dou Zhe.
[Frustration +2, frustration +2, frustration +2]
Feeling her emotions, Xiao Fan set aside his teasing and gently rested a hand on Xiao Xun'er's shoulder. In a warm voice, he said, "The path of cultivation is like climbing a high peak. You have to take it one step at a time."
"Xiao Yi Xian has a special constitution, so her progress is faster in the early stages. But that doesn't mean anything."
He knew that the most perfect Dou Di Bloodline in the Ancient Clan's thousand-year history flowed through Xiao Xun'er's veins.
Once she awakened the power of her bloodline, her cultivation speed would far surpass that of ordinary people. It just wasn't time yet.
[Shyness +2, shyness +2, delight +1]
Xiao Xun'er felt a sudden warmth on her shoulder. The unexpected touch sent a brilliant blush over her fair cheeks, like a ripe peach, tempting and radiant.
The disappointment and frustration in her heart vanished in an instant, leaving only bashfulness and delight.
"I-I understand, Brother Xiao Fan."
She hurriedly lowered her eyes, not daring to meet Xiao Fan's gaze. Her voice had grown as soft as a mosquito's hum.
Then, like a startled little rabbit, she turned and fled.
Her steps were hurried and flustered. Her shy appearance was impossible not to find amusing.
If the other young men of the Xiao Clan, who worshipped Xiao Xun'er as a goddess, had seen her acting so bashful and adorable in front of Xiao Fan, who knew how many hearts would have broken and spirits been crushed?
Sunlight bathed Xiao Fan as he watched Xiao Xun'er disappear, a faint smile on his lips.
These peaceful days seemed to have grown all the more interesting thanks to such little interludes.
That same day, Yao Lao handed Xiao Fan the puppet he had finished refining, as promised.
"It only has the strength of a Two-Star Dou Zong, but that should be enough here in the Jia Ma Empire..."
Yao Lao stroked his beard as he spoke, his soul projection looking somewhat dim.
Clearly, refining the puppet had consumed a great deal of his soul power.
Xiao Fan nodded slightly and handed him the pills he had prepared to replenish his soul.
"I understand..."
A Two-Star Dou Zong was enough?
Quite a few figures from the Soul Hall would be coming here in the near future.
Still, Xiao Fan wasn't too concerned, because he had another way to refine puppets.
If that method worked, he could break through to an even higher level...
How could a Two-Star Dou Zong be enough?
Xiao Fan brought the puppet to the Magical Beast Mountain Range. In an instant, a grand formation covering most of the range's depths slowly rose into the air...