Yao Lao Awakens, Heavenly Realm Soul!

Xiao Yan was so incredibly excited upon hearing this that he was about to speak.

However, Xiao Fan said, "Let's go inside to talk."

He had no choice but to suppress his excitement and follow Xiao Fan back into the room.

Clang.

As the door shut, Xiao Fan said with a beaming smile, "Are you in such a hurry?"

"Of course! I want to take back everything I've lost!"

Xiao Yan's eyes turned slightly red as he spoke.

Who knew how many cold stares and rumors he had endured over these past two years?

If it weren't for the fact that he had lived two lifetimes, a teenager would have long since collapsed into depression.

Seeing this, Xiao Fan felt a sense of poignancy.

He hadn't mentioned it before due to his concerns; after all, that was the soul of a Dou Zun, and he was merely a Dou Wang.

Originally, he had intended to let things take their natural course and wait for Xiao Yan to discover it himself in three years.

But things were different now. Possessing the Innate Sacred Body Dao Fetus, Xiao Fan's physical strength had become formidable, and his soul level had reached a terrifying height.

On the Dou Qi Continent, soul levels were divided into four major realms: Mortal, Spirit, Heaven, and Emperor, with each realm further subdivided into early, middle, and great perfection stages.

The Mortal Realm was the starting stage of soul cultivation, where most people—such as ordinary alchemists—remained.

The soul power in this realm was relatively weak; it could play a role in refining low-grade pills, but it struggled to control high-grade ones.

In the Spirit Realm, one could refine eighth-grade pills, making them the elite among alchemists.

Spirit Realm soul power was a significant improvement over the Mortal Realm, allowing for better control and the use of higher-level soul skills, which provided greater power in both combat and alchemy.

In the Heaven Realm, experts could refine ninth-grade pills, and their soul power was immensely powerful.

They could easily control their mental energy, influence others through fluctuations of that energy, and even materialize their soul power, separating a soul body with the same strength as their true self to engage in battle.

Xiao Fan had already experimented and found he could materialize his soul power, meaning he had reached the Heaven Realm.

Whether he was at the early, middle, or great perfection stage was unknown, but he no longer feared Yao Lao in the slightest.

Xiao Yan asked urgently, "Do you know the reason?"

It was clear that if Xiao Fan didn't provide a satisfactory answer today, Xiao Yan would show him what it meant for an ant to defy an emperor.

Xiao Fan smiled slightly. "That's right. I could see it once I broke through to the Dou Huang realm."

He then pointed to the ring on Xiao Yan's finger and said thoughtfully, "That ring is likely the reason your Dou Qi has been draining away all this time."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan didn't care that it was a keepsake left by his mother.

He hurriedly pulled the ring off and threw it directly onto the floor.

Xiao Yan cursed, "So it was you, you piece of junk! You've caused my Dou Qi to regress for so long!"

Xiao Yan felt nothing but bitterness in his heart!

If it hadn't been a memento from his mother, he never would have worn it on his hand at all times.

He hadn't even taken it off while bathing.

Had he known this thing was so sinister, he would have died before putting it on!

Xiao Fan found the scene somewhat amusing.

This is your strongest golden finger at this stage, and you're just throwing it away like that.

He was just about to explain the mysteries of the ring.

At that very moment, a soul-like figure drifted out—it was Yao Lao.

It seemed that two years of time had allowed him to barely awaken.

Yao Lao said with a helpless expression, "Little one, do not be so hot-tempered. Although I absorbed some of your Dou Qi, it was to preserve my own existence. I will compensate you in the future."

Xiao Yan's eyes widened as he realized this transparent figure was the culprit behind the two years of cold stares he had endured.

He glared at Yao Lao and shouted, "Compensate? Do you have any idea how much grievance I've suffered all these years!"

Xiao Fan, standing to the side, crossed his arms and watched Yao Lao with "keen interest."

"So you're the soul hiding inside the ring?"

Yao Lao looked at Xiao Fan, his expression slightly startled, and he said with a hint of gravity, "I never expected that in this tiny Wutan City, there would be someone with a soul as powerful as yours."

"To have reached the early Heaven Realm at such a young age..."

In his previous life, Yao Lao had been a peak Nine-Turn Dou Zun, and his soul had reached the middle Heaven Realm; his powerful soul force made his perception extremely keen.

Therefore, he could easily sense the soul power within Xiao Fan, which was also of the Heaven Realm.

It was a pity, however, that he did not know that a Heavenly Realm soul was merely the tip of the iceberg for Xiao Fan; what was truly terrifying about him was the Dao Body that contained infinite potential!

Xiao Fan sneered, putting on a show of backing Xiao Yan up.

"Hmph, don't think that the two of us brothers are easy to bully. Otherwise, even if you are a soul entity, I will make you suffer."

Seeing this, Yao Lao hurriedly waved his hands.

"A misunderstanding, a misunderstanding! I harbor no ill intent."

With his current soul strength, how could he compare to the Xiao Fan of this moment? If Xiao Fan had any crooked ideas, he, Yao Lao, might not even get the chance to live a second life.

Xiao Yan said indignantly at this moment, "Regardless of whether you have ill intent or not, you've caused me so much misery. How are we going to settle this score?"

Yao Lao pondered for a moment before saying, "I can take you as my disciple, teach you cultivation methods and the art of alchemy, and help you become a powerhouse. How about that?"

Xiao Yan's soul strength was quite decent, enough to become an alchemist.

Although he coveted the Xiao Fan standing nearby even more, that boy had reached the peak of the Dou Huang realm at such a young age, and his soul had even reached the Heavenly Realm that countless alchemists dreamed of—this clearly indicated something was highly unusual.

This kid definitely had many secrets on him; it was better for a remnant soul like himself to keep his distance.

Conversely, the Xiao Yan beside him, while looking a bit naive, clearly seemed like an honest person, making him suitable to be his disciple.

Xiao Fan raised an eyebrow and said, "Fine then. Now that you've awakened, you must teach my younger brother Yan well."

Yao Lao sighed helplessly. He had indeed awakened, but his soul strength remained unstable and could fall back into a deep slumber at any moment.

However, just at this moment, Xiao Fan took out a storage ring and tossed it to Xiao Yan.

"Inside are potions to help this old man recover his soul strength, along with some other things you might find useful."

After saying this, he left the room, leaving Xiao Yan and Yao Lao to stare at each other in bewilderment.

Yao Lao opened his mouth slightly; even through the storage ring, he could sense the nourishing effects it held for the soul.

This situation could only point to one conclusion.

That was that the other party had long known that his soul was hidden within Xiao Yan's ring.

He had specifically gone out to collect these medicinal materials for this purpose.

"This elder brother of yours treats you well; you must always remember his kindness..."

Yao Lao's expression returned to calm as he said to Xiao Yan.

If not for these potions, he would likely have had to remain in a deep slumber for some time longer, continuing to absorb Xiao Yan's Dou Qi.

Xiao Yan realized this as well, his face showing pride and self-satisfaction.

"Of course! Even though he isn't my biological brother, we are closer than real brothers!"

Hehe... I've definitely latched onto Brother Fan's leg!

At this moment, Xiao Fan arrived at the Xiao Clan's martial arts hall.

Every member of the Xiao Clan he encountered greeted him.

"Hello, Brother Fan!"

"Brother Fan is truly amazing! He is worthy of being the number one in our Xiao Clan!"

"Brother Fan, when you have time, could you give us some pointers?"

Clearly, the story of him defying the odds to defeat a Dou Shi while only a six-star Dou Zhe had already spread.

Xiao Fan looked straight ahead; having been the focus of everyone's attention since he was small, he was already accustomed to such cheers and praise.

He stepped forward, intending to leave.

However, just then, a voice called out to stop him.

"Brother Xiao Fan..."