Xiao Yan's expression was filled with surprise and disbelief. After all, the strongest person in the Xiao Family was currently his father, Xiao Zhan, a Six-Star Da Dou Shi.
Last time, Xiao Ze's strength had been tested at the family's Testing Plaza.
Seven-Star Da Dou Shi!
Could he have improved again and reached the Eight-Star level now? Xiao Yan muttered to himself inwardly. Although he felt that his own progress had been obvious, the gap between him and Xiao Ze was still far too great!
An Eight-Star Da Dou Shi! Back then, Xiao Ze had been weaker than him, with only First Stage Dou Qi.
Seeing Xiao Yan's puzzled and curious expression and gaze, Xiao Ze smiled faintly. Then, he released his Dou Qi, revealing his realm and strength.
Xiao Yan's expression was one of shock, even terror. "A One-Star Dou Ling?"
Xiao Yan was utterly stunned. He had originally thought that Xiao Ze breaking through to the Eight-Star level was already inconceivable. He had never expected him to skip past the Da Dou Shi stage and enter the Dou Ling realm directly!
"My God, Fourth Brother, isn't the speed of your improvement far too astonishing? You've actually already reached the Dou Ling level?" Xiao Yan exclaimed.
Xiao Ze smiled faintly without speaking, his attention focused on the system panel before him.
[The host has completed the mission. By displaying Dou Ling strength and earning the recognition of Xiao Yan, the protagonist of the Destiny Doctrine, a random reward has been triggered. You have obtained an Orange Treasure Chest.]
Xiao Ze opened the system inventory and saw an orange treasure chest inside it.
He immediately drew the reward.
[You have opened an Orange Treasure Chest and drawn a reward. You have gained a permanent increase of 35 points of Soul Power.]
Soul Power was extremely difficult to increase. With the system's help, he had just gained 35 points, leaving Xiao Ze highly satisfied. His attention returned to reality.
Looking at Xiao Yan before him, whose eyes were full of admiration, he said, "Fourth Brother, you truly are the hope of our Xiao Family. Who knows? You might even reach the Dou Wang realm before turning twenty!"
"At that point, throughout the entire Jia Ma Empire, every faction will have to take our Xiao Family seriously!" Xiao Yan said excitedly.
Xiao Ze smiled faintly and said nothing. He patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder. "Keep cultivating. Not just me—you need to work hard too. Our Xiao Family will eventually have its day of revival."
After greeting Xiao Yan, Xiao Ze left and headed to the family's Back Mountain to improve his alchemy proficiency.
This would help lower his failure rate and raise his success rate when refining pills in the future.
After parting ways with Xiao Ze, Xiao Yan's face remained full of shock, and he could not recover his composure for a long while.
I never thought Fourth Brother's cultivation speed would be so terrifying. If Father knew, he would probably be very gratified, wouldn't he? Xiao Yan muttered inwardly.
He looked up and had only taken a few steps when he saw Xiao Zhan approaching from ahead.
Especially recently, because of Xiao Ze, the entire Xiao Family had gained the attention of the Gama Empire Royal Family. The Xiao Family's influence was now at its peak.
At least within all of Wutan City, no one dared to oppose the Xiao Family anymore.
Even the once-powerful Jialie Family was no exception, acting utterly respectful and polite.
The Xiao Family was also exceptionally harmonious. The elders who had once looked down on his son no longer dared utter a word. Xiao Zhan was very satisfied with the current situation.
"Ze'er has been hiding in the Back Mountain cultivating these past few days. I rarely see him. With his astonishing cultivation talent, could he have already reached Eight-Star Da Dou Shi?"
Xiao Zhan speculated inwardly, feeling that it was entirely possible.
Then he suddenly thought of how, after cultivating for so many years, he was only a Five-Star Da Dou Shi. Yet Xiao Ze's improvement over this period had been so rapid that it could only be described as astounding!
The last time Xiao Ze's Dou Qi test results had come out, Xiao Zhan had truly been frightened!
Now, breaking through to Eight-Star Da Dou Shi should not be difficult for him, right?
Seeing Xiao Yan here, Xiao Zhan was slightly surprised. He looked at him and asked, "Yan'er, why are you here?"
"Father!" Upon seeing Xiao Zhan, Xiao Yan hurriedly greeted him.
As they spoke of his younger brother Xiao Ze, a look of amazement immediately appeared on Xiao Yan's face. "Father, perhaps my goal is no longer Nalan Yanran."
"Although we agreed that, three years from now, I would go to the Misty Cloud Sect and challenge Nalan Yanran, washing away the humiliation of our Xiao Family's broken engagement!"
"But now, surpassing Nalan Yanran is no longer my goal. Compared to Nalan Yanran, my Fourth Brother Xiao Ze may be an even more worthy goal to surpass!" Xiao Yan said.
"Father, you may not know this yet, but Fourth Brother and I just met here. His strength has already reached the Dou Ling realm!" Xiao Yan said.
"What? The Dou Ling realm?" Xiao Zhan's expression immediately changed to shock. He had just been thinking that, since he had not seen Xiao Ze lately, Xiao Ze's astonishing cultivation speed would surely allow him to reach the Eight-Star level.
But Dou Ling was something Xiao Zhan had not even dared imagine!
Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Xiao Zhan became extremely excited. "Yan'er, is what you said true? Your younger brother Xiao Ze has really advanced to Dou Ling?"
"Yes, Father. I saw it with my own eyes just now!" Xiao Yan replied.
"Good, good, good! Wonderful! I never expected my little Xiao Family to have a Dou Ling expert now!" Xiao Zhan said excitedly.
If that was the case, the other two great families of Wutan City would have even less room to survive!
Xiao Ze had already arrived at the Back Mountain. After completing the mission and earning the recognition of Xiao Yan, the Destiny Doctrine's protagonist, he returned to the Back Mountain and began refining Tier 6 pills to raise his proficiency.
Yao Chen drifted out of the Storage Ring. Looking at Xiao Ze, he praised him endlessly. "Kid, I never expected you to break through to the Dou Ling realm in such a short time. You truly are extraordinary!"
"Your father is coming. I'll return to the ring first." Yao Chen had just intended to say a few more words when he heard footsteps. It was Xiao Zhan's aura.
Xiao Ze watched Xiao Zhan approach but did not stop refining the pill in his hands. This was the critical moment for the pill to take form; he could not interrupt it, or all his previous effort would be wasted.
After Xiao Zhan arrived, his expression was full of surprise as his gaze fell before him.
There, Xiao Ze was refining a Tier 6 pill!
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