Xiao Xun'er's Doubts

In less than a moment, Yao Chen had already finished refining the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid.

For a grandmaster alchemist of the eighth rank, such a trivial grade was not worth mentioning at all.

Xiao Yan watched, dumbfounded.

Who would have thought his teacher actually possessed such capability? To refine a medicinal pill just like that?

Wasn't it said that there was always a certain risk of failure when refining pills?

With so many spirit liquids involved, he had succeeded on the first try.

Could it be that his teacher's alchemist rank was incredibly high during his lifetime? For a moment, Xiao Yan was filled with curiosity about Yao Chen.

Stop thinking about that. With Teacher's help, I might actually be able to defeat Nalan Yanran and win the Three-Year Agreement, Xiao Yan thought to himself.

Immediately afterward, Xiao Yan began his cultivation.

Several days passed.

At the back of the family estate.

Xiao Yan suddenly opened his eyes and slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air.

He discovered that the Dou Qi he had been losing for so long had not dissipated this time; instead, it had condensed.

It had successfully allowed him to break through, advancing his strength to the fourth stage.

Xiao Yan was thrilled!

To him, this was a long-lost feeling of breakthrough. It was truly gratifying and felt wonderful.

He was finally no longer like before, where the little bit of Dou Qi he painstakingly cultivated would immediately leak away, like an hourglass with no bottom.

Under those circumstances, it would have been a miracle if his strength could advance; he was lucky it hadn't regressed.

But fortunately, that would not happen again!

After breaking through to the fourth stage of Dou Qi, Xiao Yan said excitedly, "Teacher, I never imagined your spirit liquid would be so effective."

"I've only been cultivating for a few days, and I've already recovered to the fourth stage of strength."

"I believe that with a little more time, reaching the fifth stage is very likely," Xiao Yan said with excitement.

"A mere fifth stage of strength, what does that count for? Look at your lack of ambition," Yao Chen remarked.

"Hehe, Teacher, as a student, I am naturally not like you, having seen so much of the world," Xiao Yan replied with a smile.

Compared to the mockery he had endured over the past three years and the anxiety brought on by his constant regression in strength, he was already very satisfied.

However, his teacher was right. Nalan Yanran was backed by the Cloud Mist Sect, the greatest power in the entire Jia Ma Empire.

Her teacher, Yun Yun, was even a powerhouse at the Dou Huang level!

If he didn't work hard, he would never be able to catch up. He couldn't afford not to put in a hundred times more effort than Nalan Yanran, especially since the gap between them was currently far too wide.

Leaving the back of the family estate, he returned to the Xiao family residence.

Xiao Zhan looked at Xiao Yan and said, "Yan'er, I know you were deeply hurt when that girl from the Nalan family came to break off the engagement."

"But it doesn't matter. Your father still stands by his words: my son, Xiao Zhan's son, is destined not to be an ordinary man!"

"That girl from the Nalan family lacks the fortune to be with you. In the future, my son's achievements will absolutely not lose to their Nalan family!" Xiao Zhan said with great confidence, looking at the Xiao Yan before him.

A father is a father, after all; his trust in him had not diminished by even a fraction.

The more this was the case, the more Xiao Yan felt he should strive for excellence.

Additionally, Xiao Yan was pondering another matter. Since he had already taken him as his master, Yao Chen was his teacher.

He was currently in a soul-body state. What exactly happened to him during his lifetime?

Since he was so powerful, surely ordinary people could not have harmed him? How did he end up in this current state?

He had only managed to survive by absorbing his Dou Qi for three years.

Although he didn't know what had happened, Xiao Yan had already made a silent vow: he would never let anyone who harmed his teacher off easily!

Most importantly, he wanted to know if there was any way to help his teacher resurrect and regain a physical body, rather than remaining in this soul-body state.

Xiao Yan planned to ask his teacher about it when he had the chance. No matter how difficult it might be, as long as he could help his teacher resurrect, Xiao Yan was willing to do anything!

Xiao Zhan looked at Xiao Yan at that moment.

He patted him on the shoulder and offered some words of comfort.

Xiao Yan immediately replied, "Father, don't worry, I'm fine."

"There are plenty of good women on the Dou Qi Continent; I, Xiao Yan, am not forced to marry Nalan Yanran."

"Well said. That is the spirit of a man, showing the same grit as your two older brothers," Xiao Zhan said with a satisfied smile. His three sons were indeed all courageous and had not disappointed him.

However, Xiao Zhan remained deeply worried, for after all, Nalan Yanran had the Cloud Mist Sect behind her.

Even if Yan'er failed his challenge three years from now, Xiao Zhan would find it perfectly normal; after all, that was the Cloud Mist Sect. He only hoped Xiao Yan would not place too much psychological pressure on himself.

In the evening, after returning to his room, Xiao Yan watched as Yao Chen drifted out from his storage ring.

He then spoke up.

"Teacher, what I want to know is, who was it that harmed you during your lifetime, causing you to fall into this state—neither human nor ghost?"

"Is there anything I can do?"

"Is there any way for you to be resurrected, Teacher?" Xiao Yan asked earnestly.

Yao Chen was not surprised by Xiao Yan's concern, but he was now bound to a system.

As long as he helped Xiao Yan cultivate and improve his strength, he could draw treasure chest rewards. He believed that it would not take long before he could be reborn.

Still, he was very pleased that Xiao Yan had such a heart.

Yao Chen said, "It is of no concern, little Yanzi. For you right now, the most urgent priority is to improve your own strength."

"Only when your strength has increased will it be possible for you to help your teacher."

Xiao Yan nodded and immediately replied, "Yes, Teacher!"

"I will keep that in mind."

Xiao Yan continued his cultivation. A night passed, and although he had not yet reached the fifth stage of Dou Qi, he had indeed made significant progress compared to before.

The speed at which his strength was improving was quite remarkable.

At this moment, a familiar, graceful figure walked over. It was Xiao Xun'er, Xiao Yan's childhood sweetheart.

She was also the young lady of the Ancient Clan.

"Brother Xiao Yan, why have you been avoiding Xun'er lately? Are you worried that Xun'er will ask you to pay back the money?" Xiao Xun'er said.

Xiao Yan gave an awkward smile. Whether before or after his transmigration, he had no experience borrowing money from girls.

He couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed.

He immediately answered, "Xun'er, I've been busy with cultivation during this time, so that's why..."

Xiao Xun'er's expression was one of surprise, because the Dou Qi Xiao Yan had inadvertently released while cultivating just now had allowed her to sense something. Brother Xiao Yan had actually broken through?

It had been three years; was this the first time Brother Xiao Yan had leveled up?

Xiao Xun'er was very surprised: "Brother Xiao Yan, have you finally found the reason why your strength was stagnant or even regressing?"

"As expected, Nalan Yanran will regret this. Brother Xiao Yan, you will definitely restore your former glory." After saying this, Xiao Xun'er suddenly felt that something was not quite right.

How could Brother Xiao Yan suddenly recover his strength?

Was there someone behind him helping him? Xiao Xun'er felt it was necessary to get to the bottom of this.

At night, Xiao Xun'er hid in the shadows.

She saw a wisp of a soul drifting out from Xiao Yan's storage ring.