"Ancient Jade?" Xiao Yan's eyes filled with confusion. What kind of jade could be so precious that a mysterious and powerful clan would spare no effort to send people searching for it?
Seeing the change in Xiao Yan's expression, Xun Er could not help feeling flustered. She hurriedly explained, "No, Brother Xiao Yan. Xun Er did not take anything from the Xiao Clan. The Ancient Jade is very special. It cannot be detected by any means, not even by my father. So... so..."
As Xun Er spoke, tears unconsciously welled up in her beautiful eyes. This was a stain on her life! She had never dared tell Xiao Yan because she feared he would see her as a thief, a woman who had approached him with the Ancient Jade as her goal.
Seeing that Xun Er had talked herself into tears first, Xiao Yan was startled. He hurriedly stroked her soft hair and comforted her. "I'm not blaming you, Xun Er. This wasn't something you could decide. I know you didn't stay with the Xiao Clan because of the Ancient Jade. I'm just surprised that our Xiao Clan actually had such a glorious history."
Feeling the warmth from his large hand, Xun Er nodded gently and continued, "The Xiao Clan was once very powerful. Especially its final clan leader, Senior Xiao Xuan, who was hailed as the strongest expert of his era and stood at the peak of the Dou Qi Continent. Unfortunately, the Xiao Clan later attempted to break through to the Dou Di realm and failed. Senior Xiao Xuan died as a result, and the Xiao Clan was forced into seclusion under pursuit from its enemies."
Xun Er placed the scroll before Xiao Yan and said, "Brother Xiao Yan, although this Flame Manipulation Formula is only a high-grade Mystic Tier cultivation method, it is extremely important."
Hearing Xun Er say, "only a high-grade Mystic Tier," Xiao Yan's eyelids twitched, and his expression turned strange. What did she mean, only?! There was not even a high-grade Mystic Tier cultivation method in all of Wutan City! Of the three great clans, the Xiao Clan and the Oba Family possessed mid-grade Mystic Tier cultivation methods, while the Jia Lie Family only had a low-grade Mystic Tier one. This high-grade Mystic Tier fire-element cultivation method could not even be found in several neighboring cities!
"You really are a little rich girl. A high-grade Mystic Tier cultivation method is still only 'only' to you." Xiao Yan teased her.
Upon hearing Xiao Yan's teasing, Xun Er did not respond playfully as she usually did. Instead, her expression became somewhat unnatural as she said, "But it originally belonged to your Xiao Clan. This Flame Manipulation Formula was the cultivation method practiced by Senior Xiao Xuan."
"The cultivation method practiced by Ancestor Xiao Xuan? Is Mystic Tier really that low-grade?" This time, Xiao Yan was a little bewildered. Was a high-grade Mystic Tier cultivation method really that low-grade?
A high-grade Mystic Tier cultivation method was exceedingly valuable in Wutan City, but if a peak expert's cultivation method was merely high-grade Mystic Tier, then it seemed far too low. Could that really make someone the strongest on the Dou Qi Continent?
Xun Er gently shook her head and continued, "The Flame Manipulation Formula is only the introductory formula. The complete cultivation method Senior Xiao Xuan practiced was Heaven Tier, one of the strongest cultivation methods on the Dou Qi Continent."
"Heaven... Heaven Tier?!" Xiao Yan shot to his feet, his eyes wide and his mouth large enough to fit an egg. He even forgot the pain from his injuries, because this was simply too shocking.
Seeing Xiao Yan's astonished expression, Xun Er nodded seriously. "Heaven Tier cultivation methods are complicated and intricate. No one can cultivate a Heaven Tier cultivation method while still a Dou Zhe, so Heaven Tier cultivation methods must be divided and cultivated step by step. This Flame Manipulation Formula is only the introductory section."
"Wow." Xiao Yan looked at the high-grade Mystic Tier cultivation method before him. Even with his temperament, he could not help swallowing. This cultivation method was more than merely precious.
Seeing the shock in Xiao Yan's eyes, Xun Er finally began to set down the heavy burden in her heart. She placed the cultivation method on the table and softly said, "Brother Xiao Yan, so you don't need to feel embarrassed about accepting it. Rather... rather, it was our Gu Clan that occupied your Xiao Clan's cultivation method for all these years."
Xiao Yan smiled and lightly shook his head. "How could that be? Since Ancestor Xiao Xuan entrusted the cultivation method to your Gu Clan, that was his decision. You didn't steal anything, Xun Er. There's no need to blame yourself. No, wait. Xun Er, you did steal one thing."
?!!!
Xun Er was startled, panic appearing on her face. She clearly had not taken the Ancient Jade! Yet in the next moment, Xiao Yan burst into laughter and teased, "You stole my heart."
Faced with that sudden turn, Xun Er first froze. Then her delicate, lovely face flushed bright red, and even her ears reddened. "Brother Xiao Yan, you... I'm ignoring you."
"Hahaha." Seeing Xun Er blush furiously from his teasing, Xiao Yan laughed and said, "Once my injuries heal, I'll immediately switch to this cultivation method."
Hearing Xiao Yan mention his injuries, Xun Er flicked her finger and took out a bottle of pills from her storage ring. A fragrant medicinal scent immediately spread through the room.
"Brother Xiao Yan, this is a Grade Four Healing Injury Pill. Once you take it, your injuries will completely heal."
"Grade Four?!" Xiao Yan looked at the pill before him, once again shocked by Xun Er's "wealth." "I'm only a Dou Zhe. Grade One healing medicine would let me recover quickly enough. I don't need Grade Four pills. This is far too precious."
Grade Four corresponded to a Dou Ling!
Xun Er tilted her head. "But Grade Four pills are the lowest-grade pills I have."
Hiss, hiss, hiss!!!!
Xiao Yan opened his mouth, wanting to say something but stopping himself. In the end, he silently muttered, "Rich girl."
Several days later, in Xun Er's room.
A black shadow slowly emerged from the darkness. Xun Er, who had been reading, slowly turned and looked at the shadow. "Elder Ling, did you get it?"
Hearing Xun Er's question, Ling Ying slowly shook his head with some helplessness. "I couldn't. The clan elders forbid the Xiao Clan's Dou Techniques from being taken out of the Gu Clan."
Xun Er's expression darkened. A flash of golden flame suddenly passed through her eyes, and the lit candle before her crackled as it rapidly burned. "How utterly unreasonable. Those Dou Techniques and cultivation methods originally belonged to the Xiao Clan. Senior Xiao Xuan stored them in the Gu Clan, so how did they become theirs now?"
In response to Xun Er's words, Ling Ying could only shrink his neck and did not dare answer. The interests involved were simply too enormous. What she said was true, but in reality, the Xiao Clan had already been exterminated. Everything the Xiao Clan once possessed had been divided among the various branches of the Gu Clan. Even the clan leader was powerless to retrieve them, much less a Dou Emperor like him.
Ling Ying changed the subject and asked, "Does Miss need to return to the Gu Clan personally?"
Xun Er shook her head. Her beautiful eyes looked outside the house, where Xiao Yan was currently recultivating with his new cultivation method. "No. I plan to travel and train with Brother Xiao Yan until the Three-Year Agreement ends."
Naturally, Ling Ying also knew that Xiao Yan had been repudiated. He could not help asking, "Miss, even if Young Master Xiao Yan can defeat Nalan Yanran, the Misty Cloud Sect can only be considered an insignificant sect even on the Dou Qi Continent. It will be impossible for Young Master Xiao Yan to gain the clan's approval."
Instead of being discouraged by Ling Ying's judgment, Xun Er revealed a confident smile. "Back then, Brother Xiao Yan knew he would lose. He knew Nalan Yanran possessed stronger cultivation methods, yet he still stepped forward. Father once said that most of the greatest experts in the history of the Dou Qi Continent shared the same belief: 'Refusing to yield in adversity is more important than cultivation methods and Dou Techniques.'"
"I believe Brother Xiao Yan will definitely become a Dou Di."
Seeing Xun Er's determined gaze, Ling Ying could not help looking at the youth outside the window. At that moment, he too became confused. Could someone truly do it without a Dou Emperor Bloodline?
"Although this old man cannot see what Miss sees, I can feel it. The heavens of the Dou Qi Continent are about to change."
Just as Ling Ying had said, the heavens of the Dou Qi Continent truly changed. Especially for Zhu Jin, who was still in the Beast Domain, his own world had truly changed. The main storyline of the Dou Qi Continent had already been overturned by the butterfly effect, heading toward a future he knew nothing about.
"Why does this Magic Core... taste like roasted sweet potato?"
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