Reincarnation Tribulation, Heaven-and-Earth Breaker!

[Reincarnation Tribulation: Use four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds, borrowing however much force comes your way and returning it in kind. Its movements are gentle and slow, yet it could stillness overcome motion, softness overcome hardness, evade the solid and strike the hollow, and borrow force to exert force. Reincarnation Tribulation offered no advantage in one-on-one combat, but by borrowing an opponent's strength and returning it against them, it was exceptionally suited for group battles.

Reincarnation Tribulation emphasized using force against force—"listening to force" and "guidance." First, discern the strength and direction of the opponent's attack, then guide it away from its strongest point. Follow the direction of their attack, press close along their movement, and borrow the momentum to add force and strike back. While causing the opponent's attack to miss, it also prevented them from withdrawing their strength, leaving them constrained by their own power. Reincarnation Tribulation could forcibly borrow force.

Because it was purely a technique of borrowing force to strike back, Reincarnation Tribulation depended even more heavily on the opponent's strength.]

[Skill: Heaven-and-Earth Breaker!]

That moment of insight allowed Xiao Yan to instantly grasp a Dou Technique even stronger than the Swallow Return Strike.

This was the benefit of witnessing powerful Dou Techniques and cultivation methods—it could stimulate Xiao Yan's comprehension to its fullest extent.

Her keen soul perception immediately allowed Xun'er to notice the subtle change in Xiao Yan.

"Brother Xiao Yan's Dou Technique just now was already quite impressive. Could it be that he has an even stronger one? Powerful Dou Techniques require deep reserves of Dou Qi to unleash.

"Even if Brother Xiao Yan were given a Heaven-tier Dou Technique right now, he could only stare at it. But if he cultivated a high-tier cultivation method, the time needed would be greatly reduced."

Yao Lao agreed wholeheartedly. "Not only Dou Techniques—even if I had truly given you a Heaven-tier cultivation method back then, you still wouldn't have been able to cultivate it. The terrifying cultivation speed of a Heaven-tier method would instantly destroy your meridians.

"Cultivating Dou Qi methods proceeds step by step. Only after raising your strength can you adapt to stronger methods. It's just that few people are willing to start from a low-grade Yellow-tier method..."

Xiao Yan gave a bitter smile. Of course he knew all that, but rank had never been a problem—especially with his heaven-defying comprehension.

"Brother Xiao Yan, Xun'er is going to get serious now!" Seeing Xiao Yan's careless expression, Xun'er cried out a warning. Suddenly, golden light surged within her body.

Xiao Yan's dark eyes abruptly narrowed. This little girl really was terrifying!

"Guardian Trigram Palm!" As the golden light flared, Xun'er's feet actually rose half an inch off the ground. Her waist-length hair moved without wind behind her, golden light boiling in her palms before she struck out with one hand.

A palm-shaped afterimage shot forth like lightning, trailing a tail of golden energy behind it.

"Reincarnation Tribulation!" Xiao Yan began drawing circles with both hands as well, except the circle he drew was complete.

Xun'er's pretty face went pale as she stared at Xiao Yan in disbelief. Even a Dou Technique similar to the Swallow Return Strike could not possibly rebound her Guardian Trigram Palm!

She had used that kind of power in this attack!

Xiao Yan was not as relaxed as Xun'er believed. Borrowing such scorching energy, it was fortunate that his physique was fairly strong. An ordinary person would have long since burned themselves alive.

Even so, Xiao Yan felt as though his body had been thrown into magma, unbearably hot.

"Heaven-and-Earth Breaker!" With a low shout, Xiao Yan thrust his palms forward, firing a brilliant golden beam.

The beam carried terrifying heat, leaving scorched earth everywhere it passed.

A blazing wave of fire rushed toward her. With her Dou Qi exhausted, Xun'er shut her eyes in terror.

Why did she have to feed that brat moves for no reason... Yao Lao thought.

With a boom, a massive boulder to Xun'er's right exploded into countless fragments. The ground shook, and dust and smoke filled the air.

Where the boulder had once stood, the surrounding area was a complete mess, reduced to ruins.

"You lost." Xiao Yan reached out and flicked Xun'er on her smooth forehead.

Wincing in pain, Xun'er rubbed her head and looked in surprise at the shattered boulder. The stones radiated scorching heat, and it was obvious that this was the power of her own Dou Technique.

"How is that possible?" Xun'er was utterly shocked. "Even if Brother Xiao Yan had cultivated the Swallow Return Strike to its highest realm, he couldn't possibly rebound my Dou Technique!"

"Xun'er, I understand everything you've done. The reason I'm working hard to cultivate a low-grade Yellow-tier method now is for the same purpose as yours. This... you'll naturally understand in the future."

Xiao Yan suddenly wrapped an arm around Xun'er's slender waist and fiercely pulled her into his embrace.

Xun'er was left dazed by Xiao Yan's sudden action. A moment later, a rosy flush crept over the tips of her delicate ears. She struggled lightly for a moment before shyly stopping, her little face covered in a faint, enticing blush.

A gentle breeze swept over the cliff, making the green willows sway lightly. The young man held the young girl tightly, their bodies fitting together as though they were one, as if there were no distinction between them.

"Xun'er, three years from now, my strength will be so great that no one will be able to say no to me."

Burying his head deep in her soft, flowing hair, the young man's promise finally made the somewhat flustered girl obediently nod.

A moment later, a coquettish cry rang out across the cliff.

"Brother Xiao Yan, you're absolutely awful!" With her face bright red, Xun'er raised a hand behind her neck to tie the straps of her green bodice.

But the girl's movement only made her figure appear even more graceful.

Xiao Yan raised a hand and rubbed his nose. Her refreshing fragrance invigorated him. She had grown so fast.

Seeing Xiao Yan's reaction, Xun'er stamped her foot shyly, then turned and fled toward the foot of the mountain.

After stretching lazily, Xiao Yan returned home, changed into a black robe with the help of the maids, packed a few things, and only then left the Xiao Clan for the Mittel Auction House.

Yao Lao had always been very satisfied with Xiao Yan's talent, but in daily life... he truly was a spoiled young master!

The Mittel Auction House was the largest auction house in Wutan City, and it also belonged to the wealthiest family in the Jia Ma Empire: the Mittel Family.

Within the Jia Ma Empire, if one spoke of wealth, the Mittel Family was undoubtedly second to none.

Looking at the enormous venue at the end of the street, Xiao Yan turned into a secluded alley and swiftly draped the black hooded robe he had brought from home over himself.

The oversized robe concealed not only Xiao Yan's face but also padded out the youth's somewhat thin build, making him appear bloated. In his current appearance, even if Xun'er stood before him, she would find it difficult to recognize him at a glance...

He had never expected this disguise to fool people for long, but it was better to conceal himself for as long as he could.

After hiding his figure, Xiao Yan finally let out a breath of relief.

It was not that he was being overly cautious. Alchemists almost never appeared in a city like Wutan City.

An alchemist's miraculous pill-refining abilities were simply too alluring to certain clans and factions.

And on a deeper level, knowing that the Soul Hall existed, Xiao Yan only wanted to maintain his current peaceful cultivation for now, then catch the Soul Hall off guard when the time came.