Xiao Clan

"Could you perhaps make another request, sir?"

"You know how important the storage ring worn by an alchemist is."

Hearing Xie Tianxiao's words and understanding that the other party was a Dou Zong-level powerhouse, Gu He still showed hesitation and asked tentatively.

If it were merely money or valuables, he had as much as he wanted. But inside his storage ring were many important, even rare, pill formulas and medicinal pills.

If he handed them all over, he feared that he would be unable to refine pills for a very long time afterward.

"I don't care about any of that."

"Since you think these things aren't worth your life, I can only reclaim them on behalf of Mulan Valley."

Looking at the hesitant Gu He, he spoke indifferently.

As he spoke, he slowly extended his right palm. An invisible force quietly spread out, enveloping Gu He.

Seeing Xie Tianxiao's movement, Gu He's pupils abruptly contracted, and he hurriedly shouted, "Please wait, sir! Please wait!"

"Gu He is willing to hand over his storage ring to you, sir!"

Gu He had only asked tentatively, but he had never expected Xie Tianxiao to reveal killing intent directly. If he had delayed any longer, the life he had only just regained might have been lost again.

"Too late!"

After hearing Gu He's words, a cold glint flashed in Xie Tianxiao's eyes. He clenched his hand, and a powerful force burst from his body, spreading in all directions.

Gu He immediately felt agonizing pain throughout his body. His already wounded body coughed up another mouthful of blood, and his legs gave out beneath him as he fell to his knees.

Then Xie Tianxiao lightly hooked a finger at Gu He, who was kneeling on the ground.

A large hand formed from fire-attributed Dou Qi appeared, grabbing Gu He by the neck and lifting him before Xie Tianxiao.

"S-sir..."

Gu He's feet left the ground. Just as he felt himself about to suffocate, Xie Tianxiao finally released his neck.

"Gasp!"

Freed at last, Gu He immediately gulped down air. He knelt sprawled on the ground, greedily breathing in the fresh air.

"Ah!"

But before Gu He could catch his breath, he suddenly let out a scream.

The finger wearing his storage ring was suddenly burned into nothingness by black-and-white flames. Only a thumb-sized storage ring remained, slowly floating toward Xie Tianxiao.

"This is merely a lesson."

"Remember this: before a powerhouse, do not try to play petty tricks, much less defy a powerhouse's words. Otherwise, the consequences are beyond anything you can imagine."

Putting away Gu He's storage ring, Xie Tianxiao cast him a glance and warned him coldly.

"Yes... thank you for your guidance, sir."

Gu He, still kneeling facedown on the ground, buried his head deeply as he spoke with difficulty.

The stronger side held all the power. There was nothing he could do.

He could only blame himself for not being strong enough. Otherwise, he would not have fallen into such a miserable state.

"Sigh... I originally didn't want to make a move. Why did you have to wait until I acted before behaving yourselves?"

"In that regard, the elder from Mulan Valley was far better than you."

Seeing Gu He in such a state, Xie Tianxiao shook his head helplessly.

"Before, you could still barely fly back. But now... hehe, I won't disturb you any longer."

Looking at Gu He, who was covered in wounds and could not even lift his head, Xie Tianxiao sneered.

He then leaped into the air and sped toward the distant horizon.

After Xie Tianxiao's figure had completely disappeared, only Gu He remained, lying on the ground and wailing.

"I hate this! Where did this Dou Zong even come from? Why was his temper so strange? Sigh."

He stared at the sky, his expression constantly shifting, his eyes filled with resentment, unwillingness, sorrow, and helplessness.

Before long, a mother and daughter passed by in the distance. The little girl curiously said in a soft voice, "Mother, look over there. There's a strange uncle."

After leaving, Xie Tianxiao no longer paid attention to what would become of Gu He. Instead, he muttered to himself:

"Wutan City... I wonder whether Yao Chen has awakened, whether Xiao Yan has called off the engagement, and whether he said that classic line destined to be remembered forever?"

Flying through the sky, Xie Tianxiao slowly considered all the possible developments, his heart full of anticipation.

Of course, this anticipation did not mean that he intended to suck up to Xiao Yan or become Xiao Yan's nanny. He merely wanted to see that spirit of refusing to admit defeat that had inspired him in his youth.

And even if someone had to suck up to the other, Xiao Yan would be the one sucking up to him! After all, he had such good luck after being reborn—no, after transmigrating—that he had fused with a powerhouse.

Though with Xiao Yan's personality, he would not do something like that.

Jia Ma Empire, Wutan City.

The Xiao Clan's plaza was packed with people and exceptionally lively.

"Today's testing day again."

"Yeah. I hope I can reach the seventh stage of Dou Qi this time, or else next year I'll be sent away to manage the clan's businesses elsewhere."

"Hey, what stage of Dou Qi do you think our great genius Xiao will drop to this time?"

"You mean the genius Xiao Yan, who began cultivating Qi at four, reached the ninth stage of Dou Qi at ten, and broke through to Dou Zhe at eleven?"

"A genius? Forget it. He'll probably drop another few stages of Dou Qi in this test."

Discussion filled the plaza. Everyone wore different expressions—excitement and regret, envy and jealousy, worry, while some watched with schadenfreude as they disparaged the Xiao Clan's former genius.

In short, all kinds of voices rang out endlessly, but everyone's gaze was fixed on one place: the stone monument in the center of the plaza.

At that moment, the pitch-black testing monument was glowing, displaying a line of golden words.

"Xiao Mei, Dou Qi, sixth stage!"

Beside the testing magic stone monument, a middle-aged man glanced at the information displayed upon it and loudly announced it.

"Yay!"

Hearing the result called out by the examiner, a brilliant smile bloomed across the girl's face. Her hands clenched tightly, her small face filled with joy.

"My heavens, Miss Xiao Mei has actually reached the sixth stage of Dou Qi. That's incredible!"

"She's only thirteen, right?"

"Yeah. At this rate, she'll probably reach the seventh stage before next year!"

Listening to the waves of envious praise from the crowd, the smile on the girl's cheeks grew even brighter. Vanity was a temptation many girls found impossible to resist...

The girl was only around fourteen. Though she could not be called breathtakingly beautiful, her childish little face held a faint charm. Her innocence and allure, a contradictory blend, had successfully made her the center of attention throughout the plaza...

"Next, Xiao Xun'er!"

Amid the noisy crowd, the examiner's voice rang out once more.

As that somewhat elegant name was called, the crowd suddenly fell silent, and every gaze abruptly shifted.

At the center of those gathered gazes stood a girl in a purple dress, poised with quiet elegance. Her calm, youthful face did not change in the slightest despite everyone's attention.

The girl's cool and tranquil temperament was like a freshly blooming lotus. Though still so young, she already possessed an otherworldly air. It was difficult to imagine just how devastatingly beautiful she would become once she grew up...