Return to the Xiao Clan!

Flowing water drifted east, leaves fell one after another, and time quietly slipped away just like that.

Black-Corner Region, Peace Town. This was the checkpoint before entering Canaan City, and robbery, murder, and such acts were forbidden here.

If anyone dared violate the rules, the Law Enforcement Team under Jia Nan Academy would come and execute the evildoer.

"Please, spare me! I only killed a few weaklings with no cultivation. What right do you have to kill me? Jia Nan Academy is being so tyrannical—you'll stir up public outrage!"

In a dark alley, a burly, vicious-looking man with a face full of flesh knelt on the ground. There was a hole in each of his wrists, blood pouring endlessly from them. With pleading in his eyes, he cried out toward the person approaching him.

"You can't possibly be unaware that killing is forbidden in Peace Town, can you? They may have been weaklings in your eyes, but aren't you the same in mine?"

A cold voice rang out. Carrying a long spear, a youth dressed in pale blue slowly approached. A sapphire-blue badge hung on his chest, engraved with a dagger stained by a trace of dark red blood.

"If I spare you, how am I supposed to answer to the people you killed? In your next life, remember to be a good person!"

Without further words, once he was close enough, the youth raised his arm. His long spear shot out like lightning and pierced straight through the man's throat.

Stepping out of the shadows, the gentle light outside fell upon the youth's face. His features were sharply defined, his brows like swords and eyes like stars. His handsome face bore an indifferent expression, as though the one who had just died by his hand had not been a person, but livestock.

After removing the Storage Ring from the man's finger, the youth flashed away from the alley.

"Junior Xiao Yun, has that villain been dealt with?" Outside the alley, a tall young man leaned against the wall and smiled at the youth who emerged.

"That's right. I've completed this mission."

The youth, Xiao Yun, spoke. Ever since Xu Ning had beaten him up last time and made him realize his shortcomings in battle, Xiao Yun had applied to join the Law Enforcement Team. He had tempered himself through life-and-death battles for a year and a half now.

"That figures. With your cultivation as a Six-Star Da Dou Shi, plus that long spear, dealing with a Five-Star Da Dou Shi is practically effortless."

The young man nodded, his eyes filled with envy as he stared at the long spear in Xiao Yun's hand.

Hearing him, Xiao Yun smiled as well and looked at his spear. When Fire Elder had heard that Xiao Yun intended to join the Law Enforcement Team, he had given him this weapon.

Its name was Red Blood. Its entire body was fiery red, and its shaft was covered in Dou Qi inscriptions. Most importantly, a fifth-tier fire-element Magic Core was embedded in its spearhead! With this spear in hand, Xiao Yun could retreat unscathed even when facing a Dou Ling expert.

"Alright, since the mission is complete, let's return to the Law Enforcement Team." The young man withdrew the envy from his eyes and spoke.

"Senior Fang Xu, I won't be returning to the Law Enforcement Team. The Inner Academy Selection Tournament is only half a year away. During this time, I want to cultivate properly and strive to pass the selection and enter the Inner Academy."

"Oh? That works too. With your current cultivation, passing the selection is a certainty. It's just that after entering the Inner Academy, you might suffer a little.

If you waited until next year to participate, then with your talent, you wouldn't have to suffer once you broke through to Dou Ling." Fang Xu smiled. "Still, entering the Inner Academy earlier is good. Once you get in, I'll treat you to a meal."

Xiao Yun nodded. He had long yearned for the Inner Academy, and the young man he called Senior Fang Xu before him was an Inner Academy student.

Previously, Xiao Yun had lacked the strength to enter. Now that he had reached the realm of a Six-Star Da Dou Shi, he was basically the number one person in the Outer Academy. If he did not enter the Inner Academy, then who would?

There were two reasons Jia Nan Academy was famous across the continent. First, its Dean, Mang Tian Chi, was a Half-Saint expert. Second, the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower in the Inner Academy could accelerate cultivation. The lower one's realm, the stronger the effect!

As for the hardship Fang Xu mentioned, Xiao Yun knew it referred to the senior student teams in the Fire Energy Hunting Competition. This was also an old Jia Nan Academy tradition. Whether in the Outer Academy or Inner Academy, as long as one was a new student, one would be bullied by seniors once upon enrollment.

However, Xiao Yun did not care much about that little bit of Fire Energy. He was already a Third-Tier Alchemist, and even for Fourth-Tier Pills, he had a twenty percent success rate.

Once he entered the Inner Academy, he could sell some pills there. Wouldn't Fire Energy come pouring in by the batch?

Within Jia Nan Academy, Xiao Yun, having returned from Peace Town, immediately went back to his dormitory. He washed away the bloody smell on himself, changed into a clean set of clothes, and then headed straight for his teacher's residence.

Fire Elder's residence was a small courtyard built from green bamboo. A large bamboo grove surrounded it, making the place appear especially quiet and secluded.

Looking at the courtyard before him, Xiao Yun sniffed himself. Only after confirming that there was no scent of blood did he enter with ease.

"My good disciple, have you come to visit your teacher?"

Inside the house, Fire Elder reclined leisurely in a bamboo chair, flipping through a book.

He was satisfied with Xiao Yun, his disciple, in every possible way. His talent was outstanding, he was humble, he respected his teacher and valued propriety. Fire Elder could scarcely find any flaw in Xiao Yun.

Hearing his teacher's words, Xiao Yun scratched his head somewhat awkwardly. "Teacher, I didn't come to visit you. I came to bid you farewell.

Today is the day the academy instructors leave to recruit students. I want to travel back to my clan with them and give my family some of the cultivation methods and Dou Techniques I gained during this year and a half in the Law Enforcement Team."

After studying away from home for two years, Xiao Yun himself had switched to a low-grade Earth Tier cultivation method. Yet he still remembered the difficult days in the Xiao Clan, when he could only cultivate a high-grade Yellow Tier method.

During this year and a half in the Law Enforcement Team, he had acquired dozens of Xuan Tier cultivation methods and Dou Techniques. Though most were of little use to him, to the Xiao Clan, which possessed only one Xuan Tier cultivation method, they were an enormous fortune.

"Fine. You've been at Jia Nan Academy for two years now, so it's good to return home for a visit. But the Inner Academy Selection Tournament will be held in half a year. Remember to come back early."

Fire Elder nodded. He said nothing more about Xiao Yun returning home, merely reminding him not to forget the Inner Academy Selection Tournament.

"I remember. Then, Teacher, I'll go pack my things first."

"Close the door behind you."

After bidding farewell to Fire Elder, Xiao Yun hurried toward the flying beast station in Canaan City. After rushing all the way, he finally caught up with the academy's recruitment team. After explaining the situation to the teacher leading them, Xiao Yun boarded a Griffon Beast bound for Wutan City.

Two months later, Wutan City, Xiao Clan.

Xiao Yun stood before the Xiao Clan's gates. Looking at the clan he had left two years ago, which had barely changed, he could not help feeling somewhat emotional.

The Xiao Clan was still the same Xiao Clan, but he was no longer the Xiao Yun of the past.

Xiao Yun quietly walked down the Xiao Clan's paths. His return this time had been entirely impulsive, and he had not informed a single member of the Xiao Clan.

Thus, no one in the entire Xiao Clan knew Xiao Yun had returned. It was only when he reached his own courtyard that he ran into Xiao Zhan and the three elders, who were about to head out to observe the academy's recruitment.

"X-Xiao Yun!" Xiao Zhan and the three elders froze for a moment before recognizing him and calling out in delight.

"Uncle Xiao Zhan, three elders, it's been a long time." Xiao Yun smiled, nodded, and greeted them.

"Hahaha, it certainly has been a long time. It's been two years, and you've only come back once."

Xiao Zhan strode forward with a laugh and patted Xiao Yun's shoulder. "Weren't you studying at Jia Nan Academy? Why did you suddenly return without even telling us? We could have gone to pick you up."

"I only came back this time to give the clan some things. Besides, it's not like I don't know the way. There was no need to make such a fuss."

"What are you saying? We're family. How could this be making a fuss? This isn't the place to talk. Let's go to the main hall." First Elder squeezed forward and said with a smile.

Inside the main hall, Xiao Zhan, the others, and Xiao Yun sat around a round table as they asked about Xiao Yun's recent circumstances.

"I heard from Xiao Long and Xiao Hu that you've not only broken through to the Dou Shi realm, but also become an alchemist?"

"I also heard that you became the disciple of an alchemy grandmaster at Jia Nan Academy. That grandmaster taught you all your alchemy skills, right?"

Xiao Zhan and the others bombarded him with questions. Over the past two years, Xiao Yun had neither returned to the clan nor written them letters. They had sent him several letters, but had never received a reply.

Their only source of information about Xiao Yun was the brothers Xiao Long and Xiao Hu, who were also at Jia Nan Academy. But ever since Xiao Yun joined the Law Enforcement Team, he had rarely returned to the academy, so the two knew little about his situation.

As a result, the information Xiao Zhan and the others had about Xiao Yun was still the outdated version from a year ago.

Hearing their questions, Xiao Yun did not answer. Instead, he took out his Alchemist Badge from his Storage Ring and tossed it onto the table.

"Third-Tier Alchemist!" Looking at the badge on the table, with three carefully drawn silver ripples upon it, Xiao Zhan and the others' mouths fell open in disbelief.

One had to know that none of Wutan City's three great clans had an alchemist. The only alchemist was Grandmaster Gu Ni of the Mittel Auction House, someone Xiao Zhan and the others normally had to curry favor with.

Yet Grandmaster Gu Ni was only a Second-Tier Alchemist. Now, a ten-year-old child from their own clan had already become a Third-Tier Alchemist!

"Th-this... it can't be fake, can it?" Even Second Elder, usually the most hot-tempered, became frightened. Forging an Alchemist Badge would offend the Alchemist Association.

The Alchemist Association was spread across the entire continent. If they learned that Xiao Yun had forged an Alchemist Badge, there would be no place for Xiao Yun anywhere on the Dou Qi Continent.

"What nonsense! How could it possibly be fake? This quality, these ripples—how could they be fake? Isn't that right, Xiao Yun?" Xiao Zhan immediately rebuked Second Elder. He also understood the severe consequences of forging an Alchemist Badge, and pointed at the ripples on the badge in an attempt to prove it was real.

Though he too felt that Xiao Yun becoming a Third-Tier Alchemist at ten years old was somewhat absurd, he still believed in his genius nephew and turned to Xiao Yun for confirmation.

Seeing their doubtful expressions, Xiao Yun said helplessly, "My teacher is Fire Elder of Jia Nan Academy's Alchemy Department, a Five-Tier Alchemy Grandmaster.

With such a great figure backing me, how could I dare forge a badge? And I'm not merely a Third-Tier Alchemist. I've also broken through to Da Dou Shi."

He circulated the Dou Qi within his body and gently curled his hand. A faint red glow spread across his fingertips. A moment later, he flicked his fingers, and red force shot out like arrows, shattering a flower vase beside the hall.

"Battle Qi Projection! You really have broken through to Da Dou Shi! Then your becoming a Third-Tier Alchemist must be true as well. I knew it—Xiao Yun would never do such a thing."

Battle Qi Projection was one of the great hallmarks of a Da Dou Shi. At this realm, Dou Qi could leave the body. Xiao Zhan and the others had been Da Dou Shi for many years, so naturally they recognized it.

"Alright, Uncle Xiao Zhan, three elders. I returned this time to thank the clan for raising and nurturing me. Now that I've achieved a little success, I specially brought back some cultivation methods and Dou Techniques to repay the clan."

As Xiao Yun spoke, he lightly swept his hand over the table, and a large pile of scrolls appeared on the round table.

Xiao Zhan and the three elders' eyes went wide at the sight of the scrolls before them. They no longer cared whether Xiao Yun's Alchemist Badge was real or fake.

"These are cultivation methods and Dou Techniques I acquired at Jia Nan Academy. There are only three mid-grade Xuan Tier cultivation methods among them—fire, water, and wood attribute respectively. The rest are low-grade Xuan Tier ones."

Upon hearing Xiao Yun's words, Xiao Zhan and the others could no longer remain seated. They hurriedly rose to their feet and stared at the three cultivation method scrolls in Xiao Yun's hand.

One had to know that because the Xiao Clan had offended a powerful enemy in the past and fled all the way from Jia Ma Sacred City to Wutan City, almost all of their high-grade cultivation methods and Dou Techniques had been lost. Only one Xuan Tier cultivation method remained.

Even so, only the clan leader could cultivate it. Everyone else, including the three great elders, could only cultivate Yellow Tier cultivation methods and Dou Techniques.

Now, the cultivation methods and Dou Techniques Xiao Yun had brought back directly strengthened the Xiao Clan's foundation.

Leaving aside the tremendous improvement Xiao Zhan, the three elders, and the other experts of the clan would gain by cultivating these methods and Dou Techniques, the younger generation alone would have far greater prospects in the future.

A Xiao Clan member with ordinary talent could only cultivate Yellow Tier methods. Perhaps they would spend their entire life lingering in the Da Dou Shi realm, unable to break through to Dou Ling.

But if they could cultivate Xuan Tier methods, they might break through to Dou Ling, and even have a sliver of hope of becoming a Dou Wang.

"Xiao Yun, this repayment of yours is truly too important. For the Xiao Clan to produce a genius like you, our ancestors must be blessing us from above!" Xiao Zhan said excitedly.

"Don't rush. Besides cultivation methods and Dou Techniques, I also prepared some pills for you."

Xiao Yun waved his hand again, and six jade bottles appeared on the table. "There are two Gathering Qi Powders here, Fourth-Tier Low-Grade Pills. Their effect is to allow someone at the Ninth Duan of Dou Qi to form a Dou Qi Cyclone and become a Dou Zhe with one hundred percent certainty. I refined them myself.

The other four are Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills, Fourth-Tier High-Grade Pills. When taken by someone in the Da Dou Shi realm, they can basically increase their strength by one star. I acquired them in Canaan City."

Of these six pills, the Gathering Qi Powders had been refined by Xiao Yun while practicing. The Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills had been obtained from the Storage Rings of evildoers he killed while in the Law Enforcement Team. Over a year and a half, Xiao Yun had only acquired four.

"The Gathering Qi Powders can be reserved for the talented members of the clan. As for the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills, Uncle Xiao Zhan and the three elders can each have one."

Xiao Yun distributed the six pills casually, as though what he had brought out were not Fourth-Tier Pills, but six eggs.

At that moment, Xiao Zhan and the others felt as though an immense happiness had enveloped them tightly, so tightly that they could barely breathe.