The Fall of a Genius

In the blink of an eye, seven years had passed. Over those seven years, many changes had taken place within the Xiao Clan.

The most obvious was that the Battle Skill Pavilion had gained many more battle skills, and many clan members could enter freely to choose and study them.

However, what the younger members of the Xiao Clan did not know was that the clan's changes went far beyond that. Over the past seven years, the greatest changes had occurred among the Xiao Clan's upper echelon, though the younger generation remained unaware of it.

Of the resources Xiao Yun had given the Xiao Clan seven years ago, the first to benefit were the clan's high-ranking members.

Xiao Lin had now reached the Five-Star Dou Emperor realm! Moreover, Xiao Lin's talent was quite impressive. From the Cultivation Methods and battle skills Xiao Yun had provided, he had comprehended a high-grade Earth Tier Cultivation Method.

The Cultivation Methods of many other Xiao Clan elders had also changed.

Xiao Zhan had comprehended a mid-grade Earth Tier Cultivation Method and reached the Nine-Star Great Dou Master realm!

The Xiao Clan's Great Elder had comprehended a low-grade Earth Tier Cultivation Method and reached the Six-Star Great Dou Master realm!

The Second Elder had comprehended a low-grade Earth Tier Cultivation Method and reached the Four-Star Great Dou Master realm!

The Third Elder had also comprehended a low-grade Earth Tier Cultivation Method and reached the Three-Star Great Dou Master realm!

The current Xiao Clan could immediately dominate Wutan City if it revealed its strength, yet it continued to conduct itself as it had before.

In fact, the current Xiao Clan had even produced someone who had become the laughingstock of Wutan City—Xiao Yan.

A year ago, eleven-year-old Xiao Yan had broken through to the Dou Practitioner realm before all his peers, earning the title of a genius.

For a time, Xiao Yan's reputation as a genius shook all of Wutan City. Yet not long afterward, the Dou Qi within his body suddenly vanished!

Overnight, Xiao Yan's cultivation fell to Three-Stage Dou Qi Force, turning him into trash inferior even to an ordinary person!

And over the course of an entire year, his cultivation had not improved in the slightest, remaining fixed at Three-Stage Dou Qi Force!

Now, Xiao Yan had become the joke of Wutan City and the disgrace of the Xiao Clan. He had suffered every humiliation and tasted the warmth and coldness of human nature.

Under the star-filled night sky, in the Xiao Family's back mountain, Xiao Yan punched a rock.

Yet the pain in his hand could not compare to the pain in his heart. Xiao Yan cried out weakly, "Why? Why are you treating me like this? Damn it."

"Why did you make me a genius, only to throw me into the abyss?"

"Damn heavens, why are you doing this to me?!"

Xiao Yan kept punching the rock before him, venting his fury. What he did not know was that someone stood behind him, silently watching everything.

Xiao Zhan opened his mouth and several times wanted to step forward to comfort Xiao Yan, but in the end, he dismissed the thought.

Xiao Yan did not need comfort right now. After venting his anger, he glanced at the sky. Though it was late, he did not return to rest. Instead, he began cultivating where he stood.

"No, I have to cultivate. So what if my Dou Qi has regressed? If I give up just like this, it won't be my Dou Qi regressing—it will be me!"

Touching the ancient black ring on his finger, Xiao Yan said, "For Mother's sake, I have to cultivate."

"For Father's sake, I also have to cultivate."

Throughout that year of warmth and coldness, Xiao Zhan had remained by Xiao Yan's side. His love for Xiao Yan had not weakened in the slightest; if anything, it had grown stronger than before.

And during that year, Xiao Yan had come to acknowledge Xiao Zhan from the bottom of his heart. He could now sincerely call Xiao Zhan his father.

Hearing Xiao Yan's words from the shadows, tears streamed down Xiao Zhan's face, and the softest part of his heart was stirred.

Yan'er, don't worry. I'll go find your uncle right away. He has a way to cure your strange illness.

At Xiao Yun's residence, Xiao Yun was currently standing guard for Gu Xun'er.

Gu Xun'er sat cross-legged with her eyes closed as she cultivated. The Dou Qi of heaven and earth around her circulated rapidly, continuously pouring into her body.

At a certain moment, a faint sound rang out from within Gu Xun'er's body. Immediately afterward, a thin Dou Qi Veil condensed around her body, only to quickly disappear again.

"Brother Xiao Yun, I succeeded!" Gu Xun'er called happily to Xiao Yun, who stood some distance away, after ending her cultivation.

Xiao Yun smiled broadly. "Congratulations, Xun'er. You've broken through to the Dou Master realm."

After seven years of cultivation, Gu Xun'er had just broken through into the Dou Master realm!

In truth, Gu Xun'er had not cultivated very seriously during the past seven years. She had spent those years circling around Xiao Yun, pestering him every day to play with her.

Had she cultivated seriously over those seven years, Gu Xun'er's cultivation would certainly have been much stronger than it was now.

With light steps, Gu Xun'er walked over to Xiao Yun's side and extended her hand toward him, her face carrying a trace of anticipation.

Xiao Yun smiled and took out three pieces of Pill Candy, placing them in Gu Xun'er's hand.

Seeing that there were only three, Gu Xun'er's little lips pouted in dissatisfaction.

Xiao Yun gently stroked Gu Xun'er's little head. "Eating too much Pill Candy is bad for your teeth."

Over the past seven years, Gu Xun'er had always clung to Xiao Yun, while her relationship with Xiao Yan had remained lukewarm. It was not bad, but it was not particularly good either.

This left Xiao Yun somewhat regretful. Because of the butterfly effect caused by his appearance, it seemed that Gu Xun'er and Xiao Yan had been torn apart!

For the past few years, Xiao Yun had kept thinking that if Xiao Yan came at night to nourish Gu Xun'er's meridians, he would let him in.

Unfortunately, Xiao Yan had not come even once in seven years. Xiao Yun had no idea why.

As a result, Gu Xun'er's attitude toward Xiao Yan now was simply that of an ordinary friend.

Ah, Xiao Yan, why didn't you come? It looks like there's no hope for you and Xun'er. I wonder who Xun'er will end up with in the future.

And do you know that if you don't win Xun'er over, your uncle will have wasted a Ninth-Grade Medicinal Pill?!

The moment Xiao Yun thought of that Ninth-Grade Medicinal Pill, he felt as though his heart were bleeding.

Back then, he had not given Gu Xun'er a Ninth-Grade Medicinal Pill because she had a sweet mouth. That had merely been an excuse.

The reason he had given Gu Xun'er the Ninth-Grade Medicinal Pill was because he knew she would become Xiao Yan's woman in the future. She would be his niece-in-law, so it was like keeping the benefits within the family.

Unfortunately, Xiao Yan was not up to the task now, and there was little hope of Gu Xun'er becoming his niece-in-law.

In any case, Xiao Yun felt that if Xiao Yan wanted to marry Gu Xun'er in the future, it would not be easy.

Ah, my Ninth-Grade Medicinal Pill...

What the inwardly distressed Xiao Yun did not see was the trace of dependence and a different kind of affection in Gu Xun'er's gaze as she looked at him!

Outside the courtyard, Xiao Zhan had already arrived. Before long, he knocked on the courtyard gate.

Opening the gate, Xiao Yun looked at Xiao Zhan in surprise and welcomed him into the small pavilion in the courtyard. "Big Brother, is something urgent?"

Xiao Zhan thought for a moment before finally saying, "Second Brother, I want to discuss Yan'er's matter with you."

A year ago, when Xiao Yan's Dou Qi had first vanished without explanation, Xiao Zhan had sought out Xiao Yun.

Xiao Yun naturally knew the reason behind Xiao Yan's disappearing Dou Qi.

However, he had not told Xiao Zhan the exact reason. He had only said that he had a way to solve it, but that this was a rare opportunity to temper Xiao Yan's character, so Xiao Zhan should rest assured.

"Big Brother, didn't we agree on this a year ago? We'll use this opportunity to temper Xiao Yan, and in two years, I'll step in and help him solve the problem."