Grinding Experience

Over the past half month, although Xiao Yang had spent most of his time cultivating Dou Qi, he had also devoted some time to practicing Eight Extremes Collapse and Snow-Treading Without a Trace.

He had now brought Eight Extremes Collapse to the minor mastery level, roughly on par with Snow-Treading Without a Trace.

Over the past half month, Xiao Yang had not completed a single mission or sought anyone out for a spar.

The coming-of-age ceremony was only a few days away. After it, the Xiao Household would allow clan members who met the required cultivation level to choose a cultivation method.

Xiao Yang planned to break through to the Dou Zhe realm then.

So, he intended to use these next few days to spar with the Dou Zhe guards within the clan.

He needed to quickly farm more experience and points while he had yet to break through to Dou Zhe and could still receive bonus experience for challenging opponents above his level.

This was not difficult for Xiao Yang.

A few days ago, he had already asked someone to compile a list of the Xiao Household's One-Star and Two-Star Dou Practitioners.

There were only eleven people on the list, half of whom were Xiao Household members.

After all, ordinary One-Star and Two-Star Dou Practitioners could not join the Xiao Household guard team unless they had connections or extensive combat experience.

After checking the guard team's duty roster for the day, Xiao Yang headed to the guards' living quarters.

Three people were off duty today: two One-Star Dou Practitioners and one Two-Star Dou Practitioner guard.

As Xiao Yang arrived at the area where the guards lived, he heard voices coming from nearby.

In a training ground not far away, quite a few guards were practicing Dou techniques or sparring with one another.

Unlike the Xiao Household members, who mostly cultivated in their own courtyards,

these guards mostly lived together and did not have private courtyards, so they cultivated in this dedicated training ground.

Xiao Yang's arrival drew the attention of many people.

After all, many Xiao Household members and guards knew him.

When they saw Xiao Yang approaching, a guard captain hurried over to greet him.

"Young Master Xiao Yang, what brings you here?"

"Are you heading somewhere?"

"I'll have a few guards accompany you."

He knew Xiao Yang's status in the Xiao Household, so his attitude was exceptionally courteous.

Xiao Yang did not put on airs and instead discussed the matter with him.

"Here's the thing. I've mastered a few new Dou techniques these past few days, but the Ninth Stage Dou Qi cultivators in the household can't put enough pressure on me."

"So I wanted to spar with Lein, Manea, and Wu Gang. Would that inconvenience you?"

The captain did not hesitate in the slightest upon hearing this and answered decisively.

"No problem, Young Master Xiao Yang. We're only training on our own right now anyway."

As he spoke, he immediately turned and called Lein and the other two over.

After telling them that Xiao Yang wanted sparring partners, the three of them agreed without any hesitation.

After all, Xiao Yang had always been generous to the guards.

Whenever he needed them to handle something, he gave them an additional reward.

Before long, Xiao Yang and Lein were the first to step into the center of the training ground.

The surrounding guards also gathered around. They had all heard Payne and the others talk about how Xiao Yang had defeated Galeo last time.

So, these guards were curious about Xiao Yang's strength as well.

After Otto, the guard captain, saw that the two were ready, he reminded Lein.

"This spar ends at the right point. Lein, be careful."

Although he had heard that Xiao Yang had defeated Galeo, a One-Star Dou Practitioner, Otto did not think Xiao Yang could defeat Lein, who had experienced countless battles and had even worked as a mercenary fighting magical beasts.

Lein understood this as well. He nodded, then spoke directly to Xiao Yang.

"Young Master Xiao Yang, I'm ready. Come on!"

He did not attack immediately, instead waiting for Xiao Yang to make the first move.

He stared intently at Xiao Yang, an aura of murderous hostility unique to mercenaries emanating from him.

Feeling the faint pressure coming from his opponent, Xiao Yang became much more serious.

He did not dare underestimate these mercenaries.

After buying and using a two-hour Experience Doubling Card, Xiao Yang did not hesitate and immediately used Snow-Treading Without a Trace.

In the next instant, he vanished from where he stood and dashed rapidly toward Lein.

Just as he intended to circle behind Lein and end the fight in one move as he had when fighting Galeo, Lein suddenly turned around and threw a punch at Xiao Yang.

Bang!

Their fists collided, yet Lein, whose cultivation was higher, was sent stumbling back more than ten steps.

A flash of shock appeared in his eyes. He had not expected Xiao Yang's strike to be so powerful!

He looked at his right hand. It was already slightly swollen, and it felt as though his bones had nearly cracked!

The surrounding guards stared at the scene before them, their eyes filled with astonishment.

"Hiss—what speed!"

"Even as a Four-Star Dou Practitioner, I don't think I could keep up with Young Master Xiao Yang. If Lein hadn't predicted it based on experience, he would've been taken down in one move!"

"It's not just his speed. Young Master Xiao Yang's Dou technique is incredibly powerful too. Lein was injured!"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. That young master from the Jia Lie Clan didn't lose unjustly!"

Lein paid no attention whatsoever to the gasps around him and simply stared fixedly at Xiao Yang.

He was extremely cautious now, having long since discarded his contempt.

Just moments ago, he had thought Xiao Yang's cultivation was low and that he would need to hold back.

But now, he no longer dared entertain such thoughts.

Xiao Yang's expression also grew more solemn as he looked at Lein.

He had heard the mercenaries' comments around him. He had not expected that although Lein could not keep up with his speed, he could still react purely through experience!

When he had defeated Galeo before, he had thought that after acquiring Eight Extremes Collapse, he would have no problem facing even Three-Star or Four-Star Dou Practitioners.

Now, he felt that he had been somewhat overconfident.

Still, Xiao Yang remained confident when facing Lein.

This time, he did not immediately use Snow-Treading Without a Trace. Instead, he approached Lein before suddenly activating it.

Lein thought Xiao Yang would attack from behind again, just as before.

However, Xiao Yang did the opposite this time. He circled around behind Lein, then returned to his original direction.

Yet Lein had already turned around, presenting his back directly to Xiao Yang!

The moment he felt a gust of wind from behind him, he inwardly cried out that things were bad.

Lein reacted extremely quickly and tried to turn back to block the attack.

But Xiao Yang was no slower.

He drove a fist directly into Lein's waist.

Boom!

That punch sent Lein flying.

Otto hurried to Lein's side and helped him steady himself.

This was only because Xiao Yang had held back. He had not used any Hidden Force at all, or Lein might have been seriously injured!

At that moment, a system notification sounded in his mind.

"Congratulations, player, on defeating a One-Star Dou Practitioner. Universal Experience +200, Shop Points +1000!"

Amid the stunned gazes of the crowd, Xiao Yang looked toward Manea, the other One-Star Dou Practitioner at the edge of the field.

He grinned at Manea and said,

"Come on, next up. Manea, let's continue!"