A Parent's Love Plans Far Ahead for Their Child

After returning to the inn's small courtyard, Meng Chen put away the Ancient Emperor Techniques, informed Qing Yanjing that he was heading to the broker's office to handle some matters, and left.

Now that he had money, Meng Chen felt it was time to move somewhere else. This little courtyard was still too small, and there was not even anyone to attend to them.

Meng Chen went to the broker's office and spent fifty thousand gold coins to buy a large four-courtyard residence in the east of the city. It happened to be not far from the Xiao Clan. Afterward, he hired a steward and eight servants.

He had the servants clean up the estate first. They would move in tomorrow.

By evening, night had fallen.

At the Xiao Clan estate, Xiao Zhan came to Xiao Yan's room.

Xiao Yan had just finished cultivating and was about to wash up and rest. Seeing his father arrive, a trace of confusion appeared on his face.

"Father, it's so late. Why aren't you resting? What brings you here?"

"It's nothing much. I just came to give you something." Xiao Zhan stood with his hands behind his back, smiling warmly.

"Give me something?"

Xiao Yan froze slightly. Was he bringing him Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid again?

The next moment, Xiao Zhan took a purple scroll from behind his back. Xiao Yan's expression abruptly changed. Shock filled his eyes, and his mouth fell open.

"Father, th-this is..."

"Yes, the Profound Flame Palm. As the clan head, I was qualified to be the first to cultivate this Dou Technique. But as you know, I am occupied with countless affairs every day, and my Dou Qi is wind-attributed. I cannot cultivate the Profound Flame Palm."

"Rather than waste this opportunity, I might as well give it to you. You're young, and your mind is quicker than mine. You'll definitely learn it faster as well."

Xiao Zhan placed the Dou Technique scroll on the table, voluntarily giving Xiao Yan the first chance to learn the Profound Flame Palm.

Xiao Yan stared at the purple scroll on the table.

He understood that being occupied with countless affairs and having a quicker mind because he was young were all merely Xiao Zhan's excuses.

When parents loved their children, they planned far ahead for them.

Xiao Zhan simply wanted to give the best to his son. He wanted Xiao Yan to grow stronger as soon as possible so he could face the agreement two years from now.

The Xiao Clan could not compare to the Cloud Mist Sect and had little to offer Xiao Yan. This Profound Tier, High Grade Dou Technique might not be considered top-tier in the Cloud Mist Sect, but it was the greatest help Xiao Zhan could provide.

"Father..." Xiao Yan's lips trembled slightly, and his eyes reddened.

Xiao Zhan reached out and patted Xiao Yan's shoulder. Looking at the son who made him proudest and whom he cherished most, a trace of guilt surfaced in his eyes.

"Yan'er, your father is useless. I can't help you much. You've suffered these past years."

"Father, don't say that. You've already done more than enough. I've never blamed you for anything, truly!"

Xiao Yan shook his head and threw himself into Xiao Zhan's embrace, his voice choked with emotion.

Feeling a faint dampness on his chest, Xiao Zhan's eyes also reddened. He raised a hand and stroked Xiao Yan's head, then laughed and scolded him.

"Alright, alright. You're already so grown up—why are you acting like a child? Stop crying. If Xun'er sees you, she'll laugh at you."

At those words, Xiao Yan stopped crying, left his father's embrace, rubbed his eyes, and argued, "I wasn't crying. It was just... just dust in my eyes."

"Hahaha... alright, you weren't crying, you weren't crying. It's getting late. Rest early. Your father won't disturb you any longer."

Xiao Zhan smiled and ruffled Xiao Yan's hair several more times. Xiao Yan nodded and watched him leave.

The moment Xiao Zhan stepped out of Xiao Yan's room, he too rubbed his reddened eyes.

He cursed under his breath, "Damn it, that dust didn't just torment my son—it got me too."

Inside the room, Xiao Yan picked up the Dou Technique scroll. A pale, illusory figure drifted into view. It was Yao Lao.

Before Xiao Yan could open the scroll, Yao Lao snatched it into his hand and carefully examined its material. The longer he looked, the more solemn his expression became.

"Teacher, what's wrong?"

Seeing Yao Lao's grave expression, Xiao Yan's heart skipped a beat. Could there be something wrong with this Dou Technique scroll?

Yao Lao said nothing. He merely unfurled the scroll. The words inscribed within using Pagoda Spiritual Power glimmered with faint golden light, extraordinarily remarkable.

Especially the Small Pagoda insignia at the very end—it made his soul body tremble, carrying an overwhelming aura of suppression.

Yao Lao seemed to see a nine-story divine tower descending to suppress him. His face suddenly turned pale, and his soul body became several degrees more transparent. Losing his grip, the Dou Technique scroll fell from his hand.

"Teacher!" Xiao Yan cried out in alarm, hurriedly catching the scroll and asking how he was doing.

Yao Lao waved a hand and said weakly, "I'm fine."

Xiao Yan looked at Yao Lao, who had become even more translucent, with concern.

He was practically turning transparent. How did that look fine?

Wait—if Teacher fell asleep again, would he have to absorb my Dou Qi again?

With that thought, Xiao Yan instinctively took a step back. He did not want to become that trash again.

Yao Lao saw Xiao Yan take that step back and guessed what he was thinking. His face darkened.

This unfilial disciple! Was his teacher that kind of person?

At noon the next day, Meng Chen checked out early and moved into the new residence with Qing Yanjing.

The new residence covered six or seven hundred square meters. With its pavilions, towers, and tranquil elegance, willow trees draped along the courtyard walls, while the backyard was filled with trellises of blooming roses, vibrant and colorful.

There was also a clear pool in the central courtyard, beside which stood an artificial mountain. Water trickled through the mountain, and koi swam along with the current.

The steward and eight servants had already waited in the front courtyard for quite some time. When Meng Chen and Qing Yanjing entered, all of them bowed in unison.

"Greetings, Young Master and Madam Qing!" ×9

"Mm. Is the residence all cleaned up?"

Meng Chen asked the steward. The steward nodded. "Young Master, everything has been cleaned. Your bedroom and Madam Qing's bedroom have both been cleaned for three days. There will not be a speck of dust."

"Good. Have a table of lighter dishes prepared. There's no need for anything too elaborate." Meng Chen nodded in satisfaction and gave the steward another instruction.

"Yes, Young Master."

The steward withdrew with the servants. Meng Chen turned to Qing Yanjing and said apologetically, "Aunt Qing, there was no one to attend to you before. You've been inconvenienced."

Qing Yanjing gently shook her head. "There was no inconvenience. When I traveled outside in the past, sleeping rough and living on the road were common occurrences."

"Alright." Meng Chen nodded, then added, "By the way, Aunt Qing, since you're a Spiritual Grade Spirit Array Grandmaster, could you set up a Spirit-Gathering Formation in this residence?"

He had wanted to ask her back at the inn.

Qing Yanjing thought for a moment and nodded. "I should be able to, but my spiritual power is limited right now. I can't set up a very high-grade Spirit-Gathering Formation."

"That's fine. As long as there is one, that's enough."

Delight appeared on Meng Chen's face. As long as she could set up a formation, he did not care what grade it was.

Qing Yanjing continued, "The Dou Qi Continent is not the Great Thousand World, after all. It does not have the spiritual stones and spiritual jade of the Great Thousand World. However, the magic cores here can be used as substitutes. The effect may be slightly worse than that of a genuine Spirit-Gathering Formation."

"Find some water- and wood-attributed magic cores. They do not need to be high-grade; first- or second-tier ones will do. I'll also need auxiliary materials such as special metals and magical beast bone fragments. I'll try using those materials first."

"Alright, I'll go buy them now."

Meng Chen immediately nodded, turned, and left the new residence for the Mittel Auction House.

However, just as he passed the Xiao Clan estate, Xiao Yan, who had just stepped outside, noticed him.

Xiao Yan's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly called out to Meng Chen, "Brother Meng, wait up!!"