Tou She Ancient Emperor Jade

"Dou Qi, Three-Star Dou Fighter!"

Staring at the six glaringly bright characters shining on the Demon Measuring Stone Stele, the Xiao Clan elder in charge of the testing shouted with excitement.

"Three-Star Dou Fighter? Good heavens! He is only twelve years old! Just how does the young patriarch cultivate? It's simply unimaginable!"

"Too amazing, truly worthy of being our Xiao Clan's young patriarch!"

"Long live the young patriarch!"

"Big Brother Xiao Yan, you're too cool!"

Endless flattery continuously surged toward the thin figure beneath the Demon Measuring Stone Stele.

Yet at this moment, the young man in his heart did not feel a shred of joy, a bitter smile flashing across his face. For according to the young man's memories, by this time he should have long been noticed by the mainland-famous Medicine Venerable when he was at One-Star Dou Fighter, his Dou Qi absorbed, and thus plummeted to the third stage of Dou Zhi Qi. But that did not happen.

Yes, the current Xiao Yan was not the Xiao Yan from the original work, but another soul who transmigrated from Blue Star. Knowing the plot of Battle Through the Heavens very well, he had even prepared himself for his cultivation to plummet. To deal with the ensuing mockery, he had even dug a three-room, one-hall cave dwelling on the back mountain to hide inside when the time came. As a result, nothing happened.

When he had just broken through to Dou Fighter, he thought Yao Lao had yet to awaken. When he broke through to a Two-Star Dou Fighter, Xiao Yan grew somewhat anxious, but still comforted himself in his heart that perhaps it was because he cultivated faster than in the original work that Yao Lao hadn't woken up yet! Until the day before yesterday when he finally couldn't help it, actively pouring Dou Qi into the Bone Flame Ring. Finally, hard work pays off, the Bone Flame Ring... opened...

Alchemy Notes, Black Demon Cauldron, Flame Mantra... and, Bone Spirit Cold Fire! The others were easy enough to discuss, but only the Bone Spirit Cold Fire was refined by Yao Lao, its soul fused with his. At this moment, the Bone Spirit Cold Fire appeared in the Bone Flame Ring, but Yao Lao was nowhere to be seen, which meant—Yao Lao, gone? Xiao Yan finally realized this cruel reality.

Although Yao Lao's alchemy inheritance, cultivation methods, Dou Techniques, and the most important Flame Mantra were all in the Bone Flame Ring, was having a teacher and not having a teacher the same? Without Yao Lao, could he refine a tier-5 Blood Lotus Pill in the Dou Spirit realm? Could he refine the Green Lotus Core Flame? As for using the Yellow-tier low-grade Flame Mantra to cultivate to Dou Spirit and practice it himself—well, this idea was great, don't think about it next time. Yellow-tier low-grade cultivation couldn't reach Dou Spirit at all!

He reached out and touched an ancient jade hanging inside his clothes on his chest, Xiao Yan's gaze flickering unceasingly as if he had made up his mind. Perhaps this is the only way.

The crimson setting sun shone upon the summit of the back mountain's cliff. A young girl dressed in a purple dress was slowly walking toward the young man sitting cross-legged at the cliff's peak.

The girl's fresh and serene demeanor resembled a budding lotus flower, her petite and exquisite figure cute and charming, her lotus-like steps demonstrating the elegance of a young lady from a prestigious family. To be so perfect at merely eleven years old, one could hardly imagine just how devastatingly beautiful she would be when she grew up.

"Big Brother Xiao Yan, are you looking for me?" Xun'er sat down beside Xiao Yan with her legs to the side, her body slightly leaning, her cheeks turning, and her bright, large eyes staring straight at Xiao Yan. Her slightly childish voice was melodious and moving. Feeling the wonderful presence of the sweet girl beside him, Xiao Yan's originally solemn mood relaxed a bit. But soon he remembered today's main business and had to turn serious.

"Xun'er, I can trust you, right?"

The girl was somewhat startled; she hadn't expected her Big Brother Xiao Yan to suddenly ask her such a question. The implication revealed in his words made the little girl, who had left her parents and family since childhood, feel a bit sad, and she said in a low tone, "Big Brother Xiao Yan, did Xun'er do something wrong? Why do you have to ask me this?"

Looking at the girl's tearful expression, Xiao Yan instantly lost his composure somewhat, hurriedly appeasing her: "No, Xun'er, I said the wrong thing. Actually, Big Brother Xiao Yan trusts Xun'er the most, it's just that what I'm going to say next is far too important, which is why I asked you like this. Xun'er, will you forgive me?"

A child's emotions always come and go quickly; even Gu Xun'er was no exception to this. Hearing Xiao Yan say this, she quickly turned her tears into a smile.

Having managed to pacify Xun'er, wanting to avoid prolonged nights and dreams, Xiao Yan didn't want to bother with any foreshadowing. Originally, there was no need for any buildup when speaking to an eleven-year-old little girl, so he went straight to the point: "Xun'er, back then when your clansmen sent you to our Xiao Clan, it was to get something, wasn't it?"

Faced with such an unexpected question, Xun'er was like a child caught doing something bad, instantly growing nervous as her two small hands tightly grasped her skirt, yet she still forced herself to maintain composure and said, "Why does Big Brother Xiao Yan ask like that?"

"On several occasions, I've seen you looking around my father's study, as if searching for something. And you also occasionally wander around our Xiao Clan's ancestral hall, treasure pavilion, and similar places. My father's attitude toward you is also very strange, as if he's afraid of something, which shows your background must be much greater than our Xiao Clan's. Most importantly, hundreds of years ago in the Xiao Clan's genealogy, there was a Dou Emperor-level ancestor, so I feel it's very likely that our Xiao Clan's ancestor left something behind back then that caught the attention of the faction behind you, which is why they sent you, Xun'er, to our Xiao Clan."

Accompanied by Xiao Yan's inquiry, an expression of shock continuously crawled all over Xun'er's pretty face. She hadn't expected that Xiao Yan could deduce things to such an extent based on tiny clues from daily life; it could be said that except for the goal being the Tou She Ancient Emperor Jade, everything else was completely as Xiao Yan had guessed! Of course, if Xun'er knew that Xiao Yan had deliberately guessed incorrectly, she probably would have been even more surprised.

Yet matters had reached this point, and Xun'er did not intend to conceal it any longer. Although she could still stubbornly refuse to admit it or fabricate other excuses, she didn't want to deceive her Big Brother Xiao Yan.

Thus Xun'er recounted the process of her coming to the Xiao Clan, her purpose, her background in the Gu Clan, as well as the origins of the Xiao Tribe and the great battle from a thousand years ago. Xiao Yan also appropriately displayed an expression of shock, his mouth opening wide and round.

After the narration concluded, Xiao Yan took out the ancient jade he had always carried on his chest and handed it to Xun'er, asking, "Xun'er, take a look. Is the Tou She Ancient Emperor Jade you're looking for this shape?"

"This, this is the Tou She Ancient Emperor Jade!" Xun'er simply couldn't believe it, unconsciously reaching out to take the ancient jade from Xiao Yan's hand. The ancient and mysterious luster was practically identical to the one she had seen in the Gu Clan. "It really is the Tou She Ancient Emperor Jade! Big Brother Xiao Yan, where did this come from?"

"After I broke through to Dou Fighter, my father gave it to me and told me to keep it safe, saying it's our Xiao Clan's heirloom. The moment you mentioned you were looking for a piece of ancient jade, I guessed it was this."

Xun'er looked at Xiao Yan's expression, which did not look fake, and couldn't help sighing, "To think that the Tou She Ancient Emperor Jade, which I spent so much effort searching the entire Xiao Clan for without finding, was actually right in front of me." Xun'er looked somewhat reluctantly at the ancient jade in her hand, ultimately returning it to Xiao Yan's grasp. "Big Brother Xiao Yan, this is indeed the Tou She Ancient Emperor Jade, the key to the Tou She Ancient Emperor's Palace. Big Brother Xiao Yan, remember, you must hide this well in the future and never expose it. Otherwise, if others find out that Big Brother Xiao Yan possesses the Tou She Ancient Emperor Jade, it will surely invite fatal disaster, and even the entire Xiao Clan will suffer a devastating catastrophe!"

"You don't want it?" Xiao Yan looked at Xun'er in some surprise.

"I!" A bitter expression crossed Xun'er's face. "To snatch it from Big Brother Xiao Yan's hands, I can't do it."

Gitting her silver teeth, Xun'er simply adopted a reckless attitude and said, "Big Brother Xiao Yan, hurry and take it back. Anyway, no one else knows, Xun'er will just pretend she never saw it." Having spoken, those petite, delicate hands pushed the ancient emperor jade tightly back into Xiao Yan's hands.

Xiao Yan looked at Xun'er's actions, feeling somewhat between laughter and tears as a wave of warmth surged into his heart. Unconsciously, he extended his right hand to stroke Xun'er's head, soothing her emotions.

"Xun'er, listen to me. Although this Tou She Ancient Emperor Jade is precious, to the current Xiao Clan and me, it has no meaning. On the contrary, keeping it in the Xiao Clan's hands will only be a source of chaos. Therefore, rather than continuing to hold onto it, it would be better to hand it over to your Gu Clan." Staring into Xun'er's eyes, Xiao Yan said solemnly.

"Big Brother Xiao Yan, but..."

Xiao Yan used a single finger to block Xun'er's lips.

"I know what you're thinking; naturally, I won't hand the Tou She Ancient Emperor Jade over to your Gu Clan for free, I'll definitely have to squeeze out enough benefits first. But your Big Brother Xiao Yan is merely a tiny Dou Fighter and lacks the qualifications to negotiate with your Gu Clan. So Xun'er, you'll help me, won't you?" A smile blossomed on Xiao Yan's face as he gazed straight at Xun'er.

"Big Brother Xiao Yan..."