Old Grandpa in the Ring Appears (Please Recommend)

"Heh, strength... In this world, without strength, you're worse than a pile of dog shit. At least no one dares step on dog shit!"

His shoulders trembled lightly. The young man's low, self-mocking laughter, tinged with grief and anger, slowly drifted across the mountaintop.

"Brother Yun is always telling me to let go, let go... but can I really let it go?"

"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river. Don't bully the young because they're poor! I..."

"Nalan Yanran, it was this young master who divorced you. Three years from now, you'd better wait for me at the Misty Cloud Sect."

Xiao Yan sat at the edge of the cliff, gazing at the steep mountains hidden in the mist opposite him. Suddenly, his face twisted savagely, and he roared at the top of his lungs.

Those roars went on for who knew how long. Only when his throat had gone somewhat hoarse did he finally stop.

"I don't want to suffer today's humiliation a second time!" Spreading open his left hand, where a bloody mark remained, Xiao Yan spoke in a hoarse yet resolute voice.

After letting out a deep breath, Xiao Yan suddenly turned his head toward the deep, shadowed woods behind him and said with a faint smile, "Brother Yun, stop hiding. Come out!"

Although he was only at the third stage of Dou Qi, Xiao Yan's soul perception was extremely powerful. During that bout of roaring, he had already sensed a trace of movement in the woods.

"No fun, no fun. You bastard, why is your perception so freakish?" After a moment of silence, a young man's laughter came from the woods.

Branches shook, and Lin Qingyun leaped out. However, when he jumped down from the tree, he very obviously staggered.

"Brother Yun, you're still injured. Why did you come out?"

Noticing that instant, Xiao Yan immediately frowned.

"Wasn't I coming to check on you? I heard you divorced Nalan Yanran!"

Lin Qingyun walked over and sat down beside Xiao Yan.

He had not been unconscious for long, waking up after merely one or two hours. Afterward, he learned what had happened later in the Xiao Family Hall.

Not having witnessed that scene made Lin Qingyun feel somewhat regretful, so he did not want to miss the process of Old Grandpa in the Ring appearing.

Of course, he had also come to comfort the former in passing.

"Yeah! I divorced her. But I don't even know if I can catch up after three years." Xiao Yan shoved his ten fingers into his black hair and said in great distress.

He understood his own physical condition better than anyone, and he did not know how long this situation would continue.

"Don't worry! You'll return to normal very soon. Trust your Brother Yun!" Lin Qingyun showed his teeth slightly and revealed a confident smile. At the same time, he placed a hand on Xiao Yan's shoulder and patted it.

"I know you're comforting me, but... how is that possible?" Xiao Yan smiled self-deprecatingly.

"How does that line of poetry go? When mountains and rivers leave you doubting there is any road..." Lin Qingyun said.

However, before he could finish, Xiao Yan took over. "Willows dark, flowers bright, and another village appears. I know."

"But..."

"Heh heh, little baby, looks like you're in great need of help."

Just then, an old, strange laugh suddenly entered their ears.

Xiao Yan's young face changed. He abruptly turned around, his hawk-sharp gaze sweeping behind him, yet he did not discover even half a person...

"Brother Yun, did you hear some strange voice?" Xiao Yan asked with a frown.

"I heard it!" Lin Qingyun nodded, his gaze somewhat odd as he looked toward the ring on Xiao Yan's hand.

Old Grandpa in the Ring had finally come!

"Stop looking. He's on your finger!" Lin Qingyun said.

"The ring?"

His pupils shrinking, Xiao Yan's gaze suddenly stopped on his right hand, on that black, simple and ancient ring he wore.

"Come out! What's the point of hiding?" Lin Qingyun said calmly.

"Haha, you little fellow are rather interesting." From within the ring, a faint laugh rang out.

Suddenly, a wisp of light smoke drifted out from the ring on Xiao Yan's hand. In the end, under Xiao Yan's startled, trembling gaze, it transformed into an aged figure.

"What the hell are you?"

Xiao Yan pointed at the aged figure as he spoke. Someone was living inside the ring; the thought made a chill of horror run through him.

"I'm no ghost. I'm a very powerful person!" the aged figure said.

"A person? A Soul Body making big claims—who'd believe that?" Xiao Yan curled his lips and said.

In this world, once the strong cultivated to a certain level, even if only their souls remained, they could still drag out an ignoble existence and have a day to rise again.

"Ay, ay, to think I was seen through by a little baby like you. Still, I must thank you for your offerings these past three years! Otherwise, I'm afraid I would have had to continue sleeping."

"Offerings?" Xiao Yan blinked in confusion. A moment later, his young face abruptly darkened, and ice-cold words forced their way out from between his teeth with difficulty. "The Dou Qi in my body that vanished for no reason... you were behind it?"

Lin Qingyun also nodded in strong agreement and cast over a disdainful look.

"Heh heh, I was forced by circumstances too. Little baby, don't blame me."

"Fuck your mother!"

Xiao Yan, who had always prided himself on being calm and steady, sprang up like a madman at this moment. His young face was filled with ferocity as he swung a punch straight over.

Very clearly, it hit empty air. Xiao Yan's fist passed directly through the aged figure's body.

"Aiya, little baby, don't be angry. Haven't I come to compensate you?" The aged figure stared at Xiao Yan with a beaming smile.

"Compensation! What compensation? Do you know how much ridicule you brought me these past three years because of you?" Xiao Yan suppressed the surge of anger in his heart. He knew he could do nothing to this Soul Body before him.

Suddenly, Xiao Yan turned his head to look at Lin Qingyun and said, "Brother Yun, can you lend me that Black Flame of yours? I'm going to burn this old bastard."

"You mustn't, little baby. I truly came to help you." The aged figure's expression suddenly changed drastically. He retreated again and again as he spoke.

He even glanced at Lin Qingyun with some fear.

"I can't move that flame either. It consumes too much Dou Qi!" Lin Qingyun shook his head, then only leaned close to Xiao Yan's ear and said a few more words.

"Really?" A burst of joy suddenly appeared on Xiao Yan's young face.

Since he already knew the mystery behind the disappearance of his Dou Qi, then now, his talent must surely have returned as well!

As soon as he thought of finally having a chance to throw off the title of trash, Xiao Yan's body almost felt as comfortable as if he had been reborn. Even the hateful old man in front of him no longer seemed all that annoying.

Some things were only known to be precious after they were lost! Regaining what was lost would make a person cherish it even more!

After lightly stretching his body, Xiao Yan let out a long breath and said calmly, "Although I don't know who you really are, I want to ask this: from now on, do you still plan to cling to the ring and absorb my Dou Qi? If that's the case, I advise you to find another host. I can't afford to raise you."

"Heh heh, don't worry, don't worry. Since I chose to show myself, then in the future, before receiving your permission, I naturally won't absorb your Dou Qi again." The old man stroked a tuft of beard and smiled.

"There'll be a next time?" Xiao Yan rolled his eyes and sneered without speaking. He had already made up his mind that no matter how glib this old thing was, he would not let him stay by his side again.

"Sigh, little baby, I truly and sincerely came to help you. I can make you grow stronger quickly, you know!" The aged figure narrowed his eyes and looked at Xiao Yan.

"Tch, who cares? With my talent, do I need you to become stronger?" Xiao Yan said. Then he turned to Lin Qingyun beside him and said, "Brother Yun, let's go. Ignore this old bastard!"

"Can you catch up to that little girl within three years? With that little girl's talent, she'll definitely step into the ranks of a Da Dou Shi within three years. And you're only at the third stage of Dou Qi right now. If you want to catch up within three years, that's practically impossible!"

The step Xiao Yan had taken came to a halt, and his heart trembled.

The old man's words naturally struck right at his sore spot. Although he considered his own talent quite good, wanting to catch up to a genius who was also a favored daughter of heaven was impossible.

Unless he had a fortuitous encounter.

With a dejected sigh, Xiao Yan glanced at the old man who was putting on an unfathomable air. His heart stirred, and he curled his lips. "You have a way?"

"Perhaps!" the old man said with a vague, strange laugh.

"If you help me catch up to Nalan Yanran within three years, then the matter of you absorbing my Dou Qi in the past will be written off. How about it?" Xiao Yan asked probingly.

"Heh heh, what a calculating little baby!"

"If you're of no help to me, then why would I bring a burden like you along with me? In my opinion, old man, you'd better go find some other unlucky bastard to possess!" Xiao Yan laughed coldly. After chatting for a moment, he had also seen that this mysterious old man seemed as if he would no longer absorb his Dou Qi.

"Oh right, you have to help Brother Yun too. He's my best brother," Xiao Yan said.

"Me?" Lin Qingyun looked at Xiao Yan in some surprise.

"Of course. Brother Yun, although your talent is very strong, this old guy seems to be very strong too. He should be able to help you and let you avoid some detours in your cultivation!" Xiao Yan said seriously.

"You guy!" Lin Qingyun was slightly stunned, and his heart was rather moved. However, he had no intention of becoming some Old Grandpa in the Ring's disciple.

Being free and unrestrained was best!

"You really don't seem like a fifteen-year-old boy at all! Looks like you've grown quite a bit over these three years! Can this be considered me reaping what I sowed?" Looking at the slippery Xiao Yan, the old man was stunned. Immediately, he did not know whether to laugh or cry, and shook his head.

Xiao Yan spread his hands and said calmly, "If you want me to continue making offerings to you, you have to show some sincerity, don't you?"

"Besides, helping me is helping, and adding one more person shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"What a sharp-tongued little baby. Fine. Who told this old man to still have something to ask of you little fellows?"

Nodding helplessly, the old man's figure descended to the ground. His gaze sized up Xiao Yan and Lin Qingyun a few times, and a strange laugh of a scheme succeeding flashed quickly across his face.

"Not good!"

That sly smile fell into Lin Qingyun's eyes, and he immediately sensed something was wrong. He hurriedly said, "I still have something to do, so I'll leave first. You two take your time chatting!"

After saying this, under the old man's astonished gaze, Lin Qingyun shot into the small woods as if flying.

"Brother Yun!"

"This little fellow!"