Xiao Ning's Shock! How Could This Be Possible?

Later that evening, the First Elder had returned to his room. As soon as he pushed open the door, he saw Xiao Ning lying on the bed, his face swollen like a pig's and blood still staining the corner of his mouth.

When Xiao Ning saw his grandfather return, he immediately struggled to sit up. However, the movement tugged at his chest wound, making him bare his teeth in pain.

"Grandfather! You have to avenge me!"

"That Xiao Yun actually dared to beat me like this! You have to teach him a harsh lesson—better yet, drive him out of the Xiao Clan!"

Xiao Ning clutched the First Elder's arm, his voice filled with hatred and unwillingness.

Being beaten into a dead dog in three moves by a good-for-nothing before so many people—there was no way he could swallow that humiliation.

The First Elder's expression was grave. Seeing his grandson in such a miserable state filled him with rage, but even more than that, he felt wary.

"Don't act recklessly. I went to the hall just now to settle things with that boy and tested him with an attack."

"His strength... has probably reached the Da Dou Shi level."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ning froze completely. His eyes widened as though he had misheard.

"Da Dou Shi? How is that possible?!"

"He only had Two-Stage Dou Qi before! How could he become a Da Dou Shi in just a few days?"

"Grandfather, could you have made a mistake?"

Xiao Ning's voice was full of disbelief. He knew better than anyone what a Da Dou Shi represented. There were only a handful of Da Dou Shi-level experts in all of Wu Tan City, and Xiao Zhan, a Five-Star Da Dou Shi, was already the strongest person in the city.

How could that good-for-nothing Xiao Yun possibly be a Da Dou Shi?

"I wouldn't be mistaken." The First Elder shook his head.

"That palm strike contained at least seventy percent of my strength. He stood there without moving an inch, caught it effortlessly, and even knocked me back several steps."

"Only someone at least at the Da Dou Shi level could possess that kind of strength."

After hearing this, Xiao Ning fell completely silent. His expression was a mixture of shock, fury, and fear as he turned the matter over and over in his mind, unable to understand it.

How had that Xiao Yun suddenly become so strong?

Had he been pretending to be foolish all along? Or had he recently encountered some heaven-defying opportunity?

No matter which possibility it was, Xiao Ning's heart was now filled only with intense jealousy and unwillingness.

Why?

Why could that good-for-nothing win Xun'er's favor, and now even become so powerful?

The First Elder sighed as he looked at his grandson. "For now, don't provoke him. We'll talk after I've investigated his background."

Xiao Ning gritted his teeth. Though he was unwilling a thousand times over, he could only nod.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yun had already left the hall and was heading toward Disciples' Plaza.

As he passed through the plaza, quite a few Xiao Clan disciples noticed him. They all turned to look at him and began whispering among themselves.

"Look, Xiao Yun is here."

"Did you hear about how he knocked Xiao Ning down in three moves this morning? Xiao Ning is still lying in bed and can't get up."

"Of course I heard. The entire Xiao Clan knows about it by now. I really didn't expect this."

"We always thought he was a good-for-nothing, but it turns out he'd been hiding his abilities all along. Even Xiao Ning wasn't his match."

"I heard the First Elder went to cause trouble for him too, but didn't gain any advantage and left with his tail between his legs."

Though those discussions were quiet, bits and pieces still drifted into Xiao Yun's ears.

However, he did not pay much attention to them and simply continued walking.

In the past, those disciples had either ignored him or avoided him outright whenever they saw him. Now, their attitudes had completely changed.

As he walked, the system panel suddenly lit up, and a prompt appeared before his eyes.

[Daily copy attempts have been reset. This entry will be drawn at random. Confirm draw?]

Seeing the prompt, Xiao Yun was delighted and hurriedly chose to confirm in his mind.

[Randomly drawing entry... Drawing... Draw successful!]

[Congratulations, Host! Successfully copied: Pill King Gu He's One-Star Dou King strength entry!]

When Xiao Yun saw the prompt on the system panel, he went blank for a moment. Then his heart began pounding wildly.

A Dou King?

A One-Star Dou King?

Pill King Gu He was a Sixth-Rank Alchemist with the strength of a Dou King. Last time, he had only drawn the Alchemist entry, yet this time he had actually drawn the Dou King strength entry as well?

A vast force instantly surged into his body. Xiao Yun felt as if every meridian in his body were being washed and reforged anew, while Dou Qi circulated and rose frantically within him.

The sensation was far more intense than when he had copied the Five-Star Da Dou Shi entry last time. After all, this was the Dou King level—several entire realms higher.

Once that power finally settled, Xiao Yun clenched his fist and felt the surging Dou Qi within him. He was utterly exhilarated.

A Dou King.

In a small place like Wu Tan City, a Da Dou Shi was already considered a top expert. A Dou King was practically a legendary existence.

There were not many Dou King-level experts in the entire Jia Ma Empire, yet he had now become a Dou King himself.

Xiao Yun took a deep breath, unable to stop a smile from appearing on his face.

In Wu Tan City, a Dou King could absolutely do as he pleased. Forget an ordinary Da Dou Shi like the First Elder—even Xiao Zhan, a Five-Star Da Dou Shi, would be nothing before him.

This feeling really was incredible.

As Xiao Yun happily savored these thoughts, he looked up and saw Xun Er walking toward him from not far away.

"Brother Xiao Yun."

Xun Er soon stopped before him and looked him over from head to toe, concern visible on her face.

"I heard the First Elder went to trouble you. You weren't hurt, were you?"

"I'm fine."

"What could he possibly do to me? He came looking for trouble, and I found him annoying instead."

Hearing him say that, Xun Er relaxed. But then her brows furrowed slightly, and her gaze lingered on Xiao Yun for quite some time.

For some reason, she felt that Xiao Yun's aura was somewhat different.

He had not been like this when she saw him that morning. Only a few hours had passed, so why did the fluctuations of Dou Qi around him seem to have grown so much stronger again?

And this kind of increase felt as though it was on an entirely different level from before.

Xun Er murmured to herself inwardly. The more she thought about it, the more unfathomable Brother Xiao Yun seemed.

However, she did not press him. She merely nodded and said, "As long as you're fine. I'll be going back first."

After Xun Er left, Xiao Yun stood where he was, considering what he should do next.

The strength of a Dou King was already the ceiling in Wu Tan City, but it was far from enough. After all, there were countless places in this world larger than Wu Tan City. Beyond the Jia Ma Empire lay the Central Plains, and beyond the Central Plains was an even wider world!