Profound Tier High Grade: Wind-Thunder Step

"You little girl, because I'm your grandpa!"

Xiao Chen chuckled and rubbed her head, but his tone suddenly turned solemn.

"Xun'er, Grandpa has one final piece of advice for you... In this world, I don't ask that you make a name for yourself. I only hope you stay safe."

Xun'er's heart trembled. She gazed at Xiao Chen for a long while, then suddenly gave him a solemn curtsey.

"Grandpa's teachings, Xun'er will remember them."

As she spoke, she took a smooth, warm token from her robes and placed it in Xiao Chen's hand.

"Grandpa, this is a token bestowed by Xun'er's clan. If Grandpa encounters any difficulties in the future, you may seek the Gu Clan with this token."

Xiao Chen accepted the token, and the instant his fingertips touched its warm jade surface, his heart jolted slightly.

Gu Clan Token!

This was proof that could grant direct access to the Gu Clan's gates. Its value was simply beyond measure!

He had no idea what material the token was forged from. It felt cool yet smooth in his hand, faintly exuding an ancient and profound aura. An ancient character for Gu was engraved on the front, while an intricate pattern covered the back.

Though Xiao Chen did not understand the meaning of that pattern, he instinctively sensed that this token carried no small weight behind it.

"This... is far too precious."

"Grandpa has treated Xun'er like his own daughter. Xun'er has no way to repay you, so I can only offer this as a small token of my feelings."

Xun'er smiled brightly, and there was a rare sense of ease in that smile.

"Grandpa, take care."

With those words, she turned and lightly swept over the courtyard wall. After several leaps, she vanished into the distant horizon.

Outside the courtyard wall.

Several Xiao Clan servants happened to pass by. Seeing the pale green figure disappearing into the distance, they could not help clicking their tongues in amazement.

"Miss Xun'er's skills were truly well concealed..."

"Yeah, she usually looks so gentle and soft-spoken. Who would've thought she was this formidable!"

Xiao Chen stood in the courtyard and listened to their discussion with only a faint smile, saying nothing.

Xun'er was naturally no ordinary girl. He knew that better than anyone.

Xiao Chen held the token as he watched that pale green figure depart, remaining silent for a long time.

"This girl... I wonder when we'll meet again..."

After a long while, the system notification suddenly rang out in his mind.

"Ding! Investment in the Gu Clan Saintess successful!"

"Investment target: Xun'er!"

"Settlement result: Returned [Gu Clan Cultivation Method: Qi Condensation Chapter] incomplete copy ×1!"

"Return description: The Qi Condensation Chapter is one of the Gu Clan's foundational cultivation methods. It contains the essence of condensing the world's primordial energy. Though incomplete, its cultivation efficiency far surpasses ordinary Yellow Tier and Profound Tier cultivation methods!"

Xiao Chen's pupils contracted slightly.

The cultivation method within that incomplete volume exuded an ancient, majestic aura between every line, completely different from ordinary cultivation methods!

This was the foundation of one of the Dou Qi Continent's greatest powers!

"If I could gather the complete Qi Condensation Chapter..."

Xiao Chen took a deep breath and suppressed the heat in his heart.

On Xiao Yan's birthday.

Xiao Zhan had specially arranged a family banquet to celebrate his son.

After several rounds of drinks, Xiao Yan kept feeling as though something was missing, until a familiar gray-robed figure appeared before him with a beaming smile.

"Little Yan, happy birthday."

Xiao Chen took out a sheepskin scroll from his robes and handed it over.

"Grandpa doesn't have anything good. Take this Wind-Splitting Palm as your birthday gift."

"Wind-Splitting Palm?"

Xiao Yan froze. He accepted the scroll and opened it, and his pupils instantly shrank.

"Profound Tier... a Profound Tier Dou Technique?!"

He had thought that Grandpa Xiao might give him a few more bottles of medicinal pills at most. He never could have imagined that it would be a Profound Tier Dou Technique!

One had to know that the Xiao Clan of Wutan City's clan-defending ultimate art was merely a Profound Tier cultivation method, yet this Wind-Splitting Palm was a genuine Profound Tier Dou Technique!

"Grandpa, this... this is too precious!"

"Precious?"

Xiao Chen smiled and waved a hand.

"Grandpa's things are your things. Keep it safe."

Xiao Chen smiled. "Come on. Grandpa will take you to the back mountain and teach you personally."

"Watch carefully. The secret of the Wind-Splitting Palm lies in 'borrowing the force of the wind to tear through the enemy's defense'!"

The instant Xiao Chen finished speaking, his body moved. A howling palm wind shot forth, heading straight for Xiao Yan's face.

The palm wind was incomparably fierce, ripping through the air and producing a deep sonic boom that exploded above the training ground!

"What a fast palm!"

Xiao Yan's expression changed, and he hurriedly twisted aside to dodge.

However, he had only cultivated for a short time, and his movement technique was still clumsy. He failed to evade in time and took a solid palm strike to the shoulder, stumbling back several steps from the impact.

"Too slow!"

Xiao Chen shouted mercilessly, "If I were an enemy, that strike would have already taken your life! Again!"

"Yes!"

Xiao Yan gritted his teeth and rushed forward once more.

As fists and kicks flew, Xiao Chen showed no mercy, every strike landing solidly and making Xiao Yan cry out in pain. Yet Xiao Yan could clearly feel that under this kind of real combat practice, his understanding of Dou Techniques was improving at a terrifying rate!

Several Xiao Clan disciples watching beside the training ground were dumbfounded.

"Elder Xiao Chen is hitting way too hard, isn't he? Is this teaching martial arts? He's clearly just beating someone up!"

"What do you know!"

Another person lowered his voice.

"Can't you see how frightening Young Master Xiao Yan's improvement is? It's only been half a day, and his palm technique already looks impressive!"

"Tsk tsk... If it were me, Elder Xiao Chen would've beaten me flat long ago..."

"Not bad. That palm had some meaning to it!"

"Yes, just like that!"

"Too slow again! Your reaction speed doesn't deserve your talent!"

Over the course of the day, Xiao Chen barely gave Xiao Yan a moment to catch his breath.

The next morning, Xiao Yan rubbed his aching shoulder as he arrived at the training ground. He had thought Grandpa Xiao would let him rest for a while, but Xiao Chen was already standing in the field with his hands behind his back.

"Warm up. We start fighting in half an hour."

"Yes, Grandpa Xiao!"

Xiao Yan did not dare voice a single complaint. Gritting his teeth, he assumed a horse stance.

Yet that day's sparring was even harsher than the previous day's.

At first, Xiao Yan was still flustered and overwhelmed, but by evening, he could vaguely catch the trajectory of Xiao Chen's palm wind and dodge half a step in advance!

"Good!"

A trace of satisfaction finally flashed through Xiao Chen's eyes.

"You've improved quite a bit today."

"It's all because Grandpa Xiao taught me well!" Xiao Yan grinned.

On the evening of the third day.

On the training ground, Xiao Yan struck out with his palm. The palm wind actually condensed into a visible blade of wind in midair, tearing through the air and cleaving a wooden stake more than ten feet away cleanly in half!

By then, quite a few Xiao Clan disciples who had heard the news had gathered around the training ground.

They had witnessed Xiao Yan's transformation over the past three days with their own eyes, and every one of them looked as though their eyes were about to pop out.

"Three days... He entered the threshold of a Profound Tier Dou Technique in just three days?!"

"H-How is anyone supposed to live with that?!"

"What method did Elder Xiao Chen use to train Young Master Xiao Yan into something this terrifying?!"

"Grandpa Xiao!"

Xiao Yan suddenly clasped his fists deeply toward Xiao Chen, his eyes reddening.

"Thank you, Grandpa Xiao! If not for Grandpa Xiao feeding me moves these past three days, Yan'er could never have improved this quickly!"

"You foolish boy, why are you being so polite with Grandpa?"

Xiao Chen smiled and patted his shoulder.

"The talent is yours. Grandpa merely helped force it out."

The instant he finished speaking, the system notification suddenly sounded in Xiao Chen's mind.

"Ding! Feedback triggered by investment target Xiao Yan's cultivation breakthrough!"

"Investment target: Profound Tier Low Grade: Wind-Splitting Palm"

"Settlement result: Returned [Profound Tier High Grade: Wind-Thunder Step] ×1!"

"Return description: Wind-Thunder Step is a Profound Tier High Grade movement-type Dou Technique. When used, the body moves like wind and thunder, swift as a racing thunderbolt, capable of both attack and defense!"

Xiao Chen's pupils contracted slightly, then an irrepressible delight rose at the corners of his mouth.

Profound Tier High Grade!

A whole major tier above the Gale Step he had obtained before!

"Kid Xiao Yan, you really are Grandpa's lucky star..."

Xiao Chen suppressed the wild joy in his heart and calmly patted Xiao Yan's shoulder.

"Alright, go get some proper rest. Starting tomorrow, Grandpa has even harsher moves waiting for you."

"Yes, Grandpa Xiao!"

"Profound Tier High Grade: Wind-Thunder Step..."

"I, Xiao Chen, have finally obtained a decent movement-type Dou Technique."