Xiao Zhan's expression turned solemn at those words.
"Rest assured, Elder. The Xiao Clan will spare no expense on Yan'er's cultivation resources!"
"Good."
Xiao Chen watched him walk away, a trace of relief in his eyes.
The boy's growing steadier by the day.
The Three-Year Agreement was only a few months away.
In those months, the balance of power in Wutan City had changed completely.
The Xiao Clan Apothecary dominated the market. With the City Lord's Mansion behind it and the Jia Lie Family bowing its head, the whole city was beginning to feel like Xiao Clan territory.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yan broke through one level after another, reaching Da Dou Shi Mid-Stage!
One day,
Xiao Chen took a walk to the back mountain. From a distance, he heard fists whistling through the air inside the training room.
He pushed open the door and found Xiao Yan bare-chested, hammering an iron post. Every punch landed with a dull boom, sending chips of stone flying!
The post was as thick as a bowl, yet Xiao Yan had punched several cracks into it!
Each sweep of his fist drew a low crack from the air!
"Not bad, boy..."
Approval flashed in Xiao Chen's eyes.
"Master Xiao?"
Hearing him, Xiao Yan turned, wiped away his sweat, and grinned. "What brings you here?"
"Came to see you."
Xiao Chen patted his shoulder, then looked down at his hands.
Blood blisters had formed between his thumbs and forefingers, but he seemed not to care.
"Da Dou Shi Mid-Stage. You've advanced even faster than I expected."
"That's because you kept me supplied with pills, Master Xiao!"
Xiao Yan scratched his head.
"Master Xiao, there are only a few months left until the Three-Year Agreement. I still feel like I'm missing a trump card that can end a fight."
"Oh?"
Xiao Chen raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at his lips.
"What makes you say that?"
"My Dou Techniques are all suited to drawn-out fights."
Xiao Yan clenched his fist, frustration flashing in his eyes.
"But Nalan Yanran has the Misty Cloud Sect behind her. She's bound to have powerful Dou Techniques. If we clash head-on, I'm afraid..."
"Afraid of what?"
Xiao Chen cut him off.
"Little Yan, remember this: no matter how powerful a Dou Technique is, what matters is who's using it! Here's something from your Master Xiao: there are no useless Dou Techniques, only useless Dou Shi!"
"Nalan Yanran has spent these three years living comfortably in the Misty Cloud Sect. You clawed your way up out of the mud. When it comes to grit and fighting spirit, she can't match you."
Xiao Yan shuddered, then nodded firmly.
"You're right, Master Xiao!"
After a moment's silence, he looked up and said earnestly, "Master Xiao, without you these past three years, I'd probably still be rotting in the mud. I'll remember what you've done for me for the rest of my life."
"I'll win the Three-Year Agreement. Not because of Nalan Yanran or the Xiao Clan's reputation, but because of everything you've done for me!"
Warmth stirred in Xiao Chen's heart as he watched the fire blazing in the young man's eyes.
Good lad...
"All right, enough of that."
He smiled and patted Xiao Yan's shoulder. "You focus on training. I've already got something else lined up for you."
"And remember, don't just win the Three-Year Agreement. Win so decisively that those people from the Misty Cloud Sect never dare look down on the Xiao Clan of Wutan City again!"
"Rest assured, Master Xiao!" Xiao Yan cupped his fists firmly, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit.
"I'll give the Three-Year Agreement everything I have and show the Misty Cloud Sect that the Xiao Clan of Wutan City won't be pushed around!"
"Good! With that spirit, you've already won half the battle!" Xiao Chen laughed.
After Xiao Yan left, Xiao Chen returned to the courtyard.
Ding! Detected that the recipient, Xiao Yan, is approaching a pivotal event: the Three-Year Agreement! System notice: If the host gives the recipient the opportunity he needs before the Three-Year Agreement, a critical-event bonus return will be triggered! Current recommendations: High Xuan Tier Dou Technique, Flame Splitting Tsunami Ruler | meridian-nourishing spirit medicine ×1
"Flame Splitting Tsunami Ruler!?"
He murmured the name, his eyes gleaming.
"A High Xuan Tier Dou Technique. One sweep of the ruler unleashes towering waves of flame... If Xiao Yan masters it, victory at the Three-Year Agreement will be within his grasp!"
"As for the meridian-nourishing medicine, he's trained hard every day for months. His meridians must be riddled with hidden injuries. He needs proper care."
That night, the lights in the Xiao Clan's medicine room burned until dawn.
Xiao Chen brought out an alchemy furnace and refined the meridian-nourishing spirit medicine into a batch of Warm Nourishing Pills.
He spent a full six hours on that batch. When the pills were ready, their fragrance filled the room, and each one glowed with a gentle luster!
"Whoa—that fragrance is strong!"
"These Warm Nourishing Pills look far better than anything the Xiao Clan Medicine Hall used to sell!"
The Xiao Clan members on night duty followed the scent, staring in astonishment.
Xiao Chen paid them no mind. He carefully inspected the pills in the furnace and nodded with satisfaction.
"Third-Grade Warm Nourishing Pills... Excellent quality."
"With this affinity for fire, my alchemy really has improved."
He carefully gathered the batch, took out a jade bottle, placed the pills inside one by one, and sealed it.
"This bottle should heal seventy or eighty percent of the hidden injuries in Xiao Yan's meridians."
"He must enter the Three-Year Agreement in the best condition possible."
"The key to the Flame Splitting Tsunami Ruler is its flame. Dou Qi draws out the fire, the ruler turns it into waves, and each wave rises higher than the last..."
"He won't have time to master it completely, but it'll be enough for Xiao Yan to shine at the Three-Year Agreement!"
The more Xiao Chen thought about it, the more excited he grew.
"Wonderful! Just wonderful!"
"The Flame Splitting Tsunami Ruler's method of channeling Dou Qi complements that boy's Flame Mantra perfectly!"
"I'll give him everything tomorrow."
Early the next morning, Xiao Chen handed both items to Xiao Yan.
"Little Yan, I've seen how much you've improved lately."
He patted Xiao Yan's shoulder and said solemnly, "Take this Dou Technique into seclusion and study it carefully."
Just then, a system notification rang out in his mind—
Ding! Detected that the host has given [Flame Splitting Tsunami Ruler] + [Third-Grade Warm Nourishing Pill] to Xiao Yan, a child of destiny! Gift successful! Congratulations! You have received a cultivation infusion! Your realm has risen to Peak Dou Ling!
Xiao Chen's eyes lit up, and a smile slowly spread across his face.
"Not bad! Not bad at all!"
"Master Xiao!"
Xiao Yan bowed so deeply his waist nearly bent to the floor. "I'll never let you down for as long as I live!"
"On the day of the Three-Year Agreement, I'll show everyone in the city that the boy you raised is second to none!"
Warmth filled Xiao Chen's heart. He patted Xiao Yan's shoulder. "Go on. I'll be waiting for the day you come out."
Eyes reddening, Xiao Yan accepted the two items and entered the seclusion chamber without looking back.
Bang!
The door shut.
Xiao Chen gazed at the closed door, his heart a tangle of anticipation and unease.