Xiao Chen paid no heed to everyone's shock and strode forward.
"Master Xiao!"
Xiao Yan stepped forward and bowed deeply, his voice trembling. "I broke through! High-Rank Dou Ling!"
"Good! Good!"
Xiao Chen patted his shoulder and smiled.
"Reaching High-Rank Dou Ling before the Three-Year Agreement—your progress is even faster than I expected!"
"It's all thanks to Master Xiao's pills!"
Xiao Yan grinned, his eyes full of gratitude.
"Those Warm Nourishing Pills and Bone Tempering Pills—each one was more precious than the last. Master Xiao, you... actually gave them all to me!"
"Of course."
Xiao Chen chuckled and rapped him on the head.
"You're a promising lad I value. Who else would I give them to? Enough. You've just emerged from seclusion, and your cultivation is still unstable. Go back and consolidate it for a few days. Don't rush ahead."
"Yes!"
Xiao Yan nodded firmly, bowed deeply once more, then turned and left.
Watching that spirited figure depart, a trace of satisfaction flickered in Xiao Chen's eyes.
Just then, the system notification suddenly rang out in his mind—
"Ding! Key milestone achieved!"
"Recipient Xiao Yan has successfully broken through to High-Rank Dou Ling!"
"System assessment: the merit of this gift is witnessed by heaven and earth! Critical return triggered!"
"Return: [Low Earth Tier · Heaven-Burning Palm] ×1!"
"Return: [Dao Comprehension Pill] ×1!"
"Return description: Heaven-Burning Palm, a Low Earth Tier Dou Technique. With one palm strike, blazing flames scorch the heavens, its power unfathomable! The Dao Comprehension Pill can help the host comprehend the principles of heaven and earth, greatly increasing comprehension!"
Xiao Chen's pupils contracted sharply, and even his breathing stalled.
"Earth... an Earth-Tier Dou Technique!"
The fragment of the Heaven-Burning Palm was yellowed around the edges, with a faint crimson glow flowing across it, as though a searing power could erupt at any moment!
The instant Xiao Chen's fingertips touched the fragment, a scorching sensation shot from his fingers straight to his heart!
His entire body shuddered.
It possessed such might from a mere touch. If it were truly activated, how terrifying would it be?!
He picked up the Dao Comprehension Pill as well.
A gentle spiritual radiance flowed across its surface, and a faint medicinal fragrance soothed the heart and refreshed the mind.
The moment its fragrance entered his nose, Xiao Chen felt his mind clear slightly. Even the heated turmoil in his thoughts, stirred by the Heaven-Burning Palm fragment, gradually settled.
"This Dao Comprehension Pill is even more valuable... Once my cultivation is sufficient, if I take it and comprehend the Heaven-Burning Palm, I'll get twice the result with half the effort!"
Xiao Chen carefully put both items away, and the light in his eyes grew brighter and brighter.
On the third day after Xiao Yan emerged from seclusion, Xun'er came to bid farewell.
A light rain fell that day.
Dressed in a plain skirt and holding an oil-paper umbrella, Xun'er stood before the gates of the Xiao Clan.
The misty drizzle made her delicate face seem even gentler, yet a faint sorrow lingered between her brows.
"Miss Xun'er, you don't seem to be looking well today."
Xiao Chen came out to greet her and teased with a smile, "Did someone upset you?"
"You jest, Master Xiao."
Xun'er forced a smile and said softly, "Xun'er has come to bid Master Xiao farewell."
"Farewell?"
Xiao Chen was slightly taken aback. "Where are you going?"
"A message came from the clan, ordering Xun'er to return."
Xun'er lowered her gaze. "I do not know when I will return."
"The Gu Clan..."
Xiao Chen's heart stirred, though his expression remained unchanged.
"That's a good thing. You've been away from your clan for many years. It's time you went back and saw them."
Looking at the girl before him and the undisguised concern hidden in her eyes, Xiao Chen could not help but sigh inwardly.
This girl's feelings for Xiao Yan were exactly the same as in the original story—her devotion had never changed.
Over the past three years, Xiao Chen had seen it clearly.
When Xiao Yan was humiliated, she had secretly sent medicinal ingredients to nourish his meridians.
When Xiao Yan was mocked, she had stepped forward for him with a cold expression.
Whenever Xiao Yan entered seclusion, she claimed not to care, but the concern in her eyes was impossible to hide.
"This girl..."
Xiao Chen thought to himself, She has probably tied her whole heart to that boy Xiao Yan long ago.
"Unfortunately, as the Gu Clan Saintess, she was destined never to have a peaceful life."
"So be it. Since I've accepted this trust, if Xiao Chen is ever needed in the future, I certainly won't refuse."
"Mm!"
Xun'er answered softly, then suddenly raised her eyes and looked seriously at Xiao Chen.
"Master Xiao, before Xun'er leaves, there is something she wishes to entrust to you."
Xiao Chen pondered briefly before replying warmly, "Go ahead."
Xun'er fell silent for a moment, then said word by word, "If anything changes with the Three-Year Agreement... please keep Brother Yan safe."
"Xun'er has seen how well Master Xiao has treated Brother Yan."
Her voice gradually softened. "Those pills, those cultivation methods, those open and hidden attacks you blocked for him... Though Xun'er has remained within the inner chambers, it is not as though she knows nothing."
Xiao Chen's heart stirred, but he merely smiled. "It's all part of my duty."
"Master Xiao, Xun'er believes in you."
Xun'er said softly, then bowed deeply. "Xun'er will remember Master Xiao's great kindness in her heart."
"You think too highly of me."
Xiao Chen made a gesture to help her up and smiled. "Miss Xun'er, just return without worry. When you come back someday, I guarantee that your Brother Xiao Yan will be standing before you safe and sound."
"Mm!"
Xun'er's eyes reddened as she nodded firmly. Then she turned and left, looking back every few steps.
Through the hazy rain, her figure in the plain skirt gradually disappeared at the end of the long street.
"The Gu Clan Saintess... When she returns to Wutan City, her status will likely be entirely different."
"I only hope that boy Xiao Yan won't betray her feelings."
Just then, the system notification quietly sounded in his mind.
"Ding! Detected that the host has accepted the Gu Clan Saintess's request!"
"Recipient: Xun'er—the weight of her trust and the depth of her faith are witnessed by heaven and earth!"
"Return triggered: [Gu Clan Cultivation Method Fragment · Third Corner] ×1!"
"Return description: This fragment contains the essence of the Gu Clan cultivation method. It can help the host comprehend the mysteries of Dou Qi circulation, offering immeasurable benefit!"
Xiao Chen's pupils narrowed slightly, then a smile rose at the corners of his lips.
"Well, well... Even accepting a simple request earns a return!"
He immediately sat cross-legged and slowly circulated his Dou Qi according to the records in the third corner of the fragment.
At first, the Dou Qi in his meridians flowed as gently as a stream. But when that wisp of Dou Qi touched the first crucial acupoint, Xiao Chen's entire body shuddered. A cool sensation surged from deep within the acupoint, thoroughly refining that wisp of Dou Qi!
"What an exquisite circulation method!"
Xiao Chen opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them.
"The method contained in this third corner alone is worth months of painstaking cultivation!"
"The Gu Clan's foundation truly lives up to its reputation."
The Wutan City auction arrived as scheduled.
However, this year's event was on a scale far beyond previous years.
Mittel Headquarters had actually sent an envoy in person!
"Someone from Mittel Headquarters?"
"Why did they come to Wutan City themselves?"
"I heard... they came for that guest elder of the Xiao Clan!"
"Elder Xiao? Didn't he offend the Misty Cloud Sect just days ago? How did he get involved with Mittel too?!"
"Shh—then you don't know, do you? Elder Xiao is an alchemist! I heard even Mittel Headquarters is coveting the pills he refines!"