[Gu Clan Cultivation Technique Fragment · Third Corner]

Xiao Chen ignored everyone's shock and quickly stepped forward.

"Grandpa Xiao!"

Xiao Yan strode forward and gave a deep bow, his voice trembling. "I broke through! High-Rank Dou Ling!"

"Good! Good!"

Xiao Chen patted his shoulder and smiled.

"Breaking through to High-Rank Dou Ling before the Three-Year Agreement—your progress is even faster than I expected!"

"It's all thanks to Grandpa Xiao's pills!"

Xiao Yan grinned, his eyes full of gratitude.

"Those Warm Nourishing Pills and Bone Tempering Pills were more precious than the last. Grandpa Xiao, you... actually gave them all to me!"

"Nonsense."

Xiao Chen smiled and rapped him on the head.

"You're a promising youngster I think highly of. Who else would I give them to? All right, you've just broken through, and your realm isn't stable yet. Go back and consolidate it for a few days. Don't rush ahead."

"Yes!"

Xiao Yan nodded heavily, gave another deep bow, and only then turned to leave.

Watching that spirited figure depart, a trace of satisfaction flashed through 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 Rank · Heaven-Burning Palm] ×1!"

"Return: [Dao Comprehension Pill] ×1!"

"Return details: Heaven-Burning Palm, a low Earth Rank Dou Technique. With one palm strike, blazing flames burn 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 Rank... an Earth Rank Dou Technique!"

The fragment of the Heaven-Burning Palm was yellowed around the edges, with faint crimson light flowing across it. It seemed as though a scorching power could erupt at any moment!

The instant Xiao Chen's fingertips touched the fragment, a searing sensation traveled from his fingers straight to his heart!

His entire body shuddered.

It possessed such might from a mere touch. How terrifying would it be if truly activated?!

He then picked up the Dao Comprehension Pill.

A gentle spiritual glow flowed over its entire surface, while a faint medicinal fragrance soothed the mind.

The instant the pill's fragrance entered his nose, Xiao Chen felt his mind clear somewhat. Even the slight heat in his consciousness caused by the Heaven-Burning Palm fragment gradually subsided.

"This Dao Comprehension Pill is even more of a treasure... Once my cultivation is sufficient, taking it to comprehend the Heaven-Burning Palm will likely yield twice the results with half the effort!"

Xiao Chen carefully put away both items, the light in his eyes growing brighter and brighter.

On the third day after Xiao Yan emerged from seclusion, Xun'er came to bid farewell.

That day, a fine rain fell from the sky.

Dressed in a simple skirt and holding an oil-paper umbrella, Xun'er stood before the gates of the Xiao Clan.

The misty drizzle made her delicate face appear even gentler, yet a faint sorrow of parting 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, Grandpa Xiao."

Xun'er forced a smile and said softly, "Xun'er has come to bid you 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 eyes. "I do not know when I will return."

"The Gu Clan..."

Xiao Chen's heart stirred, but his expression remained unchanged.

"That is a good thing. You have been away from your clan for many years. It is time you went back to see them."

He looked at the girl before him and saw the concern she could not conceal in her eyes, making him 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 face.

Whenever Xiao Yan entered seclusion, she claimed not to care, but the worry in her eyes could never be hidden.

"This girl..."

Xiao Chen thought to himself, She has probably tied her whole heart to that brat Xiao Yan long ago.

"Unfortunately, as the Gu Clan Saintess, she is destined never to have a peaceful life."

"So be it. Since I have accepted this trust, if Xiao Chen is ever needed in the future, I will certainly not refuse."

"Mm!"

Xun'er answered softly. Then she suddenly raised her eyes and looked earnestly at Xiao Chen.

"Grandpa Xiao, before Xun'er leaves, there is something she wishes to entrust to you."

Xiao Chen pondered briefly before replying warmly, "Go ahead."

After a moment of silence, Xun'er said word by word, "If anything changes with the Three-Year Agreement... please, Grandpa Xiao, keep Brother Yan safe."

"Xun'er has seen how well you have treated Brother Yan."

Her voice gradually lowered. "Those pills, those cultivation techniques, those open attacks and hidden schemes you blocked in secret... Though Xun'er has lived secluded in her chambers, she is not unaware."

Xiao Chen's heart stirred, but he merely smiled. "It was all my duty."

"Grandpa Xiao, Xun'er believes in you."

Xun'er spoke softly, then gave a deep bow. "Xun'er will remember your great kindness in her heart."

"You give me too much credit."

Xiao Chen made a gesture as if 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 slightly. She nodded heavily, turned, and left, looking back every few steps.

Through the hazy drizzle, the figure in the plain skirt gradually disappeared at the end of the long street.

"Gu Clan Saintess... When she returns to Wutan City after this, her status will likely be completely different."

"I only hope that brat Xiao Yan does not betray this devotion."

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—such weighty trust and profound faith are witnessed by Heaven and Earth!"

"Return triggered: [Gu Clan Cultivation Technique Fragment · Third Corner] ×1!"

"Return details: this fragment contains the essence of the Gu Clan cultivation technique. It can help the host comprehend the secrets of Dou Qi circulation, bringing boundless benefits!"

Xiao Chen's pupils narrowed slightly, then a smile rose at the corners of his lips.

"Nice... Simply accepting a request earns a return too!"

He immediately sat cross-legged and slowly circulated his Dou Qi according to the records in the third-corner fragment.

At first, the Dou Qi in his meridians flowed as steadily as a stream. But when that strand of Dou Qi touched the first crucial acupoint, Xiao Chen's entire body shook. A cool sensation surged from deep within the acupoint and actually refined that strand of Dou Qi once over!

"What an exquisite circulation method!"

Xiao Chen opened his eyes, a sharp gleam flashing through them.

"This third-corner method alone is worth months of bitter 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 far grander than in 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 recently? 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 covets the pills he refines!"