"Improved Version of Gale Step"

"Oh?"

Ya Fei raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement flashing through her eyes.

"Elder Xiao, those words could easily be misunderstood."

"There is no misunderstanding."

Xiao Chen shook his head, then suddenly lowered his voice and spoke solemnly.

"Miss Ya Fei, I have gained some modest attainments in alchemy and am looking to make something of the trade routes in Wutan City."

"After meeting you today, I feel that Miss Ya Fei is precisely the partner I have been seeking. Would you be willing to honor me by discussing business?"

Ya Fei's gaze flickered slightly at his words.

She had managed the Mittel Auction House for many years and had seen countless people trying to curry favor with her, or coveting her body. Yet this was the first time she had met someone who so frankly and directly said that he wanted to discuss business with her.

Her eyes shifted as she smiled softly. "Elder Xiao certainly speaks boldly. But... is this business you speak of truly worth Ya Fei's involvement?"

"Whether it is worth it, Miss Ya Fei will know once you try it."

Xiao Chen smiled faintly, took a jade bottle from his robes, and held it out to Ya Fei.

"This is a second-grade Healing Pill, a small gift for our first meeting. If Miss Ya Fei is interested another day, Xiao would also like to discuss a deal with you that is guaranteed to turn a profit."

Ya Fei accepted the jade bottle and gently removed the stopper.

In an instant.

A rich medicinal fragrance rushed toward her.

A trace of surprise flashed through her eyes. The quality of this Healing Pill was actually three parts purer than even the high-grade pill auctioned off today!

"Elder Xiao... what skill."

Ya Fei replaced the stopper, and there was now a little more seriousness in her gaze as she looked at Xiao Chen.

"In that case, Ya Fei will certainly pay you a visit another day and seek your guidance properly."

"Then I shall await Miss Ya Fei's arrival."

Xiao Chen cupped his hands and turned to leave.

Behind him, Ya Fei watched his composed retreating figure, a thoughtful look flashing through her eyes.

She slowly rubbed the jade bottle in her hand. The residual warmth of that Healing Pill seemed to remain at her fingertips. Someone who could refine a second-grade Healing Pill to such quality likely possessed alchemical attainments far beyond her imagination.

"This collateral elder of the Xiao Clan may truly be able to help me..."

"And a powerful elder who can refine pills suddenly showing me such favor... what he seeks is probably more than just this small patch of Wutan City, isn't it?"

Ya Fei's eyes rippled, and a teasing smile slowly curved across her lips.

Behind the Xiao Clan, at the training ground.

A nimble figure darted and leaped across the training ground.

The youth's footwork was agile and his body moved like the wind. Every punch and every kick carried a sharp whistle through the air.

That youth was none other than Xiao Yan.

Ever since he had consumed that bottle of Foundation-Building Spiritual Liquid and broken through to the Dou Zhe realm in one stroke, Xiao Yan's training had never stopped.

It was as though he intended to make up for all the wasted years of the past three years. From dawn to dusk, rain or shine, he never slacked off.

Seeing his desperate training fervor, the clan's younger members secretly clicked their tongues in amazement.

"Has Young Master Xiao Yan been injected with chicken blood or something?"

"After breaking through to Dou Zhe, his training speed is simply terrifying... Could the Three-Year Agreement really have driven him this far?"

Xiao Zhan had also noticed the changes in his son. Overjoyed, he praised him to everyone he met.

"My son has the makings of a great emperor!"

Naturally, all of this fell within Xiao Chen's sight.

On this day, Xiao Chen stood at the edge of the training ground with his hands behind his back, observing Xiao Yan's training.

Suddenly, the system prompt in his mind rang out.

"Ding! Settlement in progress for the host's ongoing investment returns..."

"Investment target: Xiao Yan (Destiny · Rainbow-Gold Fortune)"

"Investment item: Warm Nourishing Pill (second-grade)"

"Settlement result: The item has been effectively absorbed. Cultivation increase feedback confirmed!"

"Fortune coefficient: Rainbow-Gold Fortune—hundredfold critical hit triggered!"

"Settlement result: Returned [Profound Tier Low Grade · Gale Step] incomplete scroll ×1!"

"Return description: Gale Step, a Profound Tier Low Grade movement Dou Technique. Once mastered, the user moves like a ghost and is as swift as thunder. It is an unrivaled choice for preserving one's life and escaping danger. Though it is an incomplete scroll, its footwork is exquisite enough to greatly benefit Dou Zhe realm experts!"

Xiao Chen's pupils contracted slightly before joy rose at the corners of his mouth.

A Xuan Tier Dou Technique!

On the Dou Qi Continent, cultivation methods and Dou Techniques were divided into four tiers: Heaven, Earth, Xuan, and Yellow. A Xuan Tier Dou Technique was already a treasure that ordinary factions could only dream of!

And the Warm Nourishing Pill Xiao Yan had taken was merely a second-grade pill Xiao Chen had casually refined, yet it had now brought him a Xuan Tier movement technique!

Suppressing the wild joy in his heart, Xiao Chen immediately returned to his small courtyard and took out the incomplete Gale Step scroll.

After studying it for a while, he quickly saw through the essence of the incomplete scroll.

Though it was only an incomplete scroll, Xiao Chen combined it with his own understanding of movement techniques and footwork, spending the entire night reorganizing, deducing, and improving it before repeatedly practicing it himself in the courtyard.

"Whew... the improvements are complete."

As dawn gradually broke, Xiao Chen's improved version was more suitable for Dou Zhe realm cultivation than the original incomplete scroll. Its power had not diminished, yet it was far easier to learn.

After pondering briefly, he brought the Gale Step manual and headed once more toward Xiao Yan's residence.

"Uncle Xiao? Why are you here?"

The moment Xiao Yan saw Xiao Chen, an affectionate smile appeared on his face.

Over these past days, he had grown increasingly trusting of this uncle who hid his true capabilities so well.

If not for Xiao Chen's bottle of Foundation-Building Spiritual Liquid, he would likely still be stuck at Three-Stage Dou Qi, wasting his years in humiliation.

"I came to give you something good."

Xiao Chen smiled and handed the Gale Step manual to Xiao Yan.

"I heard you have been training very diligently lately. There is not much your uncle can do to help, so take this movement Dou Technique and practice it."

"A movement Dou Technique?"

Xiao Yan froze for a moment. He took the manual and opened it, his pupils immediately shrinking.

"Profound Tier Low Grade—Gale Step?! Uncle, this... this is far too precious!"

In a place like Wutan City, a Xuan Tier Dou Technique could practically be considered a clan-protecting treasure!

Xiao Yan had never imagined that Xiao Chen would casually give such a treasure to him.

"Precious?"

Xiao Chen smiled and shook his head.

"No matter how precious a Dou Technique is, it cannot compare to the value of your life."

"Little Yan, remember this! You can never have too many ways to preserve your life. Master this Gale Step, and when you fight others in the future, even if you cannot defeat them, it will still be enough to help you flee and survive."

Xiao Yan's eyes heated up at those words, and he nodded heavily.

"Rest assured, Uncle. I will train hard and never disappoint your expectations!"

After seeing Xiao Chen off, Xiao Yan impatiently opened the manual and tried taking a few steps around the courtyard according to the recorded footwork formula.

At first, he was somewhat clumsy, but after gradually grasping the trick, his entire body truly began to dart through the courtyard like a gust of wind!

"So fast!"

"Is this... really Young Master Xiao Yan?"

Outside the courtyard wall, several passing Xiao Clan guards stared with their eyes wide open.

They only saw a figure flash before their eyes, and Xiao Yan had already swept from one end of the courtyard to the other. His movement was so swift that it made their scalps tingle!

"What an excellent movement Dou Technique! This grand gift Uncle gave me truly is extraordinary!"

Xiao Yan stopped and looked down at his body, which seemed to have been infused with renewed strength. The light in his eyes burned ever brighter.

He had a feeling that this Gale Step manual was merely the tip of the iceberg among the countless treasures in Xiao Chen's possession.

This Uncle Xiao, who concealed himself so deeply, was far more unfathomable than Xiao Yan had imagined!

"Good. Now that looks like Emperor Yan, Xiao Yan!"

Xiao Chen patted Xiao Yan's shoulder and turned to leave.

Letting Xiao Yan test this improved version of Gale Step would not only verify the Dou Technique's actual effects, but also allow Xiao Chen to keep reaping returns from him.

Getting two benefits from one catch—why not?

"Kid Xiao Yan, train hard. The faster you improve, the more your uncle earns."

Xiao Chen walked back toward his small courtyard with his hands behind his back, in an excellent mood.

"System, inspect the panel."

[Cultivation: Dou Zhe Peak]

[Invested targets: Xiao Yan, Xun'er, Ya Fei]

[Returns obtained: fifth-grade Marrow-Washing Cold Spirit Essence (used), improved version of Profound Tier Low Grade Gale Step (transferred)]