Breaking Through to Dou Shi and Setting Out to Gain Experience

"Miss Ya Fei has a keen eye. This is my son, Xiao Yan," Xiao Zhan introduced him, brimming with pride.

"I heard Young Master Xiao Yan began cultivating Dou Qi at four and formed a Dou Qi Vortex at eleven, becoming a Dou Zhe.

"Seeing you today, I find that your bearing is just as remarkable as your talent.

"With Young Master Xiao Yan here, the Xiao Clan is sure to rise again." Ya Fei's beautiful eyes swept over Xiao Yan as she praised him with a smile.

She had come today partly to build ties with the Xiao Clan and partly to get on Xiao Yan's good side.

Even if Xiao Yan was not the First Grade Alchemist, becoming a Dou Zhe at eleven was astonishing enough.

Xiao Yan smiled, showing little pride.

They chatted a while longer before Ya Fei finally revealed the true purpose of her visit.

"Clan Leader Xiao Zhan, I hear an Alchemist recently came to the Xiao Clan. Might I have the honor of meeting him?" Ya Fei asked.

"Miss Ya Fei, to tell you the truth, that Alchemist is my son, Xiao Yan." Xiao Zhan smiled as he revealed the answer.

"What!" Ya Fei had suspected as much, but hearing it confirmed still left her stunned.

His talent for cultivation was already extraordinary, yet he was also an Alchemist. It was almost impossible to believe.

Once the shock passed, delight surged through her.

She had never expected to meet such an exceptional young man while gaining experience in remote Wutan City.

If she could win him over, or even earn a little of his goodwill, the trip would be well worth it.

"In that case, Yan'er, you and Miss Ya Fei should talk in private," Xiao Zhan said at the right moment.

Knowing Xiao Yan might have plans of his own, Xiao Zhan asked no questions. After a few pleasantries, he left with the Elders.

Once they were gone, only Xiao Yan and Ya Fei remained in the Meeting Hall.

Ya Fei sat beside Xiao Yan and studied him with interest.

"If you keep staring at me like that, Miss Ya Fei, I might get shy," Xiao Yan teased.

"Shy? You didn't seem shy when you were sneaking looks at me earlier." Ya Fei paused, then covered her mouth and laughed softly.

"I wasn't sneaking looks. I was looking openly. Who wouldn't want to look at a beauty like you?" Xiao Yan smiled, entirely unashamed.

"You're young, but your mind's already full of ideas. Wait until you've grown a little more hair before you try that on me." Ya Fei's eyes glinted as she gave him a sultry smile.

"Ahem!" Even Xiao Yan, thick-skinned as he was, choked on her bold reply.

Seeing him at a loss only made Ya Fei laugh harder.

"Back to business. Let's talk about working together." Xiao Yan collected himself, his expression turning serious.

"You gather Medicinal Herbs for me, and I'll refine Pills. What do you say?" He handed Ya Fei a list of Medicinal Herbs.

Ya Fei scanned the list, her expression shifting slightly. "If I'm not mistaken, quite a few of these are Second Grade or higher. Can you refine them?"

"You needn't worry about that, Miss Ya Fei. Just tell me: are you in or out?" Xiao Yan waved a hand, cutting straight to the point.

Ya Fei considered it briefly, then offered him her hand with a radiant smile. "Then here's to a pleasant partnership, little brother Xiao Yan."

"To a pleasant partnership." Xiao Yan took her soft hand and gave it a gentle shake.

They let go at once.

They went on to discuss how to divide the profits. The conversation went smoothly, and Ya Fei offered several substantial concessions.

With the agreement settled and Ya Fei seen off, Xiao Yan plunged back into cultivation day and night. Whenever he was not refining Pills, he practiced Dou Techniques and tempered his body.

Thanks to a physique far stronger than an ordinary person's, he mastered Eight Extremes Collapse, each successive burst of force stronger than the last.

Meanwhile, Ya Fei put the Mittel Auction House's resources to work gathering the Medicinal Herbs on his list.

Once the Medicinal Herbs arrived, Xiao Yan asked Yao Lao to refine Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills and other Pills to help Xiao Zhan and the others grow stronger.

The First Grade Pills he refined himself, along with diluted Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, were sold through the Mittel Auction House. Their sales nearly drove the other two major families' businesses into the ground.

The Xiao Clan's younger members still at the Dou Qi stage also began using the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, and their cultivation advanced rapidly.

The Xiao Clan was already showing signs of becoming Wutan City's foremost family. When the other two major families moved away one after the other, that standing became undisputed.

Everyone in the Xiao Clan respected Xiao Yan, their young clan leader. They all knew the clan owed its present success almost entirely to his efforts behind the scenes.

Even Xiao Ning and the other habitual troublemakers now followed him wholeheartedly.

In a cave on the mountain behind the Xiao Clan estate.

"Hey, old man, don't slack off. Refine some more—plenty of people need them." Grinning, Xiao Yan tossed Yao Lao another pile of Medicinal Herbs.

"You little brat, do you think your master is some kind of Pill-refining tool?" Yao Lao rapped Xiao Yan on the head and scolded him.

"Teacher, I just didn't want you getting bored. I thought I'd find you something to do." Xiao Yan held his head, still grinning.

As he spoke, he put the freshly refined Pills into jade bottles.

Just as he was about to stand, the Dou Qi within him suddenly surged out of control.

"You're... about to break through to Dou Shi!" Yao Lao took one look at him and called out a warning.

"Imagine that. I kept refining Pills, and somehow I broke through." Xiao Yan shook his head in mock resignation.

"Quit showing off and get on with your breakthrough!"

Yao Lao gave him a kick, cursing with a grin.

"You got it!" Xiao Yan took the kick without complaint and hurried deeper into the cave to begin his breakthrough in seclusion.

A few days later, Xiao Yan smoothly advanced to one-star Dou Shi. His body was now roughly as tough as that of a Peak Third Tier Magical Beast.

Finally, I've broken through to Dou Shi. Which Talisman will it be this time...? Xiao Yan's heart raced with anticipation.

"The immortal Dog! Holy shit, I hit the jackpot!" The moment Xiao Yan sensed the Dog Talisman appear, he leaped up in excitement.

Is this disciple still worth keeping? He looks a little wrong in the head... Yao Lao watched his wild display and felt a headache coming on.

Xiao Yan could not help himself. The Dog Talisman's power promised eternal youth and immunity to death.

From now on, even if he wanted to die, it would be exceedingly difficult.

With the Dog Talisman to protect him and the Xiao Clan firmly on its feet, Xiao Yan felt it was time to leave Wutan City, gain experience, and grow stronger.

Back at the Xiao Clan estate, Xiao Yan told his parents that he intended to set out.

"To gain experience out there... Yes, the Xiao Clan really can't do much more for you now." After a moment of silence, Xiao Zhan sighed helplessly.

"Be careful in everything you do. If you get tired, come home for a visit. I'll always be here waiting for you," Su Wan said gently.

"I will." Xiao Yan nodded solemnly.

Though Xiao Zhan and Su Wan feared for his safety, neither tried to stop him.

They knew a young eagle had to spread its wings someday. They simply had not expected that day to come so soon.

Leaving his parents' courtyard, Xiao Yan went straight to Xun'er's residence.

When he told Xun'er he was leaving to gain experience, her heart filled with reluctance. This would be the first time in her life she had been apart from Xiao Yan.

But she did not cling to him or try to make him stay. She only asked softly if he would take her around Wutan City once more.

Xiao Yan agreed, of course. He spent the whole day enjoying himself with Xun'er and did not take her home until dusk.

After making all the necessary arrangements, Xiao Yan had someone pass a message to Ya Fei.

With everything settled, Xiao Yan quietly left the Xiao Clan estate one morning at first light.