Xiao Ning

"Xun'er doesn't need anything in return."

Xiao Xun'er gently shook her head, the smile at her lips deepening. "Just consider it repayment for standing up for me at the Market District that day."

And I hope... I really wasn't wrong about you.

During Xiao Yuan's fight that day, the fluctuations from his bloodline and that scorching aura of flame had been all too familiar to Xiao Xun'er.

That was unmistakably the Yan Clan's Dou Di bloodline!

Ordinary members of the Yan Clan generally had to reach Dou Wang or higher before their bloodlines began to reveal themselves.

Yet Xiao Yuan's bloodline had already begun spilling out on its own when he was merely a Dou Zhe. Its grade had to be at least eighth-tier. Truly terrifying indeed.

"What happened at the Market District was only a small favor. But I'll remember this kindness."

He did not make a show of refusing. Nodding firmly, he placed the Thunderclap Finger and Thunder Flash into the Storage Ring on his right index finger. The deep-blue scrolls vanished in a flash, and a faint glow swept across the ring's surface.

The instant the Storage Ring's glow faded, hurried footsteps suddenly sounded outside the Dou Technique Hall.

Tap, tap, tap...

A figure strode inside. He wore white robes and had handsome features, with an unruly smile on his face.

It was Xiao Ning, the son of the Xiao Clan's Great Elder, whose cultivation within the clan was second only to Xiao Xun'er's.

"Oh? If it isn't my dearest little cousin, Xiao Yuan."

The moment Xiao Ning stepped into the Dou Technique Hall, his gaze landed on the silver-robed boy standing inside, who was less than a meter sixty tall.

His eyes fixed on Xiao Yuan, and he put on what he considered a confident smile.

"I didn't expect to find you here too, Cousin Xiao Yuan. What a coincidence."

At those words, a hint of surprise appeared on Xiao Yuan's face before he gave a faint smile. He and Xiao Ning had grown up together, and Xiao Ning had always looked after him like a younger brother.

Though they often bickered and competed, their brotherly bond was genuine.

"Cousin, what brings you here?"

Xiao Ning strode over and raised a hand to pat Xiao Yuan's shoulder, looking him up and down with curiosity filling his eyes.

"I was going to look for you earlier, but then I heard you'd gone into seclusion. You hadn't come out for three months, so I thought you were going to miss the clan test in a few days."

His tone held a hint of teasing, without any hostility at all. It was simply banter between boys. Having played and grown up together since childhood, Xiao Ning had always treated Xiao Yuan like his own younger brother. He was merely headstrong and fiercely competitive, always wanting to see who came out on top.

Xiao Yuan shifted slightly to the side, avoiding the descending hand, a faint smile on his lips.

"I became so absorbed in cultivating during seclusion that I lost track of the days. Of course I won't miss the clan test."

"How did your seclusion go? I'm telling you, my cultivation has improved tremendously this year. You might not be able to surpass me."

Xiao Ning puffed out his chest slightly, youthful spirit brimming between his brows. Faint green wind-type dou qi circulated around him, radiating absolute confidence.

He had now reached ninth stage dou qi. Among the Xiao Clan's younger generation, he was the most outstanding apart from Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Yuan.

Xiao Yuan smiled faintly at his words. Rather than deliberately flaunting his cultivation as a Five-Star Dou Zhe, he answered calmly.

"I did make some gains. But words alone don't decide who's stronger."

"Oh? Then why don't we have a match? Let me see how strong you've become."

Xiao Ning's eyes lit up, his interest instantly sparked. He genuinely wanted to see what terrifying heights the boy hailed as the Xiao Clan's greatest genius had now reached.

"Uh... another day, Cousin. Sister Xun'er is still here."

Xiao Yuan scratched his head, hesitation in his voice.

"Besides, there are scrolls everywhere in the Dou Technique Hall. It wouldn't be appropriate to fight here. If we damaged the collection, we'd probably be punished by the clan."

Hearing this, Xiao Ning, who had been brimming with fighting spirit, froze.

Until then, his mind had been filled with thoughts of sparring with Xiao Yuan. From the moment he entered, he had seen only the younger cousin he had not met in so long. All his attention had been on their banter and rivalry, and he had completely overlooked the third person standing in the Dou Technique Hall.

Xiao Ning abruptly turned his head and swept his gaze behind him. Only then did he clearly see the white-robed girl standing quietly farther back.

The instant he recognized her, the bold, unruly smile on Xiao Ning's face vanished. He instinctively reined in his swagger, his expression growing a little awkward and embarrassed.

He had just been making a racket, loudly demanding a match, which sounded especially boisterous in the quiet, solemn Dou Technique Hall. Worse still, he had forgotten himself in front of Xun'er.

"Ahem!"

Xiao Ning gave an embarrassed cough and hurriedly drew in the dou qi circulating around him. He raised a hand to rub the back of his head, looking thoroughly sheepish.

"So you're here too, Cousin Xun'er...

"Haha... sorry about that. I only just noticed you."

He was usually bold and confident around the other young clan members, but in front of Xiao Xun'er, he always felt somewhat restrained and did not dare act as he pleased.

Remembering how he had just loudly demanded a fight inside the Dou Technique Hall, Xiao Ning felt mortified and hastily changed his tune.

"I didn't think it through. The Dou Technique Hall really isn't a suitable place to fight. It would be troublesome if we damaged the clan's scrolls."

With that, he stole a glance at the calm, composed Xiao Yuan and immediately realized that his younger cousin had clearly seen Xun'er all along. Yet he had deliberately kept quiet, just to watch him make a fool of himself!

Xiao Ning shot Xiao Yuan an exasperated glare, but there was no anger in his eyes, only the helplessness of brothers teasing each other.

Seeing this, Xiao Yuan helplessly spread his hands and said nothing more.

She's standing right here, plain as day. Who told you not to notice her?

"By the way, Cousin, how has Third Brother been lately?"

"Third Brother...?"

Xiao Ning paused, then realized Xiao Yuan meant Xiao Yan.

"Ah... don't worry, you can count on your cousin to handle things. I pleaded with Grandfather, and his monthly resources haven't been cut off. He's still getting the allotment for a Dou Zhe."

"But with that strange illness of his, Xiao Yan hasn't made the slightest progress in three years. I reckon that's as far as his talent will take him. In the future, he'll probably be assigned to manage a Market District at best."

Xiao Yuan nodded at his words without saying anything more.

Yao Lao's three-year trial was primarily intended to temper Xiao Yan's character. It would not be appropriate for him to interfere too much.

At most, he could pull a few strings to ensure that Xiao Yan's resources within the clan were not withheld, making his later rise a little easier.

With that thought settled, Xiao Yuan put aside his distractions and gave the two of them a slight nod.

"I've only just come out of seclusion, and I'm still a little tired. I'll head back first to regulate my breathing and rest."

"The clan test is nearly here, so I'll make my preparations first. We can spar another day, Cousin."

His tone was gentle and his manner composed, without the slightest hint of arrogance.

Although Xiao Ning still longed for a match, he knew that someone freshly out of seclusion needed to stabilize his cultivation. He immediately waved a hand.

"All right, then get some proper rest! On the day of the test, I won't go easy on you!"