For some reason, Xiao Yan suddenly felt that the ancestor was looking at him strangely.
That gaze no longer seemed directed at a junior. Instead, it began to burn with an intense fervor.
Xiao Yan felt uncomfortable all over. Unsure what had come over the ancestor, he asked, "Ancestor, is there something wrong with me?"
Xiao Xuan withdrew his burning gaze and said, "Nothing is wrong. I was merely thinking about how you would defeat Nalan Yanran a month from now and restore the honor the Xiao Clan lost today."
Xiao Yan said, "Rest assured, Ancestor. A month from now, I will not disappoint the Xiao Clan."
Xiao Yan vowed that he would personally reclaim the honor the Xiao Clan had lost because of him today. In one month's time, he would ensure that neither his clan, his father, nor his ancestor suffered disgrace.
Xiao Xuan said, "Starting today, you will cultivate under me. I will oversee your progress."
Xiao Xuan had already intended to nurture the Xiao Clan's direct descendants, and Xiao Yan was the one he had chosen to train. With a system mission now in the mix, he simply had Xiao Yan cultivate under him so he could train him personally.
"Huh?"
Xiao Yan froze. Cultivate under the ancestor? Could something this wonderful really happen?
Xiao Zhan was also overjoyed. The ancestor was a Nine-Star Dou Sheng. The chance for Xiao Yan to cultivate under his guidance was more than he could have hoped for.
Xiao Zhan hurriedly said, "Yan'er, what are you standing there for? Hurry and thank the ancestor!"
Only then did Xiao Yan snap out of his daze. He hastily said, "Thank you for your kindness in training me, Ancestor."
Xiao Xuan nodded, then waved a hand and lifted Xiao Yan to his feet.
Next, Xiao Xuan sent several Dou Techniques into Xiao Yan's mind.
"Your cultivation has already risen. What you lack most now is combat ability. These are all renowned legacy Dou Techniques of the Xiao Clan. Choose one from among them.
"Over the next month, aside from raising your cultivation, you will focus on practicing this offensive Dou Technique."
Xiao Yan's vision jolted. He felt a streak of golden light surge into his sea of consciousness as Xiao Xuan poured countless profound secrets of Dou Techniques into his mind.
A moment later, the names of the Dou Techniques and brief descriptions appeared in Xiao Yan's sea of consciousness. He read through them one by one.
"Heavenly Fire Three Mysterious Transformations, Xiao Emperor Sky-Splitting Palm, Xiao Ancestor Heaven-Burning Finger, Five Emperors Great Handprint..."
Never mind anything else-the names of these Dou Techniques alone gave Xiao Yan a fright.
"Ancestor Xiao Xuan, these are all the Xiao Clan's Heaven Rank Dou Techniques. Surely they have cultivation requirements? I'm only a Five-Star Dou Zhe. Isn't it a little too early for me to learn them?"
Looking at the Dou Techniques Ancestor Xiao Xuan had just passed into his mind, Xiao Yan scratched his head in alarm.
Xiao Xuan had said he would train him, then casually handed him five or six Dou Techniques. One glance told Xiao Yan they were all Heaven Rank. Who wouldn't go numb at that?
This... isn't this a bit much? Xiao Yan wondered.
Leaving aside whether he could even practice Heaven Rank Dou Techniques at his current level, did he really need them to fight Nalan Yanran, a fifteen-year-old Three-Star Dou Zhe?
Was Ancestor Xiao Xuan telling him to whip Nalan Yanran around like a spinning top?
Could he really cultivate Heaven Rank Dou Techniques at his current level? And wouldn't the Dou Qi they required be terrifying? With his strength, wouldn't a single use drain him dry?
Was the ancestor sure he wasn't joking?
Xiao Xuan said, "Just choose without worrying. Since I'm giving you these Dou Techniques, naturally, I've personally modified them so you can cultivate them.
"Their complete versions are indeed Heaven Rank, but what I've passed on to you are simplified versions. Even so, their power is far from ordinary."
Xiao Xuan had simplified these Heaven Rank Dou Techniques before passing them on to Xiao Yan so that he could learn something worthwhile.
Though simplified, they still retained the foundations of Heaven Rank Dou Techniques. Once Xiao Yan mastered them, learning the complete versions later, when his strength increased, would also be much easier.
Xiao Yan understood Ancestor Xiao Xuan's painstaking care and was deeply moved. He began making his selection in earnest.
These Dou Techniques each had different focuses. Some amplified strength, while others were meant for single-target attacks or attacking groups. He needed to choose carefully.
All of them had been developed and simplified from Heaven Rank Dou Techniques. Every one was powerful, and any single one would have been enough to turn people green with envy and rob them of their reason.
But Xiao Yan also understood that biting off more than he could chew would do him no good. That was also why Xiao Xuan had told him to choose no more than one or two.
In the end, Xiao Yan chose two of the Dou Techniques.
"Ancestor, I've made my choice. I'll take the amplification technique, Heavenly Fire Three Mysterious Transformations, and the Five Emperors Great Handprint."
Hearing Xiao Yan's choices, Xiao Xuan nodded in approval.
"The Five Emperors Great Handprint is a supreme Dou Technique successively refined by five Dou Di of the Xiao Clan. Its complete version is Heaven Rank High Grade, the highest-ranked of these offensive Dou Techniques. You picked the strongest one at a glance."
"Heavenly Fire Three Mysterious Transformations is an amplification secret art I created. It briefly detonates the power of the flames within your body, sending your cultivation soaring in successive stages.
"While using this secret art, you can also activate the Xiao Clan Bloodline hidden within you, stacking and amplifying both your cultivation and the power of all your Dou Techniques."
"Combining these two techniques truly is the choice that will increase your strength the most."
"Well chosen."
Xiao Xuan expressed his approval. The boy certainly had a discerning eye.
Still, he offered Xiao Yan a warning. "Although mastering Heavenly Fire Three Mysterious Transformations will greatly amplify your cultivation, doing so requires you to bear flames within your flesh-even terrifying heavenly flames.
"I will teach you the Flame Mantra, which allows you to absorb heavenly flames, and I can ensure you come to no harm while absorbing them. But you will still have to endure considerable suffering. Have you thought this through?"
Xiao Yan said, "Rest assured, Ancestor. I, Xiao Yan, am not afraid of suffering. For the Xiao Clan, I will master it no matter how bitter or difficult it is."
"Good!" Xiao Xuan was deeply gratified. This was a worthy descendant of his Xiao Clan. Xiao Yan was very much to his liking.
Xiao Yan then received the Dou Technique and secret art. After gaining an understanding of them, he spoke to Xiao Xuan.
"Ancestor, time waits for no one. I'll head back now to study these Dou Techniques and begin cultivating."
Although Xiao Yan clearly had the ancestor's help, he and Nalan Yanran had the same amount of time.
Over the next month, he would improve, but so would Nalan Yanran.
Xiao Yan did not dare underestimate his opponent, nor did he wish to waste a moment.
Now that he had obtained Heavenly Fire Three Mysterious Transformations and the Five Emperors Great Handprint from Xiao Xuan, he wanted to return to his courtyard to cultivate.
But just then, Xiao Xuan stopped him.
"Don't rush. As the saying goes, a craftsman must sharpen his tools before doing his work well. A good cultivation environment is far better than burying your head in training here in the Xiao Clan.
"Spending this month cultivating on the Dou Qi Continent, where time flows normally, would be far too wasteful."
"Come with me. I know a good place. Both the flow of time and the Dou Qi source there are far better than in this barren Northwest Continent."
For this month, Xiao Xuan needed to keep a close eye on Xiao Yan's cultivation. After all, the more his strength increased, the more revival cards Xiao Xuan would receive when the final rewards were calculated. There were far too many people he wanted to revive, far too many regrets.
Naturally, he would use the best resources to make Xiao Yan soar. The Dou Techniques and cultivation method were already in place. All they lacked now was the perfect cultivation site.
Within this one month on the Dou Qi Continent, Xiao Xuan intended to give Xiao Yan as much time as possible.
Xiao Yan asked curiously, "Ancestor, where is this place you speak of?"
Both the flow of time and the Dou Qi source were better than in the Xiao Clan? Was there really such a wonderful place? Where?
Xiao Xuan said, "The Heavenly Tomb of the Gu Clan, in the Central Plains."
"It's about time I paid the Gu Clan a visit, anyway."
As they heard Xiao Xuan mention the Gu Clan and the Heavenly Tomb-
Below, Gu Xun'er and the Dou Emperor Ling Ying both shuddered.
Xiao Xuan was going to the Gu Clan?
Oh no!
We're doomed!!
Before you continue