Becoming Yao Ling's Disciple!

Afterward, Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er arrived together at the Testing Magic Stone Tablet.

At that moment, a black stone tablet over twice a person's height stood in the center of the Xiao Clan's training grounds, a faint light flowing across its surface.

This was the Testing Magic Stone Tablet that the Xiao Clan used to measure its members' Dou Qi stages. Simply placing a palm against it would make the corresponding level appear.

Quite a few Xiao Clan members had already gathered around, all craning their necks as they waited to see the results of today's test.

"Look, it's Miss Xiao Xun'er. She's going up first."

"I heard Miss Xun'er has been cultivating incredibly fast lately. She might reach the Eight Stage Dou Qi this time."

As Xiao Xun'er stepped forward, a wave of discussion rose from the crowd.

Xiao Xun'er walked up to the tablet, drew a deep breath, then extended her fair hand and gently pressed her palm against it.

The next second, the tablet's surface suddenly flared with light, and a clear line of words appeared: Dou Qi, Eight Stage Dou Qi!

At the sight of this result, the crowd erupted into an uproar, countless faces filled with envy.

"Eight Stage Dou Qi! It really is Eight Stage Dou Qi! How old is Miss Xun'er this year, and she's already reached it? At this rate, she could probably break through to Dou Zhe in another six months."

"She truly deserves to be called the genius girl of our Xiao Clan's younger generation. Her talent is beyond reproach."

Hearing the envious voices around her, Xiao Xun'er merely smiled faintly before stepping aside, her gaze settling on Xiao Yan in the crowd.

"Brother Xiao Yan, it's your turn."

At Xiao Xun'er's words, everyone around them turned to look at him.

Under everyone's gaze, Xiao Yan walked forward at an unhurried pace and stopped before the Testing Magic Stone Tablet.

As Xiao Yan stepped up, another wave of discussion ran through the crowd, though it was considerably calmer than before. After all, everyone had a rough idea of his strength: ninth stage Dou Qi.

Xiao Yan walked up to the tablet without saying anything and pressed his palm directly against it. The next second, its surface blazed with light, and a line of words clearly appeared.

Dou Zhe, one star!

At the sight of this result, the crowd fell silent for a moment before bursting into even more heated discussion than before.

"One-Star Dou Practitioner! Xiao Yan has actually broken through to Dou Zhe? Am I seeing this right? He's only eleven this year, isn't he? An eleven-year-old One-Star Dou Zhe-his talent is terrifying! No wonder I'd heard Young Master Xiao Yan cultivated incredibly fast. Seeing him today, he certainly lives up to his reputation."

Countless faces filled with envy and admiration, and the way they looked at Xiao Yan changed completely.

After all, the number of people in the Xiao Clan who could break through to Dou Zhe at eleven could be counted on one's fingers. Standing nearby, the clan leader, Xiao Yan's father Xiao Zhan, was deeply gratified by what he saw, and a rare smile appeared on his face. "This child hasn't let me down after all."

Xiao Zhan thought this to himself. Over the years, he had always held high hopes for Xiao Yan. Now that he had truly broken through to Dou Zhe, the stone weighing on Xiao Zhan's heart had finally settled.

After finishing his Dou Qi test, Xiao Yan did not linger at the training grounds. He greeted Xiao Zhan, then left.

Still, he knew that although his current strength seemed fairly decent, it was utterly insignificant across the entire Dou Qi Continent. A One-Star Dou Zhe might count as someone of note in a small place like Wutan City, but once he left it, that little bit of strength would be nowhere near enough.

So his most pressing priority was to improve his strength as quickly as possible. Only by becoming stronger could he gain a firm foothold in this world where the strong devoured the weak.

As he pondered these matters, his feet unknowingly carried him to the mountain behind the Xiao Clan estate.

Few people came to this mountain in their daily lives. It was one of the Xiao Clan's more secluded corners, and everything around him was quiet.

He was practically the only person here, so he did not have to worry about anyone disturbing him. Just as he found a rock to sit on and prepared to think carefully about how he should cultivate next, the Storage Ring on his hand suddenly trembled slightly.

Immediately afterward, a faint, illusory figure slowly emerged from the Storage Ring and came to rest before him.

She was a soul form with the appearance of a young girl, slender and exceptionally beautiful, with long hair spilling loosely over her shoulders.

Although she was only a soul form, her striking beauty still dazzled the eye, lending her an ethereal air untouched by the mortal world. At the sight of the girl before him, Xiao Yan could not help marveling inwardly, As expected of Yao Ling. She's an absolute beauty.

She hovered in midair, her clear eyes quietly fixed on him, her expression utterly serious.

"Your name is Xiao Yan, correct?"

Hearing her speak, Xiao Yan nodded without denying it.

Seeing him nod, Yao Ling continued her questioning. Her voice was calm, yet carried a cool aloofness. That bearing alone was extraordinary.

"Do you want to become stronger? Do you want to become an Alchemy Master?"

At these words, something stirred in Xiao Yan's heart, but outwardly, he still pretended not to quite understand.

After asking those questions, Yao Ling did not rush to speak again. Instead, she quietly studied him. "If you're willing to take me as your master, I can teach you to cultivate and pass on my alchemy skills."

Yao Ling looked at Xiao Yan with complete seriousness and spoke slowly, a barely perceptible note of anticipation in her voice.

At that moment, Yao Ling could not help sighing inwardly.

I never imagined the Soul Hall would ambush me with such treachery, destroying my body and ending my cultivation, leaving me in this state.

If my soul hadn't already reached the late heavenly state, at the level of the half-step emperor realm, I probably would have dissipated completely.

Even so, her present condition could hardly be called good. Although her soul power remained, she was ultimately nothing more than a soul form, unable to do many things.

Now, she could only rely on Xiao Yan before her. Only by helping him become a powerful Alchemy Master who could refine a body for her would she have any hope of resurrection. No matter what, she had to make him take her as his master!

At that thought, Yao Ling put away the rueful expression on her face and resumed her solemn demeanor, quietly watching Xiao Yan as she waited for his answer.