Taking Yao Lao as Master

Xiao Fan heard the quest prompt from Pidàn and hurriedly opened the panel.

[Strongest Supporting Character System] (Pidàn)

Host: Xiao Fan

Level: 2 (1200)

Strength: seventh stage of Dou Qi

Cultivation method: Radiant Sun Art

Dou Technique: Yellow Tier Low Grade Fire Cloud Palm (not yet initiated)

Items: Low-Grade Storage Ring

Main quest: Xiao Yan breaks off his engagement, and everyone mocks him. Only you stand behind Xiao Yan and speak up for him.

Rewards: EXP +50, Dou Technique Experience Card (increases Dou Technique proficiency upon use, allowing rapid mastery), eighth stage of Dou Qi.

Xiao Fan smiled inwardly at the rewards. Not only could he rack up system EXP, but he would also get a Dou Technique Experience Card. He could use it to boost Fire Cloud Palm and see how effective it was. Besides, he had only just broken through to the seventh stage of Dou Qi, and completing this quest would take him straight to the eighth stage. The system truly lived up to its name!

After accepting the quest, Xiao Fan watched the people in the hall, who were still arguing over those few pills of Qi Gathering Powder. Xiao Zhan wanted to return them to Ge Ye, but the three elders wanted to keep them. Xiao Zhan was just about to unleash his anger.

Xiao Fan stepped forward and called out to the three elders, "Elders, I believe we should not accept this Qi Gathering Powder."

Everyone froze at his words. Looking at Xiao Fan before him, Xiao Zhan held back what he had been about to say.

"What do you know? These are three pills of Qi Gathering Powder! They could give our clan three Dou Zhe. Someone might even reach Da Dou Shi or Dou Ling!" the third elder roared at Xiao Fan.

"Stand down at once."

Xiao Fan did not retreat a single step. He bowed to the third elder and said, "Third Elder, if our clan's glory must be bought with the dignity of its disciples, then I believe this clan will not last long, even if it produces a Dou Wang or a Dou Emperor."

"How much honor did Xiao Yan bring our Xiao Clan when he was a genius? If we abandon him merely because he is in a temporary slump, who will truly be willing to give up everything for the clan in the future?" Xiao Fan said coldly. Then he addressed the younger disciples around him. "You can mock Xiao Yan at home. That is our clan's own business. But if you keep fighting among yourselves with outsiders present, how can a clan like this ever unite people's hearts?"

Everyone around him felt their faces grow hot at his words. Even the three elders were left speechless.

Hearing Xiao Fan's words, Xiao Zhan declared, "Well said! This is how a disciple of our Xiao Clan should think. The benefits before our eyes are nothing but passing clouds. The clan's future rests with its young people." As he spoke, he cast a seemingly casual glance at the three elders.

Xiao Fan bowed to Xiao Zhan, then turned to Nalan Yanran. "Miss Nalan, please take this Qi Gathering Powder back. I believe that in three years, Xiao Yan will visit the Misty Cloud Sect and bring this matter to a proper conclusion. As he said, thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river. Never scorn a youth for being poor."

With that, he walked out of the hall and headed toward Back Mountain, leaving everyone in the hall standing there in a daze.

Ding! Quest "This Time, I Stand with Xiao Yan" completed. Rewards awaiting collection.

As he walked, Xiao Fan chose to claim his rewards.

Congratulations! You have received 50 EXP.

Congratulations! You have received Dou Technique Experience Card +1.

Congratulations! Your Dou Qi has advanced. Current strength: eighth stage of Dou Qi.

Feeling his strength, Xiao Fan smiled. He had no intention of using the Dou Technique Experience Card yet, though. Right now, he had to hurry to Back Mountain. This was the crucial moment when Xiao Yan met Yao Lao. How could he miss it?

Meanwhile, on Back Mountain, Xiao Yan had just been startled by a voice coming from his ring.

When he learned that his Dou Qi had vanished because of the old man inside the ring, he angrily hurled it down the cliff.

When Xiao Fan arrived at Back Mountain, he saw Xiao Yan standing at the cliff's edge, cursing furiously.

Xiao Fan smiled faintly, walked over, and called out, "Xiao Yan, what's wrong?"

Seeing Xiao Fan approach, Xiao Yan remembered the help he had given him and smiled. "Nothing. I may have found out why my Dou Qi has been disappearing."

Xiao Fan feigned surprise. "Really? Congratulations, then. I believe you'll work another miracle."

Seeing Xiao Fan's faith in him, Xiao Yan was about to tell him what had just happened with the ring when it flew back up on its own.

Feigning shock, Xiao Fan pulled Xiao Yan behind him. "Watch out!" he said, watching the ring warily.

Seeing Xiao Fan shielding him, Xiao Yan felt warmth stir in his heart. "It was this thing. It absorbed my Dou Qi for three years, making my strength regress instead of improve."

Yao Lao's voice rang out. "Heh heh, little fellow, with your eighth-stage Dou Qi strength, crushing you two would be as easy as crushing ants. There's no need to put on that stance before this old man."

Hearing Yao Lao's assessment of Xiao Fan, Xiao Yan was startled. "You've already reached the eighth stage of Dou Qi?" Even Xiao Mei, a core disciple of the Xiao Clan, was only at the seventh stage.

Without looking back, Xiao Fan said, "Yes! But what matters now is that he saw through my strength at a glance. He probably wasn't lying. Crushing us would be as easy as crushing an ant."

Then he addressed Yao Lao. "Senior, what do you require of us? Please tell us freely. We will do our utmost to satisfy you."

Watching Xiao Fan shield Xiao Yan behind him, Yao Lao smiled. "With your eighth-stage Dou Qi strength, you might be able to escape if you abandoned the boy behind you. Why not give it a try?"

Xiao Fan knew Yao Lao was testing him. He had watched Xiao Yan for three years, after all, and knew his character. With only these past few days of deeds to judge Xiao Fan by, Yao Lao certainly could not trust him yet. Xiao Fan said, "Quite apart from the fact that trying to flee from you would be courting death, Senior, I cannot simply stand by and let Xiao Yan die. We belong to the same clan. If I abandoned him today, even if I survived, I would never be able to get past my own conscience."

"Good! I never imagined you had such hot blood in you, boy!" Yao Lao burst into laughter. Then an illusory figure drifted out of the ring and said, "I have roamed the Dou Qi Continent for so many years. Who would have thought I would meet such interesting youngsters today?"

He said to Xiao Yan, "Little fellow, I know it was wrong of me to absorb your Dou Qi for three years. But didn't you just make a Three-Year Agreement? I can help you grow strong enough to surpass that girl. Consider it my apology. How about it?"

Xiao Yan replied, "Hmph! I've already found out why my strength was regressing. I can start cultivating again on my own."

"You've found the cause, yes, but that girl's talent is hardly poor. And she has a major sect like the Misty Cloud Sect supporting her. Are you sure you can surpass her?" Yao Lao smiled.

"As long as you agree to one condition, I can help you. Never mind surpassing that girl-even surpassing the Misty Cloud Sect would be no great difficulty."

"What condition?" Xiao Yan thought about Nalan Yanran's talent. Without any resources of his own, he really might not be able to keep pace with her cultivation, so he could not help asking.

"You must take me as your master!"

Xiao Yan curled his lip. "Why should we take you as our master? You already owe me this."

Yao Lao gave a mysterious smile. "Would you like to become alchemists?"