Dual Cultivation Technique

Xiao Zhan looked at Xiao Mo and Xiao Yan, a fierce battle raging within his heart.

Son, I know you're close to Xiao Mo, but brotherly bonds can never compare to a beautiful confidante-a wife to warm your bed!

Look how aggrieved that girl is! Have neither of you idiots realized you've been neglecting Xiao Xun'er?

Xiao Xun'er suddenly raised her head and looked at Xiao Zhan in surprise, a trace of shyness crossing her face.

Xiao Zhan coughed lightly, then warmly ushered Xiao Xun'er over to the glass sphere.

"Xun'er, come test your attribute!"

Xiao Xun'er nodded and pressed her hand directly against the glass sphere. A flash of red light flickered past, and cracks actually appeared throughout its interior.

Xiao Mo watched from the side, utterly envious.

Xiao Xun'er had actually concealed some of her strength, too. Ordinary people like them couldn't shatter a glass sphere outright.

If Xiao Yan ever learned this girl's true identity, how would he react?

Xiao Mo stepped back half a pace, watching the two with burning enthusiasm. When it came to shipping a couple right in front of them, surely he qualified as their number-one fan?

Xiao Xun'er hastily withdrew her hand in a panic. She had known she shouldn't come for the test. Seeing how close Xiao Mo and Xiao Yan were had unsettled her, causing her to fail to rein in her strength.

"Uncle Xiao Zhan, I didn't mean to."

Looking at Xiao Xun'er's flushed face, Xiao Zhan smiled and waved his hand.

"Don't worry, don't worry. We've used this thing for so long that it was due for replacement anyway."

With that, Xiao Zhan immediately leaned toward Xiao Yan and abruptly spoke in a lowered voice.

"Don't forget number forty-three."

Then he quickly stepped away, pretending nothing had happened.

But Xiao Mo, who stood closest, had already heard him. This was blatant abuse of authority for personal gain.

Still, he merely smiled discreetly without exposing him. Dragging something like this into the open would make everyone look bad.

Once the testing was complete, the three headed straight toward the entrance of the Dou Qi Pavilion. Xiao Zhan deliberately pulled Xiao Xun'er between the two boys.

Having settled another matter, Xiao Zhan watched Xiao Yan talking enthusiastically to Xiao Mo across Xiao Xun'er and inwardly seethed at his son's hopelessness.

You stupid son! I've already delivered her right in front of you, and you still don't know how to make a move. You deserve to stay a bachelor!

As far as I'm concerned, Xiao Xun'er is my future daughter-in-law. If you lose her, just wait until you come home-I'll teach you a lesson with the clan's discipline!

Xiao Zhan inwardly grumbled about his foolish son, but he only needed to lower his gaze slightly to notice that Xiao Xun'er, standing between the two boys, had turned scarlet.

She kept her head lowered without speaking for a long while, her face so flushed that her head felt swollen.

Once they entered, the interior of the Dou Qi Pavilion revealed an even more solemn, ancient atmosphere. Everyone who came here unconsciously softened their footsteps.

Several passages branched off ahead, each marked by a sign. Xiao Mo spotted the ice-attribute passage meant for him at a glance.

He waved to the other two.

"Mine's this way. I'll go find a suitable cultivation technique first, then meet you back here."

Xiao Yan nodded and led Xiao Xun'er toward another broad, fiery-red passage for the fire attribute.

After entering the ice-attribute passage, Xiao Mo stared at his surroundings and began to drift off.

A long corridor stretched ahead, with wooden doors set along both sides. Ice-blue light barriers stood before each door, keeping people outside.

Xiao Mo scratched his head in frustration.

I've already made it here, and there still hasn't been a notification from the system. Looks like I won't trigger any special rewards this time.

The highest-tier technique here was the fire-attribute technique in room forty-three, but even that was only a Yellow Tier Cultivation Technique.

He already had three superior Yellow Tier Cultivation Techniques. The things here really were of no use to him.

If no new mission appeared today, this trip would have been for nothing.

He sighed and quietly stayed where he was, crouching in a corner and zoning out as he watched distant clansmen hacking relentlessly at the light barriers.

It won't be long before Jia Nan Academy comes here to recruit students. By then, Xiao Yan will definitely be able to advance another level.

Maybe I can earn some more rewards at a few key turning points?

Just then, two clansmen began arguing. Both had set their sights on the same door, and they were now hacking forcefully at the light barrier before it, neither willing to yield.

But because they attacked simultaneously, the barrier's defensive level immediately rose a notch. The two stared in shock, now barely able to make any headway against it.

How about I lend a hand and make that barrier even harder to break?

Just as he was about to act out of boredom, the system unexpectedly sounded.

[Ding! A new mission has been issued. An Earth Tier ice and fire dual cultivation technique will soon be awarded. Have Xiao Yan accept the dual cultivation technique to receive 3,000 points and a copy of the superior Earth Tier technique, Profound Ice Art.]

"..."

Xiao Mo froze where he stood. For a long while, he couldn't even raise his hand, let alone figure out how to voice his complaints.

My dear brother of a system, get out here! Aren't dual cultivation techniques a perk for men and women? We're brothers! What are you giving me this thing for?

Countless explicit images even flashed through his mind. He hurriedly shook his head, driving those chaotic thoughts away.

"Holy crap, I refuse! I'm absolutely not accepting this mission!"

He was so worked up that he shouted aloud, drawing the gazes of quite a few disciples nearby.

Only then did Xiao Mo realize what he had done. He backed away awkwardly, found an empty corner, and prepared to click the option to reject the mission again.

At that moment, a flash appeared in his palm. When the white light vanished, a dual cultivation manual lay in his hand.

"..."

Now you're forcing yourself on me? You've delivered the technique straight into my hands?

He threw the book away in disgust.

"System, I refuse. I refuse this mission."

He was a perfectly straight man. He would never have any use for this thing in his entire life.

[Ding! Does the host wish to reject the mission now? Rejecting the mission will result in an electric shock penalty.]

Xiao Mo wanted to whack the system with a club. This thing even came with a punishment?

He hesitated for a long while, ultimately unable to decide whether to refuse.

Just then, someone suddenly crouched down and picked up the cultivation manual, even reading its title aloud.

"Ice and Snow Dual Cultivation Technique? A high-grade Earth Tier technique?"

The newcomer was deeply shocked. Xiao Mo hurriedly rose to snatch it back, only to discover as soon as he stood that the person before him was actually Xiao Yan.

"Xiao Mo, you..."

Xiao Yan hurriedly shielded the book with his body and squeezed right up to him.

"Where did you get this?"

Xiao Yan glanced at the Yellow Tier Cultivation Technique he had taken from room forty-three. It was already the finest technique the Xiao Clan could offer.

Even so, it was still nowhere near as powerful as the techniques held by his two friends.