Departure

"Brother Xiao Yan, I have to go."

It was the second day after the coming-of-age ceremony, and Xiao Xun'er's time in the Xiao Clan was drawing to an end.

Though she could hardly bear to leave, if she defied her father's orders, even stronger elders from her clan would come to the Xiao Clan themselves.

When that happened, she still would not be able to escape being taken away, and she would only bring the Xiao Clan a great deal of trouble.

"So soon?"

Xiao Yan looked at the beautiful girl standing before him. Something crystalline seemed to shimmer in her eyes, and she bit her lip gently, as though she had made an agonizing decision.

"Yes. I was going to leave quietly, but when I thought about how long it might be before I could see you again, Brother Xiao Yan, I couldn't help myself."

Helplessness filled her face. Xiao Yan merely reached out and stroked her head.

"If you miss me, look at the bead I gave you. The next time we meet, let's both make the other see us in a whole new light."

Xiao Yan knew he could do nothing to stop this, nor would he insist that Xun'er stay.

The only thing he could do was catch up to her, until one day he could visit her clan himself.

Until then, Xiao Yan would not make too many promises.

"Mm. I'll remember you, Brother Xiao Yan. Goodbye, then."

Xun'er turned and slowly took two steps away. Xiao Yan stared absently at her departing figure.

Just then, Xun'er suddenly turned around and threw herself into Xiao Yan's arms.

They held each other tightly, but neither said a word.

After a long while, Xun'er slowly released Xiao Yan, her resolve now firm.

She would return to her clan and become its strongest member. Then she would be able to decide everything for herself.

"Goodbye, Brother Xiao Yan."

"Goodbye, Xun'er."

In the end, the girl left. The faint fragrance of her body still lingered in the air.

Xiao Yan stood rooted to the spot, only coming back to his senses as the sky gradually darkened.

He had to become stronger!

Originally, that had been nothing more than a vague notion. Now, it seemed to have gained a trace of a definite purpose.

"Ah, even with the name of a genius on my shoulders, I'm still like a toad dreaming of eating swan flesh. But even a toad can swallow a mighty dragon if it grows big enough!"

As long as training doesn't kill me, I'll train myself to death!

Xiao Yan returned to his room and opened the Flame Manipulation Art Xun'er had given him.

As the scroll slowly unfurled, countless words engraved in its soul imprint poured into Xiao Yan's mind.

"Flame Manipulation Art, an earth tier mid grade cultivation method!"

The very first words that appeared in his mind sent a shock through Xiao Yan. Earth tier mid grade!

Even a Dou Huang expert might not be able to obtain a cultivation method of this grade, yet Xun'er had practically given it to him for nothing.

That only increased the pressure Xiao Yan felt, filling him with deep apprehension toward the power behind Xun'er.

But he soon cast those thoughts aside. What he needed to do now was replace his original cultivation method with this new one.

"Flame Manipulation Art, an earth tier mid grade cultivation method. It allows practitioners to rapidly improve their control over flames, and even fuse flames to create entirely new ones!"

Xun'er had chosen this cultivation method specifically for Xiao Yan. It was also the limit of what he could currently practice.

With his present cultivation, he would not be able to properly circulate a method of any higher grade. It might even cause harmful reactions in his body instead.

At best, his cultivation would be obstructed. At worst, he would suffer cultivation deviation!

The soul imprint within this cultivation method also allowed Xiao Yan to fully master a method of this level while still a Dou Shi.

Xiao Yan spent the entire night trying to switch cultivation methods. Only at dawn, when he slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of stale air, was the task finally complete.

The soul imprint on the cultivation method in his hands dissipated as well, leaving it an ordinary handwritten copy.

A cultivation method containing a soul imprint could be impressed into the mind even on the very first reading.

A handwritten copy still had some value, but the time needed to master it completely would increase countless times over.

Even those of dazzling talent would need an exceedingly long time to learn it fully, making it worth far less than a soul-imprinted copy.

On the Dou Qi Continent, the higher the grade of a cultivation method, the greater one's combat strength.

Its improvements generally fell into three categories. The first was cultivation speed: high-grade cultivation methods absorbed Dou Qi far faster than low-grade ones.

The second was Dou Qi capacity. The higher the grade of the method, the larger the vortex's capacity, and the more Dou Qi it could hold.

The third was Dou Qi quality. Once drawn into the body through cycles of breathing, the Dou Qi produced by a higher-grade method was also far purer than that produced by an ordinary one.

Among people of the same cultivation level, someone practicing a high-grade method could simply crush someone practicing a low-grade method.

After replacing his original Profound Tier Low Grade cultivation method with the Flame Manipulation Art, Xiao Yan felt that his Dou Qi capacity had increased more than tenfold!

As Dou Qi continually flooded his Dou Qi Vortex, Xiao Yan's cultivation also leaped forward!

Two-Star Great Dou Master!

The tenfold increase in Dou Qi capacity had carried Xiao Yan straight past the limits of a Dou Shi, sending him soaring to the level of a Two-Star Great Dou Master.

With that, Xiao Yan officially became the Xiao Clan's fourth Da Dou Shi-a Two-Star Great Dou Master at only sixteen years old!

After advancing to Da Dou Shi, the strength of Xiao Yan's Dou Qi increased enormously, while his Dou Qi Veil transformed into the much sturdier Dou Qi Armor.

Even ten versions of himself from the day before, joining forces, might not have been able to defeat his current self.

"What a rush!"

The feeling of brimming with Dou Qi left Xiao Yan refreshed and exhilarated, and he could not help throwing back his head in a long howl.

Now that he had advanced to Da Dou Shi, there was nothing left in Wutan City to keep him there.

If he wanted to improve further, he had to leave and seek a larger stage.

Inside the Xiao Clan's council hall, Xiao Zhan's eyes widened as he sensed the terrifying aura emanating from Xiao Yan.

"Yan'er, you're already a Da Dou Shi?!"

At those words, the elders present were also deeply shaken. A fifteen-year-old Six-Star Dou Shi had already been outrageous. A sixteen-year-old Da Dou Shi?

If the Misty Cloud Sect learned of this, its sect leader would probably come in person to take him as a disciple.

"That's right, Father." A confident smile appeared on Xiao Yan's face. "It's all thanks to Sister Xun'er's help. But she's already left Wutan City, and I'm also planning to leave

"now."

"What? You're leaving Wutan City?"

Surprise appeared on Xiao Zhan's face, but he soon understood what Xiao Yan meant. "Yes, Wutan City is too small, after all. It can't let you spread your wings and soar. Still, I'd like to ask-where do you plan to go next?"

Even though Xiao Yan was already a Da Dou Shi, in Xiao Zhan's eyes, he was still a child.

"Father, I plan to visit my eldest and second brothers in the Tagor Desert first, then decide what to do."

Xiao Yan explained his route: he would head northwest through the Magical Beast Mountain Range, then make his way to the Tagor Desert.

In the end, Xiao Zhan did not oppose Xiao Yan's plan. "Very well. You're a grown man now, after all. I shouldn't keep you by my side any longer. When you get there, give your eldest and second brothers my regards."

"Of course. In that case, I'll set off now."

Xun'er's departure had left Xiao Yan with no desire to linger. He could only keep traveling to suppress those feelings.

"Wait. You're now the hope of the Xiao Clan, and the position of clan head will probably be yours in the future. Take this with you."

With that, Xiao Zhan released his Dou Qi and forced an ancient-looking piece of precious jade out of his body.

"This Ancient Jade has been passed down through generations of our Xiao Clan. Only the clan head may hold it. Now I'm entrusting it to you, so keep it safe. Also, before you leave, go to the Ancestral Grounds and bid your mother farewell."

Xiao Yan solemnly accepted the Ancient Jade, then kowtowed three times to Xiao Zhan, his forehead striking the floor with each bow.

"Father, I'm leaving."