At this moment, having obtained such a miraculous Cultivation Method, Xiao Yan felt like a drowning person who had managed to grab hold of a straw of hope.
Although he did not know how to search for Heavenly Flames, Xiao Yan had a faint feeling that this Cultivation Method would change his destiny.
Therefore, after obtaining this Cultivation Method, the heart that Xiao Yan had kept tightly strung for an entire month finally relaxed, and his expression became exceptionally relaxed.
Seeing Xiao Yan relax, Gu Xun'er could not help but feel at ease in her heart as well, revealing that breathtakingly beautiful smile as she spoke.
"Brother Xiao Yan, with this Cultivation Method, you will definitely become a mighty expert."
Hearing Gu Xun'er's words, Xiao Yan scratched his head somewhat bashfully.
"Xun'er, you make it sound so flattering that I'm getting a little embarrassed, haha."
"Pfft."
Watching the naive and silly Xiao Yan before her, Gu Xun'er could not help but cover her mouth and chuckle.
"Brother Xiao Yan, the sky is already getting a bit late, oh. I'm heading back first, so you must look after your health, you hear."
Gu Xun'er waved her hand toward Xiao Yan.
"Go on back first, Xun'er. I'll cultivate for a little longer before heading back."
Xiao Yan smiled heartily at Xun'er, waved his hand, and then turned around to continue his training.
Not long after Gu Xun'er left, while Xiao Yan was studying the Flame Mantra in his mind, a voice suddenly came from behind him.
"Oh, something seems to have happened here. It feels like I missed something."
Upon hearing the voice, the hairs on Xiao Yan's body instantly stood on end, and with a fierce whirl, he saw that familiar attire.
More than a month ago, it was this black-robed man whose face could not be seen who had knocked him unconscious, after which the Dou Qi that had vanished for three years began to slowly recover.
This person was none other than Hun Changqing, who had spent the past month in closed-door seclusion researching Mirror Flower, Water Moon. Emerging from seclusion at this time meant that he had successfully researched this technique that belonged exclusively to him.
Furthermore, Hun Changqing had a premonition that this Mirror Flower, Water Moon was far from stopping here, and what he had right now was merely a crude, early draft.
Once his strength increased in the future and he gained deeper insights into this technique, he would surely be able to slowly refine and perfect it, eventually making it his primary means of dealing with enemies, or so he thought.
Moreover, upon this exit from seclusion, Yao Chen had also brought good news: that remaining batch of medicinal materials had been successfully refined.
Hun Changqing was also extremely thrilled, finally successfully breaking through to Dou Zong and regenerating his own arm. Everything seemed to be developing in a favorable direction.
This put Hun Changqing in an exceptionally pleasant mood, so taking advantage of the fact that his luck seemed rather good lately, Hun Changqing intended to come to the Xiao Clan to start executing his plan.
As soon as he arrived at the Xiao Clan Back Mountain, he felt that something was a bit off, though he could not quite put his finger on where the oddity lay.
Seeing Xiao Yan in the middle of cultivation, and remembering his previous thought of taking him in as a sworn younger brother, he had appeared directly behind him.
"It's you!"
Xiao Yan was immediately struck with shock and terror as he said.
"Oh, you recognize me? It seems you saw me that day, then."
Hun Changqing said unhurriedly.
At this moment, upon seeing Hun Changqing, Xiao Yan felt somewhat emotional.
"Was it you who helped me resolve my inability to absorb Dou Qi? Ever since you knocked me out that day, I've recovered my talent from back then!"
Hun Changqing nodded.
"You could say that."
"Why did you help me? Also, was my Storage Ring taken by you? That thing is a memento left behind by my mother and doesn't have anything special about it. Can you return that Storage Ring to me?"
Xiao Yan asked with some perplexity.
"I happened to be passing by this small town, heard of your deeds, and felt a bit curious about you, so I came over to take a look that day. In fact, if you had taken off that Storage Ring even once during those three years, you wouldn't have had such a hard time."
"You... you mean the reason my Dou Qi regressed was because of that Storage Ring?!"
Xiao Yan widened his eyes and said in disbelief.
"That's right. Hiding inside that Storage Ring is an evil soul that feeds on the wearer's Dou Qi to strengthen its own soul. If I hadn't happened to notice it that day, I'm afraid it wouldn't have been long before that soul devoured your soul and replaced you altogether."
Hun Changqing spoke brazen nonsense without a shred of shame.
Hearing this, Xiao Yan was instantly startled, and then cupping his fists with a lingering fear on his face, he spoke.
"Many thanks to the senior for your timely rescue. May I ask the senior's honored name? I will definitely find an opportunity in the future to repay the senior's life-saving grace."
"My name is Lin Changqing. I see that your talent is quite remarkable; even among those large cities out there, you are a rare and precious existence."
"Oh, so the senior means to..."
Catching the subtext in Hun Changqing's words, Xiao Yan became somewhat excited. Could it be that this senior was preparing to take him on as a disciple?
With a chuckle, Hun Changqing continued.
"Heh, you don't need to call me senior. I truly did have the intention of taking you as a disciple, but unfortunately I am only seventeen years old this year, merely two years your senior, so taking you as a disciple would indeed be somewhat inappropriate.
How about this? I shall take you as my sworn younger brother. You can call me big brother, and I will pass on some Dou Techniques to you and guide you for a bit."
Hearing that this black-robed man, whose aura was immensely formidable and obviously much stronger than his own father, was only seventeen years old this year, Xiao Yan found it hard to believe.
It felt like the worldview he had so painstakingly built up over all these years had collapsed in this single moment! He was overcome with shame for a moment.
Someone like this was what you called a genius, while he himself, having been called a genius by others for so many years, now seemed utterly ridiculous.
Shortly after, Xiao Yan snapped back to his senses, an honest smile instantly appearing on his face as he bowed respectfully to Hun Changqing and called out,
"Big Brother!"
With the mindset of a modern person from his past life, Xiao Yan did not feel any shame in acknowledging a big brother and placing himself beneath someone. If he failed to tightly hug a powerhouse who had delivered himself right to his doorsteps, then he truly would be a moron.
Xiao Yan felt convinced that there was nothing on his body worth plotting for by such an expert.
What else could a powerhouse like this, who could slap him to death with a single palm and effortlessly destroy the Xiao Clan, possibly want from him other than taking a fancy to his previously decent talent?
Furthermore, the other party possessed the grace of recreation and salvation toward him, so Xiao Yan harbors no doubts whatsoever. Without much consideration, he directly bowed and called him big brother.
"Good, very good, haha."
Hun Changqing let out a loud laugh, looking thoroughly pleased.
"I know your name is Xiao Yan, a rather good name. Since you called me big brother, I shall call you-Brother Yan from now on, haha."
Seeing that his opportunistic big brother had accepted him, Xiao Yan's heart was incomparably excited, and he shouted inwardly, I've latched onto a powerhouse! His honest smile kept lingering on his face as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Hehe, Big Brother, you saw it too. Little Brother here has just recently begun recovering his cultivation, and this Dou Qi progress is truly agonizingly slow, which is quite frustrating. My Dou Techniques are also extremely low-tier and crudely made. Look, Big Brother..."
Xiao Yan winked and made faces at Hun Changqing.
Hun Changqing did not mind either, continuing to laugh.
Heh, you rascal really know how to calculate.
"Hehe Big Brother, isn't it just that Little Brother is afraid my strength is too weak? If I go out into the world in the future, wouldn't that drag down Big Brother's reputation?"
"Haha, very well. Today, Big Brother shall give you a welcoming gift. Come, Brother Yan, catch."
Moments later, Hun Changqing tossed a Storage Ring to Xiao Yan.
"Inside are some Medicinal Pills suitable for your current growth in Dou Qi, along with some Xuan-tier Dou Techniques. You can practice with those first."
Of course Hun Changqing did not have any low-tier medicinal pills or Xuan-tier Dou Techniques suitable for Xiao Yan; they were all prepared by Yao Chen.
These things had not a single dime's worth of relation to him. If Yao Chen knew that Hun Changqing was slandering him in front of Xiao Yan and even borrowing flowers to present to Buddha using his own possessions, who knows if he would vomit three liters of blood?
Xiao Yan received the Storage Ring with a face full of pleasant surprise.
"Many thanks, Big Brother!"
After turning the Storage Ring over in his hand and toying with it for a moment, Xiao Yan asked Hun Changqing with some confusion.
"Big Brother, could it be that you don't have Dou Techniques higher than the Xuan-tier?"
Hun Changqing spoke with a speechless expression.
"You brat haven't even learned how to walk yet you want to learn how to fly. With your current strength, even if I gave you a Di-tier Dou Technique, you wouldn't be able to execute it.
Do not bite off more than you can chew or reach for the high while aiming too broad. Your task right now is to utilize these medicinal pills to recover your cultivation as quickly as possible, and then skillfully master these Dou Techniques.
I will occasionally come to the Xiao Clan to check on your progress. By then, you can also ask me if you have any questions or areas you don't understand."
Upon hearing Hun Changqing's words, Xiao Yan looked thoughtful and nodded.
"I understand, Big Brother. Many thanks for your teachings, Big Brother."
"Mm~"
Hun Changqing looked at Xiao Yan with satisfaction and nodded, patting him on the shoulder. A wisp of Supreme Yin True Qi quietly manifested along with his hand, attaching itself to a strand of Xiao Yan's hair.
"I still have matters to attend to at present. You should focus well on your cultivation during this period."
With that, he turned around and departed.