He did not know whether Yao Lao was inside the ancient ring, but judging by the timing, he would not absorb the Dou Qi in Xiao Yan's body over these next few years.
"Brother, this is the Qi Gathering Powder I saved. Give it your best tomorrow."
Xiao Tian put away the Qi Gathering Powder. For three years, Xiao Yan had done this a few days before every annual test. As expected of a fellow transmigrator.
"Er Huo, have you noticed any problems with your Dou Qi during cultivation lately?"
Xiao Yan had been unhappy with Xiao Tian calling him that for four years, but he could not be bothered to correct him. He was his older brother, after all. Thinking it over, the rate at which his Dou Qi increased had indeed slowed a little over the past fortnight, but that was normal enough.
Suspicion appeared in Xiao Yan's eyes. Could this brother of mine have slipped me some hidden poison? Why else would he ask that?
Xiao Tian coughed and whispered, "Er Huo, don't misunderstand. For the past two years, I've kept having this dream where a black taotie was sucking away at you. Your body grew thinner and thinner until you were nothing but skin and bones, so weak a gust of wind could knock you over."
"Brother, your nerves are shot. Even if nobody keeps an eye on you, stop staying up so late. Your body is the foundation of your strength. I'll get you some goji berries tomorrow."
Xiao Tian was inwardly speechless. Did he already need to steep goji berries in a thermos at just five years old? Little Brother Er Huo, I really do thank you.
He thought it over. It would be another three or four years before Yao Lao appeared, so he would deal with the problem then.
At that moment, inside the soul ring hanging around Xiao Yan's neck, Yao Lao was utterly shocked.
"What a strange little child! The power of prophecy? It seems I'll have to take my time absorbing little Xiao Yan's Dou Qi. Ah, when will I recover enough to speak to the child..."
Xiao Tian went to visit his grandfather's daughter-in-law, his own mother. His esteemed mother was chatting with several voluptuous aunties from their clan.
After enduring the scalp-prickling torment of having a fiancée picked out for him, Xiao Tian chose to flee.
"I don't want a wife! Same-sex love is true love!"
Watching Xiao Tian flee, Lady Xiao's face turned green.
Early the next morning, many members of the Xiao Clan, from both the main and branch families, gathered in the clan square. The annual grand event to test the clansmen's Dou Qi cultivation had begun once again.
"Xiao Mei! Dou Qi! Second stage! Intermediate level!"
Amid countless cries of surprise and admiration, the little girl walked down from the platform, watched like a princess. Her beautiful eyes spotted the composed, cool Brother Xiao Yan.
"Brother Xiao Yan, I've improved again!"
"Mm." Xiao Yan's eyelids did not stir. He was utterly indifferent.
"Xiao Tian!" At the elder's summons, countless gazes shifted, searching, as people whispered among themselves.
"Brother Xiao Yan, Xiao Brother Tian won't have no Dou Qi again, will he?" Xiao Mei pouted and muttered, "Xiao Brother Tian really disgraces Brother Xiao Yan and the clan leader. They should just send him off to a shop. Wouldn't living an ordinary person's life be fine?"
Xiao Yan's gaze sharpened. He glanced at Xiao Mei, a trace of coldness in his voice. "I don't want to hear that a second time."
Xiao Mei stamped her foot in anger and grumbled, "But Xiao Brother Tian is trash."
Elsewhere, Xiao Tian stopped doting on Xun'er.
"Brother Tian, do your best!" Xun'er waved her little pink fists.
"Don't worry." Xiao Tian pinched Xun'er's springy, porcelain-white little cheeks and strode onto the platform with a hearty laugh, ignoring all the clansmen's sneers and veiled jabs.
"Xiao Tian, begin the test." The elder's expression was icy.
Xiao Tian closed his eyes and pressed his large hand against the Testing Magic Stone Tablet.
Seeing no light at all, the elder announced loudly out of habit, "Dou Qi! Zero..."
Before he could finish, however, a dazzling light from the Testing Magic Stone Tablet stabbed his eyes and stunned him!
Countless members of the Xiao Clan were dumbstruck!
Little Xiao Mei's mouth fell so wide open that it could have held six boiled eggs.
The corners of the cold-faced Xiao Yan's mouth curved upward.
Xiao Xun'er's eyes narrowed into crescents, happy for Xiao Tian.
"Just as I thought, Brother Tian."
"This!" Xiao Zhan was stunned. Tian'er had actually awakened his Dou Qi!
The first elder, second elder, and the others all stood up in "excitement," knocking the table flying.