Dou Zhi Li, Three Stages

"Dou Zhi Li, three stages!"

"Xiao Yan, Dou Zhi Li, three stages! Level: Low!"

The passionate announcement fell, followed by a burst of uproar.

The first three stages of Dou Zhi Li were certainly nothing worth mentioning—anyone could achieve them. But add a prefix—a child just over four years old—and its significance rose sharply.

At the very least, that was how things were in the tiny Wu Tan City.

The distance was too great for Chen Xiao to hear the spectators' jumbled discussions clearly, but he could still imagine the scene.

Shaking his head to clear away his distracting thoughts, Chen Xiao looked at the bulging bag on the wooden table. Sunlight spilled down onto the open mouth of the bag, reflecting a dazzling radiance.

Two thousand gold coins, not one more or one less.

That was the price of a life!

Recalling the two major events that had happened one after another recently, Chen Xiao stared blankly into space.

Half a month ago, Chen Xiao had woken up with a splitting headache. A flood of memories had immediately surged into his mind. After digesting them for a long while, he had finally confirmed one fact.

He had transmigrated!

Chen Xiao of the Blue Star had died in an avalanche.

After being born on the Dou Qi Continent, he had muddled through another two and a half years before awakening his memories from his previous life.

The other major event was that his only relative in this world—his father, who had served as a Guard for the Xiao Family in Wu Tan City—had unfortunately died ten days ago in a conflict between the Xiao Family and the Oba Family at the marketplace.

This meant that Chen Xiao had also lost his only support in this world.

Fortunately, compared with the other two major families in Wu Tan City, the Xiao Family was somewhat more humane. The two thousand gold coins on the table were what the Xiao Family had given him for that reason.

Besides that, the Elder who had delivered the gold coins had also made it clear that the Xiao Family would take full responsibility for Chen Xiao's living expenses until he turned sixteen.

Of course, Chen Xiao had to do some miscellaneous tasks for the Xiao Family within his abilities. The specific tasks would be assigned according to his age. In short, he could not simply idle around.

As for after he turned sixteen, Chen Xiao could leave directly or remain in the Xiao Family as a Guard. The choice would be entirely his.

There was also one special possibility: if he displayed outstanding cultivation talent, the Xiao Family might focus on nurturing him.

"At five years old, I've reached three stages of Dou Zhi Li. My talent should be pretty good. However, the Oba Family isn't something I can afford to provoke anytime soon."

As the saying went, a gentleman could wait ten years to avenge himself.

On the Dou Qi Continent, without strength, everything was merely wishful thinking.

Suppressing thoughts he should not have for now, Chen Xiao got up, tied the bag of gold coins shut, and hid it beneath the bed.

Immediately afterward, he sat cross-legged on the bed and silently began guiding qi through cultivation.

When immersed in cultivation, time always passed swiftly.

When Chen Xiao opened his eyes again, the sun was already setting.

Chen Xiao leaped down from the bed and carefully smoothed out the slightly wrinkled bedding. Only when it looked neat and orderly did he finally stroll out the door.

When he arrived at the square, the gathered crowd had long since dispersed. Only a few scattered Guards remained, organizing and carrying the Magic Stone Tablet and other items.

Chen Xiao followed them to the room where these miscellaneous items were stored, found a rag, and began wiping everything meticulously.

Thanks to his young age, the task assigned to him by the Xiao Family Elder did not require much physical effort. Even so, every time Chen Xiao finished cleaning everything once, it still took half an hour.

"Chen Xiao, just do a quick job. If you're late, you'll only be able to eat cold food."

Looking at the child who had practically climbed onto the Magic Stone Tablet and was not even sparing the slightest mark at the top, a Guard said with a laugh.

The clan disciples had their own circle, and the Guards had theirs as well.

Chen Xiao's father had been an honest man and was fairly well-liked among the Guards.

But because he was too honest, he would never put others behind him when conflicts arose. That was why he had died so casually.

A hundred or so gold coins a month. Was it worth it?

"I understand, Uncle Yang. You can go ahead."

Chen Xiao turned his head and replied before continuing to wipe.

Seeing this, the few Guards could only leave first with helpless expressions.

After all these days, they had come to understand the child somewhat. Perhaps because he had lost his father, he was more mature than those his age. He was even more particular when doing things. Since the Xiao Family Elder had assigned him the job of wiping things down, he had to clean every inch inside and out before he would stop, as if leaving any corner untouched would make him feel uncomfortable.

As they had seen, and as they had imagined, Chen Xiao did have a slight case of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Either he did not do something at all, or, once he did it, it had to be perfect!

As usual, Chen Xiao spent half an hour finishing today's work. Looking at the spotless Magic Stone Tablet, he ultimately managed to suppress the impulse to place his hand on it.

"I just tested it three days ago. There's no need. No need."

In the Xiao Family, aside from the Xiao Family's disciples, people with identities such as Guards and servants could not use the Magic Stone Tablet and similar items at will. They had to submit an application first.

But proximity gave him an advantage. Since Chen Xiao often came into contact with these things, he counted as a small exception.

After washing the rag and folding it into a neat square, Chen Xiao finally left the Storage Room.

On the way to the Dining Hall, Chen Xiao heard a burst of laughter. Looking toward the source, he saw a brightly dressed little radish-head clumsily practicing fist techniques in the square with several children.

"Cousin Xiao Yan is amazing! I've practiced this Wind Strike Fist for half a month, but I still feel like I'm not as good as Cousin Xiao Yan after one day!"

"That's for sure. Xiao Mei, you're just not suited for practicing fists. Young Master Xiao Yan could punch you until you cried for ages."

Xiao Yan?

Chen Xiao narrowed his eyes as he looked over. Was this little radish-head the Flame Emperor who would become famous throughout the Great Thousand World?

Unfortunately, he was merely a newly risen genius now. There was not the slightest hint of the Flame Emperor's bearing yet.

When old countrymen met, the comparison only made things seem more desolate.

Chen Xiao silently withdrew his gaze. At the Dou Zhi Li stage, one could already practice some rudimentary Dou Skills. Once one possessed strength, one had to learn how to bring it out. That was inevitable.

However, generally speaking, very few people began cultivating Dou Skills at three stages of Dou Zhi Li. It took effort without bringing much benefit. At that age, increasing one's cultivation was the key.

"This Dou Skill doesn't ring a bell at all. It's probably just something to try out. The Dou Skills within the Xiao Family... seem to be fairly ordinary. In that regard, I'll still have to look to Xiao Xun'er. I remember she had some Yan Return Strike or something. It's probably a higher grade than every Dou Skill in the Xiao Family combined."

Just as he was thinking this, Chen Xiao abruptly stopped.

In that instant, he suddenly felt that something seemed to have appeared in his mind.

After calming himself and examining it, Chen Xiao's heartbeat quickened slightly.

[Yan Return Strike: Mystic High-Rank Dou Skill, available for pre-payment!]

[Pre-pay the future: Everything began with trouble arising within the family. Stop Xiao Yan's wall-climbing behavior!]

[Current number of available pre-payments: One!]

[Pre-pay?]

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