Xiao Yan fell silent. He hadn't expected his situation to be like this—there was some anger, some confusion...
He couldn't understand. He hadn't done anything so heinous as to warrant such hatred. Who would go to such lengths, not to kill him outright but to torment him like this?
At the same time, he felt some doubt. According to Xiao Bai, he hadn't been able to do anything about it before, but what about now?
Could he really do something now?
As far as he knew, Xiao Bai was still the same as before—just at the ninth stage of Dou Disciple!
Seeing the doubt in Xiao Yan's eyes, Xiao Bai didn't bother explaining and simply said,
"Take off your ring—the one your mother gave you."
Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned. What did his ring have to do with this?
Still, he didn't ask much. Earlier, he had misunderstood Xiao Bai, and now he felt a bit guilty about it. So, obediently, he removed the ring and handed it over.
Xiao Bai didn't reach out to take it. Instead, he gestured for Xiao Yan to place it on the stone table and then said,
"Now, try cultivating again."
Although Xiao Yan didn't know what Xiao Bai was getting at, he didn't hesitate. Without a second thought, he sat down and started meditating.
Moments later, all of a sudden, Xiao Yan leaped up from the ground.
"Bai-ge, my Dou Qi hasn't disappeared! I can cultivate! I can cultivate again! Hahaha...!"
Xiao Yan was overwhelmed with excitement, laughing and crying at the same time, shouting at the top of his lungs. He charged toward Xiao Bai.
Seeing him pull this nonsense again, Xiao Bai didn't indulge him. With a casual wave of his hand, he sent Xiao Yan tumbling backward.
Xiao Yan stumbled several steps but didn't mind in the slightest. His grin stretched wide, and he murmured to himself,
"I can finally cultivate again… I'm not a cripple anymore..."
He had been dreaming of this moment for three long years. And now, it had finally arrived.
"Are you done celebrating? If so, get over here," Xiao Bai interrupted as he watched the fool laugh and rejoice for an absurdly long time with no sign of stopping.
Hearing this, Xiao Yan composed himself, straightened his clothes, and walked over. With a solemn expression, he cupped his hands and bowed deeply.
"Bai-ge, thank you."
He didn't apologize or say anything unnecessary. Saying too much would make him seem opportunistic. Regardless of everything else, from now on, Xiao Bai was his elder brother.
Xiao Bai smiled faintly, nodded, and gestured for him to sit down again.
Then, his expression turned serious as his gaze settled on the ring.
Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er followed his gaze. By now, they both understood that the source of Xiao Yan's problem was this ring.
"Senior, would you be willing to show yourself?"
Xiao Bai's low voice echoed through the cliffside.
Inside the ring, Yao Lao was feeling extremely frustrated. It seemed like this brat kept ruining his plans. And now, things were even worse—Xiao Yan, who used to be easy to fool due to his lack of experience, had suddenly become much harder to deceive.
He wanted to teach this brat a lesson, but at the same time, he felt a deep sense of apprehension.
The last time Xiao Bai and Xiao Yan fought, his curiosity had gotten the better of him, and he had attempted to spy on Xiao Bai's soul using his own soul force.
As a result, an inexplicable black-red lightning suddenly flickered around Xiao Bai's body, looking harmless yet instantly forcing Yao Lao into a two-month-long slumber.
Ever since then, he had hidden himself as tightly as possible whenever he saw Xiao Bai.
He even suspected that there was another existence similar to himself within Xiao Bai—one even stronger.
"Senior, I ask again—would you be willing to show yourself?"
Xiao Bai repeated, but the ring remained unresponsive.
This made Xiao Yan start to doubt. Was there really someone inside the ring?
Xiao Xun'er, however, didn't question Xiao Bai at all. If he said there was someone, then there had to be someone. With her knowledge, she had already encountered plenty of mysterious things in her life.
Seeing that Yao Lao still refused to appear, Xiao Bai shook his head and lightly tapped his fingers on the table. A streak of crimson lightning shot out, heading straight for the black ring on the table.
Inside the ring, Yao Lao was startled. Last time, a bolt of lightning had put him into a deep sleep for two whole months—was it happening again?
Though the previous lightning had been black-red and this one was crimson, he had no intention of testing whether the color made a difference.
The crimson lightning was incredibly fast, but the previously motionless black ring was even faster. Just as the lightning was about to strike, the ring suddenly floated into the air.
The lightning hit the spot where the ring had been, leaving a blackened hole on the stone table, with wisps of green smoke rising from it.
Xiao Yan's eye twitched. That power… if it had hit him, he wouldn't just be injured—he'd be crippled, if not dead.
And what was up with that crimson lightning? Hadn't Bai-ge not broken through? How could someone at the ninth stage of Dou Disciple use such a technique?
For a moment, Xiao Yan felt like something was seriously wrong with the world. His seemingly straightforward and honest Bai-ge turned out actually a schemer—no, a sneaky old fox!
Xiao Xun'er's eyes sparkled with intrigue. Was this the technique that Xiao Bai-ge had gone through so much to cultivate?
It was indeed remarkable! Even stronger than what she had provided.
At that moment, a faint, illusory figure emerged from the floating ring.
He was an elderly man dressed in blue robes, with white hair and a kind expression. His demeanor carried the air of a true master.
As soon as he appeared, he stroked his small beard and sighed with a tone of exasperation.
"Sigh~ Why are all you lightning cultivators so temperamental? Xiao Bai boy, I remember you being quite gentle as a child!"
Xiao Xun'er's expression instantly turned wary. She stood up and moved beside Xiao Bai, one hand pressing down on his shoulder while the other seemed to be gripping something.
Before Xiao Bai could speak, Xiao Yan's eyes turned red. The humiliation of the past three years surged up, and he roared in anger,
"You old bastard! I have no grudge against you, so why did you ruin me?"
Yao Lao didn't immediately answer Xiao Yan. Instead, he first turned to the cautious Xiao Xun'er and smiled at her.
"Young girl, no need to be so tense. This old man means no harm."
She was formidable—he could sense his Chilling Bone Flame reacting warily to her presence.
And was that a spatial jade slip in her hand?
Yao Lao couldn't help but marvel. A small clan in this remote northwest region had somehow produced such remarkable individuals.
And ironically, the one he had set his sights on as a disciple was the least impressive among them.
For a moment, he seriously doubted his own judgment in choosing a student.
He then floated toward Xiao Yan.
Seeing the old man ignore him, Xiao Yan was just about to start cursing.
But when Yao Lao suddenly moved toward him, he panicked and immediately darted behind Xiao Bai.
Yao Lao sighed, disappointed in his lack of composure. Look at the two in front of him—calm and unfazed. Yet here was Xiao Yan, jumping around like a startled cat.
Shaking his head, he let out a sigh. Oh well, he had been observing this boy for nearly ten years. Even if he regretted it, he had no choice but to accept reality.
With a kindly smile, he said to Xiao Yan,
"Little one, I should be thanking you for taking care of me these past three years!"
Xiao Bai shook his head. This old man really knew how to push Xiao Yan's buttons.
Sure enough, Xiao Yan's rage immediately skyrocketed. His expression twisted in fury, and he peeked out from behind Xiao Bai, roaring:
"Thank my ass! You motherfuck******** (explicit rant omitted, 120 words missing)!"