What followed was a scene destined to be legendary. Ge Ye announced Nalan Yanran's intention to dissolve the engagement, prompting Xiao Zhan to unleash his Dou Qi pressure. A faint cyan Dou Qi coalesced before him, forming the head of a lion.
Around Ge Ye, cyan Dou Qi gathered into sharp sword energy. Xiao Zhan's wind-attribute technique, Frenzied Lion's Roar, was a Mid-Grade Xuan Class technique, one tier superior to Ge Ye's Low-Grade Xuan Class Green Wood Sword Art, a refined technique of the Yun Lan Sect.
Xiao Zhan's aura faintly overpowered Ge Ye, who was two stars stronger than him. The Xiao Clan's foundation, though modest, still held a slight edge over the Yun Lan Sect's lower ranks.
The ferocious pressure suffocated those of lesser strength in the hall, nearly robbing them of breath. At the urging of several elders, Xiao Zhan retracted his Dou Qi.
After a moment's thought, Xiao Zhan calmed himself. The Yun Lan Sect's immense power forced him to yield. Meanwhile, Ge Ye produced a small, emerald-green pill the size of a dragon's eye.
This was a Qi Gathering Powder, a pill that guaranteed anyone at the Ninth Stage of Dou Zhi Qi could condense a Dou Qi cyclone and become a One-Star Dou Zhe.
To demonstrate his sincerity, Ge Ye invoked the name of Gu He, the Yun Lan Sect's honorary elder. At this moment, Xiao Yan stepped forward, challenging Nalan Yanran to a three-year duel and penning a letter of divorce. He declared, "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west—never underestimate a young man's potential!"
Nalan Yanran and her entourage departed, leaving Xiao Yan to vent his frustration at the back mountain. Xiao Heng, clutching two scrolls, headed toward the same destination, shaking his head as he walked.
In his hands were a High-Grade Huang Class fire-attribute technique and a Mid-Grade Huang Class fire-attribute Dou Skill, personally selected by Xiao Zhan. They were the finest fire-attribute techniques the Xiao Clan possessed.
"What a travesty!" Xiao Heng exclaimed, though he knew Xiao Zhan had done his best. A clever cook can't make a meal without ingredients.
"Brother Xiao Heng, are you going to comfort Little Yan?" Xiao Xun Er suddenly leapt out from the roadside, startling him.
"Xun Er, you're being naughty again!" Xiao Heng chided.
"What's that in your hands?" Xiao Xun Er approached, her curiosity piqued.
"These? Just some Dou Skills and a technique I picked from the Dou Qi Pavilion. Pity they're only Huang Class." Xiao Heng shook his head helplessly, knowing Xiao Xun Er understood the Xiao Clan's dire situation.
The clan's sole treasure, a Mid-Grade Xuan Class technique, was wind-attributed and useless for his needs.
"A technique, huh? I have one, but I wonder if Brother Xiao Heng dares to accept it!" Xiao Xun Er said, blinking playfully, her dimples adding to her charm.
"I've heard people out there call this 'living off a woman'!" Her large eyes fixed on Xiao Heng, her lips curling into an irrepressible smile.
"Xun Er, I don't know where you heard that, but if it's your 'soft meal,' I'm eating it!" Xiao Heng declared, squatting down and wrapping his arms around her slender, fair legs.
"Brother Xiao Heng, what are you doing?" Xiao Xun Er's face flushed crimson, clearly unprepared for his bold move.
"Just showing my commitment to 'living off you.' So, little rich lady, are you satisfied?" Xiao Heng grinned cheekily.
What's wrong with living off her a bit? Gu Yuan left the Xiao Clan with only a Da Dou Shi as its strongest member and a single Mid-Grade Xuan Class technique. Why shouldn't I take advantage of Xun Er's generosity?
"Satisfied!" Xiao Xun Er replied smugly, helping Xiao Heng to his feet.
"Then hand over a Tian Class technique!" Xiao Heng extended his hand expectantly.
"You really dare to ask! The best I have is a Mid-Grade Di Class fire-attribute technique I prepared for myself." Xiao Xun Er rolled her eyes.
This fire-attribute technique was a transitional one for her. Once she reached Dou Huang, she would switch to her clan's Tian Class technique. Families with Tian Class techniques often followed this practice, as cultivating a Tian Class technique from the start was too arduous.
They typically began with Di Class techniques, transitioning to Tian Class ones around the Dou Huang level.
"A Mid-Grade Di Class technique is plenty for now. I can upgrade to something better when I'm stronger," Xiao Heng said.
"Make sure to return it once you've mastered it, Brother Xiao Heng!" Xiao Xun Er handed him a crimson scroll and a cyan storage ring.
"Xun Er, this ring isn't a token of love, is it?" Xiao Heng teased.
"Brother Xiao Heng, what are you saying!" Xiao Xun Er shoved the items into his hands and turned away, flustered.
"I just thought you didn't have a storage ring, which is inconvenient. It's fine in the Xiao Clan, but you'll need one when you go out to train." Her voice grew softer with each word.
"My mistake. From now on, I'll do whatever you say!" Xiao Heng stepped in front of her, gently clasping her delicate hands.
"Weren't we going to comfort Little Yan?" Xiao Xun Er quickly changed the subject.
"Oh, right! I almost forgot about him. Let's hurry!" Xiao Heng slipped the cyan storage ring onto his finger and stored the crimson scroll inside.
Seeing him wear the ring, Xiao Xun Er's lips curved into a subtle smile. When they reached the back mountain, Xiao Yan was sitting on a boulder, lost in thought. It seemed Yao Chen, that old geezer, hadn't appeared yet.
"Little Yan, I've got a way to restore your talent!" Xiao Heng announced.
"What did you say, Brother Heng?" Xiao Yan leapt off the boulder, eyes wide.
"Your cultivation speed hasn't changed, so your talent is intact. The loss of Dou Zhi Qi suggests a storage issue, but your body shows no abnormalities. Xun Er mentioned that some powerful old monsters linger as soul forms after death. Some seize others' bodies, while others feed on their Dou Qi." Xiao Heng's expression was grave.
"You're saying someone's draining my Dou Qi?" Xiao Yan's jaw dropped.
"Try going into the woods and removing everything you're carrying," Xiao Heng suggested.
"I'm on it!" Xiao Yan dashed into the grove.
"Brother Xiao Heng, how do you know someone's draining Little Yan's Dou Qi?" Xiao Xun Er asked, puzzled.
"I don't. But since Little Yan's body is fine, the problem must lie with an external object. What if I'm right?" Xiao Heng shrugged.
"And if you're wrong?"
"Then I'll fight his three-year duel for him and find him a few beauties to make up for it," Xiao Heng said with a smirk.
"And maybe find a few for yourself while you're at it?" Xiao Xun Er teased.
"Don't slander me!" Xiao Heng retorted, feigning indignation. I'll definitely look, but admitting it? Never.
"My talent's back!" Xiao Yan stumbled out of the woods, his clothes in disarray.
"How'd it happen?" Xiao Heng asked, feigning curiosity.
"It's the storage ring my mother left me. When I set it aside, my Dou Zhi Qi stopped leaking," Xiao Yan explained.
"It must be some old geezer in there siphoning my Dou Qi!" Xiao Yan cursed.
"Then we've got to be unfilial. Let's toss that ring into a cesspool and stink that old geezer out!" Xiao Heng shouted deliberately.
"Hey, hey, hey! Why are you kids so vicious?" An elderly voice echoed around them.
"Who's talking? Stop playing tricks!" Xiao Yan scanned the surroundings.
"Didn't you just curse me out?" The voice sounded again.
"So you're in the ring, you old fossil! Get out here!" Xiao Yan continued his tirade.