It was hard to imagine that the usually poised and elegant Xuner would display such a shy and charming demeanor, exuding a pure and alluring allure that made Xiao Yan feel a unique kind of enchantment. After inwardly calling her a little temptress, Xiao Yan responded incoherently and, under Xuner’s amused gaze, chose to flee in a most ungraceful manner.
Watching Xiao Yan depart in a flustered state, Xuner covered her mouth and giggled softly. She examined herself and then cast her eyes toward a small pond beside the path. There, a graceful young maiden stood, her bright eyes and sparkling teeth hinting at both allure and a subtle, indescribable charm. “Really, quite beautiful…” With a gentle twirl, Xuner’s rosy lips curled into a smug, soft smile.
Not far away, a few young men from the family had their steps frozen, their mouths gradually widening, their eyes filled with awe as they gazed at the beautiful maiden admiring herself beneath the willow tree.
Xiao Yan hurriedly fled back to his room, gasping for breath and wiping the cold sweat from his forehead. He chuckled bitterly, “This girl, if she grows up, she might even outshine Yaphira from the auction in terms of allure…”
Sitting by the table, Xiao Yan gulped down a cup of tea. The image of Xuner’s captivating charm kept floating in his mind, and with every flutter of her eyes, he felt his heart warming up. Shaking his head forcefully, he cursed himself inwardly once more before gradually dispelling those distracting thoughts.
Stretching his slightly numb arms, Xiao Yan walked to the corner of the room and lifted the large wooden tub containing the Foundation-Building Spirit Liquid. He quickly undressed and dived in. The cool liquid soaked his skin, washing away the weariness in his bones with a refreshing sensation.
Casually swishing his hand in the water, Xiao Yan lazily leaned against the edge of the tub, his breathing gradually calming. Recalling the shock he caused at the training ground today, Xiao Yan smiled faintly; indeed, strength was the most important thing in this world.
Rubbing his forehead, the image of a cold and beautiful face flashed unbidden in his mind: Nalan Yanran. Narrowing his eyes, Xiao Yan murmured softly, “Two more years, right? You better wait for me, I’ll come for you…”
His soft muttering, if not for the icy undertone, would have been mistaken for the sweet nothings of young lovers. Remembering Nalan Yanran’s haughty words and dominant stance in the hall that day, Xiao Yan’s fists slowly clenched. That humiliation was almost impossible to forget…
“Ha, I can’t stop my cultivation. That woman… although proud, if she can be accepted as a disciple by the Sect Leader of Yunlan, her cultivation talent must be extraordinary.” Chuckling, Xiao Yan’s lips curled into a cold smile.
Taking a deep breath, thinking of that woman always filled Xiao Yan with an unusual drive. He roused himself, discarded his lazy demeanor, and assumed a cultivation pose in the tub. His fingers formed seals, and he calmed his restless mind, closing his eyes to begin his practice.
Since the test that day, Xiao Yan could clearly feel that the gazes of the clan members looking at him had lost their former disdain and mockery, replaced by a sense of reverence. For this respect that he only received three years ago, Xiao Yan remained indifferent and did not show any arrogance or pride.
The next day after the test, Xiao Yan naturally spent the day with Xuner as promised, enjoying each other’s company. For the person closest to him in the clan, aside from his father, Xiao Yan found it hard and unwilling to refuse any of her requests.
After a relaxed day, Xiao Yan’s life returned to its usual calm and orderly routine. Early mornings were spent practicing fighting techniques on the back mountain, followed by cultivating Dou Qi at home. Occasionally, he spent time with Xuner and talked with his father. These periods were arranged meticulously.
During these times, he occasionally ran into Xiao Mei in the clan. Hearing her sweetly call him ‘Cousin Xiao Yan,’ he just smiled and casually responded. He always maintained a distant but respectful attitude towards overly practical women. Today, she was courteous because of his regained talent, but in the future, she might also become as cold as a stranger when his talent fades. This kind of betrayal, once was enough.
A month passed in this peaceful and leisurely manner. In another seven days, the grand ceremony for adulthood in the Xiao family would take place. Yet, Xiao Yan’s desire to break through to the eighth stage remained unfulfilled, which was somewhat disappointing.
After two more days of effort without success, Xiao Yan, feeling regretful, relaxed his strict training schedule. However, just when he thought there was no hope, an unexpected and delightful turn of events occurred.
Two nights before the ceremony, while deeply asleep, Xiao Yan suddenly jumped up as if in a trance, without even removing his clothes, and plunged into the wooden tub where the medicinal effects were about to dissipate. After a night of tossing and turning, Xiao Yan finally opened his eyes groggily and, to his surprise, discovered that the barrier that had troubled him for months had been broken.
For this strange and somewhat comical breakthrough, Xiao Yan, after the initial joy, could only laugh and curse, “Damn!”
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