After the selection of the Dou Qi cultivation techniques, the entire clan seemed to suddenly become much emptier. The young members with Dou Qi below the seventh stage were gradually dispatched to various family businesses for further training and learning. Meanwhile, the gifted members who had obtained cultivation techniques began to immerse themselves in intense training, hoping to master their newly acquired Dou Qi as quickly as possible. In such tranquil days, two months passed like flowing water, almost imperceptibly slipping through the fingers.
The scorching sun high in the sky baked the earth like a furnace, causing wisps of hot air to rise from the ground, slightly distorting one’s vision. On the peak of the Xiao family’s back mountain, within a dense little forest, sunlight filtered through layers of leaves, casting tiny speckles on the ground covered with dead leaves, resembling stars.
In the small forest, two figures suddenly moved, their palms clashing, creating waves of slight wind that sent the nearby dead leaves flying. Their arms crossed forcefully in front of them, blocking Xun’er’s delicate hand. Although the attack appeared gentle, when they made contact, the soft force abruptly turned aggressive.
Xiao Yan winced, his powerful force causing him to retreat two steps. On his arm, where Xun’er’s hand had touched, a faintly bruised mark appeared. Seeing Xiao Yan step back, Xun’er smiled. Her fair hand slowly waved in front of her, with a hint of light golden Dou Qi, adding a faint gleam to her slender fingertips.
“Quite strong…” Xiao Yan steadied himself, amazed, shaking his head. He looked at Xun’er, who wore a faint smile on her lips, licked his lips, and his fighting spirit surged.
He stomped the ground hard, dashing forward, causing the earth to fly up. Seeing Xiao Yan attack again, Xun’er’s small mouth curved, and the light golden glow on her hand intensified. She stomped the muddy ground, creating a small depression. Xiao Yan’s charging figure halted abruptly a meter away from Xun’er, seamlessly transitioning from extreme motion to stillness without a trace of abruptness.
Seeing Xiao Yan control his speed so deftly, Xun’er’s eyes, like autumn waters, couldn’t help but show a hint of admiration.
“Eight Extremes Collapse!” Xiao Yan’s running figure suddenly stopped. He tapped the ground with his right foot, spinning and increasing his force. His left leg, drawing a powerful arc in the air, whistled as it lashed out towards Xun’er.
Xun’er lifted her eyes, seeing Xiao Yan’s fierce attack. She lightly tapped her delicate chin, forming a small semi-circle with her white hand. A sudden burst of light golden glow illuminated her palm, shaping it into a peculiar half-arc, and without hesitation, she slammed it onto Xiao Yan’s left leg.
“Bang!” The clash of leg and hand produced a muffled explosion, sweeping all the dead leaves off the ground, making them fly everywhere. After a brief stalemate in mid-air, both figures retreated hastily.
Xiao Yan was propelled several meters into the air by the force from the kick. Shaking his head in amazement, he swung his right hand towards a giant tree, absorbing the impact, and then landed firmly on the ground after a brief pause on the tree trunk.
Raising his head to see Xun’er, who had also retreated several steps, Xiao Yan smacked his lips and asked, “What was that Dou Technique you used just now?”
“High-grade Huan-level Dou Technique: Swallow Return Strike… When mastered at a high level, it can reflect the opponent’s attack. I’m only at the initial stage, capable of reflecting about a single layer of power,” Xun’er explained with a smile.
Xiao Yan scratched his head, a few words popping into his mind: “Borrowing the opponent’s strength…”
“Brother Xiao Yan’s Dou Technique was pretty good too. If I wasn’t a one-star Dou Shi, with a higher innate strength, I might not have been able to counter that powerful force,” Xun’er said, her beautiful eyes curving like crescent moons.
Xiao Yan shrugged indifferently, lazily twisting his neck. The intense battle had made his muscles sore and his spirit somewhat weary. Wiping the sweat from his face, he cursed the weather and pulled off his shirt.
With the shirt off, his slightly tanned, well-built physique was revealed. Though not particularly bulky, it harbored explosive power. Xun’er’s cheeks flushed a bit as she saw Xiao Yan standing shirtless in front of her.
Xiao Yan, tired, leaned against a bluish stone, and with a bitter smile, said to Xun’er, “Sigh, two months, and I’m still stuck at the eighth stage of Dou Qi…”
Seeing Xiao Yan’s helpless expression, Xun’er smiled softly, moving closer to sit beside the bluish stone. She took the sweaty shirt from him and gently wiped the sweat from his body, soothingly saying, “The transition from the eighth to the ninth stage is a bottleneck for low-level Dou Qi. Don’t be anxious, Brother Xiao Yan. When the time is right, it will naturally happen…”
As she spoke, Xun’er noticed Xiao Yan’s gaze becoming heated. She lifted her eyes and saw him staring at her, his face flushing. She pouted, saying, “Brother Xiao Yan…”
The girl’s gentle reprimand brought a cool breeze to the hot air in the small forest. Due to the heat, Xun’er wore a simple, light green top, revealing a large expanse of enticing white skin and a budding chest, exuding the allure of youth. No wonder Xiao Yan was somewhat distracted.
Awakened by Xun’er, Xiao Yan’s face reddened, and he laughed awkwardly, leaning against the cool stone and closing his eyes, letting Xun’er’s hands gently wipe his body.
With a rosy mouth, Xun’er continued to wipe Xiao Yan, glancing at him surreptitiously. To her surprise, he had fallen asleep. Shaking her head, Xun’er knew the intense battle today had worn him out. She frowned, setting down the shirt, her long fingers glowing faintly with a light golden hue…
She cast a sidelong glance at the unresponsive Xiao Yan, touching his skin. A bit of golden light seeped into his body with each touch…
As the golden light entered, tiny beads of sweat appeared on Xun’er’s smooth forehead. Just as she was about to continue, her face froze.
Beside the bluish stone, the sleeping Xiao Yan’s body suddenly began to absorb surrounding Dou Qi inexplicably…
“Is he… about to break through?” Xun’er, experienced in such matters, exclaimed softly, her eyes wide with surprise.
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