On the bed, the young man sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, his hands forming an unusual hand seal in front of him. His chest rose and fell slightly, creating a perfect cycle with each breath. During this cycle, a faint white mist flowed through his nose and mouth, seeping into his body to nourish his bones and flesh. As he meditated, the ancient black ring on his finger glowed faintly and strangely, then fell silent…
“Ah…” Slowly exhaling a breath, the young man’s eyes suddenly opened, a hint of white light flashing in his dark pupils. This was the Dou Qi that had just been absorbed but not fully refined.
“The Dou Qi I’ve painstakingly cultivated is disappearing again… damn it!” Sensing inside his body, the young man’s face twisted with anger, his voice sharp with frustration.
Clenching his fists tightly, he sighed bitterly after a while, got off the bed, and stretched his numb ankles and thighs. With only three segments of Dou Qi, he had no power to ignore the fatigue. He moved around the room a bit, and then heard an old voice outside: “Third Young Master, the Patriarch requests your presence in the great hall!”
The Third Young Master, Xiao Yan, was the third son in the family. He had two older brothers, but they had long gone out for training and only returned occasionally at the end of the year. In general, his two brothers were quite good to their younger brother, Xiao Yan.
“Alright.” He replied casually, changed his clothes, and walked out of the room, smiling at the elderly man in green robes. “Let’s go, Steward Mo.”
Looking at the young man’s innocent face, the old steward nodded kindly. For a moment, a hint of regret flashed in his clouded eyes as he turned away. Sigh, with the Third Young Master’s previous talent, he should have long become an excellent fighter, but alas…
Following the old steward, they passed through the back garden and stopped at the solemn reception hall. Knocking respectfully, he then gently pushed the door open and entered.
The hall was spacious, filled with many people. At the head of the table sat Xiao Zhan and three elders with indifferent faces. They were the clan’s elders, whose power was no less than the Patriarch’s.
Below them on the left sat some influential and powerful elders, and beside them were some outstanding young members of the family. On the other side, three strangers were seated, likely the honored guests mentioned by Xiao Zhan last night.
Curious glances swept over the three strangers. Among them was an elder in a moon-white robe, his face full of smiles, his eyes sparkling with vigor. Xiao Yan’s gaze shifted downward, stopping at the elder’s chest, where a silver crescent moon was embroidered, surrounded by seven golden stars.
“A Seven-Star Great Fighter! This elder is actually a Seven-Star Great Fighter? Truly, one cannot judge a book by its cover!” Xiao Yan was greatly surprised. The elder’s strength was even higher than his father’s by two stars.
A Great Fighter was at least a renowned powerhouse, a force that any faction would covet. Seeing such a strong figure, it was no wonder Xiao Yan was shocked.
Beside the elder, a young couple in matching moon-white robes sat. The man, around twenty years old, was handsome with a well-built figure, very charming. Most importantly, there were five golden stars on his chest, indicating his strength as a Five-Star Fighter!
At his age, becoming a Five-Star Fighter demonstrated exceptional cultivation talent. His handsome appearance and remarkable strength made him a heartthrob among the ignorant young girls in the clan. Even Xiao Mei, sitting nearby, gazed at him with a twinkle in her eye.
Although the girl was flirting, it seemed to have no effect on the young man. His attention was entirely focused on the beautiful girl beside him…
The girl, about the same age as Xiao Yan, surprised him with her beauty, which even surpassed Xiao Mei’s. In the entire clan, only Xiao Xun’er could match her, no wonder the young man ignored all the others.
The girl wore a green jade earring, which tinkled softly when she moved, revealing a delicate elegance. Next to her developing chest, three golden stars indicated her strength: a Three-Star Fighter!
“A Three-Star Fighter, this girl… if not enhanced by external means, she must be a top-tier genius!” Xiao Yan took a deep breath, his gaze lingering briefly on her cold, beautiful face before moving away. Despite his youthful appearance, he had a mature soul. Though she was beautiful, he had no time for foolish behavior.
Xiao Yan’s indifference seemed to surprise the girl. Although she wasn’t self-centered, she knew her own beauty and grace. Xiao Yan’s casual behavior was unexpected, though it was just that.
“Father, Elders!” Xiao Yan hurried forward, bowing respectfully to Xiao Zhan and the three elders.
“Hehe, Yan, you’re here. Sit down,” Xiao Zhan greeted him, stopping his conversation with the guests and nodding.
Smiling, Xiao Yan pretended not to notice the impatience and disdain in the elders’ eyes. Looking around, he realized there was no seat for him. “Sigh, my status in the family seems to be declining. To humiliate me in front of guests, these three old men…”
The surrounding young clan members chuckled at Xiao Yan’s awkwardness, clearly enjoying his embarrassment.
Noticing this, Xiao Zhan showed a hint of anger, turning to the Second Elder, “Second Elder, why…”
“Cough, I’m sorry, I forgot about the Third Young Master. I’ll arrange a seat immediately!” The yellow-robed elder smiled faintly, patting his forehead with feigned regret, though his mocking gaze was barely concealed.
“Brother Xiao Yan, sit here!” A soft voice echoed in the hall. It was Xiao Xun’er.
The three elders were stunned, their gazes shifting to the quiet Xiao Xun’er in the corner, mouths agape but unable to speak…
In the corner, Xiao Xun’er smiled, closing her thick book, her demeanor elegant and composed. She winked at Xiao Yan adorably.
Seeing her smile, Xiao Yan hesitated, then nodded, walking over to sit beside her amidst the jealous stares of the other young men.
“You helped me out again,” Xiao Yan whispered, sniffing the subtle fragrance of the girl beside him.
Xiao Xun’er smiled, dimples appearing on her cheeks. Her slender fingers flipped through the ancient book, her small figure exuding an intellectual charm. After a moment, she said softly, “It’s been three years since we’ve sat together alone, hasn’t it?”
“Er… now that you’re the clan’s genius, it’s easy to make friends, right?” Xiao Yan joked, seeing her slightly sullen expression.
“From the age of four to six, someone would sneak into my room every night, using a clumsy technique and limited Dou Qi to nurture my bones and meridians. He would leave drenched in sweat and exhausted. Brother Xiao Yan, who do you think it was?” Xiao Xun’er asked, smiling charmingly, her unique allure catching the eyes of the surrounding young men.
“Ah… how would I know? We were just kids crawling on the ground then,” Xiao Yan stammered, feeling a pang of guilt and turning his gaze to the hall.
“Ha ha,” Xiao Xun’er giggled, her soft smile returning as she turned back to her book. “Even if it was well-intentioned, I’m still a girl. How can someone touch a girl like that? If I find out who it was, hmm…”
Xiao Yan’s mouth twitched, his heart heavy with guilt. He looked down, silent.
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