The moon hung like a silver platter in the night sky, stars scattered across the heavens. Atop the cliff, Xiao Yan lay on the grass, a blade of greenery in his mouth, its faint bitterness diffusing through his mastication… Raising his slightly fair hand, he shielded his eyes and gazed at the immense silver moon through the gaps between his fingers. “Ah…” Recalling the test from the afternoon, Xiao Yan sighed softly, lazily retracting his hand, using both to prop up his head, his gaze somewhat distant… “Fifteen years already…” A low murmur slipped out of the young man’s mouth without any warning. In Xiao Yan’s heart, there was a secret known only to him: He wasn’t originally from this world. Or rather, Xiao Yan’s soul didn’t belong here; it came from a beautiful blue planet called Earth. How he arrived here, this strange journey, was something he couldn’t explain. But after some time, he gradually understood: He had transcended! As he grew older, Xiao Yan gained a vague understanding of this continent. It was known as the Dou Qi Continent, and unlike what one might expect, there were no magics of the elemental kind commonly found in fantasy. Instead, Dou Qi was the sole melody that echoed throughout this land! The cultivation of Dou Qi on this continent, after countless generations of effort, had reached its peak. Moreover, as Dou Qi continued to flourish, it even spread into the lives of ordinary people, making it an indispensable part of daily life. Thus, the importance of Dou Qi in the continent became irreplaceable! Because of the extreme proliferation of Dou Qi, numerous cultivation methods emerged from the mainline, some stronger, some weaker. Through categorization, the Dou Qi Continent classified these methods into four ranks and twelve levels, from highest to lowest: Heavenly, Earthly, Mysterious, and Yellow. Each rank was further divided into Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced stages! The level of Dou Qi cultivation method one practiced was crucial in determining one’s future achievements. For instance, someone cultivating an intermediate Mysterious Rank technique would naturally be stronger than someone practicing an advanced Yellow Rank technique, even if they were of the same level. On the Dou Qi Continent, the judgment of strength was based on three criteria. First and foremost, the individual’s own power. If your own strength is only at the one-star Dou Shi level, then even if you practice a rare, advanced Heavenly Rank technique, you will still find it difficult to defeat a Dou Shi who practices a Yellow Rank technique. Secondly, the cultivation method! Among peers of the same rank, if your cultivation method is significantly higher in level than theirs, you will enjoy clear advantages during a confrontation. Lastly, Dou Techniques! As the name suggests, these are specialized skills that utilize Dou Qi, and like the techniques, they are also classified into the four ranks of Heavenly, Earthly, Mysterious, and Yellow. While the Dou Qi Continent abounds with Dou Techniques, those commonly circulated among the masses rarely exceed the Yellow Rank. To acquire more advanced Dou Techniques, one must join a sect or enter a Dou Qi academy. Of course, some lucky individuals may stumble upon high-level techniques left by predecessors, or have their own accompanying Dou Techniques, which, when combined, can produce greater power. With these three conditions, one can determine the strength of an individual. Generally, having a higher-ranking Dou Qi cultivation method brings obvious benefits… However, obtaining a high-ranking Dou Qi cultivation method is nearly impossible for most people. The most common cultivation methods available to the general public are only of the Yellow Rank. More powerful clans or smaller sects may possess Mysterious Rank techniques. For example, the top technique in Xiao Yan’s family, the Ferocious Lion Rampage, is a wind-attribute, intermediate Mysterious Rank Dou Qi technique, reserved solely for the clan leader. Above the Mysterious Rank lies the Earthly Rank, but such profound techniques are perhaps only possessed by superpowerful factions or great empires… As for the Heavenly Rank, it hasn’t been seen for centuries. In theory, for an average person to obtain a high-ranking technique is virtually impossible. However, nothing is absolute. The Dou Qi Continent is vast, with myriad tribes. In the north, there are the barbaric tribes known for their incredible strength and ability to merge with beast souls. In the south, there are highly intelligent magical beasts and the infamous dark races, known for their eerie and ruthless nature… Due to the vastness of the land, there are also many unknown hermits. After reaching the end of their lives, some recluses may hide their created techniques in hidden places, waiting for the right person to discover them. There’s a saying on the Dou Qi Continent: If one day, you fall off a cliff and land in a cave, do not panic. Take a step forward, and perhaps, you will become a powerhouse! This isn’t just a saying. Throughout the thousand-year history of the continent, there are stories of individuals who became strong through fortuitous encounters. This has led to a plethora of dreamers waiting at the edge of cliffs, hoping to jump and find a legendary technique. Most of them, however, return with broken arms and legs… Nonetheless, this is a land filled with miracles and opportunities! Of course, to cultivate Dou Qi techniques, one must first become a genuine Dou Shi. And for Xiao Yan, that goal still seemed very far away… “Tch.” Spitting out the grass stem, Xiao Yan suddenly leaped to his feet, his face twisted in anger as he roared at the night sky, “Damn it, am I here to be a failure?!”
In his previous life, Xiao Yan was a completely ordinary person. Money, beauty—these things were always parallel lines to him, never intersecting. But after coming to the Dou Qi Continent, Xiao Yan discovered to his surprise that, due to his experiences from two lifetimes, his soul was much stronger than an average person’s! In the Dou Qi Continent, souls are innate. They may strengthen slightly with age, but there are no cultivation methods that can independently enhance the soul—not even Heavenly Rank techniques! This is common knowledge on the Dou Qi Continent. The strengthening of his soul gave Xiao Yan exceptional cultivation talent, earning him the title of a genius. When an ordinary person discovers they have the potential to attract attention, it’s hard to stay grounded, especially if they lack sufficient self-control. Clearly, Xiao Yan, who was merely an ordinary person in his previous life, lacked this superhuman self-control. So, when he began to cultivate Dou Qi, he chose to become a widely recognized genius rather than quietly grow.
If nothing unexpected happened, Xiao Yan might indeed grow under the title of genius. However, unfortunately, at the age of eleven, his title of genius was gradually stripped away by an unexpected turn of events, and the former prodigy was reduced to a laughingstock, a waste in the eyes of others…
After roaring for a while, Xiao Yan’s emotions gradually calmed down, his face returning to its usual desolation. No matter how angry he got, he could not reclaim the hard-earned Dou Qi vortex.
Shaking his head bitterly, Xiao Yan felt a bit wronged. After all, he didn’t know what had happened to his body. Regular checks hadn’t revealed anything unusual. His soul, growing stronger with age, absorbed Dou Qi even faster than in his prime. All of this indicated that his natural talent had never waned, yet the Dou Qi entering his body vanished without a trace. This inexplicable situation left Xiao Yan deeply disheartened…
Sighing gloomily, Xiao Yan lifted his hand, revealing a black, ancient ring on his finger. The ring, made of an unknown material, had blurry patterns etched on it. It was the last gift from his mother, and he had worn it for ten years since he was four. Tracing the ring gently, Xiao Yan said with a bitter smile, “I’ve let Mother down in recent years…”
Taking a deep breath, Xiao Yan suddenly turned, smiling warmly toward the dark forest. “Father, you’re here?”
Although his Dou Qi was only at the third stage, Xiao Yan’s soul perception was keener than that of a five-star Dou Shi. When he mentioned his mother, he detected a slight movement in the forest.
“Ha ha, my dear son, why are you still here so late at night?” After a moment of silence, a concerned laugh emerged from the forest.
A middle-aged man, dressed in luxurious gray robes, stepped out, his face beaming as he gazed at his son standing in the moonlight. With his authoritative bearing and thick eyebrows, he exuded a robust air. He was Xiao Zhan, the current patriarch of the Xiao family and a five-star Da Dou Shi, Xiao Yan’s father.
“Father, aren’t you supposed to be resting too?” Xiao Yan’s smile broadened as he looked at the middle-aged man. Although he had memories from his past life, the man before him had doted on him since birth, and his love had only increased after Xiao Yan’s decline.
“Are you still thinking about the test this afternoon, my son?” Xiao Zhan asked, stepping closer with a smile.
“Ha ha, there’s nothing to think about. It was expected,” Xiao Yan replied with a forced smile, shaking his head.
Looking at Xiao Yan’s still youthful face, Xiao Zhan sighed, “My son, you’re fifteen now, right?”
“Yes, Father.”
“And in another year, it will be time for your Coming-of-Age ceremony,” Xiao Zhan said with a bittersweet smile.
“Yes, Father. One more year!” Xiao Yan’s grip tightened, his voice calm. He knew well what the Coming-of-Age ceremony meant. If he failed to show cultivation potential, he would lose the chance to enter the Dou Qi Pavilion to search for cultivation methods and be assigned to manage the family’s various businesses. This was a strict family rule, and even his father, as the patriarch, could not change it. If he did not become a Dou Shi by the age of twenty-five, he would not be recognized by the family.
“I’m sorry, my son. If your Dou Qi doesn’t reach the seventh stage by next year, I’ll have to assign you to the family business, no matter how painful it is. After all, this family isn’t run by me alone; those old geezers are always looking for me to make a mistake…” Xiao Zhan sighed apologetically, seeing Xiao Yan’s composed face.
“Father, I’ll work hard. By next year, I will reach the seventh stage of Dou Qi!” Xiao Yan comforted with a smile.
“Four stages in a year? Ha ha, it might have been possible before, but now… it’s almost impossible…” Though he tried to comfort his father, Xiao Yan couldn’t help but feel a mocking bitterness within.
Xiao Zhan, who knew his son’s capabilities well, could only sigh in response. Patting Xiao Yan’s head, he said, “It’s getting late. Go rest. Tomorrow, we have a distinguished guest. Don’t be rude.”
“A distinguished guest? Who is it?” Xiao Yan asked curiously.
“You’ll find out tomorrow,” Xiao Zhan said, winking and leaving with a hearty laugh, leaving Xiao Yan behind.
“Rest assured, Father. I’ll do my best!” Xiao Yan murmured, stroking the ancient ring on his finger. As he raised his head, the black ancient ring on his finger suddenly emitted a faint, eerie glow. The light flickered and disappeared, unnoticed by anyone.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage