"Why wouldn't I dare?" Xiao Yan stood tall, accepting the challenge without hesitation.
"That's the spirit of our Xiao Clan! I believe Brother Yan will reclaim his true talent. Thirty years east, thirty years west—never underestimate a young man's potential!" Xiao Tian stepped beside Xiao Yan, his voice ringing out.
"Well said, Tian-ge!" Xiao Yan shouted, his excitement surging.
"Who are you?" Nalan Yanran asked, eyeing Xiao Tian.
"No one you need to know, and you don't deserve to," Xiao Tian replied, his face expressionless.
"You—" Nalan Yanran's delicate face flushed with anger.
Xiao Yan cut her off before she could retort. "Nalan Yanran, aside from your looks, nothing about you impresses me. Don't think I'm clinging to some genius fiancée. I have zero interest in you." Striding to a desk, he grabbed a brush, wrote swiftly, and sliced his palm. Smearing blood on the paper, he slapped the divorce letter onto the table beside her. "And three years from now, if I win, I won't just annul the engagement—I'll divorce you from the Xiao Clan."
Nalan Yanran stared at the divorce letter, stunned into silence, her disbelief freezing her in place.
"Insolent! How dare you humiliate Junior Sister Yanran?" one of Nalan Yanran's male escorts barked.
"And who are you to speak here?" Xiao Tian turned, his sharp gaze locking onto the man, a flicker of lightning in his eyes.
Intimidated by Xiao Tian's aura, the man fell silent.
Snapping out of her daze, Nalan Yanran stammered, "You… you dare divorce me?"
Xiao Yan gave her a cold glance, ignoring her. Turning to Xiao Zhan, he knelt, bowing deeply. "Father, three years from now, I'll personally erase today's shame." Rising, he walked out without looking back.
Humiliated, Nalan Yanran had no desire to linger. She gave Xiao Zhan a curt bow and headed for the exit.
"Take your things with you," Xiao Zhan said, hurling a jade box containing the Qi Gathering Powder. Elder Ge Ye caught it smoothly and followed Nalan Yanran out.
As Nalan Yanran passed Xiao Tian, he said icily, "Nalan Yanran, I hope you won't regret today's actions."
She paused, meeting his gaze briefly before leaving without a word.
"Everyone, disperse. Tian-er, stay," Xiao Zhan commanded, waving the crowd away.
Xiao Tian turned to Xiao Xun Er. "Head back. I'll find you later."
Xiao Xun Er nodded and left for the door.
Once the hall emptied, Xiao Zhan approached Xiao Tian, gripping his shoulders with trembling hands. "Tian-er, what's your strength now?"
"Four Star Dou Zhe," Xiao Tian answered truthfully.
"Good, good, good! Tomorrow, we'll open the Dou Qi Pavilion for you to pick a technique," Xiao Zhan said, thrilled.
"Father, I've already cultivated a technique. Xun Er gave it to me," Xiao Tian replied.
Xiao Xun Er, far off in her courtyard, felt a sudden stir. Is Xiao Tian-gege thinking of me?
Hearing that Xiao Xun Er provided the technique, Xiao Zhan wasn't surprised and didn't pry. "We'll still open the pavilion. It'll cover your tracks."
"Yes, Father. You've thought of everything," Xiao Tian said earnestly.
While Xiao Tian and Xiao Zhan spoke, Xiao Yan, who had left the hall, stood atop the rear mountain cliff. He'd just learned that a spectral soul was the cause of his three-year Dou Qi decline. Pointing at the soul, he cursed furiously. This soul was Xiao Yan's golden finger, his guide to greatness: Yao Lao.
After Yao Lao's sweet-talking persuasion and Xiao Yan's hunger for strength, a master-disciple ceremony followed.
After parting with Xiao Zhan, Xiao Tian headed to Xiao Xun Er's courtyard. On the way, he ran into Xiao Yan descending from the mountain. Xiao Yan hesitated, as if wanting to speak. Guessing the situation—He's likely apprenticed to Yao Lao and needs funds for the Foundation Elixir—Xiao Tian spoke first. "Need a loan?"
"How'd you know?" Xiao Yan scratched his head, embarrassed.
"We're brothers. I can read you like a book. How much?" Xiao Tian asked directly.
Xiao Yan held up one finger. "A thousand gold coins."
Xiao Tian's hand moved behind his back, transferring funds from the pale blue jade card to the black one, dropping it from 5,000 to 1,000. He pocketed the blue card and held out the black one. "Here's a thousand. Repay me 1,500."
Stuffing the card into Xiao Yan's hand, Xiao Tian walked off. Xiao Yan, realizing what happened, called after him, "Tian-ge, seriously? We're brothers, and you're charging me that much?"
"No need to thank me. Just pay it back," Xiao Tian said, waving without turning.
Xiao Yan grumbled to the ring's Yao Lao, "Teacher, your Foundation Elixir better be worth it. I'm already in debt before we start."
"Trust me, you'll be hooked after one try. Also, your brother's no ordinary man. I sense a deeply hidden, ferocious thunder aura in him, but I can't pinpoint it," Yao Lao replied from the ring.
Having made a tidy profit, Xiao Tian reached Xiao Xun Er's courtyard. Silently, he thought, System, check in.
[Ding! Check-in at Xiao Xun Er's Courtyard successful. Reward: Serenity Jade Marrow Bracelet.]
Serenity Jade Marrow Bracelet: Enhances focus and calms the mind during cultivation, ensuring undisturbed meditation and eliminating the risk of qi deviation.
Xiao Tian glanced at the bracelet in the system space—a feminine design. His face darkened. Closing the space, he knocked on Xiao Xun Er's gate. Footsteps approached, and the door opened. Seeing him, Xiao Xun Er's face lit up. "Xiao Tian-gege, you're here!"
She wasn't wearing the outfit from the guest hall but the one from the comic when she and Xiao Yan visited the market. Xiao Tian grinned. "Wow, little beauty, dressed so stunningly. Got a date with someone special?"
"Indeed! Someone promised to visit me today, so I had to look my best," Xiao Xun Er teased, laughing playfully.
Xiao Tian took her hand. "Then let's go, lovely Miss Xun Er. I'll show you around Wu Tan City."
Leaving the clan, Xiao Tian and Xiao Xun Er roamed playfully, eventually reaching the market square controlled by the Xiao Clan. After greeting Uncle Payne, the clan's overseer, they continued exploring. While Xiao Xun Er paused at a stall, browsing jewelry, Xiao Tian thought, System, check in.
[Ding! Check-in at Xiao Clan Market Square successful. Rewards: One Million Gold Coins, Dog-Beating Stick.]
Just then, a clear voice rang out. "Oh, isn't that Miss Xun Er? What a coincidence to meet here. Would you honor me with the pleasure of dining together?"