Three weeks had passed since Xiao Ranyu left Wu Tan City.
But to the two young women he left behind, it felt like longer.
---
Morning at the Xiao Clan – Xun'er's Courtyard
Sunlight filtered through fluttering silk curtains. The scent of tea leaves and herbs filled the garden.
Xiao Xun'er sat on a bamboo mat, eyes closed, spiritual energy circulating smoothly around her. Crimson Dou Qi danced gently on her fingertips—serene, elegant, powerful.
Suddenly—
> Knock knock knock!
A familiar voice rang from outside the courtyard gate:
> "Xun'er~ Come spar with me!"
Xun'er opened her eyes, and the flame vanished from her palm.
She didn't need to ask.
It was Ya Fei. Again.
---
Ya Fei, dressed in fitted red combat robes, walked in like she owned the place. Her movements were more refined lately—her charm-based Dou Qi exuded grace and confidence, no longer just beauty.
> "You're getting better," Xun'er said with a glance, picking up her tea.
> "Of course. You think I'd slack off when someone's out there training for five years?" Ya Fei smirked.
They stood across from each other in the sparring circle.
> "First to three hits?" Xun'er asked, tying her long hair up.
> "You're on," Ya Fei grinned.(Lowered her cultivation to Dou Fighter realm 1 star because Xiao xuner broke through to 1 star Dou Fighter realm)
The fight was fast, elegant, and unusually graceful. Dou Qi trails weaved like dancing silk ribbons. Flame and charm clashed, and laughter echoed after every landed hit.
By the time they both hit three, they were panting—smiling despite their flushed faces.
> "Tea?" Xun'er offered.
> "I brought snacks," Ya Fei replied, holding up a box of spirit fruit cakes.
They collapsed on cushions beneath a tree.
---
Afternoon Talk
> "I still can't believe he just left like that," Ya Fei said, mouth full of cake.
> "He told us beforehand," Xun'er muttered, sipping her tea. "Five years isn't long. It'll pass."
> "You say that, but you've been watering the same flower four times a day since he left."
Xun'er choked on her tea and glared.
> "Don't talk nonsense!"
Ya Fei giggled.
> "It's okay. I check my ring every night too. Just to feel like he's nearby."
They sat quietly for a while.
The breeze rustled the leaves above them.
> "Do you ever… miss him?" Ya Fei asked softly.
> "...Yes," Xun'er admitted. "But I also trust him."
> "Mm. I do too," Ya Fei whispered, hugging her knees.
> "He'll come back stronger."
> "We will too."
---
Evening – Back at the Miteer Auction House
Ya Fei stood by her window, gazing at the stars.
The ring he gave her glowed faintly on her finger.
> "Train hard," he had said.
> "I'll return after five years."
She held the ring close to her heart and closed her eyes.
---
Meanwhile – Xun'er's Room
Xun'er sat at her table, reviewing a scroll. Her training robe was slightly damp from evening drills.
She paused... pulled open a drawer… and took out a small wooden carving.
It was a miniature phoenix.
He'd carved it for her when they were younger.
She brushed her fingers across it gently.
> "Come back safely, Ranyu."
---
That night, under the same stars, both girls had a similar dream:
A boy in a black cloak, his back to them, standing at the peak of a mountain with flames swirling around him.
When he turned—he smiled.
And both of them, from different rooms, smiled in their sleep.
---
Xiao clan - Back Mountain
In the mist-shrouded back mountain of the Xiao Clan, the air was thick with the scent of herbs, sweat, and faint traces of medicinal spirit.
Under a towering ancient tree, a shirtless young man stood—muscles trembling, face twisted in pain.
> "HSSHH—!"
A harsh crack echoed through the mountain.
Behind him, an illusory old man lounged lazily on a large stone, holding a long whip shimmering with frost and ghostly blue flames.
> "Stand straighter, brat. You're not cultivating to become a noodle."
CRACK!
> "Argh! Old man! Are you trying to kill me?!"
> "You think that tiny body of yours can scare off enemies? If you want power, then suffer."
That illusory old man was none other than Yao Lao, the legendary Yao venerable,peak 8th grade alchemist—finally awakened three weeks ago.
And the whip? Not ordinary at all.
It was conjured from his Bone-Chilling Flame, fine-tuned to apply the exact maximum pain and tempering force Xiao Yan's body could handle.
In short?
A perfectly calibrated, flaming torture whip.
> CRACK!
> "GAAAH!"
Xiao Yan's knees buckled.
Yao Lao sighed.
> "Tch. Weak."
With a flick of his wrist, he picked the poor boy up like a sack of potatoes and threw him into a massive wooden barrel nearby.
Inside it?
A pungent, steaming liquid—rich with spiritual herbs.
> "Foundation Building Liquid."
As soon as Xiao Yan's skin touched the liquid, he screamed again.
> "IT BURNS!"
> "Of course it does," Yao Lao said smugly. "That's how you know it's working."
Bubbles formed. Steam rose. His body soaked up the medicinal energy like a dry sponge. Muscles twitched. Meridians expanded.
The pain was unimaginable.
But when it was over...
Xiao Yan climbed out of the barrel, gasping, trembling, but... glowing.
> "I… I broke through! Fighting Qi—4th stage! Already?!"
Yao Lao chuckled, stroking his translucent beard.
> "Of course. Who do you think made that recipe? Your grandma?"
Xiao Yan stared at him, awestruck.
> "Old man… you're kind of terrifying."
> "Only kind of?" Yao Lao raised a brow.
Xiao Yan laughed weakly.
Yao Lao smirked.
> "Thanks to your fourth brother leaving 'urgent support for a future freeloader.'"
> "Left a tidy sum. 5,000 gold coins. You're lucky, brat. Without that, you'd be stuck begging the clan for scraps."
Xiao Yan stood still for a moment.
Then he looked up at the sky, wiping the sweat from his brow with a grin.
> "He left for training… and still helped me."
> "Thanks, Fourth Brother."
---
Three weeks ago, at the back mountain of the Xiao Clan...
The wind was calm.
The trees rustled gently, the golden afternoon sun casting warm light over the solitary figure of a boy sitting on a smooth rock.
Xiao Yan sat in silence, his hands clasped together as he gazed down at his shadow stretching along the grass.
> "First Brother and Second Brother is gone for 3 years exploring the north with the caravan…"
> "And now even Fourth Brother—he left without warning to train."
He exhaled slowly, his tone a mix of bitterness and longing.
> "Everyone's moving forward. Even Ranyu… already a Dou Wang."
He gave a weak smile and looked at his right hand—the simple black ring on his finger gleamed faintly in the sun.
> "And me? Still stuck at 3rd stage of Dou Qi… in Wu Tan City."
His fists clenched. His heart churned with helplessness.
> "How am I supposed to catch up to them...?"
But then—
> SHHHMMM—
The ring on his finger suddenly shone with a deep glow, pulsing like a heartbeat.
Xiao Yan flinched.
> "Huh?"
The glow intensified—then with a soft ripple in space, a figure emerged, suspended above the ground like a phantom.
An old man with long white hair, clad in flowing robes, holding a wooden cane.
His eyes were closed, his presence ethereal.
Then—
> "Ahhhh... finally... I'm awake."
Xiao Yan's jaw dropped.
> "W-Who...?"
The old man cracked one eye open and smiled faintly.
> "Boy… I've been sleeping for too long. But now that I'm awake... your real journey begins."
The wind shifted around them. The air grew heavier with something unseen—power, knowledge, destiny.
The old man descended slowly and stretched his arms like someone waking from a nap.
> "Name's Yao Chen. But you, my new disciple… can call me Yao Lao."
Xiao Yan blinked.
> "Disciple? Wait—what are you talking about?!"
Yao Lao chuckled, eyes gleaming with amusement.
> "You'll understand soon enough. But first… how do you feel about getting whipped half to death for strength?"
> "...I feel like this old man is crazy."
Yao Lao grinned.
> "Correct. And now you're stuck with me."