Chapter 22: Xiao Cang Returns, Reunion with Xun'er!
"Next up, Xiao Xun'er!"
The elderly voice echoed as Xiao Xun'er walked onto the high platform amidst a sea of heated gazes.
"Xun'er."
Xiao Cang watched Xiao Xun'er's cool figure from afar, a hint of nostalgia flashing in his eyes.
Seven years had passed, and the little girl from back then had truly grown up! Whether it was her figure or her looks, she was already showing signs of becoming a stunning beauty.
However, the current Xun'er seemed to have a cold temperament. He wondered if she would still call him "Brother Xiao Cang" like she used to.
"Dou Qi, ninth stage!"
"Rank: High!"
As Xun'er placed her bare hand on the spirit-testing stone stele, a few eye-catching characters appeared on the stele, and the elderly steward's voice echoed.
"She has reached the ninth stage of Dou Qi! That's two stages higher than Xiao Mei."
"Miss Xun'er is not only beautiful, but her talent is also so amazing!"
"Although her talent is much inferior to Cousin Xiao Cang, for us, she is already an incredible genius!"
"Unfortunately, everyone in the Xiao family knows that Xun'er only has Cousin Xiao Cang in her heart, and she won't even give us a second glance."
"…"
A wave of amazed discussions arose from the surroundings.
However, a hint of disappointment appeared on Xiao Xun'er's cold and pretty face.
"Dou Qi at the ninth stage… it's too weak."
"With this rate of cultivation, I don't know when I'll be able to catch up with Brother Xiao Cang."
Xun'er felt a bit disheartened when she thought about how Xiao Cang had become a one-star Dou Zhe at the age of eleven, while she was barely at the ninth stage of Dou Qi.
She came from an ancient family, so she naturally knew how vast the Dou Qi continent was, with countless geniuses.
Among these geniuses, there were also many beautiful and graceful women.
She was really afraid that her cultivation speed was too slow, and that Xiao Cang would be hooked away by some vixen in the future, and she would be powerless to do anything about it.
Yun Yun was an example!
"Miss Xun'er is extraordinarily talented and has a promising future." The previously expressionless steward revealed a smile.
"Thank you for your praise, senior."
Xun'er replied indifferently and absent-mindedly.
Just as she was about to step down from the high platform, her peripheral vision suddenly caught a tall and handsome figure outside the crowd.
That handsome figure was very similar to the one she had been thinking about for seven years, and even more handsome.
That was…
Xun'er's beautiful eyes throbbed violently.
Then, she saw that figure show her a sunny smile.
Her heart trembled violently.
"Brother Xiao Cang!"
A strong sense of joy instantly surfaced in Xun'er's heart, and her cold eyes were instantly occupied by the color of joy.
Without any hesitation, she immediately ran down the high platform, rushed through the crowd, and threw herself into Xiao Cang's arms.
"Brother Xiao Cang, you're finally back!"
This sentence was filled with seven years of deep longing, making it particularly trembling and choked.
Xiao Cang held Xun'er's soft and fragrant body, a faint fragrance entered his nostrils, making his heart feel a sense of enchantment.
He also revealed a smile, holding Xun'er in one arm and gently stroking Xun'er's smooth hair with the other, softly saying, "After so many years, our Xun'er has grown into such a big beauty."
Hearing Xiao Cang's words, Xun'er's body couldn't help but tremble.
Seven years of longing instantly turned into hot tears that fell down.
"Brother Xiao Cang, why did you only come back now? It's been seven years, don't you miss Xun'er? Xun'er misses you so much!"
Xun'er buried her head in Xiao Cang's chest and choked out her words.
Xiao Cang's nose also suddenly turned sour, he lifted up Xun'er's little face and wiped away her tears.
"Silly girl, of course, I miss you. But in order to grow to a point where I can propose to the power behind you in the future, I can only keep cultivating hard, so I didn't have time to come and see you. Our Xun'er is so sensible, she will definitely understand me, right?"
"Mmm, I don't blame Brother Xiao Cang, you must have suffered a lot these years."
Xun'er nodded her beautiful chin, a look of heartache appeared in her eyes.
Without the support of a large family's resources, Xiao Cang was able to step into the realm of Dou Wang at the age of eighteen, she could hardly imagine the difficulties he had faced.
"For you, it's all worth it." Xiao Cang said with a warm smile.
Just as the two of them were pouring out their hearts to each other, the Xiao family's courtyard was already in an uproar.
"Cousin Xiao Cang is back!"
"That's actually Cousin Xiao Cang, he's so handsome!"
"I knew it! After stepping into Dou Wang, Cousin Xiao Cang will definitely come to lead our Xiao family to grow and strengthen!"
"Quickly look at Miss Xun'er's reaction, this is the first time I've seen her so excited in so many years!"
"Wow, is this still the cold as an iceberg Miss Xun'er? It turns out she's not a real iceberg, it's just that we're not worthy to see her tender side."
"In the entire Xiao family, the only one who can make Xun'er look at him differently is Cousin Xiao Cang."
"…"
At the high platform in the distance, Clan Leader Xiao Zhan and the three elders instantly stood up, revealing a look of surprise and excitement.
"Is it Nephew Xiao Cang who has returned?"
"It's him, there's no mistake! Although I haven't seen him for seven years, the heroic spirit between his eyebrows left a deep impression on me!"
"Great! With Xiao Cang back, our Xiao family will be more convenient to develop!"
"What are you still dazed for, hurry up and go greet him!"
Xiao Zhan and the three elders quickly walked down the high platform and enthusiastically went to greet Xiao Cang.
Soon, the four of them arrived in front of Xiao Cang.
"Nephew Xiao Cang, it's been seven years, and you've become a towering man."
Xiao Zhan walked up to Xiao Cang, patted Xiao Cang's strong arms with both hands, and said with a proud look in his eyes.
"You are indeed the genius of our Xiao family, your appearance is becoming more and more heroic!"
"You're finally back, my granddaughter Xiao Yu has been missing you so much, before she left the family to go to the Canaan Academy, she always wanted to go to the Yunlan Sect to see you."
"This time you come back, you have to stay for a while, many of the younger generation in the clan miss you a lot."
The three elders also praised him endlessly.
"Thank you, Uncle Xiao Zhan and the three elders for your praise. This time, I will definitely stay for a while and help the Xiao family grow stronger." Xiao Cang said with a warm smile.
"That's very good, very good." Xiao Zhan laughed heartily.
At this time, Xiao Mei and a group of younger generation also squeezed over.
"Brother Xiao Cang."
Xiao Mei revealed a brilliant smile, her face that was both naive and mature looked both innocent and charming.
She cheered inadvertently, causing her budding charm in front of her to shake, attracting a wave of amazed looks.
"Cousin Mei'er."
"It's been many years, you've grown so big."
Xiao Cang reached out and touched Xiao Mei's head, his gaze inadvertently looked at the shaking charm.
Xiao Mei was touched by Xiao Cang, and immediately revealed an expression of enjoyment and joy.
If it weren't for Xun'er being in Xiao Cang's arms, she would have thrown herself into Xiao Cang's arms long ago.
Xiao Yan was standing on the side, watching Xiao Cang and Xun'er in his arms with a complicated expression, feeling very uncomfortable in his heart, as if he had been heavily hit.
Suddenly, Xiao Zhan grabbed him and lifted him in front of Xiao Cang.
"Yan'er, come and meet your Cousin Xiao Cang."
Xiao Yan's expression was immediately flustered, he didn't know how to face this person who used to always stick to him, but now was like a scorching sun.
What's more important is that he had already regarded Xiao Cang as a love rival in his heart.
But even he found this idea laughable.
Being a love rival with an eighteen-year-old Dou Wang and a five-star alchemist…
What does he have to compete with?
Is it his three-stage Dou Qi?