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Xiao Xun'er smiled softly and shook her head. "Don't worry, it's just a school. What trouble could there possibly be?"
Ling Ying frowned, his expression serious. "Miss, you shouldn't have come to school with that kid, Xiao Yan!"
Xiao Xun'er chuckled, her tone carrying a hint of confidence. "Relax. A school with only Dou Zong-level strength can't harm me."
Ling Ying still appeared anxious. After all, if anything happened to her, he would certainly be held accountable.
Xiao Xun'er looked at Ling Ying with a steady gaze, her eyes firm. "Besides, I have faith in you. I know you'll fulfill your duties—am I right?"
"You're absolutely right, Miss," Ling Ying replied, feeling somewhat reassured by her words.
A gleam of pride flickered in Xiao Xun'er's eyes, and she couldn't help but exclaim, "Speaking of which, Brother Xiao Yan's progress has been astonishing. He's already a four-star Dou Fighter! He really is my brother!"
Ling Ying, however, frowned, concern evident in his tone. "Miss, Xiao Yan's rapid progress is unusual. To advance from three stages of Dou Qi to a four-star Dou Fighter in just a year—ordinary people can't achieve that."
His words reflected both worry and doubt about Xiao Yan's growing strength.
He continued to speculate, "Could his master be a Dou Saint-level expert? We need to be cautious!"
But Xiao Xun'er seemed unconcerned, responding firmly, "So what if that's true? Brother Xiao Yan is one of us. No matter who his master is, I will support him!"
Her tone was resolute and confident, and seeing this, Ling Ying held back the words on his lips. He knew that once she made up her mind, she wouldn't change it.
Ultimately, he could only retreat with a heavy heart, still feeling uneasy.
Ling Ying's expression remained grave as he pondered the mysterious identity of Xiao Yan's master. He understood that this matter was not as simple as it seemed; if his master truly was a Dou Saint, it could pose a threat to both Xiao Xun'er and himself.
Frowning deeply, Ling Ying resolved that he needed to relay this concerning news to the family back in Zhongzhou as soon as possible. He knew that only the family elders had the means to handle a situation like this.
Time flew by, and soon, a month had passed.
On a quiet afternoon, a faint medicinal fragrance filled the air in the room.
Xiao Yan sat at a table, focusing intently on handling medicinal herbs. Threads of pure spiritual energy flowed from his fingertips, gradually merging into the alchemy furnace.
Yao Lao watched every movement closely, his brow furrowed slightly but with a trace of a smile on his lips. He could tell that Xiao Yan's alchemy skills had made significant progress—more than just a slight improvement.
"Very good, my student. Your control over spiritual energy is becoming more refined," Yao Lao encouraged, his voice full of praise and satisfaction.
Xiao Yan smiled with a hint of pride. He knew how much effort he had put in over the past month, and he was finally beginning to see the rewards of his hard work.
"Thank you for your guidance, Yao Lao. I'll keep striving to improve!"
Xiao Yan replied respectfully, his heart brimming with gratitude toward Yao Lao.
Yao Lao nodded approvingly. He saw great potential in Xiao Yan, and his progress filled him with hope, strengthening his expectations for the future.
Xiao Yan furrowed his brow slightly and asked Yao Lao, "Master, what should I focus on next to achieve a breakthrough in alchemy?"
Yao Lao nodded, a profound look in his eyes as he gazed at Xiao Yan. "To advance in the alchemy arts, you must maintain inner calm and stabilize the furnace. Try integrating your spiritual energy with your mindset—let your heart and the elixir connect as one."
Upon hearing Yao Lao's advice, Xiao Yan closed his eyes, focusing his energy as he tried to merge his mindset with his spiritual power.
Suddenly, he felt a subtle shift, as if he had touched upon some hidden secret.
"This…" Xiao Yan's heart raced, his eyes brightening with sudden clarity.
He quickly began to act, his spiritual energy flowing delicately like threads, integrating smoothly with the alchemy furnace. The flame within the furnace seemed to stabilize in response to his focused mindset.
With skilled manipulation, the temperature inside the furnace gradually rose, and the aroma of the medicinal ingredients grew richer.
Xiao Yan's heart filled with anticipation.
At last, under his careful control, a translucent pill emerged within the furnace, radiating an enchanting glow.
"This… this is a Soul-Sustaining Pill!" Xiao Yan exclaimed in excitement, hardly able to believe his own success.
Yao Lao was equally thrilled. Praising Xiao Yan, he said, "Excellent! Such progress is truly remarkable, my student!"
His eyes shone with pride and hope, secretly delighted to have such an exceptional disciple. If only this outstanding student were his alone...
In Xiao Yan's palm, the Soul-Sustaining Pill sparkled with an alluring light, as radiant as a precious gem, and released a faint, soothing fragrance.
His hand trembled slightly, as though he were awaiting something monumental.
"This Soul-Sustaining Pill is the key to advancing to a five-star Dou Fighter!" Xiao Yan thought, filled with expectation and excitement.
Without hesitation, he brought the pill to his mouth. The warm elixir dissolved instantly, leaving a faint sweetness.
As the pill entered his body, a gentle energy began to spread through him, soothing and invigorating his entire being.
Xiao Yan closed his eyes, quietly feeling the power flowing within him, as if he were immersed in the embrace of nature, surrounded by boundless vitality.
Gradually, a powerful energy surged through him, his aura becoming deeper and more stable as the Dou Qi within him grew pure and concentrated.
Driven by this energy, Xiao Yan felt as if he were being reborn. A newfound strength flooded his senses.
Suddenly, his body trembled slightly, and a potent aura burst forth from within him, roaring like a wild beast.
"Whoosh!" A streak of golden light erupted from his body, dazzling like a meteor cutting across the night sky.
Xiao Yan sensed his strength surging as he broke through to the level of a five-star Dou Fighter.
However, despite reaching this new level, his mood was unexpectedly subdued.
His brow furrowed, his expression tinged with melancholy, as though something weighed on his mind.
Noticing this, Yao Lao approached him with concern. "What's wrong, kid? Reaching five-star Dou Fighter is something to be happy about!"
Xiao Yan scratched his head, replying awkwardly, "Yao Lao, it's true that I advanced quickly in refining and cultivation, but compared to the speed when Master Shui Wuyue helped me refine and absorb different flames, it feels so much slower!"
(End of Chapter)