Breaking free from the scrawny man's support, Jialie Ao stood up and walked to Xiao Yan. Patting his chest provocatively, he said, "Xiao Yan, hit me again if you dare."
"Since you're seeking death, I'll grant your wish." Xiao Yan, his confidence inflated to the extreme, was spurred by Jialie Ao's provocation. He immediately unleashed his Stone Crushing Palm again.
This time, however, Jialie Ao, who was prepared, didn't get knocked back. He only staggered a few steps before standing firm.
Jialie Ao took Xiao Yan's attack head-on, unharmed. Aside from Xiao Se and Xun Er, everyone present looked on in disbelief.
Some mercenaries with keen eyesight quickly noticed something strange. One of them shouted, "Young Master Xiao Yan didn't use Dou Qi just now; it was only Dou Zhi Qi!"(The energy assimilated before becoming a Dou Zhe was actually called Dou Zhi Qi; after becoming a Dou Zhe, the assimilated energy was now known as true Dou Qi.)
The moment this was said, it was like a stone dropped into a calm lake, causing ripples. Everyone began to discuss it.
"How is that possible? Isn't Young Master Xiao Yan a Dou Zhe? Shouldn't he be using Dou Qi? Why is it only Dou Zhi Qi?"
"Right, and it seems to be only around the fourth stage of Dou Zhi Qi(Fourth stage of Dou Disciple), definitely not higher than the fifth stage."
Hearing the crowd's murmurs, Jialie Ao's pale face twisted into a sickly grin. "Haha, I knew it! Xiao Yan, you're not a Dou Zhe anymore. Haha..."
As he spoke, he raised his right foot and kicked Xiao Yan hard in the stomach.
In the next moment, Xiao Yan's body bent like a bow as he was knocked several meters back.
"Ugh." Kneeling on the ground, Xiao Yan clutched his stomach, vomiting bile. It was clear that Jialie Ao had used his full strength in that kick.
Everyone looked at Xiao Yan, who had been kicked away, with wide eyes, unable to believe what they were seeing.
"Are you okay? Let me handle this," Xun Er said, walking up to Xiao Yan with a hint of helplessness after seeing him spit out bile from the blow.
The suspicious stares around him pierced Xiao Yan's heart like needles, breaking his pride. Along with it, his dignity and the name of the genius were shattered. At this moment, the mental blow he suffered far exceeded any physical pain.
"Get away!" Hearing Xun Er's voice, Xiao Yan swung his sleeve, covering his stomach, and fled.
"..." Watching his retreating figure, Xun Er could only shake her head helplessly. She glanced at Jialie Ao, and a cold glint flashed through her beautiful eyes. After a brief pause, she followed Xiao Yan, to the astonishment and envy of the crowd.
"Brother, isn't that Xiao Yan and Xun Er from your clan? Why don't you help them?" Long Kui's curious voice echoed in Xiao Se's heart.
Xiao Se smiled slightly and replied, "They're not my clan members. The only family I have is you, Long Kui."
"Hehe, thank you, brother," Long Kui's beautiful face softened with a smile. Then, her smile faded slightly as she frowned and said, "But I don't like that Jialie Ao. He definitely has a habit of harassing innocent girls."
Xiao Se smiled and replied, "Since you don't like him, I'll take care of him for you. Long Kui, close your eyes and withdraw your spiritual perception. When I call you again, you can return to normal."
"I understand, brother." Long Kui, obediently, withdrew her perception as instructed.
As the crowd gradually dispersed, Xiao Se silently locked onto Jialie Ao with his spiritual power. He quietly took out three steel needles coated with neurotoxins from "Twenty Four Moonlit Bridges" and used the hidden weapon technique "Bat Wing Reincarnation."
Under the cover of the crowd, no one noticed the poisonous needles in Xiao Se's hand. Jialie Ao, still basking in the glory of his recent victory, was unaware of what was coming.
"Swish, swish..."
Just as Jialie Ao reveled in his triumph, the three poisoned needles shot out from Xiao Se's hand, flying in a straight line before splitting into an arc.
"Ahhh!"
The needles accurately struck their target, leaving Jialie Ao howling in pain. Blood stained his pants as agony spread through his body.
Seeing his target hit, Xiao Se's lips curled into a smile, and he quietly disappeared into the shadows, using the "Smoke Step."
After leaving the market, Xiao Se didn't return home immediately. He hurriedly rushed to the back mountains of the Xiao family estate, circling around several times before having Long Kui check for any traces of Ling Ying. Once confirming that there was no pursuit, he slipped into the waterfall cave.
Inside the cave, Long Kui eagerly flew out from her space, throwing herself into Xiao Se's arms and playfully wrapping her arms around his neck. "Brother, what did you do to Jialie Ao?"
Xiao Se lovingly patted her head and smiled, "Nothing much, just made sure he won't cause trouble again."
"Thank you, brother, on behalf of all the girls," Long Kui said, her eyes curving into crescent moons as she laughed.
After some affectionate time with Long Kui, Xiao Se took out two level-one wood element magic cores and pre-prepared medicinal extracts from his storage belt. Looking at Long Kui, he said eagerly, "Long Kui, I still can't make second-grade pills like the Vitality Spirit Liquid, so I'll need your help."
"Don't worry, brother. I'm happy to finally be of help," Long Kui smiled as she merged with Xiao Se.
While Xiao Se was refining pills, in Xun Er's courtyard at the Xiao family estate, a serene figure stood gracefully.
The girl was dressed in a light purple dress, gazing calmly at the sky. The gentle wind blew her dress, outlining her perfect figure.
At this moment, Xun Er's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, and a trace of worry flashed through her beautiful eyes. The confidence and pride that once shone in her Xiao Yan brother's eyes had vanished.
After a long silence, Xun Er finally spoke, her melodious voice carrying a soothing quality that seemed to cleanse the soul.
"Come out."
As her words fell, a cloud of black mist rose beside her, slowly condensing into a humanoid figure—the Dou Emperor, Ling Ying, sent by the Gu clan to secretly protect her.