After resolving the issue of the supplies, Gu Changqing bid farewell to Ya Fei and turned to leave.
Nalan Yanran did not leave with Gu Changqing. Instead, she stayed at the Miteer Auction House to catch up with Ya Fei.
Upon returning to the Xiao family, Gu Changqing was immediately called in by the clan leader and the elders, with Xun'er also present.
"Changqing, just now someone from the Oba family came by, claiming you killed their guards at Miao Xiang Tower. Is it true?" the First Elder asked with concern as soon as Gu Changqing entered.
"Changqing, are you hurt?" Xun'er hurriedly ran over to Gu Changqing, checking him for any injuries.
"Sister, how could mere weaklings possibly hurt me?" Gu Changqing reassured her first, then turned to address the First Elder, Xiao Zhan, and the others. "Yes, it was me. They wanted to break my legs, so I had no choice but to send them to their graves."
"This…"
Xiao Zhan and the elders exchanged looks, dumbfounded. Did he really have to say it so nonchalantly? After all, those were Fighters, and one of them was even a five-star Fighter!
How could a young man who had just tested at one-star Fighter speak so lightly about defeating enemies of a higher level? It left the elder Da Dou Shis feeling somewhat embarrassed.
"Changqing, have you been hiding your strength?" Xiao Zhan asked with a puzzled expression.
He had a strange feeling about this boy. There was always an indistinct sense of threat radiating from Gu Changqing. Even though the boy stood casually before them, as a Da Dou Shi, Xiao Zhan felt like he couldn't find any openings to attack Gu Changqing from any angle.
While Xiao Zhan didn't believe Gu Changqing was strong enough to challenge a Da Dou Shi, he was certain that the boy wasn't as simple as he appeared.
"I wouldn't say I'm hiding my strength… but let's just say that within the Dou Zhe level, I'm invincible," Gu Changqing shrugged nonchalantly.
In truth, he was invincible even beneath the Dou Ling stage.
In the cultivation world, there were stages: Qi Condensation, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and so on. Beyond the introductory Qi Condensation stage, which corresponded with Dou Zhi Qi, the Foundation Establishment stage was equivalent to Dou Zhe, Dou Shi, and Da Dou Shi. His overall strength far exceeded many Dou Qi practitioners on the continent.
*Swoosh!*
Just as Gu Changqing finished speaking, a swift figure lunged toward him.
Gu Changqing reacted quickly, his body shifting as though practicing the legendary 'Rippled Steps' technique, dodging the incoming attack with ease.
At the same time, his hand formed into a knife shape, Dou Qi swirling around him, and he slashed toward the attacker.
"Huh?"
The assailant hadn't expected Gu Changqing to respond so quickly and immediately counterattack.
The figure raised a hand, meeting Gu Changqing's knife-hand, and both figures halted momentarily.
*Whoosh!*
The swift figure then lashed out with a kick aimed at Gu Changqing's face.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
Gu Changqing's legs moved like lightning, countering the kicks with a barrage of leg shadows, filling the air with flashes of movement.
"Good boy!" the attacker exclaimed in surprise, launching a technique called Mountain Crushing Technique—a yellow-rank mid-level Dou Skill that was known for its immense power.
"Overlord Fist!" Gu Changqing responded with a shout, his fists glowing with a fierce green light. The energy gathered into a massive fist that slammed into the oncoming figure.
*Boom!*
Another intense collision forced both combatants to take a few steps back.
Finally, the attacker's identity was revealed—it was the Xiao family's First Elder. He gazed at Gu Changqing with admiration.
"Well done, boy. You've mastered several Dou Skills and use them so fluidly. No wonder you were able to kill a five-star Dou Zhe," the First Elder said with amazement, rubbing his slightly numb hand as he looked at Gu Changqing, who stood there unbothered.
Although the elder had suppressed his strength to match that of a Dou Zhe, his years of experience made his attacks deadly. Yet Gu Changqing not only reacted in time but countered with a series of Dou Skills that were seamlessly executed.
This wasn't something any ordinary one-star Fighter could do. Either Gu Changqing was hiding his true strength, or this boy was an extraordinary genius.
But in either case, it was excellent news for the Xiao family.
"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!"
"Changqing, you truly are the pride of our Xiao family. So young, and yet with such exceptional talent. I suggest we allow Changqing to train in our family's ultimate technique, Furious Lion Rage. Given that his soul has attributes of all elements, he is well-suited for it."
"Patriarch, First Elder, Third Elder, what do you think?" the Second Elder said with a big laugh, his eyes full of admiration as he looked at Gu Changqing and proposed the idea to Xiao Zhan and the others.
"I agree! The higher the level of a technique a Fighter practices, the greater their future achievements. The best technique our Xiao family possesses is the wind-elemental, Xuan-rank mid-level Furious Lion Rage. It merges both Dou Skill and Dou Technique into one, and its power rivals that of high-level Xuan techniques. It's a perfect match for Changqing's talents!"
The Third Elder clapped his hands and was the first to voice his support.
"I have no objections either. It's up to the clan leader and the boy to decide," the First Elder said, turning to Xiao Zhan, who sat at the center of the hall.
Xiao Zhan gave a slight smile. "You three old men are quick to take the good roles. Are you going to make me play the villain?" he thought wryly. Nodding his head, he spoke, "Changqing is one of us, and his talent is truly outstanding. I have no problem with him practicing the Furious Lion Rage. But Changqing, I'm concerned about the friction between you and Xiao Yan. I hope there won't be a day when you two clash."
This was Xiao Zhan's greatest worry. The tension between Xiao Yan and Gu Changqing ran deep, and it wasn't because Gu Changqing sought out conflict—Xiao Yan sometimes acted without thinking.
Xiao Zhan had hoped the two would reconcile as they grew older, but after the marriage annulment, their relationship had only worsened.
"Uncle Xiao, rest assured. As long as the Third Young Master doesn't provoke me, I will not actively go against him. As for Furious Lion Rage, I won't be needing it. I'll be choosing an all-element technique that better suits my cultivation," Gu Changqing reassured Xiao Zhan with a slight shake of his head.
"That's good. I was worried you two would one day come to blows. I'll make sure to speak with Xiao Yan as well," Xiao Zhan said, relieved. With the Xiao family's resources and Xiao Yan's talent, there was no way Xiao Yan could take on Gu Changqing. His only hope was to get Xiao Yan to let go of his grudge.
The three elders tried to persuade Gu Changqing one last time, but when it became clear he wasn't interested in Furious Lion Rage technique, they could only sigh with regret.
Had Gu Changqing chosen to cultivate it, his ties to the Xiao family would have deepened. But as it stood, their most prized technique simply wasn't enough for him.