"Now, let me show you how bad a boyfriend can really be!"
Gu Changqing pulled Nalan Yanran close, his arm wrapping around her slender waist as he leaned in to kiss her soft, red lips. His other hand gripped a peak of her chest, causing her to gasp, losing all resistance.
"You scoundrel!"
Not far away, Yun Yun turned around just in time to see this scene, shouting angrily. If this guy weren't such a rascal with so many girlfriends, she might have accepted being with him by now.
The next day, Gu Changqing left the Yun Lan Sect with Nalan Yanran. It wasn't that he didn't want to keep teasing Yun Yun, but she was ignoring him completely. He left her a few sixth-tier pills as a farewell gift and then departed.
Returning to the capital, Gu Changqing resumed his duties at the Eternal Evergreen Mansion, while helping Yao Ye, Yao Yue, and Nalan Yanran rapidly increase their strength. The simplest way was to let them absorb his innate divine essence.
Under his dedicated guidance, Yao Ye, Yao Yue, and Nalan Yanran's strength soared.
Yao Ye, originally a Dou Grandmaster, was enhanced by Gu Changqing, who refined her body, elevating her to the Dou Spirit stage.
Yao Yue, the little princess, experienced the most significant improvement. After taking a high-tier seventh-tier Soul Nurturing Pill, her strength reached Dou Grandmaster level. If it weren't for concerns about her rapid improvement affecting her stability, she could have advanced further from the remaining pill's potency.
However, her talent improvement was even more remarkable. The green lotus leaf she absorbed, a heavenly treasure born from the Green Lotus Core Flame, infused her soul with vitality, enhancing her fire and wood attributes.
As a result, Yao Yue's affinity with fire and wood increased tremendously, and her talent in alchemy grew, reaching the level of a fourth-tier alchemist. With a bit of practice, she could soon progress to the fifth or even sixth tier.
As for Nalan Yanran, her cultivation remained at Dou Disciple, as Gu Changqing focused on tempering her foundation. Most of his divine essence was allocated to Yao Yue and Yao Ye.
It's also worth mentioning that the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King had successfully transformed into a little girl with purple hair, appearing about seven or eight years old. Her strength was now at the peak of a third-rank magical beast, on the verge of breaking into the fourth rank.
Once she reached the fourth rank, she could devour her associated Purple Crystal Source, which would propel her directly to the fifth rank, bypassing the need for further cultivation in the fourth rank.
Half a month later, Gu Changqing set off for Wu Tan City with Nalan Yanran, Liu Mei, and the little Purple Crystal Winged Lion King.
A year had passed, and Gu Changqing was eager to reunite with his elder sister Xun Er.
In a secluded valley of the Magic Beast Mountain Range, Gu Changqing intended to bring Xiao Yixian along, only to find a letter she'd left behind.
"Dear Big Bad Wolf,
When you read this letter, I'll already have left the Jia Ma Empire. I want to see the world beyond this place.
Thank you for teaching me how to control my Woeful Poison Body and giving me so much knowledge of medicine. Staying in one place won't allow me to grow quickly. I love helping people, and I'm passionate about medicine.
I'm taking the gifts you've given me, along with the last tokens from my parents, and I'll carve out my own path. Don't worry, when I fully master the Woeful Poison Body, I'll come back.
And one last thing: Don't go flirting with all the girls, especially Yanran and...or else when I return, I'll poison you! Humph."
"..."
"Xiao Yixian has already left."
Standing beside Gu Changqing, Nalan Yanran felt a pang of sadness. The young girl she remembered as gentle and serene had already embarked on her own journey. In a vast land like the Dou Qi Continent, who knew when they might meet again?
"A little exploration could do her good. Who knows, maybe in a few years, she'll return as a great expert."
Gu Changqing folded Xiao Yixian's letter with a smile.
"Bad guy, aren't you worried? Xiao Yixian's strength is still so low," Nalan Yanran frowned, giving him a sidelong glance.
"Weak?"
Gu Changqing raised an eyebrow at her.
"You'd better worry about yourself. Xiao Yixian has a unique constitution—she may already be stronger than you. Do you really think she'll be in danger?"
His words were not without reason. Xiao Yixian had the Woeful Poison Body, known in cultivation terms as the Divine Poison Saint Physique, gaining power by absorbing toxins.
Now she was also cultivating the Nine Transformations of the Heavenly Silkworm, allowing her to perfectly absorb various poisons.
With this training, it wouldn't be surprising if she had broken into the Dou Disciple level or even reached Foundation Establishment by now.
Moreover, Xiao Yixian was cautious and adept with poisons; even if confronted by Dou Spirits or Dou Kings, she could likely hold her ground.
Comparing Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yixian, Gu Changqing had more confidence in Xiao Yixian's ability to survive outside.
"Stronger than me? That's impossible!" Nalan Yanran couldn't believe it. She had Gu Changqing's personal guidance, and her talent was nothing to scoff at—she had reached Dou Disciple, comparable to a one- or two-star Dou Grandmaster. How could she lose to Xiao Yixian, who was still just a Dou Disciple half a year ago?
"You'll find out the next time you meet her."
Gu Changqing didn't explain further and instead led the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King that Xiao Yixian left behind as they returned to Wu Tan City.
Wu Tan City, Xiao Clan
Today was the annual coming-of-age ceremony in the Xiao Clan. During this ceremony, clan members with Dou Power of seven or higher would stay within the clan to continue their training, while those below would be assigned to help manage the clan's affairs.
Of course, those who reached Dou Apprentice before the age of twenty would still receive a good position, even in management.
"Did you hear? Third Young Master's talent has recovered!"
"I knew about that ages ago. During the pre-test a month ago, his Dou Power had already reached the fifth level—everyone was shocked!"
"Two levels of Dou Power in a year... It seems Third Young Master has truly recovered."
"Still, if his strength is below the seventh level during the coming-of-age ceremony, he'll still be sent out."
"Such bad luck for Xiao Yan. He lost his Dou Power mysteriously for three years, dropping to just three levels. If not for that, he might have entered Jia Nan Academy and possibly even reached five- or six-star Dou Apprentice by now."
"Even if he's sent out, he could still make a comeback. As long as he reaches eight levels by twenty, he'll still have a chance to join Jia Nan Academy. With his talent, he might catch up within two years!"
"Hah! I still prefer Lady Xun Er and Gu Changqing. Last time, Xun Er's test result was six-star Dou Apprentice—that kind of talent is practically legendary, even in Jia Nan Academy."
"That guy Gu Changqing is a real monster. Rumor has it he stirred up quite a storm in the capital. But somehow, he feels different—do you think it's really him?"
"Well, we'll know when he returns."
The Xiao Clan's courtyard buzzed with excitement. Over the past few years, the Xiao Clan had grown stronger, attracting attention from nearby forces eager to witness the Xiao Clan's rise, especially with figures like Xiao Xun Er and Gu Changqing, who were making names for themselves. Even Xiao Yan, the Third Young Master, had endured twists and turns in his journey, making the clan's story even more captivating.