The arrival of the Jia Nan Academy recruitment team brought a wave of excitement to Wu Tan City. After all, they didn't visit every small city, which led to a continuous stream of people from surrounding small cities who wished to enter the academy coming to take the assessment.
Unfortunately, this wind came quickly and left just as fast.
As the recruitment team departed seven days later, Wu Tan City gradually returned to its former tranquility.
As for Chen Xiao.
Breaking through to Dou Shi didn't bring much change to his life; he still diligently cultivated every day.
Mastering the "Roar of the Mad Lion," Yan Return Strike, and even the Purple Cloud Wings, all required time.
Gaining knowledge through reading also required accumulation.
Only by being neither arrogant nor impatient could one steadily improve!
However, at the beginning and middle of each month, Chen Xiao would also invite Xun Er to the Mitre Auction House.
While keeping an eye out for Storage Rings in stock, he would also purchase some Amplification Pills to aid his cultivation.
In addition, he would use this opportunity to sell the useless medicinal herbs obtained from the stone chamber in the cave in batches.
This was probably the only adjustment in Chen Xiao's monotonous life of arduous cultivation.
Leisurely Clouds, Reflections on the Pond, Passing Days; Things Change, Stars Shift, Several Autumns.
Two and a half years passed in the blink of an eye.
...
Xiao Family Back Mountain.
Chen Xiao, whose height had increased by another palm, stood on the cliff. The seemingly substantial Dou Qi armor on his body gradually faded.
In contrast, the long saber in his hand began to be covered by a thick layer of ice-blue Dou Qi.
As Chen Xiao injected more and more Dou Qi, the color on the long saber became increasingly brilliant. In the end, as the Dou Qi surged, it actually formed the shape of an energy lion's head roaring up at the sky.
"Roar of the Mad Lion!"
With a soft shout from Chen Xiao, the energy lion's head at the tip of the saber shot out fiercely, hurtling towards the dense forest to the side.
In an instant, the violent roar of a lion echoed through the Back Mountain.
This was immediately followed by the crackling sound of trees breaking.
Looking closely, the area swept by the energy lion's head, spanning over ten zhang, was already a mess. In the center, there was even a shocking large pit!
Seeing this, a satisfied smile couldn't help but appear on Chen Xiao's face, which had shed some of its childishness and could gradually be described as handsome.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Crisp clapping sounds rang out. Xun Er, who had been watching from not far away, walked forward and praised him without reservation.
"Brother Chen Xiao's control over this Dou Skill is becoming more and more proficient. In Xun Er's opinion, with the perfected Yan Return Strike and this 'Roar of the Mad Lion,' even Uncle Xiao Zhan probably wouldn't be able to withstand twenty moves from Brother Chen Xiao."
Xun Er, who was nearly eleven years old, was almost a head taller than she was two and a half years ago. Although her face was still youthful, she was already a beauty in the making.
Her current cheerful words made Chen Xiao, who thought his state of mind should be quite good, feel light and airy.
"Clan Leader Xiao Zhan has been immersed in the Da Dou Shi realm for many years, and his combat experience is not something a young brat like me can compare with. However, if I were to face the clan leaders of the other two major families, I am confident I could defeat them!"
One who takes from others is beholden to them, and one who eats from others is indebted to them.
The Xiao Family treated him well, and Chen Xiao didn't want to deliberately belittle Xiao Zhan to elevate himself.
Although after two and a half years of arduous cultivation, his current realm was indeed slightly ahead of Xiao Zhan.
His Dou Skills and cultivation technique were also only slightly higher.
In summary, the advantage was only a little bit.
"It seems Brother Chen Xiao is preparing to make a move?"
Xun Er smiled sweetly, then speculated with a slightly more serious expression.
She knew all about Chen Xiao's past. Over the years, Chen Xiao had never hidden his hostility towards the Oba Family.
"It's been seven years, it's time to settle it. I'll deal with these trivial matters as soon as possible. In half a year, when the Jia Nan Academy recruitment team arrives, I will go and sign up," Chen Xiao nodded in response.
Chen Xiao had already planned out the remaining half year.
The matter of the Oba Family needed to be dealt with. In addition, he also needed to complete the subsequent parts of the advanced cultivation technique, the Ice Emperor Scripture.
Hearing Chen Xiao's plans, Xun Er was slightly lost in thought.
She hadn't even noticed herself how quickly time had passed. In the blink of an eye, she had been in the Xiao Family for so many years.
Thinking of the task she had, Xun Er felt a bit of a headache.
Over the years, Ling Ying had searched almost every corner of the Xiao Family, but he couldn't find the item they were looking for at all.
This left only one explanation.
That thing was being carried by a high-level member of the Xiao Family!
Although Xun Er had a suspected target, she couldn't use forceful methods, which made it truly difficult to act.
Coming back to her senses, Xun Er smiled helplessly.
"Let's not talk about that for now, Brother Chen Xiao. We should head back quickly. Uncle Xiao Zhan announced to the entire clan last night that there's a major announcement at noon today, and no one is to be absent."
Given Xun Er's status, she naturally didn't need to care.
However, since she was in the Xiao Family...
It was just a matter of giving face.
Chen Xiao also remembered this matter and immediately put his long saber into the storage ring on his fingertip.
This low-level storage ring was obtained at the Mitre Auction House and cost Chen Xiao a full ninety thousand gold coins. The space inside wasn't large, less than two cubic meters, but for the current Chen Xiao, it was barely enough.
"That's true. Clan Leader Xiao Zhan is making such a big fuss. The matter he wants to announce must be significant. Does Xun Er have any inside information?"
While asking, Chen Xiao actually had some guesses in his heart.
Xun Er smiled sweetly and said, "It's mostly related to Cousin Xiao Yan."
Hearing this, Chen Xiao became even more certain of his guess.
In recent years, he had cultivated diligently in a low-key manner and had never shown off in front of others.
Completely opposite to him was Xiao Yan.
Last year, Xiao Yan, at the tender age of ten, had reached the terrifying Nine Stages of Dou Zhi Li!
For a time, not only in the Xiao Family, but the entire Wu Tan City had heard of Xiao Yan's name. He was truly known to everyone.
Everyone was watching, wondering when this rising genius of the Xiao Family would be able to condense a Dou Qi Cyclone and enter the ranks of a Dou Zhe.
After all, this matter was not only important to the Xiao Family but also closely related to the other families in Wu Tan City, especially the tense Oba Family and Gale Family.
As the person involved, Xiao Yan was surrounded by a crowd of flatterers every day, naturally feeling a bit smug. He could be said to have displayed youthful arrogance to the fullest.
When Chen Xiao and Xun Er returned from the Back Mountain, the large training ground of the Xiao Family was already almost full of people.
The Xiao Family disciples stood at the front of the square, followed by a crowd of guards and servants.
And on the high platform, the Clan Leader Xiao Zhan, who was rarely seen in the past, and the three Elders were all present, each with an unconcealable look of joy on their faces.
"Brother Chen Xiao, I'll go over first."
Arriving at the edge of the square, Xun Er lowered her voice.
Her status in the Xiao Family was vastly different from Chen Xiao's. With so many people present, if she continued to stay by Chen Xiao's side, it would be too conspicuous.
Chen Xiao nodded slightly and watched as Xun Er walked to the first row of the crowd, while he himself remained at the edge of the square.
He waited for another ten minutes or so, during which a few more people arrived sporadically.
It wasn't until noon, seeing that the time was right, that Xiao Zhan stepped forward with a stride under the gaze of curious eyes.
"Hahaha, I've gathered everyone today because I have something to announce. Actually, it's not a big deal."
He tried hard to be humble.
Unfortunately, he couldn't be humble at all.
His mouth was almost crooked from smiling.
"In recent years, our clansmen, and even some people from other families, have been paying attention to Yan'er, constantly guessing when he would condense a Dou Qi Cyclone and become a Dou Zhe."
"What I want to say today is that from now on, you don't need to guess wildly anymore, because my son, Xiao Yan, successfully condensed a Dou Qi Cyclone last night!"
Boom!
As Xiao Zhan's words fell, the square immediately erupted in an uproar.
Xiao Zhan didn't stop them. After everyone had calmed down a little, he extended a hand to beckon.
The next moment, Xiao Yan, dressed in a black robe, walked out from the back with high spirits, accompanied by Xiao Ding and Xiao Li.
At this moment, Xiao Yan was the center of attention.
His prestige had reached its peak!
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