"It's nothing!"
Xiao Yan composed his expression and smiled at Nalan Yanyun: "Sister Yanyun, my mother left something behind and instructed my father to tell me it was meant for her future daughter-in-law. I'll go fetch it for you now."
Nalan Yanyun, having developed the skill of reading people during her time in the Nalan Family, could tell Xiao Yan needed to leave for some reason he didn't want her to know about. She didn't press further, nodding obediently: "Go ahead, Brother Xiao Yan. I'll be fine here alone."
"I'll return before dinner." Xiao Yan made this promise before turning and quickly walking away.
Gu Han caught this scene from the corner of his eye, a glimmer flashing in his gaze: "It seems Yao Lao has awakened and is going to confront Xiao Yan."
He didn't follow to join the commotion, instead continuing to answer questions from the Xiao Family juniors.
During his limited time with the Xiao Family, he intended to become their white moonlight.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yan hurried back to his courtyard, entered his room and closed the door, looking down at the ring on his hand with a grave expression: "Who are you?!"
"Why are you in my mother's keepsake?"
"Do you know why my cultivation has been regressing?"
An ethereal energy emerged from the ring, materializing into the illusory form of an old man.
"Little fellow, no need to rush. Questions should be asked one at a time." Yao Chen stroked his beard and spoke calmly: "As for my identity, too much time has passed and I've nearly forgotten. You may address me as Yao Lao."
"As for why I'm in your mother's keepsake - if you mean this ring, it was refined for me by my closest friend who searched through countless heavenly and earthly treasures. For certain reasons, I've been residing within it. Isn't that perfectly normal?"
"Regarding the reason for your cultivation regression, I should actually thank you for your offerings over these past three years."
Offerings!?
Among all the words Yao Chen had spoken, only these two remained in Xiao Yan's mind, striking him like lightning.
"My cultivation regression, my Dou Disciple inexplicably disappearing - it was all your doing?!" Xiao Yan gritted his teeth, his tone icy and filled with burning rage.
"Boy, I didn't do this intentionally." A trace of embarrassment flashed in Yao Lao's eyes: "This ring is special, allowing souls to reside within. While I was dormant, I couldn't recover on my own unless someone with sufficiently high soul strength wore it."
"While recovering from my injuries, I unconsciously devoured your Dou Disciple."
This explanation was half-truth and half-lie.
To restore his soul power, what he needed wasn't Dou Qi, but the spiritual power contained between heaven and earth.
While dormant, he couldn't actively devour the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Power to recover, needing to use the ring's wearer as a bridge.
If the soul strength wasn't sufficient, they couldn't serve as a conduit for absorbing the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Power.
Xiao Yan's disappearing Dou Disciple was because he became the vessel through which Yao Lao absorbed the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Power.
However, Yao Lao had actually awakened after just the first year and could recover on his own. The reason he continued to devour Xiao Yan's Dou Disciple was because he had been blinded once before, and this time he was betting everything, so he had to carefully examine Xiao Yan's character and integrity.
But these details were clearly not suitable to share with Xiao Yan.
"Damn you!"
Xiao Yan didn't think too deeply about it. Yao Lao's words were equivalent to an admission, and his mind was currently dominated by rage.
Instinctively removing the ring and throwing it against the wall, it produced a crisp sound upon impact. Instead of falling to the ground after bouncing back, it hovered mid-air.
Witnessing this bizarre scene, Xiao Yan—having lived two lives and endured three years of scorn that tempered his character—instantly calmed himself, though cold sweat drenched his back.
The Xiao Family had been a Dou King clan a decade ago. Though now declined, they retained some accumulated knowledge. From what he knew, only rare and esteemed figures like Alchemists utilized soul power during pill refinement.
Yet even someone of Pill King Gu He's stature had never been rumored to possess "Astral Projection" abilities.
Xiao Yan couldn't help recalling cultivation novels from his previous life, where only powerful experts could achieve "Astral Projection."
Old Monster Rebirth by Seizing Body...
Wait, this old man couldn't be planning to seize his body—otherwise, he would have acted directly.
Even if he intended to, Xiao Yan lacked the capacity to resist.
Better to understand the situation first.
Taking a deep breath, Xiao Yan inquired, "Old fellow, you must be aware of all the scorn and mockery I've endured these past three years, right? It's all thanks to you."
"Heh." Yao Lao showed no trace of guilt, narrowing his eyes with a smile. "Hasn't these three years trained your patience and mental fortitude?"
"Talented individuals are common, but those with steadfast resolve are rare. Especially on the path of cultivation, mental strength matters more for reaching greater heights."
Hearing this, Xiao Yan relaxed his clenched fists.
He knew his own circumstances well. As a transmigrator with memories from a previous life—though many had faded—he initially felt out of place in this world. After displaying his cultivation talent, he developed an unconscious sense of superiority.
Only after becoming "useless" did he truly comprehend this world's law of the strong preying on the weak. He also recognized who around him deserved genuine regard, wholeheartedly accepting his father and two brothers.
From this perspective, he could indeed thank the old man.
Regardless, now that he had uncovered the reason for his regression, his cultivation talent must have returned.
Finally, he could shed the label of "trash" and re-enter the path of cultivation.
"Old man, you won't keep devouring my Dou Qi from now on, will you?" Xiao Yan eyed Yao Lao warily. "If you insist on absorbing it, find another host. I can't afford to sustain you."
"Rest assured, now that I've awakened, I can recover on my own. I won't hinder your cultivation anymore." Seeing Xiao Yan control his emotions so quickly, Yao Lao grew even more satisfied.
"Really?" Xiao Yan responded noncommittally, his eyes shifting. "Then you should leave."
Yao Lao's mouth twitched as he said, "Do you wish to become a peerless powerhouse?"
"Do you want to become a respected Alchemist?"
"Do you want..."
Thus began a tentative conversation between two cunning foxes, one old and one young.
By the end, Xiao Yan admitted—albeit sheepishly—that he was tempted.
As Yao Lao pointed out, even with his talent restored, it would take years to break through to Dou Fighter. By then, he'd be twenty. Even with Nalan Yanyun's help freeing him from family burdens, starting late meant perpetual lagging.
Consider that Gu Han outside, several months younger than him, was already a Five-Star Dou Fighter.
Moreover, if he had the chance to become an Alchemist, he certainly wouldn't let it slip away.
As for conspiring with the wolf... he couldn't shake off this old man anyway. If you can't refuse it, why not enjoy it?
"You're truly stronger than Pill King Gu He?" Xiao Yan confirmed once more.
He already had the answer in his heart—Gu He couldn't possibly achieve "Astral Projection."
"He's not even qualified to be my disciple," Yao Chen said with a disdainful tone.
This attitude actually made Xiao Yan trust him more.
Then Yao Chen continued, "For example, regarding your fiancée—even a Grade Seven Alchemist wouldn't be able to detect the issue, but I know exactly what's wrong. Moreover, I only need to use a Fourth-Grade Pill of my own creation to detoxify her, allowing her to resume cultivation."
Xiao Yan: !!!
"Is this true?" Xiao Yan asked eagerly.
Although they had just met today, Nalan Yanyun had already left a deep impression on him.
Their shared warmth in adversity, mutual understanding of suffering, the stubbornness in the young girl's eyes, and her promise to sacrifice everything for him—all of these moved his heart.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have made such a vow to her.
If Yao Lao could help Nalan Yanyun restore her talent...
Then they could grow stronger together.
And pursue the scenery at the peak—side by side!
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