[Battle Qi: Eighth Stage]
On the Dou Qi Continent, in the southwestern corner of the Jia Ma Empire's northwest region, within the Xiao Clan of Wu Tan City—
In the center of the vast outer training ground, the black stone monument standing several zhang tall suddenly flared with light. Golden characters, bold as coiling dragons and soaring phoenixes, shone dazzlingly, throwing the entire field into silence.
From the VIP seats off to one side of the square came the continuous sound of teacups slipping from hands and shattering on the ground.
The high-level representatives from the various powers of Wu Tan City all stared, thunderstruck, their faces filled with disbelief.
They had come today for one simple reason: to verify whether the Xiao Clan's third young master, Xiao Yan, had really raised his Battle Qi by four stages in a single year, as the rumors claimed.
But reality far exceeded their expectations.
It wasn't four stages in a year…
It was… five stages in a year!
"Terrifying!"
"With cultivation speed like this, the Xiao Clan has struck it rich this time."
"Indeed. Who knows, a few decades from now, a Dou Emperor might appear among them?"
"This third young master of the Xiao Clan was already monstrously talented in the past. Who would've thought that, after being a waste for three years, he'd become even more monstrous now."
"That's right. To jump five stages in one year—so long as he doesn't fall mid-way, he's sure to restore the Xiao Clan to its former glory."
"…"
After wiping their eyes or pinching their own arms and confirming that there was no mistake in the numbers on the test monument, the upper echelons in the VIP seats exchanged looks, all wearing the same horrified expression.
"Brother Xiao Ting, looks like Cousin Xiao Yan's talent has recovered. You seem very shocked?"
On one side of the square, a girl's subtly amused voice sounded by a young man's ear, pulling his dazed mind back to reality.
"Yes." The boy named Xiao Ting turned his head slightly, his gaze falling on the girl beside him.
She wore a finely tailored cyan dress, her temperament otherworldly, like a solitary green lotus blooming in some forgotten valley.
Her brows were as delicate as a painting, her skin snow-white, her figure slender, her features exquisitely refined—like an immortal beauty stepping out of a scroll painting into the mortal world.
"Isn't Xun'er surprised?" Xiao Ting's lips curved faintly.
He wasn't truly shocked that Xiao Yan's talent had recovered—and even surpassed what it was before.
As he was now, he knew clearly that Xiao Yan would become a Dou God in the future; this sort of thing was nothing noteworthy in comparison.
At most, as the cousin who'd always had a close relationship with him, he was happy to see Xiao Yan once again proving himself.
What truly shocked him was that Xiao Yan's spirited demeanor had triggered the awakening of his past-life memories, making him suddenly realize—he was a transmigrator.
In his previous life, he was born in a backward rural village in a coastal province, second among three sons and one daughter. As everyone knew, the second child was never the favored one.
Growing up in an unloving environment, he became taciturn and ordinary. Though his grades were decent when he graduated high school, his parents insisted he go to work instead—so he could earn money to support his siblings' education.
After being drained for several years, the era of short videos arrived. Endless information began to reshape his worldview. He chose to unilaterally sever ties with his family and headed to the big city.
After accumulating some savings, he decided to reward himself by custom-ordering ten life-sized 3D anime figures in one go.
On the way back to his rented apartment with the delivery, he was debating which anime wife to enjoy first.
Then, unsurprisingly, an accident happened: he ran into Truck-kun.
"Those ten figures back then were: Yan Lingji, Yun Xiao, Xun'er, Queen Medusa, Little Fairy Doctor, Cao Ying, Qing Lin, Ling Qingzhu, Raiden Shogun, and Tifa."
"Five of them were from Battle Through the Heavens. Could that be related to my transmigration into this world?"
The idle thought flashed through Xiao Ting's mind as his gaze instinctively swept over Xun'er's flawless face.
She was far more beautiful than either anime or figurines, perfectly matching the image of a bearer of the Ancient Clan's perfect Dou God bloodline.
"Of course Xun'er is also surprised." Xun'er lowered her gaze with a gentle smile, the corners of her lips lifting slightly. "But I'm more happy than anything. From now on, Cousin Xiao Yan won't need Brother Xiao Ting to protect him anymore. Brother Xiao Ting can spend more time with Xun'er, right?"
"Of course." Xiao Ting nodded with a smile and reached out to hold Xun'er's small hand. "Tomorrow, I'll accompany you to the back mountain to enjoy the scenery. How about it?"
After transmigrating into the Battle Through the Heavens world, his past-life memories hadn't awakened right away.
Xiao Yan was the one who'd started with past-life memories, but they'd gradually faded with time, leaving mainly the influence of compulsory education and a relatively proper worldview.
Xiao Ting was the exact opposite. At first, he had no concrete memories of his previous life—only the subconscious imprints engraved on his soul: cautious behavior and a willingness to sacrifice for family.
Fortunately, his family in this life was genuinely good. His birth mother was Xiao Zhan's younger sister, and his father, though of ordinary status, was handsome and hardworking in cultivation—a loose cultivator who'd married into the Xiao Clan.
Ten years ago, when the old clan head Xiao Lin led the clan elites to explore a Dou Emperor's tomb and never returned, the Xiao Clan was forced to strategically withdraw from the Jia Ma Sacred City to Wu Tan City. On the way, they were ambushed several times by mysterious black-clad men of doubtful identity. His parents died separately while protecting Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan.
Ever since, Xiao Zhan had treated him as his own son. Xiao Yan, before becoming a waste, behaved like a wayward, arrogant young master, but he always cherished and protected Xiao Ting.
Shortly after the Xiao Clan returned to Wu Tan City, Xun'er was sent to live with them.
Xiao Yan, with the mind of an adult, was naturally very curious about this little sister whose background was obviously extremely mysterious.
Feeling somewhat mischievous, and also pitying that Xun'er was suffering from some kind of cold-type affliction (in truth, it was the Gold Emperor Incinerating Heavenly Flame tempering her meridians and bloodline, cleansing away impurities to build the strongest foundation), he secretly snuck into Xun'er's room at midnight, taking along the little tail he could never shake off—Xiao Ting.
Perhaps because she felt two little kids posed no real threat, the bodyguards hidden around Xun'er made no move at first.
Only when Xiao Yan was about to lay hands on Xun'er did a mysterious expert appear, knock him out, and throw him outside.
From then on, Xiao Yan treated Xun'er with distant respect and underlying wariness.
Xiao Ting was still ignorant back then. He only knew that his cousin disliked Xun'er, so he followed along and disliked her too.
After Xun'er came to the Xiao Clan, all her peers adored her. They willingly drew close to her and played with her.
Only Xiao Ting, because of Xiao Yan, had hostility toward Xun'er, using some childish tricks to target her.
No one knew exactly when things went sideways, but over time the two of them became bickering childhood sweethearts.
Xun'er, always gentle, polite, and cool toward everyone else, showed only to Xiao Ting the straightforwardness a little girl should have.
The big change came after Xiao Yan fell into waste status. Xun'er was among the very few who neither mocked nor rolled her eyes at him.
By then, Xiao Ting had grown up, begun to understand affection between men and women, and his budding feelings—perhaps also influenced by his slowly reviving past-life memories—made him draw closer to Xun'er.
But up until today, he'd mostly regarded Xun'er as a younger sister.
From this moment onward, however, his attitude was—
Rich little sister, your big brother is starving and wants to eat soft rice.
As Xiao Yan's aunt's son, and with such a close relationship…
All he needed to do was wait for Xiao Yan to become a God someday. His own future would be more than secure.
As for Xun'er—she was more than worthy.
Eating a bit of soft rice in the early stages… as a transmigrator, he felt absolutely no pressure about it.
Right now, feeling the warmth from the small hand in his palm, Xun'er's face instantly flushed scarlet after her brief stupor. She'd never imagined she'd be held like this in such a situation.
"Brother Xiao Ting, you, you…"
Nearby, the boys secretly peeking at Xun'er: "!"
The hidden bodyguards protecting Xun'er: "!!"
The sky had fallen!
Just then, Xiao Ting suddenly felt his mind blur.
His consciousness entered a strange space, where he saw an ancient-looking book.
…