Stepping through the dark, glossy main gate, a dim, soft light emanated from the fire pearls embedded on both sides of the walls, further illuminating the gloomy, quiet parts of the pavilion.
Entering the pavilion, several wide passages appeared before their eyes. In front of each passage, large characters clearly indicated various attributes.
Xiao Yan's gaze swept over the passages, finally stepping onto the fire passage. He rubbed his nose, then turned back to see Xun Er's small face, flushed bright red, mixed with a hint of shyness. A little startled and surprised, he asked, "Xun Er, what's wrong?"
"Ah?" Startled even more by Xiao Yan's voice, the red flush on Xun Er's small face couldn't help but deepen a little more. After a moment, she slowly calmed down, pouted her lips, turned back to Xiao Yan, and huffed, "Nothing, hurry up and go find a cultivation technique!"
Not understanding why this girl was acting like this, Xiao Yan pointed towards the fire passage and said with a smile, "Let's go!"
Xun Er nodded, having no objection. On her small, beautiful face, a trace of red flush had not completely faded, making her charming demeanor even more captivating.
Glancing lightly at Xun Er's charming and captivating face, Xiao Yan's heart couldn't help but skip a beat, and his gaze quickly turned back to the path ahead.
As soon as they entered the fire passage, five small paths appeared again. Within those small paths, they could vaguely make out some figures of clan members.
"The third fire path." His gaze swept around, and Xiao Yan led Xun Er directly to the third small path.
Entering the small passage, they felt as if they had entered a different world. On both sides of the passage, every few meters, there was a sturdy, fire-red wooden door. At this moment, all those wooden doors had sprung open, gradually revealing a faint red light screen.
The red light screen was a type of secret defense, and at the same time, it was a final test for the young clan members. To obtain the cultivation technique within, one had to break through that light screen.
There were also quite a few clan members in the small path. At this moment, they were in front of the fire-red doors, fiercely striking at the red light screens. Occasionally, someone would succeed, and the sound of the screen shattering echoed throughout the small path. As this happened, other clan members who were vigorously attacking couldn't help but show expressions of envy on their faces.
Xiao Yan and Xun Er walked slowly along the small path, watching the clan members on both sides eagerly trying to break through the red screens.
After finding their direction, Xiao Yan saw a wooden door in front of him, on which was written the number: forty-three.
Rubbing his nose with a smile, Xiao Yan took a quick step, then stopped in front of wooden door number forty-three, and said with a light smile, "This is it."
At this moment, there were also over ten clan members in the small path. When they saw Xiao Yan standing in front of room number forty-three, all of them couldn't help but be stunned. This small room on the fire path was the one with the most solid defensive light barrier. Previously, some clan members had also tried to break through its entrance, but all had to stand there helplessly.
Ignoring the astonished gazes around him, Xiao Yan slowly placed his hand on the light barrier.
"Xiao Yan *gege*, isn't Uncle Xiao doing this with some ulterior motive?" Seeing Xiao Yan's movement, Xun Er blinked her beautiful eyes, a half-smile on her face, and said in a low voice.
After a brief assessment of the barrier's strength, Xiao Yan turned his head, feigning a fierce expression. "Little girl," he said, "it's best to pretend you haven't seen anything, haven't heard anything, otherwise...!"
Amused by Xiao Yan's expression, Xun'er feigned a frown on her delicate, pretty face. The young woman exuded a myriad of charms, causing the other clansmen around, who were attacking the protective barrier, to momentarily become somewhat dazed.
Smiling cheerfully, Xiao Yan took two steps back, his feet spreading slightly apart. His palms slowly rose, his eyes half-closed, as the faint Dou Qi within his body began to circulate rapidly along its usual path.
Xun'er leaned casually against the nearby wall, her body, perfectly accentuated by her form-fitting attire, revealing exquisite curves. Her autumn-water-like eyes stared intently at Xiao Yan as he gathered his strength. In her eyes, a golden flame gradually appeared.
"Hah!" His half-closed eyes suddenly snapped open. Xiao Yan's foot stomped forward fiercely, his body moving along a strange trajectory as he shot straight towards the light barrier. His right hand punched out, carrying a faint, sharp whistling sound, finally striking forcefully towards the red barrier.
"Eight Extremities Collapse!"
He inwardly roared. Xiao Yan's fist slammed hard onto the red light barrier, and instantly, a circular ripple of vibrations, like a great wave, rapidly spread outwards from the center of the light barrier.
"Break!" His small face stern, he let out a cold shout, watching the red light barrier vibrate about ten times. Then, like a sheet of glass, it shattered with a crash.
Slowly exhaling a breath, Xiao Yan's arm trembled slightly, his sleeve rustling, before silently sliding down a moment later.
Beside him, watching the barrier shatter into pieces, Xun'er gently clapped her small hands. Her rosy lips parted as she nodded with a smile and said, "This Dou Skill truly is extraordinarily powerful."
Relaxing his body, Xiao Yan stretched his arm slightly, then said with a faint smile, "It's only barely adequate."
Hearing Xiao Yan say that, the more than ten clansmen on the path instantly felt a little shocked. "Such a monstrous Dou Skill is only 'barely adequate'?" they thought. "Isn't that a bit too discouraging for others...?"
"Ah, let's go in and see what Dou Skill it is!" Xiao Yan said, immediately entering the pink room.
Upon entering the room, the light became several shades brighter. The room wasn't very large; in the small central area, there was a stone platform, upon which quietly lay a dark red scroll.
Stepping forward, Xiao Yan picked up the dark red scroll with some interest. He glanced over its surface and said softly, "High-grade Huang-tier Cultivation Method: Flame Refining!"
"Indeed, it's not bad," Xun'er's laughing voice came from behind him. "It's the family's top fire-attribute cultivation method. It seems Uncle Xiao put in quite a bit of effort for Xiao Yan!"
Nodding with a smile, Xiao Yan inwardly agreed nonchalantly.
A fair, jade-like hand reached out from behind, taking the dark red scroll from Xiao Yan's hand. It was none other than that girl, Xun'er. Holding the scroll, she said softly and gently, "Xiao Yan *gege*, although you can learn higher-grade cultivation methods later, when focusing on initial cultivation, the higher the grade of the cultivation method, the greater the future achievements. A high-grade Huang-tier cultivation method... is still a bit too low."
Xiao Yan smiled and nodded slightly.
Seeing Xiao Yan's calm expression, Xun Er's willow-like brows furrowed slightly. She sighed a little helplessly, her hand moving gently as an ancient, jade-fire colored scroll appeared in her grasp.
"This is a high-grade Profound-tier fire-attribute cultivation technique: 'Flaming Play Art!'"
Xun Er caressed the scroll, saying softly, "Xiao Yan *gege*, please don't refuse to accept it because of your pride again. Xun Er knows you're not the type... the type to take advantage. This high-grade cultivation technique will be of great benefit to you in the future, so..."
Glancing at the scroll in Xun Er's hand, Xiao Yan gave a wry smile. He shook his head helplessly, then reached out and affectionately patted her head. Looking directly into Xun Er's clear, slightly sorrowful eyes, he then put away the Earth-tier cultivation technique.
"Xiao Yan *gege*..." Xun Er pouted her small mouth, looking a little wronged. Her sparkling eyes were already filled with moisture, brimming with heart-wrenching sorrow.
"Ah, ah, thank you, Xun Er. It's not because of pride that I wouldn't accept your help!" Xiao Yan smiled gently, leaning down to whisper softly into Xun Er's ear.