Approaching the main gate, they saw more than ten cold-faced guards beside it. Sitting upright on a chair in the middle of the main gate, with an unchanging cold expression, was an old man, holding a brush and a thick ledger in his hands.
At this moment, many clansmen stood before the old man. Each clansman took out the Dou Qi cultivation technique they had found and presented it to the old man for registration. The ten cold-faced guards watched from the side.
This was a rule of the Dou Qi Pavilion. Before entering the Dou Qi Pavilion, Xiao Yan and everyone else already knew this rule, so the registration process proceeded without any unexpected incidents.
The Dou Qi Pavilion was where the cultivation techniques painstakingly collected and acquired by the Xiao Family over more than ten generations were stored. For the Xiao Family, these techniques were the foundation of their power in Wu Tan City, so the clan was extremely strict about protecting them.
The Dou Qi cultivation techniques that Xiao Yan and the others sought were scrolls made from a special material: ink bamboo. This type of bamboo was unique because it was divided into "child" and "mother" bodies. The "mother" body could sense its "child" bodies within several tens of meters. By using this material to create Dou Qi cultivation technique scrolls, the clan head, by holding the "mother" body, could sense the Dou Qi cultivation techniques within its detection range.
The detection range of the "mother" body perfectly covered the area encompassed by the Xiao Family. Therefore, these cultivation technique scrolls would be easily detected once they left the Xiao Family. Of course, this wasn't absolute; some powerful individuals could forcefully sever this connection. However, for experts of that caliber, who would care about these Yellow-tier cultivation techniques?
Standing at the back of the line, after some time, it was finally Xiao Yan's turn. He stepped forward, took out a cultivation technique scroll from his chest, and presented it to the old man for registration.
With one hand, the old man received the crimson scroll from Xiao Yan. His gaze subtly scrutinized Xiao Yan, and he mused to himself, "This is the Blazing Flame Mantra. Its defensive barrier seems to require reaching the ninth stage of Dou Qi to break? How could this kid find it? He truly has some capability."
After holding the cultivation technique for a moment for registration, the old man returned it to Xiao Yan and calmly reminded him, "You should know the rules, right? Cultivation techniques cannot be taken outside the clan. Violators will be severely punished! You must return the technique after one year! And it must not be damaged in the slightest."
Xiao Yan casually nodded, then leaned to the side, resting slightly against the main gate, waiting for Xun Er to register.
Smiling faintly at Xiao Yan, Xun Er took out her cultivation technique from within her clothes.
Seeing Xun Er standing before him, the old man, whose expression had always been cold and unchanging, showed a hint of respect on his face. He smiled slightly, took the cultivation technique scroll with both hands, and quickly proceeded with the registration.
Standing beside her, observing the old man's changed demeanor, Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed. His finger habitually brushed his nose. He could tell that this manager of the Dou Qi Pavilion held a position within the clan that was definitely no lower than that of the three elders.
Xiao Yan had also heard that the old man was one of the leading figures in the clan, always maintaining a cold demeanor towards everyone, not even showing his own father an ounce of respect.
But this old man, who was always stern and dismissive of everyone, showed a respectful attitude in front of Xun Er, which truly made Xiao Yan even more curious about Xun Er's identity.
Rubbing his nose, remembering how Xun Er always fell silent whenever her identity was mentioned, Xiao Yan helplessly shook his head. He looked up at Xun Er's small face, a smile on his lips, and slightly shrugged. The two walked out of the main gate side by side.
Stepping out of the main gate, Xiao Yan took several deep breaths of cool air. The atmosphere in the Dou Qi Pavilion was truly stifling.
"How was it, Yan'er?"
As Xiao Yan and Xun Er walked out, a figure slowly approached. His eyes on the two, he asked with a low chuckle.
Tilting his head and smiling at his father, Xiao Yan nodded with a smile, and slightly lifted his sleeve to reveal a red scroll, saying with a soft laugh, "I got it."
Seeing the red scroll, Xiao Zhan finally let out a sigh of relief. His eyes narrowed in a smile, and he said in a low voice, "Good, you got it."
Xiao Yan and his father exchanged a glance, and the father and son laughed heartily, full of pride.
Gently raising a hand to pat Xiao Yan's shoulder, Xiao Zhan said with a smile, "Today, you have a cultivation technique. Once you become a Dou Zhe in the future, you can truly cultivate Dou Qi."
Xiao Yan smiled and nodded, his hand gently caressing the scroll. His eyes narrowed, and he murmured softly to himself, "Sigh, I wonder what's so special about that cultivation technique the old master mentioned? Ah, a cultivation technique that can evolve... does such a thing truly exist?"
"Even more bizarre than a Heaven-tier cultivation technique..." Remembering the arrogant words Yao Lao had uttered that day, Xiao Yan shook his head with a wry smile. The best cultivation technique he had witnessed so far was the Profound-tier high-grade cultivation technique, "Playful Flame Art," that Xun Er had taken out earlier. To be honest, the moment he refused, he truly felt a pang of regret in his heart. After all, a cultivation technique of that caliber was something one could only chance upon, not seek.
He gently patted his forehead. To be honest, he truly regretted refusing Xun Er's kind offer now, but now that the words were out, he had no face to ask again. So he could only pray in his heart that Yao Lao wasn't playing a trick on him, otherwise, he would regret it to death.
"Hmph, hmph, a mere Profound-tier cultivation technique, what's so great about that? However, that little girl's identity is truly not simple. To be able to casually take out a Profound-tier cultivation technique like that, one can imagine that girl must have many more cultivation techniques stored away." Hearing Xiao Yan's murmur, Yao Lao snorted coldly and suddenly appeared.
"Finally, you came out..." Hearing this sound, Xiao Yan gently rubbed his nose, a slow smile spread across his lips, thinking to himself that he had to provoke him like this to force Yao Lao to appear.
"Sigh... You little fox, how dare you scheme against me..." The moment Xiao Yan's thought echoed in his mind, Yao Lao realized it, and with a helpless, half-laughing, half-crying sigh, he said, "You brat, just cultivate with peace of mind. As for the cultivation technique, you don't need to worry. Your future achievements won't be inferior to that little girl's. Her family is just... Never mind."
Feeling a little regretful about Yao Lao's ambiguous final words, Xiao Yan still smiled and nodded. Once Yao Lao had guaranteed it, the problem could be considered solved. He should cultivate with peace of mind to become a Dou Zhe; only then would he have the qualifications to become a true powerhouse, and also... he definitely had to find Nalan Yanran later to repay that debt...