Leaving the main hall with an indifferent expression, Xiao Yan absentmindedly made his way up the mountain behind his clan's estate, as was his daily habit. Sitting on the mountainside, he quietly gazed at the steep, mist-shrouded cliffs. Beyond them lay the famous Magical Beast Mountain Range of the Jia Ma Empire.
"Heh, strength... In this world, without strength, you're not even worth a piece of dog shit. At least no one dares to step on dog shit!" His shoulders trembled slightly as the youth let out a low laugh, filled with grief and indignation, which echoed across the mountain peak.
Burying his fingers deep into his black hair, Xiao Yan bit his lip hard, allowing blood to seep from the corner of his mouth. Although he had shown no sign of weakness in the main hall, every single word Nalan Yanran had spoken was like a blade slicing through his heart, leaving his entire body trembling...
"Today's humiliation... I will never suffer it a second time!" Raising his wounded left hand, Xiao Yan's voice was hoarse, yet filled with absolute determination.
"Heh heh, little fellow, it seems you need some help, eh?"
Just as Xiao Yan made his silent vow, a strange, elderly laugh suddenly echoed in his ears.
His expression shifting, Xiao Yan spun around. His sharp, eagle-like gaze swept the area behind him, but he couldn't see a single soul...
"Heh heh, no need to look. I'm right here on your finger."
Just as Xiao Yan began to think he was hallucinating, the strange laughter rang out once more.
Narrowing his eyes, Xiao Yan's gaze suddenly locked onto his right hand... specifically, the ancient black ring.
"Are you the one speaking?" Xiao Yan suppressed the rising panic in his chest, forcing his voice to remain calm.
"Not bad composure for a little fellow. At least you didn't get scared into jumping off the cliff." An amused chuckle drifted out from the ring.
"Who are you? Why are you inside my ring? What do you want?"
After a brief silence, Xiao Yan asked the most critical questions in a clear, sharp voice.
"You don't need to know who I am just yet. Rest assured, I won't harm you. Ah, after all these years, I've finally encountered someone with a soul strength that meets the standard. Truly fortunate. Heh heh, but I must also thank you for your three years of tribute, little fellow. Otherwise, I'm afraid I would still be fast asleep."
"Tribute?" Xiao Yan blinked in confusion. A moment later, his face suddenly darkened. He forced out a few icy words through gritted teeth: "The inexplicable disappearance of my Dou Qi... was that your doing?"
"Heh heh, I had no choice, little fellow. Don't blame me."
"Fuck your mother!"
Xiao Yan, who had always prided himself on his calm and steady composure, erupted like a madman. His face contorted with rage. Forgetting entirely that this was a keepsake left behind by his late mother, he ripped the ring off his finger and hurled it away with all his might...
The moment the ring left his hand, panic seized Xiao Yan's heart. He lunged forward to catch it, but the ring had already plunged over the edge of the cliff...
Staring blankly at the spot where the ring had vanished into the mist, Xiao Yan stood frozen. After a long moment, his expression slowly settled, and he slapped his forehead in sheer frustration. "Stupid! Too reckless, way too reckless!"
But finding out that the source of his three years of misery and humiliation was the very ring he wore every day, it was no wonder he had lost his composure so completely.
After sitting by the cliffside for a while, Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly. He stood up and turned around, only for his eyes to widen in shock. His finger trembled as he pointed at the sight before him...
Floating right in front of him was the ancient black ring. What truly shocked Xiao Yan, however, was the translucent figure of an old man hovering just above it...
"Heh-heh, little fellow, there's no need to be so angry, is there? It was only three years of Dou Qi." The translucent old man looked at Xiao Yan's dumbfounded expression and spoke with a beaming smile.
Xiao Yan's mouth twitched. Suppressing the anger in his voice, he said, "Old geezer, since you were inside the ring, you must know how much humiliation I had to endure because you absorbed my Dou Qi, right?"
"But during these three years of humiliation, you have matured, haven't you? Do you think the you from three years ago possessed the restraint and mental fortitude you have now?" Smiling without denying it, the old man spoke nonchalantly.
Raising his eyebrows, Xiao Yan's emotions gradually calmed. Once his anger subsided, elation rushed in. Now that he knew why his Dou Qi had vanished, his talent would surely return as well!
Just imagining being able to cast off the title of "trash" made Xiao Yan's body feel as if it had been revitalized, bringing an incredibly relaxed sensation. Looking closely at the detestable old man in front of him, he didn't seem quite so obnoxious anymore.
Some things are only truly appreciated once they are lost! To lose something and then regain it makes a person cherish it all the more!
Gently flexing his wrists, Xiao Yan let out a breath and raised his head. "Though I don't know who you are, I want to ask you one thing: do you plan on absorbing my Dou Qi in the future? If so, I advise you to find another master. I can't afford to support you."
"Heh-heh, others don't have a spiritual perception as powerful as yours." The old man stroked his beard and smiled. "Since I have chosen to reveal myself, I won't absorb your Dou Qi anymore in the future without your consent."
Xiao Yan stared at him, sneering silently. He had already made up his mind: no matter how sweet-talking this old geezer was, he would not keep him around.
"Little fellow, do you want to become strong? Do you want to be revered by others?" Although Xiao Yan had already labeled the old man in his heart as someone not to be trifled with, his heart couldn't help but beat faster when he heard these words.
"Now that I know why my Dou Qi disappeared, with my talent, do I still need your help to become strong?" Taking a slow breath, Xiao Yan said indifferently. In his heart, he knew there was no such thing as a free lunch; blindly accepting favors from a mysterious person was definitely not a wise decision.
"Little fellow, your talent is naturally excellent, but you should know that you are already fifteen years old, yet your Dou Qi is only at the third stage. I seem to have heard that you will undergo your Coming-of-Age Ceremony next year? Do you think you can break through to the seventh stage of Dou Qi in just one year relying solely on hard work? Furthermore, you also have that three-year agreement with that little girl. Her talent is not much inferior to yours. Do you think it will be that easy to surpass her?" The old man's wrinkled face bloomed like a chrysanthemum.
"If you hadn't absorbed my Dou Qi, would I have been humiliated by her like that? You old bastard!" Having his sore spot poked by the old man, Xiao Yan's face darkened again as he gritted his teeth and cursed angrily.
After venting his anger, Xiao Yan slumped in dejection. Things had already come to this; no amount of cursing could undo the past. Dou Qi cultivation emphasized a solid foundation. Back then, he had started cultivating at the age of four, and it took him six years to reach the ninth stage. Even if his talent had returned to normal, the chance of reaching the seventh stage of Dou Qi in just one year was extremely slim...
Letting out a weary sigh, Xiao Yan's gaze shifted back to the unfathomable-looking old man. A thought stirred in his mind, and he licked his lips, asking, "Do you have a way?"
"Perhaps," the old man chuckled cryptically.
"If you help me train to seventh-stage Dou Qi within a year, we'll call it even for you absorbing my Dou Qi for three years. How about it?" Xiao Yan asked probingly.
"Heheh, you're quite a calculating little brat."
"If you can't help, why should I keep carrying you around? I think you'd better find yourself another host..." Xiao Yan sneered. After talking for a bit, he had realized that this transparent old man didn't seem to be able to just absorb anyone's Dou Qi at will.
"What a sharp-tongued little brat. Fine, fine, who told this old man to have a favor to ask of you, little guy?" Nodding helplessly, the old man drifted down to the ground. His eyes swept over Xiao Yan, a strange smile flashing across his face before instantly vanishing. Hesitating for a moment, he spoke, seemingly very reluctant, "Do you want to become an alchemist?"
Xiao Yan spread his hands and said casually, "If you want me to keep supporting you, shouldn't you show some sincerity first?"
"You don't seem like a fifteen-year-old youth at all. It seems these past three years have made you mature a lot. I suppose this is me reaping the bitter fruit of my own actions?" Looking at Xiao Yan, the old man was taken aback, then shook his head, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.