Following the end of the Xiao Clan's annual ceremony…
The world changed.
Or at least—it felt like it did.
News of the fourth young master of the Xiao Clan, Xiao Ranyu, breaking through to the 1-star Dou king realm at the mere age of thirteen spread like wildfire across Wu Tan City.
But it didn't stop there.
By the next morning, the entire Jia Ma Empire was thrown into a state of absolute shock.
> "A thirteen-year-old Dou king?!"
> "What sort of demonic talent is this?!"
> "Is he truly from the declined Xiao family in Wu Tan City?!"
---
At the Miteer Family
Inside the luxurious Miteer estate, the atmosphere was tense.
High-ranking elders, internal intelligence officers, and core family members gathered urgently in the main hall. Scrolls flew, crystal transmission jade buzzed, and reports were laid out in layers.
> "Find out everything," Miteer patriarch ordered. "How he looks,His relationship,His preference—everything."
He slammed his hand on the table, his expression uncharacteristically shaken.
> "No one has ever broken through to Dou king at thirteen… it's a massive opportunity for us."
The air crackled with urgency.
But beneath the tension, there was something else—excitement.
After all, Ya Fei from their miteer family who is a peerless beauty had already stayed in wutan city. If she can managed to form a connection with this terrifying genius…
> The Miteer family would ride a rising flame into the heavens.
---
At the Mu Family
Patriarch of mu clan, clutched a newly arrived scroll with trembling fingers.
His jaw clenched.
He immediately summoned the inner council.
> "Send envoys. Gifts. Alchemy resources. I don't care how much it costs—repair our connection with the Xiao Clan now."(Xiao clan was from the capital.After Xiao zhan's father a Dou Wang died,they moved to wutan city)
> "Anyone who can rise like this from Wu Tan City is destined to shake the empire."
---
At the Nalan Family Residence
While the rest of the empire scrambled in disbelief and shock, the Nalan family…
Rejoiced.
A full-blown celebration broke out across the estate, complete with fireworks and ceremonial wine.
> "Hahaha! This is amazing!" roared Nalan Su, Yanran's father. "That brat from the Xiao Clan turned out to be a dragon!"
He turned to his father, Nalan Jie, who was quietly sipping tea—but even the old family head couldn't hide the glimmer in his eyes.
> "We were really proud to be in-laws of the Xiao family," Nalan Jie said with rare emotion.
> "Whether it's Xiao Yan or Xiao Ranyu, our family's name will rise to new heights."
The servants couldn't stop gossiping.
The guards couldn't stop smiling.
And Nalan Yanran, who had just returned from her visit, found herself the most talked-about young lady in the entire capital.
---
At the Yunlan Sect
Even Yun Yun received a secret scroll report.
Her brow furrowed.
> "Xiao Ranyu…?"
She looked out over the mountains, silent.
---
The Royal Family
After getting the news hurriedly sent envoys with gift to congratulate the Xiao family and investigate Xiao Ranyu.(But Xiao Ranyu already left)
---
In just a matter of days…
The name "Xiao Ranyu" spread across the entire Jia Ma Empire.
Nobles, sects, rogue cultivators, and clans all heard the news—and none could ignore it.
Some saw him as a rising ally.
Others saw him as a threat.
But all agreed on one thing:
> The Scarlet Flame of the Xiao Clan was no longer a local myth.
He was now a rising star—and one day, he might become a blazing sun that outshines all others.
---
On the outside
The true perpetrator of the "Storm in the jia ma empire" was already far from Wu Tan City—his figure wrapped in a long cloak, face covered by a half-mask.
He stood quietly on a jagged cliff just outside the Monster Mountain Range, the wind howling like a wolf across the barren rocks.
Xiao Ranyu exhaled, sitting cross-legged on a boulder as he pulled up his system panel.
> "Alright. Time to check the gains…"
His fingers moved across the interface, eyes scanning his recent activity.
Then he froze.
And his face darkened.
> "Sixty… thousand… points…!"
He almost vomited blood.
> "Used sixty thousand points just to sign into Xiao Yan's courtyard… and what did I get?!"
He opened the result log:
> —[Sign-In Complete: Xiao Yan's Courtyard]
—[Reward: x5 'Thank You For Your Patronage' Tokens]
> "THANK YOU FOR MY—!"
He gritted his teeth, fists clenched.
> "Xiao Yan, I swear if I didn't love you as a brother I would have stormed your room and force-fed you a Tier 6 explosive pill!"
He sat there for a moment, fuming silently.
Fortunately, not all was bad.
He swiped again, calming slightly.
> "At least… I managed to sign into the 21st-ranked Yin Yang Twin Flame."
He muttered under his breath.
> "Can't be too mad. That's a future trump card…"
Closing the system, he stood up and reached into his ring, pulling out a small golden talisman.
With a flick of his fingers, the talisman dissolved into light and entered his body.
> —[Cultivation Lock Activated: Current Realm Locked at 1-Star Dou Zhe]
—[Unlock Condition: Absolute mastery over locked realm—efficiency, control, and suppression to perfection.]
He suddenly felt the vast ocean of Dou Wang power in his body sink, suppressed, sealed, and cut off.
It was like falling from the heavens into a puddle.
> "Urgh…"
His legs trembled slightly, as if his very muscles had forgotten what it was like to be... normal.
He clenched and unclenched his fists.
> "So this is what it feels like to be weak again…"
He took a deep breath.
His lips curled into a slow, confident smile.
> "Good."
> "Now the true battle begins."
He turned toward the monster-infested horizon—the edge of the Monster Mountain Range, where roars echoed like thunder in the distance.
His cloak flared in the wind. His figure vanished into the wilderness.