Xiao Yan looked at the ancient black ring and shook his head.
"Teacher, Yao Lao… Yao Chen… Old Master?"
Although his strength had fallen to Dou Qi level 3, the powerful consciousness cultivated over tens of thousands of years in his previous life remained formidable.
Even if his current soul power could only compare to a Grade One alchemist, Xiao Yan could faintly sense the ancient soul within the ring observing him.
After calling repeatedly with no response, Xiao Yan suddenly grinned, a mischievous glint appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"If you won't show yourself, I won't be filial."
With that thought, he forced his weak body out of bed and trudged to the chamber pot in his side room.
"Teacher, if you don't appear soon, I'll have to wake you with… urine."
As he said this, his smile grew even more playful. Holding the black ring on his finger, he let out a peculiar chuckle.
"Grandmaster, you don't want to stay soaking in this cesspool forever, do you?"
As the words left his mouth, Xiao Yan began twisting the black ring.
At that moment, a faint white glint flashed across the ring.
He felt the ring fuse tightly to his finger. Unless he severed the finger, even Xiao Zhan would struggle to remove it.
A vast spiritual pressure surged forth, and Xiao Yan's face paled further.
His soul wavered, as if ready to collapse at any moment.
Fortunately, his willpower, strengthened countless times over his previous life, prevented him from being stunned by the terrifying spiritual shock.
The next moment, the room's air stilled, and a frail, ethereal figure slowly emerged from the black ring.
To an ordinary person, it would appear as a ghostly specter.
Only Xiao Yan, upon seeing this aged figure, revealed a trace of nostalgic awe on his face.
"You little brat… how devious. At such a young age, you've come up with such a trick. And… how did you know about me?"
The aged voice spoke, while ghostly pale flames burned in his eyes, radiating murderous intent that seemed to solidify the very air in the room, chilling it with frost.
"Achoo!"
Under the extreme cold, Xiao Yan, already weakened, sneezed involuntarily.
"Teacher, I am your disciple."
He hurriedly explained. Clearly, Yao Lao was still extremely cautious, his killing intent heavy.
Xiao Yan feared the old man might strike impulsively and erase him on the spot .... in that case, the story might end before it even began.
"Disciple? I don't remember having a disciple like you."
Yao Lao's eyes remained vigilant. This small boy was barely ten, and his own body had perished centuries ago.
How could he suddenly have a disciple?
Seeing Yao Lao's continued caution, Xiao Yan calmed his gaze.
His dark eyes now carried a serenity that even surprised Yao Lao.
"Teacher, there's no need for such suspicion.
I cannot explain everything clearly yet. Just know this .... I know all about you.
I will not harm you. Instead, I will help you restore your body and exact revenge."
When Yao Lao remained cautious, Xiao Yan spoke a few key names.
"Xingyun Pavilion, Soul Hall, Han Feng, Feng Zun, Xuan Yi."
The moment he said this, the spiritual fluctuations in the room surged like a stormy sea, and Xiao Yan's soul felt as if it were a small boat in the waves, on the verge of capsizing.
"Who… are you? How do you know so much?"
The pale flames in Yao Lao's eyes faded, replaced by shock.
"I am… your disciple."
Xiao Yan smiled wryly, then slowly began explaining many circumstances to Yao Lao.
After a long while, Yao Lao's expression grew complex, but the murderous intent in his eyes softened into warmth.
"Whether what you say is true or not, I have no choice now.
Little one, if you can help me restore my body, Yao Chen will repay you with his life."
Yao Lao looked at Xiao Yan once more, then transformed into a white light and returned to the black ring.
If the boy's words were true, it was astonishing.
A child so young knowing his past and even parts of the future left Yao Lao bewildered yet cautiously believing him.
Staring at the now peaceful black ring, Xiao Yan smiled faintly, muttering under his breath.
"Teacher, this time I won't let you suffer under the Soul Hall. In this life, I'll make sure you win effortlessly!"