At this moment, Xiao Yan, having obtained such a miraculous cultivation technique, felt like a drowning man grasping at a straw.
Although he didn't know how to find the strange fire, Xiao Yan vaguely felt that this technique would change his destiny.
Therefore, after obtaining the technique, Xiao Yan's tense heart, which had been taut for a month, finally relaxed, and his expression became incredibly relaxed.
Seeing Xiao Yan relax, Gu Xun'er felt relieved and revealed a breathtakingly beautiful smile, saying,
"Brother Xiao Yan, with this technique, you will definitely become a strong person."
Hearing Gu Xun'er's words, Xiao Yan scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly.
"Xun'er, what you said makes me a little embarrassed, haha."
"Pfft,"
looking at the dazed Xiao Yan in front of her, Gu Xun'er couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh.
"Brother Xiao Yan, it's getting late, I'll go back first. Take care of yourself."
Gu Xun'er waved to Xiao Yan.
"Xun'er, you go back first. I'll cultivate for a while longer before returning."
Xiao Yan smiled heartily at Xun'er, waved his hand, then turned and continued his training.
...
Not long after Gu Xun'er left, Xiao Yan was studying the Burning Technique in his mind when a voice suddenly came from behind him.
"Huh, something seems to have happened here. I think I missed something."
Upon hearing the voice, Xiao Yan's hair stood on end. He turned around abruptly and saw that familiar figure.
More than a month ago, it was this man in black robes, whose face was obscured, who had knocked him unconscious, and then his Dou Qi, which had disappeared for three years, began to slowly recover.
This person was none other than Hun Changqing, who had been in seclusion a month ago researching Mirror Flower Water Moon. His emergence from seclusion meant that he had successfully developed this unique technique.
Moreover, Hun Changqing had a premonition that Mirror Flower Water Moon was far more than this; it was only a rudimentary version at this point.
With the improvement of his strength and his understanding of this technique, he would definitely be able to gradually perfect it, and it might even become his main means of combat.
Moreover, Yao Chen brought good news upon his return from seclusion: the remaining medicinal herbs had been successfully refined.
Hun Changqing was overjoyed; he had successfully broken through to the Dou Zong realm and regenerated his arm. Everything seemed to be moving in a positive direction.
This made Hun Changqing very happy, so taking advantage of his recent good fortune, he decided to come to the Xiao family to implement his plan.
Upon arriving at the back mountain of the Xiao family, he sensed something was amiss, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
Seeing Xiao Yan cultivating, and remembering his promise to take him as a sworn brother, he appeared directly behind him.
"It's you!"
Xiao Yan exclaimed in surprise.
"Oh, you recognize me? Looks like you saw me that day,"
Hun Changqing said unhurriedly.
Xiao Yan was somewhat excited to see Hun Changqing.
"Was it you who helped me solve my problem of not being able to absorb Dou Qi? Ever since you knocked me unconscious, I've regained my former talent!"
Hun Changqing nodded.
"You could say that."
"Why did you help me? And did you take my storage ring? It's an heirloom from my mother, nothing special. Can you give it back to me?"
Xiao Yan asked, somewhat puzzled.
"I just happened to be passing through this small town and heard about your deeds. I was curious about you, so I came to see you that day. Actually, if you had taken off that storage ring even once during those three years, you wouldn't have had such a hard time."
"You...you mean the reason my battle qi regressed was because of that storage ring?!"
Xiao Yan's eyes widened, and he said in disbelief.
"That's right. That storage ring contained an evil soul that would absorb the wearer's battle qi to strengthen its own soul. If I hadn't noticed it that day, it probably wouldn't have been long before that soul devoured your soul and replaced you." Hun
Changqing shamelessly lied through his teeth.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan was immediately startled, then clasped his hands together, looking terrified.
"Thank you for your help, senior. I will repay your life-saving grace in the future, "My name is Lin Changqing. I see your talent is exceptional; even in the big cities, you'd be a rare gem."
"Oh, senior, you mean...?"
Xiao Yan understood the implication in Hun Changqing's words and became excited. Could this senior be planning to take him as a disciple?
Hun Changqing chuckled and continued,
"Hehe, you don't need to call me senior. I do intend to take you as a disciple, but unfortunately, I'm only seventeen this year, two years older than you. Taking you as a disciple wouldn't be appropriate.
How about this, I'll take you as my sworn brother. You can call me elder brother, and I'll teach you some fighting techniques and give you some pointers."
Hearing that this incredibly powerful, clearly stronger than his father, black-robed man was only seventeen, Xiao Yan was incredulous.
He felt his hard-earned worldview crumble at this moment! He was filled with shame.
This was true genius; the "genius" he'd been called for all these years now seemed utterly ridiculous.
Xiao Yan quickly snapped out of his daze, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. He bowed to Hun Changqing, calling him
"Big Brother!"
With his modern mindset from his previous life, Xiao Yan didn't see anything shameful about acknowledging someone as a superior. He'd be a fool not to cling to this offered-upon figure.
Xiao Yan felt he possessed nothing that such a powerful figure could possibly covet.
What could this powerful figure, capable of easily destroying the Xiao family with a single slap, possibly want from him besides his previously decent talent?
Moreover, this figure had given him a second chance at life, so Xiao Yan had no doubts and accepted the bow without much thought.
"Good, good, haha!"
Hun Changqing laughed heartily, appearing very happy.
"I know your name is Xiao Yan, a good name. Since you call me Big Brother, I'll call you—Brother Yan—from now on, haha!"
Seeing his newfound brother accept him, Xiao Yan was incredibly excited, thinking to himself, "I've got a powerful ally!" With a sheepish grin, he scratched his head.
"Hehe, big brother, you've seen it too. I'm just recovering my cultivation, and my progress in Dou Qi is incredibly slow, which is frustrating. My Dou Techniques are also very low-level and crude. Big brother, what do you think..."
Xiao Yan winked at Hun Changqing.
Hun Changqing didn't mind and continued to laugh.
"Hehe, you've got a good plan, kid."
"Hehe, big brother, I'm just worried that if I'm too weak, I'll tarnish your reputation when we're out and about."
"Haha, alright, today I'll give you a little gift. Here, Yan-di, catch it."
Hun Changqing then tossed Xiao Yan a storage ring.
"Inside are some pills suitable for increasing your Dou Qi, and some Xuan-rank Dou Techniques. You can start practicing them."
Of course, Hun Changqing didn't have any low-level pills or Xuan-rank Dou Techniques suitable for Xiao Yan; they were all prepared by Yao Chen.
These things had absolutely nothing to do with him. If Yao Chen knew that Hun Changqing had slandered him in front of Xiao Yan and even used his own things to curry favor, he wondered if he would vomit blood.
Xiao Yan accepted the storage ring with a look of surprise.
"Thank you, brother!"
After playing with the storage ring in his hand for a while, Xiao Yan asked Hun Changqing with some doubt.
"Brother, don't you have any fighting techniques higher than the Xuan rank?"
Hun Changqing said speechlessly,
"You're trying to fly before you can even walk. Even if you had a Di rank fighting technique, you wouldn't be able to use it with your current strength.
Don't be too ambitious and try to do too much at once. Your task now is to use these pills to recover your cultivation as soon as possible and then master these fighting techniques.
I will come to the Xiao family from time to time to check on your progress. You can ask me if you have any questions then."
Xiao Yan nodded thoughtfully after hearing Hun Changqing's words.
"I understand, Brother. Thank you for your guidance."
"Hmm~"
Hun Changqing looked at Xiao Yan with satisfaction, nodded, patted Xiao Yan's shoulder, and a wisp of Taiyin True Qi quietly appeared with his hand, attaching itself to Xiao Yan's hair.
"I still have things to do now. You should focus on your cultivation for the time being."
Then he turned and left.