Half a month later, in the Xiao Clan's back mountains.
Xiao Yan's foot suddenly twisted in an odd manner before heavily stomping on the ground. A low shout escaped his lips: "Explosive Step!"
As the shout faded, a faint yellow glow appeared on the sole of his foot. Carrying this glow, his foot slammed heavily onto the ground, producing a muffled explosion-like sound from the point of contact.
In the next instant, his figure shot forward almost in the blink of an eye, his speed as swift as an arrow leaving the bowstring, making it difficult for the eye to follow.
He took several heavy steps in succession, each footfall accompanied by a dull explosive sound.
Nine sounds, nine steps!
In just nine steps, Xiao Yan had surged forward three hundred meters.
"Huff..."
After coming to a stop, Xiao Yan took a deep breath. With his Dou Qi capacity as a One-Star Dou Fighter, he could only manage these nine steps when using the Mysterious Tier Intermediate Movement Dou Technique before being unable to continue.
His Dou Qi was nearly depleted.
Turning his head, his gaze fell upon Yun Yun, who had suddenly appeared beside him, and a hint of respect appeared in his expression.
"Teacher."
Over the past half month, aside from cultivating the Mystic Middle-Rank Cultivation Method, Fire Origin Art, that Yun Yun had given him, Xiao Yan had been practicing this movement Dou Technique, Explosive Step.
"Not bad. Your talent for learning Dou Techniques is no less than your cultivation talent. You've already made some progress with Explosive Step. In the coming days, you can try cultivating the Fire Origin Sword Canon."
Yun Yun looked at the talented youth before her with satisfaction, a gentle smile appearing on her face.
It had to be said that having such a pleasingly beautiful teacher to guide him had indeed fueled Xiao Yan's enthusiasm for cultivation.
"Xiao Yan!"
A girl's cheerful laughter rang out as Nalan Yanran, dressed in a moon-white robe, rushed out from the forest at the foot of the mountain with a beaming smile.
"Senior Sister."
Xiao Yan cupped his hands toward Nalan Yanran.
Although he knew this Nalan Yanran harbored no ill will toward him, he still held some reservations in his heart. Moreover, to put it bluntly, they had only known each other for half a month—expecting him to feel particularly close to her was truly asking a bit too much.
"Ah, I've told you there's no need to call me that! I'm only at the sixth stage of Dou Disciple. Even in the Cloud Mist Sect, I should be the one calling you Senior Brother!"
A hint of playful indignation appeared on the girl's face before she turned her gaze to Yun Yun, asking eagerly:
"Teacher, isn't that right?"
"There is such a rule..." Yun Yun nodded upon hearing this, but before a smile could appear on Nalan Yanran's face, she ruthlessly deflated her expectations, "but Xiao Yan is not a disciple of the Cloud Mist Sect."
Nalan Yanran's smile froze on her face.
Her gaze shifted back to Yun Yun, disbelief evident in her eyes.
This wasn't right, was it?
Wasn't Teacher supposed to dote on her the most?
Why had she already fallen out of favor after just half a month?
Nalan Yanran's feelings and perception of Yun Yun were clearly influenced by memories from before her rebirth. She hadn't yet realized that the Yun Yun before her had only spent a short two or three months with her, lacking the deep emotional bond they once shared.
Truth be told, Nalan Yanran had selfish motives in begging Yun Yun to take her as a disciple.
In her previous life, she had cultivated to the Dou Saint realm after all. Although this achievement was partly due to support from the Heavenly Mansion Alliance, or more precisely, some Realm-Breaking Pills refined by Xiao Yan, her cultivation experience was genuine and hard-earned.
If not for the unfortunate timing of her rebirth—coming too late to expedite the foundational Dou Disciple stage, which offered few shortcuts—she was confident she wouldn't lag far behind Xiao Yan.
Thus, she had already prepared for Yun Yun to stay with the Xiao family while she cultivated alone at the Cloud Mist Sect.
While this would inevitably bring Yun Yun and Xiao Yan closer, it would also serve to better restrain them.
In her past life, because of her own actions, her teacher had carried a burden in her heart, only letting it go after leaving the Dou Qi Continent.
In this life, she would make her teacher and Xiao Yan master and disciple. Bound by such a relationship, it would be absolutely impossible for them to become a couple!
Given her teacher's affection for her, and with her marriage engagement to Xiao Yan still intact, her teacher would surely try to bring the two of them together!
Yet, witnessing with her own eyes that in just half a month, her teacher had already begun to favor Xiao Yan, Nalan Yanran couldn't help but feel a pang of bitterness.
She's my teacher!!!
Yun Yun, however, wasn't overthinking things.
She simply felt that Xiao Yan seemed to dislike the Cloud Mist Sect. Whatever the reason, she wanted to prevent any negative feelings toward the sect from affecting their master-disciple relationship. Once she understood the cause and resolved any misunderstandings, she would try to persuade Xiao Yan to join the Cloud Mist Sect.
Even if he didn't join, their master-disciple bond alone would likely ensure he wouldn't stand idly by if the sect ever faced trouble in the future.
Xiao Yan also noticed the odd look on Nalan Yanran's face, but he paid it no mind.
Until he understood her true intentions, he couldn't let his guard down around her.
Still, he couldn't afford to keep her at too great a distance, or it might become difficult to obtain the Seven Illusions Green Spirit Saliva.
With this in mind, a gentle smile appeared on Xiao Yan's face:
"Senior Sister, what do you think would be an appropriate way for me to address you?"
Seeing Xiao Yan smile at her—a rare occurrence—Nalan Yanran's cheeks flushed slightly. After a moment, she shyly lowered her head and whispered, her voice as faint as a mosquito's hum:
"You… can just call me Yanran…"
Standing nearby, Yun Yun watched with a beaming, almost motherly smile. These two disciples seemed quite well-matched.
Xiao Yan felt he shouldn't give Nalan Yanran too much encouragement, so he opted for a compromise: "I'll call you Senior Sister Yanran instead."
Hearing this, a flicker of disappointment passed through Nalan Yanran's downcast eyes, but she believed that with enough effort, she could make Xiao Yan drop the "Senior Sister" suffix!
After silently cheering herself on, she lifted her head and replied with a bright smile, "Alright!"
A cool breeze swept over the Xiao family's back mountain, carrying a slight chill. The young girl's long hair fluttered in the wind, and her radiant smile was more refreshing than the lush, verdant forest around them.
Yet, Xiao Yan merely nodded with a smile, pulled out a fiery-red scroll, and turned to Yun Yun beside him:
"Master, I wish to continue cultivating the Fire Origin Sword Canon. I've already read through the contents once. Could you explain the key points to me?"
Yun Yun had initially quite enjoyed watching this childhood sweetheart scene, but upon hearing Xiao Yan's words, a trace of helplessness surfaced in her heart:
This child Xiao Yan really is too obsessed with cultivation...
Nalan Yanran's smile gradually faded as well.
But it wasn't because of Xiao Yan's attitude towards her; rather, she was inspired by him.
So, he cultivates with such seriousness!
With that kind of talent and still cultivating so diligently, no wonder he has achieved such accomplishments.
She should also work harder!
Thinking this, Nalan Yanran cast a somewhat reluctant glance at Xiao Yan, then bowed to Yun Yun before heading down the mountain.
She too would cultivate even more diligently, striving to break through to the eighth stage of Dou Disciple within a year!