63: Chapter 63 True Wisdom Appears as Foolishness: Qinglin! It's All a Trick

"According to Brother Xiao Ting, it took Xiao Yan less than twenty years to grow from a Dou Practitioner to a Dou Emperor. It seems the Burning Technique is the main reason for this."

"If I could cultivate the Burning Technique, with the help of my father and the Ancient Clan, I would surely be able to evolve this technique to a level surpassing the Heaven Tier very quickly."

"If I could become a Dou Emperor, I would be able to better protect Brother Xiao Ting and accompany him to see the infinite planes, the myriad rivers and mountains."

Xun'er's heart couldn't help but race.

The eeriness and power of the Burning Technique, along with what it represented for the future, successfully captivated her.

As for the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade, it's useless unless all eight pieces are collected. Since the Ancient Clan already possesses one, neither she nor Gu Yuan has any interest in the piece held by the Xiao Clan.

But if it weren't for Xiao Ting, she would find it hard not to be tempted by the Burning Technique and attempt to seize it.

No, wait. If she had come into contact with the Burning Technique on her own, she would most likely not have cultivated it.

Although this technique can evolve by devouring myriad fires, as a descendant of the Ancient Clan, she only needs to be bestowed with the Clan Seal to cultivate the techniques passed down by the Dou Emperor; she wouldn't take such a risk.

But now, through the Diary, she knows that the Burning Technique is a proven path to becoming a Dou Emperor, with the "living" examples of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor and Xiao Yan.

In that case, the Dou Emperor techniques left behind by the Ancient Clan don't even compare.

【Xun'er】: Tell me, is there any way for me to obtain the Burning Technique?

【Medusa】: Just ask Venerable Yao for it. Does he dare refuse you?

【Yun Yun】: With Xiao Ting around, it wouldn't be appropriate for Xun'er to be so overbearing. It would be very awkward if she were refused.

【Xiao Yi Xian】: Besides, Xun'er cannot explain how she knows of the existence of the Burning Technique.

【Qing Lin】: What's the trouble with that? Just ask Venerable Yao or Young Master Xiao Ting for it.

The women: ???

Isn't that what Queen Medusa just said?

【Medusa】: Are you playing with the 'abstract' concept Xiao Ting talks about?

【Qing Lin】: What 'abstract' or not? You sisters are just overcomplicating things yourselves.

【Qing Lin】: With Sister Xun'er's ability, it wouldn't be a problem for her to see that Young Master Xiao Yan is cultivating a Yellow Tier technique, just like Young Master Xiao Ting did.

【Qing Lin】: Knowing that Senior Venerable Yao is the former Venerable Yao, yet he lets his Young Master Xiao Yan cultivate a Yellow Tier technique—isn't it only natural to be curious?

【Qing Lin】: Isn't it logical and natural to ask out of curiosity, or even request to inspect the technique?

Xun'er, Yun Yun, Xiao Yi Xian, Medusa: "..."

Indeed, they had overcomplicated things. It turned out it could be asked so logically.

【Medusa】: You really are wise beyond your years.

【Qing Lin】: Is this a compliment?

【Medusa】: Of course.

After a brief chat, Xun'er understood what she needed to do.

"Sister Xiao Yi Xian, let's go to Cousin Xiao Yan's place and meet up with Brother Xiao Ting." Xun'er adjusted her skirt and stood up.

Xiao Yi Xian smiled faintly but didn't agree: "I won't go. With one less person present, you'll have a better chance of finding out."

Xun'er thought that made sense, so she went to the small courtyard where Xiao Yan lived alone.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yan had just finished his cultivation and walked out of the secret chamber in his courtyard, eating the breakfast brought by Xiao Ting at the stone table in the yard.

"Brother Yan, congratulations on breaking through to a Two-Star Dou Practitioner." Xiao Ting sat with one leg crossed, looking at Xiao Yan with a lazy expression.

"Are you sure you're here to congratulate me, and not to show off?" Xiao Yan rolled his eyes unceremoniously: "Teacher said you've already successfully broken through to become a Great Dou Master."

"Just a stroke of luck." Xiao Ting shrugged.

"Has anyone ever told you that you look very punchable?" Xiao Yan's mouth twitched.

Who considers breaking through to Great Dou Master at fifteen a 'stroke of luck'?

Even if his talent hadn't regressed back then, he would probably only be a Dou Master now; becoming a Great Dou Master would be a long way off.

After all, his father, Xiao Zhan, was only a Great Dou Master at nearly forty years old.

"No one had before, but now you have." Xiao Ting smiled indifferently, his tone very calm: "Didn't Senior Venerable Yao say that I'm only considered decent in the Northwest Continent? I can't compare to the countless geniuses in the Central Plains. There are many prodigies there who reach Dou Huang by the age of twenty."

Venerable Yao: "..."

Was he too good at bluffing?

If Xiao Ting went to the Central Plains and discovered there were few people stronger than him, how funny would that be.

"You didn't come here just to congratulate me and crush my spirits, did you?" Xiao Yan suppressed the excitement in his heart.

Little Tingzi wasn't arrogant even as a fifteen-year-old Great Dou Master, setting his sights on the geniuses of the Central Plains; he himself had only just broken through to Dou Practitioner at sixteen, and he still had a long way to go.

"I'm leaving the clan for a few days and won't be able to continue receiving guidance from Senior Venerable Yao, so I came to report it in advance." Xiao Ting replied.

"Where are you going this time?" A glimmer of excitement flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes.

Last time Xiao Ting took Xiao Yi Xian and Xun'er to the Magical Beast Mountain Range, they obtained a Flying Dou Technique, amethyst spirit fruit, and other gains.

Now that he had broken through to Dou Practitioner, he also wanted to go out and gain some experience.

"To Stone Desert City in the Tagor Desert." Xiao Ting answered truthfully.

"Stone Desert City?" Xiao Yan felt the place sounded familiar.

"The place where our eldest and second brothers established their mercenary group. It was written in the letter they had someone send over." Xiao Ting's words helped Xiao Yan recall.

"You're planning to visit our eldest and second brothers?" A hint of warmth flashed in the depths of Xiao Yan's eyes, and a smile appeared on his face: "I've also broken through to Dou Practitioner. It's not good to study in isolation; why don't I go with you?"

If you, Xiao Yan, go, the visit would truly become a massive third wheel.

"Denied!"

A gentle but unquestionable voice came from the doorway.

Xiao Yan immediately wore a speechless expression: "Cousin Xun'er, why are you everywhere? You're even going to control me and Brother Ting going to see our eldest and second brothers?"

"Everything follows the order of arrival." Xun'er walked over and sat on the stool beside Xiao Ting, her lively eyes filled with disdain: "Brother Xiao Ting promised to take me out to see the desert scenery. You tagging along is an eyesore and a hindrance; it's inconvenient."

Xiao Yan was speechless.

This cousin and Xiao Ting were a pair of star-crossed lovers, childhood sweethearts, a bickering couple who had confessed their feelings to each other.

As for him, she was extremely disdainful, guarded, and always belittling him.

Out of respect for Xiao Ting, he couldn't really say anything.

"Then I won't go." Xiao Yan didn't dare argue with Xun'er; the experience of being taught a lesson by a mysterious powerhouse in his childhood was still fresh in his memory: "Teacher is about to start teaching me alchemy, and I have to make a name for myself in training, so I'll go find our eldest and second brothers myself later."

"That won't be necessary." Xiao Ting chuckled: "I'll bring our eldest and second brothers back this time."

"The Jia Nan Academy admissions will be happening soon. Cousin Xiao Yu came back early to make preparations for this, and I will definitely go there to study when the time comes."

"I've heard that the Inner Academy of Jia Nan Academy has a Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower, which is built upon the Fallen Heart Flame, ranked fourteenth on the strange fire ranking list. This Fallen Heart Flame causes heart fire to appear, automatically tempering Dou Qi to accelerate cultivation. It's known as a cultivation cheat code. Its effect increases or decreases with the cultivator's realm, but it is very effective before reaching the Dou Wang level."

"I am a Lightning-Fire attribute Dou Qi cultivator, so that place is extremely suitable for me."