6: Chapter 6 Xiao Xun'er

"Could it be that Brother Xiao Yan is afraid Xun'er will ask for the money back? Since the last time, Brother Xiao Yan hasn't taken the initiative to look for Xun'er for half a year."

Xiao Xun Er stood in Xiao Yan's room, her eyes looking at him with resentment. Her small mouth pouted slightly as she complained.

"Wasn't I busy cultivating..." Xiao Yan heard Xun'er say this and couldn't help but smile awkwardly.

Except for borrowing money twice, Xiao Yan had never proactively sought out Xiao Xun Er. And the few times she came to find him, he was mostly out.

Being caught at home today was indeed quite awkward.

Towards Xiao Xun Er, Xiao Yan felt complex emotions. After all, he wasn't the original Xiao Yan.

Xiao Xun Er was like a female lead existing only in fairy tales—elegant, gentle, beautiful, and considerate, with an incomparable background. Most rare was that her upbringing was proportional to her background.

Of course, the most special part was the sincere joy she maintained for Xiao Yan from beginning to end.

Even more outstanding was that even knowing Xiao Yan had women and children, she was willing to commit herself to him. Such a girl was unheard of even with Xiao Yan's knowledge from his past life.

Thus, facing Xiao Xun Er, Xiao Yan always felt like escaping. As for love, there definitely wasn't any, and he certainly wasn't lusting after her underage body.

But for such a perfect girl, Xiao Yan couldn't bear to hurt her...

However, for Xiao Xun Er, perhaps being ignored was even more painful.

The original work once said that Xiao Xun Er's heart could only be opened in her childhood; once grown, her cold heart could no longer accommodate anyone else.

If it weren't for Xiao Yan, Xun'er would definitely have become that kind of cold, ascetic goddess who seemed to stand alone from the world.

But...

With her Bloodline and background, she was destined to be at the top of the world. She lacked nothing, and he could give her nothing.

If one had to say what Xiao Xun Er lacked, it could only be love.

This is tough...

Seeing Xiao Yan remain silent for so long, Xun'er stomped her foot in anger and lightly bit her cherry lips.

Her fair arm swayed, and an ancient scroll the color of fire jade appeared in her hand.

"This is a fire-attribute Advanced Profound Rank Cultivation Technique: Flame Manipulation Art!"

Xun'er stroked the scroll and said softly: "There are still several months before we choose our Cultivation Techniques. I know Brother Xiao Yan is already preparing for a Breakthrough to Dou Practitioner. After the Breakthrough, practicing an Advanced technique early will be of great benefit to you in the future, so..."

"Brother Xiao Yan must not find it hard to accept because of pride. Xun'er..."

This girl actually knew he was already at the ninth stage of Dou Zhi Qi. When did that happen?

Looking at Xiao Xun Er holding the scroll, Xiao Yan felt somewhat moved. Such pure concern was truly rare.

Yao Chen didn't count, of course. Although he would have a deep bond with Xiao Yan later, that concern was different from Xiao Xun Er's. This was a pure and romantic feeling from beginning to end, unmixed with any interest...

Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly and said, "Xun'er, I'm not intentionally refusing you. I have a way to resolve the Cultivation Technique issue."

"Brother Xiao Yan..." Xun'er looked at Xiao Yan aggrievedly, her watery eyes containing a hint of mist, looking pitiable and moving.

Xiao Yan felt a headache watching this and couldn't help rubbing his temples, saying, "Alright, Xun'er, there's something I must confess to you."

"There's naturally a reason I can Cultivate so fast. Half a year ago, an expert passed by the Xiao Family's back mountain. Seeing my extraordinary talent, he actually shouted that I have the potential of a Dou Di, so he decided to make an exception and take me as a disciple, teaching me cultivation and refining the necessary Medicinal Pills for me. However, this person is elusive, so I haven't revealed it to Xun'er." Xiao Yan exaggeratedly imitated the expert's shout of "Dou Di potential! Dou Di potential!"

Yao Chen, "eavesdropping" from the ring: "..."

"Pfft~ Dou Di potential. It seems that person's eyes are the same as mine; we both see that Brother Xiao Yan has Dou Di potential!" Xun'er couldn't help but smile brilliantly at Xiao Yan, who was talking nonsense with a straight face.

Seeing Xun'er's dazzling smile, Xiao Yan was slightly stunned, then his mood relaxed as he laughed, "This is called great minds thinking alike."

"Hee hee, anything can sound flowery coming out of Brother Xiao Yan's mouth." Xun'er's mood also improved with Xiao Yan's smile. Although she knew Xiao Yan was trying to make her happy, she had witnessed his progress over the past half year. Brother Xiao Yan's cultivation over these six months must have been very difficult.

"But about the Cultivation Technique, don't worry, Xun'er. I naturally won't ignore a good one to learn a bad one. However, some things are indeed inconvenient to explain in detail. The technique at that time might be of a lower rank, but don't be surprised, Xun'er; there are reasons for all of this."

Fearing Xun'er wouldn't believe him, Xiao Yan took out bottles of Foundation Establishment Elixir refined by Yao Chen from his robe and said, "This is the Foundation Establishment Elixir refined by my teacher. If you don't believe me, take a look. This kind of elixir isn't something an ordinary person can refine."

Xun'er took the Foundation Establishment Elixir half-doubtingly, opened the bottle, sniffed it, and then said, "The elixir contains powerful yet gentle energy. It can indeed assist in the cultivation of Dou Zhi Qi."

"Right? These are just defective products my teacher refined. I'm planning to go to the auction house to sell them and buy Materials for the Qi Gathering Powder."

A moment later.

Having convinced Xun'er, Xiao Yan appeared on the street with her, a rare occasion for them to stroll together.

But before long, only Xiao Xun Er in her purple dress remained at the street corner, looking wistfully at Xiao Yan's departing back.

After a long time, as if thinking of something, a trace of Golden Flame flickered through her pupils.

"A teacher? I hope you really only value Brother Xiao Yan's talent and have no ill intentions towards him. Old Ling, check for any experts who have recently appeared in the Jia Ma Empire, especially Alchemists..."

"Yes, Young Miss."

A black shadow flashed by, and a male voice responded. This man was Xiao Xun Er's guardian in the Jia Ma Empire, a Dou Huang expert, Ling Ying.

After parting with Xiao Xun Er, Xiao Yan came alone to the end of the street, where a massive venue stood.

Just as the Xiao Family, the Jia Lie Family, and the Otto Clan were the three great families of Wutan City, the Mittel Family, the Nalan Clan, and the Intel Clan were the three great families of the Jia Ma Empire. These three families had influence in the Empire's commerce and military, possessing great power.

Therefore, no matter how much the profits of the auction made people salivate, no one dared to target them.

Xiao Yan wore luxurious clothes decorated with gold stripes. Under the gaze of several guards at the entrance, he walked in without stopping.

Entering the venue, the heat from outside was swept away, and it was as cool as an air-conditioned room from his past life.

"Tsk tsk tsk, I wonder what the principle behind this is," Xiao Yan lamented.

Without stopping, Xiao Yan walked into a room beside the magnificent hall. The words "Treasure Appraisal Room" were printed in large characters on the door.

The room was empty. A middle-aged man sat bored in a chair. Seeing Xiao Yan, a professional smile instantly formed on his face: "Young master, do you intend to have a treasure appraised?"

"Yes."

Xiao Yan took out the jade bottle containing the Foundation Establishment Elixir, placed it on the table, and continued, "Foundation Establishment Elixir. It can increase the cultivation speed of Dou Zhi Qi."

"And there are no side effects; the medicinal power is also extremely gentle," Xiao Yan added.

The middle-aged man was moved upon hearing this. He carefully picked up the white jade bottle, sniffed the opening, and said with emotion, "Young master, could you wait a moment? I need to invite Great Master Gu Ni of our auction house to identify the elixir!"

"Go ahead." Xiao Yan waved his hand and sat in the chair to rest with his eyes closed.

Before long, the middle-aged man brought an old man in green clothes with graying hair. Xiao Yan looked up and saw something similar to a medicinal furnace drawn on the old man's chest. Two silver ripples flickered on the surface of the furnace, manifesting the man's noble status as an Alchemist.

"Young master, this is Great Master Gu Ni of our auction house. He is a Three-star Great Dou Master and also a Second-tier Alchemist!" the middle-aged man introduced respectfully.