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Qian Renhan replied, "A twisted world far inferior to this one. I was the strongest being in that world and ascended here."
Yao Chen didn't believe it at all. "Impossible."
"People strive upward, just as water flows downward. Yao Chen, you're not young anymore—you should understand. If my original world were truly superior, why would I bother coming to the Dou Qi Continent?"
After a brief exchange, Qian Renhan managed to establish a sliver of trust with Yao Chen, and the Bone Spirit Cold Flame was returned to Yao Chen's possession.
Yao Chen turned to Xiao Yan and said gently, "Little fellow, after three years of trials, your temperament has finally become steady. I must thank you for the offerings you've made to me over the past three years, which kept me conscious."
"Offerings?"
Xiao Yan finally pieced things together and realized that the elderly man before him was the culprit behind his misfortunes. Without hesitation, he erupted in rage, unleashing a string of curses. "Fuck your mother! Steady temperament, my ass! I didn't have a damn choice! I only had Dou Qi at the third stage, and in Wu Tan City, I was known by all as a worthless failure. Faced with humiliation, what choice did I have other than to endure?!"
Even after that barrage of profanity, Yao Chen remained calm. "Little brat, do you want to become stronger? Want to earn the respect of others? Want to slap the face of that girl who annulled your engagement? As long as you acknowledge me as your master, I can help you. Consider it repayment for your years of devotion."
"I don't need that. My brother is here. Now I understand why my Dou Qi disappeared. Why would I still rely on you?"
Faced with the man who had tricked him for three years and his fellow townsman, Xiao Yan chose the latter without hesitation.
Qian Renhan ignored Xiao Yan's attempt to build rapport and said blandly, "Xiao Yan, in a sense, I can't help you either. The techniques I practice are all of the Huang rank. Since arriving in the Dou Qi Continent, I know nothing of this land. I've stayed mainly to broaden my horizons and exchange techniques with this elder."
Yao Chen pondered deeply upon hearing this. He was at the lowest point in his life. His old friend, Feng Zun, was far away in Central Plains and couldn't offer help. Venturing to Central Plains would require at least Dou Huang-level strength. If he could gain the assistance of a Dou Zun expert, returning to the Xingyun Pavilion in Central Plains and training Xiao Yan along the way might be a good plan.
"Young friend, what kind of Dou Techniques do you possess?" Yao Chen now addressed Qian Renhan more warmly, recognizing that he wasn't very old.
Qian Renhan hesitated for a moment and then produced Purple Extreme Demon Pupil and Mystic Jade Hand. His Heavenly Nether Skill was a quasi-Xuan rank technique, and most of his other techniques were likely Huang rank. He was too embarrassed to present techniques like Phantom Ghost Steps or Angel Meditation.
"Purple Extreme Demon Pupil—a high Huang rank Dou Technique that enhances spiritual power using the purple aura of the morning sun."
Yao Chen evaluated, "Eye techniques are quite rare on the Dou Qi Continent, but the rank is a bit low. Not to mention, it takes a long time to cultivate. Still, it's valuable for its spiritual enhancement."
"Young friend, since this technique can improve spiritual power, I can offer you a high Xuan rank Dou Technique in exchange. How about this one?"
Yao Chen took out a bamboo scroll with three bold characters: Eight Extremes Collapse.
Eight Extremes Collapse: A high Xuan rank Dou Technique. A close-combat technique known for its explosive power. When mastered, each strike contains eight layers of force. With all eight combined, its power rivals that of a low Di rank technique!
This technique was top-tier even among high Xuan rank techniques. A cross-rank technique like this was rare, and Yao Chen was clearly at a loss in this trade—an effort to forge a good relationship with Qian Renhan.
Qian Renhan asked, "Yao Lao, do you have any sword techniques? My weapon of choice is the sword."
Yao Chen replied, "Apologies, young friend. I don't specialize in swordsmanship, so I have no sword-based Dou Techniques in my collection."
Hearing this, Qian Renhan accepted Eight Extremes Collapse without complaint. Having absorbed the full essence of the Golden Dragon King, his physical body was quite formidable, making this technique well-suited to him.
"Mystic Jade Hand—as hard as cold jade, immune to a hundred poisons."
Yao Chen muttered to himself, "Late Huang rank. This technique is useless. I intend to train Xiao Yan as an alchemist who can absorb Heavenly Flames. Since these flames are among the most violent forces in existence, they naturally provide immunity to toxins. Even without a Heavenly Flame, a high-tier beast flame could melt the jade coating easily."
Moreover, the so-called poison immunity was a joke in Yao Chen's eyes. Wasn't it just forming a layer of jade-like Dou Qi on the palm? Against true toxins, what could such a superficial defense possibly achieve?
After seeing the two techniques, Yao Chen began to believe that Qian Renhan's original world was indeed less advanced. But it made him even more curious—what kind of world could produce such results with techniques like these?
However, Yao Chen kept these thoughts to himself. Instead, he handed Qian Renhan a support-type mid Xuan rank Dou Technique: Wind Movement Art.
Just as Qian Renhan was about to take out the Seven Illusions Green Spirit Saliva and Yao Chen was requesting him to escort them to Xingyun Pavilion in Central Plains, a violent tremor rocked all of Wu Tan City. A deep spatial vortex appeared in the sky, and from within it, three overwhelming Dou Qi auras surged forth.
"Spatial jade slip… a Dou Zun aura… how is this possible? How could a place as remote as Wu Tan City harbor disciples of such powerful clans?!"
Yao Chen, experienced and well-traveled, immediately spoke. Spatial jade slips were life-saving treasures given by Dou Zun-level families to their most talented disciples. When shattered, they opened a spatial passage, summoning reinforcements directly from the clan.
As for who summoned them—besides the dazed Gu Xun'er, who had fainted and then recovered after her bout with Qian Renhan and Yao Chen—who else could it be?
Ten minutes earlier, the Dou Clan's strongest Dou Huang, Ling Ying, barely managed to block the shockwave of energy. Without hesitation, he grabbed the dazed Gu Xun'er and fled into the distance, clutching a spatial jade slip. He wanted to avoid detection by the Hun Clan, especially since this was a rare opportunity to steal the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's Jade. He also needed to confirm whether the intruder was a Dou Zong from the Soul Hall. If they gave chase, he would immediately crush the jade slip to summon reinforcements. After all, if he had been able to withstand such a powerful shockwave, it suggested the intruder might not be too strong. Otherwise, they would've already taken him out silently.
As it turned out, Yao Chen didn't notice Ling Ying, while Qian Renhan did—but chose to ignore him, allowing Ling Ying to escape.
One minute before the present moment, deep within a forest outside Wu Tan City, Gu Xun'er slowly regained consciousness. "Uncle Ling, what happened?"
Ling Ying knelt on one knee respectfully and replied, "Miss, two Dou Zong-level experts appeared in Wu Tan City and engaged in a fierce clash. You lost consciousness, and this old servant brought you here."
"What about Brother Xiao Yan?" Gu Xun'er asked immediately.
"I do not know," Ling Ying replied. "The theft of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's Jade is one of our clan's highest-level secrets. I feared even the slightest chance of exposure, so I brought you away at once."
Ling Ying understood how much Xiao Yan meant to Gu Xun'er. But in his eyes, Xiao Yan—a so-called "waste" who had been crippled for three years—was hardly worth consideration. In fact, he preferred the boy to die in the chaos. Otherwise, once news of the jade theft reached the clan, it would shake the entire Gu Clan. They would inevitably hunt Xiao Yan down and eliminate him. Yet Gu Xun'er would stubbornly try to protect him, clinging to her devotion and refusing to marry anyone else. That would be a huge mess.
(End of chapter)