The training ground tests continued, with outcomes that naturally brought joy to some and disappointment to others. Five years of effort bore fruit in this moment.
Chen Guan stayed away from the crowd, uninterested in the results. He sat alone on the front steps, lost in thought.
Nalan Yanran was about to formally become a disciple. How far away was the annulment now?
At this point in time, Xiao Yan was slightly older than Chen Guan, probably around ten years old. This meant that in about a year, Xiao Yan's Dou Qi would start to fade, and after more than three years of silence, he would begin his rise.
In just over four years, less than five, the story would truly begin.
"I need to train even harder."
Originally, advancing to a 4-star Dou Practitioner in just a month made Chen Guan feel a bit proud, though he wouldn't admit it aloud. He had even shown off a bit in front of Yao Ye.
But now, upon reflection, the road ahead was steep, and the burden heavy.
While he might have gained a head start, Xiao Yan had his grandfather, Yao Lao. That felt unfair! Chen Guan strongly wanted a rematch under equal conditions.
.....................................
A year later.
In a sealed enclosure, a young man in green held a longsword, fighting seven Wind Wolves.
Wind Wolves were low-tier, second-class magical beasts, equivalent to two-star Dou Practitioner among humans.
Due to their natural physical advantage, ordinary two-star Dou Practitioner encountering them could only flee for their lives.
Yet within the enclosure, the scene defied convention. The seven Wind Wolves attacked relentlessly for nearly half an hour, drooling from exhaustion, but they couldn't even touch the hem of the youth's robe, leaving them questioning their very existence.
On the other side, the young man's face showed only disappointment at their performance.
"Fighting noobs is boring. Let's end this."
With those words, the youth stopped holding back. Stepping into his Cloudstep Footwork, he launched an assault. Within ten breaths, he ended their misery.
Clap, clap.
The crisp sound of applause echoed. Yao Ye stepped forward to open the enclosure and handed him a towel.
"You're a real monster. At this rate, you'll surpass me in just a few months," she said with a sigh.
Seven Wind Wolves—she herself could barely manage the same as Chen Guan.
She had witnessed Chen Guan's growth firsthand, making it all the more astonishing.
When they first met, Chen Guan had a nine-stage Dou disciple, while she was already a Dou Practitioner.
The next time they met, he had advanced to a Dou Practitioner while she remained one.
Finally, she managed to become a Dou Master, but within less than a year, he had caught up again.
Yao Ye felt the pressure of having such a younger "brother" looming over her!
"No matter how strong I get, I can't bully you, right? Why are you at the training grounds at this hour?"
"I missed you. Can't I come see you?"
"Do you think I'd believe that?"
"Ugh, you're no fun. Can't you at least pretend to be touched? Anyway, I just heard some news about that Xiao family you told me to watch. Xiao Yan, the so-called once-in-a-century genius, has had a problem with his cultivation. He's dropped from Dou Practitioner back to eight-stage Dou. The Xiao family tried to hide it, but they can't keep such things secret for long."
Chen Guan froze for a moment, a sense of urgency rising instantly.
"Got it. No need to pay attention to them anymore."
"You know the Xiao family? Xiao Yan had talent, sure, but nowhere near yours. He shouldn't be your rival."
"We're not connected. I just found it interesting, that's all."
"Let's not talk about that. Sister Yao Ye, I want to leave the palace and go out to train. Hear me out before you refuse."
"I know you're concerned about my safety, but I'm a three-star Dou Master now. With the Thousand Flame Sword Technique and Cloudstep Footwork, no one below the level of a Dou Grandmaster can threaten me. I won't go to dangerous places—just the outskirts of the Magic Beast Mountain Range. I'll be fine. Worst case, I have your token and can seek help from the local city lord."
Chen Guan spoke earnestly, his decision carefully considered.
Yao Ye knew him well. Seeing his determination, she gave up trying to dissuade him and stopped joking.
"You have to go?"
"You understand me, Sister Yao Ye. Fighting these caged magical beasts lacks real danger. I need to face true bloodshed. Otherwise, I'll end up being pummeled by other geniuses and reduced to their background story."
Yao Ye pondered for a few seconds before nodding reluctantly.
Chen Guan's words were undeniable.
A Dou Practitioner who survived life-or-death experiences and one who grew up sheltered were worlds apart.
"Fine. But I'll send people to follow you. They'll always stay a day behind. If there's danger, you'll find them. No negotiation. They won't interfere unless you seek them out."
"Agreed."
"And send letters every half month. If I don't get one, I'll have you dragged back here."
"No problem."
"Come back early. If you're not back by my coming-of-age ceremony, you can prepare for the worst."
"..."
After signing a series of "unequal treaties" with Yao Ye, Chen Guan was finally allowed to leave.
He couldn't help feeling excited. After all his years in the Dou Qi Continent, he hadn't yet truly experienced its wonders.
Packing his belongings into his spatial ring, Chen Guan headed to Yao Yue's palace.
He wanted to say goodbye to avoid being caught off guard by her later, but she wasn't there.
Chen Guan immediately guessed she must have been called by her teacher, Fa Ma, the president of the Jia Ma Empire's Alchemist Guild, to study alchemy. She often complained about this whenever she returned. Truly, she didn't know how lucky she was.
Not finding her, Chen Guan left a message with the guards and set off.
The capital was bustling and vibrant, a stark contrast to the tranquility of the palace.
Savoring the sights and sounds, Chen Guan made his way toward the city gates. While he had a destination in mind, he decided to travel on foot—training in itself.
"Dou Qi Wings! A Dou King-level expert!"
"Whoa, who's that? Such powerful energy."
"You must be new here if you don't recognize Nalan Jie, one of the empire's top ten powerhouses!"
"Is he really that strong? He looks unsteady in flight and his face is so dark!"
"..."
The sudden commotion drew Chen Guan's attention. He looked up to see an elderly man with gray-white hair flying overhead, his face cold and expressionless.
And indeed, it was quite dark!
Nalan Jie—Dou King, Nalan Yanran's grandfather.
Recalling his information, Chen Guan quietly observed. Seeing Nalan Jie struggling even to maintain flight, a thought crossed his mind.
Could this be the day he was afflicted with poison?
This seemed like a minor opportunity, though it required a Heavenly Flame to fully capitalize on.