Half a month later.
Rear Mountain.
"Whew…"
Hun Xiu exhaled a long breath of turbid air. In just half a month, his strength had reached the level of a five-star Dou Ling.
While this wasn't considered exceptionally powerful within the vast Hun Clan, among the younger generation, he was undoubtedly among the best.
After all, in his generation, if Hun Xiu claimed to be invincible, who would dare to challenge that?
Hun Feng and the others?Even if he gave them one hand, Hun Xiu could still crush them with ease—teaching them a lesson in humility.
In these fifteen days, Hun Xiu didn't just make progress in cultivation. His battle techniques (dou skills) had also advanced—from the Profound-rank to the Earth-rank.
He was now cultivating Earth-rank high-grade techniques:
God-Slaying Palm
Heaven-Robbing Fist
Wind and Thunder Nine-Heavens Step
All were peak Earth-level techniques. Combined with the earlier versions he had trained—Man-Slaying Palm, Annihilation Fist, Thunderstorm Leg—which were Yellow-rank techniques, the destructive power he could now unleash was on par with true Earth-rank techniques.
According to the system's explanation, these techniques were originally a single, unified skill, but due to certain circumstances, it had been divided into four distinct parts—each aligned with one of the four tiers:
Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow
Now that Hun Xiu had fully cultivated the three Earth-rank components—God-Slaying Palm, Heaven-Robbing Fist, and Wind and Thunder Nine-Heavens Step—he didn't head to the Battle Skill Pavilion in search of the Heaven-rank techniques.
Because, for now, this was enough.
What he needed to focus on was improving his own strength.
Heaven-rank skills were indeed powerful, but biting off more than one can chew would only backfire.
With his current level, even unleashing a single Earth-rank technique drained him significantly. And he wanted to try Heaven-rank skills?
Even if he learned them, could he actually use them?
Absolutely not.
So for now—battle skills could wait.
What he needed to do was focus on absorbing the qi of heaven and earth, steadily cultivating and increasing his realm and raw power.
Because no matter how powerful a battle technique may be, without sufficient strength, it would be wasted—gathering dust.
How should this be put?
No matter where or when, raw strength is the key.
Battle skills are, in the end, just external aids.
As long as one is strong enough—
Even a single punch can shake the heavens, tear the earth, and dominate the world.
"Young Master, the Clan Leader is looking for you."
Just as Hun Xiu was finishing his training, a black-robed middle-aged man silently appeared behind him and spoke with great respect.
Silently?
With this kind of strength, if he wanted to kill Hun Xiu, it would've been effortless.
"Father is looking for me?"
Hearing the man's words, Hun Xiu blinked and asked in puzzlement, "Third Uncle, do you know why my father is looking for me?"
This middle-aged man was Hun San, Hun Xiu's personal bodyguard, tasked with his protection.
As for Hun San's strength?
Hun Xiu wasn't sure, but he figured it was at least Dou Huang level.
Any lower?
Hun Xiu never even considered it.
After all, with his status as the son of Hun Tiandi, would his personal guard be only Dou Wang level?That would be a joke.
To foster closeness, Hun Xiu called him "Third Uncle."
Hun San shook his head. "I don't know. The Clan Leader seems to be receiving an important guest and asked for you to come to the main hall immediately."
"Oh, I see."Hun Xiu stood up and patted the dust off his clothes.
"Let's go."
Then, he took his short little steps and began walking away.
After all, he was only about seven years old—a child at best, a youth at most.
If he wanted long legs, he'd have to wait a few more years.
Hun San shook his head and said, "Young Master, you're far too slow like this."
Walking?
By the time they reached the main hall, the guests would be long gone.
"Then what should we do?"
Hun Xiu blinked and looked at him curiously.
"Forgive me, Young Master."
Hun San made an apologetic gesture, then suddenly picked Hun Xiu up.
With a leap, he turned into a stream of light, flying away from the rear mountain.
He was so fast that Hun Xiu had to close his eyes. When he opened them again, they were already at the entrance of the main hall.
Hun San set him down and apologized with a smile, "Apologies, Young Master. Special circumstances."
Hun Xiu shook his head with a cheerful smile, "It's fine. You said it was urgent—I understand."
But in his heart, he was stunned:
"Third Uncle's strength definitely isn't just Dou Huang. I've seriously underestimated him."
"Standing in mid-air… that's something only Dou Zong experts can do."
Seeing Hun Xiu frozen in thought, Hun San reminded him, "Young Master, the Clan Leader is waiting in the hall."
"Oh!"Hun Xiu snapped out of his thoughts, nodded, and looked toward the large doors of the hall.
Taking short steps, he walked inside.
"Hm?"
As he entered, he saw that besides his father Hun Tiandi, there was another man in a mysterious dark robe, standing alongside him.
The two were talking and laughing.
At the dark-robed man's leg clung a two- or three-year-old little girl, her large, watery eyes sparkling brightly.
The moment Hun Xiu walked in, she kept glancing at him.
When she noticed his gaze, she timidly "hid" behind the man's leg, only to sneak little peeks at him from time to time.
She was unbelievably adorable—too cute to handle.
Hun Xiu looked at the little girl with soft affection in his eyes. He couldn't help but want to rush over and pinch her chubby cheeks.
But in the end, he held himself back.
After all, he had never seen this child before.
Her identity?
To him, still a mystery.
And as for the mysterious man who stood on equal footing with Hun Tiandi, chatting like an old friend—who was he?
In the Hun Clan, Hun Tiandi's position was unrivaled. Only one person could stand beside him as an equal—Void Devouring Flame (Xu Wu Tun Yan).
But Hun Xiu had seen the Void Devouring Flame before, and this man was not him.
So, the identity of this dark-robed man truly puzzled Hun Xiu.
As soon as Hun Xiu entered the hall, Gu Yuan's gaze fell upon him. Sensing Hun Xiu's bloodline and current cultivation, Gu Yuan couldn't help but marvel inwardly:
"This child's talent is terrifying—he has the potential to become a Dou Di!"
The Dou Ling level may not mean much, but when it appeared in a seven-year-old child, it was nothing short of monstrous.
Such innate talent was incredibly rare.
If nothing went wrong in the future, he would surely reach the realm of a Dou Di.
Dou Di…
A realm just a step away for them, yet a step they could never cross.
It was high above, unattainable.
But in that moment, as Gu Yuan looked at Hun Xiu, he felt as though he was staring at a young Dou Di.