Leaving the great hall with an impassive expression, Xiao Yan wandered distractedly to the family's back mountain as was his habit. Sitting atop the cliff, he gazed calmly at the perilous mountain range shrouded in mist—the famed Magical Beast Mountain Range of the Jia Ma Empire.

  "Strength... In this world, without strength, you're worse than dog shit. At least no one dares step on dog shit!"

  A bitter, self-mocking laugh escaped his lips as his shoulders shook slightly. The sound, filled with grief and indignation, lingered faintly over the mountaintop.

  Xiao Yan buried his fingers in his dark hair, biting his lip until a faint metallic taste spread across his tongue. Though he'd maintained composure in the hall, Nalan Yanran's words had cut deeper than blades, leaving his entire body trembling.

  "I'll never suffer such humiliation again!"

  He spread his left hand, staring at the bloodstained scar. His voice was hoarse but resolute.

  "Hehe, little fellow, seems you need some help?"

  Just as Xiao Yan etched this vow into his heart, an eerie, aged chuckle suddenly reached his ears.

  His face changed. Xiao Yan whirled around, sharp eyes scanning his surroundings like a hawk's—yet there wasn't a soul in sight.

  "Hehe, no need to look. I'm on your finger."

  When Xiao Yan thought it might be an illusion, the strange voice spoke again, seemingly from nowhere.

  His pupils contracted sharply as his gaze snapped to his right hand—to the black ancient ring.

  "Was that you talking?" Xiao Yan suppressed the terror in his heart, forcing his voice to remain steady.

  "Not bad, kid. Most would've jumped off the cliff in fright." The ring emitted a teasing laugh.

  "Who are you? Why are you in my ring? What do you want?"

  After a brief silence, Xiao Yan articulated these key questions clearly.

  "Who I am isn't important—I mean you no harm. Ah, after all these years, I've finally encountered someone with adequate soul strength. How fortunate! Though I should thank you for three years of offerings. Otherwise, I might still be dormant."

  "Offerings?" Xiao Yan blinked in confusion before his face abruptly darkened. A venomous word squeezed through his gritted teeth:

  "The Dou Qi that kept mysteriously vanishing from my body—that was your doing?"

  "Hehe, desperate times called for desperate measures. Don't hold it against me."

  "I'LL KILL YOU!"

  The usually composed Xiao Yan exploded like a madman, his delicate face twisted with rage. Without a second thought—not even remembering this was his mother's keepsake—he tore the ring from his finger and hurled it toward the cliff's edge...

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  The moment the ring left his hand, clarity struck. He lunged to catch it—but it had already tumbled into the abyss.

  Staring dumbly at the spot where the ring disappeared into the mist, Xiao Yan remained frozen for a long moment before his face gradually calmed. He smacked his forehead in frustration.

  "Idiot! Too reckless!"

  Having just learned the culprit behind three years of humiliation was the ring he'd always worn, his outburst was understandable.

  After sitting at the cliff's edge for a while longer, Xiao Yan sighed helplessly and stood—only to freeze, his pupils dilating in shock as a trembling finger pointed at what lay before him...

  The black ancient ring hovered in midair. But what truly stunned Xiao Yan was the translucent elderly figure floating above it.

  "Hehe, little fellow, was that outburst necessary? So what if I absorbed three years of your Dou Qi?" The old man grinned at Xiao Yan's dumbfounded expression.

  Xiao Yan's lips twitched violently. "Old bastard, since you were hiding in that ring, you must know how much scorn I endured because of you!"

  "Yet in those three years of ridicule, didn't you grow? Would you have developed such resilience and wisdom otherwise?" The old man smiled cryptically.

  Xiao Yan frowned, his anger gradually subsiding. With the mystery solved, his talent must have returned!

  The mere thought of shedding his "trash" title sent waves of euphoria through him. The detestable old man before him suddenly seemed... less detestable.

  Some things aren't treasured until lost. Regaining them makes them doubly precious.

  Stretching his wrists, Xiao Yan exhaled deeply and looked up. "I don't know who you are, but if you plan to keep leeching my Dou Qi, find another host. I can't afford you."

  "Hehe, none possess your formidable soul perception." The old man stroked his beard. "Now that I've revealed myself, I won't absorb your Dou Qi without permission."

  Xiao Yan rolled his eyes skeptically. He'd resolved not to keep this parasite around, no matter what sweet promises he made.

  "Little fellow, want to become strong? To command respect?"

  Despite his wariness, Xiao Yan's heart skipped a beat.

  "Now that I know why my Dou Qi vanished, with my talent, why would I need you?" He feigned indifference, knowing nothing in this world came free. Accepting favors from mysterious entities was unwise.

  "True, your talent is exceptional—but you're already fifteen with only three segments of Dou Qi. Your Coming of Age Ceremony is next year. Do you really think hard work alone will get you to seven segments in a year? And that girl you made a three-year bet with... her talent isn't much inferior to yours. Surpassing her won't be easy."

  The old man's wrinkled face bloomed like a chrysanthemum.

  "If you hadn't stolen my Dou Qi, would I have suffered such shame? You wretched old thief!"

  Xiao Yan's face darkened again as he cursed through clenched teeth. But rage soon gave way to dejection—no amount of anger could change reality.

  Laying a solid foundation in Dou Qi cultivation took time. At four years old, he'd trained for six years just to reach nine segments. Even with his talent restored, reaching seven segments in a year seemed impossible...

  With a defeated sigh, Xiao Yan eyed the old man's pretentiously profound demeanor and suddenly smirked.

  "You have a solution, don't you?"

  "Perhaps." The old man chuckled ambiguously.

  "Help me reach seven segments in a year, and I'll forgive those three years of stolen Dou Qi. Deal?"

  "Hehe, quite the negotiator, aren't you?"

  "If you're useless to me, why keep a burden? Maybe find another poor soul to leech off?"

  Xiao Yan's冷笑 pierced the air. Having observed carefully, he'd noticed the old man couldn't freely absorb just anyone's Dou Qi.

  "You don't act fifteen. These three years truly tempered you. I suppose I reap what I sow?"

  The old man shook his head wryly.

  Xiao Yan spread his hands. "Want me to keep hosting you? Show some sincerity."

  "Such a sharp tongue! Very well, since I need you..."

  With reluctant nods, the old man descended until his translucent form hovered at eye level. His gaze swept over Xiao Yan, and a cunning grin flashed across his face before vanishing.

  After exaggerated hesitation, he spoke words that would alter Xiao Yan's destiny forever:

  "Tell me, little fellow...

  Would you like to become an Alchemist?