The moon hung like a silver plate in the sky, surrounded by countless stars.

  At the top of a cliff, Xiao Yan lay sprawled on the grass, a green stalk of grass between his lips. He chewed it lightly, allowing the faint bitterness to spread in his mouth.

  Raising his somewhat pale hand, he blocked his view, peering through the gaps between his fingers at the enormous silver moon in the sky.

  Sigh…

  Thinking back to the test earlier that afternoon, Xiao Yan let out a soft sigh. He lazily withdrew his hand, resting his head on his arms, his gaze somewhat dazed.

  "Fifteen years already…"

  A low murmur escaped his lips, seemingly random yet carrying deep meaning.

  In Xiao Yan’s heart lay a secret only he knew—he was not originally from this world. Or rather, his soul did not belong here. He came from a blue planet called Earth. As for why he had arrived here, he had no explanation for such an absurd turn of events. However, after living here for some time, he belatedly realized the truth: he had crossed over!

  As he grew older, Xiao Yan gradually gained a vague understanding of this continent.

  This land was known as the Continent of Dou Qi. Unlike the fantasy worlds in novels, there were no elemental magics here. Instead, Dou Qi was the sole dominant force!

  On this continent, the cultivation of Dou Qi had, through the efforts of countless generations, reached its peak. Due to its continuous evolution, Dou Qi had even spread among the common folk, becoming deeply intertwined with daily life. As a result, its importance was irreplaceable.

  The extreme proliferation of Dou Qi had also led to countless divergent cultivation methods. Naturally, some were strong, while others were weak.

  After systematic classification, the Dou Qi cultivation techniques on the continent were divided into four tiers and twelve levels, ranked from highest to lowest: Heaven, Earth, Mystic, and Yellow!

  Each tier was further divided into Low, Mid, and High grades!

  The level of one’s Dou Qi cultivation technique was a key factor in determining future achievements. For example, someone who practiced a Mystic-tier Mid-grade technique would naturally be stronger than a peer who cultivated a Yellow-tier High-grade one.

  On the Continent of Dou Qi, strength was determined by three main factors.

  First and foremost was one’s own power. If a person’s strength was only at the level of a 1-Star Dou Practitioner, even if they cultivated a legendary Heaven-tier High-grade technique, they would still struggle to defeat a Dou Master who practiced a Yellow-tier method.

  Second was the cultivation technique itself. Between two warriors of the same level, the one with the higher-grade technique would hold a clear advantage in battle.

  The third factor was Dou Techniques!

  As the name suggested, these were special skills used to harness Dou Qi. On the continent, Dou Techniques were also classified into Heaven, Earth, Mystic, and Yellow tiers.

  The number of Dou Techniques in the world was countless, but most of the commonly circulated ones were only around the Yellow tier. To obtain more profound techniques, one had to join a sect or enroll in a Dou Qi academy.

  Of course, some people stumbled upon legacies left behind by predecessors through sheer luck. These techniques often came with matching Dou Techniques, and when used together, their power was even greater.

  These three factors determined one’s true strength. In short, possessing a high-tier Dou Qi technique promised immense future benefits.

  However, high-tier cultivation techniques were exceedingly difficult for ordinary people to obtain. Most techniques circulating among the common populace were only at the Yellow tier. Some powerful families or mid-sized sects might possess Mystic-tier techniques. For example, the Xiao family’s most advanced technique, "Furious Lion’s Roar," was a wind-attribute Mystic-tier Mid-grade technique, reserved only for the clan leader.

  Above the Mystic tier was the Earth tier, but such profound techniques were likely only held by supreme factions or great empires.

  As for the Heaven tier… it hadn’t appeared in centuries.

  Theoretically, it was nearly impossible for an ordinary person to obtain a high-tier technique. However, exceptions existed. The Continent of Dou Qi was vast, home to countless races. In the north, there were barbarians renowned for their immense strength and ability to fuse with beast spirits. In the south, there were highly intelligent advanced magical beast clans, as well as infamous dark races known for their sinister and ruthless ways.

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  Due to the continent’s vastness, many reclusive experts chose to hide their self-created techniques in remote places before their deaths, waiting for a destined individual to discover them. A saying circulated on the Continent of Dou Qi:

  "If one day, you fall off a cliff and land in a cave, don’t panic. Take two steps forward—perhaps you will become a powerhouse!"

  This was no joke. Over the past thousand years, there had been no shortage of stories about people rising to greatness through such serendipitous encounters.

  The result of these tales was a surge of hopeful dreamers who camped near cliffs, ready to jump in hopes of obtaining a legendary technique. Of course, most of them returned with broken limbs…

  In any case, this was a continent filled with miracles—and the potential to create them.

  Naturally, to cultivate Dou Qi techniques, one first needed to become a true Dou Practitioner. For Xiao Yan, that goal still seemed far away.

  "Pah."

  Spitting out the grass stalk, Xiao Yan suddenly leaped to his feet, his face twisting in fury as he roared at the night sky:

  "Damn it all! Did you bring me here just to play me for a fool?!"

  In his past life, Xiao Yan had been an utterly ordinary person, one among the faceless masses. Wealth and beautiful women were like parallel lines to him—never intersecting with his life. Yet, upon arriving in this world, he was pleasantly surprised to discover that due to the fusion of two lifetimes’ worth of experiences, his soul was far stronger than an average person’s!

  In the Continent of Dou Qi, the soul was innate. While it might grow slightly with age, there were no known techniques to actively cultivate it—not even Heaven-tier methods could achieve this. This was common knowledge.

  The strength of his soul had granted Xiao Yan extraordinary talent in cultivation, earning him a reputation as a genius.

  When an ordinary person suddenly gains the potential to stand above countless others, maintaining humility becomes difficult without immense self-discipline. Unsurprisingly, Xiao Yan—who had been an average man in his past life—lacked such restraint. Thus, when he began cultivating Dou Qi, he chose the path of a dazzling prodigy rather than growing quietly in the shadows.

  Had nothing unexpected occurred, Xiao Yan might have continued flourishing under the title of "genius." Unfortunately, at the age of eleven, that title was abruptly stripped away. Overnight, the genius became the butt of ridicule—a good-for-nothing in the eyes of the world.

  ……

  After his outburst, Xiao Yan’s emotions gradually settled. His face returned to its usual melancholy. No matter how angry he was, it wouldn’t restore the Dou Qi vortex he had painstakingly cultivated.

  With a bitter shake of his head, Xiao Yan felt a pang of injustice. After all, he had no idea what was happening to his body. Routine checks revealed nothing unusual. His soul had only grown stronger with age, and his speed of absorbing Dou Qi was even faster than during his peak years. By all accounts, his talent hadn’t diminished—yet every wisp of Dou Qi he absorbed inexplicably vanished without a trace.

  This bizarre phenomenon left him disheartened.

  With another sigh, Xiao Yan raised his hand, his fingers brushing against a black ring on his finger. The ring was ancient and unadorned, its material unknown. Faint patterns were etched onto its surface—this was the only keepsake his mother had left him before her death. He had worn it since the age of four, and over the past decade, it had become a cherished memento.

  "These past few years… I’ve truly failed Mother’s expectations," he muttered with a self-deprecating smile.

  Taking a deep breath, Xiao Yan suddenly turned his head and called warmly into the dark forest:

  "Father, you’re here?"

  Despite having only three segments of Dou Qi, Xiao Yan’s soul perception surpassed even that of a 5-Star Dou Practitioner. Earlier, when speaking of his mother, he had sensed movement in the woods.

  "Haha, Yan’er, why are you still up here so late?" After a brief pause, a man’s concerned laughter rang out from the trees.

  Rustling branches parted as a middle-aged man stepped forward, his face filled with warmth as he gazed at his son under the moonlight.

  The man wore luxurious gray robes, his every stride exuding authority. His thick eyebrows added to his imposing presence. This was the current head of the Xiao family—Xiao Yan’s father, Xiao Zhan, a 5-Star Great Dou Master!

  "Father, you’re not resting either?" Xiao Yan’s smile widened. Despite retaining memories of his past life, he held deep affection for this man who had doted on him since birth—even more so after his fall from grace. Such unwavering love had earned Xiao Zhan the title of Father in Xiao Yan’s heart.

  "Yan’er, still thinking about this afternoon’s test?" Xiao Zhan strode forward with a smile.

  "Hah, nothing to think about. It was expected." Xiao Yan shook his head with a maturity beyond his years, though his smile was strained.

  "Sigh…" Xiao Zhan studied his son’s youthful yet solemn face before hesitating. "Yan’er… you’re fifteen now, aren’t you?"

  "Yes, Father."

  "In another year… it’ll be time for your Coming of Age Ceremony," Xiao Zhan said with a pained smile.

  "Indeed. One more year." Xiao Yan’s fingers tightened imperceptibly, but his voice remained calm. He knew full well what the ceremony entailed. If he failed to demonstrate sufficient potential, he would lose the right to enter the Dou Qi Pavilion and select a cultivation technique. Instead, he’d be assigned to manage the family’s mundane businesses—a rule even the clan leader couldn’t override.

  After all, those who failed to reach the Dou Practitioner rank by age twenty-five would no longer be recognized by the family.

  "I’m sorry, Yan’er. If your Dou Qi doesn’t reach seven segments in a year, I’ll have no choice but to assign you to the family’s enterprises. This clan isn’t mine alone to rule—those old fogies are just waiting for me to slip up…" Xiao Zhan’s voice was heavy with guilt.

  "Father, I’ll work hard. In one year, I will reach seven segments!" Xiao Yan smiled reassuringly.

  "One year… four segments? Hah. If it were the past, maybe. But now… there’s almost no chance." Though he comforted his father aloud, Xiao Yan inwardly scoffed at himself.

  Xiao Zhan, fully aware of his son’s predicament, could only sigh in response. He knew how nearly impossible it was to advance four segments in a year. Patting Xiao Yan’s head, he suddenly chuckled. "It’s late. Get some rest. Tomorrow, an important guest is visiting the family. Don’t embarrass us."

  "An important guest? Who?" Xiao Yan blinked curiously.

  "You’ll find out tomorrow." With a playful wink, Xiao Zhan strode away, leaving his son behind.

  "Don’t worry, Father. I’ll do my best." Stroking the ancient ring on his finger, Xiao Yan murmured to the sky.

  At that moment, the black ring emitted a faint, almost imperceptible glimmer—one that vanished in an instant, unnoticed by anyone.