On the bed, the young man sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, his hands forming a strange seal in front of him. His chest rose and fell gently with each breath, forming a perfect rhythm. With each cycle, faint wisps of white energy flowed into his body through his nose and mouth, nourishing his bones and flesh.

  As he meditated, the ancient black ring on his finger once again emitted a faint, eerie glow before fading away.

  "Hah…"

  Exhaling a turbid breath, the young man suddenly opened his eyes. A fleeting white light flashed within his dark pupils—traces of Dou Qi that had just been absorbed but not yet fully refined.

  "The Dou Qi I worked so hard to cultivate is disappearing again… Damn it!" Sensing the state of his body, his face twisted in anger, and he couldn’t help but curse sharply.

  His fists clenched tightly. After a long moment, he shook his head with a bitter smile and wearily climbed off the bed, stretching his numb legs. With only three segments of Dou Qi, he couldn’t ignore physical exhaustion like true experts could.

  After a brief stretch, an elderly voice called from outside the room:

  "Third Young Master, the clan leader requests your presence in the main hall!"

  Third Young Master—Xiao Yan was the third son of the Xiao family. He had two older brothers, though they had long since left to train elsewhere, returning only occasionally at the end of the year. Generally speaking, they treated their younger brother quite well.

  "Mm."

  Casually acknowledging the summons, Xiao Yan changed into fresh robes and stepped out, smiling at the blue-robed elder waiting outside. "Let’s go, Steward Mo."

  The old man nodded kindly at the boy’s youthful face. But the moment he turned away, a trace of imperceptible pity flashed in his aged eyes.

  "Ah… With the talent the Third Young Master once had, he should have already become an outstanding Dou Practitioner by now. What a shame…"

  Following the steward through the rear courtyard, they soon arrived outside the solemn guest hall. After knocking respectfully, the old man gently pushed the door open.

  The hall was spacious and filled with people. At the head sat Xiao Zhan and three expressionless elders—the family’s Grand Elders, whose authority rivaled the clan leader’s.

  To their left sat other senior family members with influence and strength, accompanied by outstanding younger-generation disciples.

  On the opposite side were three strangers—likely the "important guests" Xiao Zhan had mentioned the night before.

  Xiao Yan’s gaze swept over them curiously.

  One was an old man in a moon-white robe, his face lively and smiling. Though his eyes were narrow, they occasionally gleamed with sharp light. Xiao Yan’s attention dropped to the man’s chest—and his heart jolted.

  Embroidered there was a silver crescent moon, surrounded by seven golden stars.

  If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

  "A Seven-Star Great Dou Master! This old man… is actually stronger than my father by two stars!"

  Great Dou Masters were figures renowned across regions, their strength enough to make any faction vie for their favor. Seeing one so suddenly, it was no wonder Xiao Yan was shocked.

  Beside the elder sat a young man and woman dressed in identical moon-white robes. The man appeared around twenty, with handsome features and a tall, commanding presence. But more importantly, his chest bore five golden stars—marking him as a Five-Star Dou Practitioner!

  Reaching such a level at his age indicated remarkable talent.

  With his looks and strength, the young man had already captivated many of the family’s naive girls—even Xiao Mei, who sat nearby, couldn’t help stealing glances at him, her eyes sparkling.

  Yet the young man seemed indifferent to their attention, his focus entirely on the beautiful girl beside him.

  She appeared around Xiao Yan’s age, but to his surprise, her looks surpassed even Xiao Mei’s. Within the Xiao family, only the lotus-like Xiao Xun’er could compare. No wonder this man ignored the other girls.

  Jade-green earrings dangled from her delicate ears, swaying gently and emitting crisp, crystalline chimes—a subtle mark of nobility.

  And on her budding chest were three golden stars.

  "A Three-Star Dou Practitioner… If she achieved this without external aids, then she’s a monstrous genius!"

  Xiao Yan inhaled quietly but only glanced at her cold, exquisite face for a moment before looking away. Beneath his youthful appearance lay a mature soul—no matter how beautiful she was, he wasn’t about to gawk like a fool.

  His indifference seemed to surprise the girl slightly. Though she wasn’t vain, she knew her own charm. His casual dismissal was… unexpected. But that was all.

  "Father, Elders."

  Stepping forward, Xiao Yan bowed respectfully to Xiao Zhan and the three Grand Elders.

  "Ah, Yan’er, you’re here. Take a seat," Xiao Zhan said, pausing his conversation with the guests to nod at him.

  Xiao Yan smiled but pretended not to notice the impatience and disdain in the elders’ eyes. Scanning the hall, however, he froze.

  There was no seat for him.

  "Heh… My status in this family really has fallen this low, huh? Even in front of guests, they’re humiliating me now. These old bastards…"

  As he stood awkwardly, muffled laughter arose from the younger family members, clearly enjoying his embarrassment.

  Noticing his predicament, Xiao Zhan’s face darkened with anger. "Second Elder, you—"

  "Ah! My apologies, I forgot about the Third Young Master. I’ll arrange a seat at once!" The yellow-robed elder feigned remorse, though the mockery in his eyes was barely concealed.

  "Brother Xiao Yan, sit here."

  A soft voice suddenly rang out.

  The three elders stiffened, their gazes darting to the corner where Xiao Xun’er sat quietly. Their lips twitched, but none dared speak.

  In the shadows, Xun’er closed the thick book in her hands with a gentle smile, her demeanor elegant and composed. She blinked playfully at Xiao Yan.

  Meeting her gaze, Xiao Yan hesitated, then rubbed his nose and walked over under the envious stares of the other youths, seating himself beside her.

  "You saved me again," he whispered, catching the faint fragrance of her scent.

  Xun’er smiled, delicate dimples appearing on her cheeks. Her slender fingers reopened the ancient book, her quiet maturity giving her a scholarly charm. After a pause, she suddenly murmured, "It’s been three years since we last sat together like this, hasn’t it?"

  "Uh… Well, Xun’er is the family’s genius now. Making friends should be easy, right?" Xiao Yan chuckled awkwardly, avoiding her sidelong gaze.

  "When I was four to six years old, someone sneaked into my room every night. Using clumsy methods and weak Dou Qi, they warmed my bones and meridians, always leaving exhausted and drenched in sweat. Brother Xiao Yan… who do you think that was?"

  After a long silence, Xun’er turned her head, smiling brilliantly at him—a sight that made the surrounding boys stare in awe.

  "Cough… H-how would I know? We were just toddlers back then!"

  Xiao Yan’s heart skipped a beat. Forcing a laugh, he quickly looked away, feigning interest in the hall’s decor.

  "Hehe…"

  Noticing his reaction, Xun’er’s lips curved softly. As her eyes returned to her book, she murmured almost to herself:

  "Though his intentions were good… I’m still a girl, you know? Sneaking into a girl’s room to touch her body—how shameless. If I ever find out who it was… hmph."

  Xiao Yan’s mouth twitched.

  Sweating internally, he stared straight ahead, saying nothing.