Farewell, Xiao Yan

Wutan City.

It was originally an unremarkable border town, but in recent years, it became known due to a genius, and as a result, many remembered this small city.

Especially a few months ago, when an eleven-year-old broke through to the rank of a Dou-Practitioner making the keywords Wutan City and Xiao Clan even more prominent.

Unfortunately, overnight, Xiao Yan's Dou Qi Vortex vanished into thin air, and now he has fallen to the seventh stage of Dou Disciple.

The genius has already fallen.

This explosive news made Xiao Yan the top subject of discussion in recent days. Everywhere one went, people were talking about him, speculating on the reason behind his fall from Fighter status, with all sorts of bizarre theories circulating.

The Ao Ba and Jia Lie families also tacitly fueled the rumors, stirring the pot, and even placing bets on whether Xiao Yan's Dou Disciple cultivation would drop by another stage the next day, killing him slowly with psychological warfare.

Xiao Yan remained the hottest topic, and no one could shake his position as the star of Wutan City.

However, many people who went out for idle chats today discovered that a new topic had replaced him!

Who was this rising figure, generating such intense heat?

Hurry up and get the gossip!

"I knew it, Wang Ermazi's arrogant behavior was going to get him into trouble sooner or later. If it weren't for him shamelessly clinging to the Ao Ba family, would it have taken this long? Now, look, the Ao Ba family is in chaos, and who cares about him anymore."

"The person who did this has some serious guts. So far, more than twenty people have been crippled, right? Both the Ao Ba and Jia Lie families were hit, but nothing from the Xiao Clan. Could this be the Xiao Clan's doing?"

"Unlikely. The Xiao Clan wouldn't dare offend two major families at once. Besides, one of their squad captains was crippled too."

"Evil people meet their match. All I can say is they deserved it."

The mercenaries' guesses weren't far off. At this moment, tension filled the air among the three great families of Wutan City, each sending out guards to investigate the market. The Ao Ba and Jia Lie families even issued statements declaring they would stop at nothing to find the culprit.

In just one day, over twenty people were crippled. They were furious but also somewhat apprehensive, as one of the unlucky Ao Ba family members was a two-star Dou Practitioner.

To cripple him without making a sound would be nearly impossible without high-level Dou Master skills.(Hypothetically Speaking)

This dangerous person lurked in the shadows, and until they were dealt with, no one could rest easy. Aside from a few top leaders, everyone lived in fear each day.

Thus, a thorough investigation was required!

For once, the three families were united.

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed repeatedly along the streets.

But Chen Guan, in his inn, was completely unaffected. At this moment, he was engrossed in a book detailing various spiritual herbs and medicines, making up for his lack of knowledge, completely free of the tension one would expect from a culprit.

Yes, he was the culprit!

After half a month on the road, Chen Guan found himself once again in Wutan City—not deliberately, just passing through on his way to another destination.

After traveling for half a month, he originally planned to rest for just one day. But fate works in mysterious ways. As soon as he entered the city, he ran into a mercenary nicknamed Wang Ermazi.

Chen Guan remembered him vividly. The man had once knocked two buns out of his hands and "gifted" him a fist the size of a sandbag.

Do you know the psychological trauma a fist the size of a sandbag can inflict on a four-year-old child?

With memories stirred, Chen Guan took gleeful revenge. He didn't hold a grudge—he merely broke all five of the man's limbs and crippled his Dou Qi. 

The others who were crippled had similar grudges with him.

To find so many familiar faces in one day spoke volumes about his tragic circumstances when he first arrived. Truly, it had been a pitiful, miserable existence.

Thud, thud, thud~

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

Chen Guan opened the back window before answering.

Standing at the door was a cold-faced young man in black, looking distracted, as though he was bottling up some intense frustration.

Behind him stood six Xiao Clan guards, all dressed in uniform.

"Sorry to disturb you. I'm Xiao Yan of the Xiao Clan. Since there was a disturbance in the city yesterday, we are conducting routine inquiries. If you see anyone suspicious, please inform the Xiao Clan."

Xiao Yan?!

He'd heard so much about him but didn't recognize him at first glance.

Then again, the last time he'd seen him from a distance, he'd been a little brat. Back then, Xiao Yan was still an arrogant young overlord. Now, he'd grown, and his temperament had changed after suffering setbacks, so it wasn't surprising that Chen Guan didn't recognize him.

But to ask him about this incident... Should I turn myself in?

"Oh, I see. Anything else?"

Chen Guan casually replied, sizing up his fellow townsman. His eyes unconsciously drifted to the dark ring hanging around Xiao Yan's neck.

If it had been six years ago, Chen Guan might have risked snatching it, but now…

Chen Guan had no such thoughts. Yao Chen had undoubtedly awakened!

"Sorry to trouble you. Also, a reminder: if you don't have to go out, avoid it, especially at night." Xiao Yan slightly shook his head, then took his men to the next room.

From start to finish, he hadn't looked carefully at the young man before him, nor did he harbor any suspicion.

In his mind, Chen Guan was around his own age and likely still in the Dou Disciple stage, so he dismissed him as a suspect immediately.

"Sixth stage Dou Disciple."

As Xiao Yan left, Chen Guan murmured to himself, "At this rate, it won't be long before he hits rock bottom."

While Chen Guan lamented Xiao Yan's situation, he had no idea that Yao Chen, inside the ring, had just been startled by him.

"His bone age is around ten, and he's almost a three-star Dou Practitioner. Freak!"

Yao Chen couldn't help but wonder if putting his hopes in this kid would be wiser for the future.

He was tempted but ultimately dismissed the idea.

First, he had already drained Xiao Yan for so long that running away after taking everything felt wrong.

Second, Yao Chen had strong suspicions that Chen Guan might be backed by a powerful force from Central State. Given his current state, it was best to avoid such powers.

What? You say this kid is native to the Jia Ma Empire?

Yao Chen wouldn't believe it, not in a million years. If a place as backward as the Jia Ma Empire could produce someone of his caliber, he'd eat his words.

With Xiao Xun'er and Chen Guan, two enigmatic figures appearing in Wutan City simultaneously, Yao Chen's imagination ran wild, making him increasingly anxious.

In his haste, he absorbed a bit too much, and poor Xiao Yan suffered the consequences.

Feeling the sudden drop in his Dou Disciple from the sixth stage to the fourth, Xiao Yan snapped and cursed the heavens, his rage soaring.

"Argh! Damn you, Rem!!!"

(T/N: Damn, bro was so enraged that he travelled through multiverses just to whine.)

(End of chapter)