Chapter 29: Sparring with Xun'er, a Sudden Enlightenment

Xiao Yan toyed with the scroll in his hand. "I just wanted to see what makes a high-level Xuan-class technique so special."

Xun'er rested her delicate fingers against her snow-white chin. Curious about a high-level Xuan-class technique? Could it be that the technique Xiao Yan is practicing isn't as advanced? She chuckled, "Could you let me see what level your technique is?"

"Ahem... You can't judge a technique solely by its rank; it depends on who's practicing it and how it's being cultivated," Xiao Yan replied with an awkward laugh.

Seeing Xiao Yan's response, Xun'er's eyes slowly narrowed, forming a dangerous arc. However, her voice remained gentle and charming. "Brother Xiao Yan, you should still let me take a look."

Faced with Xun'er's insistence, Xiao Yan had no choice but to extend his hand. The Dou Qi within him circulated slowly, channeling through his meridians. A faint yellow light flickered in the palm of his hand, as if it were a candle in the wind, ready to extinguish at any moment.

Observing this flickering Dou Qi, Xun'er's expression darkened slightly. She pursed her rosy lips, showing how angered she felt at this moment.

"Brother Xiao Yan, is this the so-called 'better technique' you're searching for?!"

"You know perfectly well that having a high-level technique in the early stages of cultivation is crucial for future development. I even brought you this high-level technique! You could practice it and return it to me afterward. Yet, you're cultivating the lowest level technique now. Are you trying to make me angry on purpose?"

Xun'er widened her eyes, both angry and anxious. Her long eyelashes sparkled with a few crystalline droplets, making her look pitiable and extremely lovable.

She and Brother Xiao Yan were destined to be together in the future. How could cultivating a low-level Huang-class technique possibly suppress the objections of the family?

For someone as gentle and soft-spoken as Xun'er to speak in such a manner, it was clear just how perplexed and upset she was with Xiao Yan's actions.

Looking at the stubborn Xun'er, who bit her lip and demanded an explanation, Xiao Yan sighed helplessly and said with a bitter smile, "Haven't we been together for almost ten years now? Don't you understand me yet?"

"But this technique... it's clearly a low-level Huang-class technique. I can't be mistaken about that," Xun'er's anger subsided slightly, but she remained stubborn.

"You know my talent. You will understand in the future," Xiao Yan smiled.

"Really?" Xun'er hesitated, staring at Xiao Yan's confident expression before finally asking again.

Before Xiao Yan could answer, Xun'er's brows relaxed, and she laughed gently. "Then, Brother Xiao Yan, show me some of your strength now. I've just broken through to Dou Zhe."

Her expression transformed from gloomy to joyful, like a flower blossoming in the warm spring breeze. In that moment, Xun'er radiated a charm that came from deep within.

"Was it the effect of a fourth-grade pill, the Qi Gathering Powder? You really are a little rich lady." Xiao Yan grinned.

From what the Xiao family knew, Xun'er would need a long period of accumulation to reach the ninth stage of Dou Qi.

But Xiao Yan understood. Not only could Xun'er use the Qi Gathering Powder to break through, she could probably consume it as casually as eating a meal.

Xun'er pursed her lips, her eyes serious. "Only in real combat will you realize the benefits of high-level techniques, Brother Xiao Yan."

Xun'er had no doubt about Xiao Yan's aptitude. However, in this remote Wu Tan City, cultivation practices were filled with many unknowns. At barely twelve years old, it was not surprising that he might have been misled by some crafty old monster.

"Alright then, let's spar for a bit." Xiao Yan raised his hand and drew out the Heavy Xuan Ruler, thrusting it into the ground forcefully.

The seemingly ordinary move resulted in the exceptionally heavy Heavy Xuan Ruler embedding itself deeply into the ground with a loud thud.

Xun'er's beautiful eyes widened in surprise. She had been so focused on the technique earlier that she hadn't even noticed this pitch-black ruler, which seemed so unremarkable...

Xiao Yan smiled faintly and stepped back a few paces. "Show me what you've got."

Biting her lip lightly, Xun'er didn't dare to be careless. The Dou Qi in her body began circulating rapidly, its speed increasing until her eyes flickered with a golden glow.

The sun hung high in the sky, its scorching rays baking the earth like a furnace. Waves of heat radiated from the ground, rising into the air and distorting the view slightly.

Sunlight filtered through layers of leaves, casting tiny spots of light on the leaf-strewn ground, resembling stars in the night sky.

A breeze swept through the forest, and two figures suddenly clashed in an exchange of palm strikes. Each impact sent out faint shockwaves, scattering the fallen leaves all around.

Though Xiao Yan's attacks seemed fierce, he was only using thirty percent of his strength.

Even so, it exceeded Xun'er's capacity to withstand. A slight bruise, somewhat tinged with blue, appeared on her delicate hand.

"So strong!" Xun'er gasped. She had always been by Xiao Yan's side and knew he had never studied combat techniques, focusing solely on cultivating Dou Qi.

She originally thought that even if he had broken through to Dou Zhe, he would just be someone with empty strength. To her surprise, he exhibited such formidable power in their very first spar!

Stamping his foot on the ground, Xiao Yan's figure shot forward, stirring up dust in his wake. As he approached within a meter of Xun'er, he abruptly halted, transitioning seamlessly from extreme motion to extreme stillness without the slightest sense of abruptness.

Seeing how skillfully Xiao Yan controlled his speed, a glimmer of admiration flashed in Xun'er's eyes.

"Eight Extremes Collapse!" Xiao Yan roared as he stepped forward, launching a straightforward punch aimed directly at Xun'er.

Faced with Xiao Yan's powerful assault, golden flames danced in Xun'er's eyes.

Her fair hand traced a small semicircle in front of her. In her palm, a faint golden light suddenly flared. Her hand curved into an odd arc before striking directly at Xiao Yan's fist without hesitation.

"Boom!"

The sound of fists and palms clashing resonated like an explosion. The fallen leaves were swept into the air, scattering everywhere.

After a moment of stalemate in mid-air, both figures retreated rapidly.

Xiao Yan felt as though he had punched a rubber ball. Not only did it absorb his force, but it also rebounded with some of that energy. As expected of a descendant from an ancient family.

"Xuan-class high-level Dou Technique, Swallow Reversal Strike. At its highest level, it can reflect an opponent's attack. I'm still at the beginner's level, so I can only reflect about one layer of force," Xun'er explained with a smile.

"Using force against force..." In Xiao Yan's heart, it felt like the clouds had parted, allowing sunlight to pour through. Everything suddenly became clear.

[Through the study of focusing power to a single point like in the Stellar Transformation technique, you have achieved an epiphany. You have comprehended a new Dou Technique: Samsara Tribulation - Break the Heavens!]

(End of Chapter)