*Chapter 4: The Treatment of a Genius, Gift from Gu Yuan*

For a young girl of such background and age to reach the pinnacle of the Dou Ling level, it wouldn't be long before she advanced to Dou Wang.

Such talent surpassed even Xiao Lin!

"You indeed know the bigger picture, unlike ordinary women," Gu Yuan nodded slightly, praising her. "I won't let your Xiao family take care of my daughter for nothing."

As he spoke, Gu Yuan casually shot out two water-blue beams of light, which fell beside the bed.

As the light receded, two exquisitely crafted scrolls appeared in front of Qin Yueyao and the others.

Gu Yuan said, "I came here in haste today and didn't bring many gifts. This cultivation method and Dou Technique are to both celebrate the birth of a genius in your Xiao clan and as compensation for looking after my daughter."

Xiao Lin was about to politely thank him when, in an instant, the figure before his eyes disappeared.

Such power left everyone in the room gasping in shock.

After regaining his composure, Xiao Lin, along with his son Xiao Zhan, approached the bedside and said to his daughter-in-law, "Yueyao, let's take a look at that cultivation method and Dou Technique first."

Qin Yueyao nodded slightly. She quickly glanced through the cultivation method and was instantly astonished. She then looked at the Dou Technique and raised her head in disbelief, exclaiming, "This is actually a high-level Earth-tier cultivation method and Dou Technique!"

"What?!" Even with Xiao Lin's extraordinary composure, he lost his usual calm.

In the Jia Ma Empire, it was uncertain whether there even existed Earth-tier beginner-level cultivation methods or Dou Techniques, yet that man casually gifted two high-level Earth-tier techniques.

What was more, it was a complete set. This made its value far surpass any random pair of cultivation methods or Dou Techniques.

Xiao Lin quickly regained his clarity. With an imposing expression, he looked at the maids and servants in the room. "No one is to speak of today's events. If I hear even a whisper of it outside…"

Xiao Lin didn't want to say anything too bloody on the day his grandson was born, but the gravity of the situation was clear in his tone.

He then leaned closer to his daughter-in-law and advised, "These cultivation methods and Dou Techniques were obviously given to you by that gentleman, so you will practice them. However, you must not teach them to anyone else, not even Zhan'er."

Qin Yueyao nodded solemnly. She was smart and understood what he meant.

The value of Earth-tier cultivation methods and Dou Techniques was immense. If word of them got out, it could spell disaster for the Xiao family.

Moreover, that middle-aged man was not to be trifled with. Who knew what his temperament was like? If they provoked him, the outcome might be even worse than the former.

Xiao Yan was somewhat surprised by Gu Yuan's gifts.

This guy had not given them anything aside from arranging a wife.

It seemed that due to his arrival, the butterfly effect was already taking place.

If he hadn't developed his own cultivation methods and enhanced his and his mother's potential, Gu Yuan would never have been moved enough to grant high-level Earth-tier techniques.

Especially now, his mother's strength had far exceeded Xiao Yan's expectations.

A few days ago, her Dou Crystal was in a sea urchin state. Now, with the nine spikes retracted, it had reached the pinnacle of Dou Ling!

With the Xiao clan's cultivation methods, producing a thirty-year-old Dou Ling pinnacle-level expert was already remarkable in the Jia Ma Empire, practically a genius.

If nothing went wrong, when he grew up, the Xiao family might see the rise of a Dou Huang-level powerhouse.

This was simply based on innate talent.

Adding in the high-level Earth-tier cultivation methods and Dou Techniques given by his father-in-law, Gu Yuan, Xiao Yan felt that with his mother's current potential, it was very possible for her to break through to the Dou Zong level.

Thinking about how his birth had almost changed the fate of the Xiao family, Xiao Yan couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.

A Dou Zong with high-level Earth-tier techniques would be an invincible existence in the Jia Ma Empire.

However, having been through so much to be born, Xiao Yan soon felt a bit weary.

Xiao Yan planned to quickly meditate after a nap to grasp a method that would allow him to start cultivating Dou Qi immediately and further solidify his advantage!

The birth of Xiao Yan naturally caused a sensation in Wutan City.

With innate Dou Qi at the third stage, this level was something that many disciples in other families struggled to achieve even after a year or more of cultivation.

But this little fellow, Xiao Yan, had already reached this level at birth.

People couldn't help but wonder: Did some people start cultivating in the womb?

Of course, they only dared to think about this. Out loud, they all congratulated the Xiao family for birthing a genius who, in the future, might rival the old patriarch as a Dou Huang powerhouse.

One month later, the Xiao family held a grand full-month banquet for Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan was not at all happy about his own full-month celebration; in fact, the chaos gave him a headache.

This was worlds apart from the serene environment he used to meditate in.

Fiddling with the ancient ring hanging around his neck, Xiao Yan tried to ease his frustration.

Due to his exceptional talent, his mother had hung the ring containing Yao Lao's soul around his neck ahead of time.

"I wonder at what age I'll be able to 'resurrect' Yao Lao," Xiao Yan thought silently.

To bring Yao Lao back, two conditions had to be met.

First, he had to reach the Dou Zhe level. Second, the ring needed to absorb Dou Qi for three years before Yao Lao could regain enough power to appear.

Xiao Yan knew that Yao Lao actually had some consciousness during those three years.

The requirement of absorbing Dou Qi for three years before showing himself was merely to regain enough strength to defend against the Soul Hall if needed.

After the banquet and returning to his small bed, Xiao Yan closed his eyes and continued his meditation.

As a genius by birth, his mother often spoke to him about the cultivation of Dou Qi, hoping he would grow up to become a strong expert.

With formal cultivation knowledge being poured into him, Xiao Yan's extraordinary perception was brought to full play.

The orthodox method of cultivating Dou Qi required forming seals and meditating to concentrate on guiding the energy of heaven and earth.

What Xiao Yan needed to overcome now was the posture required for cultivation.

He wanted to cultivate while lying, standing, or in any position, without needing to sit cross-legged.

However, this challenge was more difficult than Xiao Yan had anticipated.

It must be understood that the widely spread Dou Qi cultivation method across the Dou Qi Continent was developed by ancient Dou Di experts as the most optimal method for the Dou Qi phase, hence its universal adoption.

Now, Xiao Yan was attempting to alter a method created by Dou Di experts; the difficulty of this endeavor was imaginable.

A few months later.

After being infused with more cultivation knowledge and thoroughly grasping the method of Dou Qi cultivation, as well as observing many Xiao clan members in training, Xiao Yan's meditation speed increased. He finally made a breakthrough.

[After using the "Dou Qi Cultivation Method" for several days of research, you have comprehended and developed the "Breathing Technique of Dou Qi"!]

*(End of Chapter)*