First Battle with a Dou Ling

"I've already sent someone to inform Elder Hai, he'll be here shortly. This is a fine wine brewed from the thousand-year-old crimson fruit deep within the Magic Beast Mountain Range, have a taste." In the reception hall, Ya Fei took out a set of wine utensils from a cabinet and poured a cup of wine for Xiao Se with a smile.

"Brother, don't drink the wine, you'll get drunk." Just as Xiao Se was about to drink, a gentle, urgent voice of Long Kui echoed in his mind.

Xiao Se shook his head with a smile. It seemed that Long Kui had misunderstood him after he drank some special "Kuchikamizake" last time. He immediately explained in his heart, "That wine was unique; I don't get drunk from regular alcohol."

"No." Long Kui was firm. She would usually let her brother do as he pleased, but not when it came to anything harmful to him.

"Alright then!" Xiao Se, feeling helpless, raised the cup and gently swirled it without drinking, perhaps to avoid embarrassing Ya Fei. He shifted the conversation, "Speaking of which, Lei Le is just a lowly Dou Shi. Even if his grandfather is also an elder of your Mittel family, you shouldn't tolerate him like that. Why not call the guards to teach him a lesson?"

"Alas, there's nothing I can do. In terms of rank, his grandfather is above me, and I'm no match for that rascal Lei Le. The guards, out of fear, at most ensure my safety but dare not punish him." Ya Fei sighed helplessly, her voluptuous figure slightly rising and falling under her brocade robe, drawing a captivating curve.

"Seems we're both in the same boat," Xiao Se remarked casually with a smile.

"Yes." Ya Fei nodded vaguely. While she had to endure the indignities in the Mittel family, Xiao Se's life had been far more tragic. Orphaned from a young age and rejected by his family at three, he would have disappeared from the world if not for a loyal steward.

Gently brushing her hair, Ya Fei sighed, "Right now, all I can do is endure and wait for the day I truly take control."

"Sometimes, too much tolerance only fuels the other's arrogance. But after today, I doubt that scoundrel will bother you again." Xiao Se smiled, a strange curve appearing at the corner of his lips.

"What do you mean?" Ya Fei asked, puzzled and surprised by his words.

"Speak of the devil, and he shall appear." Xiao Se smiled faintly, setting down his wine cup and looking toward the door.

Just as he finished speaking, hurried footsteps echoed from outside, followed by a loud voice: "Who? Who dares to injure my precious grandson?"

Hearing this, Ya Fei's pretty face immediately turned cold, staring icily at the door.

Moments later, a group of figures burst through the door. Leading them was an elder in lavish robes with a gloomy expression. Behind him were several guards, carrying a stretcher on which lay the pale-faced Lei Lei, who had been kicked by Xiao Se into the ceiling.

"Elder Lei Ou, what do you mean by this? The person beside me is an esteemed guest of our Mittel family. If you don't want to be blamed by Patriarch Teng Shan, I suggest you leave," Ya Fei said coldly, her pretty face full of frost as she glared at the elder.

"Esteemed guest?" Lei Ou's lips twitched slightly as his gaze shifted to Xiao Se. He was shocked by Xiao Se's youth and the fact that he wore the badge of a second-tier alchemist. However, his expression quickly turned to disdain.

With his Dou Ling level, Lei Ou couldn't perceive any Dou Qi fluctuations from Xiao Se, making him seem like an ordinary person.

This led Lei Ou to one of two conclusions: either the person in front of him was far stronger than him, or his power was so weak it was undetectable. The idea of someone hiding their power was beyond Lei Ou's comprehension.

Naturally, Lei Ou believed the latter, especially given that his grandson claimed he was "sneak attacked." Mocking, Lei Ou said, "Ya Fei, how could you let a boy with no Dou Qi, wearing a clearly fake second-tier alchemist badge, into the family? And you allowed him to attack my grandson? At the next elders' meeting, I'll propose stripping you of your position."

"Is that so? I'll look forward to that day. But until then, as long as I remain the Inspection Elder, you have no right to interfere with my affairs. Besides, your precious grandson knew I was the Inspection Elder and still dared to act insolently. That's a result of your indulgence. Maybe I should charge him with insubordination at the next elders' meeting. I'm sure you know the consequences of a family member disrespecting an elder." Hearing Lei Ou claim Xiao Se's alchemist badge was fake, Ya Fei's anger turned into laughter. Her gaze turned calm, but her lips curled into a mocking smile.

"You..." Lei Ou was clearly surprised by Ya Fei's boldness. His lips twitched in anger, and he coldly replied, "Fine, we won't discuss your elder position for now. But this boy crippled my grandson; I demand justice today!"

"Let's see who dares to touch him." At this, Ya Fei stepped in front of Xiao Se, glaring at Lei Ou, then leaned over and whispered, "Be careful, he's a Dou Ling, don't engage recklessly. I've already sent for Elder Hai, we just need to buy some time."

Xiao Se smiled and patted Ya Fei's shoulder, laughing lightly, "I don't like hiding behind women, and besides, Elder Hai won't show up until the fight is over."

"Then be careful." Ya Fei blushed slightly at Xiao Se's intimate gesture, but understanding his intent, she nodded and stepped aside.

"Grandfather, please avenge me! He kicked me so hard, my pelvis is fractured. The healer said that without high-grade healing pills, it'll take at least half a year to recover. You have to make him pay!" Lei Le, his face pale, gritted his teeth through the pain and pleaded with Lei Ou.

"Don't worry, Lei Le. Today, this boy won't leave the Mittel family in one piece." Lei Ou's face remained emotionless.

"Is that so? I'd like to see what you can do to me." Xiao Se's expression stayed calm as he flicked his robe.

Now, with his cultivation at the five-star Da Dou Shi level, and having refined the Dragon Blood Grass, Xiao Se's strength far surpassed others at his level. Even in close combat, he could withstand a fourth-rank magic beast. Combined with his unique flame and high-level Dou techniques, he was more than capable of facing a Dou Ling.

"You're too arrogant! Today, I'll make you pay dearly." A dull yellow Dou Qi surged from Lei Ou, gathering in front of him and condensing into several spiraling earth spikes, which he shot toward Xiao Se, even including Ya Fei in the attack range.

"Condensed Dou Qi... a true Dou Ling. How shameless!" With a cold laugh, Xiao Se grabbed Ya Fei by the waist, his body flickering with blue light as he dodged Lei Ou's attack with ghostly speed.

After placing Ya Fei safely in the corner of the reception hall, Xiao Se's figure flashed once more. The next moment, he appeared behind Lei Ou, launching a powerful punch at him.

After two years of rigorous training, Xiao Se's ethereal smoke step had reached its highest level. While not true teleportation, it allowed him to move fast enough to be almost invisible to the naked eye.

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