Chapter 3: Tit for Tat!

Xiao Zhan's face turned somewhat livid. With a final wave of his sleeve, he led Xiao Yan and Xiao Ze away from the scene.

Before leaving, Xiao Ze glanced at the smug Xiao Ning.

The Elder Chief wore a satisfied smile as he left with Xiao Ning, delighted to have outmaneuvered Xiao Zhan in this matter.

Xiao Ning, in particular, relished the moment. Once a lofty genius, now he had brought down his opponent with just a few punches, basking in the satisfaction of his victory.

The incident quickly spread throughout the Xiao family, solidifying Xiao Yan's reputation as a fallen genius.

---

"Father, I'm fine. If necessary, I'll just avoid them in the future," Xiao Yan said with a bitter smile, while Xiao Zhan looked worried.

"My son, you've suffered! I'm useless. Even after all this time, I still haven't been able to figure out the reason for your decline in Dou Qi," Xiao Zhan lamented.

Xiao Yan was taken aback. He hadn't told Xiao Zhan about his Qi decline.

Xiao Ze, standing beside Xiao Yan, explained, "Father noticed it early on. But since you didn't mention it, he refrained from asking, silently searching for the cause."

Xiao Ze spoke calmly, knowing Xiao Zhan was a good father who treated all his children equally.

"Fourth Brother, you knew too?" Xiao Yan suddenly felt that his year-long concealment had become a joke.

"Third Brother, we meet frequently, and we're brothers after all," Xiao Ze replied. "Although you've been busy with cultivation this past year, we've still met many times. I could see some clues."

Xiao Yan nodded silently, feeling bitter. "So, even Father can't solve my Qi decline?"

Xiao Zhan sighed. His third son, in whom he took the most pride and worry, was not like his eldest, who had ventured out early, or his youngest, who caused him no concern.

The room fell into silence.

Outside the room, Xiao Xun'er stood waiting. She softly asked Ling Ying, "Can you tell why his Qi is declining?"

"It seems to be absorbed by some unknown force. Whenever he stores Qi during cultivation, it gets absorbed," Ling Ying replied, unable to detect Medicine Elder's presence but sensing Xiao Yan's condition.

Xiao Xun'er nodded, merely curious and not intending to intervene.

If Xiao Ze asked for her help, she would consider it.

However, Xiao Ze probably thought of her as just an ordinary member of the Xiao family.

Thinking of Xiao Ze, Xiao Xun'er smiled faintly.

Ling Ying, who secretly guarded her, felt conflicted, observing the relationship between her mistress and the Xiao family boy. He was troubled, knowing her identity and the vast difference between them.

Chances of their relationship bearing fruit were slim. Even if she persisted, she would likely face opposition from the elders in the family.

He wanted to advise her to sever this relationship, which had no hope of success, but didn't know where to start.

So, he could only silently guard her.

Soon after, Xiao Clan Chief Xiao Zhan came out, his face filled with worry.

Seeing Xiao Xun'er, Xiao Zhan hesitated momentarily. He knew Xiao Xun'er was close to his fourth son.

But he was in no mood for idle chatter now and simply nodded in greeting before hurrying away.

A while later, Xiao Ze emerged and thoughtfully closed the door behind him.

Seeing Xiao Xun'er waiting, he smiled lightly.

Xiao Xun'er greeted him and leaned forward slightly, her bright eyes assessing his expression.

"Xiao Ze, are you not going to let it go?" she asked.

"Of course not! He's my third brother. Does he think anyone can just pick on him?" Xiao Ze replied confidently, his smile tinged with coldness.

"Since the Elder says it's inappropriate for the older generation to be involved, let's settle this among ourselves!"

"Xun'er, come, let's go and stir up some trouble with Xiao Ning!" Xiao Ze declared enthusiastically, and Xiao Xun'er obediently nodded, following behind him.

While waiting earlier, she had asked Ling Ying about Xiao Ze's current strength and was surprised by the answer: Nine-Star Dou Zhe!

With a Nine-Star Dou Zhe's strength, confronting Xiao Ning would be effortless.

It was almost like bullying a weaker opponent!

---

The Martial Skill Pavilion.

Here, Xiao family members practiced and sparred with each other to hone their martial skills.

Xiao Ning stood surrounded by a crowd, eyes brimming with admiration.

"I only threw one punch, and he was already down on the ground. He wanted to continue fighting even after that, but I didn't want to. But he insisted, sigh~" Xiao Ning boasted, relishing the feeling of climbing over the reputation of a genius.

"If it weren't for more people gathering, even the Clan Chief showing up, he might have tried to fight me again. I really didn't want to fight anymore!" Xiao Ning pretended to be merciful, listening to the awe-struck murmurs around him, his face beaming with satisfaction.

"How can this be? Xiao Ning's cousin still wants to fight?"

The sudden voice stunned the crowd, freezing the atmosphere.

All eyes turned towards the speaker, and upon recognizing him, their gazes shifted with varying degrees of suspicion and uncertainty.

Xiao Ze smiled and said, "But this time, let someone else fight you. I'll do it!"

The crowd fell silent, looking at Xiao Ze with some skepticism but also a hint of apprehension.

Xiao Ze exuded a strong aura, making them hesitant to act rashly.

Meanwhile, Xiao Ning wore a faint smile as he approached Xiao Ze.

"Is your fallen genius brother seeking revenge through you?"

Xiao Ze smiled back. "Yes, indeed. What's the matter? Are you afraid?"

"Huh, you beat my brother and now you're coming after me? I'd like to see how good you really are!"

As they stepped onto the sparring stage, the crowd gathered around, making way for them to fight.

Xiao Ning stood in the center, casually inviting Xiao Ze to make the first move.

"In that case, I won't hold back!"

Xiao Ze's expression remained unchanged as he swiftly advanced.

A faint blue Qi light shone around his fist, and before Xiao Ning could react, it was too late!

A punch landed squarely on Xiao Ning's abdomen!

Xiao Ning was knocked down instantly, and Xiao Ze followed up with relentless strikes, pinning him down.

With his knees pressing against Xiao Ning's arms, he prevented him from protecting his head.

Simultaneously, his fists rained down on Xiao Ning's head, surrounded by a faint blue Qi.

Onlookers widened their eyes in disbelief.

It wasn't an illusion!

It was indeed the brilliance of attribute Qi!

After becoming a martial artist, selecting the corresponding attribute martial arts, and converting the colorless Qi into attribute Qi, could such a phenomenon occur!

In other words, what they were witnessing was a genuine martial artist beating down a cultivator of Qi!