After a short while, Xiao Se and Zhu Zhuqing had straightened their clothes.
Under the little cat-girl's resentful glare, Xiao Se—completely satisfied—lifted the Hanhai protective barrier.
Breakfast was already laid out neatly on the table.
When Zhu Zhuqing stepped out with her cheeks blazing red, Xiao Yixian—who had plenty of experience—instantly understood. A sly gleam flashed across her eyes.
"Zhuqing, you must be tired. Come eat. Mentor Ruolin had someone deliver breakfast just now."
Zhu Zhuqing's face reddened again. She shot Xiao Se a subtle sidelong glare before quietly taking her seat.
"So, Zhuqing—did you break through to Dou Fighter?"
Xiao Yu, sitting beside Xun'er, asked with a bright smile the moment she saw them.
"Mm." Zhu Zhuqing nodded gently.
"Wow, you're amazing! Back then, when Xiao Se broke through to Dou Fighter, he was about your age too!"
Xiao Yu's eyes sparkled with genuine admiration.
"Compared to Xiao Se and Xian'er, I'm still far behind."
Zhu Zhuqing didn't show even a trace of pride or false modesty. After witnessing their monster-like cultivation speed, how could she?
She lifted her bowl of rice soup and sipped calmly as she spoke the simple truth.
"They are monsters. Let's not compare ourselves to them. If we do, we'll die from frustration."
Xiao Yu shrugged helplessly.
At that moment, Xiao Se came over and sat between Xiao Yixian and the little cat-girl. A mysterious smile curved his lips.
"Everyone has different opportunities. Besides…"
His gaze flicked—almost imperceptibly—toward Xun'er's slightly reddened eyes.
"Xiao Yu, your future achievements may not be lower than Xian'er's or Zhuqing's."
"Really?"
Xiao Yu's eyes lit up instantly.
What she feared most was falling further and further behind Xiao Se. Every time she stood beside Xiao Yixian and Zhu Zhuqing—two prodigies younger yet stronger than her—a faint sense of inferiority crept over her. She hated that feeling, but she couldn't deny it existed.
So hearing Xiao Se say her future might not be lower than theirs—her heart instantly ignited with excitement.
"Of course it's true. But before that, you still need to work hard. Let's set a small goal first—break through to Dou Shi."
Xiao Se smiled at her.
Xiao Yu nodded firmly. "I will!"
She had already broken through to Dou Fighter last year and was now a six-star Dou Fighter. With Xiao Se's pills and a high-tier Xuan-rank technique, breaking through to Dou Shi within a year was completely achievable.
"Xiao Se, did you test Zhuqing's attribute yet? I have a few Xuan-rank techniques here—let's see if any fit her."
Xiao Yixian looked over.
"…Not yet."
Xiao Se coughed. In truth, he'd completely forgotten while being… preoccupied that morning.
He immediately took out a transparent crystal orb designed to test Dou Qi attributes and handed it to Zhu Zhuqing.
"Zhuqing, try it. Just inject your Dou Qi."
"Mm."
She pressed her slender hand against the orb.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then—
The orb trembled sharply.
A blinding, pitch-black radiance burst forth, flooding the entire cabin in an instant.
"Such pure dark-attribute Dou Qi—this is a natural dark body!"
Xun'er exclaimed in surprise.
Xiao Yixian shook her head helplessly. "I have fire, wood, and wind techniques… but none for darkness."
"When we get to Canaan Academy, we can look there. If not, we can check the auction house."
Xiao Se sighed. He had once obtained a high-level Xuan-rank dark technique—but he'd already given it to Bibi Dong.
"Little pervert is right. Canaan Academy has a massive collection of techniques—even legendary Earth-rank ones. For a twelve-year-old Dou Fighter, any Elder who isn't blind will definitely give you something good."
Xiao Yu reassured Zhu Zhuqing.
Zhu Zhuqing smiled softly. "It's fine. It's only one month—time will pass quickly."
Just as everyone was feeling helpless—
Xun'er suddenly took out a pitch-black scroll from her ring and handed it to Zhu Zhuqing with a sweet smile.
"Zhuqing, try this one. I think it'll suit you."
Zhu Zhuqing hesitated and instinctively looked toward Xiao Se.
He nodded.
Only then did she carefully unfold the scroll.
Her beautiful eyes instantly widened in shock.
Earth-Rank Low-Level Technique — Nethershadow Art
Seeing Zhu Zhuqing's expression, Xiao Se, Xiao Yixian, and Xiao Yu all leaned over to look.
Xiao Se and Xiao Yixian stayed calm.
Xiao Yu, however—
"Earth-rank—!"
"Shhh!"
Xun'er quickly covered her mouth.
"This is far too precious."
Zhu Zhuqing's expression returned to normal as she forced a weary smile.
"We're all sisters now. We should help each other."
Xun'er replied sweetly. Truthfully, she didn't have an Earth-rank technique either. She had simply taken this one from Ling Ying yesterday.
"Xiao Se… what do you think?"
Zhu Zhuqing looked at him again. Though tempted, she would never accept something this valuable without Xiao Se's approval. Xun'er's origins were too mysterious—she couldn't risk offending the wrong person.
"Since that's the case, Zhuqing, accept it."
Xiao Se smiled, lightly tapping his storage ring.
Three jade boxes—two large, one small—appeared on the table.
He pushed them toward Xun'er and said warmly:
"Xun'er, since you've given Zhuqing something so valuable, we can't not give anything in return. The small box contains a Gathering Qi Powder—to help you condense your Dou Qi vortex. The other two contain top-quality Triple-Pattern Essence Pills. Take one when breaking through the Da Dou Shi bottleneck, and another for the Dou Ling bottleneck. They'll save you a great deal of time."
"Their value is far below an Earth-rank technique, but they should be useful to you right now. I'll make up the rest in the future."
Xiao Se liked taking advantage of others, yes—but he did not like owing favors.
These three Essence Pills were crafted using materials he'd "borrowed" from Fa Ma after subduing the Ice–Fire Dragon Flame. Originally, he'd planned to give them to Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Yu for future breakthroughs.
But now, giving them to Xun'er was the more urgent choice.
Though two Triple-Pattern Essence Pills and a Gathering Qi Powder were worth far less than an Earth-rank technique, they still held considerable sincerity.
And the rest… he would make up later.
(End of Chapter)
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