However, unlike the calm expression he had maintained earlier, Xiao Feng himself was momentarily stunned. His eyes remained on the testing crystal where the red and green lights intertwined.
Fire and Wood…
Even he had not expected this result.
For a brief moment, genuine surprise appeared on his face. In his previous life's memories, he knew very well what this combination meant in the world of Battle Through the Heavens.
Only those who possessed both Fire and Wood attributes had the natural qualification to walk the path of an alchemist.
But the surprise quickly turned into quiet relief.
Deep inside, Xiao Feng felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted. Alchemy meant access to pills, resources, and influence — things that could support cultivation far beyond ordinary methods.
With this talent… my future path will be far wider than I expected, he thought calmly.
Meanwhile, the elders continued looking at him with admiration.
"Not only a ten-year-old Dou Practitioner," one elder said slowly, "but also possessing the natural attributes of an alchemist…"
Another elder nodded firmly.
"The Xiao Clan has truly produced a remarkable talent this time."
The elder then opened the pavilion door and said, "You may choose one cultivation technique from the first floor. Pick carefully. The technique you choose will influence your future path."
Inside the pavilion, rows of wooden shelves were filled with scrolls. Most of them were Yellow Rank Low or Yellow Rank Mid techniques used by the younger generation of the Xiao Clan.
Xiao Feng calmly walked through the shelves, examining the scrolls one by one.
Finally, his eyes stopped on a slightly older scroll placed near the center shelf.
The title written on it read:
"Flame Gathering Art — Yellow Rank High."
It was the only Yellow Rank High fire-attribute cultivation technique currently available within the Xiao Clan.
The guardian elder looked slightly surprised when Xiao Feng picked it up. "You have good eyes," he said. "This is the strongest fire-attribute cultivation technique our clan possesses."
Xiao Feng nodded calmly while holding the scroll.
"I will choose this one."
Outside the pavilion, Xiao Yan and Gu Xun'er were still waiting for him.
When Xiao Feng finally walked out with the scroll in his hand, Xiao Yan immediately ran up to him.
"So? What did you choose, Brother Feng?"
Xiao Feng slightly raised the scroll.
"A fire-attribute cultivation technique," he replied calmly.
For a moment, Xiao Yan stared at the scroll with bright curiosity. Then his eyes widened slightly.
"Wait… don't tell me you picked the Flame Gathering Art!" he said excitedly. "That's the only Yellow Rank High fire technique our clan has!"
Xiao Feng gave a small nod.
Xiao Yan immediately laughed and slapped his shoulder. "Brother Feng, you really know how to choose! That's the strongest cultivation technique available here."
Beside them, Gu Xun'er looked at the scroll quietly. Her gaze lingered on the title for a moment before she smiled softly.
"It suits you well, Brother Feng," she said gently. "A fire-attribute technique will match your affinity perfectly."
Xiao Yan crossed his arms with a confident grin. "Looks like you'll become even stronger now. I'll have to train harder so I don't fall too far behind."
Xiao Feng chuckled faintly. "Then you should start tonight."
Xiao Yan scratched his head but laughed again, while Xun'er simply watched the two of them with a quiet smile, the evening sun casting long shadows across the courtyard of the Xiao Clan.
That night, the Xiao Clan was quiet under the soft moonlight.
In a quiet corner of the Xiao Clan estate lay a small private courtyard reserved for Xiao Feng. Because he was the nephew of the clan leader Xiao Zhan and the only son of the elder brother's line, he had been given his own residence within the clan grounds at a young age.
That night, Xiao Feng sat beside a small stone table in the center of the courtyard. A kettle rested over a gentle flame as he calmly prepared tea, the faint sound of boiling water blending with the quiet rustling of leaves.
The moonlight softly illuminated the courtyard walls, creating a peaceful atmosphere. After the busy day of testing and choosing his cultivation technique, Xiao Feng simply enjoyed the rare moment of silence in his own small domain within the clan.
Just as the water began to boil, he sensed a familiar presence outside the courtyard.
Without turning his head, Xiao Feng spoke calmly, "Xun'er, you can come in."
A moment later, Gu Xun'er stepped into the courtyard. The moonlight softly illuminated her golden hair as she approached the table.
"I hope I'm not disturbing you, Brother Feng," she said politely.
Xiao Feng smiled slightly while pouring tea into two cups. "Not at all. Sit."
Xun'er sat across from him while he handed her a cup of warm tea. For a moment, the two quietly enjoyed the calm atmosphere.
After a short silence, Xun'er finally spoke.
"I heard you chose the Flame Gathering Art, the Yellow Rank High cultivation technique."
Xiao Feng nodded. "It's the only high-rank fire technique our clan has."
Xun'er looked at him thoughtfully before taking out a small jade scroll from her sleeve and placing it gently on the table.
"This is for you," she said.
Xiao Feng raised an eyebrow slightly. "What is it?"
"A cultivation technique," Xun'er replied calmly. "It's still fire attribute, but it absorbs Dou Qi faster and has better stability."
Xiao Feng looked at the scroll carefully, slightly surprised.
"You're giving me a cultivation technique?" Xiao Feng asked, looking at the jade scroll with surprise.
Gu Xun'er nodded softly. "The technique you chose, Flame Gathering Art, is only a Yellow Rank High cultivation method. It's the best the Xiao Clan currently has for fire attribute, but it will slow your progress later."
She gently pushed the jade scroll toward him.
"This one is called Vermilion Flame Mantra," she said calmly. "It's a Mystic Rank Low fire-attribute cultivation technique. It absorbs Dou Qi faster and refines flame energy more purely."
Xiao Feng leaned back slightly, studying her for a moment before looking again at the scroll resting on the table.
"A Mystic Rank technique…" he murmured.
Even within large clans, techniques above Yellow Rank were extremely valuable. The fact that Xun'er casually offered one made the quiet courtyard feel suddenly heavier.
Xun'er simply held her teacup and spoke softly, "With your talent, Brother Feng… you should cultivate something better than what the Xiao Clan can provide."
"You came all the way here just to give me this?"
Xun'er smiled gently.
"You are my brother, aren't you?"
For a moment, Xiao Feng said nothing. Then he chuckled softly.
"Looks like I really gained a powerful little sister.
Xiao Feng chuckled softly. "Looks like I really gained a powerful little sister."
Across the table, Gu Xun'er smiled gently and took a sip of tea. "If Brother Feng says so, then I suppose I must live up to that title."
Xiao Feng leaned back slightly, looking at her with a teasing expression. "Speaking of little sisters… you and Xiao Yan seem to spend quite a lot of time together lately."
Xun'er raised an eyebrow slightly. "Brother Feng, are you teasing me?"
He laughed quietly. "Maybe a little. The two of you are always training together, walking together, even arguing together. Anyone watching might think you two are inseparable."
Xun'er simply shook her head with a faint smile. "Brother Xiao Yan and I just grew up together," she said calmly. Then she paused for a moment, a soft blush appearing on her face before she continued, "Of course… he is also someone very important to me."
She gently looked down at her teacup before lifting her eyes again with quiet confidence. "But still, Brother Feng, you shouldn't focus only on teasing others."
Her gaze turned slightly playful as she added, "Shouldn't you be more concerned about your own relationships instead?"
"Oh?" Xiao Feng asked.
Xun'er rested her chin lightly on her hand. "For example… Xiao Yu. I've noticed the two of you often end up arguing during training."
Xiao Feng groaned softly. "That girl has a temper stronger than her cultivation. Every time we talk, it somehow turns into a challenge."
Xun'er laughed quietly at his reaction. "Maybe that just means she respects your strength."
"Or she just enjoys competing," Xiao Feng replied casually, waving his hand dismissively.
Xun'er looked at him for a moment before speaking again. "Still, you two might get along better than you think."
Xun'er gently set her teacup down and looked at Xiao Feng with a slightly amused expression.
"Speaking of training arguments," said Gu Xun'er, "I heard something interesting that happened a few weeks ago."
Xiao Feng narrowed his eyes slightly. "That tone usually means trouble."
She smiled faintly. "A few weeks ago, when you were trying to stop Xiao Yan from sneaking near the hot spring training area… you slipped and ended up falling in yourself."
Xiao Feng immediately groaned and leaned back in his chair. "You heard about that too?"
Xun'er tried to suppress a laugh. "It became quite the story in the younger generation."
He sighed helplessly. "I was trying to drag Xiao Yan away before he caused trouble. The ground was wet, I slipped, and before I knew it I was the one falling forward."
Xun'er covered her mouth lightly, clearly amused. "And you happened to fall right in front of Xiao Yu."
"Unfortunately," Xiao Feng muttered.
"From what I heard," Xun'er continued with teasing eyes, "you grabbed her legs while trying to balance yourself and then fell on top of her."
Xiao Feng rubbed his forehead in embarrassment. "I was trying not to fall! It wasn't intentional."
"And yet you were the one who got scolded," Xun'er added softly.
"For nearly half an hour," he replied.
Xun'er looked at him thoughtfully before smiling again. "Maybe that just means Xiao Yu pays a lot of attention to you."
Xiao Feng waved his hand dismissively. "Or she just enjoys having an excuse to yell at me."
Xun'er tilted her head slightly. "Still… you two interact quite often. Maybe you should try getting along with her better."
Xiao Feng chuckled and picked up his teacup. "Xun'er, we can barely finish one conversation without arguing."
"That doesn't mean it couldn't become something else," she said lightly.
He simply shrugged and took a sip of tea. " Relationships can wait."
Xun'er smiled quietly, and the peaceful night in Xiao Feng's courtyard continued with their casual conversation under the moonlight.