The morning sun crept over the high walls of the Xiao estate, casting long, jagged shadows across the training grounds. For Xiao Chen, the world had fundamentally changed overnight.
As he stepped out of his small, sparse room, the first thing he noticed wasn't the visual beauty of the sunrise, but the sound. He could hear the dew sliding off a leaf three courtyards away. He could hear the rhythmic breathing of the guards at the main gate, nearly half a mile distant.
"System," he thought, his voice steady in the silence of his mind. "Explain the talent doubling. Does it only affect my cultivation speed?"
[System Response]
Talent is a comprehensive attribute, Host. It includes:
Neural Processing: Your brain now calculates combat patterns 2x faster.
Meridian Width: Your 'pipes' for Qi are twice as thick, allowing for massive energy output without bursting.
Elemental Sensitivity: Your affinity for the Fire and Wood attributes (essential for Alchemists) has been heightened.
Comprehension: Complex Dou Skills that take others years to master will appear as simple logic puzzles to you.
Chen took a deep breath, and for the first time, he felt the Xiao Clan's Qi Method—a low-grade Yellow-level technique—working within him. Usually, it felt like pulling thick sludge through a straw. Now? It felt like a rushing river.
The Training Grounds: A Subtle Display
Chen made his way to the communal training area. He needed to test his physical limits before the Clan Elders started asking questions.
The training grounds were filled with younger disciples, mostly at the 4th or 5th stages of Dou Zhi Qi. In the center stood a row of Testing Stones—massive black monoliths designed to absorb impact and measure the strength of a strike.
"Look, it's Xiao Chen," a voice whispered.
"I heard he broke through to Dou Zhe yesterday. He's only eleven. Do you think it's true?"
"Impossible. Even Young Master Xiao Yan only just reached the 9th stage. Chen was always just... average."
Chen ignored the murmurs. He walked up to a Testing Stone meant for Dou Zhe-level practitioners. He didn't use any Dou Skills. He didn't even gather his Qi. He simply pulled back his fist and delivered a straight, fundamental punch.
BOOM!
The heavy stone base groaned. A deep, spider-web crack appeared where his knuckles met the surface. The vibration traveled up his arm, but his bones—strengthened by the doubling process—didn't even throb.
"Strength... it's at least double what a normal 1-Star Dou Zhe should possess," Chen noted. "If I add the Qi Vortex into the strike..."
He closed his eyes, reaching into his Dantian. The golden liquid droplet—the mark of his breakthrough—spun violently. A stream of hot, orange-tinted Qi surged down his arm.
The air around his fist began to distort from the heat.
"Hey! What are you doing?!" a loud, arrogant voice barked.
Chen stopped, the Qi receding instantly. He turned to see Xiao Ning, a slightly older cousin known for his arrogance and his crush on Xiao Xun Er. Behind him stood a small group of lackeys.
"The Testing Stones are for those who actually have power to test," Xiao Ning sneered, walking closer. He hadn't felt the heat of Chen's Qi; he only saw a "branch family orphan" standing in his way. "Move aside, Chen. My sister gave me a Qi-Recuperation pill, and I'm about to hit the 8th stage of Dou Zhi Qi. I don't want your 'average' energy contaminating the stone."
Chen looked at Xiao Ning. In his old life, he might have been annoyed. Now, with his Neural Processing doubled, Xiao Ning's movements looked like they were happening underwater. He could see the tension in Ning's left hip, the way his breathing was shallow, the slight tremor in his fist.
"The stone is free," Chen said calmly, stepping back. "Show us your progress, Cousin Ning."
Xiao Ning huffed, gathering his strength. He roared, striking the stone with all his might. The stone glowed faintly, displaying a dim light.
"8th Stage! I did it!" Ning cheered, looking around for applause.
He then looked at Chen, expecting to see envy. Instead, he saw Chen looking at the crack he had made earlier—the one Ning hadn't noticed yet.
"What are you looking at, trash?" Ning stepped forward, poking Chen in the chest.
The moment Ning's finger touched him, Chen's Reflexes (Doubled) kicked in. Before Chen could even consciously decide to move, his hand had clamped onto Ning's wrist.
Crunch.
"Ah—! Let go! My hand!" Ning screamed, dropping to his knees.
Chen realized his mistake. He hadn't even used Qi. His raw physical power was simply too high. He released the wrist immediately, his expression turning into one of "shocked" concern.
"Oh! I'm so sorry, Cousin Ning! I didn't know my strength had grown so much since the breakthrough. Are you okay?"
The surrounding disciples went silent. Xiao Ning, the 8th Stage bully, had just been brought to his knees by a "gentle" grip.
The Eye of the Storm
From a high balcony overlooking the training grounds, two figures watched the exchange.
One was Xiao Zhan, the Clan Leader. His eyes were wide with a mixture of pride and confusion. "That boy... that wasn't just Dou Zhe strength. That was the raw physical constitution of a magical beast."
Beside him stood the First Elder, his face a mask of cold calculation. "He is a branch member, Clan Leader. But if he has truly surpassed Xiao Yan's talent... we may need to rethink the distribution of the Clan's resources."
Xiao Zhan's expression darkened. He loved his son, Xiao Yan, but he was the leader of a clan first. "Let us see. The Family Competition is in three months. If Xiao Chen can maintain this momentum, the Xiao Clan might finally have a chance to rise beyond Wu Tan City."
The Long Path Begins
Back in his room, Chen sat in meditation. He ignored the drama he had just caused. He was looking at a new notification from the System.
[Hidden Mission Accomplished: First Blood]
Task: Assert dominance over a higher-status clan member.
Reward: Low-Grade 'Soul Tempering Incense' (Accelerates Soul Perception growth).
"The System wants me to be aggressive," Chen realized.
He lit the incense. A pale blue smoke filled the room. As he inhaled, his mind felt like it was expanding, stretching out into the ethereal plane. This was the foundation for becoming an Alchemist—the most prestigious profession in the Dou Qi continent.
With his talent doubled, his soul was already nearing the 'Spirit' level. Most people spent decades reaching this point. He was doing it in an afternoon.
"Dou Shi... 4x stats," Chen whispered, his eyes glowing in the dim smoke. "I need to get to the Magical Beast Mountain Range soon. This clan is too small for what I'm becoming."