"This is basically tricking me in here to kill me."
Watching the sour stench of romance wafting off Xiao Ting and Xun'er, Xiao Yan was speechless.
But then he remembered that he'd called Xiao Ting over himself, and he suddenly realized this was basically killing himself.
"Ahem." Suppressing his resentment, Xiao Yan cleared his throat and said seriously, "Xiao Ting, I need to tell you something."
"Mm." Xiao Ting looked at him intently, thinking about why he'd been sought out.
Could it be to reveal Yao Lao's existence?
But with Xun'er here, would he say it?
He'll probably make up some excuse to brush it off and find another chance later.
"Do you know why I was able to raise my Battle Qi by five stages in a single year and master multiple Black-rank battle skills?" Xiao Yan suddenly asked.
"You probably found a good teacher." Xiao Ting was surprised that Xiao Yan was laying his cards on the table in front of Xun'er and not hiding anything.
Xiao Yan nearly broke character. "…You…"
"How did you guess?"
"Is it that hard to guess?" Xun'er answered on Xiao Ting's behalf. "Cousin Xiao Yan's inability to cultivate went unresolved for three years."
"Then, at the Miteer Auction House, a mysterious alchemist helped Uncle Xiao Zhan and also refined Foundation Elixir."
"Miteer Auction's Miss Ya Fei seems rather fond of you, Cousin."
"Obviously, that alchemist who can refine Foundation Elixir is connected to you, and very possibly is your teacher."
"Exactly." Xiao Ting nodded. "Lots of people can guess that, including Uncle and a few elders. But no one's going to risk offending an alchemist to verify it. Everyone keeps it tacitly understood—as long as you're doing well, that's enough."
Xiao Yan: "…"
You two are making me look stupid. I even thought I'd hidden it well.
No, wait—Xun'er is basically taking an open-book exam. Xiao Ting is the genuinely smart one.
If Xun'er knew what he was thinking, she'd definitely retort inwardly, Brother Xiao Ting is the true open-book exam—and the examiner.
"Brother, are you planning to introduce your teacher to me?" Xiao Ting asked with a calm smile. "A lot of people can guess, including Uncle and several elders, but no one's going to risk offending an alchemist to confirm it. We all tacitly understand it. As long as you're well, that's enough."
Xiao Yan shook his head with a wry smile, secretly admitting he'd underestimated others. Then he took a deep breath, clasped his hands to the air, and said, "Teacher."
Yao Lao's soul emerged from the Bone-Flame Ring, coalescing instantly and hovering mid-air.
A fitting amount of surprise appeared on Xiao Ting's face, and he naturally stepped in front of Xun'er, watching Yao Lao warily.
"Old man's surname is Yao. You can call me 'Yao Lao' like Xiao Yan." Yao Chen was satisfied with Xiao Ting's reaction and clasped his hands behind his back. "I've invited you to meet today because your talent is excellent. At your cousin's request, I'll give you some pointers."
He didn't need Xiao Ting to feel too grateful to him. Instead, he put the credit on Xiao Yan.
After all, it really was because of Xiao Yan that he'd thought of cultivating Xiao Ting. Of course, Xiao Ting's talent and character were crucial factors as well; without any one of these three conditions, he wouldn't be doing this.
"Many thanks, Senior, for helping Brother Yan recover his cultivation talent." Xiao Ting retracted his vigilance, cupped his fists, and bowed.
Xun'er stepped up next to Xiao Ting, raised her eyes to meet Yao Lao's, and a hint of golden flame flashed in her pupils. "Senior, your surname is Yao—would that be that 'Yao'?"
"Yes… and no." Yao Lao's gaze turned faintly distant. "Just as this young lady is also not truly surnamed Xiao."
His words clearly implied for her not to pry too much into his identity.
You, Xun'er, are also hiding things and can't reveal everything to Xiao Ting.
Under normal circumstances, Xun'er would indeed be wary. But now, she wasn't afraid at all.
There was no one on the entire Battle Qi Continent who knew more—and understood her better—than Xiao Ting.
However, she didn't overstep either. Instead, she turned to look at Xiao Ting and blinked.
"Xun'er, if Senior doesn't wish to reveal his identity, there's no need to press him." Xiao Ting smiled faintly.
This was also his way of saying, I won't press you about your identity either.
"If Brother Xiao Ting wants to know anything, Xun'er can tell you anything at all." Xun'er blinked playfully, though her tone was utterly sincere.
Xiao Ting was a bit surprised by her frankness, but he thought she was just playing along with him and didn't dwell on it. "I'll wait until I'm stronger. Since Senior Yao is Brother Yan's teacher, he's also my teacher. I wonder what Senior intends to teach me?"
Yao Lao grew even more satisfied with Xiao Ting. Curbing one's curiosity was also a sign of maturity.
"I can't help you too much. In my current state, I'm also limited in what I can do. Besides, once Xiao Yan breaks through to Dou Practitioner, I'll be sending him out to temper himself." Yao Lao waved a hand, and two scrolls appeared in mid-air. "These are two cultivation methods—Earthflame Art, a low-tier Earth-rank fire-attribute method; and Profound Thunder Scripture, a high-tier Black-rank lightning-attribute method."
"You can cultivate both, but that will be very difficult. You can also choose to focus on one for now. Before Xiao Yan sets out to train, I can instruct you anytime."
"Teacher, why not just give us ten or eight Heaven-rank methods and battle skills?" Xiao Yan, who hadn't spoken up until now, suddenly said with a teasing tone. "Don't tell me you don't have any?"
"What do you think Heaven-rank methods and battle skills are? Street stall goods?" Yao Lao was rendered speechless. "I really don't have them."
Though I do have something even stranger than Heaven-rank—but I can't mention that now.
If this kid's little girlfriend holds a high enough status in her clan, she might have access to Heaven-rank methods—but she definitely can't just hand them to outsiders.
"Besides, Heaven-rank methods aren't something you can cultivate right now." Yao Lao's tone grew solemn. "Even if you became a Dou Ancestor, you still wouldn't be able to successfully cultivate one."
"All right, all right." Xiao Yan rubbed his nose with a grin. "Then I'll settle for high-tier Earth-rank."
Yao Lao and Xiao Ting: "…"
Xun'er: If Brother Xiao Ting opened his mouth this wide, it'd make things a lot easier for me…
"Ahem." Xiao Ting stretched out his hands and took the two scrolls, storing them in his ring with a smile. "A gift from a senior isn't something a junior dares refuse. I'll shamelessly accept them, then."
"As for cultivation methods, Xun'er's already given me a low-tier Earth-rank dual lightning-and-fire method, so I won't be using these for the time being. Why doesn't Senior give me a few fire-attribute or lightning-attribute Earth-rank battle skills instead?"
Yao Lao: ?
Yao Lao: !
Why does his tone sound exactly like Xiao Yan's…
Did this old man enter a bandit's den when I joined this Xiao Family?
I only drained a bit of Xiao Yan's Battle Qi and made him a waste for three years—and they want to suck me dry in return.
"Xiao Ting, Xun'er gave you a low-tier Earth-rank method?" Xiao Yan's expression twisted slightly.
"That's right." Xiao Ting nodded lightly. "Of course I can't be polite to Xun'er. Working hard to grow stronger is what matters most; everything else is secondary."
"You… sure are insightful." All of Xiao Yan's pent-up feelings turned into envy and a sigh.
When you're young and don't know how bitter hard work is, a rich woman will add your name to the clan registry; when you're young and don't know how fragrant soft rice is, you waste your youth doing backbreaking work; when you're young and don't know the beauty of rich women, you treat little girls as treasures instead.
But when the little girl is also the rich woman—eat that bowl of rice!
"Brother Yan, you have Yao Lao, and I have Xun'er. We're about the same." Xiao Ting smiled humbly. It was clear he genuinely believed that.
"If you already have a method that suits you, why did you still accept mine?" Yao Lao finally recovered from his speechlessness.
Xiao Ting scratched his cheek with a fingertip, looking puzzled. "If I already have a suitable low-tier Earth-rank method… I can't ask for more?"
"You can. Of course you can." Xiao Yan gave a thumbs-up.
Yao Lao: "…"
Xun'er covered her lips and laughed softly.
"Forget it." Yao Lao couldn't exactly take back what he'd already given. After thinking a moment, he produced another scroll. "Most of my methods and techniques are fire-attribute, followed by wood. I only have some lightning-attribute ones because it shares a source with wood."
"This Eight Trigrams Lightning Steps is a mid-tier Black-rank movement technique. For lightning-attribute cultivators, its effects at full mastery can surpass high-tier Black-rank and approach Earth-rank."
"Do you want it?"
Xiao Ting: Why does this old fellow sound a bit… off?
…