Chapter 320: Yun Yun: Are You Saying I'm Old?
Inside the room, Xiao Yuan sat with a golden scroll in hand, lightly stroking its surface in contemplation.
This golden scroll was the complete set of the Emperor Seal Art, a Dou Technique gifted to him by Xun'er. To be honest, it was an excellent technique—once mastered, it could rival even Heaven-ranked Dou Techniques.
After a night of intimacy with Xiao Yi Xiang and the harmonious blending of Yin and Yang, his dual flames had strengthened slightly, and his Dou Qi had also advanced. Within a week or two, he'd likely break through to five-star Dou Zong.
Once he activated his clan mark, he could reliably maintain himself at the Dou Zun level. While that mark now largely depended on the explosive power of his bloodline, at least it was usable.
Which meant… he could now cultivate the first four seals of the Emperor Seal Art.
As a high-tier Earth-level Dou Technique, its difficulty was surely no small matter. He'd need to devote himself to training.
Xiao Yuan casually laid down a soul barrier. His mind calmed as he slowly channeled Dou Qi into the scroll. Unlocking it required a large quantity of Dou Qi—like some kind of access control system. Only when enough was infused could it be activated.
So he didn't rush. A steady stream of Dou Qi flowed from his body into the golden scroll.
At first, all that happened was the scroll's faint glow becoming a bit more intense. Seeing this, Xiao Yuan silently increased the output.
With five Qi reservoirs, his Dou Qi reserves far surpassed those of most low-tier Dou Zun experts.
After nearly thirty minutes of sustained input, the scroll finally trembled slightly.
Chzz!
The next instant, brilliant golden light burst from the scroll. Its radiance was so blinding that even Xiao Yuan's eyes stung. But he reflexively summoned his Heavenly Flame to his pupils, and the discomfort gradually subsided. His gaze returned to the scroll.
Under a soft rustle, the scroll exploded into a roomful of golden light. Amid the swirling glow, golden characters shimmered in the air.
Those dense characters stung his eyes after only a glance. Without hesitation, Xiao Yuan reached into the light with his hand.
The golden radiance churned wildly, then spiraled and shot directly into his forehead, entering his mind without resistance.
He grunted softly. The sudden flood of information made him slightly dizzy.
"What a domineering Dou Technique…"
Xiao Yuan shook his head. Once he adapted to the overwhelming data in his brain, his consciousness dove into the sea of knowledge glowing within.
As he entered his mindscape, golden light surged everywhere. Floating in front of him, countless golden characters gathered and twisted to form a glowing screen. Massive golden text shone so brightly it made his eyes ache.
"Emperor Seal Art, High Earth Rank. Legend says it was created by an ancient Dou Emperor. Contains five seals: Mountain-Splitting Seal, Sea-Flipping Seal, Earth-Crushing Seal, Heaven-Shattering Seal, Ancient Emperor Seal. Each seal builds upon the last. Once all five are mastered, its power equals that of Heaven-level Dou Techniques! However, cultivation requirements begin at the Dou Wang level. Each subsequent seal demands one higher tier, or failure will bring misfortune!"
"Hmm… sounds pretty grand."
Looking at the majestic calligraphy, Xiao Yuan couldn't help but be impressed. Even the script exuded the aura of a Dou Emperor's grandeur.
Once he memorized the hand seals of all five techniques, he slowly opened his eyes.
It was powerful—and so was he. But if he practiced the Emperor Seal Art within the Ye Clan, he'd likely level the entire estate within days.
After a moment's thought, Xiao Yuan activated his clan mark, raised his strength to Dou Zun level, and tore open space to teleport outside Ye City. He descended onto a remote mountain peak.
"This place is good. Quiet, secluded—perfect for training."
Sweeping the area with his soul power, he nodded in satisfaction, closed his eyes, and recalled the Mountain-Splitting Seal's method.
He studied it for a while, then nodded thoughtfully. As expected of a technique rivaling Heaven-rank, it was far more difficult than the Fivefold Fire Array.
That technique relied on five flames. This one, however, relied purely on personal strength.
"To form the hand seal, I need to activate three specific meridians in my right arm."
Xiao Yuan smirked.
The human body's meridians were like countless stars—countless and delicate. Many were tiny and fragile. A bit of force could rupture them, and the three required for this seal were located in obscure parts of the right arm.
But Xiao Yuan was no ordinary person.
After years of cultivating five Qi reservoirs, he had opened nearly every accessible meridian. He had started preparing those three even when he was still a Dou Shi.
Now, they were durable—on par with the toughest meridians of most others.
So, skipping that step, he began practicing the first seal.
With a smile, he formed the complex hand sign before him and pushed forward. Without Dou Qi, it was just empty form.
Cultivating such a seal-based technique involved three steps:
Practice the hand seals until fluent and quick.Integrate Dou Qi slowly to form the seal.Perfect the technique until it could be unleashed in the blink of an eye—ideally in the middle of battle.
Xiao Yuan had high hopes.
He still remembered the black-robed elder's Heaven-Shattering Seal—it had left quite the impression, despite being slow to cast.
But if he used it in close combat? Even someone like Binghe, the Ice Sovereign, might fall from a single palm.
The endless green mountains rolled like an emerald sea.
"Mountain-Splitting Seal!"
Two days later, hovering in midair, Xiao Yuan's hands blurred through the sequence. A brilliant light surged around his palm. With a thrust, a crystalline handprint shot toward a distant mountain.
Boom!
A thunderous explosion followed. Smoke and shattered stone erupted. Sensing the mountain collapse via his soul power, Xiao Yuan smiled in satisfaction.
Two days to learn the Mountain-Splitting Seal—Xun'er would be shocked by his monstrous talent.
He quickly refocused and began studying the Sea-Flipping Seal.
That one took longer—five whole days.
He hadn't returned to the Ye Clan in a week.
Just as he was about to begin training the Earth-Crushing Seal, a fragrant breeze blew past. He turned—and saw a purple-robed Xiao Yi Xiang glaring at him.
"Evening?"
He glanced at the darkening sky, sounding unsure.
"You said you'd come find me. Instead, you ran off here to train Dou Techniques?!"
She glanced at the battered, cratered ground—he clearly hadn't been doing anything good. Frustrated, she demanded an explanation.
She'd been anxious yet hopeful.
Afraid he would come, afraid he wouldn't, afraid he'd be too forward.
In the end…
He ghosted her for a week!
Unforgivable!
"Uh… sorry, I got too focused and forgot…"
Xiao Yuan scratched his head apologetically.
He truly hadn't meant to.
But training these high-level techniques was incredibly satisfying.
Better than sex.
"You saying I'm less attractive than some Dou Technique?!"
She looked devastated. Her beautiful eyes sparkled with restrained fury.
"No no no! I'd never think that!"
Xiao Yuan panicked, hurriedly raising his hand like swearing an oath.
"It's just… after coming to Central Plains, seeing so many strong fighters, I felt how weak I was. I wanted to get stronger—so I could protect all of you."
He sighed.
"You know how terrifying the Hall of Souls is. Without Dou Sheng power, I can't touch their top-tier experts. I want to be with you all, live freely—but the Dou Qi Continent is strength-oriented. Sacred Pill City will be full of elites. The only thing I can do is grow stronger."
She was quiet for a while, then spoke with a hint of hurt.
"So… even back when you were just a Dou Shi, you already planned to reach that level? I understand… but we just started… and you already left me. Couldn't you consider how I feel?"
"I've never doubted my potential. And I'm sorry. This was my fault. Come on—let's go back. I'll resume training later. There's still time before the Pill Gathering. I should stay with you... and the others."
He truly realized now how thoughtless he'd been. Cai Lin was always at his side, but the others—Tang Huo'er, Yun Yun, and Xiao Yi Xian—had waited long for him. Sneaking off to train nonstop was inconsiderate.
"It's okay. We'll come with you next time. Even just watching you practice is fine."
Xiao Yi Xiang smiled softly.
"That won't do. If I'm with you, I can't focus. I've wronged all of you. We used to be separated by distance—now we share a courtyard, and you can't even see me? That's not right."
He shook his head, took her hand, and tore open space, returning to the Ye Clan.
As they landed, he felt three familiar gazes lock onto him.
"Xiao Yuan! Where have you been?! If Sister Doctor hadn't dragged you back, were you planning to ghost us for months? I'll tell my father you're bullying me!"
Tang Huo'er's voice rang out sharply.
"You should tell him Xiao Yuan seduced you and left you. That might hit harder."
Cai Lin chimed in.
"Oh! Good idea!"
Tang Huo'er nodded approvingly.
"Don't! I surrender!"
Xiao Yuan slumped in defeat.
Just then, a soft breeze blew—and a beautiful figure flew into his arms.
"Sister Yun? What's wrong?"
He was startled to find Yun Yun embracing him tightly.
"Do you think I'm old?" she asked, voice trembling, nearly crying.
"No! Why would you say that?"
He blinked, gently patting her back.
"Then why did you run off for days to train some Dou Technique? I left the Jia Ma Empire to follow you to Central Plains. After what happened with the spatial storm, Doctor and I were so worried. We finally saw you again, and you vanished!"
She wasn't mad about the training.
But she knew, from her sharp intuition and her close bond with Xiao Yi Xian, that the two had already crossed a certain line.
She had waited so long, hoping Xiao Yuan would take the initiative.
Instead, he disappeared for a week. No word, just training.
How could she bear it?
At the Misty Cloud Sect, she was a proud sect master. But beside Xiao Yuan, she was just a woman longing to be loved in return.
"I'm sorry, sisters!"
Seeing Yun Yun's teary eyes, Xiao Yuan felt like trash.
He had been too focused on training and forgotten—he was no longer alone.
"I have an idea… want to hear it?"
Xiao Yuan smiled weakly.
(END CHAPTER)
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