Chapter 1: The Tuoshe Ancient God Jade

"Dou Qi, three-star Dou Zhe!"

Looking at the six large characters shining with an almost blinding light on the magic-testing stele, the elder of the Xiao Clan responsible for the test roared excitedly.

"Three-star Dou Zhe? Heavens! He is only twelve years old! How on earth does the Young Clan Head cultivate? It's simply incredible!"

"Too amazing, he is worthy of being our Xiao Clan's Young Clan Head!"

"Long live the Young Clan Head!"

"Brother Xiao Yan, you are so cool!"

Endless streams of flattery poured toward the thin figure beneath the magic-testing stele.

But at this moment, the youth felt not a shred of joy in his heart, and a bitter smile flashed across his face. Because according to the youth's memories, he should have been scouted by the continent-renowned Medicine Venerable back when he was at one-star Dou Qi, only to have his Dou Qi absorbed and fall to the third stage of Dou Force. But that hadn't happened.

Yes, the current Xiao Yan was not the Xiao Yan from the original story, but a soul who had transmigrated from Blue Star. Knowing the plot of *Battle Through the Heavens* well, he had been prepared for his cultivation to plummet. To cope with the ensuing mockery, he had even dug out a three-bedroom-one-living-room cave dwelling on the back mountain to hide in. As it turned out, nothing happened.

When he first broke through to Dou Zhe, he thought Medicine Elder hadn't awakened yet. When he broke through to two-star Dou Zhe, Xiao Yan grew a bit anxious, but still comforted himself in his heart that perhaps it was because he was cultivating faster than in the original story, and Medicine Elder hadn't woken up yet! It wasn't until the day before yesterday that he couldn't hold back anymore and took the initiative to pour his Dou Qi into the Bone Flame Ring. Finally, hard work pays off, the Bone Flame Ring... opened...

Alchemy notes, the Black Demon Cauldron, the Burning Technique... and, the Bone Chilling Flame! Everything else was fine, but the Bone Chilling Flame had been refined by Medicine Elder and was fused with his soul. Now that the Bone Chilling Flame appeared in the Bone Flame Ring but Medicine Elder was nowhere to be seen, this meant—"Medicine Elder, is gone?" Xiao Yan finally realized this cruel reality.

Although Medicine Elder's alchemy legacy, cultivation techniques, Dou skills, and the most important Burning Technique were all in the Bone Flame Ring, was having a teacher the same as not having one? Without Medicine Elder, could he refine a fifth-grade Blood Lotus Pill at the Dou Shi stage? Could he refine the Green Lotus Core Flame? As for using the Yellow-tier low-grade Burning Technique to cultivate to Dou Ling by himself, well, that was a great idea, don't think about it again next time. You simply can't cultivate to Dou Ling with a Yellow-tier low-grade technique!

Reaching out to touch the ancient jade hanging inside his clothes against his chest, Xiao Yan's eyes flickered, as if he had made up his mind. "Perhaps, this is the only way."

The crimson sunset shone on the peak of the back mountain's cliff. A young girl dressed in a purple dress was slowly walking toward the youth sitting cross-legged on the cliff's peak.

The girl's fresh and indifferent temperament was like a lotus bud waiting to bloom; her petite and exquisite figure was cute and moving, and her graceful steps displayed the elegance of a young lady from a noble family. To be this perfect at only eleven years old, it was hard to imagine what kind of beauty she would possess that could topple cities once she grew up.

"Brother Xiao Yan, are you looking for me?" Xun'er sat down beside Xiao Yan, leaning slightly to the side, her cheeks turned, her bright, large eyes looking straight at Xiao Yan. Her slightly childish voice was melodious and moving. Feeling the beauty of the lovely girl beside him, Xiao Yan's originally heavy mood relaxed a little. But soon he remembered the main point of today and had to become serious.

"Xun'er, I can trust you, right?"

The girl was a bit surprised; she hadn't expected her Brother Xiao Yan to suddenly ask her such a question. The implication in his words made the little girl, who had left her parents and relatives at a young age, feel a bit sad, and she said in a low tone: "Brother Xiao Yan, did Xun'er do something wrong? Why do you have to ask me that?"

Looking at the girl's tearful expression, Xiao Yan was suddenly flustered and hurriedly comforted her: "No, Xun'er, I misspoke. Actually, Brother Xiao Yan trusts Xun'er the most, but the matter I am about to speak of is truly too important, which is why I asked. Xun'er, can you forgive me?"

A child's emotions always come and go quickly, and this was no exception even for Gu Xun'er. Hearing Xiao Yan say this, she soon broke into a smile through her tears.

Having finally calmed Xun'er down, and to avoid any complications, Xiao Yan didn't want any preamble—there was no need for any preamble when talking to an eleven-year-old girl anyway—and went straight to the point: "Xun'er, your clansmen sent you to our Xiao Clan back then to obtain something, right?"

Asked such an unexpected question, Xun'er was like a child caught doing something bad; she immediately became nervous, her two small hands tightly gripping her skirt, but she still pretended to be calm and said: "Why does Brother Xiao Yan ask like that?"

"Several times, I have seen you looking around in my father's study, as if looking for something. And you also wander around our Xiao Clan's ancestral hall, treasure pavilion, and such places from time to time. My father's attitude toward you is also very strange, as if he is afraid of something, which shows that your background must be much greater than our Xiao Clan. Most importantly, there was a Dou Huang-level ancestor in the Xiao Clan's genealogy several hundred years ago, so I think it is very likely that our ancestor left something behind that caught the attention of the forces behind you, which is why you were sent to our Xiao Clan."

Following Xiao Yan's questioning, a look of surprise constantly crawled over Xun'er's beautiful face. She hadn't expected that Xiao Yan could infer to such a degree based on tiny clues from daily life; it could be said that except for the purpose being the Tuoshe Ancient God Jade, everything else was exactly as Xiao Yan had inferred! Of course, if Xun'er knew that Xiao Yan was deliberately saying the wrong thing, she would probably be even more surprised.

But things had reached this point, and Xun'er did not intend to hide it anymore. Although she could still stubbornly refuse to admit it or make up other excuses, she did not want to deceive her Brother Xiao Yan.

Thus, Xun'er recounted the process and purpose of her coming to the Xiao Clan, her origin, the Ancient Clan, the origin of the Xiao Clan, and the great war from a thousand years ago. Xiao Yan also appropriately displayed an expression of shock, his mouth hanging open wide and round.

After everything was finished, Xiao Yan took out the ancient jade he had always carried on his chest and handed it to Xun'er, asking: "Xun'er, take a look, is the Tuoshe Ancient God Jade you are looking for this one?"

"This, this is the Tuoshe Ancient God Jade!" Xun'er simply couldn't believe it; she subconsciously reached out and took the ancient jade from Xiao Yan's hand. Its ancient and mysterious luster was exactly the same as the one she had seen in the Ancient Clan. "It really is the Tuoshe Ancient God Jade! Brother Xiao Yan, where did this come from?"

"My father gave it to me after I broke through to Dou Zhe, telling me to keep it safe. He said it was our Xiao Clan's heirloom. As soon as you said you were looking for a piece of ancient jade, I guessed it was this."

Looking at Xiao Yan's expression, which was not feigned, Xun'er couldn't help but sigh: "I never thought that the Tuoshe Ancient God Jade, which I spent so much effort searching for all over the Xiao Clan, would be so far away yet so close." Xun'er looked at the ancient jade in her hand with some reluctance, but finally placed it back into Xiao Yan's hand. "Brother Xiao Yan, this is indeed the Tuoshe Ancient God Jade, the key to the Tuoshe Ancient God Mansion. Brother Xiao Yan, remember, you must hide this well from now on and never let it be exposed. Otherwise, if others find out that Brother Xiao Yan has the Tuoshe Ancient God Jade, it will surely bring about a fatal disaster, and even the entire Xiao Clan will face total destruction!"

"You don't want it?" Xiao Yan looked at Xun'er with some surprise.

"I!" Xun'er's face was a bit bitter. "Snatching it from Brother Xiao Yan's hands, I cannot do it."

Gritting her teeth, Xun'er simply said in a 'broken jar' manner: "Brother Xiao Yan, take it away quickly. Anyway, no one knows, and I will just pretend I never saw it." After finishing, those small, fair hands tightened the Ancient God Jade in Xiao Yan's hand once more.

Xiao Yan looked at Xun'er's actions, feeling a mix of amusement and frustration, and a wave of emotion surged in his heart. He subconsciously reached out his right hand to stroke Xun'er's head, soothing her emotions.

"Xun'er, listen, although this Tuoshe Ancient God Jade is precious, it has no meaning for the current Xiao Clan and me. On the contrary, it remaining in the Xiao Clan's hands will only be a source of chaos. Therefore, rather than keeping it, it would be better to hand it over to your Ancient Clan." Looking into Xun'er's eyes, Xiao Yan said solemnly.

"Brother Xiao Yan, but..."

Xiao Yan blocked Xun'er's lips with a finger.

"I know what you are thinking. I naturally won't hand the Tuoshe Ancient God Jade to your Ancient Clan for nothing; I must gain enough benefits. However, I, Brother Xiao Yan, am only a small Fighter and am not qualified to negotiate with your Ancient Clan. So, Xun'er, you will help me, right?" A smile appeared on Xiao Yan's face as he looked straight at Xun'er.

"Brother Xiao Yan..."