"Mmm..."

Xiao Yan murmured softly, slowly opening his eyes and looking at the familiar ceiling in front of him.

After a moment of confusion, his mind quickly recalled that this was his own room.

Suppressing the pain surging through his body, Xiao Yan propped himself up on the bed, gently rubbing his forehead as he recalled his last memory before losing consciousness. A self-deprecating smile appeared on his lips.

"To dare to confront a Da Dou Shi (Battle Grandmaster, 4th Level) head-on, I must have been truly crazy..."

"You're absolutely right! You were indeed crazy back then!"

Just as Xiao Yan finished speaking, the voice of Yao Chen came from beside him. Xiao Yan turned his head and saw Yao Chen's exquisitely beautiful face filled with a hint of anger, glaring at him fiercely.

"If I hadn't intervened, you would have been turned into a pile of broken bones by now, you brat!"

"Thank you, Senior Yao, for lending a helping hand."

Xiao Yan immediately clasped his fists together and expressed his gratitude to Yao Chen. He had no doubts about Yao Chen's words. After all, no matter how strong his physical body was, he was still just a Dou Zhe (Battle Practitioner, 2nd Level) . Faced with Jia Lie Bi's enraged attack back then, if it hadn't been for Yao Chen's assistance, he might not have survived.

"Hmph! Forget about the thanks!" Yao Chen waved her hand displeasingly and said, "Take this as a lesson and don't be reckless next time!"

Upon hearing Yao Chen's warning, Xiao Yan fell silent for a moment before reluctantly nodding.

"I will do my best, Master."

"Do your best?" Yao Chen raised an eyebrow and stared at Xiao Yan, as if waiting for him to say something more. But in the end, she swallowed his words.

During this period of time, Yao Chen had also realized that when it came to her own disciple, once Xiao Yan made up his mind about something, no one could stop him. Even if Yao Chen tried to advise him, it would be in vain.

Just then, Yao Chen suddenly sensed something and her figure swiftly dispersed. The next second, the door to the room was forcefully pushed open, and Xiao Mei and Xiao Xun'er rushed in.

"Cousin Xiao Yan!"

"Brother Xiao Yan!"

The two little girls approached the bed, their beautiful faces filled with worry.

Just a moment ago, the two little girls were wondering why they couldn't see Xiao Yan. When they heard what Xiao Yu had said about the afternoon's events, their faces instantly turned pale, and they hurriedly ran over.

"Cousin Xiao Yan! How are you feeling?!"

The panic on Xiao Mei's face was evident, and she was so worried that tears were about to fall. Xiao Yan smiled helplessly.

"I'm much better now." He raised his hand and gently rubbed Xiao Mei's head. "I'm sorry for making you all worry."

Xiao Xun'er remained silent, her face extremely gloomy, and she clenched her fair jade-like fingers until they turned pale. Self-blame filled her heart.

She had been completely unaware of Xiao Yan's critical situation.

She felt so guilty...

A fierce determination flashed in Xiao Xun'er's eyes, but she quickly took a deep breath and spoke softly to Xiao Yan.

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"Brother Xiao Yan, you should rest well for now." After speaking, she pulled Xiao Mei gently. "Let's go back and have dinner. Let Brother Xiao Yan rest for a while."

"Mm..."

Reluctance filled Xiao Mei's eyes as she looked at Xiao Yan. She instructed him, "Cousin Xiao Yan, if you need anything, call us anytime."

"Mm."

Xiao Yan smiled and nodded. The two little girls left the room with reluctance, gently closing the door behind them.

Once she confirmed that the two little girls were gone, Yao Chen appeared from the ring once again and couldn't help but comment.

"These two little girls are really attached to you."

Earlier, she had mentioned that Xiao Yan's personality was too rigid and not appealing to girls. Now it seemed that her disciple was quite popular among girls.

At this moment, Yao Chen furrowed her brows slightly from a position that Xiao Yan couldn't see.

She had clearly sensed the hint of ruthlessness in Xiao Xun'er's eyes just now. With her experience of living for over a hundred years, Yao Chen naturally understood the meaning behind that look.

(It seems that the Jia Lie clan won't survive tonight...)

Yao Chen was certain in his heart.

Although she didn't know who Xiao Xun'er really was, Yao Chen's years of experience and intuition told her that the power behind Xiao Xun'er was unimaginably strong, possibly even beyond her own ability to offend.

However, why would someone with such formidable backing like Xiao Xun'er choose to stay in the small Wutan City and the humble Xiao Clan?

Unaware of the doubts in Yao Chen's mind, Xiao Yan lay down again, placing his arm lightly over his forehead, and stared blankly at the ceiling.

After a long while, he spoke softly.

"It's still not enough... I'm still too weak..."

While Yao Chen was confused, Xiao Yan's arm lightly blocked his line of sight, and his fist clenched tightly.

"I still have a long way to go if i want to spread my righteous path..."

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Yao Chen looked at him with a complex expression.

On this continent, everyone who desires to become stronger has their own reasons.

Some want to get stronger to survive, some want to avoid being oppressed by others, some nasty cultivators even want to get stronger just to be able to trample on others, and so on—everyone who wants to become stronger has various motivations that are pushing them on through the hurdle on their journey.

However, ultimately, these reasons converge into one concept: the law of the jungle.

This is the unchanging truth of the Dou Qi continent.

No matter how reasonable the weak may argue, it is useless.

No matter how excessive and unreasonable the strong may act, it is considered justified.

Every person who seeks strength is influenced by this concept. Those who should have detested the law of the jungle unwittingly become slaves to it, including Yao Chen.

They transform from victims into oppressors.

Although they have suffered greatly from the law of the jungle, they eventually become loyal followers of it.

But Xiao Yan is different.

From beginning to end, he despises the natural order of the jungle!

He respects the strong and cares for the weak, without showing the slightest difference in attitude due to their differing abilities.

His determination to become stronger is to completely shatter this natural order!

At the same time, Xiao Yan is well aware of this fact, he has always been.

On this continent, without strength to back it up, mere words hold no power.

Because everyone here believes in the law of the jungle, only when one becomes truly powerful will others listen to their words.

Despite understanding this principle all along, Xiao Yan has always been prepared. He knows that the path he pursues, the righteous path, will be filled with thorns.

However, today, Xiao Yan has a deeper understanding of this principle, engraved in his heart!

He realizes that advocating his righteous path is far more difficult than he had anticipated, a hundredfold more challenging!

The pleas of the weak are like annoying mosquito buzzes in the ears of the strong!

Xiao Yan sits up, his eyes shining brightly as he looks earnestly at Yao Chen.

"Senior Yao, I want to become stronger, even stronger!"

"But I'm also afraid, afraid that in the future, I will deviate from my righteous path and become like those who believe in the law of the jungle."

"If someday in the future, I truly become such a person..."

"Senior Yao, I implore you, please do everything in your power to stop me, even if it means taking my life!"

"If the future me becomes the kind of person I despise the most right now, I would rather die!"

!!!

Yao Chen's heart trembles as she stares at Xiao Yan, her eyes filled with determination.

This kid is serious.

Yao Chen looks into Xiao Yan's eyes, revealing a profound and complex expression, tinged with deep admiration.

Xiao Yan is well aware that he cannot guarantee what kind of person he will become in the future.

Xiao Yan spoke those words with a determination to die.

He truly abhors the concept of the law of the jungle.

But even though Xiao Yan has entrusted her with this request, if that day truly arrives, can Yao Chen really bring herself to be his own disciple?

Lack of self-confidence is not exclusive to Xiao Yan alone.

There is a difference between wanting to do something and actually doing it.

Gradually calming himself, Yao Chen remains silent for a long time. Then, using Xiao Yan's previous response, she answers Xiao Yan's request with less certainty.

"i... will do our best."