A pale-faced young man in luxurious robes pushed arrogantly through the crowd gathered in the Xiao Family market. His eyes burned with undisguised lust as they locked onto Xiao Xun'er's graceful figure.
"Well, well. What do we have here—"
WHAM!
Before the words could fully leave his mouth, a figure flashed forward like a phantom. A simple palm strike connected with the young man's chest, and he screamed as he was sent flying backward through the air like a broken kite. His lackeys scrambled desperately to catch him but failed miserably, collapsing in a tangled heap beneath their master's weight.
"Oh? Isn't this Young Master Gale Ao?"
Xiao Tian walked calmly to Xiao Xun'er's side, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. He looked down at the crumpled figure with mock curiosity, his eyes cold despite his pleasant expression.
"You're also a Dou Practitioner, aren't you? How could you fail to withstand even a single blow from me?" His smile sharpened into something dangerous. "Did you waste all your Dou Qi on women's bellies and turn soft?"
"Xiao Tian!"
Gale Ao scrambled to his feet, his face twisted with fury and humiliation. He pointed a trembling finger at his attacker and snarled, "Don't think that just because you've become a Dou Practitioner, you can act so arrogantly! Be careful, or you'll end up like your useless younger brother—your Dou Qi might start disappearing once you reach this realm!"
The smile vanished from Xiao Tian's face.
For a long moment, he said nothing. The temperature around him seemed to drop several degrees. Even the crowd, which had been whispering excitedly moments before, fell into an uneasy silence. The air grew thick with an invisible pressure that made the nearest spectators instinctively step backward.
"You don't need to worry about me," Xiao Tian finally replied, his voice dangerously calm. "You should worry about yourself right now."
Gale Ao's expression turned ugly. He clenched his fists until his knuckles cracked audibly. Seeing their young master's murderous look, his subordinates immediately spread out, surrounding Xiao Tian and Xiao Xun'er with clear malicious intent.
"Stay behind me," Xiao Tian said softly to Xun'er.
He snapped his fingers.
WHOOSH!
Yellow light shot out like lightning, filling the air with a brilliant flash that momentarily blinded the onlookers. In the span of a single breath, Gale Ao and every one of his lackeys collapsed to the ground, howling in absolute agony. Their souls felt as though they had been pierced by countless invisible needles—a pain that transcended the physical body and burrowed deep into their very essence.
Even Gale Ao, a one-star Dou Practitioner, was no match for Xiao Tian's abnormal strength. He writhed on the ground alongside his subordinates, tears streaming down his contorted face.
At that moment, a loud shout rang out from the edge of the crowd: "Who dares cause trouble in the Xiao Family's market?!"
Uncle Payne hurried over with a group of guards, his expression stern. Seeing Xiao Tian standing calmly while a group of men squirmed helplessly on the ground, he quickly approached.
"Third Young Master, what happened here?"
"Nothing serious." Xiao Tian's warm smile returned, disarming and genuine. "Someone tried to harass a young lady in our market. I simply taught him a small lesson." He gestured toward the writhing figures with casual indifference. "Uncle Payne, please have someone 'escort' them back to the Gale Family's territory so they don't disturb everyone's business."
Payne nodded, already motioning for his guards to lift the howling group. As they hauled Gale Ao to his feet, Xiao Tian tossed over a jade stick and a heavy money bag.
"If Gale Ao causes trouble again, use this dog-beating stick to teach him a harsh lesson." His eyes glinted with dark amusement. "As for these one hundred gold coins—treat everyone to drinks and food. Consider it compensation for the disturbance."
Payne caught both items with a wide grin, clearly delighted by his young master's generosity and forward-thinking nature.
Xiao Tian took Xun'er's hand, ready to leave. But as he turned, his gaze fell on a rather handsome young man standing at the edge of the crowd. The man's eyes occasionally flashed with lewdness as his hand shamelessly reached into the clothes of a nearby maid, completely ignoring the disapproving stares of the people around him.
Xiao Tian narrowed his eyes.
Liu Xi… the alchemist from the original story who had ill intentions toward Xun'er. Why is he appearing here now?
Butterfly effect, perhaps. His presence in the Xiao Family market was unexpected, but not immediately alarming. Xiao Tian filed the information away for later consideration. He would deal with this hidden threat when the time was right.
Xun'er noticed Xiao Tian's lingering gaze and asked softly, "What's wrong, Tian Ge?"
"Nothing." He turned back to her with a gentle smile. "Just looking around casually."
After the disturbance, neither of them felt like continuing to shop. They returned straight to the Xiao Family compound, walking in comfortable silence through the familiar winding paths that led through the estate's carefully maintained gardens.
Before they reached Xun'er's courtyard, a delicate bracelet appeared in Xiao Tian's hand—a beautiful piece crafted from the power of Illusion, its surface shimmering with an ethereal light that seemed to shift and dance like captured starlight.
Xiao Xun'er's eyes widened as she stared at the bracelet, her usual composure momentarily forgotten.
Xiao Tian waved it teasingly in front of the dazed girl, watching her eyes track the movement like a cat watching a dangling string. "Do you still want it? If not, I'll take it back."
Xun'er immediately reached out and snatched it from his hand with surprising speed. Realizing how eager she appeared, her face flushed a delicate shade of pink. She took a steadying breath, attempting to regain her usual poise, then gracefully slipped the bracelet onto her fair, delicate wrist, where it settled as though it had always belonged there.
"Thank you, Tian Ge," she said sweetly, her voice soft with genuine gratitude.
Xiao Tian gently pinched her slightly flushed cheek, his touch lingering for just a moment longer than strictly necessary. "This bracelet has a calming and focusing effect. Wearing it regularly will benefit your cultivation. Alright, go back now and cultivate well. Strive to break through to the Dou Practitioner realm as soon as possible."
Startled by the intimate gesture, the young lady fled like a frightened rabbit, her voice breaking adorably as she called back over her shoulder. "Then… I'll go back first…"
Watching her retreating figure disappear into the shadows of her courtyard, Xiao Tian smiled softly. He passed by Xiao Yan's small courtyard and noticed his younger brother had already returned—most likely busy cultivating the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid with Yao Lao.
Good. Everything is proceeding as it should.
Later that night, after the compound had fallen completely silent and everyone had retired to their quarters, Xiao Tian slipped out through a side gate and headed toward the back mountain.
This place—the birthplace of Xiao Yan's meteoric rise in the original story—felt especially significant to him. His intuition told him that checking in here would yield excellent rewards. More than that, the mountain's isolation made it the perfect location for what he was about to do. No prying eyes, no curious ears. Only the stars and the wind would witness his transformation.
Arriving at the quiet summit, he closed his eyes and carefully extended his spiritual sense in all directions. After confirming no one else was within several kilometers, he spoke inwardly:
"System, grant me all my remaining rewards."
A familiar chime echoed in his consciousness.
Ding! All wishes have been fulfilled. Rewards are now integrating..."
The Life Spirit Flame came first. Next came the Nine Mysterious Golden Lightning and the Black Demon Lightning. They crackled through his meridians like twin serpents of destruction before settling peacefully in different parts of his Qi cyclone and soul. The Black Demon Lightning intertwined with the Nine Colored Lightning already present in his body, the two energies recognizing each other as kin of the same elemental lineage.
The system's voice continued, explaining what was to come.
"The Nine Mysterious Golden Lightning has been placed in the Primordial Heaven Realm along with a Void Lightning Pool. The system has enhanced its power—in approximately ten years, it will form a spirit. When that spirit awakens, it will become a Nine Star Dou Sheng."
Xiao Tian's breath caught in his chest. A Nine Star Dou Sheng…
That was a power that could shake the very foundations of the continent. Even the strongest forces he knew of—the Hall of Souls, the ancient clans—would think twice before challenging a Nine Star Dou Sheng.
"The Black Demon Lightning and Nine Colored Lightning have merged within your body. You may now wield both simultaneously without conflict."
Then the five supreme treasures appeared.
The Heaven Punishing Ancestral Sword: The first sword of the Primordial Universe materialized before hi.. It was the progenitor of all weapons, born from Punishment and Destruction themselves. Merely looking at it made Xiao Tian's soul tremble with instinctive, primal terror.
This was not a weapon. This was annihilation given form.
The system's voice was unusually solemn, stripped of its usual warmth.
"The Heaven Punishing Ancestral Sword cannot remain on the Dou Qi Continent. Its mere presence would unravel the very fabric of this world. It has been sealed deep within the Primordial Heaven Realm's underground. Do not attempt to summon it unless necessary. It can destroy even the Great Thousand World itself. If the host uses it recklessly… everything will be finished."
Xiao Tian nodded slowly, understanding the gravity of the warning. Some powers were too great to touch. The sword's existence alone was enough—knowing it was there, waiting, was a reassurance that surpassed any immediate utility.
The blade vanished, sealed away where no one could reach it. But Xiao Tian could still feel its presence, a distant weight in the back of his consciousness.
A faint green light settled into Xiao Tian's right hand, leaving behind a small pearl-shaped mark on his palm that glowed softly before fading into his skin. As it merged with his flesh, a flood of knowledge rushed into his mind.
This was the Heavenly Poison Pearl—an artifact of absolute mastery over poison, medicine, purification, and space. With it, he could cure all poisons under heaven, even those that invaded the soul itself. He could refine pills with perfect effectiveness, sense and harvest rare herbs from across the continent, and access an infinite storage space that existed outside the boundaries of normal reality.
But its most terrifying ability was the Heaven Wounding Thought Severing Poison—the single most powerful poison in all of existence. A single drop could sever thought itself, leaving the victim a living husk with no will, no memory, no soul.
Next came a slender needle of shimmering light, barely the length of his finger but radiating an impossible density of power: the World Piercer. Xiao Tian could feel the space around it bending, warping in ways that defied normal physics.
"The World Piercer is the most powerful artifact of dimensional travel in existence. It can puncture space itself, allowing instantaneous arrival at any corner of the universe. It can also interfere with the laws of space at will, making it invaluable for both travel and combat."
The needle sank into his consciousness, becoming a part of his very being. Xiao Tian knew, without being told, that he could now step through space as easily as walking through a door.
Finally, another sword appeared: the Immortal Slaying Sword. This sword was just below the Heaven Punishing Ancestral Sword, and it came with the Immortal Slaying Sword Scripture. This sword was also extremely powerful, so the system had sealed its power so you could use this sword in daily life.
"Currently sealed. Its full might will only be released when your cultivation reaches a sufficient height. Treat it well, and it will serve you faithfully."
The sword faded from view, but Xiao Tian could feel it waiting in the depths of his soul, patient and eternal.
The system's voice continued, rattling off more rewards in rapid succession.
"Divine-Grade Bloodline of the Xiao Clan. Innate Heaven-Defying Comprehension. Ancient Heaven Phoenix Wings paired with five drops of its essence blood, and a mysterious Monster Egg."
A large egg materialized beside him, its shell covered in strange patterns that pulsed with gentle, rhythmic light. Xiao Tian felt a warmth emanating from it—whatever creature slept within was powerful, and it was waiting for the right moment to hatch.
"Supplies of Nine Nether Yellow Springs Water, the Nightmare Heavenly Fog, Nightmare Breaking Talisman, and Heaven Refining Formation of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint have been granted. One million Sound Transmission Stones. One million pieces of shape-shifting Cloud Dream Immortal Gold. One hundred bottles of Physique Pills."
The list continued, each item adding to the overwhelming wealth of resources at his disposal. Xiao Tian found himself mentally cataloging everything, already formulating plans for how to best utilize each treasure.
"For safety, one Dou Huang Bodyguard Summoning Card and one Dou Zong Bodyguard Summoning Card have been provided. Use them wisely."
Then came something that made Xiao Tian's heart stop.
"The system transfers all memories and Dou Techniques of the Yellow Spring Demon Saint, along with his blood essence and soul essence stored inside the high-grade Yellow Spring Ring."
A ring appeared on his finger. "The system also grants the complete inheritance of a Nine Grade Golden Tier Alchemist and his Cauldron, the Holy Radiance Cauldron, including the Myriad Life Gourd filled with rare herbs, pill formulas, and finished pills. The host is officially recognized as the sole disciple of this Alchemist."
Xiao Tian swayed slightly, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information. His soul felt stretched to its limits, forced to accommodate centuries of accumulated wisdom in mere seconds.
Ranked 7th on the Heavenly Cauldron Ranking. Produced in the Light and Shadow Space, it is formed from an extremely minute portion of the world's primordial light essence that split off, and stands in opposition to the Black Demon Cauldron.
And as you wished, the Heaven Devouring Divine Cauldron ranked as the most powerful divine cauldron of the Great Thousand World, and it was on his heavenly Poison Pearl.
The system's voice grew serious, signaling a shift in tone.
"Regarding the Burning Heaven Spiritual Fire: It was currently the most powerful divine flame of the Great Thousand World, but after Xiao Yan became Flame Emperor, it became ranked 2; its power is still the same level as Emperor Flame,but it just cannot command other Flames like Emperor Flame; it was only its weakness.
You have already become its recognized master. However, as a genuine Divine Flame intrinsically linked to the structural matrix of the Great Thousand World, forcibly extracting it from the Volcanic Continent at this stage would trigger a catastrophic spatial collapse. This would provoke severe backlash from the sovereign entities of the Great Thousand World."
Xiao Tian nodded. He had anticipated this obstacle.
"The flame remains securely anchored in its current location, awaiting your physical arrival. Because your soul blueprint has already been acknowledged as its absolute master, the flame's boundless origin will willingly return to you when you approach it in person."
"The system remains committed to fulfilling its promises. To ensure your complete dominance across the Dou Qi Continent, the system has created another rank 4: Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame, and the rank 6: Eight Desolate Destruction Flame.
"Host, the Flames, Lightning, and Divine Water have already merged with you. You do not need to refine them manually."
"As a flame user, one must merge with a flame using the Qi method. Even though you possess multiple Heavenly Flames, the Life Spirit Flame will serve as your primary Heavenly Flame. At the same time, the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame and Eight Desolate Destruction Flame remain merged within your dantian.
Xiao Tian felt the Life Spirit Flame stir within him, having already fused with the Yellow Spring Demonic Scripture. It was now the stable core of his Qi Method—a foundation upon which everything else would be built."
The system paused, and when it spoke again, its voice carried a weight that made Xiao Tian straighten with attention.
"Host, there is something you must know."
Xiao Tian's eyes narrowed. "What is it?"
"Deep within your being lies a power that predates your current existence. The Dragon God bloodline, the Dragon God soul, and the Dragon God power—all three exist within you in an unawakened state.
To awaken it requires a catalyst beyond what is currently available to you.
What kind of catalyst? Xiao Tian demanded.
The power of a Dou Di.
The words hung in the air like a physical weight. A Dou Di—the legendary Emperor level that stood at the absolute peak of the Dou Qi Continent's cultivation hierarchy. It was a realm that had not been reached by anyone in over ten thousand years.
When you achieve the Dou Di realm, the Dragon God powers will awaken naturally. At that point, your soul, your bloodline, and your power will undergo a complete transformation. You will become something more than human—a being of primordial divine essence.
Yet, even while this supreme power remains sealed within you, its primordial nature cannot be entirely bound. Should you dual cultivate with any woman, the ancient residual essence of the Dragon God will inevitably react with her pure yin energy. Through this sacred exchange, an indelible Azure Dragon Mark will manifest upon her hand.
This mark is no simple imprint—it is the absolute binding of the Dragon God's divine power. The moment the Azure Dragon Mark appears, she will be linked to you forever, granting her the status of your official wife. No rituals, banquets, or formal ceremonies are needed; the heavens themselves recognize the mark, marking her eternally as the consort of the Dragon God."
The system's voice softened.
Xiao Tian stood in silence, processing this revelation. The unawakened Dragon God power explained so much—the strange resonance he felt when using certain techniques, the inexplicable affinity with lightning and flame, the sense that something vast and ancient was stirring in the depths of his being.
The Dou Di realm…
It was a distant goal, almost impossibly far from his current level. But looking at the treasures now integrated with his body, the techniques now burned into his memory, and the flames now burning in his dantian, Xiao Tian felt something he hadn't allowed himself to feel in a long time:
Absolute certainty.
"The system has also granted the host three Mysterious Gifts. They will only open to you when you reach the Tian Xuan Continent. Among them, one gift is already working—in the future, the host will understand the mysterious gifts as they reveal themselves."
There was a pause, and then the system's voice softened to something almost tender.
"All rewards have been successfully granted. All ten wishes have been fulfilled. Host, take care of yourself. Bye~"
Xiao Tian stood alone on the mountain peak, feeling boundless power surging through his dantian world, and his soul had become nearly indestructible. An entirely new world now existed within his body.
A confident smile appeared on his face.
"The path of the Heaven Punishing Divine Emperor… truly begins now."