Easily Winning by Accidently Training Too Hard

As the group of people were shocked of the sudden fact of Yan's advancement, Xiao Ning scowled.

"Xiao Yan might've cheated, or he used some kind of trick! No one can advance the 9th Rank in six months!" He grit his teeth.

'You'd be surprised when Anime Protagonists learn stuff less than a week...' I thought in disagreement and continued to cook Corndogs.

...

Xiao Mei stared at her young nephew in shock. 'Could it be that he recovered his talent?...' Her relationship with Xiao Yan when they were young, they were a bit close.

Because of her petite and youthful look, Xiao Yan always treated her like a little sister, and treated him like an older brother since.

Before Xiao Yan suddenly lost his talent 3 years ago, Xiao Mei ignored him and stayed away from him, while she was realistic and thought that Xiao Yan was useless.

Now she was beginning to doubt herself if she ever chose the right choice.

...

"My thot senses are tingling..." I muttered in displeasure.

...

"Are you two Elders feeling a bit uneasy? The examination-related everything is governed by you two..." Xiao Zhan looked back with a smirk at the still shocked Elders.

"Okay, okay, the Dou-Qi examination is over, let's quickly start the Challenge Section!" The Head Elder stated hesitantly.

"The examination is over, the people who did not pass have the right to issue a challenge towards the ones who passed! There is only one chance!" The Head Elder called out loudly.

...

Xiao Ning smirked as this was his chance. "Oi, go and teach him a lesson for me!" He told his lackey. "Understood!"

"The people below may start picking their opponent!" Xiao Zhan called out.

"Xiao Yan Biao-Di, are you willing to accept my challenge?" The lackey shouted out to the stage.

...

Meanwhile, the Head Elder grinned. 'Although I do not know what tricks Xiao Yan used, but he will definitely be revealed in the challenge section!' He thought in malicious.

'Xiao Ke? Isn't he Xiao Ning's follower, a member from the great elder's side...?' Xiao Zhan thought as he noticed who it was.

...

Yan smirked. "Okay, I accept!" He agreed to the challenge.

Xiao Ke grinned and stepped towards the stage menacingly in response.

"Hmph, I bet that Xiao Yan must have a mistake in the other examination!" "Heh, we'll know after they fight!" The crowd murmured.

Xun-Er stared at the scenery in silence, secretly excited how much Xiao Yan had grown.

...

"Xiao Ke's in the 6th Stage of Dou-Qi. Whether Xiao Yan is truly at 9th Stage of Dou-Qi or not, a single test will tell!" "If Xiao Yan loses, he will still fail!" The Elders spoke.

"Ah, then you should open your eyes clearly and watch carefully!" Xiao Zhan smiled as he already knew somehow his son will win.

...

"The Battle Begins!" The announcer stated loudly to the two opponents. Xiao Ke went first.

"AHHH!!!!" Xiao Ke first charged at Xiao Yan, focusing his Dou-Qi to his palm, while Yan did nothing.

"Huang Rank, Middle Tier! Spliting Mountain Palm!" He cried out as he did a karate chop at Yan's head.

...

Time went slow for both of us as we were honestly... disappointed. Yan eyed the slow oncoming strike to his forehead. I blinked in surprise as how slow it was.

'I'm beginning to think that I overtrained Yan a bit...' I thought as I sweatdropped behind the counter. Oh well, there's no such thing as overkill...

...

'I'm beginning to think that Mark overtrained me...' Yan thought with a sweatdrop as he eyed the slow oncoming strike. With a flicker, he disappeared in front of Xiao Ke.

"You want to dodge? How about- KEK!" Yan was suddenly behind Xiao Ke and quickly struck a mild neck chop behind Xiao Ke's neck, knocking him out instantly.

Xiao Ke's unconscious body fell down on to the ground, leaving a surprised Xiao Yan holding out his palm.

"Uhh...." Yan had no words to describe as THAT was too easy. He honestly expected more from this guy.

"I... won?" He sheepishly replied to the deathly silent audience.

...

Everyone dropped their jaws in shock as Yan won only without a single Dou-Qi Skill. Everyone became deathly-silent as Yan just won with a simple strike to the neck.

"T-the battle is over! Winner - Xiao Yan!" The announcer regained his focus and called out the winner. Nobody cheered for Yan as they were too much in shock.

"... Yeah, that happened. Who else wants to challenge me? I haven't got all day!" Yan called out to the audience.

...

Xiao Ning smirked in challenge. "Xiao Yan seems strong, not even using a move. How about showing me a couple of moves?" He cracked his knuckles.

"Wait, brother." Xiao Yu called out to him. Xiao Ning stopped and was handed a pill.

"This is a Dou-Qi Boosting Pill. It will increase your strength to that of a Practitioner for a limited time. Hold on to it just in case." Xiao Yu replied. Xiao Ning smirked darkly.

"With that ability of his, I doubt I'll use this!" He exclaimed.

"The side effects of this Pill are tremendous. Do NOT use it unless you have to!" She warned seriously. She didn't doubt Xiao Yan's stage to be false, as she didn't want her brother to get hurt.

"Don't worry sister, I'll beat that weakling until he begs his life!" Xiao Ning grimly stated.

...

As Yan looked at Xiao Ning leaping on to the stage, he smirked as he would face a worthy opponent.

"Took your time getting here." Yan replied to Xiao Ning.

"Xiao Yan, are you ready to be embarrassed in front of Xun-Er?" He grinned darkly and maliciously.

"Hmm... Nah." Yan casually responded. Xiao Ning grit his teeth.

"Let's see how long that arrogance of yours will last! Huang (Yellow) Rank, Mid Tier! Splitting Claw Strike!" Xiao Ning thrusted a palm of condensed claws of Dou-Qi at Yan.

Yan held up his arm in front of the strike and intercepted it, forcing the strike away from his direction. His other hand focused on the Dou-Qi and repeatly swirled around his palms.

'Huang Rank, Low Tier! Flame Blowing Palm!' He thrusted a wind gale of energy into Xiao Ning's gut very powerfully, as Xiao Ning was pushed forward away from Yan.

Xiao Ning slid his feet onto the stage as he regained his momentum. He later stared at Yan in shock and disbelief, same as the reactions of the crowd below.

"You... what kind of Dou Skill is that?!" He demanded. Yan smirked in response.

"You think I'll tell you? Come closer, I might just whisper in your ear." Yan developed his troll-grin and motioned his hand to come closer.

"BASTARD!" Outraged, Xiao Ning charged like a madman, fully intending to break Yan in half.

Yan again channelled Dou-Qi to his palms. Xiao Ning frowned. "Thinking of using the same skill again?! Let's see you try to push away THIS time!" He dashed in front of Yan.

'Xuan (Black) Rank, Low Tier! Vacuum Palm!' Yan pulled Xiao Ning's body into him, while unconsciously posing Mark's Force Pull.

"What?!" Said Xiao Ning, surprised at the sudden pulling to Yan.

As Xiao Ning was getting pulled from Yan closer and closer, Xiao Ning developed a feral grin on his face and charged Dou-Qi to his fist.

"You asked for it! Huang Rank, High Tier! Iron Mountain Fist!" He charged up a fist to Yan. Yan narrowed his eyes and charged up another strike to finish off the battle.

'Xuan Rank, Low Tier! Flame Blowing Palm!' He struck a more power strike at Xiao Ning's gut again. The battle was finished.

Xiao Ning spat blood after the attack and fell down to his knees in pain.

...

"Grandson!" The Head Elder called out in concern.

...

"You lose, Xiao Ning." Yan replied with no bite or concern. He was simply stating the facts.

"No... that's impossible..." Xiao Ning spoke in disbelief as he defeated by none other than Xiao Yan.

...

"It seems like the match is over." Xiao Zhan replied.

"Xiao Zhan! There should be limits in sparring matches!" The Head Elder exclaimed.

Ya Fei stared at the young master of the Xiao Sect in interest. "Were the effects of the elixir of the Foundation Spirits that powerful?..." She muttered in amusement.

"Xiao Zhan! I'll NEVER forgive you for this!" "Great Elder, look!" The Second Head pointed at Xiao Ning.

...

"It's not over yet..." Xiao Ning suddenly stood up.

'So I was right thinking that I should always conserve more energy...' Yan narrowed his eyes. The fight wasn't over yet.

"XIAO YAN! I SHALL TAKE YOUR LIFE TODAY!" Xiao Ning's eyes bloodshot inhumanly, and ripped his clothes. Yan widened his eyes in surprise.

...

"Grandson!" "This level of Dou-Qi... When did Xiao Ning promote to a Dou Zhe?!" The Second Elder exclaimed in shock.

"SOMETHING'S WRONG! Xiao Ning's Qi did increase drastically, but he's unusually mobile. It's as if..." Xiao Zhan realised.

"Yes, unless he used the 'Qi Boasting Pill'..." Ya Fei realised the pill effects and slightly feared.

...

"XIAO YAN!!!!!!!!" Xiao Ning howled in rage as he forced all of his energy into one fist of killing Yan.

'Shit.' He cursed and focused Dou-Qi into his fist.

"YAN-ER! DODGE IT, NOW!" Xiao Zhan's voice shouted out in concern. Yan did not lose his cool and begun his act.

"Huang Rank, High Tier! Iron Mountain Fist!" Xiao Ning howled as he charged a fist of malice at Yan.

'Xuan Rank, High Tier! Octadic Smash!' Yan thought as he charged a fist of countering at Xiao Ning's fist.

As two opposing forces contacted, it had created a huge shockwave of power from them, as it was too bright to see who had won.

Xiao Ning's body flew from the stage as Xiao Yan stood victorious at the power tug of war. Everyone was shocked to see that Yan had won from the sudden rank up of Xiao Ning.

...

Xiao Yu was outraged as her little brother was very injured after the battle by none other than Xiao Yan himself. Her brother may be an idiot, but she still cared for him. Anyone be damned if she let her brother seriously injured.

When she was about to leap into the stage and give Xiao Yan a piece of her mind, the sudden words coming out of Xiao Yan stopped her.

"End the match! Take Xiao Ning to the infirmary! Now!" Xiao Yan stated loudly.

Maybe Xiao Yan wasn't so arrogant as she thought after all. Still, she had to give him a piece of her mind...

...

Yan cursed himself of his cousin's arrogance. Xiao Ning maybe a dickhead in Yan's accounts, but he was still family. He wasn't going to let his cousin's stupidity kill himself.

"E... End of Match!..." The Second Head Elder hesitantly. Good! Now let's get his idiotic cousin to the infirmary before he dies of blood loss!

"Hold it!" Xiao Yu's voice called out. Now what?

"Xiao Yan, you injured my brother! I challenge you to a match! Are you man enough to accept it?" Xiao Yu leaped into the stage, furious at him. Was she seriously angry because he had beat her own brother in a fair duel? He indeed helped her own brother after the match, so why was she angry?!

When Yan was about to answer, his father's loud voice shouted out to the stage. "Xiao Yu, this isn't the place for you to fool around! Get off the stage, NOW!" He warned. She ignored him.

"Cousin Xiao Yu, you seem to be taking advantage of the situation!" Xun-Er's voice called out. Why was she here?!

"How about having Xun-Er fight with you instead?" She taunted, making the situation more out of hand. Yan held a hand on her shoulders.

"Xun-Er, you don't have to..." Yan mentally groaned, thinking that he was 'strong' enough to beat- no, SURVIVE against Mark's hellish training. He didn't train his ass off just to be protected...

"ENOUGH! HAVEN'T YOU EMBARRASSED YOURSELVES ALREADY?!" His father's loud and outraged voice shouted out to the heavens. Xun-Er and Xiao Yu flinched at the tone of voice. Yan sighed, as he knew this would happen.

"To show such unruly behavior at the coming of the Age Ceremony... All of you, get off the stage, NOW!" His father demanded, causing Xiao Yu's face turn into shame. They left the stage nonetheless.

...

"Because Xiao Ning broke the Clan Rules, he is to be locked in isolation for one month!" Xiao Zhan ordered, as the unconscious Xiao Ning was wrapped in bandages for medical attention.

"Xiao Zhan, my grandson is severly injured!" The Grand Elder exclaimed in concern and disagreement. Xiao Zhan frowned.

"For failing to properly instruct his grandson, the Grand Elder is to be locked in isolation for three days!" Xiao Zhan ordered, causing the Grand Elder to 'tsk' in displeasure.

"Everyone else who passed today will gather at the Dou Qi Pavilion in five days to choose their Skills! THAT IS ALL!" Xiao Zhan stated loudly.

Ya Fei giggled in amusement. "Xiao Yan... It would seem that an outstanding person has appeared within the Xiao Family!" She muttered.

...

As Yan and Xun-Er left the stage as they were done, they each complimented how skilled they were in the Age Ceremony.

"Xiao Yan Ge-Ge is so awesome! To be able to defeat Xiao Ning so quickly..." Xun-Er praised in awe as Yan was already powerful to defeat someone so quickly.

"Yeah, it's mostly because of my hard-working training I've done for the past six months... I didn't train my ass off for nothing." Yan awkwardly chuckled as he remembered the painful memories of Mark beating the absolute shit out of him...

Xun-Er suddenly frowned. "Language." She corrected him. Yan raised an eyebrow in confusion and then realisation.

When did he swear so casually? He kept a strict reminder not to swear anywhere near Xun-Er, as she might think lowly of him...

'I must be spending too much time with Mark...' Yan sweatdropped as Mark's habit of casually cursing might've effected him... He kept a mental note to fix his own habits.

"Xiao Yan!" Yan was snapped back into reality as he saw Xiao Yu, arms crossed in front of him. What did she want?...

"Yeah?" He casually replied without no bite. He honestly expected Xiao Yu to come here to pick another fight, as he knew that Xiao Yu loved his little brother than any else.

"Don't be too arrogant to think that you're off the hook. You may have helped my little brother, but you severely injured him. Consider yourself lucky, I'll settle this with you one day!" She vowed and gave a glare to Yan and hurriedly left the scene. Yan 'hmm'-ed at the response.

"I swear, those two are almost the same..." He deadpanned as he commented at their personality similarities between the two siblings. Xun-Er giggled.

"Xiao Yan..." He heard a voice behind him.

He turned to see a slightly blushing Xiao Mei holding her hands together. He mentally frowned. "Cousin Xiao Mei, do you need something?" He asked.

"Y...yes, Father will be teaching me a Huang Rank High Tier Skill at the Dou Qi Pavilion tomorrow. Would you like to go together?..." She asked.

When Yan was about to speak, Xun-Er interrupted him when she suddenly hugged Yan's arm. "I'm sorry, Cousin Xiao Mei! Xiao Yan Ge-Ge has already promised to go out with me tomorrow. Right, Xiao Yan Ge-Ge?" Xun-Er winked at Yan. Yan got the message.

"Y-yeah." He hesitantly replied as he was caught off-guard at the sudden act. Xun-Er smiled widely.

Xiao Mei's face formed into awkwardness. "In that case I won't bother you two anymore... It's just that..." She trailed off.

"Is there anything else?" He asked. Xiao Mei slumped into depression.

"N...n... nothing, I'll head out first..." She denied and stuttered into leaving.

As Yan watched Xiao Mei leaving, he turned to Xun-Er. "You mischievious girl, I was going to reject her invitation anyway. To think that you would act this way..." He replied, slightly confused.

Xun-Er blinked and broke off the hug. "Bah! I was only trying to help you to save your face!" She replied in response. Yan hid a sad smile as his face had been ruined in the past.

He stretched his arms to the sky. "Ah, I don't care anymore. The coming of the Age Ceremony is finally over! We can finally relax! In five days, we'll go to the Dou Qi Pavilion to pick out Skills. I'm looking forward to that!" He said excitedly, his mind racing on the combos and Skills he could think of.

Unfortunately, his relaxation moments were soon shattered as he noticed Mark giving him the 'you need the training look'. He gulped.

"H-hey, Mark?... The Age Ceremony is finally over, right?... I saw you sell some of that food, did you get some money?...." Yan carefully asked to Mark. Mark shrugged.

"Sort of. Just enough to buy another set of metal ores. Oh hey, Xun-Er. Mind if I nab Yan for something?" Mark asked as Yan mentally screamed in horror at the hellish training he has to do now.

Xun-Er raised an eyebrow in curiousness. "Can I go with Xiao Yan Ge-Ge? I want to see what you're doing..." She asked, intent on following Yan.

'Oh no. I don't know if I should be happy or panicking...' Yan thought as he sweated bullets. Mark had a strict rule of never revealing the training status between the two of them, as Mark intended that more would come and join in the training session and make it troublesome to deal with, and that Mark threatened to bust a cap on his head if he slipped out.

"Sure. I just need him to help me train my swordsmanship." Mark casually answered without a care. What was he doing?! Was he revealing the status that himself and Mark was actually training together?!

"Xiao Yan Ge-Ge can use swordsmanship? Really?" Xun-Er asked, surprised at Yan's newly known swordsmanship. Mark nodded.

"Yep. I taught him a while ago. I just need him as a training dummy." He said, gazing at Yan's panicking eyes. He shrugged and went towards the direction of the sparing arena.

...

"Here." I gave Yan's training sword to his hands. Yan accepted it hesistantly.

"Since when did Xiao Yan Ge-Ge learnt swordsmanship, Mark?" Xun-Er asked in curiousness.

"Well, I sort of accidently discovered that Yan had a good potential of swordsmanship, I decided to train him. He accepted the training as he wanted to expand his horizons." I half-lied. While I always knew that Yan had a good potential of learning swordsmanship of his willful desire to expand, I lied about the part where I forcibly trained him.

"Xiao Yan Ge-Ge, why didn't you tell me?..." Xun-Er asked as she felt betrayed by Yan for not telling her this. Yan sweated bullets as he was in a pinch.

"I told him not to. If he were to tell this to the whole Sect, I would've been swarmed by people begging me to train them. I don't want to be interupted or disturbed by people begging me to train them while I'm working 24/7." I answered truthfully this time. Xun-Er raised an eyebrow at the unknown term but then nodded in understanding. Yan sighed in relief.

"Right, let's begin then..." Yan casually twirled around his sword with a single hand. Xun-Er widened her eyes in surprise at the act of how fluid and smooth the sword twirled around his hand.

Yan's eyes grew into seriousness and readied his proper Soresu stance. In response, I readied my own offensive stance and held the sword with one hand.

Nobody moved as both of us, were waiting who moved first. The silence increased the tension as both of narrowed our eyes. Xun-Er sat on the audience seats and watched the spar.

I soon broke the silence as I swung a rapid side strike at Yan first. Yan blocked the strike as I pulled away the blade and struck again. This time Yan blocked it downwards and parried the blade back.

He was back into the original stance as I got the message. I twirled around the blade with my hand in intimidation and rapidly and repeatly struck blows and strikes at Yan.

Yan was forced to step back as he blocked the strikes that got closer to his vital parts. As I was applying pressure to Yan as I repeatedly struck blows, Yan parried one of the strikes and switched into offensive, now using Djem So (Form V of Lightsaber Combat) and went in for a powerful strike.

I narrowedly blocked the powerful strike downwards and pulled back when Yan struck another sweeping slash at me, almost touching the fabrics of my blazer.

I thrusted a strike at Yan's center, who switched tactics and blocked horizontally. He parried the blade away and stanced himself by putting the sword in the center.

As I pointed my blade at Yan, Yan walked forwards and his sword went closer. I stepped back as I made a safe distance between us. He went closer, and I went away.

Yan narrowed his eyes. Like an aggressive beast, he quickly struck at my sides as I quickly went to block it, as the turn around changed the positions as Yan went offensive, striking many powerful blows and strikes with Ataru (Form IV of Lightsaber Combat) as I had some difficulty going in defensive with my one hand.

Yan went for another powerful blow, striking downwards as I was forced to block horizontally.

As Yan pushed in by using his strength, as I struggled a bit as I was only using one hand.

Suddenly he pulled his sword back and went for my sides, in which I turned my body to block it, and he went for another strike to my head as I quickly blocked. This was getting difficult...

He pulled out the sword quickly and went to my underbody parts.

I was forced to dodge back as I couldn't reach my sword to block downwards, and he struck another powerful blow at my face in which I barely blocked.

I backed away as he hit my face, and charged forward for a powerful strike in which Yan dodged and backed away, pointing his sword at me in distance and defense.

I touched my cheeks with my fingers and saw red blood on my index and middle fingers. I looked at Yan, who gulped as if he'd fucked up.

Deciding to be serious, I gripped the sword handle with two hands. Yan sweated as he did a smart move and switched his stance to defensive.

[AN: Imagine the scene with Star Wars SC 38 Reimagined]

With the might of a Dark Lord, I struck a powerful blow at Yan who barely blocked it as he was shook from the amount of force I dealt to that one strike.

I continued the repeated powerful strikes as Yan quickly dodged and blocked the strikes I struck using the lightsaber form of Darth Vader.

He struggled to keep up the powerful strikes I dealt him, and I kept applying more pressure to him.

He had no time to parry my strikes as I went more swift and powerful.

I kept going stronger and powerful as time went passed, as Yan sweated heavily as he held his sword.

He parried the powerful strike as went for a side strike, I went under the slash and quickly struck him at the legs and he fell down in pain.

I chopped under at Yan who blocked it on the floor, struggling to lift the heavy attack pushing him down.

Yan pulled back his leg and kicked at my gut. I backed away as I went for another powerful strike.

Yan barely blocked the strike as he stood up and got his two feet on the ground. Huffing and breathing for air, he stanced himself in defence.

I raised my arms above my head for a powerful strike, in which Yan did the same.

[AN: Imagine the scene in Episode III, when Dooku duels with Anakin]

Soon we clashed ourselves in a final standoff with a flurry of strikes and slashes of a duel that nobody had seen in generations.

Xun-Er stared awe, as she didn't witness anything like this elegant, beautiful, powerful, and skilled before with the use of swords. It was as if two sword gods were dueling to the battle to the death.

I parried the last strike that Yan gave and shoved his sword somewhere else and tightly grasped his wrists.

I pulled my elbow and struck to his jaw, in which this time he didn't let go of the sword, I instead swung my sword in a powerful ass swing and ripped the sword out my Yan's hands.

I kicked Yan's gut as he forced to fall down to his knees. The sword flew in the air as I grabbed while it was mid-air and held a cross bladed form to his head.

Xun-Er, worried about Yan got up from her seat in concern and ready to jump at the moment I harmed Yan, but her eyes were glued at the duel.

"Haaa... Man, I can't just beat you, can I?..." Yan suddenly chuckled tiredly. I 'heh'-ed and twirled around the training swords to my arms, holding them place with my armpits.

I lend a hand to Yan. "Nope." I chuckled amusedly and Yan accepted the help and got up. Xun-Er let out a heavy breath as she was tensed from the breathtaking duel and the concern for Yan.

"Say... How much did I improve?..." Yan asked in curiousness. I hmmed in thought.

"About... say, about increase in 15 paragraphs." I answered flatly. Yan raised an eyebrow in confusion. I rolled my eyes.

"You've improved, much better now." I simplified, as Yan shook his fist in excitement and in accomplishment.

"yes..." He silently cheered himself. I rolled my eyes. Xun-Er came to us, arms crossed and a bit displeased and frowned at us.

"Mark, Xiao Yan Ge-Ge would've gotten hurt from that fight! Aren't you supposed to be careful in a 'spar'?" She dotted both of us with displeasure. Yan held his hands up in defense.

"Hey, all we got was small bruises and injuries from that. It was a spar, not the ones you'd expect. But it was cool, right?" I smirked and Yan held a goofy grin. Xun-Er pouted as she was frustrated at both of us.

"I-I... Hurrrhhh! I hate it when you're right!" Xun-Er blushed in embarrassment as she turned back away from us. She was probably thinking about men were stupid in lines of that. I don't know what's she thinking.

"But, Xiao Yan Ge-Ge and Mark's duel was so magnificent! There are not many people who knows swordsmanship, as most people would cultivate instead, but I haven't seen a such heated and awestruck duel ever in my life! It was like you were two martial gods battling against each other!" Xun-Er changed her tone into genuine awe, respect and inspiration of how our training paid off. Her eyes were even shining in awe.

"Aww, you flatter me, Xun-Er!" Yan complimented while rubbing the back of his head as Xun-Er slightly blushed as she smiled.

"Nah, we're still in training, remember?" I replied casually as Yan realised in shock. He stared at me in mercy. I grinned darkly in response.

...

As time passed, a group of people who had succeed on the Age Ceremony waited as Xiao Zhan walked up to the entrance.

"All clan members who passed the coming of the Age Ceremony are eligable to enter the Dou Qi Pavilion to pick Skills! Everyone may choose only one ability and must exit the Pavilion after two hours!" He loudly explained.

"UNDERSTOOD!" They all called out in agreement.

"Remember this! All clan Skills are kept in special bamboo scrolls into two classes, Parent and Child! You will all be taking the Child Scroll! Each will respond differently when taken! It is forbidden to bring these Skills outside of our clan! All who do so will be severely punished!" He warned in seriousness.

"Heh... That may be true, but with enough Skill, it's possible to interrupt the response of the Scroll." Xun-Er suddenly replied. Yan raised an eyebrow and then chuckled.

"With that level of strength, who'd be interested in Huang rank scrolls?" He joked, making Xun-Er to smile. Xiao Zhan revealed the crystal ball behind him that sat on a pedestal.

"After you've tested for your primary element, you will enter the corresponding pathway!" Xiao Zhan explained the crystal ball's purpose.

"Those are the rules! You may now begin!" Xiao Zhan stated loudly, as two guards opened the two huge gates. One person got up to the crystal ball and tested his element.

The crystal ball shone in sky blue light as the person put a hand. "Wind Element, go ahead!" Xiao Zhan explained as the person went into the gates.

"My turn! I'm next in line!" As multiple people were eager to test their elements, Yan and Xun-Er waited until it was their turn.

"The last two! Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun-Er!" Yan grinned as it was their turn.

"It's finally our turn. Let's see what kind of Skills we'll get." As Yan walked forward to the crystal ball, it shone brightly in red light as it enveloped the area near him.

"Oh, Fire Element. *cough* Enter the third pathway on the Fire Route, room fourty-three!" Xiao Zhan 'suggested' to his son, who blinked in surprise and then smiled in thanks.

"Xun-Er, it's your turn!" Xiao Zhan called out Xun-Er, who poured her Dou-Qi inside the crystal ball. It shone in red light, brightly and more powerful than Yan as the crystal ball cracked.

Yan and Xiao Zhan widened their eyes in shock.

'Such a pure Fire element! Too bad she doesn't possess the Wood element, she would've been a good receptarier!' Lao spoke in praise. Yan nodded in agreement.

"Her talent really is terrifying... Almost skilled as Mark's..." Yan muttered in respect. As Xun-Er's talent was really skilled, Mark was the most skilled than her, no doubt.

"Father, we'll be leaving now." Yan spoke as he missed when the crystal ball shattered into pieces. Xiao Zhan stared in dumbfoundedness as he saw the smoking remains of the crystal ball.

"Xun-Er... Not only does she have good character, she's also talented. She's far superior to Na-Lan Yan-Ran, if only I had a daughter-in-law like that..." Xiao Zhan's comments caused Xun-Er who heard it, to blush.

Yan noticed Xun-Er unknowningly blush. "Hmm? Xun-Er, why are you blushing?" He asked, oblivious to the reason why Xun-Er is blushing.

"Ah! Nothing, nothing happened!" Xun-Er exclaimed while blushing furiously. Yan raised an eyebrow and went inside the Pavilion.

Inside the Pavilion, there were three tunnels, Fire in Red, Green in Wood, Sky Blue in Wind. Yan pointed at the Red room.

"We both possess the Fire element, so let's go in together!" Yan said and went inside the Red room with Xun-Er.

"Break, BREAK! DAMNIT!" "Why do we have to break these barriers before we can get the Skills?!" As multiple members tried their best to break the barriers of the Skills behind the room, Yan and Xun-Er walked passed them.

Soon, they reached room 43. "Room Fourty-Three. It's this room." Yan pointed at the number above the barrier. Xun-Er turned to Yan.

"The light barrier seems to be thicker than the others. It seems this is the strongest barrier..." Xun-Er inspected the red barrier. Yan smirked as he charged up Dou-Qi to his fist.

"But it's just a light barrier. Something like this can't stop me! Octadic Smash!" Yan punched the thick barrier of light with the strongest Skill he can muster up. As the barrier cracked from the force, it soon shattered into pieces as the Skill scroll behind was in front.

"Ah, amazing Xiao Yan Ge-Ge!" She clapped admiringly, causing those near the barrier to look in shock and awe.

"Come on, let's go what Dou-Qi skill it is!" Yan looked inside the barrier room. There, it held a floating Dou-Qi Skill Scroll in all of its glory.

"Huang Rank, High Tier: Reinforcing Flames! This is our clan's strongest fire skill! It looks like father put a lot of thought into this!" Xun-Er explained, as Yan grasped the scroll and inspected it.

"Huang Rank..." Yan muttered as he thought what was useful about this skill. He can use the skill to manipulate the flames and possibly make them stronger, but he needed Mark's knowledge to advance them further...

"This skill is too weak if you wish to win against Na-Lan Yan-Ran." Xun-Er took the scroll away from Yan's hands.

"Why not learn this instead? Xuan Rank, High Tier: Ignition Burst!" Xun-Er introduced the Black Rank scroll to Yan. Yan smiled as Xun-Er would help him to defeat Na-Lan Yan-Ran.

"Though that's fine, Xun-Er. But I'll take the other one." Yan took the Yellow Rank scroll back to him. Xun-Er turned to confusion as to why Yan would take the Yellow Rank instead of the Black Rank, which was more superior.

"Thank you Xun-Er, it's not that I don't want your gift, it's just that... I'll be able to obtain a better Skill than that!" Yan whispered to Xun-Er, who became surprised at the act.

"Let's go, time's almost up!" Yan said as he went to the gates of the Pavilion. Xun-Er hid her confused emotions aside and decided to trust Yan instead.

As both of them went passed the members who were trying to break pass the barrier, they noticed a large group of people gathering up to the Wind Element Room.

"The light barrier for this room is really strong!" "C'MON!" Multiple members cheered and shouted for the mysterious person to break the barrier.

...

'What should I do? Father told me there was a High Tier Wind Skill in the room... But I didn't expect a light barrier to be this strong... This isn't something I can break by myself...' Xiao Mei thought in panic as she leaned her arm on the thick barrier.

"Don't worry Cousin Xiao Mei! We can try combining our powers to break it!" The multiple members behind her shouted. Xiao Mei shook her head in denial.

"That won't work, the strength of the light barrier increases based on the number of attackers... Ugh, the allocated time of two hours is almost up too..." She replied, filling herself with despair and shame.

"Oi, Let me through! You're all in the way!" Her nephew's voice called out.

"Ah! Xiao Yan..." Xiao Mei was in a very grateful state when she understood that Yan was going to help her. Without a word, Yan and Xun-Er walked passed her in a cold manner.

"Xiao Yan..." Xiao Mei felt sorrow and guilt, and had tears in her eyes. In despair and sadness, she went down to her knees.

'Xiao Yan has always treated me as his own sister, but after he lost his Dou-Qi, I distanced myself from him, even despising him... This is all my fault...' She blamed herself for causing Yan to hate her.

Yan stopped from his steps.

...

Yan sighed.

"Stop crying, there's so many people here." He replied to his cousin's sorrowful and guilty state when she was crying.

"..." She turned to Yan's face, tears in her eyes in guilt.

"... Let's put everything behide us. Now, move aside!" Yan indirectly forgave his cousin and charged up Dou-Qi to his fist and smirked. Xiao Mei widened her eyes and hesitently moved aside from Yan.

"Hah!" Yan smashed his fist through the light barrier, shattering the barrier to pieces. Xiao Mei looked at the scenery with shock and forgiveness as she was forgiven from her actions.

"Thank you... And sorry..." She teared up into tears in gratitude. Yan smiled as his job was done.

...

After the Pavilion was over, Yan took the Skill and studied the effects and usefulness of the Skill itself. He rested his back on a tree and researched it carefully.

"Reinforcing Flames... Doesn't sound THAT useful to me...." Mark replied behind Yan as he leaned on the tree. Yan almost dropped the Scroll in shock as Mark found the Skill almost useless.

"W-why?... I thought-" "Reinforcing Flames. Just imagine the effects of 'reinforcing' a flame. Does it make the fire stronger? Does it make the fire hotter? Doesn't say anything about pyrokinesis." He explained as Lao appeared.

"Yes, you'd have to be a Dou Practitioner first if you want to learn that lousy skill..." Lao mused himself as Yan put a hand on his temples and sighed.

'Should've trusted Xun-Er...' Yan thought in regret as he thought that he would learn a very powerful skill out of this. He then blinked.

"Speaking of Practitioners, I'm already one step closer to being one. Plus, there's something else that bothers me." Yan narrowed his eyes in seriousness.

"Na-Lan Yan-Ran. She has immense talent, plus the backing of the Yun Lan Sect and the Elixir King Gu He. Though, I don't think I'll defeat her in three years-" "What was that?" Mark suddenly spoke with a raised eyebrow. Yan rolled his eyes. "-despite Mark's training, I'll think I will defeat her... It's just that... I don't know, I feel like I should be more stronger than that. Like, WAY stronger." He confessed about his mysterious urge for gaining more power.

Mark said nothing as he was too focused in his thoughts. Lao huffed. "Gu He? That measly Sixth-Grade Receptarier can be called the Elixir King? He's still a greenhorn when it comes to making Elixirs!" Lao spoke. Yan dropped his jaw in shock.

"Master, are you talking about the same person here?... I'm talking about the 'Elixir King Gu Ge'..." Yan checked, Lao sighing and closing his eyes.

"Of course! It's that same little kid! And you are indeed right about being one step closer to Practitioner. But have you heard of the Qi Accumulating Pill?" Lao asked as Yan widened his eyes in surprise.

"That divine pill that's able to let a Ninth Stage Disciple accumulate and expand their Dou-Qi to become Practitioner... That Qi Accumulating Pill?" Yan replied in surprise.

"Huh? What were we talking about again?" Mark snapped out of his thoughts and asked. Yan and Lao both turned to Mark and sweatdropped of how Mark wasn't paying attention, and it was out of character for him.

"Anyway... The pill allows a Ninth Stage to become Dou Practitioners... You'll first need ingredients." Lao spoke as Yan groaned.

"Again...?" Yan muttered. Lao smiled.

"Yep. I can make you more Elixirs for you to sell off. Not to mention, do you remember me telling about the 'skill that has the potential to evolve'?" Lao reminded the Huang Rank Low Tier Skill that he mentioned earlier in the first time they'd met.

"Yeah, why?" Yan asked.

"The Skill that you mentioned at Chapter 8?" Mark replied, causing Lao and Yan to look at Mark again with weird looks. Whatever it was, Mark was being weird...

"Okay...? The reason I haven't taught you that Skill is because you first have to be a Practitioner to learn it. After you advanced to that stage, I'll teach you that Skill!" Lao stated as Yan clenched his fists in excitement.

"... Yeah!" Yan grinned. He couldn't wait to advance into Dou Practitioner.

...

"It feels like I've been missing my screentime... and I feel like breaking the 4th Wall. Why is that?..." I muttered to myself to my weird acts on this chapter.

Seriously, what was going on with me?

[AN: Please review.]