Chapter 1: The Six-Year-Old and the Three Stages of Dou Qi

Chapter 1: The Six-Year-Old and the Three Stages of Dou Qi

In the Dou Qi Continent, within the Jia Ma Empire, there stood an inconspicuous low house tucked away in a small alley in Wutan City.

A child of about five or six years old sat cross-legged on the floor. With deliberate hand movements in front of his body, his chest gently rose and fell, creating a rhythm of breaths. During this breathing cycle, a white airflow entered his body through his mouth and nose.

It was not difficult to understand that this child was cultivating Dou Qi, a common practice in the Dou Qi Continent.

"Huh..."

Su Yun opened his eyes, concluding his cultivation for the day. He had spent two years diligently practicing since the age of four, and now, at the age of six, he had reached the third stage of fighting spirit. Similar to the protagonist, Xiao Yan, in the original story, Su Yun possessed a stronger soul due to his experiences from two lifetimes, enhancing his natural talent for cultivation.

However, despite his adult-like mind, Su Yun still embraced the playful nature of a six-year-old child. He had dedicated himself to rigorous training and achieved remarkable progress. Yet, he pondered the question: how exceptional was a six-year-old with third-stage Dou Qi talent?

Lost in thought, Su Yun murmured to himself, contemplating his own potential. He was born into poverty in this life, lacking any notable background. Familiar with the original work, he knew that strength was paramount in the Dou Qi Continent, where the weak were at the mercy of the strong. Thus, he had limited interaction with his peers, choosing to focus on self-improvement through arduous training.

Despite his uncertainty, Su Yun deduced that achieving the third stage of fighting spirit at the age of six, with a potential promotion each year, would allow him to reach the ninth stage by the age of twelve. This accomplishment was by no means insignificant. In fact, it surpassed the cultivation level of many individuals.

"Then my talent isn't bad," Su Yun muttered, acknowledging that he possessed a commendable aptitude akin to Xiao Yan.

However, he couldn't help but sigh and admit that he was not necessarily superior to his fictional counterpart. As he picked up a plain white steamed bun from the wooden table, Su Yun lamented his lack of good fortune. Unlike Xiao Yan, who belonged to the Xiao family—an ancient clan and one of the three major families in Wutan City—even though they were in decline, they still enjoyed relative comfort and security. Su Yun, on the other hand, lived in a rundown thatched hut, surviving on meager meals.

His father, a slightly higher-ranked three-star fighter, provided for the family by hunting low-level monsters. Meanwhile, his mother took odd jobs to support them. However, their lives became increasingly difficult after his father's untimely death in the Warcraft Mountains when Su Yun was only four. A year later, his mother, consumed by grief, also passed away.

This was just a glimpse of his family's challenging circumstances. As the designated protagonist of the Dou Qi Continent, Su Yun carried an extraordinary destiny within him. If he could survive for three years, he would have Yao Chen as his mentor, Fen Jue as his guide, and the support of his confidante and friend, Xiao Xun'er. With these factors in place, he would ascend to the pinnacle, reach the level of Doudi, and become a true victor in life.

Su Yun's thoughts turned sour as he compared himself to Xiao Yan, considering his experiences as an Earth traveler. After six years of traversing different realms, the absence of a system made the disparity all the more apparent. Shaking his head, Su Yun decided to abandon these thoughts and focus on practical action instead.

With a deep contemplation, Su Yun quietly nibbled on the steamed bun in his hand. His plan for the upcoming years was clear: he would stay in Wutan City and diligently cultivate his skills. Although Wutan City was relatively remote, with only Ling Ying, Xiao Xun'er's guard, as the strongest presence, the overall security was acceptable. As long as he avoided provoking the wealthy elites and held no grudges with prominent families, he could go unnoticed as a commoner.

Having lived the life of a six-year-old bookworm who immersed himself in cultivation, Su Yun had little reason to leave his home except for essential supplies. Thus, his current circumstances allowed him to pursue his goals without interference.

Therefore, Su Yun decided to focus on elevating his cultivation level before seeking grand adventures. His parents' modest savings would sustain him for a few years. The primary focus of the Dou Qi stage was to expand the meridians, strengthen the body, and lay a solid foundation for future cultivation. At a young age, external assistance was practically non-existent since the meridians were still fragile. Therefore, he didn't need to worry about acquiring cultivation resources at this stage. There was no rush to venture into the broader world of the fighting spirit continent.

After collecting himself, Su Yun retrieved some gold coins from beneath his bed and stepped out of the house, making his way towards the main street of Wutan City. Their provisions at home had been depleted, and it was time to restock for the next three or four days.

After about ten minutes of walking, he arrived at the bustling market square of Wutan City. However, he didn't intend to make his purchases there. The market was controlled by the three major families and offered more valuable items such as magic cores, weapons, jewelry, and medicinal materials made from magic cores. It was clearly not the ideal place for a novice like Su Yun.

Nevertheless, it was the only way to reach the area where ordinary supplies were sold. If he took a detour, it would add another half an hour to his journey, which he deemed unnecessary with his current stamina.

Upon entering the market, Su Yun walked cautiously, closely observing his surroundings. The market was filled with mercenaries and merchants, most of whom were fighters or above. As a mere six-year-old with third-stage fighting spirit, he was well aware of his limitations. While the three major families maintained order here, occasional conflicts were not uncommon, especially considering the tensions between them. Su Yun understood the precarious nature of this world and hastened his pace, ensuring a quick and cautious passage.

The scenes and sounds of the market passed by as Su Yun traversed through. Suddenly, he overheard a conversation that caught his attention.

"Is this our family's market?"

"Yes, it is. This market belongs to the Xiao family, located in the south of Wutan City."

Su Yun's curiosity was piqued. He had lived in Wutan City for six years, rarely leaving the confines of his home. However, he was well acquainted with the distribution of power within the city. This market was the same one that Xiao Yan had taken Xiao Xun'er to in the original story.

Raising his gaze, Su Yun noticed two children around his age—a boy and a girl. Shaking off any further thoughts, he dismissed any connection to the Xiao family. There was no need to involve himself with their affairs.