Xiao Ze chatted with Xiao Yan for a while before saying, "I have an appointment with Xun'er. Third Brother, please forgive me for not being able to keep you company."
Xiao Yan nodded in understanding, a look of gratification on his face. His fourth brother was truly a winner in life, and it made him quite envious. Not only was he gifted with astonishing talent, but he also had a beautiful companion by his side.
"Go on, prepare well. I wish you both a pleasant date," Xiao Yan said with genuine blessing; after all, this was his own younger brother. Since Xiao Ze and Xiao Xun'er had trained in the same batch this time, their relationship had progressed very quickly. Even if Xiao Yan had considered testing his Dou Qi on someone, he would never have targeted Xiao Xun'er. After all, he didn't have that kind of relationship with her, and if he had rashly barged into her room, he likely would have been thrown out! Later, because he truly couldn't find a subject for his experiment, Xiao Yan's idea of testing his Dou Qi simply faded away. He buried himself in his cultivation until his Dou Qi vanished completely.
"Oh, right, Third Brother!" After walking a few steps away, Xiao Ze suddenly turned back to call out to Xiao Yan.
"What is it? Is there anything else you need Third Brother's help with?"
A smile appeared on Xiao Ze's face, and he said with a sincere expression, "I have always believed that you, Third Brother, are a dragon among men. You will surely overcome this minor setback, transform into a true dragon, and soar across the Dou Qi Continent!"
Hearing these words, Xiao Yan was stunned. No one had ever believed in him like Xiao Ze did! Believing in his potential, believing in his future! Even Xiao Zhan had never shown him such astonishing trust.
"Third Brother! Do not give up. A temporary low does not mean the future will be forever bleak!" After saying this, Xiao Ze didn't say another word. He simply waved his hand and left quickly.
Standing where he was, Xiao Yan bit his lip, feeling as if sand had gotten into his eyes. Before he knew it, they had become moist. Every day and night over the past year, he had been practicing diligently in his room alone! Yet, his Dou Qi continued to vanish uncontrollably until it was thoroughly exposed to everyone at the testing ceremony. What greeted Xiao Yan were nothing but mockery, ridicule, and cold stares. Those who once followed closely behind him had silently distanced themselves. Although his father remained the same toward him and kept trying to find a way to heal him, Xiao Yan could feel that Xiao Zhan no longer held much hope. He was like the last straw of life, still being gripped tightly by Xiao Zhan in the desperate hope of finding the reason for his vanishing Dou Qi.
Yet now, the most popular and prominent genius in the clan—his own fourth brother—had shown him unparalleled trust! How could this not move Xiao Yan?
"That's right, the current predicament is just a small wave in the path of my life. How can I stop here and stagnate!" Xiao Yan silently wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, took a deep breath, and ran back to his room. *Cultivate! I must cultivate!*
...
Xiao Ze returned to his room quickly to bathe and change. He put on his most handsome clothes and styled his hair to look more mature. Looking at the handsome young man in the bronze mirror, a big smile appeared on Xiao Ze's face. He rummaged through his bedside drawer and pulled out a black card; this was an ordinary gold storage card, capable of holding up to five thousand gold coins. Cards above this tier required not just wealth, but actual strength!
"Although I said I'd let the girl treat me, I couldn't possibly let her pay."
This black card was given to him by the administrative elder when he went to collect his subsidy. His monthly subsidy had soared to one hundred gold coins! At the same time, he could request any cultivation resources he needed from the Xiao Clan. Currently, this black card held two thousand gold coins! According to the administrative elder, this was compensation for the subsidies Xiao Ze had not claimed previously.
"Everything is ready. It's time to go to the main gate to wait for Xun'er!" Xiao Ze checked the time as he headed out; it had only taken him about half an hour, so he was still on time!
...
In Xiao Xun'er's room, a large amount of clothing was spread across the bed. Xiao Xun'er, wearing a nightgown, kept picking up clothes and holding them against herself.
"Elder Ling, what do you think of this one? How about this one?"
Ling Ying, hidden in the shadows, felt complicated seeing his young mistress putting so much effort into dressing up. "Miss, you are naturally beautiful; you look good in anything you wear!"
"But I want to pick the best-looking one!" Xiao Xun'er set down the two garments and picked up another, saying earnestly, "Today is my first date with Brother Xiao Ze. Although it's under the guise of a celebratory meal... I must show my best self!"
Ling Ying felt helpless. Seeing his young mistress so conflicted, he suddenly thought of a good idea. "Miss, you and Young Master Xiao Ze are inseparable and see each other almost every day, so he must be used to all your usual clothes."
Xiao Xun'er was stunned; it did seem that way!
Ling Ying seized the opportunity. "Then why not wear an outfit you've never worn before? Perhaps it will make Young Master Xiao Ze's eyes light up!"
"That makes sense! Thank you, Elder Ling!"
...
Xiao Ze waited at the gate, using the time to feel the fruits of his recent cultivation. A few days ago, he had just become a Nine-Star Dou Zhe; now, he had stabilized and taken another big step forward. In the original story, it was mentioned that while in the early ten stages of Dou Zhi Qi, improving one stage a year was already considered very fast. However, unlike the turtle-paced cultivation of the Dou Zhi Qi stage, after truly becoming a Dou Zhe, one's cultivation speed would greatly accelerate, and one might jump several stars within a year! Coupled with the special Dou Qi Whirlpool the system had created for him—which was completely different from others—his progress was even faster. In a little while, he would reach the peak of a Nine-Star Dou Zhe...
*I'll use the ten-fold feedback from Xun'er leveling up to a One-Star Dou Zhe to help me break through to Dou Shi!* Xiao Ze thought to himself, when suddenly a voice rang out.
"Brother Xiao Ze! What are you thinking about? So engrossed!"
Xiao Xun'er's voice came from the side. Xiao Ze turned his head and said, "I was, of course, wondering if my little sister Xun'er was really going to take a full hour to come and meet me?"
When he saw Xiao Xun'er, a flash of astonishment appeared in Xiao Ze's eyes. Her long hair fell to her hips, with a golden hairpin tucked into her hair, from which a few red threads dangled. She was wearing a light cyan inner garment under a white skirt, with red patterns adorning the cuffs and neckline. She looked as if she had stepped out of a painting. Added to this was Xiao Xun'er's naturally ethereal, lotus-like temperament, which made her look even more like a celestial being descending to earth.
Xiao Xun'er clearly captured the admiration and surprise that flashed in Xiao Ze's eyes, and it felt as sweet as honey.
"Brother Xiao Ze, does it look good?" Xiao Xun'er said, spreading her arms and spinning in place to let Xiao Ze get a good look.
"It looks good! This outfit is beautiful, but sister Xun'er herself is even more beautiful!" Xiao Ze couldn't help but nod in praise.
A joyful smile blossomed on Xiao Xun'er's face; it was worth the long time she had spent choosing and meticulously dressing up.
"Then let's go, Brother Xiao Ze. Feel free to eat as much as you like!"
"You little girl, aren't you afraid I'll eat you out of house and home?"
"Hmph, hmph~ Brother Xiao Ze can try and see if you can eat me poor~" Xiao Xun'er wore a proud expression, tilting her small face up like a cute little kitten.
Xiao Ze, of course, knew just how unimaginably wealthy Xiao Xun'er really was! Eating until a thousand of him were full would likely be just a drop in the bucket for her!