Xiao Tian called out softly, and an old man with a youthful complexion and a crane-like beard, dressed in a black robe, flashed into the room from outside.
It was Wen Yan, the seven-star water-attribute Dou Zong he had summoned earlier.
"Hall Master, do you have any instructions?" Wen Yan asked respectfully.
"Old wen, I'm going into seclusion to break through to Dou Ling shortly. Please guard the surroundings for me. If the Little Fairy Doctor or my elder brothers come, just tell them I'm breaking through and not to disturb me."
Wen Yan nodded, then gradually transformed into a stream of water and disappeared from the room, reappearing outside to patrol the area silently.
Xiao Tian closed his eyes and focused on controlling the flow of Dou Qi within his body. Heaven and Earth energy surged toward him from all directions, condensing into a large funnel-shaped vortex above the roof. The pure energy poured down like a waterfall, flooding into his meridians and finally merging into the Dou Crystal in his lower abdomen.
His aura rose steadily. The Dou Crystal inside him spun faster and faster as more energy entered.
Wen Yan had not expected the breakthrough to cause such a noticeable disturbance. Although he quickly concealed most of the Dou Qi fluctuations, it still alarmed the nearby members of the Mo Tie Mercenary Group.
The Little Fairy Doctor and Qing Lin, who were closer, arrived first. Soon after, Xiao Ding and the others also rushed over.
Everyone found their path blocked by an invisible energy wall. Not knowing what was happening inside, they grew anxious and were about to knock on the barrier.
Not far from them, a stream of water silently appeared and gradually condensed into a human form.
Seeing this strange scene, everyone recoiled in fear.
Wen Yan glanced at the crowd and spoke calmly, "The Hall Master is breaking through. You cannot disturb him."
Before anyone could react, he transformed back into a stream of water and vanished.
The Little Fairy Doctor and Qing Lin were stunned. Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged worried looks but quickly relaxed when they realized Xiao Tian was not in danger.
"Sister-in-law, what cultivation stage is Little Tianzi at?" Xiao Li asked the Little Fairy Doctor.
"He… he said he was a Great Dou Master before. I didn't ask for the exact stage. I don't know what he's breaking through to now."
The Little Fairy Doctor was flustered by being called "sister-in-law" and nervously clutched her hands.
"Before, he was at the peak of Nine-Star Great Dou Master. Now, he should be breaking through from Great Dou Master to the Dou Ling stage," Wen Yan's voice echoed faintly from the surroundings before fading away.
"What? Dou… Dou Ling?"
Xiao Ding, Xiao Li, and the others stood with their mouths open, unable to close them for a long time.
...
Inside the room, as the Heaven and Earth energy continued to be refined, the Dou Crystal within Xiao Tian's body fluctuated in strength. The originally irregular crystal gradually became perfectly rounded, then transformed into something resembling a sea urchin with nine sharp spikes.
Xiao Tian, who had been sitting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them and stood up.
A powerful surge of energy erupted from his body.
Boom!
The bed, tables, and chairs nearby were instantly shattered into sawdust by the energy ripples. The windows and door were blasted open with a loud crash.
Xiao Tian stood in the center of the ruined room with a joyful expression. He could feel that the Dou Qi in his body was now at least five times denser and stronger than when he had been a Nine-Star Great Dou Master.
The moment the energy barrier protecting the house disappeared, everyone knew the breakthrough was complete. They hurried to the doorway.
They saw the chaotic state of the room and Xiao Tian standing calmly amidst the ruins, a bright smile on his face.
"Did you succeed? What stage are you at now?" Xiao Ding asked directly, while the Little Fairy Doctor checked if he was hurt.
"One-Star Dou Ling."
Xiao Tian held the Little Fairy Doctor's hand and did not hide his cultivation stage.
Although they had already guessed it outside, hearing the confirmation still left them stunned.
"Good, good, good! You're much stronger than your elder brothers, and you've even surpassed Father. If Father knew, he'd probably wake up laughing in his sleep."
Xiao Ding and Xiao Li had tears in their eyes as they patted Xiao Tian's shoulder with relief and pride.
"It was just a stroke of luck. I've ruined this room though… Big Brother might need to arrange a new one for me."
"No problem. Big Brother would be willing even if you demolished a few more rooms," Xiao Ding laughed. "Qing Lin, take Little Tianzi to another room."
The others also congratulated Xiao Tian one after another, awe clear on their faces.
Seeing that Xiao Tian was safe, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li finally relaxed. They left with beaming smiles that refused to fade.
...
Qing Lin led Xiao Tian and the Little Fairy Doctor to an empty room nearby. "Young Master, this room has a similar layout to your previous one. Do you think it's suitable?"
"This one is fine, as long as it's livable."
"Okay, Young Master. I'll help you clean it up."
Qing Lin immediately fetched a basin of water and a rag and went inside to clean.
"You absolutely cannot bully Sister Qing Lin. She's too pitiful… it makes one's heart ache," the Little Fairy Doctor said to Xiao Tian with a "fierce" look as she watched Qing Lin working diligently.
"What did you two talk about last night? I feel like my status has suddenly dropped," Xiao Tian joked.
"That's girl talk. I won't tell you. I'm going in to help too."
The Little Fairy Doctor gave him the back of her head and walked into the room to assist.
After the two girls tidied up, the room was quickly spotless. Xiao Tian walked in and saw the clean interior. "You two are really capable. Living the life of a young master is truly comfortable. Haha."
"Young Master, this is what I should do," Qing Lin said happily, clearly pleased by the praise.
"Just this once, no next time. Qing Lin, let's go."
The Little Fairy Doctor happily pulled Qing Lin out of the room, leaving Xiao Tian alone.
For the next few days, Xiao Tian did not cultivate. Instead, he spent his time strolling around Stone Desert City with the Little Fairy Doctor and Qing Lin, and drinking with Xiao Ding and Xiao Li.
During this time, the Little Fairy Doctor also bought many new clothes for Qing Lin, which moved the young girl to tears. Although the local desert style was quite open and revealing, there were also many styles from other imperial cities — not just short tops, shorts, and skirts.
Over these few days, the Little Fairy Doctor sensed that something was off with Xiao Tian, but she didn't probe further.
...
It was the sixth day of Xiao Tian's stay with the Mo Tie Mercenary Group, early in the morning.
Inside Xiao Tian's room.
"Young Master, it's time to get up."
Qing Lin squatted by the bed, softly and gently calling into his ear. Her small hand lightly nudged Xiao Tian, who was still deep in a sweet dream.
Xiao Tian opened his blurry eyes and looked at Qing Lin with sleepy affection. Waking up to such a cute young girl left him with no morning grumpiness at all.
"Young Master, please don't blame Qing Lin for waking you so early. You told me to come wake you early because you had something to tell me."
Xiao Tian sat up, stretched, and got out of bed. Qing Lin stood up and waited quietly by his side.
After he rose, Qing Lin picked up the clothes from a nearby hanger and came over to help him dress. Her soft, tender hands carefully straightened his collar and smoothed the creases in his sleeves.
"This is truly the life of a young master. If you weren't here to serve me, I wouldn't feel this sense of enjoying life," Xiao Tian said with a light laugh.