Chapter 7: The Fallen Genius

Chapter 7: The Fallen Genius

Two hours later, Xiao Se successfully transformed the attribute-less milky white Dou Qi within his body into the unique Dou Qi of the Flame Technique.

Extending his fair palm, he circulated his Dou Qi; the energy spiraled through the acupuncture points along his arm, channeling into the center of his palm. Gradually, a faint yellow glow surfaced upon the pale skin.

A bitter smile crept across Xiao Se’s face. At present, the Flame Technique was still only at the lower Yellow Rank. Through internal observation, he clearly saw that the attribute-less milky white Dou Qi inside him had completely converted into pale yellow Dou Qi.

“The revolution has yet to succeed; comrade, more effort is needed,” Xiao Se sighed.

He folded away the now blurry black scroll and retrieved the three scrolls he had previously set aside.

The first, a red scroll:

Sword Technique Dou Skill, Crimson Flame Sword: Breaking Extremes, Grade: Advanced Profound Rank.

This fire-controlling technique condenses into a flaming longsword, used to attack enemies. The number of swords depends on the user’s strength. When refined to a high level, it can be simplified and fused into a giant sword, with power rivaling low Earth Rank Dou Skills. When combined with a special flame, its power approaches mid Earth Rank.

The second, a white scroll:

Body Technique Dou Skill, Ethereal Smoke Step, Grade: Advanced Profound Rank.

An elusive skill that blurs reality and illusion, making the user’s steps as intangible as light smoke. It has two layers: the first focuses on evasion; the second on speed. The former allows one to preemptively avoid danger, while the latter greatly enhances speed. Together, they enable one to tread on snow without leaving a trace, remaining untouched by snow or water.

The third, a black scroll:

Secret Technique Dou Skill, Qi Concealment Technique, Grade: Unknown.

This skill can directly hide one cultivation rank. At its peak, it can completely conceal one’s strength, making it indistinguishable from reality. Unless confronted by another practitioner of the Qi Concealment Technique, those below Dou Sect level cannot see through it.

Looking at these three Dou Skills, Xiao Se’s delicate, youthful face lit up with a brilliant smile.

These three scrolls had arrived at the perfect moment.

They filled the gaps in his offensive and agility techniques.

Especially the last secret technique. He had worried that after breaking through to Dou Shi, he might no longer be able to hide his strength, as Dou Qi and Dou Shi energy differ greatly.

Now, everything was resolved.

Having made up his mind, Xiao Se began intensive cultivation.

The next morning, sunlight was bright and the sky cloudless.

Inside the stone chamber within the cave, Xiao Se sat cross-legged on a mat.

Warm sunlight filtered through the ventilation hole at the chamber’s ceiling, illuminating his fair, youthful cheeks.

He slowly opened his eyes. “My cultivation has fully stabilized. Next, I can gather the herbs from the memory of the Bodhi Pine and try refining some Bleeding Stop Powder and Injury Recovery Pills.”

Both were first-grade pills with healing properties.

The former was concocted by the Bodhi Pine itself, viscous in texture, capable of quickly stopping bleeding. Though its effect might not surpass the Coagulation Powder prepared by the original eight-grade pinnacle alchemist in the original story, it was certainly not inferior.

The latter was an ancient recipe passed down by Master Bodhi Pine, in pill form. It could be taken internally to treat internal injuries or crushed and applied externally to accelerate wound healing.

Decided, Xiao Se stepped out of the stone chamber and headed toward the Xiao family estate. Before that, he needed to see off Xiao Yu. The recruitment at Canaan Academy ended yesterday, and undoubtedly, Xiao Yu had been accepted.

Out of duty and sentiment, Xiao Se felt he should accompany her today.

Utilizing the Ethereal Smoke Step, Xiao Se moved swiftly, dashing toward the Xiao family residence. Though he had only barely mastered the first evasion layer, it was enough to let him navigate the winding, rugged mountain paths as if walking on flat ground.

Back at the Xiao family estate, Xiao Se resumed his usual low profile.

Walking along the cobblestone path, he overheard several young members of the Xiao family from the neighboring courtyard chatting, mentioning names like Xiao Yu and Xiao Yan.

Curious, Xiao Se slowed his pace and strained to listen.

“Hey, have you heard? Yesterday, Canaan Academy came to recruit in Wutan City, and Cousin Xiao Yu passed the test and officially became a student there.”

“Wow, Cousin Xiao Yu truly lives up to being the second greatest genius in the family after Xiao Yan. At only fifteen, she broke through to the eighth level of Dou Qi and was accepted by Canaan Academy. That academy is a renowned institution on the Dou Qi continent, rumored to have strength even surpassing the Gamma Empire’s royal family and the Yunlan Sect.”

“Right, Xiao Yu is undoubtedly the Xiao family’s prodigy. But I heard Xiao Yan was supposed to participate in the recruitment as well. Why haven’t we heard if he was accepted?”

“You don’t know? Yesterday morning, I saw Xiao Yan hurriedly go to see the clan chief. Even when I accidentally bumped into him, he didn’t get angry, which is rare. Shortly after, the clan chief announced within the family that, due to Xiao Yan’s young age, he was refused permission to attend Canaan Academy.”

“How could that be? Just a few days ago at the family testing ceremony, the clan chief praised, ‘My son Xiao Yan has the potential of a Dou Emperor and will surely pass Canaan Academy’s examination.’”

Listening as their voices faded away, a strange curve played at the corner of Xiao Se’s mouth. As expected, Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi had “disappeared,” which meant that the Old Alchemist had already awakened.

Xiao Yan, oh Xiao Yan... I truly look forward to seeing how your next three years will unfold.

At Xiao Yan’s residence.

“Why? Why has the Dou Qi in my body disappeared?” Inside the room, Xiao Yan screamed inwardly.

Overnight, his cultivation dropped from one-star Dou Shi to ninth level Dou Qi. After just two days, it fell another level, down to the eighth.

This was undoubtedly a thunderclap for Xiao Yan and an indelible humiliation.

Two days without food or rest.

His body was now in an extremely weak state, but that no longer mattered.

His spirit was tormented. One could easily imagine the humiliation he’d face once others discovered his regression.

He seemed to see everyone mocking, insulting, and ridiculing him. Even the girls who once fawned over him and orbited his presence would gradually distance themselves, deeming him unworthy of the title “The Xiao Family’s Greatest Genius in a Century.”

“I am unwilling... why? Why is the Dou Qi in my body diminishing? Why does every bit I absorb vanish inexplicably?”

Biting his lower lip, letting blood flow, he no longer noticed.

This overwhelming unwillingness drove Xiao Yan into an almost pathological state of cultivation. Yet no matter how much Dou Qi he absorbed, it vanished before he could refine it.

P.S.: A brief explanation about Xiao Yan’s age:

In the original story, early on, Xiao Mei recalled that Xiao Yan broke through to Dou Shi at age eleven. When Nalan Yanran broke the engagement, Xiao Yan said he was twelve. The original author’s timeline is somewhat contradictory. I set Xiao Yan as having just turned eleven, nearly twelve, and since the disappearance of Dou Qi takes time to be discovered, it aligns with him being twelve when the engagement was broken three years later.

The main character and Xiao Yan are close in age (fantasy settings like Dou Po Dou Luo generally count age by full years, unlike many places on Blue Star, which count by nominal age). Both are just months shy of twelve, so there’s no need to worry about Xiao Yan losing his Dou Qi at eleven.

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(End of chapter)