Chapter 5: The Secret of the Disappearing Dou Qi, Xiao Yan's Conviction

Mittel Auction House, front hall.

Hun Cang and Xiao Yan sat side by side. From the expressions on their faces, it was clear that their conversation was going quite well.

Xiao Yan rubbed his nose. "So, you knew it was me since last night?"

Hun Cang nodded. "Of course. Do you think my strength as a Dou Wang is just a joke?"

True enough... Xiao Yan gave a wry smile, lamenting that he had thought himself so cautious, believing nothing would go wrong.

Hun Cang smiled and said, "At the time, I saw you didn't seem to want to meet me, so I made a decision: I would wait one more day. If you didn't come, I wouldn't disturb you further and would simply walk away."

Hearing Hun Cang’s candid words, Xiao Yan felt even more awkward. After all, he had been filled with all sorts of suspicions and conjectures about Hun Cang just the day before.

Hun Cang glanced at him and asked with a curious tone, "By the way, why were you willing to come see me today? Did you figure things out after thinking it over all night?"

"I suppose so..." Xiao Yan gave a bitter smile and recounted his ordeal to Hun Cang, a glimmer of hope showing in his eyes.

Hun Cang realized in an instant, "No wonder you're only at the third stage of Dou Zhi Li. So that’s what happened. After all, we transmigrators have an advantage in terms of soul strength—you must have felt that too, right?"

"Yes." Xiao Yan nodded gently in agreement. It was precisely because of this advantage that he had become a Dou Zhe at the age of eleven. Unfortunately, he didn't know what kind of retribution he had suffered afterward, but his Dou Qi had continuously faded until he hit the third stage of Dou Zhi Li.

"You are a Dou Wang, strong and knowledgeable. Do you think there’s any way to solve my situation?" Seeing Hun Cang fall into silence, Xiao Yan asked anxiously.

*Of course there is! You are in this situation entirely because of Yao Chen...* Hun Cang thought to himself without hesitation. However, he certainly wouldn't reveal that to Xiao Yan so easily.

After a moment of contemplation, he asked Xiao Yan to stand up.

Unsure of the reason, Xiao Yan rose swiftly and stood straight before Hun Cang, his eyes filled with nervousness and anticipation.

Raising his hands, Hun Cang channeled his Dou Qi. Layers of mist-like energy rose from his body, then descended to envelop Xiao Yan completely. Seeing this, a flash of envy couldn't help but cross Xiao Yan’s eyes. *We are both transmigrators—why is he a Dou Wang, while I am a piece of trash not even worthy of being a Dou Zhe?!*

In the silence, Xiao Yan subconsciously tightened his fingers out of sheer tension. A few moments later, Hun Cang withdrew his Dou Qi, beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.

"Thank you for your hard work, please have some tea." Xiao Yan brought over a cup of tea, placed it respectfully before Hun Cang, and wore an almost sycophantic smile.

Hun Cang paused for a moment before taking the tea. *The dignified Flame Emperor actually acting this subservient... how ironic!*

Once Hun Cang set the cup down, Xiao Yan asked impatiently, "How is it? Did you find the cause?"

"Yes." Hun Cang nodded. He saw a look of wild joy wash over Xiao Yan, whose lips trembled and whose eyes were filled with excitement.

Hun Cang was not surprised in the slightest. Even though Xiao Yan had been mocked and ridiculed for three years due to his disappearing Dou Qi, three years ago, when he became a Dou Zhe, he had always viewed himself as a genius, swearing to shine as brightly as the moon in the sky. It was the inexplicable loss of his Dou Qi that forced him to accept reality. Now that he finally saw a solution, Xiao Yan could hardly contain his emotions.

He didn't ask further, choosing instead to wait for Hun Cang to speak. Moreover, Xiao Yan made a secret resolution: as long as Hun Cang could offer a solution, he would be willing to pay any price!

At that moment, Xiao Yan noticed Hun Cang’s gaze shift, and he followed it until his eyes rested on the simple black ring on his right hand.

"My Dou Qi disappearing... is it related to this?" Raising his ring-clad hand, Xiao Yan asked Hun Cang with a trembling voice.

"Yes." Hun Cang nodded solemnly. "If my senses are correct, there is a remnant soul barely clinging to life inside it. To maintain its state, it has been stealing your Dou Qi for nourishment."

*What?!* How could it be this? Upon learning the reason, the ring felt as if it had become scorching hot. Xiao Yan scrambled to pull it off, and without a second thought for the fact that it was a keepsake left by his mother, he threw it fiercely onto the ground.

Just as the simple ring was about to hit the floor, a force caught it. Watching the ring float into Hun Cang’s hand, Xiao Yan quickly warned, "Throw it away! Otherwise, your Dou Qi will be drained by it too!"

"No matter, it doesn't have that ability yet." Hun Cang was full of confidence. A shimmer of light emerged from his palm, and Xiao Yan watched as a phantom, aged figure drifted out from the ring.

Initially, when Xiao Yan saw Hun Cang take the ring, he had harbored some suspicion, wondering if it was some kind of treasure and if the other party intended to steal it. Now, Xiao Yan completely extinguished that foolish thought.

The phantom figure, whether due to insufficient Dou Qi nourishment or some other reason, remained in a deep slumber. Hun Cang’s action was intended both to confirm that he hadn't misidentified the ring and to completely dispel any remaining suspicion Xiao Yan might have toward him.

Retracting the soul back into the ring, Hun Cang said to Xiao Yan, "Try practicing now and see if your Dou Qi still disappears."

"Alright." Excited, Xiao Yan sat directly on the ground. He assumed his posture and was about to begin practicing when he heard Hun Cang say, "This is Spirit-Nurturing Liquid. Drinking it will help accelerate your Dou Qi absorption; it works exceptionally well for those below the Dou Zhe level."

Looking up, Xiao Yan saw a crystal-clear jade bottle floating before him. He looked at Hun Cang with gratitude and said, "Thank you."

Without hesitation, he opened the lid and drank it all. He trusted that Hun Cang wouldn't harm him. Even if the other party had malicious intentions, there would be no need for poison, given the massive gap in their strength.

The liquid was slightly sweet and cool as it entered his mouth, sliding down his throat directly into his lower abdomen. Xiao Yan held his breath and focused, casting aside all other thoughts. Soon, he felt the Dou Qi gathering toward him. He stabilized a wisp and, following the familiar method, drew it into his body.

The Dou Qi successfully entered his Dantian.

One breath!
Two breaths!
Three breaths!

The Dou Qi didn't disappear; it was truly inside his body! Realizing this, Xiao Yan opened his eyes, gazing at Hun Cang with a look filled with a mixture of gratitude, excitement, and agitation.

The other party had truly solved the problem that had plagued him for three years!

*He is a transmigrator! A fellow countryman with good intentions! And a powerful Dou Wang!*

In a flash, various thoughts raced through Xiao Yan's mind.

Suddenly, Xiao Yan took a deep breath and, to Hun Cang's astonishment, bowed down to him.

"Hun Cang, thank you for helping me! You were right—as fellow wanderers in a strange land, we should trust each other, help each other, and progress together! Today, I, Xiao Yan, would like to take you as my elder brother. If you don't mind, please, Brother Hun Cang, agree to accept this younger brother! From now on, we shall share in both fortune and misfortune!"

His impassioned tone was entirely sincere, with not a hint of pretense.

Hun Cang, sitting in his chair, was completely stunned.

*Damn it, the future Flame Emperor wants to be my little brother???*