On the bed, a young man sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, hands arranged in an unusual gesture before him. His chest rose and fell gently as he breathed, forming a smooth cycle of inhalation and exhalation. A faint stream of white energy flowed through his mouth and nose, entering his body and nourishing his bones and muscles. While the young man practiced meditation, the ancient black ring on his fingers suddenly glowed softly before fading back to stillness. “Ah…,” he exhaled slowly, then opened his eyes. A gentle shimmer of white light flashed within them—freshly absorbed but not yet fully refined energy, the so-called *Battle Qi*. “This hard-earned Battle Qi is vanishing again... I—I swear!” He stared intently at his inner self, visibly furious. His voice rose with sharp intensity as he muttered under his breath. He clenched his fists tightly and stood up, shaking off a lingering fatigue in his ankles and thighs. With only three stages of Battle Qi, he couldn’t ignore the weariness accumulating within him. After moving around briefly in the room, a deep, resonant voice came from outside: “Third son, the head elder has summoned you to the main hall!” Third son—Xiao Yan ranked third among his siblings at home. He had two older brothers who had long since gone out on training expeditions and only returned for seasonal visits. Overall, the brothers treated Xiao Yan well. “Oh,” he replied casually as he changed into a fresh set of clothes. Then he stepped outside, smiling warmly at an elderly man in a green robe. “Let’s go, Master Mu.” The elder nodded kindly at the young man's face before turning away. As his eyes drifted past him, a subtle sense of regret flickered—how could it be that the third son once showed such promise? Surely he should have grown into a truly outstanding Battle Fighter by now. Following the elderly steward through the courtyard, they arrived at the solemn reception hall and paused outside. The man gently knocked before stepping inside. The hall was spacious with many people present. At the head of the table sat Xiao Zhan and three elders with calm, distant expressions—each holding significant authority within the clan, equal in stature to the chief elder. To their left sat several older family members who wielded influence and held strong power. Nearby were some younger talents who had demonstrated outstanding achievements within the clan. On the opposite side of the hall sat three unfamiliar guests—presumably the ones Xiao Zhan mentioned last night. As the eyes of those present swept over them, one elderly man in a pale moon-colored robe stood out. He radiated a bright, cheerful presence, his small eyes sparkling with alertness. Xiao Yan’s gaze dropped to the chest of this elder and paused—there, embroidered clearly on his robe was a slender silver crescent moon, surrounded by seven radiant golden stars. “Seven-star Battle Master! A true seven-star master? That’s beyond even my father!” Xiao Yan was genuinely astonished. This elder's rank surpassed his father by two levels. Those who achieved the status of Battle Master were recognized as strong talents in their regions—such stature naturally drew the interest of any powerful faction. It wasn’t surprising that Xiao Yan found himself stunned upon seeing such a high-ranking figure. Beside this elder sat a young man and woman dressed in identical pale moon robes. The man, around twenty years old, stood out with his elegant features and strong frame—an attractive presence. Most importantly, five golden stars adorned his chest—symbolizing the rank of Five-Star Battle Master. Reaching the age of twenty while achieving such a level indicated exceptional talent from an early stage. His handsome appearance combined with solid strength made him captivating to many young ladies in the clan. Even when he glanced at Xiao Mei, who sat nearby, her eyes sparkled with admiration. Though the girl clearly appreciated him, she seemed unimpressed by his attention. At that moment, the young man was fully focused on the beautiful woman beside him—his attentive gaze fixed on her. The girl's age matched Xiao Yan’s, and in fact, she appeared even more beautiful than Xiao Mei. In this family, only Xiao Xun'er—the one known for her purity like a lotus—could compare to her. That explained why the young man seemed indifferent toward other clan beauties. A delicate jade pendant hung gently on the girl's earlobes, making soft, crisp sounds as it swayed. The gentle movement brought out a touch of grace and elegance. On her developing bust, three golden stars were embroidered—signifying a Three-Star Battle Master level. “Three-star master… if she doesn’t rely on external stimulation, this girl is truly a prodigy!” Xiao Yan breathed softly. Yet his gaze lingered only briefly before shifting away. Though he looked youthful, he possessed an inner maturity that made him never seem eager to act like a boy who drools over beauty. His quiet demeanor seemed to surprise the girl—though she wasn’t someone who expected everyone to revolve around her, she was well aware of her own appearance and charm. The fact that Xiao Yan had simply sat there without flinching gave her a moment of genuine astonishment—not something she would have anticipated. “Father, Elder Brothers!” Xiao Yan stepped forward with a respectful bow toward the seated elders at the head table. “Ah, Yan, you’ve arrived! Come, sit down,” said Xiao Zhan, pausing his conversation with guests and giving him a warm nod. Xiao Yan smiled and ignored the subtle discomfort from the three elders—both their impatience and quiet disdain. Then he glanced around the hall and was startled to find that there was no place for him to sit. “Oh… It seems my status within this family is steadily declining,” he murmured, shaking his head with a touch of self-mockery. “In the past, I used to have it easy—now, even when guests are present, I’m being humiliated in front of them! These three old men…” The younger members of the clan couldn’t help but chuckle at Xiao Yan’s discomfort as he stood there motionless. Noticing his awkwardness, Xiao Zhan’s expression softened with a hint of irritation. He glanced toward one elder seated beside him and said: “Second Elder, you…?” “I apologize,” said the man in a yellow robe, smiling gently. “I must have forgotten about the third son. I’ll have someone prepare a seat right away!” Though he composed himself, his eyes betrayed a quiet undercurrent of criticism. “Xiao Yan, sit here,” came a soft laugh from the young woman at the corner. The three elders paused—eyes shifting toward Xiao Xun'er, who remained quietly seated in her corner. They all fell silent, unable to speak. At the far end of the hall, Xiao Xun'er smiled and closed the thick volume she had been holding. With a calm, graceful demeanor, she gently blinked at Xiao Yan and gave him a warm, sweet smile. Seeing Xiao Xun'er’s gentle expression, Xiao Yan hesitated slightly before touching his nose and nodding. Then he walked over through the younger members’ jealous glances and settled beside her. “Thank you again for rescuing me,” he murmured, inhaling the subtle scent of her presence. Xiao Xun'er smiled softly, a small dimple appearing on her cheeks. Her slender fingers opened the ancient book in her hands. Though young, she carried an intellectual grace—her long eyelashes fluttered gently as she browsed through its pages before speaking softly: “It’s been three years since we’ve had a quiet conversation together, hasn’t it, Xiao Yan?” “Oh… Now that she’s such a star within the clan, finding someone to sit with her must be easy,” Xiao Yan smiled awkwardly at her mildly annoyed side profile. “When I was four to six years old every night, someone would sneak into my room and use a clumsy technique—lacking in strong Battle Qi—to warm and nourish my bones and meridians. Each time, they’d have to work hard and sweat before finally leaving. Xiao Yan, who do you think it could have been?” She paused, then turned toward him with a radiant smile, her unique charm lighting up the room. “Huh… I—how could I know? When I was young, we were all still crawling around on the ground! How would I know?” Xiao Yan stammered, his face suddenly flushed as he glanced back at the hall. “Oh!” Xiao Xun'er laughed lightly. Her gaze returned to her book, and with a soft tone, she said almost to herself: “I understand that it was meant well—but isn’t it natural for a girl to feel uncomfortable when someone gently touches her body? If I ever find out who did this… I’ll just have to make sure they know what happens next.” Her lips curved slightly. Xiao Yan bowed his head, eyes fixed on the floor—silent and composed.