On the bed, the young man sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, forming an unusual hand seal in front of him. His chest gently rose and fell, creating a perfect cycle of breath, while a faint white airflow flowed steadily through his nostrils and mouth, nourishing his bones and flesh. As he meditated, the ancient black ring on his fingers glowed strangely once more before fading into stillness. "Ahhh..." He exhaled slowly, and as his eyes suddenly opened, a delicate gleam of white flashed within the dark irises—this was the newly absorbed, yet still partially unrefined, Qi of combat. "Another hard-won surge of combat Qi vanishing... Me, me, I'm going to kill!" With focused awareness, he sensed within himself, his face instantly flushing with anger, his voice sharp with frustration. His fists clenched tightly. After a while, the young man shook his head with a weary smile, slowly climbed down from the bed, and stretched out his slightly numb feet and thighs. With only three segments of Dou Qi, he simply couldn't ignore the accumulated fatigue. He moved around lightly in the room. Outside, a deep, resonant voice called out, "Third少爷, the Elder has summoned you to the hall!" Third son, Xiao Yan was the third among his siblings, with two elder brothers above him. Though those brothers had long since gone out on training expeditions, returning only occasionally at year-end, they had always treated Xiao Yan, his younger brother, very well. "Ah," he replied casually, changed into a fresh set of clothes, and stepped out of the room, smiling warmly at the young green-robed elder outside. "Let's go, Mu Manager." Gazing at the youthful, innocent face of the young man, the elder in green robes nodded kindly. At the very moment he turned, a subtle trace of regret flickered in his cloudy eyes. Ah, with the third young lord's former talent, he must have become an outstanding combatant long ago—unfortunately... Following the head housekeeper through the back courtyard, they paused outside the solemn reception hall and respectfully knocked before gently pushing the door open. The hall was spacious, with a considerable number of guests present. Seated at the highest level were Xiao Zhan and three elders with composed, indifferent expressions—these were the clan's senior elders, wielding power no less than the clan chief. To the left of these four, several elder family members with influence and strong capabilities were seated. Nearby, some promising young talents who had distinguished themselves within the family were also present. On the other side of the hall, three strangers sat—presumably, the esteemed guests mentioned by Xiao Zhan last night. A few curious glances swept over the three strangers. Among them stood an elderly man dressed in a moon-white robe, his face beaming with vitality and spirit. Though his eyes were somewhat small, they occasionally sparkled with sharp insight. Xiao Yan's gaze gently shifted downward, finally settling on the man's chest, where he was struck with sudden astonishment. Embroidered prominently on the man's robe at the chest was a slender, silvery crescent moon, surrounded by seven shimmering golden stars. "A Seven-Star Grand Combatant! This elder is a Seven-Star Grand Combatant? Truly, one cannot judge a person by appearances!" Xiao Yan was deeply amazed. The elder's strength surpassed even his father's by two stars. Those who achieved Grand Combatant status were invariably powerful figures renowned throughout their regions—such strength would naturally draw the admiration and pursuit of any faction. It was no surprise, then, that Xiao Yan found himself astonished upon encountering such a distinguished figure. By the elder's side sat a young couple, both wearing identical moon-white robes. The young man, around twenty years old, possessed a handsome appearance and a well-proportioned build, exuding great charm. Most importantly, five golden stars were depicted on his chest, symbolizing his rank as a Five-Star Fighter. Achieving Five-Star status at just twenty years of age clearly indicates exceptional cultivation potential. His handsome looks combined with his outstanding strength not only captivated several younger, less-informed maidens within the family, but even when Xiao Mei's gaze shifted toward him, a subtle spark of admiration gleamed in her eyes. Although the young lady sent gentle glances, they seemed to have little appeal to the young man. At this moment, he was entirely focused on the beautiful young lady beside him. The young lady was of similar age to Xiao Yan, and surprisingly, her appearance surpassed even Xiao Mei's. Within the family, only Xiao Xun'er—comparable to a lotus blossom—could rival her. It was thus no wonder that this man held little regard for the family's conventional, ornamental women. A green jade pendant hung delicately from her delicate earlobes, producing a clear, crisp chime as it gently swayed, adding a touch of refined grace. Additionally, three golden stars were delicately embroidered beside her developing, graceful chest. "A starry constellation of three stars—this girl, without relying on external stimulation, is undoubtedly a true prodigy!" Inhaling a steady breath of cool air, Xiao Yan's gaze lingered only briefly on the girl's poised, elegant face before shifting away. Though she was beautiful, Xiao Yan, with his childlike appearance, possessed a mature soul—so he had no patience for displaying his obvious admiration like a pig drooling over a feast. This simple gesture seemed to surprise the girl slightly. While she wasn't someone who expected the world to revolve around her, she was well aware of her own beauty and grace. Xiao Yan's casual demeanor truly came as a surprise—though only a little. Smiling and nodding, Xiao Yan simply ignored the impatience and faint disdain conveyed by the three elders standing beside him. Turning back to scan the hall, he was suddenly startled to find that there was no place designated for himself. "Ah, it seems my standing within this family is truly declining. Used to be well-respected, now they're making me uncomfortable right in front of guests—these three old fellows!" With a self-mocking smile, Xiao Yan shook his head internally. The younger members of the family, watching Xiao Yan standing still, couldn't help but chuckle, clearly enjoying his embarrassment. At the same time, Xiao Zhan noticed Xiao Yan's discomfort and a flush of anger crossed his face. He furrowed his brows at the elder beside him, saying, "Second Elder, you...?" "Certainly sorry," the elder coughed, "I completely forgot about the third prince. Heh, I'll have someone prepare immediately!" The yellow-robed elder was stared at by Xiao Zhan, smiled gently, and lightly patted his forehead with a sense of self-reproach—though the subtle scorn in his eyes remained barely concealed. "Brother Xiao Yan, please sit here!" The soft laughter of the young girl suddenly rang out in the hall. The three elders were momentarily stunned, their gaze shifting to Xiao Xun'er, who sat quietly in the corner. They all blinked, yet none dared to speak. Xiao Xun'er smiled gently, her cheeks glowing with a charming dimple. With her slender fingers, she flipped open the ancient book in her hands. Though still young, she carried a quiet grace and intellectual elegance. After lingering over the pages, her long lashes fluttering, she suddenly murmured softly, "Has it been three years since Xiao Yan brother last sat with me alone?" "Hmm... now that I'm a prodigy in the family, finding a friend shouldn't be difficult," Xiao Yan replied, offering a dry smile at the girl's slightly pensive, smooth side profile. "When I was four to six years old, every night someone would sneak into my room, using a clumsy technique and a rather weak flow of cultivation energy to nourish my bones and meridians. Each time, they'd be drenched in sweat before finally leaving, exhausted. Xiao Yan brother, do you think you could guess who it was?" Xun'er remained silent for a while, then turned her head toward Xiao Yan with a bright, radiant smile—her unique charm shining, drawing gentle glances from the surrounding youths. "Hmm… I, I don't know. He was so small—we were still crawling on the ground back then. How could I possibly know?" A sudden pang struck Xiao Yan's heart. He managed a shy smile and then shifted his gaze toward the hall. "Haha…" Watching Xiao Xun'er's reaction, a gentle smile played on her lips. Her eyes settled on the books, and with a soft, almost murmured tone, she said, "Though I know he meant well, isn't it true that Xun'er is, after all, a girl?"