Left the hall with a composed expression, slightly distracted, Xiang Yan followed his usual routine, slowly climbing up the back slopes of the family. He sat against the mountain wall, calmly gazing at the rugged peaks shrouded in mist across the valley—there, the famed魔兽 Mountains of the Jia Ma Empire. "Ha, strength... In this world, without strength, one is no better than a pile of dog dung. At least, no one dares to step on that dung!" With a gentle shrug of his shoulders, the boy's low, self-deprecating laughter, laced with bitterness, echoed softly across the mountain summit. He inserted his fingers into his black hair, teeth clenched tightly against his lower lip, allowing a faint trickle of blood to spread across his lips. Though he had maintained composure in the hall, the words spoken by Nalan Yanran had cut deep, like blades, leaving him trembling all over. "I won't endure this humiliation a second time!" He spread out his left hand, now bearing a clear wound of blood. His voice was hoarse, yet resolute. "Hehe, little one, it seems you need some help," came a sudden, elderly, odd chuckle into Xiang Yin's ears. His face instantly changed; Xiang Yin spun around swiftly, his keen, eagle-like gaze sweeping across his back—but there was no trace of anyone. "Hehe, don't look anymore—right on your finger." Even as Xiang Yin thought it might have been just a illusion, the odd chuckle burst out again, seemingly without limit. His eyes narrowed; suddenly, his gaze fixed on the black, ancient ring on his right hand. "Are you speaking?" Xiang Yin forced down his growing fear, striving to keep his voice calm. "Good steadiness, little one—your composure hasn't caused you to jump right off!" a playful laugh echoed from within the ring. "Who are you? Why are you inside my ring? What do you want?" After a brief pause, Xiang Yin asked his most pressing questions clearly and steadily. "I don't need you to know who I am—trust me, I won't harm you. Honestly, after all these years, I've finally found someone with genuine soul strength. That's truly fortunate, heh. Still, I must thank the little one for her unwavering devotion over the past three years. Otherwise, I might have had to continue sleeping on." "Devotion?" She blinked in confusion. Then, in a matter of moments, Xiao Yan's face darkened, and cold, strained words emerged from between his teeth: "The Qi that mysteriously vanished from my body—was that you?" "Heh, I was forced into it, too. Don't blame me, little one." "By the gods, I'm furious!" Xiao Yan, usually known for his composure and calmness, suddenly erupted like a madman, his face contorted with fury. Ignoring that it was a cherished heirloom left by his mother, he immediately yanked off the ring from his finger and hurled it forcefully toward the steep cliff below. As the ring left his hand, a sudden clarity surged through his mind, and he quickly reached out to grasp it. Yet, the ring had already plummeted straight down into the abyss. Staring in stunned silence at the ring vanishing into the mist, Xiao Yan stood there, stunned for a long while. Gradually, his face settled into calmness, and with a frustrated tap on his forehead, he murmured, "Stupid! So impetuous! So impetuous!" Now that he had learned the very ring he had worn for three years—his source of humiliation—was the very cause of his suffering, it was no wonder he had lost control in such a manner. After sitting there for a while, Xiao Yan finally sighed, shook his head in resignation, and rose to his feet. He turned around, his eyes widening suddenly, his fingers trembling as he pointed at the object before him. With a furrowed brow, Xiao Yan's mood gradually calmed down. After the outburst of rage, a sense of joy followed. Now that he had uncovered the mystery behind the disappearance of his Battle Qi, he was certain his innate talents had returned! Just thinking about finally being able to shed the title of a useless person, Xiao Yan felt an unprecedented sense of renewal and ease throughout his body. The grumpy old man before him no longer seemed so unbearable. Sometimes, only when something is lost do we truly appreciate its value. When we regain what we've lost, we cherish it even more. Gently stretching his wrist, Xiao Yan exhaled deeply and looked up, saying, "I may not know who you are, but I'd like to ask—do you still intend to draw my Battle Qi from the ring, relying on me? If so, I'd suggest you find another host. I simply can't afford to support you." "Heh, no one else has your exceptional soul perception." "The elder stroked his beard and smiled, 'Since I've chosen to appear now, I shall naturally cease absorbing your Qi until you give me your permission.' Xiao Yan rolled his eyes, sneered silently—already resolved to let this old man go, no matter how many eloquent words he might offer. 'Young lad, do you wish to grow stronger? Do you desire respect from others?' Though he had already decided to keep this elder at arm's length, the words stirred a subtle flutter in his chest. 'Now that I understand the reason for the disappearance of your Qi, with my own talents, do I still need you to grow stronger?' Taking a slow, steady breath, Xiao Yan replied calmly. Deep down, he knew that no meal was ever served free of charge—accepting unexpected favors from a mysterious stranger was far from a wise move." "Little one, your talent is indeed admirable, but you must know that you're now fifteen, yet your Battle Qi has only reached the third stage. I recall that you're due to undergo your coming-of-age ceremony next year. Do you truly believe that, within just one year, through sheer diligence and practice, you can leap all the way to the seventh stage of Battle Qi? Moreover, you've been wagering against that young lady for three years—her talent isn't much inferior to yours. Do you think it's easy to catch up with her and surpass her?" The elder's face, etched with deep wrinkles, now bloomed like a full-bodied chrysanthemum. "If it weren't for your absorption of my Battle Qi, could I have been humiliated like this? You old fool!" Stung to the core, Xiao Yan's face darkened once more, and he growled angrily, biting down on his teeth. After a long tirade, Xiao Yan himself grew weary and sluggish. By now, no matter how much he complained, it would do little good. The cultivation of combat energy required solid fundamentals—when he had begun practicing at age four, he had spent six years refining his energy until he reached the ninth stage. Even though his innate potential had now returned, achieving the seventh stage of combat energy within just one year was essentially out of reach. "I think you'd better find another unfortunate one to bend over," Xiao Yan coldly remarked. After chatting a while, he realized that this transparent elder seemed unable to absorb others' battle energy at will. "You don't at all resemble a fifteen-year-old boy. It seems you've truly grown over these three years. Can I really be blamed for my own misfortune?" Seeing Xiao Yan's polished demeanor, the elder was momentarily stunned, then shook his head with a mixture of surprise and amusement. Xiao Yan spread his hands and said calmly, "If you want me to continue serving you, you'll have to show some genuine诚意." "Such a sharp-tongued youngster! Well, well, who would have thought I still needed you, after all." Nodding with resignation, the elder descended to the ground, studied Xiao Yan carefully, a sudden, sly smile flickered across his face before fading away. After a moment of hesitation, as though having been extremely reluctant, he finally said, "Do you wish to become a pharmacist?"