Within the dense little forest, delicate streams of pale energy flowed gently from the air and continuously seeped into the sleeping body of Xiao Yan. Observing Xiao Yan, who had now almost become the source of this energy, Xun'er was slightly surprised and quietly stepped back, maintaining a vigilant stance around him. Should Xiao Yan be disturbed from this state of cultivation, he might lose yet another valuable opportunity for promotion. Xiao Yan's advancement had unfolded with remarkable smoothness, as if it had been destined all along. As the energy steadily poured into him, the faint fatigue that had previously lingered on his face gradually faded, his delicate features radiating a soft, gentle glow—like a warm jade. The fluctuations of the energy within the forest continued for over an hour before finally subsiding. When the last stream of energy entered Xiao Yan's body, the little forest returned to stillness, and the warm sunlight continued to shine down upon it. Staring at Xiao Yan, whose eyes were closed but whose breathing was exceptionally calm, Xun'er exhaled softly and smiled, "Finally, we've reached the ninth stage. Perhaps in another six months, Xiao Yan brother will be able to gather the Qi vortex and become a true warrior." With a gentle smile, Xun'er leapt onto a patch of green stone, settled into a lotus position, and rested her small hand on her cheek, waiting quietly for Xiao Yan to awaken. Nodding with a smile, Xiao Yan rose to his feet, twisted his stiff and numb neck, and lazily stretched, emitting a series of crisp cracking sounds as his bones collided—sounds that came from his body, now fully awakened after recent exertion. Stunned by the rich, full sensation he had only recently begun to feel upon reaching the next level, Xiao Yan clenched his fists, then slightly opened his mouth, lifting his face with a hesitant and uncertain tone: "Um... I think I've reached the ninth stage now?" Watching Xiao Yan's puzzled expression, Xun'er smiled gently and nodded in agreement. Seeing Xun'er's affirmation, Xiao Yan managed a small smile, his heart filled with delight, yet also a touch of embarrassment—he had broken through during a dream before, but this time, he had achieved it while simply asleep. The very idea of such a sudden, sleep-induced breakthrough felt utterly comical. With vigorous, swift punches, he felt the strength of his Qi—now several times stronger than just a few hours ago—and couldn't help but chuckle. After releasing his inner excitement, Xiao Yan finally noticed the dimming sky and offered薰儿 a sincere apology, knowing she must have been waiting here all along. He quickly grabbed his robe and dressed himself, then playfully smiled at her, saying, "Still not moving? Today's going to be special—let me treat you to a fine meal in Wutan City." "I want the most expensive one!" Hearing this,薰儿 beamed with a gentle smile, lightly tapping her foot on the green stone pavement and gracefully stepping beside Xiao Yan. Her clear, bright footsteps echoed through the lush green forest. ... To express his gratitude for her patient waiting all afternoon, Xiao Yan took薰儿 on a long stroll through Wutan City before finally bidding her farewell at the family estate. Returning to her room with still a touch of excitement, Xiao Yan sank heavily onto the bed, cradling the soft blanket and whispering softly with a smiling gaze, "Finally, I'm almost going to become a Battle User once again..." "Hey, this promotion still owes a lot to that little girl," an elderly voice suddenly echoed from within the room. Lifting her eyelids to gaze at the figure that had appeared without any prior notice, Xiao Yan furrowed her brows, asking, "Something to do with Xun'er?" "Yes, there's indeed a connection—otherwise, you'd have to wait at least a week to make the breakthrough," the elderly man said, his translucent body floating above the chair. Sighing, Xiao Yan buried his head in the blanket and murmured, "We're now at the ninth stage. To break through into the Battle Rank, it'll probably take another half year or so..." As he spoke, his voice suddenly paused. He lifted the blanket, his face suddenly turning gloomy, a hint of coldness in his tone: "It's been over a year now, and I still haven't become a Battle Rank member. If this pace continues, by the time three years have passed, I doubt I'll even catch up with Nalan Yanran." The elderly doctor raised his eyelid slightly, without offering any comment. "Nalan Yanran is being cultivated as the future leader of Yunlan Sect—her talent is certainly strong. Moreover, Yunlan Sect is powerful, with renowned cultivators like the Dan King, Guo He, within the sect. If he were to assist Nalan Yanran, I believe her advancement wouldn't lag behind mine." Xiao Yan seemed to be speaking to himself. Yao Lao glanced at Xiao Yan, only to find that the young man was staring at him with bright, earnest eyes. At this, Yao Lao couldn't help but chuckle softly, yet remained silent. Seeing that Yao Lao showed no signs of speaking, Xiao Yan sighed, shaking his head in resignation—his words had clearly fallen on deaf ears.