Night fell.
Inside Hun Tiandi's study.
"Clan Leader."
At this moment, Hun Shou stepped into the study with uncommon reverence, visibly uneasy.
Who was Hun Tiandi?He was the undisputed authority of the Hun Clan, a man both cold and merciless.
Everyone in the clan—elders and members alike—feared seeing him.
Because every time they did, they were overwhelmed by the boundless aura he exuded, leaving them chilled to the bone.
"Speak."
Hun Tiandi glanced at Hun Shou and spoke with a detached, icy tone, devoid of warmth.
Though he sat still, he radiated an innate authority that made others afraid to approach.
Hun Shou stood stiffly, inwardly panicking. Even though he hadn't done anything wrong, facing Hun Tiandi was terrifying beyond reason.
Hun Shou was a Dou Saint—yet in front of Hun Tiandi, he felt utterly insignificant.
That unintentional imperial aura Hun Tiandi exuded was terrifying to the extreme.
If not for the matter concerning Hun Xiu, Hun Shou wouldn't have dared disturb the clan leader.
Tensely, Hun Shou said, "Clan Leader, I've come regarding Young Master Hun Xiu."
"Xiuer?"
Hun Tiandi's brow twitched slightly as he looked toward Hun Shou.
In an instant, Hun Shou felt an overwhelming pressure crash down on him—like a mountain collapsing.
He was shaken.
Even among Dou Saints, the gap between a one-star and a nine-star was this vast.
Hun Tiandi's voice was low: "What happened to Xiuer?"
In Hun Tiandi's view, something must have happened for an elder from the Dou Technique Pavilion to come to him.
But within the Hun Realm, he couldn't imagine anything that could pose a problem for his son.He was the Hun Clan's patriarch—who would dare touch his child here?
If something did happen, wouldn't that be a slap to his face?
Hun Shou respectfully replied, "Reporting to the Clan Leader… these past days, Young Master Hun Xiu has only borrowed Yellow-Rank Dou Techniques from the pavilion."
"It appears… he is cultivating Yellow-Rank techniques."
Once he finished, Hun Shou lowered his head, not daring to meet Hun Tiandi's eyes.
Hun Tiandi furrowed his brows and fell into silence.
He had assumed something serious had happened—but this?
It was just a matter of technique selection?
"Dou Techniques?"
"And Yellow-Rank ones?"
Hun Tiandi couldn't believe that his hardworking son would abandon higher-ranked techniques and willingly choose such trash-tier skills.
After a long silence, Hun Tiandi finally said, "I understand. You may go."
"Yes."
Hun Shou quickly withdrew.
Now alone in the study, Hun Tiandi murmured, "Xiuer, what are you playing at?"
He had personally offered him the Emperor Burning Fire Art and Devouring Fire Codex, yet despite his obvious hints, Xiuer had chosen the Devouring Fire Codex.
He'd expected Hun Xiu to return within a day to exchange it—after all, the codex was incomprehensible and impossible to cultivate.
Yet days had passed and his son hadn't come back.
"Could it be… he's really succeeded in cultivating the Devouring Fire Codex?"
"And now he's choosing Yellow-Rank techniques too… What exactly is this brat trying to do?"
Back in the mountain.
"Hu…"
Hun Xiu let out a long breath and ceased his hand seals.
After several days of cultivation, he could clearly feel that his body was saturated with Dou Qi—he was confident he would soon reach the 3rd star of Dou Ling.
The Hun Realm had far denser Dou Qi than the outside world—several times richer—making cultivation twice as effective with half the effort.
More importantly, the Devouring Fire Codex was playing a critical role.To Hun Xiu, this wasn't just any technique—he believed it surpassed even Heaven-Rank techniques.
With his current environment, resources, and talent, as long as he didn't waste time early on, he was almost destined to dominate the continent in the future.
As for now?
He quietly set a small personal goal: become a Dou Zun.
"Hmm?"
"Who's there?"
Hun Xiu sensed a presence behind him and turned sharply, speaking coldly.
"Fa… Father."
Turning around and seeing Hun Tiandi, Hun Xiu was momentarily stunned.
Snapping back to his senses, he quickly bowed respectfully.
Hun Tiandi hovered about a centimeter above the ground, his white robes pristine and his long black hair fluttering like a deity out of a painting.
He radiated a divine aura—but within it also surged a terrifying imperial might.
Hun Tiandi looked over Hun Xiu and said, "Xiuer, I can sense that you're about to reach the third star of Dou Ling. Have you successfully cultivated the Devouring Fire Codex?"
Hun Xiu didn't hide it at all:"Yes, Father. I have successfully cultivated it."
"Oh?"
Hun Tiandi's expression remained neutral, but he was inwardly shaken.
Even he and the Void Swallowing Flame had spent ages studying the codex without deciphering its method.
Now Hun Xiu not only understood it but had successfully cultivated it?
He recalled the words his son had spoken when choosing the codex:
"It is fated with me."
It seemed that was true.
Hun Tiandi didn't ask how Hun Xiu had understood or cultivated the codex. For someone at his level, it was no longer important—he would never abolish his own cultivation and start over anyway.
He asked, "Xiuer, do you know why I came to see you?"
Hun Xiu shook his head:"I do not, Father."
He genuinely didn't. He hadn't done anything wrong, and Hun Tiandi was always busy—he wouldn't seek him out for no reason.
Hun Tiandi said, "I heard that the Dou Techniques you're cultivating are all Yellow-Rank?"
"…Hmm?"
Hun Xiu instantly understood—so this was about his choice of techniques.
He thought to himself:"So Hun Shou really went and tattled to my old man."
Hun Xiu admitted it directly:"Yes, Father. I have indeed been cultivating Yellow-Rank Dou Techniques."
Hun Tiandi's expression darkened slightly.
"Xiuer, you are the son of Hun Tiandi—the future leader of the Hun Clan. Yellow-Rank Dou Techniques… are not suitable for you."
His tone left no room for dispute.