BTTH: At the beginning of BTTH, I received my suicide note

Watching the boy leave, Yao Ye's expression was complex—a mix of anticipation, approval, and an almost imperceptible hint of disappointment.

"Grandfather, he won't let us down, will he?"

A figure emerged from the shadows. Jia Xingtian, smiling with complete confidence, replied, "No, he won't."

"When I first met him, that kid was incredibly withdrawn, barely interacting with anyone. After coming to the imperial capital, he's changed significantly—more polite, more mature, kind to everyone. But deep down, he's still a lone wolf, never truly opening up to anyone. Not even you, his so-called sister. He's clear about that in his heart."

"For someone like him to joke with you today, it shows that he has genuinely accepted you. And that's enough. Let things happen naturally. Don't force anything. With him around, even if this old man is gone someday, the royal family will remain as solid as a mountain."

"Of course, Ye'er, you're growing up, and it's about time for marriage. If something were to develop between you two, I'd be all for it!" He laughed heartily.

Yao Ye shot her shameless grandfather a glare, despite her youth showing remarkable clarity.

She shook her head slightly, dismissing the idea. "No, things are fine as they are now."

If Chen Guan truly had special feelings for her, he wouldn't have jokingly referred to her as his "mother" earlier. Wouldn't offering himself in marriage have been more fitting?

The sharp-witted girl had deduced his attitude from just a few words and was sure of her conclusion.

Unless... that boy has some fetish.

...........

On another note, Chen Guan had returned to his room. Locking the door, he ignored the training resources Yao Ye had conveniently provided. Instead, he retrieved three scrolls from his spatial ring and spread them out on the table.

The mid-tier Xuan-level techniques: The Supreme Heavenly Refinement, The Thousand Flames Sword Technique, and The Floating Cloud Step.

Without a doubt, these were treasures—handpicked from nearly a hundred techniques and combat skills. In Wu Tan City, they would undoubtedly spark a bloody conflict among the three great clans.

Such was the depth of the empire's foundation.

Chen Guan was sure the royal family had even more advanced techniques, likely guarded as their most closely held secrets.

Still, granting him mid-tier Xuan-level techniques showed remarkable sincerity, and they would suffice for him for the foreseeable future.

The technique The Supreme Heavenly Refinement sounded impressive but expecting to achieve anything close to "supremacy" with it was far too optimistic.

The movement skill The Floating Cloud Step was a versatile gem—ideal for combat and escape. Once mastered, it would drastically enhance his battle prowess and survival abilities.

As the Flaming Cloud Evil God once said: "Speed is the only unbreakable law in the world." This sentiment was equally applicable here.

Then came The Thousand Flames Sword Technique—Chen Guan's personal favorite.

Though incomplete, containing only three forms, its value was undeniable. Even with just these three forms, it could rival a mid-tier Xuan-level skill, attesting to its quality.

More impressively, it was perfect for showing off.

First form: Blossoming Radiance

The scroll's description was overly ornate, but to Chen Guan, it was essentially a variant of Ten Thousand Swords Converge. It summoned countless sword auras behind the user, delivering a sweeping area-of-effect attack. Great for crowd control.

Its only drawback was relatively low offensive power.

Mastering this form would make crowd fights a breeze, especially against weaker opponents—clearing the field with a single move. The number of sword auras depended on the user's strength.

Second form: Boundless Seas

A one-on-one masterpiece. This form unleashed relentless wave-like strikes, each stronger than the last. In theory, as long as the user's energy didn't run out, it could go as high as thirty-three consecutive waves.

The move reminded him of Xiao Yan's Eight Extreme Collapses, though without the hidden force effect.

Third form: Divine Calamity

This formed a pair of sword wings behind the user, allowing for brief flight at incredible speed. The wings were razor-sharp and could deliver devastating surprise attacks.

Everyone knew that without a flight technique, only Dou Kings could form wings using Dou Qi. This was a major barrier that made it difficult for Dou Spirits to challenge Dou Kings. Many geniuses capable of skipping levels found their match here.

But Divine Calamity changed that. A Dou Spirit using it could potentially assassinate a Dou King.

Perfect for sneaky and underhanded strategies!

Chen Guan's eyes burned with excitement. He couldn't wait to master the technique. A sharp pinch to his thigh finally calmed him down.

With his current amount of Dou Qi, he couldn't even form a few sword auras, let alone wings.

The immediate priority was to progress step by step, switching to a better technique and improving his strength. After all, looking cool and failing mid-display would just be humiliating.

He put away the movement skill and combat techniques and carefully read through The Supreme Heavenly Refinement, memorizing its meridians and hand seals. Only when he had fully grasped it did he sit cross-legged and begin his practice.

From the first cycle, he felt the difference between Xuan and Huang-tier techniques. His speed at absorbing and refining Dou Qi had doubled.

After completing one full cycle, he took out a Tier-1 Energy Pill—a royal exclusive designed to aid Dou Practitioners in their training.

The speed boost was even more exhilarating. The joy of pill-assisted cultivation was unimaginable for ordinary people. It was addictive.

One Month Later

Inside a private room, a muffled "boom" echoed. The boy sitting cross-legged opened his eyes. Feeling the abundant Dou Qi within, his face lit up with unconcealed joy.

"Four-star Dou Practitioner. Just as I estimated. It seems today is the day for the five-year test. Perfect timing to stretch my legs."

The training field was particularly lively that day. Most of Chen Guan's peers were participating in the test, and even latecomers weren't missing the rare excitement.

As soon as he stepped out, he saw a solid wall of people packed tightly around Ding Field.

"Chen Guan, there you are! I thought you weren't interested in this grand event. Captain Yan exempted us from the test, but it's still fun to watch!"

The familiar voice belonged to his self-declared lifelong rival, Zhao Gang.

Chen Guan smiled, appreciating the royal family's thoughtful arrangements. To prevent his exemption from drawing unwanted attention, Zhao Gang's test was also waived, giving the appearance of fairness.

After all, the two of them were regarded as this cohort's undisputed top talents. If they couldn't pass, no one else would stand a chance.

"Just taking a break to relax. You've made great progress lately."

"Ha! I'm at seven stages of Dou Qi now. My talent isn't just for show! Once their test is over, let's have another sparring match!" Zhao Gang declared proudly.

Chen Guan suspected Zhao had waited at his door all morning just to show off and issue a challenge.

But challenging a four-star Dou Practitioner with seven stages of Dou Qi?

Even Xiao Yan wouldn't dare try that!

"Not today. I've got something to do. Maybe next time."

Not wanting to shatter Zhao's confidence, Chen Guan declined. After all, the boy was a valuable talent, and crushing his spirit would be a loss to the royal family.

"Really busy?"

"Really."

"Fine. Next time, then."

Chen Guan nodded and promised a future match, patting Zhao on the shoulder as he headed for the training ground's main gate. From the opposite tower, he saw Yao Ye waving at him.

..........

PS: About advancing from one-star to four-star Dou Practitioner in a month—Xiao Yan progressed at this rate in the original story. Chen Guan has better talent and a Xuan-tier technique but lacks the custom resources provided by Yao Lao. Balancing these factors, the speed feels just right.

Don't Forget to give some stones, so I can provide more bonus chapter's.