Chapter 22: Blackbeard and Coming of Age

  Inside, the cultivation unknowingly passed the time, and that group of black water gradually decreased with the absorption of the "Taiyi Scripture", turning into a source of water to block its heterodox fire, which also gradually retreated. After all, water and fire are incompatible, and if the two suddenly clashed, it would be a loss for both.

  Xiao Xing Meng was just repeating the work of absorbing and refining the black water every day in the virtual space. Sometimes Xiao Xing Meng even envied Xiao Yan, who would faint after refining the alien fire, at least it wasn't so boring.

  However, if Xiao Yan knew that Xiao Xingchen could refine it without risk and painlessly, he would probably wish to switch positions with him.

  After a long and uneventful refinement, I finally thoroughly absorbed the Black Water! Xiao Xing Meng let out a long sigh. Unlike before when his pure strength far surpassed the hetero flame, this time his own strength was lower than that of the Black Water. Fortunately, he had previously refined the Jinglian Youhuo, which was roughly as strong as the Black Water, and added three other hetero flames, along with the mysteries of the "Taiyi Scripture", making it easier to recover from it than he had expected.

  After absorbing the black water, it is no different from the alien fire. Its source was refined into the "Taiyi Scripture". When used, it takes itself as the source and transforms its energy into water. Unlike the pure lotus demon fire, it does not destroy the opponent, but can swallow everything that comes into contact with it. Moreover, it can manipulate the black water to produce a powerful attractive force. Since it can even swallow the opponent's energy, when it comes into contact with the opponent using the black water, it can even suppress and absorb the opponent's energy!

  When Xiao Xing Meng was exploring the usage of Black Water, he suddenly remembered a major villain from a comic book he had read before... damn, isn't this the move used by Blackbeard in "One Piece"?!

  Likewise, it can pull the opponent over with a strong suction force. After capturing the opponent, it can suppress its abilities and also distribute a cluster of black shadow-like substances around itself to devour objects...

  Could it be that I'm actually a natural-born villain? Even the occasional moves and tactics I come up with are almost identical to those of a villain who excels at lurking in the shadows.

  He pulled out a piece of space stone, broke through the void and came out. Then, according to his memory of Hei Hu Zi's ability usage, he condensed black water in his hand, stretched out his hand towards the giant rock, and sucked!

  A thousand-meter boulder became like a piece of paper blown away by the black wind, simply and violently charging towards Xiao Xing Meng. He casually caught the boulder and continued to absorb it. The boulder began to crumble from where he had grasped it, and the incredibly powerful suction force slowly broke it down into small rocks, which were gradually sucked into the ball of black water in Xiao Xing Meng's palm.

  Xiao Xing Meng took a deep breath, stopped, then released the boulder, circulated his Qi, and dispersed the dark water.

  The black water spread rapidly around with the dissipation of the fighting spirit, a thin layer of black water like a sheet of paper separated the ground from the grass, trees and rocks above.

  Then the layer of black water became like a swamp, and all the trees, flowers, rocks, and some animals that did not escape were swallowed up without a trace.

  After stopping the fight, that layer of black water disappeared without a trace, leaving only the bare ground around Xiao Xing Meng.

  Looking at the black water floating on his hand that had stopped absorbing. This strange water belonged to him, but the things absorbed by the transformed strange water seemed to be simply destroyed and disappeared through the strange water, because he didn't feel any sensation of the stone being absorbed for himself.

  If one uses black water to "absorb" the aura of others or certain fighters, it should also only be transformed by the alien water and not become their own.

  If it's not powerful enough, I'm afraid it will suffer the same fate as the Great Destruction Technique. As for the move that swallows everything in its range, if someone is strong enough, they can tear through space and escape, making it a great tool to bully others and destroy evidence. For now, let's just call it "Dark Water" according to Blackbeard's taste.

  For this strange object with no records, I'm afraid the only way is to slowly develop its usage method by myself. For now, I can only COS as Blackbeard uncle first.

  I don't know how much time has passed, but it feels like about a year. I should hurry back to Wutan City and take a look at my new apprentice and the situation with the Xiao family.

  …………

  Xiao family testing hall, on the high wooden platform, a huge black stone monument shines brightly, with golden large characters, dragon flying and phoenix dancing appearing on the surface of the monument.

  "Do of Ki: Hachidan!"

  Silence, complete silence!

  All eyes, after a brief daze, were fixed on the black stone monument that shone with golden light.

  That's what Xiao Xing Meng saw when he arrived at the Xiao family, it seems that he missed a test earlier, and Xiao Mei was still complaining about why he didn't go to see her test. He had no choice but to use the excuse that he just made a breakthrough and couldn't come back, and promised to teach her some fighting skills as a reward for her promotion to 8th rank Dou Zhi Qi, before Xiao Mei would let it go.

  "Cough..." On the high platform, the cough of the two elders finally drew back the attention of the entire audience.

  "The ritual re-measurement is complete. Following the usual rules, Xiao Yan will undergo a challenge. The challenger's authority is below that of a Dou Zhe. Who wants to come?" The Second Elder's gaze swept across the young members of the Xiao family before he spoke in a low voice.

  Xiao Xing Meng was considering whether to let Xiao Mei go up and try, but the silly boy Xiao Ning had already jumped up with the "Qi Boosting Powder" given by Xiao Yu.

  Xiao Ning, infamous for being the first to think of eating swan meat while being a toad, was once again no exception. He was easily defeated by Xiao Yan's palm strike and flying kick, causing him to spit out blood and leave the stage.

  Xiao Ning, who was blown away, swallowed the Qi Increasing Pill and suddenly inflated to the size of a Dou Shi, then charged towards Xiao Yan: "You little bastard, go die!"

  In the arena, the two elders' shouts had no effect whatsoever. At a distance of just a few feet, Xiao Ning quickly rushed to Xiao Yan's side, with the fighting spirit in his fists rapidly condensing. With a loud roar, he shouted: "Iron Mountain Fist!"

  Xiao Xing Meng and Xiao Mei both curled their lips: "Using banned medicine only temporarily boosts strength, it doesn't have much of an impact on actual combat power."

  Xiao Mei originally wanted to go up and fight with Xiao Yan to test her own combat strength, but was robbed by Xiao Ning. Now that she sees Xiao Ning rob her position and fall behind after winking, and even take a forbidden medicine to continue fighting, she dislikes Xiao Ning even more. Suddenly, her fighting spirit condensed, and two "Mystic Sword Auras" struck towards Xiao Ning like lightning!

  Xiao Yan originally wanted to use the stronger Dou Qi, Eight Trigrams Burst, to defeat his opponent, but instead saw two streams of Dou Qi strike Xiao Ning's chest. Xiao Ning's angry eyes only looked at Xiao Yan, not guessing that someone was sneak attacking from the side, and he was immediately knocked off the high platform.

  A moment later, pairs of eyes as if looking at a shocking scene turned towards Xiao Mei's direction. Although many people didn't know what had happened earlier, Xiao Ning's sudden surge in power was something that everyone witnessed with their own eyes. However, contrary to everyone's expectations, after the surge in power, Xiao Ning ended up losing even more miserably than before - in just one move, he was severely injured!

  Although it was a sneak attack, this move was fast, accurate and ruthless! Xiao Mei's Dou Qi cultivation was indeed the genius of the tribe, she now had eight segments of Dou Qi on par with Xiao Ning and Xiao Yan, but unexpectedly she also mastered such a powerful fighting technique.

  After being stunned for a while, Ya Fei's mind slowly regained its clarity. She thought back to the powerful fighting technique Xiao Yan had used earlier and her eyebrows furrowed slightly as thoughts whirled in her head: "The fighting technique from just now should be an Xuan stage technique, but Xiao family shouldn't have such a technique... Could it be..."

  Yafei turned to Xiao Xuan again: "It seems that this Xiao family has a lot of secrets hidden."

  "Except for Yan Er, even Xiao Mei..." As Ya Fei's thoughts were turning in her mind, Xiang Zhan on the side also couldn't help but let out a sigh. The fighting skills that Xiao Mei had just used, even he couldn't help but secretly cheer, neat and efficient, with perfect timing.

  He slowly shook his head, Xiao Zhan lightly spat out a mouthful of air, and the pupils of his eyes sparkled with insight: "Behind Yan Er's back, and behind Xiao Mei's back, I'm afraid there are people guiding them."

  "Who is it?" Rubbing his face, Xiao Zhan suddenly involuntarily shifted his gaze to Xun Er in the distance below the stage, and then turned to Xiao Mei's side, where Xiao Xing Meng was beaming with joy.

  "Who is teaching Yan Er? But what about Xiao Mei's words?" Xiao Zhan felt a faint sense of unease in his heart, as if some enormous object was pressing down on the Xiao family.

  Xiao Yan didn't pay any attention to Xiao Yu, who was hastily carrying the unconscious Xiao Ning away. Instead, he looked at Xiao Mei and Xiao Xing Meng with suspicion. Earlier, Xiao Mei's move had indeed exceeded his expectations. He had learned the mysterious fist technique from Old Man Mo, but where did Xiao Mei learn her own fist technique? Was it from that eccentric cousin of his, Xiao Xing Meng?

  Withdrawing his fist, Xiao Yan turned his head and said calmly to the Second Elder who was staring at him in shock beside him: "Is the test over?"

  He swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and the Second Elder, who had recovered his composure, hastily nodded in agreement. Although it was Xiao Mei's attack that had ultimately decided the outcome, in reality, Xiao Ning had already been considered defeated even before he took the medicine.

  As it was Xiao Mei who gave Xiao Ning the final blow, Xiao Yu did not dare to act rashly anymore.

  The commotion caused by Xiao Mei and Xiao Yan has overshadowed the achievements of others in their clan.

  The final appearance of Xun Er caused a considerable stir, as the 15-year-old warrior's achievement was only slightly inferior to that of Xiao Yan in his heyday.

  The adult ceremony was held until the afternoon, and finally, in the midst of a burst of applause, it slowly came to an end. Xun'er immediately ran back to Xiao Yan's side and continued their flirtatious banter. However, just as they were about to leave through the gate, she turned her head and glanced at Xiao Mei and Xiao Xing Meng, with a faint golden flame flickering lightly in her autumnal eyes.

  Xiao Xing Meng was arguing with Xiao Mei, discussing the matter of the Dou Qi Pavilion five days later, seemingly unaware.