Xiao Ran watched this scene, gripping his greatsword tightly. He raised the sword horizontally before his chest. "My heart is like iron, unbreakable!!"

Li Xuanxiao raised an eyebrow.

With one heavy step, Xiao Ran's body shot forward like an arrow from a bow, charging straight toward Su Wan's figure. So what if she's at Nascent Soul realm!?

Su Wan's sword suddenly descended. Golden lightning spears gathered at its tip, raining down toward Xiao Ran like a torrential storm. These radiant spears of lightning flashed blindingly. Xiao Ran's figure was completely engulfed in the lightning.

"BOOOOM......"

The white light faded.

Such terrifying power...

Li Xuanxiao couldn't help clicking his tongue, feeling his own insignificance. Wiping sweat from his forehead, he thought - what kind of monstrous power is this?

The standoff lasted for half an incense stick's time. Then two figures were sent flying from the energy explosion.

One figure swiftly moved - Lu Ziyin first caught Su Wan as she fell from the sky. Just as he turned to catch Xiao Ran, he saw the wings on Xiao Ran's back, though ravaged by lightning, suddenly flutter back to life, steadying Xiao Ran's descent.

Xiao Ran dispersed the momentum, skidding across the ground before landing firmly, his chest heaving violently.

Lu Ziyin stared at Xiao Ran in astonishment. Golden Core... breaking through to Nascent Soul!? Amidst that lightning, Xiao Ran had actually achieved a breakthrough.

A blessing in disguise - the concentrated lightning Su Wan summoned had assisted Xiao Ran's breakthrough. Breaking through realms was as easy as drinking water for him.

The astonishment in Li Xuanxiao's eyes vanished almost immediately. No! How could a mere Golden Core cultivator like himself perceive a Nascent Soul transformation? He should be pretending shock at Xiao Ran defeating Senior Sister Su Wan, not at his breakthrough.

Li Xuanxiao quickly adjusted his expression without a trace. Xiao Ran had won.

Lu Ziyin descended from the sky, supporting Su Wan. Xiao Ran took a deep breath and struggled to his feet. Clutching his chest, he let out a hearty but not vulgar laugh. "Hahaha!"

The other Mount Shushan disciples all wore ugly expressions, staring at the scene in disbelief. Senior Sister Su Wan had lost - even after reaching Nascent Soul realm. Just who was this Xiao Ran?

After today, Xiao Ran's name would surely resound throughout the land.

Xiao Ran sheathed his greatsword and looked up at the sky. After the lightning came drizzling rain and a rainbow spanning the heavens. What fine weather today.

Stretching lazily, Xiao Ran cupped his hands. "Gentlemen, Xiao Ran takes his leave." As his voice rang out, the visiting Mount Shushan elders' expressions darkened.

Just like that, Xiao Ran had swaggered into Mount Shushan, and now swaggered out again.

Li Xuanxiao confirmed an important hypothesis in his heart: To fight magic, use magic;

similarly, to counter abstraction, use abstraction. Conventional methods wouldn't work against Su Wan.

Someone might ask - what about unconventional methods? The answer is still no. To Su Wan, everything is conventional because she herself is an abstract existence.

But now, through a series of experiments, Li Xuanxiao had found Su Wan's countermeasure - Xiao Ran!! Only he could deal with Su Wan. Or rather, the two had a mutually restraining relationship.

This meant he now had a weapon against his abstract senior sister. Put another way, to deal with Lin Wanqing in the future, he just needed to find her natural counter.

Understanding this, Li Xuanxiao nodded approvingly at his own cleverness. Fight abstraction with abstraction.

......

Xiao Ran left Mount Shushan. He strode forward with long steps, his heart full of relief. Yet he felt somewhat dazed. Having accomplished what he'd dreamed of for years, he wanted to return home.

Soon, Xiao Ran arrived home. His victory over Su Wan was already common knowledge. When the Xiao family learned of his return, it was all gongs and drums, firecrackers, and massive crowds.

Standing outside the city walls, Xiao Ran saw a huge crowd rushing out and wondered what was happening. Only when they reached him did he realize - they were all here to welcome him.

"Young Master!!" A Xiao family servant grinned obsequiously. Xiao Ran remembered this man - back when his cultivation was crippled, this servant had humiliated him repeatedly. Being Third Uncle's man, Xiao Ran could do nothing. A young master humiliated by his own servant!

Now that same servant fawned shamelessly. "Ah, my dear nephew!" came a familiar yet strange voice - Third Uncle.

Xiao Ran looked down at his mustachioed uncle who once said he'd never amount to anything, that he was worthless trash. Now the man kept calling him "dear nephew" with sickening warmth.

"My dear nephew, it's been so many years - you've grown so tall! Let Third Uncle look at you properly."

Watching this, Xiao Ran's lips curled involuntarily. Third Uncle showed no embarrassment, laughing heartily with a smile that seemed utterly genuine - impossible to tell real from fake.

Xiao Ran was escorted by carriage back to the Xiao residence. After so long away, the familiar streets made him daze momentarily.

"Hyah! Hyah!" Suddenly came urgent galloping. As if telepathic, Xiao Ran pulled aside the carriage curtain to see his father riding a chestnut horse down the street. Father and son locked eyes across the distance, countless unspoken words between them.

All those years of humiliation, all those scornful looks - finally swept away! Xiao Ran had returned home!!

The Xiao family's status skyrocketed overnight. Everyone knew they'd produced a peerless genius who'd single-handedly entered Mount Shushan, defeated Su Wan, and left unscathed. This story would likely become legend.

Xiao Ran thoroughly enjoyed this feeling. Though he didn't say it aloud, his heart swelled with pride. Spending days idling at home, his cultivation practice grew lax.

Three whole months passed. Aside from occasional practice, Xiao Ran wandered the city - after years of bitter training, he finally had reason to enjoy life.

"After all those years cultivating, can't I enjoy myself for once?" Xiao Ran often consoled himself this way. Soon, he immersed himself in comfort - clothes handed to him, meals brought to him, waking only to play and indulge.

Who could refuse such a life? The joy after victory, the years of suppression - he'd finally scaled that peak. Xiao Ran felt all this was exactly what he deserved.