Transaction

The meaning was very clear: Xiao Yan's decline in strength was related to this ring, or rather, to the soul within it.

Xiao Yan was no fool and quickly understood.

Transmigrators generally had their own cheat abilities, and this ring was very likely his own cheat—what was commonly known as a Pocket Grandpa.

However, activating this Pocket Grandpa clearly required a price, and it was an enormous one.

At first, Xiao Yan's expression was somewhat angry. This thing had already absorbed a year's worth of his Dou Qi, turning him from a genius into a well-known good-for-nothing. Even now, thinking about it made him want to throw it away.

But after a while, he calmed down and began to have other thoughts.

Even if he regained his former talent now, his future strength would only reach the level of a Dou Emperor or Dou Zong.

But this ring was different. It might give him a far higher destination.

People strived upward. With a better outcome waiting for him, why would he not choose it?

He might be miserable at the beginning, but in the end, he would be the one laughing last. The one who laughed last was the winner.

Xiao Yan sank into thought. Unfortunately, alcohol dulled the brain, and drowsiness pressed all his thoughts to the very bottom, leaving them unable to break free.

Xiao Yan yawned, greeted Xiao Bai, climbed down from the roof, and staggered back to rest.

Watching Xiao Yan leave, Xiao Bai raised an eyebrow and muttered softly, "I've already pointed out the road for you. How you choose is up to you. I'm looking forward to your choice, hehe."

Xiao Bai lay on the roof as the moonlight fell with a touch of chill, and the entire world quieted down.

The night did not make Xiao Bai feel cold, perhaps due to the alcohol. As the insects began to chirp, he felt his eyelids grow heavier and heavier, his body go limp, until his breathing finally became even.

He had fallen asleep, right there on the roof.

The chirping insects were the night's lullaby, each sound soothing people into sleep and drawing them into warm dreams.

The bright moon traced a beautiful arc across the sky before finally disappearing.

A rising sun took its place, slowly climbing up from one side of the mountains. Warm sunlight shone over the earth, bringing it light and hope.

The sunlight fell upon the roof, passed over the cheek of the sleeping youth, and finally covered his entire body.

Though the youth's eyes were closed, he could still sense a ball of light before them, somewhat dazzling. He raised an arm over his eyelids to block out the harsh light.

Warm sunlight always made people feel lazy, unwilling to move their bodies.

The youth was no exception. He wanted to sleep a little longer, but unfortunately, things often did not develop as expected.

Just as Xiao Bai wanted to lie there a while longer, an aged voice rang out.

"Boy Xiao Bai, are you up?"

Morning was when people least wanted to get out of bed. At such times, beds seemed to possess a kind of magic, their allure at its strongest, tempting people to stay in bed and sleep a little longer.

Although Xiao Bai had not slept in a bed, he did not want to move either. The sunlight on his body was comfortable and pleasant, and he did not want to pay attention to whoever had come.

Unfortunately, the person had no sense of awareness at all and continued shouting from below. The repeated knocking soon drove away all of Xiao Bai's sleepiness.

"Who is it? Disturbing someone's sweet dreams this early in the morning. Do you have any public decency? Aren't you tired of making all that noise? Aren't you?"

Xiao Bai was somewhat helpless, but he still got up and jumped down from the roof. With his current strength, that height was no problem at all.

Through the crack in the door, he saw an old man standing outside. His hair was somewhat gray, and he looked to be in his fifties or sixties.

Xiao Bai recognized him. He was the old steward of the Xiao Family's Clan Leader.

The old steward wore a trace of displeasure and confusion. After all, an old man like him had been standing outside for quite some time, shouting and knocking, yet there had been no movement inside.

Xiao Bai yawned before slowly opening the door.

"Good morning. Why are you looking for me so early instead of sleeping?"

The moment Xiao Bai saw the old man, he had already understood why he had come, but he did not expose it.

Hearing that, the old man was so angry that his beard bobbed up and down, making for quite an amusing sight.

"You call this early? The sun's already shining on your backside! Early, my ass!"

The old man treated these children like his own grandchildren and was very good to them. Moreover, Xiao Bai had always been respectful and friendly toward the old man, so over time they had grown close enough to speak without restraint.

"Alright, alright. You're old, and I don't want to argue with you and make you miss tomorrow's sun. That would be a terrible sin on my part, so you're right."

Xiao Bai spoke with a grin, staring intently at the old man as though afraid he might suddenly collapse.

The old steward blew his beard and glared, then laughed and scolded, "Don't worry, this old man won't die yet. Right, the Clan Leader asked me to call you to the Family Council Hall this time. I don't know what it's about."

"Alright, I understand. You should go back and rest. I'll tidy up and head over."

The old man hurriedly stepped forward and said cautiously, "You didn't do something bad that the Clan Leader found out about, did you? Otherwise, why would I be sent to find you so early? If you really did something wrong, just apologize to the Clan Leader. It's no big deal."

"Why would you think that? Am I that kind of person? I'm not! For such a trivial matter as delivering a message, why did you have to come personally? You could have sent anyone to notify me. It's embarrassing to make you come all this way."

"Hehe..."

As he spoke, Xiao Bai's face seemed to redden faintly for once, but that cold laugh truly ruined the atmosphere.

The old man looked at Xiao Bai as though trying to find something in his expression, but unfortunately, that brat still wore the same grinning face, one that looked thoroughly punchable.

Helpless, the old man reminded him somewhat uneasily, "Fine. Be careful. I'm leaving."

Warmth rose in Xiao Bai's heart. The old man had treated him best since his parents passed away. Smiling, he replied, "I understand. Don't worry!"

After carefully dressing himself, Xiao Bai went to the Xiao Family's Family Council Hall as the old steward had instructed.

Five people sat inside the Xiao Family's Family Council Hall. One was a broad-shouldered, burly middle-aged man: the Clan Leader, Xiao Zhan. The others were elders with considerable authority in the Xiao Family.

"Clan Leader, you called me here because of the Mystic Seal, right? Then where are the resources I asked for?"

Xiao Bai had no desire to haggle with these old men, so he went straight to the point.

His bluntness caught them all off guard. The countless speeches they had rehearsed were choked at their throats, impossible to say.

Fortunately, Xiao Zhan reacted quickly. Recovering himself, he directly handed Xiao Bai a ring. It was a Storage Ring.

An elder explained, "Everything is inside. Take a look."

Xiao Bai accepted the Storage Ring and poured his soul power into it. Then he froze.