An Unexpected Delight

The rising sun dyed the horizon red, and the rosy clouds donned a splendid cloak, radiating an unprecedented sense of peace and tranquility as they quietly listened from the heavens to the sound of the earth awakening.

"Benefactor, are you leaving?"

When the Chen Family Patriarch entered the courtyard where Xiao Han lived, he happened to see Xiao Han coming out.

"Yes. The He Family's crisis has been resolved, and I have fulfilled my promise." Seeing the strange look on the Chen Family Patriarch's face, as though he wanted to speak but hesitated, Xiao Han gave him a once-over. With a casual toss, he said, "Our meeting was fate. Take these four bottles of life-restoring potions. They can heal your injuries!"

The Chen Family Patriarch caught them, delight filling his heart. These were excellent items—medicine that cured as soon as it was taken. They were far better than any Healing Pill, Rejuvenation Powder, or Blood Coagulation Powder.

While the Chen Family Patriarch was still immersed in his surprise, Xiao Han had already walked past him.

"Benefactor, please wait!" The Chen Family Patriarch hurried forward and stopped Xiao Han.

"Is there something else?" Xiao Han had given him the four bottles of Red Potion purely out of kindness.

The Red Potions had already been given away. Could it be that the Chen Family Patriarch still was not satisfied and wanted to snatch the Red Potions from him?

The Chen Family Patriarch paused, struggling inwardly for a moment. Then, gritting his teeth as though he had made a momentous decision, he took out a Jade Slip no thicker than his little finger from his sleeve.

The Jade Slip was no ordinary item. It shimmered with flowing light and vibrant colors, clearly not something mundane. Within it seemed to be sealed a tiny blue sword.

Xiao Han's soul perception was extraordinary. The instant the Chen Family Patriarch took it out, he could sense an intense, icy killing aura emanating from within the Jade Slip.

"Benefactor! Five thousand years ago, our Chen Family was also an illustrious family on this continent."

"Our Chen Family once produced an expert in the Dou Zun realm. That Dou Zun ancestor had an illustrious record in life. With his strength alone, he could once freeze an entire city. However, he was far too arrogant and overbearing, eventually drawing the pursuit of eighteen factions. At the time, with the cultivation of a Six-star Dou Zun, he fought ten Five-star Dou Zuns, three Six-star Dou Zuns, four Seven-star Dou Zuns, and one Eight-star Dou Zun without being defeated."

"But there were simply too many enemies. Though he made them pay a terrible price, he eventually died of exhaustion himself!"

"From then on, Youmen Village seemed to have been cursed. Our family never again produced a single dazzling genius. Over the course of history, we gradually declined until we were reduced to the miserable state of hiding away in a single village!"

"Though that ancestor of ours fell, fearing there would be no successor, he sealed all the knowledge and insights he had gained over his lifetime into this Jade Slip before his death."

"The Jade Slip in my hand contains a battle technique he passed down. Unfortunately, over the past five thousand years, not a single disciple of the Chen Family has been able to comprehend its mysteries."

"Benefactor! You have saved our Chen Family from danger three times. Without you, the Chen Family of Youmen Village would likely have been erased from the Gamma Empire. Without you, there would be no Chen Family of Youmen Village. We have no way to repay your great kindness. If you do not mind, you may study the mysteries within."

What the Chen Family Patriarch did not say was that, aside from Xiao Han saving their Chen Family three times, Xiao Han had also freely produced miraculous medicinal liquid like Red Potion, comparable to pills, to treat his injuries.

Giving it to him was one thing, but Xiao Han had not asked for a single coin in return.

This series of actions moved the Chen Family Patriarch. Only then did he cast aside his prejudice over family boundaries and allow an outsider like Xiao Han to study this battle technique.

"Me?" Xiao Han was slightly stunned, so shocked that his mouth hung open as he pointed at himself.

After all, this was the Battle Qi Continent. The barriers between families ran deep.

The rise of a family could not do without the support of high-level battle techniques and cultivation methods.

The Chen Family Patriarch knew full well that the battle technique in his possession was an earth-shattering, Ghost God-weeping powerful technique, yet he was willing to let an outsider learn it. Xiao Han could not help being astonished.

"Yes." The Chen Family Patriarch's eyes shone with anticipation. "Benefactor, at such a young age, you have not only condensed a Dou Qi Vortex but have also attained cultivation above that of a Five-star Fighter. Such talent is as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns—you are a genius among geniuses. With your talent, Benefactor, perhaps you can comprehend the battle technique left behind by our Chen Family ancestor!"

"This..."

Anyone who refused to learn a high-level battle technique would be a fool. Xiao Han was overjoyed inside, but his expression remained calm as he said, "Then I'll give it a try. Thank you, Chief Chen!"

"Benefactor, you are being too formal." The Chen Family Patriarch handed the Jade Slip to Xiao Han.

"Master, what a powerful remnant will!"

The moment Xiao Han received the Jade Slip, System Xiao Ai could not help crying out in alarm.

"Mm."

Xiao Han sat cross-legged and sensed the battle technique within the Jade Slip.

The instant Xiao Han's soul power seeped into the Jade Slip, a cold current immediately invaded his heart. A layer of frost appeared over Xiao Han's hair and clothes, rapidly spreading outward.

The power of extreme cold made Xiao Han shudder. It felt as though even his soul was about to be frozen.

Seeing Xiao Han stop sensing it, disappointment flashed through the Chen Family Patriarch's eyes. Just as with Xiao Han, it was not that the Chen Family lacked talented disciples; they simply could not withstand this power of extreme cold.

"Master, there is a remnant thought left behind by the Chen Family ancestor within it. Unless you possess the realm of a Dou Ling, you cannot resist this icy intent!" System Xiao Ai explained.

"Oh. So if I do not want to damage this Jade Slip, I cannot obtain the battle technique recorded on it?"

"Yes, Master."

Xiao Han looked at the Chen Family Patriarch. With the abilities of their family, even if they were given another hundred years, they likely would not be able to cultivate an expert in the Dou Ling realm.

With that thought, Xiao Han touched the Jade Slip with his right hand and commanded, "Extraction!"

Ding-dong!

Congratulations! By touching the Jade Slip, you have extracted the Yellow Tier Low Grade battle technique—Plum Blossom Swordplay on Snow!

"Uh, Xiao Ai, did you identify it incorrectly? The swordplay passed down in here is actually only the lowest Yellow Tier Low Grade battle technique?" Xiao Han muttered.

Beside him, the Chen Family Patriarch stared at Xiao Han in astonishment.

After Xiao Han's finger touched the Jade Slip, he had actually extracted the tiny icy sword from within it.

Above Xiao Han's fingertip floated a miniature sword surrounded by tiny snowflakes, emanating waves of chilling air.

"Master, Xiao Ai did not identify it incorrectly. The extracted battle technique is only Yellow Tier Low Grade."

"Yellow Tier Low Grade?"

Xiao Han was troubled for only a moment. Then his gaze became incomparably resolute, and he commanded without hesitation, "Fusion!"

Perhaps the Chen Family's ancestor might deceive him, an outsider, and this truly was only a Yellow Tier Low Grade battle technique. But he would never deceive his own descendants.

Perhaps there was some unknown mystery behind why it was merely a Yellow Tier Low Grade battle technique.

Ding-dong!

Congratulations! Your soul has successfully fused with the battle technique. You have obtained the skill—Plum Blossom Swordplay on Snow!