Peerless Beauty, Xiao Xun'er

Inside the Xiao Family's main hall, virtually all the clan elders had arrived.

A powerful expert had suddenly come to the clan. For the Xiao Family, this was not necessarily good news, so how could they possibly shut themselves away and fail to observe proper courtesy?

Xiao Zhan personally poured Lin Che a cup of hot tea and cautiously asked, "Senior... may I ask what brings you to the Xiao Family?"

Lin Che swept his gaze around. Once he confirmed that the woman was nowhere to be seen, he asked, "I heard that the Xiao Family possesses a special Ancient Jade. Would Patriarch Xiao be willing to give it to me?"

"Of course, in return, I can help your Xiao Family with one matter."

Hearing this, Xiao Zhan froze slightly. The Ancient Jade passed down through the Xiao Family since ancient times surfaced in his mind. His father had told him that the jade dated back to the ancient era and was a supreme treasure of the Xiao Family. Unless absolutely necessary, it must never be brought out.

Xiao Zhan cleared his throat and feigned ignorance. "Senior, our Xiao Family does not possess such an Ancient Jade. Might you have made a mistake?"

Seeing that Xiao Zhan was unwilling to produce it, Lin Che turned his gaze toward Xiao Yan. Nodding with a smile, he said, "This young man carries himself exceptionally well. He must be the Xiao Family Patriarch's son, I presume."

"Yes." Xiao Yan stepped forward and respectfully said, "This junior is Xiao Yan. Greetings, Senior."

"Your talent is not bad. Unfortunately, something has gone wrong with your body. Over these past three years, your Dou Qi must have declined rather than increased, correct?"

The moment those words fell, the entire hall erupted in an uproar!

This senior could actually see the changes Xiao Yan had undergone these past few years. Could he be from the Jia Ma Empire?

Xiao Yan's expression turned strange.

Yet he did not deny it.

"I can help you recover your former strength and return you to glory."

Xiao Yan's heart jolted. He abruptly raised his head and looked at the kind-faced man before him, hurriedly asking, "Senior, can you truly restore my strength?"

"My word has always been as good as gold." Lin Che took a sip of wine and lightly said, "Patriarch Xiao, are you willing now?"

Xiao Zhan's expression gradually changed. Over the past three years, the Xiao Family had gone to great lengths to restore Yan'er's strength. They had bought no small number of spiritual pills and wondrous medicines, yet all their efforts had ultimately come to nothing.

Even the clan elders had grown somewhat impatient. They declared that if Xiao Yan could not restore his former talent, he would be sent directly to the Xiao Family marketplace and would never receive the clan's resources again for the rest of his life.

Although Xiao Zhan, as the Xiao Family Patriarch, loved his son dearly, he only possessed a single veto in clan affairs. Trying to stop the decisions of the two elders was nothing but a fool's dream.

Ever since Xiao Yan had become useless overnight, he had fallen from the genius he once was into a worthless nobody scorned by all.

Xiao Yan, the Xiao Family's youngest Dou Zhe and genius youth, had been the hope for the entire clan's revival. Yet for some unknown reason, his Dou Qi could no longer gather. In three years, his cultivation had fallen as low as the third stage of Dou Qi.

Thus, the Xiao Family members could not accept the changes that had befallen Xiao Yan. On the Dou Qi Continent, where strength reigned supreme, the once-genius Xiao Yan had already become worthless trash looked down upon by others.

Xiao Zhan clenched his fists and shifted his gaze to Xiao Yan, whose face was full of longing to grow stronger.

In the end, he nodded heavily. "Fine, I agree. But I hope Senior can first help my son restore his Dou Qi. Once it is done, this old man will certainly present the Jade Slip to you."

Lin Che nodded. He was determined to obtain the Tou She Ancient God Jade, and he was not afraid that the Xiao Family would go back on their word afterward.

Xiao Yan was also incomparably excited. He had endured enough of those rats' cold looks. No matter what, he would return to the pinnacle of glory and let those rats see clearly that he was not worthless.

"Thank you, Senior!"

"Brother Xiao Yan~"

As a voice like a phoenix's cry rang out from nearby, the Xiao Family members shifted their gazes away from Lin Che one after another.

She was a girl dressed in a purple gown, her temperament cool and detached, like a blue lotus blooming in the mortal world.

Her slender waist was as delicate as a willow leaf, seemingly small enough to be encircled in one hand. Her long black hair was casually tied with a pale-purple ribbon and draped smoothly along her alluring curves to her waist.

Two tiny green bells hung from her fair wrists. She was like a figure stepped out of a painting.

She was none other than Xiao Xun'er, the biological daughter of Gu Yuan, the Ancient Clan Chief, and a possessor of top-tier bloodline.

Xiao Yan hurried over, his face blooming with a joyful smile. "Xun'er, you're here."

Xiao Xun'er nodded. Seeing the delight on his face, she curiously asked, "Brother Xiao Yan, what happened today? You seem so happy."

Xiao Yan told the girl everything that had just happened. Xiao Xun'er could not help raising her delicate brows, her gem-like eyes settling on the white-robed young man drinking wine for pleasure.

Xiao Xun'er was well-traveled and knowledgeable. Upon sensing the Dou Qi flowing through his body, she could not help feeling somewhat surprised. A Dou Huang?

Why would a powerhouse of this level appear in tiny Wutan City? How strange.

"Senior, it is getting late. Please stay in the Xiao Family tonight. Tomorrow morning, you can treat Yan'er's body."

Lin Che nodded and elegantly set down the wine gourd in his hand. "Very well. Then I shall trouble Patriarch Xiao."

"This way, please."

By evening, the silver moon hung high in the sky. Pale moonlight draped the earth in a veil of silver, making it seem especially mysterious.

Crickets chirped endlessly outside the window, while fireflies glowing emerald green flitted freely through the air, adding a special touch to the night.

Lin Che sat upright in his chair, gripping the wine gourd in his right hand. He tilted his head back and took a drink, then nodded with a smile. "Since you are here, Miss, come out. Sneaking around is not your style."

The shadows flickered, and pale golden flames slowly burned within the room. Then Xiao Xun'er, who had appeared in the Xiao Family's main hall not long ago, descended into the room.

"Your strength is formidable. You are a top expert even among Dou Huangs. Also, when you interact with Brother Xiao Yan, do not entertain any other intentions toward him, or Xun'er will not let you off.

Please believe that Xun'er has the strength to make good on those words.

And Senior, do not think that being a Dou Huang means you can act without restraint. The Dou Qi Continent is vast—very vast. There are quite a few people stronger than you." The girl's clear voice suddenly rang out, carrying a faint chill.

A tiny wisp of golden flame suddenly rose within those beautiful autumn-water eyes...

Lin Che laughed heartily and drank another two liang of wine. "There is a beauty whose sight I cannot forget; one day without seeing her, and I pine for her like mad. Miss Xun'er is truly domineering."

"You jest, Senior. Xun'er merely does not wish for Brother Xiao Yan to be deceived." Xiao Xun'er's voice was cold, her tone laced with a heavy threat.

It was as though she were warning Lin Che that if he harbored any improper thoughts, there would be no need for him to continue living on this Dou Qi Continent.