Magical Beast Mountain Range.
Xiao Chen stood in a dense forest somewhere in the Magical Beast Mountain Range. It had taken him quite a while to accept the fact that he had transmigrated.
That was right—he had transmigrated into the world of Battle Through the Heavens.
He had become Xiao Chen, the grandson of the Great Elder of the Xiao Clan.
Three years ago, his strength had reached Nine-Star Dou Zhe, stunning the entire Xiao Clan.
Back then, he had been the most outstanding young genius in the Xiao Clan.
But who could have guessed that three years later... his strength would have fallen to Three-Stage Dou Qi?
Thinking of this, Xiao Chen's face was full of helplessness.
What a disastrous start.
He sighed inwardly.
Three-Stage Dou Qi.
With strength like that, any first-rank magical beast in the Magical Beast Mountain Range could take his life.
Xiao Chen raised his head and glanced at his surroundings.
Deep in the forest, the trees blocked out the sky, and the light was dim.
He tried to remember how he had ended up in the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
The original owner's memories surfaced in Xiao Chen's mind.
Xiao Ning.
His cousin, and also the grandson of the Great Elder of the Xiao Clan.
Ever since Xiao Chen had been a genius, Xiao Ning had been jealous of him.
Later, when Xiao Chen's strength declined, Xiao Ning's jealousy had not faded.
Even after Xiao Chen had become a good-for-nothing, the Great Elder's affection for him had not diminished.
Xiao Ning had been all the more dissatisfied because of it.
Xiao Ning had pretended to invite him to the Magical Beast Mountain Range to look for medicinal herbs.
The original owner had believed him.
But Xiao Ning had led him deep into this forest, then found an excuse to leave.
He had left Xiao Chen all alone here.
And this area was the territory of a fifth-rank magical beast.
After sorting out the situation, Xiao Chen cursed inwardly.
A fifth-rank magical beast.
Forget his current strength of Three-Stage Dou Qi—even three years ago, when he had been a Nine-Star Dou Zhe, coming here would still have meant certain death.
That thing was practically on the level of a Dou Wang expert.
What the hell? He'd just transmigrated, and now a fifth-rank magical beast was going to kill him?
Xiao Chen was just about to figure out how to get out of there when a deep beastly roar came from the distance.
Xiao Chen's expression changed.
He turned to look and saw an enormous creature slowly emerging from the depths of the forest.
The magical beast was massive, its entire body covered in black scales. A pair of blood-red eyes fixed on him.
A fifth-rank magical beast, the Black Scale Python.
It advanced toward him, step by step.
Xiao Chen took a step backward, only to realize that he had nowhere to retreat.
The Black Scale Python opened its cavernous jaws and lunged at him.
"Damn, I just transmigrated and I'm already about to die?"
Just then, a voice suddenly rang out in Xiao Chen's mind.
[Daily Copy System successfully bound.] [The host may perform one copy per day.] [First-time binding. Perform today's copy?] [Copy now?]
Xiao Chen saw the system panel before him and froze for a moment. Then a surge of wild joy welled up in his heart.
The system was here!
At this critical moment, with his life hanging by a thread,
It couldn't have come at a better time!!
[Use now.]
Xiao Chen said inwardly.
[Copy target: Yun Yun.] [Random copy successful.] [Congratulations, host. You have obtained Yun Yun's Three-Star Dou Emperor strength.]
The instant the system's notification sounded, Xiao Chen felt a powerful force surge out from within him.
Feeling the power in his body, Xiao Chen's lips curled into a slight smile.
The Black Scale Python's cavernous jaws were already right in front of him.
Xiao Chen raised his hand and casually waved it.
A powerful burst of Dou Qi erupted from his palm and slammed toward the Black Scale Python.
Bang!
The blast of Dou Qi struck the Black Scale Python's head, sending its enormous body flying backward.
The Black Scale Python crashed to the ground with a heavy thud.
It twitched twice, then lay still.
A fifth-rank magical beast, killed in one blow!
Xiao Chen looked at the Black Scale Python's corpse and flexed his hand.
The power of a Dou Emperor expert was indeed formidable.
He marveled inwardly.
Xiao Chen walked over to the Black Scale Python's corpse, took out a dagger, and plunged it into the beast's head.
He pried out a black Magic Core the size of a fist.
A fifth-rank magical beast's Magic Core could fetch quite a few gold coins. It was worth a fortune.
Xiao Chen put the Magic Core away, then turned and headed out of the forest.
Xiao Clan.
The Great Elder of the Xiao Clan sat in the main seat of the hall, his expression calm.
Several elders of the Xiao Clan sat on either side of him, discussing clan affairs.
Xiao Ning walked in from outside.
"Grandfather, something's happened," Xiao Ning said.
His voice carried a hint of panic.
The Great Elder furrowed his brow. "What is it?"
"Xiao Chen, he... he..." Xiao Ning stammered.
"What happened to Xiao Chen?" The Great Elder rose to his feet, his expression changing.
"We encountered a magical beast in the Magical Beast Mountain Range. Xiao Chen... didn't make it out," Xiao Ning said.
At those words, the Great Elder's expression instantly darkened.
He stumbled backward and sank into his chair.
"What did you say?" The Great Elder's voice trembled.
"Given how much time has passed, Xiao Chen has most likely already died in the Magical Beast Mountain Range," Xiao Ning said.
The elders in the hall exchanged glances.
"How did this happen? Who told him to go to the Magical Beast Mountain Range?" the Second Elder asked.
"It was my fault." Xiao Ning lowered his head. "Xiao Chen said he wanted to go out and gain experience, so I went with him. I never thought we'd encounter a magical beast. I wasn't able to protect him."
As Xiao Ning said this, his eyes reddened. He looked genuinely remorseful.
The Great Elder said nothing. He just sat there in silence.
"Great Elder, my condolences," the Third Elder said.
"I'll send people to look for him." The Second Elder stood up. "Even if all we find is his body, we have to bring him back."
Just as the Second Elder was about to leave, a disciple of the Xiao Clan suddenly ran in from outside.
"Great Elder! Young Master Xiao Chen is back!"
The disciple was gasping for breath from running.
Everyone in the hall froze at the news.
The Great Elder abruptly rose to his feet and strode out of the hall.
Xiao Ning's expression, however, instantly turned grim.
How was this possible?
He had abandoned Xiao Chen in the territory of a fifth-rank magical beast.
Against a fifth-rank magical beast, forget Xiao Chen—even the clan leader, Xiao Zhan, would have died.
How could Xiao Chen have come back alive?
Xiao Ning's face went deathly pale for an instant, but he quickly composed himself.
He hadn't left behind any evidence.
Even if Xiao Chen had returned, there was nothing he could do to him.
The Great Elder left the hall and saw Xiao Chen walking through the gates of the Xiao Clan in the distance.
"Chen'er!" The Great Elder hurried forward and grabbed Xiao Chen by the shoulders. "Are you all right?"
"Grandfather, I'm fine," Xiao Chen said.
The Great Elder looked him up and down, and only after confirming he wasn't injured did he let out a sigh of relief.
The Second Elder and Third Elder also came out. Seeing Xiao Chen unharmed, they both looked surprised.
Xiao Ning stood behind the others, watching Xiao Chen with a flash of coldness in his eyes.
But a moment later, he forced a smile onto his face.
"Lin-di, I'm so glad you're all right." Xiao Ning stepped forward. "I thought something had happened to you."
Xiao Chen glanced at Xiao Ning.
Xiao Ning had deliberately set him up, and now he was pretending to be so worried about him.
What a convincing act!
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