Angrily Reborn

"Uncle Xiao Zhan, I have come today specifically to dissolve the marriage contract with your son."

That cold, detached voice echoed through the hall like a razor-sharp blade, piercing straight into the depths of Xiao Zhan's heart. He sat rigidly in the main seat, his hands gripping the armrests like iron pincers; his knuckles were white from the excessive force, as if he intended to crush the wood to dust. Nalan Yanran, the pride of the Misty Cloud Sect standing before him, looked down upon him with an air of supreme arrogance. Her beautiful eyes were filled with undisguised contempt, as if Xiao Zhan were nothing more than an ant in her sight.

"Is... is this truly the wish of Elder Nalan?" Xiao Zhan's voice trembled, laced with an irrepressible sense of dread. His chest felt as though a thousand-pound boulder were pressing down upon it, leaving him unable to breathe.

"No, this is my own decision." Nalan Yanran lifted her chin slightly, her expression haughty. "Xiao Yan is now a cripple; he is simply not worthy of me, Nalan Yanran. As a prestigious sect, the Misty Cloud Sect will never accept a piece of trash as the husband of its future sect leader."

Xiao Zhan felt a surge of hot blood rush to his head like a violent tide. His vision blackened instantly, as if he had been plunged into an endless abyss. He had spent years painstakingly managing the Xiao Family, bringing it to a position of prominence, yet now he could not even protect his own son's marriage and was forced to endure such public humiliation. How could he possibly bear this?

"You... you people..." Xiao Zhan stood up abruptly, intending to lash out in fury, but a sudden, sharp pain tore through his chest as if a blade were churning within his heart. He clutched his chest, his face turning paper-white, and his body began to sway uncontrollably.

"Father!" Xiao Yan, standing to the side, was shocked. He lunged forward in a single bound, steadying the swaying Xiao Zhan, his eyes filled with worry and anxiety.

Xiao Zhan's lips trembled, as if he had a thousand words he wished to utter, but he could only manage a pained, muffled groan. His pupils dilated, his gaze filled with resentment and fury, and his body gradually stiffened before he collapsed heavily to the floor, kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Father!" Xiao Yan's cry of alarm echoed through the hall, a sound laden with such profound grief and despair that it seemed as if it might shatter the very walls of the hall.

Xiao Zhan felt his consciousness dissipating like flowing water. In his ears, his son's heart-wrenching cries sounded as if they were coming from the distant horizon; before his eyes was the cold, merciless face of Nalan Yanran, devoid of even a shred of pity. His heart was filled with resentment and rage—he hated his own inability to protect his son, he hated the injustice of fate—but he was powerless to change this cruel reality...

"Beep—beep-beep—"

The piercing sound of a car horn struck like a thunderclap, jolting Xiao Batian from his stupor. He snapped his eyes open to find himself behind the wheel of a car, while a massive truck, like an enraged beast, was hurtling toward him for a head-on collision!

"Bang!"

A deafening, violent crash exploded in the air. Xiao Batian felt the world spin, as if reality itself had flipped upside down. The violent impact engulfed him like a surging tide, and then, an endless darkness, thick as ink, swiftly wrapped around him, dragging his consciousness into chaos...

"Am... am I dead?"

He did not know how long he had drifted in the darkness before Xiao Batian felt his consciousness slowly begin to return, like the first light of dawn. He attempted to open his eyes, and a hall of antique elegance gradually materialized before him. With its carved beams and painted rafters, it felt as though it had been transported from the annals of history. He was lying on a simple wooden bed, surrounded by people whose faces were a tapestry of concern and curiosity.

"The Clan Leader has awakened!" someone in the crowd shouted in surprise. The sound was like a pebble cast into a calm lake, instantly sending ripples through the hall.

Xiao Batian looked around in confusion, his gaze meeting only unfamiliar faces. Suddenly, a vast and complex flood of memories surged into his mind—he was Xiao Zhan, the Clan Leader of the Xiao Family in Wutan City, a Dou Grandmaster with three sons. His youngest, Xiao Yan, had once been the family's brilliant genius, a shining star that illuminated the entire Xiao Family, but now...

Holy crap! I transmigrated? And I became Xiao Zhan? Xiao Batian's inner world was in an uproar, his shock beyond measure. However, possessing psychological fortitude far beyond the average person, he forced himself to remain calm, revealing not a single flaw.

"Father, how are you feeling?" A handsome youth leaned in with concern, his clear eyes filled with worry like stars in the night sky, revealing his deep attachment to his father.

Xiao Yan! Xiao Batian recognized the protagonist of the original story instantly. Based on the memories he had just received, Nalan Yanran had just arrived to break off the engagement, and her words, sharp as blades, had literally scared the original Xiao Zhan to death, allowing him to transmigrate into this body.

"I am fine..." Xiao Batian—now he should be called Xiao Zhan—slowly sat up, only then noticing that besides the members of the Xiao Family, there were several strangers present. A young girl in white was particularly striking; she moved with a light grace, like a white lotus blooming in the snow, her temperament cold and elegant. It was Nalan Yanran!

"Since Uncle Xiao Zhan has awakened, we may continue our conversation," Nalan Yanran said coldly. Her voice was like the biting wind of winter, devoid of warmth, showing not a hint of guilt for Xiao Zhan's recent collapse.

Xiao Zhan narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharp as a torch as he scrutinized the arrogant girl. She was indeed beautiful, her skin as delicate as mutton-fat jade; her brows were like paintings, her eyes like deep, limpid pools shimmering with a spirited light; her nose was straight, and her lips were as red as cherries. Yet, that overbearing posture, like a queen looking down from on high, was deeply unsettling, as if everyone else were merely an ant in her eyes.

"Ding!" A crisp, mysterious chime rang out, sounding like a summons from another dimension. "Suitable host detected. 'More Children More Blessings System' is binding..."

This sudden, mechanical voice exploded in Xiao Zhan's mind like a bombshell, nearly causing him to jump off the bed again. The voice was cold and robotic, yet carried an undeniable sense of authority.

A system? Xiao Zhan's heart was instantly filled with wild joy, like finding a beacon in the darkness. As a modern man, he was well-versed in novels and films and knew exactly what a system meant—it was a miraculous tool to defy fate and reach the pinnacle of life!

"Binding successful! Host: Xiao Zhan. Cultivation: Five-Star Dou Grandmaster. Offspring: Three sons. Detected that the host possesses a 'Destined Protagonist' offspring—Xiao Yan. Special reward triggered!" The mechanical voice sounded again, like an impartial judge announcing a grand prize.

"The Newbie Gift Pack has been issued to the system space, containing: Xuan-tier Advanced Technique Burning Heaven Technique, a technique that burns like a raging fire and contains infinite power; Earth-tier Low-level Dou Skill Dragon Flame Palm, which, when unleashed, roars like a giant dragon with flames sweeping across the land; one 'Zong-Breaking Pill' of the eighth grade, a precious treasure that allows a cultivator to bypass bottlenecks and ascend to the Dou Zong realm; three 'Yin-Yang Profound Dragon Pills' of the seventh grade, possessing the miraculous ability to bring the dead back to life and regrow flesh and bone; and one million gold coins." The system detailed the contents of the gift pack, each word sounding like a beautiful note in Xiao Zhan's mind.

Xiao Zhan suppressed his inner excitement; his heart was a raging sea, yet his surface remained as calm as water, like a master hiding his true strength. A Zong-Breaking Pill! That was a legendary existence in the cultivation world! In the original story, such a pill was incredibly rare, a treasure countless cultivators dreamed of but could never obtain. He never expected the system to provide such a generous gift right from the start; this was truly a windfall from the heavens!

"System, what are your functions?" Xiao Zhan asked inwardly, his voice tinged with anticipation and curiosity.

"This system is the More Children More Blessings System. For every wife the host marries and every child born, you will receive generous rewards. The stronger the wife and the higher her talent, the more generous the reward, like unearthing a buried treasure; the higher the talent of the offspring, the greater the reward, like reaping a bountiful harvest," the system explained patiently. Though the voice was mechanical, it held a certain charm.

A glint flashed in Xiao Zhan's eyes, like stars suddenly igniting in the dark night. The system's settings were clearly encouraging him to build a harem! At the thought of the graceful and peerless female characters from the original story—some as gentle as water, some as spirited as foxes, others as cold as frost, each a masterpiece carved by the heavens—Xiao Zhan's heart could not help but ripple with excitement.

"Uncle Xiao Zhan, have you considered your decision?" Nalan Yanran's impatient voice, like a sharp whistle, shattered Xiao Zhan's dreamlike thoughts and pulled him back to reality.

Xiao Zhan took a deep breath, the air carrying a steadying power that helped him regain his composure. Now was not the time to indulge in fantasies about the system; he had to focus on resolving the immediate crisis. He glanced sideways at Xiao Yan, who stood nearby with his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles were white. Those fists seemed to contain endless rage and resentment, and Xiao Zhan immediately formulated a plan.

"Niece Nalan," Xiao Zhan said slowly, his voice steady and resonant, echoing through the hall like a great bell. "This marriage contract was established by our two grandfathers personally. For you to come here and dissolve it so lightly is to show far too little respect for the Xiao Family. Does this not make the Xiao Family appear as a soft persimmon for anyone to bully?"

Nalan Yanran sneered, the sound like the biting winter wind: "Uncle Xiao Zhan, let's be realistic. Xiao Yan cannot even condense his Dou Zhi Qi; he is a cripple without any martial strength. As for me, I am already a Three-Star Dou Practitioner, and in the future, I will become the leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, wielding immense power. The gap between us will only grow into an unbridgeable chasm; we are no longer in the same league."

Xiao Zhan keenly noticed that Ge Ye, the Misty Cloud Sect elder behind Nalan Yanran, was watching him with a gaze as sharp and threatening as a hawk's. According to the original story, this Elder Ge Ye was a Dou Ling powerhouse with unfathomable strength. In his eyes, the current Xiao Family was indeed like an ant, not to be trifled with.

But the Xiao Zhan of this moment was no longer the man who could only silently endure pressure! He felt as if he had been reborn, and a brand-new aura radiated from him.

"Very well, if Niece Nalan insists on this..." Xiao Zhan stood up, his posture as straight as a pine, and an imposing aura, like a surging tide, radiated from him and filled the entire hall. "Then let this marriage be dissolved! While the Xiao Family does not seek trouble, we are certainly not afraid of it!"

The hall erupted in an uproar, like a boulder cast into a calm lake, sending waves of shock through the crowd. The Xiao clansmen could not believe their ears; they stared with wide eyes, their faces full of shock and confusion, as if they had heard the most incredible thing in the world.

"However," Xiao Zhan's gaze was like a torch, his tone shifting sharply, his words striking the floor with a heavy thud, "it is not your Misty Cloud Sect that is coming to break the engagement, but the Xiao Family that is initiating a divorce! From this moment on, the marriage contract between Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran is void. As a proud and noble clan, the Xiao Family has no interest in a daughter-in-law as arrogant, rude, and blind as you!"

"You!" Nalan Yanran's face turned a shade of leaden blue, like the sky before a storm. She had never expected Xiao Zhan to pull such a move; it was completely beyond her expectations, leaving her momentarily flustered.

A cold light flashed in Elder Ge Ye's eyes, like lightning in a cold night, icy and sharp: "Clan Leader Xiao, you should think carefully before you act. The Misty Cloud Sect is not to be trifled with. Do not bring disaster upon the Xiao Family due to a moment of temper."

Xiao Zhan did not fear him in the slightest. He held his head high, meeting Elder Ge Ye's gaze with a firm and resolute look that seemed capable of piercing through any obstacle. "What, does the Misty Cloud Sect intend to force a sale? The marriage can be dissolved, but it must be initiated by the Xiao Family! While the Xiao Family is not a top-tier clan, we have our own dignity and backbone. We will not be bullied!"

"Fine! Very fine!" Nalan Yanran was trembling with rage, her cheeks flushed red like burning flames. "Xiao Zhan, you will regret what you said today! Let's go!" With that, she flicked her sleeves and turned to leave, her steps hurried and chaotic, revealing her inner panic and fury.

"Wait!" Xiao Yan, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke. His voice was slightly youthful, yet filled with determination and resolve. "Nalan Yanran, I, Xiao Yan, will remember today's humiliation. Three years from now, I will personally go to the Misty Cloud Sect to challenge you! I will let you know that I, Xiao Yan, am definitely not the trash you claim I am!"

Nalan Yanran looked back, casting a contemptuous glance at Xiao Yan, as if looking at an insignificant ant. "Trash is trash. Even if I give you three years, you will still be trash three years from now! I will wait for you and see what kind of waves you can possibly make!"

After the people from the Misty Cloud Sect left, the Xiao Family hall fell into a heavy silence, as if time itself had frozen. Everyone stood still, their gazes fixed on Xiao Zhan, waiting for his next instruction, their eyes filled with a mix of anticipation and worry.

"Everyone, disperse," Xiao Zhan waved his hand, his movements calm and composed. "No one is to speak of what happened today. Our Xiao Family has just weathered such a storm; it is not the time to invite further trouble."

After the others had left one by one, only Xiao Yan remained standing quietly in the hall. His figure appeared somewhat lonely, yet it radiated an unyielding stubbornness.

"Father..." Xiao Yan's lips moved, but the words died on his tongue. His eyes were filled with complexity, and his hesitant, tongue-tied expression betrayed a sense of helplessness.

Seeing this, Xiao Zhan gently raised his hand to pat his son's slightly thin shoulders. His gaze was full of encouragement and trust, and his tone was steady and firm: "Yan'er, Father believes in you. You have possessed extraordinary talent and a resilient heart since childhood. These three years will surely allow you to be reborn. Three years from now, you will definitely make that arrogant girl look at you with new eyes and let her understand that the men of the Xiao Family are no mere nobodies!"

A flicker of emotion flashed through Xiao Yan's eyes—a spark as brilliant and fleeting as a shooting star across the night sky, yet deeply branded into his heart. He nodded heavily, his eyes filled with determination: "Rest assured, Father, your son will never let you down! I will give my all for the Three-Year Agreement and make Nalan Yanran pay for what she has done today!"

After Xiao Yan also departed with firm strides, Xiao Zhan immediately turned and returned to his own room. The room was furnished in a simple and elegant style, yet at this moment, it felt like the starting point toward a new world. He closed his eyes impatiently, his consciousness sinking into the system space.

"System, extract the Zong-Breaking Pill!" Xiao Zhan thought to himself, his voice carrying a hint of anticipation and excitement.

In an instant, a purple pill exuding a rich medicinal fragrance appeared in Xiao Zhan's hand. The pill was round, its surface flowing with a mysterious luster as if it contained infinite power. Without the slightest hesitation, Xiao Zhan tilted his head back and swallowed the pill in one gulp.

In an instant, a violent surge of energy exploded within him like a raging tide! Xiao Zhan felt as if his meridians were being scorched by a roaring inferno. Intense pain washed over him, but he gritted his teeth and endured it. Dou Qi surged wildly within his body like a wild horse breaking free from its reins, galloping wantonly. His cultivation base climbed steadily under the impact of this energy!

Six-star Dou Grandmaster... The already robust Dou Qi became even more concentrated, flowing through his meridians like tangible mist.

Seven-star... The Dou Qi surged like a rushing river, never ceasing.

Eight-star... The power felt as if it would tear his body apart, yet he persisted with his indomitable will.

Nine-star... The Dou Qi reached a critical point, ready to break through to a new realm at any moment.

Dou Ling! When these two words echoed in Xiao Zhan's mind, he felt his vision brighten, as if a new door had been opened.

However, after breaking through to Dou Ling, the energy showed no signs of weakening; instead, it crashed even more violently toward higher realms.

One-star Dou King... His body began to undergo subtle changes; his muscles became firmer, and his strength increased significantly.

Three-star... The Dou Qi whistled within his body like a gale, making his aura increasingly terrifying.

Five-star... The air in the room seemed to be distorted by this aura, and the furniture began to tremble slightly.

Seven-star... The power was like a landslide or a tsunami, inspiring awe in anyone who felt it.

Nine-star... Xiao Zhan felt as if he were caught in a vortex of energy, ready to be swallowed at any moment.

Dou Emperor! When these two words resonated in his heart, Xiao Zhan was enveloped in a layer of purple light. The light was dazzling and eye-catching, as if it were about to illuminate the entire room. His bones crackled, and his muscles were constantly restructured and strengthened, as if they were being reforged. His aura grew more and more terrifying, and the furniture in the room began to shake violently, as if surrendering to this immense power.

One-star Dou Emperor... His strength rose once more, as if he had ascended to a new peak.

Three-star... The power felt endless, granting him the aura of one who looks down upon the world.

Six-star... The furnishings in the room could no longer withstand this power and collapsed one after another.

Nine-star... Xiao Zhan felt as if he had merged with heaven and earth, becoming the master of this world.

Dou Zong! When these two words were finally confirmed in his heart, Xiao Zhan knew he had embarked on a brand-new journey.

When the violent, rampaging energy finally stabilized like a receding tide, Xiao Zhan slowly opened his eyes. In an instant, two tangible beams of sharp light shot from his eyes like swords, carrying a fierce momentum that pierced straight through the air and left two deep, small holes in the hard wall, as if they were special marks carved by time.

"Is this the power of a Dou Zong..." Xiao Zhan closed his eyes slightly, carefully sensing the Dou Qi surging within him like a great river. That power flowed through his body, and it felt as if every wisp of Dou Qi contained the energy to destroy heaven and earth. With every movement, he could feel the majestic power to move mountains and fill seas; he felt as if he had already become the master of this world.

Suddenly, Xiao Zhan's brows furrowed slightly, like a ripple on a calm lake. He keenly sensed several unfamiliar auras approaching the Xiao Family residence as stealthily as ghosts.

"People from the Jialie Family?" The corners of Xiao Zhan's mouth curled up into a mocking sneer, one filled with disdain and certainty. "It seems they heard the news of me being angered into a faint and couldn't wait to come and loot the burning house, hoping to pick up a bargain."

He quickly retracted his terrifyingly powerful aura, like a sharp sword being returned to its scabbard, and skillfully suppressed his cultivation back to the level of a five-star Dou Grandmaster. He knew well that now was not the time to expose his true strength. The mysterious and powerful Soul Hall behind the Misty Cloud Sect was like a viper hidden in the darkness; exposing his Dou Zong cultivation prematurely would only bring greater trouble and drag the Xiao Family into an abyss from which there was no return.

"Clan Leader! It's bad!" At this moment, a clansman ran over in a panic, his footsteps messy and his face full of terror, shouting, "The Jialie Family has brought people to block our front gate, and they are demanding an explanation!"

A cold light flashed in Xiao Zhan's eyes, as sharp and frigid as winter ice: "Let's go and see. I want to see what kind of tricks the Jialie Family wants to play today."

At the gate of the Xiao Family, Jialie Bi stood with over a dozen clansmen, looking aggressive. Each of them wore a malicious expression, their eyes revealing greed and provocation. Many residents of Wutan City who were looking for excitement had already gathered around, whispering and discussing as if watching a play about to unfold.

"Xiao Zhan, I heard you were angered into a faint by that little girl from the Misty Cloud Sect?" Jialie Bi said in a strange, mocking tone, his voice like a viper flicking its tongue, filled with sarcasm and schadenfreude. "It seems the Xiao Family is truly finished, like the setting sun, its glory no more."

Xiao Zhan's expression was as calm as water, yet his eyes revealed an unquestionable majesty. He asked indifferently: "Clan Leader Jialie, what brings you here today? Surely you aren't here to deliberately provoke my Xiao Family?"

"Nothing much, just here to remind you," Jialie Bi sneered, his laughter sounding like the cry of an Owlman, harsh and eerie. "Since your Xiao Family can't even handle a little girl now, what right do you have to occupy a spot among the three great families of Wutan City? You'd better step down early instead of squatting in the latrine without doing your business."

The corners of Xiao Zhan's mouth curled up, and he suddenly gave a meaningful smile, one hidden with a touch of mockery and coldness: "Jialie Bi, do you think my Xiao Family is weak and easy to bully?"

Before his words had fully faded into the air, a terrifying pressure, like a surging tide, erupted from Xiao Zhan. Although this pressure lasted only for an instant, it felt like an invisible mountain pressing down heavily on Jialie Bi. Jialie Bi felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar; the blood in his body seemed to freeze, his legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed to his knees, his face filled with terror and despair.

"You... you..." Jialie Bi stared at Xiao Zhan with wide eyes, his voice trembling like a leaf in the wind. In that split second, he felt as if he had seen a ferocious beast awakening from an ancient abyss; that fierce and terrifying aura made his very soul tremble.

"Get lost," Xiao Zhan said calmly, his eyes filled with unquestionable majesty, as if his words were the law of this world. "If you dare to come and run wild at my Xiao Family again, you will bear the consequences. Next time, it won't be settled so easily."

Jialie Bi's face changed like a palette, shifting from green to white. Finally, he gritted his teeth hard and, taking his group of clansmen with him, fled like a stray dog. He could not understand at all why Xiao Zhan had suddenly become so terrifying, as if he had become a completely different person.

Back in his room, Xiao Zhan let out a long sigh, as if exhaling all the tension and suppression he had felt earlier. Just now, he had only released a sliver of his Dou Zong pressure, and it had easily intimidated Jialie Bi. The feeling of possessing such immense power and controlling the situation at will was truly wonderful, like a peerless musician who could pluck a string and compose a soul-stirring movement.

"System, check my attributes." Xiao Zhan thought to himself.

In an instant, a light screen appeared before Xiao Zhan like a dream:

[Host: Xiao Zhan]

[Cultivation: One-star Dou Zong (Hidden as Five-star Dou Grandmaster)]

[Cultivation Method: Xuan-tier Intermediate Gale Art (Upgradable, like a seed with infinite potential, waiting to bloom with more dazzling light)]

[Dou Technique: Xuan-tier Low-level Mountain-Splitting Palm (Upgradable, like a sword not yet fully sharpened, with huge room for improvement)]

[Wife: None]

[Offspring: Xiao Ding, Xiao Li, Xiao Yan]

System Points: 0

Xiao Zhan gently stroked his chin, a glimmer of cunning and anticipation flashing in his eyes: "It seems I must find a wife as soon as possible. Queen Medusa, that peerless beauty of the Snake-People Tribe, graceful and mysterious; Yun Yun, Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, elegant and refined, like a fairy descended to earth; Ya Fei, the auctioneer of the Mite'er Family, alluring and exceptionally intelligent... I cannot let a single one of these goddesses from the original story slip away! I must take them all into my embrace."

A sharp light flashed in his eyes, like a meteor streaking across the night sky, brilliant and resolute: "But before that, I must first help Yan'er restore his talent. Yao Lao should already be inside his ring, right? That is the greatest aid for Yan'er's future rise; I must ensure this opportunity comes to pass."

Thinking that he had not only become Xiao Yan's father but also possessed a system and the cultivation of a Dou Zong, as if standing at the pinnacle of destiny, overlooking the shifting winds and clouds of this world, Xiao Zhan could not help but be filled with infinite expectations for the future.

"Soul Hall? Misty Cloud Sect? Hmph," Xiao Zhan let out a cold snort, his voice laced with disdain and dominance, "Once I, Xiao Zhan, have developed, I will trample them all beneath my feet! I will let them know that my Xiao Family is no soft persimmon for them to bully at will, and that I, Xiao Zhan, am certainly no lamb to be toyed with!"