"I really did transmigrate..."
In a secluded courtyard somewhere in the Xiao Clan residence in Wutan City, a boy who looked only three or four years old lay on a wooden bed. Feeling the faint traces of Dou Qi inside him, he murmured to himself.
He had been in the Xiao Clan for four years now, ever since he was born.
But everything still felt like a dream to him, especially after he learned that this was the Dou Qi Continent. He could hardly believe it.
His memories were still stuck on his life as a miserable corporate drone. After finishing the 996 grind and heading home, he had become a human speed bump while trying to save a child.
The good news, though, was that he had a system, just like all those other dime-a-dozen transmigrators.
It was called the [Endless Gossip System].
Whenever something happened in the plot, he could roast it in his mind for a chance to win a reward. The prize pool contained a wealth of Heaven-tier cultivation techniques, Emperor Grade Pills, and even Heavenly Flames.
Getting any one of those would basically let him take off on the spot.
The bad news was, he'd transmigrated way too early. Xiao Yan, the protagonist, was still a little kid just like him. Where the hell was he supposed to find plot to roast?!
"Whatever. Since I'm here, I might as well make the most of it... Early is early. At least it gives me room to maneuver."
For example, he could take advantage of being young and befriend Xiao Yan.
After all, he was the future Flame Emperor, the chosen son of this world, a being who would roam the vast Great Thousand World.
There was no need to suck up to him, but it was still worth getting on good terms.
Their relationship wasn't bad now, but wouldn't it be even better if they were closer?
Xiao Yan wasn't some Tang God-King. He was the sort who repaid a drop of kindness with a spring of gratitude, and he wouldn't forget his childhood friend once he made it big.
Even a few crumbs slipping through his fingers would be enough to keep him fed and carefree for the rest of his life.
As for becoming a peak powerhouse or something...
Relying on a lousy system that gave out random lottery prizes was asking a lot of someone as unlucky as him, who always had to hit hard pity on every gacha. Besides, he didn't want to end up as cannon fodder killed by Hun Tiandi.
So he'd leave big bosses like Hun Tiandi and Hun Miesheng to the protagonist.
He'd just focus on staying alive and taking it easy.
"Let's do it!"
Once he'd made up his mind, he didn't waste any time. He immediately got up and left the room.
But as soon as he strolled out of the courtyard, he saw a crowd of Xiao Clan disciples heading toward the clan's reception hall.
They hurried along, as if some earth-shattering gossip was waiting impatiently for them to come and devour it.
"Little Yuanzi!"
At a familiar call, someone wrapped an arm around his neck, and he felt the weight of a body pressing down on him.
The familiar face that met his eyes prompted him to greet him warmly—
"Cousin Xiao Li."
Little Yuan was his childhood nickname. His full name was Xiao Yuan.
The person in front of him was none other than the original protagonist Xiao Yan's second older brother, and the future second-in-command of the Moti Mercenary Group. He was still a little kid himself, but a few years older than Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yan, already a teenager.
He usually looked after Xiao Yuan quite a bit.
Two others had come along with him.
"Cousin Xiao Ding, Cousin Xiao Yan."
Xiao Yan, who was about the same age as Xiao Yuan, merely gave a slight nod, looking rather smug.
Well, what could you do?
He'd already started cultivating Qi, and he was the earliest among this generation of Xiao Clan disciples to condense Dou Qi.
"Little Yuanzi, I heard you haven't left the house these past few days?"
Xiao Ding asked.
Unlike Xiao Yan's smugness or Xiao Li's excessive enthusiasm, Xiao Ding spoke in an even tone, but his concern still came through.
"Yeah, I was going to come see you, but then I heard you'd locked yourself in your room. Were you pining for some cousin until you were going stir-crazy? Tell your cousin all about it. Is it Xiao Yu?"
Xiao Li chimed in, his eyebrows wiggling in a way that made him look like he was begging to get punched.
Xiao Yuan's face was covered in black lines. He sighed helplessly.
"Stop messing around, Cousin Xiao Li. Aren't you afraid Cousin Xiao Yu will hear you, grab a sword, and chase you around the whole courtyard? Besides, I haven't been going out because I've been condensing Dou Qi."
Xiao Li burst out laughing.
"Don't worry. Xiao Yu's no match for me right now..."
He cut off mid-sentence. As the realization hit, Xiao Li's eyes widened.
"Wait, Little Yuanzi, what did you say? You've condensed Dou Qi?!"
"Mm."
Xiao Yuan nodded and said frankly, "I've reached the first segment of Dou Qi."
"Good heavens..."
Xiao Li couldn't help drawing in a sharp breath.
Even Xiao Ding and Xiao Yan stared at him in astonishment, their eyes full of shock.
What had they just heard?
Xiao Yuan had condensed Dou Qi?!
Xiao Ding and Xiao Li had only condensed their first trace of Dou Qi around the age of seven. Even so, that had put them in the upper-middle ranks of the clan.
Xiao Yan, who was five this year, had condensed Dou Qi at four, becoming a rare genius among the Xiao Clan.
They hadn't expected Xiao Yuan to manage the same thing at the age of four!
For a moment, they had no idea what expression to wear.
With all three staring intently at him, Xiao Yuan felt awkward, so he took the initiative to change the subject.
"Um... Cousin Xiao Li, Cousin Xiao Ding, where's everyone going?"
At that, Xiao Li perked up. He slipped an arm around Xiao Yuan's neck again and dragged him toward the main road.
"Hey, hey, Cousin Xiao Li, what are you doing? You can talk without dragging me along!"
"Listen, Little Yuanzi. I heard from my dad that an honored guest is coming to stay at the Xiao Clan today. Supposedly, she's a little girl. Don't you want to go take a look?"
Xiao Yuan froze when he heard Xiao Li's explanation.
A little girl coming to stay at the Xiao Clan?
Could it be Gu Xun'er?
Thinking back over the plot, it seemed she had indeed arrived at the Xiao Clan around this time.
But as soon as he thought of that, his gaze drifted involuntarily to Xiao Yan. His expression turned a little strange, and he stared long enough to make Xiao Yan shiver and frown at him.
He was practically about to say, "What are you looking at?"
"Little Yuanzi, why are you staring at Little Yanzi?"
"Oh, no reason. I just thought Cousin Xiao Yan looked really handsome today..."
Xiao Yan shuddered and instinctively backed away from him.
He had clearly misunderstood.
"Hey, when did your tastes change? I admit my Little Yanzi is handsome, but you're not bad-looking either. Besides, he's not your type!"
Xiao Li rapped him on the head and glared at him in displeasure.
"No way! Come on, come on. You're coming with me to see that little girl who's staying with us today. I'll set your tastes straight!"
As he spoke, Xiao Li summoned his Dou Qi and dragged him toward the Xiao Clan reception hall without taking no for an answer.
"Cousin Xiao Li, easy! Take it easy... Ow!"
Xiao Ding, the oldest of the four, watched the three of them fool around as they walked away. A helpless smile slowly spread across his face.
By the time the four of them arrived at the reception hall, a large crowd had already gathered outside the entrance. They were all members of the younger generation.
A long-legged girl spotted them and immediately snorted before turning away and leaving.
"Forget her."
Xiao Li glanced at the departing figure, then slung an arm around Xiao Yuan's neck again and forcibly squeezed through the crowd. He brought Xiao Yan and Xiao Ding right to the front.
Unfortunately, the reception hall's doors were shut tight. They couldn't see or hear anything, only make out a few heads inside, as if the people there were discussing something important.
Outside the door, however, stood a girl who seemed to have just come out of the reception hall.
She looked very young, with a petite, slender frame draped in a light-purple gauzy dress edged in gold thread.
She looked like a pampered young lady of noble birth.
Her features were exquisite, but her face was deathly pale.
She looked a little malnourished, a stark contrast to her luxurious dress.
Even so, the aloof, distant air about her was impossible to miss.
[Tsk, tsk. Could this be Gu Xun'er, the little princess of the Ancient Clan, one of the Eight Ancient Clans? Why does she look so frail? One punch and she'd probably cry for ages.] ``` [Congratulations, you have obtained the Innate Fire Spirit Body.]