What the Hell is This Reverse Heavenly Dipper Formation!

"...Niece Nalan, I accept this request on Yuan'er's behalf."

As he spoke these words, Xiao Zhan seemed to age ten years in an instant.

He had no choice but to agree.

Xiao Zhan knew very well that Xun'er was fond of Xiao Yuan, and if it were possible, he would have been happy to see the two children together.

But in the end, it was impossible.

The gap between the Xiao Clan and the family behind Xun'er was far too vast.

Even though Xiao Yuan had reached the level of a Great Dou Shi at the age of fourteen, allowing the Xiao Clan a chance to rise, they still could not climb such a high branch as Xun'er.

Furthermore, a behemoth like the Misty Cloud Sect was not something the Xiao Clan could afford to provoke.

Now that Nalan Yanran had made a concession, if they were to refuse again, the Xiao Clan would certainly suffer.

However, at this moment, Nalan Yanran looked at Xiao Yuan and spoke once more.

"I know that although I am a disciple of Teacher Yun Yun, you must have your own grievances about being betrothed to a Dou Zhe like me, feeling that I am using my status to pressure you."

"Therefore, I, Nalan Yanran, hereby set a three-year agreement with you."

"Three years from now, you and I shall settle this at the Peak of Misty Cloud. If I, Nalan Yanran, lose, our engagement shall be annulled. If I win, then you shall obediently become my husband."

"You are indeed a one-in-a-million genius, but I, Nalan Yanran, am no mediocre talent either!"

"Here, I, Nalan Yanran, leave you with one more sentence—"

"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river; do not bully a young man for being poor!"

Xiao Yuan: ???

[Sister, did you pick up the wrong script? Is this something you should be saying?]

"Very well, let it be so."

Xiao Zhan spoke up at the right moment to interrupt their conversation and began to see the guests out.

"And take this back as well; my Xiao Clan has no need for such compensation."

With a wave of his hand, Xiao Zhan coldly flung the jade box on the table away.

This was Xiao Zhan's final act of defiance, and the last thing he could do for his son as a father.

But before the other party could catch it, a hand suddenly reached out and intercepted it.

That person was Xiao Yuan.

Holding the jade box, he bowed respectfully to Xiao Zhan in the hall.

"My apologies, Uncle Xiao, but I don't think this Qi Gathering Powder should be returned."

As he spoke, he turned to look at Nalan Yanran and chuckled.

"The Misty Cloud Sect is wealthy and powerful, after all; it is merely a fourth-grade medicinal pill. Since it was given as a gift, how could there be any reason to take it back? Wouldn't you agree, Miss Nalan?"

Although he said this aloud, he was thinking to himself.

[Damn it, why return it to them? For the sake of mere face? How much is face worth? Even if I sell this thing or feed it to a dog, I wouldn't return it to the Misty Cloud Sect!]

[Since you want to disgust me, don't blame me for disgusting you back!]

Hearing his inner thoughts, Nalan Yanran let out a soft, coquettish huff.

"Hmph, I didn't intend to take it back anyway; consider it a token of our engagement."

With those words, Nalan Yanran led Ge Ye and the others away.

Watching their retreating figures, Xiao Yuan couldn't help but grit his teeth.

[This is absolutely insane, the world has turned upside down!]

The Xiao Clan's reputation had been preserved.

Nalan Yanran had also achieved her goal.

The engagement annulment had come to an end in this manner, which should have been a happy ending for everyone.

Yet, no matter what, Xiao Yuan could not bring himself to smile.

Damn it, this world-turning madness—he never would have imagined that this crazy woman Nalan Yanran was actually lusting after his body!

And even more dejected than him was Xiao Yan.

At least in the original story, his father Xiao Zhan and Xun'er had stood by his side and supported him.

But now?

There was no need to mention Xun'er; he hadn't expected that even Xiao Zhan would compromise because of this.

The damage this dealt to Xiao Yan was beyond words.

For this reason, Xiao Yuan had specifically sought out his cheap cousin to offer some comfort.

Regrettably, Xiao Yan had only offered him a bitter smile in return, even thanking him for upholding the Xiao Clan's reputation.

That look.

It was exactly like a victim who had been cuckolded by a delinquent, yet still had to say thank you.

Utterly helpless.

Since he couldn't offer comfort, he decided to give up and let Xiao Yan figure it out on his own.

Besides, according to his calculations, Yao Chen should be waking up today.

And so, he bid farewell to Xun'er and returned alone to his own private courtyard.

He locked the door tight and began to inspect today's spoils.

First were the fifty porcelain bottles laid out before him.

Aside from some healing salves, there were a staggering thirty-four bottles of Joyous Union Powder!

Just seeing this quantity made Xiao Yuan's eyelids twitch uncontrollably.

"Damn it, am I some new breed of lecherous thief? Why do I need so much of this stuff? Am I supposed to eat it for dinner?"

The most critical part was that among them, there was one bottle that was completely different.

[Yin-Yang Joyous Union Powder]

[Grade: None]

[Effect: Can cause anyone below the Dou Di level to lose all cultivation for one hour, fully indulging in the pleasures of the flesh.]

[During the union of Yin and Yang, it can accelerate cultivation speed, increasing one's cultivation based on the partner's realm.]

Simply put, it was an advanced version of the Joyous Union Powder.

And a dual-cultivation version at that.

According to the description, as long as he fed this to a Dou Sheng and engaged in dual cultivation with her, could he reach the Dou Sheng realm at light speed?

It sounded pretty good.

But who would dare?!

He reckoned that before he could even take it out to drug someone, he would be slapped into a pulp by a Dou Sheng!

This was absurdity opening the door for absurdity—absurdity had reached its peak!

"Damn system, why don't you just give me an indestructible kidney while you're at it!"

[Ding, no.]

Xiao Yuan was instantly choked with anger. He grumbled as he put away the porcelain bottles and looked at the next reward—

"Ten Thousand Soul Banner."

A black flag appeared in his hands.

It felt ice-cold to the touch, or perhaps one could even say it was bone-chillingly cold!

A supreme, malevolent treasure of the demonic path, with a pole made of Ten Thousand Year Profound Yin Wood, soul-hooking chains hanging from the banner, and a surface like ink-dyed green silk. It was covered in hideous white skulls with ghostly green flames flowing from their eye sockets, and the ancient seal characters for "Profound Yin Ten Thousand Ghosts Devouring Heaven" hung from the corners.

As the saying goes—

To become a dragon or elephant among the heavens, one must first consume the cattle and horses of the masses.

If you don't work hard on the path of cultivation, you'll end up brothers in the Ten Thousand Soul Banner.

He just wondered if he could refine this thing into a golden version on the Dou Qi Continent; though, having it wrapped in Primordial Violet Qi wouldn't be bad either.

After toying with it for a moment, just as he was about to put it away, the Ten Thousand Soul Banner suddenly dove into his body.

He could take it out with a single thought.

It was as easy as moving his own arm, without the slightest obstruction.

"That's quite convenient."

Xiao Yuan grinned, then began to examine the next reward.

"The next item... wait a minute, what is this?"

Just as he was preparing to look at the Heavenly Flame he had been longing for, he suddenly discovered a strange wooden box.

The exterior looked exquisitely crafted, inlaid with gold thread and appearing ancient; the box itself was valuable enough, but the system's introduction was even more shocking.

[Source Qi]

[Introduction: A unique energy born in response to the heavens and earth, a necessary item for ascending to the rank of Dou Di.]

Xiao Yuan: "..."

He fell silent.

But his silence was deafening!

Faintly, one could hear him incessantly cursing the damn system!

He never expected today's reward to be not just a double-yolk, but a triple-yolk!

But the problem was, pulling the key item for becoming an Emperor from a lottery—even a novelist wouldn't dare write something like this!

Isn't this just putting him on the spit to roast?!

He dared say that if he were to let this thing be exposed today, Hun Tiandi would have the entire clan's experts at his doorstep by tomorrow morning!