In Wutan City, a bustling inn roared with chatter and laughter.
The air was filled with the aroma of food and the cheerful laughter of the people.
Everyone sat gathered together, their eyes all fixed on the young man in their midst.
His name was Xiao Fan. Dressed in a blue robe, he stood tall and straight, with handsome features, sharp brows, and bright eyes. A carefree smile tugged at his lips as he prattled on, boasting without pause.
"In my previous life, I was a Great Emperor. Back then, I alone reigned through the ages. I stood behind all living beings, founded a Dao lineage, and subdued the restricted zones."
Xiao Fan's expression was utterly calm.
"Back then, this Emperor possessed the Innate Sacred Body Dao Fetus physique. I was born with an invincible body, naturally attuned to the Dao, and gifted with exceptional cultivation talent. The moment I was born, I already had the cultivation of a Saint at the fourth level of the Immortal Platform Realm. It took me only five hundred years to prove the Dao and become an Emperor—the fastest Great Emperor to achieve the Dao in recorded history!"
"Before I proved the Dao, I could already catch Emperor weapons with my bare hands. After becoming an Emperor, my combat prowess was unmatched. I once subdued the seven great life-restricted zones all by myself and awed the Heavenly Court and the Underworld. The experts of all races didn't dare raise their heads, and even the Supreme Beings in the restricted zones feared my reputation."
"At the end of the Immortal Road, who stands at the peak? Once you see this Emperor, the Dao becomes empty."
The Great Emperor Xiao Fan stood in the center of the inn with his hands behind his back. His bearing was towering and his aura extraordinary, as if all of heaven and earth were merely a backdrop for him.
He raised his head slightly, his gaze deep and resolute. An invincible confidence and domineering air shone in his eyes, as though everything beneath the heavens lay within his grasp.
The audience around him was captivated by his words and bearing, and they applauded again and again.
"Hahaha, Young Master Xiao's story is truly magnificent!"
A bearded, burly man slapped the table and roared with laughter, his eyes brimming with excitement.
"Exactly! There aren't many storytellers as entertaining as Young Master Xiao in all of Wutan City!"
An old man stroked his beard and nodded repeatedly, a satisfied smile on his face.
Among the crowd were a few young people who hadn't seen much of the world. Xiao Fan's words left them deeply shaken, their eyes filled with admiration and longing.
"Great Emperor Xiao Fan, I'm willing to follow you!"
A young man cried out excitedly. His face flushed red, his fists clenched tight, and his eyes gleamed with determination.
"Great Emperor Xiao Fan, your deeds are truly admirable!"
Another young man chimed in with flattery, eyes wide with reverence for Xiao Fan.
Xiao Fan raised a hand and pressed down lightly. With a calm smile, he said, "Hey, take it easy. This Emperor has already returned to the mortal world. I'm no longer a Great Emperor, so just treat me like anyone else."
He was secretly delighted, but did his best to maintain a composed expression.
The crowd burst into laughter once more, filling the inn with a cheerful atmosphere.
Some laughed so hard they doubled over, while others whispered together, discussing the legendary tales Xiao Fan had told.
[Drip! Your boasting has deeply convinced some young people. You have gained 300 points.]
The system's mechanical voice rang in Xiao Fan's mind. He nodded slightly, quite pleased.
The corners of his mouth lifted involuntarily as he thought to himself, At this rate, my strength will soon rise to the next level.
He was a transmigrator, so naturally, he had received the standard golden-finger system that came with the territory.
It was a Boasting System. The more people believed the things he bragged about, the more system points he earned. He could use those points to add points to anything, be it a Dou Technique or a cultivation method. Adding points to a Dou Technique increased its proficiency, while adding them to a cultivation method raised its tier.
Xiao Fan leisurely took a sip of tea and cleared his throat, about to launch into even more astonishing "legendary exploits."
Just then, Xiao Yu walked in, her long, shapely legs striding forward.
Her figure was graceful and her features beautiful. Frowning slightly, she said, "Cousin Xiao Fan, the clan leader wants to see you about something..."
Xiao Fan hurriedly clasped his hands toward the people around him and apologized. "Everyone, I'm terribly sorry, but I'll have to stop here for today. I'll share more with you another time."
Then he headed toward the Xiao Clan with Xiao Yu.
On the way, he spotted Xiao Yan, who looked troubled.
Xiao Fan teased him. "What's got you looking so glum, Xiao Yanzi? Come over and massage the legs and shoulders of the future Great Emperor Xiao Fan. I'll take you with me into the ranks of the immortals."
Xiao Yan shot him an indignant look, seething inwardly. That guy's way too arrogant!
He wanted nothing more than to beat the living daylights out of him.
They were both transmigrators, so how had this guy's strength improved so quickly?
Meanwhile, Xiao Yan's strength had been declining for more than two years. He was already down to the third stage of Dou Qi!
Just then, the clan leader, Xiao Zhan, came over. With a kindly smile, he asked Xiao Fan, "Xiao Fan, how have you been these past few days?"
His eyes were full of concern. He didn't mention cultivation at all; after all, Xiao Fan had already revealed strength at the Six-Star Dou Zhe level, which was quite impressive.
Xiao Yu, however, looked exasperated. With her hands on her hips, she said, "If Cousin Xiao Fan would put his mind to cultivation, he might already be a Dou Shi!"
Xiao Fan smiled faintly, thinking, If I told you all that I'm a Nine-Star Dou Wang, almost a Dou Emperor, wouldn't your jaws hit the floor?
But outwardly, he remained calm and unruffled.
Xiao Yu and Xiao Zhan exchanged a glance. Then Xiao Yu spoke, her voice unusually gentle. "Cousin Xiao Fan, if you come with me to Jia Nan Academy, your strength will surely improve much faster!"
Her gaze was full of hope and sincerity. She had heard that Xiao Fan had shown more talent over the past two years than Xiao Yan had at the same age, and that was why she had specifically taken leave from Jia Nan Academy to come back.
Xiao Fan waved a hand, his expression firm. "Why should the Great Emperor Xiao Fan rely on such things? In this life, I don't need anyone's help to return to my peak."
Xiao Yu shook her head helplessly, frowning. "Cousin Xiao Fan, don't get too full of yourself. You can't even imagine the resources Jia Nan Academy has."
Xiao Fan remained unmoved, his gaze unwavering. "Cousin, I've made up my mind. You don't need to persuade me."
Xiao Zhan spoke up. "All right, all right. Since Xiao Fan has his own ideas, we shouldn't force him."
A trace of helplessness showed on his face. He had clearly long since grown used to Xiao Fan's ways.
Xiao Yu's beautiful face tightened with anger.
"Then don't come crying to me later!"
Xiao Fan's lips curled into a confident smile. "Regret? Those two words aren't in this Great Emperor's dictionary."
With that, Xiao Fan turned and left, his robe fluttering behind him as Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yu exchanged bewildered looks.
Back in his room, Xiao Fan considered his situation. "My strength still isn't enough. I need to boast more and earn points to improve myself."
"System..."
[Name]: Xiao Fan
[Realm]: Nine-Star Dou Wang (2700/5000)
[Technique]: Mad Lion Rage Aura (Low Earth Tier)
[Skills]: Thousand Flame Sword Aura (Advanced Proficiency), Great Wind Hand Seal (Advanced Proficiency), Explosive Step (Advanced Proficiency), etc.
[Points]: 300
Good. He only needed another two thousand Bragging Points to break through to Dou Emperor.
By then, Great Emperor Xiao Fan would be able to roam the Jia Ma Empire with impunity.
Xiao Fan was quite pleased and prepared to hurry up and cultivate.
After all, cultivating could also reduce the number of points he needed to spend.
Just then, someone knocked at the door.
Knock, knock!
Xiao Fan closed his eyes slightly. He knew who it was without even looking.
"Come in..."