Gaining the Heavenly Mandate Protagonist's Approval!

As the strongest Dou Huang of the Ancient Clan, Ling Ying's words were not inaccurate; after all, he was the weakest member of the Ancient Clan, being their only Dou Huang.

Come to think of it, he was indeed the strongest Dou Huang—there was no fault in that logic.

Ling Ying had been dispatched by the Ancient Clan to Wutan City to protect Xiao Xun'er. Summoned by her now, he knelt on the ground and asked, "Eldest Miss, what are your instructions?"

"Elder Ling, there is a matter I would like you to help me investigate."

"Eldest Miss, whatever you need me to do, please just command it. The Clan Head sent me here to protect your safety and to be at your beck and call; this is my duty."

Xiao Xun'er replied, "It is like this, Elder Ling. I want you to help me check if there is any other Tier 6 Alchemist in the Gama Empire besides Pill King Gu He."

"I suspect that behind Brother Xiao Ze, there is a Tier 6 level alchemist."

"The Imperial Extreme Pill sold previously was of Tier 6 quality, and it was indeed Brother Xiao Ze who sold it to the Mittel Auction House."

"Furthermore, over this period, Brother Xiao Ze's cultivation speed has been even faster than I imagined!"

"I am thinking, if there really is a Tier 6 alchemist behind Brother Xiao Ze, then it is no wonder his cultivation speed is so rapid."

"However, I am not clear on the other party's background. What if he is helping Brother Xiao Ze for some other reason or hidden motive?"

"I need to investigate this clearly before I can be at ease!"

"Elder Ling, please help me investigate. Even if you have to use the power of the clan, you must help me find this person!"

"Any matter that could potentially threaten Brother Xiao Ze's safety, I must get to the bottom of it," Xiao Xun'er said.

"Yes, Eldest Miss. Leave this matter to me; you can rest assured." Elder Ling nodded immediately, then dissolved into a shadow and gradually vanished.

Watching the departed Elder Ling, Xiao Xun'er muttered to herself in her heart.

"Brother Xiao Ze, what kind of alchemist is secretly helping you from behind the scenes?"

"If the other party has no ulterior motives, Xun'er would be very grateful to that alchemist for helping you improve your strength and giving you the power you possess today."

At the Xiao Family's Testing Plaza, Xiao Ze once again encountered Xiao Yan by chance.

Xiao Yan's strength had reached the level of a Nine-Duan Dou Qi during this time. Clearly, even without the "cheat" that was Medicine Elder, Xiao Yan's own talent and strength meant his cultivation speed was not slow.

Now that several months had passed, he had recovered to the level of a Nine-Duan Dou Qi, but breaking through to become a Dou Zhe would likely not be so easy.

Without the assistance of medicinal pills, breaking through was no simple matter.

There was also the risk of failing the advancement, and the risk was not small.

Xiao Yan said, "Sigh, it seems that reaching the strength of a Dou Zhe will not be easy."

"However, if I could do it three years ago, I can still do it now!" Xiao Yan told himself in his heart, his expression turning serious as he began to condense his Dou Qi again.

Seeing Xiao Ze walk over, Xiao Yan gave up on his cultivation and breakthrough, then looked at Xiao Ze and greeted him.

"Fourth Brother, you're here!" Xiao Yan was extremely excited to see Xiao Ze.

One had to know that his Fourth Brother, Xiao Ze, was a young Grand Dou Shi expert; even his own father was only at the level of a Six-Star Grand Dou Shi.

Yet Xiao Ze was rumored to already be a Four-Star Grand Dou Shi—it was simply incredible.

Xiao Yan looked at him excitedly, "Fourth Brother, I never expected that you would have already advanced to the realm of a Four-Star Grand Dou Shi."

"It seems that if we compare talent within our Xiao Family, you are far stronger than us three brothers."

"Good, good, good! Very good! With a genius like you in our Xiao Family, why should we worry about not rising to prominence?" Xiao Yan exclaimed in admiration.

[Obtained the recognition of the Destiny Protagonist, Xiao Yan. Host receives a random reward: one Qi Gathering Powder.]

[Triggered random mission: Help Xiao Yan reach the strength of a Dou Zhe to revitalize the Xiao Family and improve the overall strength of the Xiao Family.]

Regarding the mission released on the System Panel, Xiao Ze smiled faintly.

He had no interest in helping Xiao Yan improve his strength, but because of the system mission to revitalize the Xiao Family, and since the Qi Gathering Powder he had just obtained was of no use to him, he gave it to Xiao Yan to help him improve his strength.

After Xiao Yan received the Qi Gathering Powder, he was overcome with excitement and looked at him, saying:

"Fourth Brother, I wanted to ask earlier—could it be that you are also an alchemist? I heard from Father that the Tier 6 medicinal pill, the Imperial Extreme Pill, was sold by you to the Mittel Auction House for auction."

"To be able to produce even a Tier 6 medicinal pill, Fourth Brother, you truly surprise me!" Xiao Yan sighed.

Xiao Ze couldn't help but laugh. Yes, that was correct, but it was also thanks to Xiao Yan.

If he hadn't snatched Xiao Yan's opportunities, given his current alchemist level, he truly wouldn't have been able to refine a Tier 6 medicinal pill.

After Xiao Yan consumed the Qi Gathering Powder, he sat cross-legged to begin his breakthrough, aiming to advance to a Dou Zhe.

Advancing to the strength of a Dou Zhe indeed carried certain risks and the possibility of failure, but after consuming the Qi Gathering Powder, one could possess a one-hundred-percent success rate.

It guaranteed the strength and realm of a Dou Zhe!

Therefore, Xiao Yan was very excited and thrilled; this meant that no matter what, he had hope of advancing to a Dou Zhe today!

Over an hour passed, and in the blink of an eye, Xiao Yan's forehead was drenched in sweat.

Until Xiao Yan slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air and opened his eyes, his strength had now advanced to that of a Dou Zhe.

A One-Star Dou Zhe.

Xiao Yan arrived before the Testing Stele to conduct a test of his Dou Qi, and the display read: [Xiao Yan, Dou Zhe 1-Star, Level: High-tier!]

Seeing the Dou Qi level displayed on the Testing Stele, Xiao Yan was extremely satisfied and thrilled; if it weren't for Xiao Ze, there was no way he could have increased his cultivation speed so rapidly.

Perhaps, even now, his strength would still be regressing.

On Xiao Ze's System Panel, the random reward appeared immediately.

[Host has completed the mission: Help Xiao Yan reach the strength of a Dou Zhe, completing a main quest to revitalize the Xiao Family. Obtained random reward: three Red Treasure Chests, deposited into the System Inventory.]

Xiao Ze opened the System Panel and saw the three Red Treasure Chests in his inventory.

Without hesitation, he immediately proceeded to draw his rewards!