The Xiao Family Elders' Approval!

Xiao Ze left the mountain behind the family estate, and a short while later, he arrived within the Xiao Family grounds. Jia Xingtian had already departed; although he felt a tinge of disappointment at failing to invite Xiao Ze to the imperial palace, he respected Xiao Ze's decision.

Inside the Xiao Family's great hall, the elders were filled with shock, and for a time, they spoke up one after another.

"Xiao Ze is truly the most outstanding talent our Xiao Family has seen in so many years."

"That's right. Even Jia Xingtian, the guardian of the Gama Empire's royal family, came to pay a visit. In all these years, when has our Xiao Family ever received such high regard? Wouldn't you all agree?"

"Isn't that the truth? Never mind Xiao Ze; even we old fellows are basking in his reflected glory."

The elders looked toward Xiao Zhan, who sat in the patriarch's seat, and spoke to him with expressions of immense envy.

"Sigh, Patriarch, although we old fellows have one foot in the grave, we still envy you for having such an outstanding son."

"Indeed, who wouldn't? If I had a son as exceptional as Xiao Ze, I'd wake up laughing in my dreams. It's just a pity that useless brat Xiao Ning isn't half as ambitious."

The several elders of the Xiao Family spoke slowly, praising Xiao Ze while occasionally belittling their own grandsons.

On one hand, this was naturally to curry favor with Xiao Zhan, but on the other, these were words spoken from the bottom of their hearts.

"Hahaha, the speed at which Ze'er's strength has improved lately is truly surprising."

"At such a young age, he is already a Five-Star Grand Dou Shi. Even I, as his father, am deeply astonished." No sooner had Xiao Zhan finished speaking than the elders froze. What? A Five-Star Grand Dou Shi? They thought they must have misheard.

"Patriarch, you aren't joking, are you? Wasn't Xiao Ze a Four-Star Grand Dou Shi just a few days ago?"

"How could he have advanced a star so quickly?"

"This is the realm of a Grand Dou Shi, after all. Advancing a level is incredibly difficult, unlike the Dou Shi realm."

The elders wore expressions of utter astonishment. Seeing their shocked reactions, Xiao Zhan felt a sense of satisfaction. What father wouldn't want to see others cast such awestruck gazes upon his son?

Before Xiao Zhan could continue, Xiao Ze arrived at the great hall and stepped inside.

Upon his entry, the elders stood up excitedly and said, "Xiao Ze, you've come at just the right time. Come in, come in!"

"What is it, Elders?" Xiao Ze asked casually after walking in. He found a seat and looked at the elders before him.

They spoke up one after another, saying, "We were just talking with your father about your recent progress in strength."

"Your father just said that your current strength has reached the level of a Five-Star Grand Dou Shi? Is that really true?"

Xiao Ze recalled a mission the system had issued him earlier that remained incomplete: to reveal his strength as a Five-Star Grand Dou Shi, shock the Xiao Family elders, and gain their recognition.

Xiao Ze had already accepted the mission, but he had yet to finish it.

Faced with the curious gazes of the Xiao Family elders, Xiao Ze did not hesitate. He released his aura, revealing himself to be a Five-Star Grand Dou Shi.

Just as Xiao Ze displayed his strength, Xiao Xun'er happened to pass by the hall and witnessed the scene.

Xiao Xun'er's expression was filled with surprise and disbelief as she muttered to herself, Brother Xiao Ze, his strength has improved again? A Five-Star Grand Dou Shi?

Xiao Xun'er was astonished, thinking to herself that Brother Xiao Ze was truly powerful!

"It really is a Five-Star Grand Dou Shi." The expressions of the Xiao Family elders were filled with wonder.

As Xiao Ze revealed his Five-Star Grand Dou Shi strength, Xiao Zhan, sitting in the patriarch's seat, took special note of the elders' stunned reactions.

Recalling how they used to pay little attention to Xiao Ze, their current attitude was a world of difference.

The shift in the elders' attitude toward Xiao Ze left Xiao Zhan, as a father, extremely satisfied.

Xiao Ze looked at the system panel that appeared before him, which displayed a line of text.

[Host has completed the mission: Reveal the strength of a Five-Star Grand Dou Shi and gain the recognition of the Xiao Family elders. Triggered a random reward: Gained 30 points of defense attribute, and the upper limit has been increased.]

After receiving the system reward, Xiao Ze focused his attention on the panel to check his attributes; his upper limit had indeed increased by 30 points.

Sitting in the hall, Xiao Ze noted that the elders' attitude toward him had truly changed with the times.

"But having said that, Xiao Ze, Jia Xingtian is the guardian of the Gama Empire's royal family and has now broken through to the Dou Zong realm."

"He invited you to be a guest at the palace; why did you refuse such a grand invitation?" the elders asked, somewhat confused.

Xiao Ze replied, "A guest at the palace? I have no great interest in that, so I naturally declined."

The elders were filled with envy. That was an invitation from the royal family! If it were anyone else, they would be overjoyed to receive such an invitation, let alone refuse it.

As expected of Xiao Ze!

Xiao Ze remained in his seat in the hall for the next few dozen minutes, listening quietly without speaking.

The elders looked at Xiao Zhan and said, "Patriarch, we just received a letter of reconciliation from the Jialie Family. They express their apologies for opposing our Xiao Family in Wutan City previously."

"They also promised in the letter that they will never harbor hostility toward our Xiao Family again. Furthermore, they are willing to cooperate with us in all business matters with the utmost sincerity."

"That Jia Liebi is quite sensible."

"That is only natural. After all, our Xiao Family's Xiao Ze is held in such high regard by the imperial family that they even visited in person. Does the Jialie Family dare to continue opposing us?" one of the elders remarked.

After a few dozen minutes, Xiao Ze left the hall. As soon as he stepped outside, he saw Xiao Xun'er waiting for him.

"Brother Xiao Ze, would it be convenient to go for a walk? Xun'er has something she would like to tell you." Xiao Xun'er looked at him and spoke.

"Sure!" Xiao Ze nodded. He and Xiao Xun'er walked along the streets of Wutan City, and a short while later, Xiao Xun'er suddenly spoke up.

She looked at Xiao Ze.