"What?" Xiao Zhan froze, thinking he had misheard.
Even though his son Xiao Ze's progress had advanced by leaps and bounds lately,
it was absolutely impossible for him to have already reached the strength of a four-star Dou Zhe, wasn't it?
So upon hearing this news, his first reaction was suspicion. Could it be that members of the family had deliberately told him this just to mock Ze'er?
But several family guards answered in unison.
"Patriarch, we've followed you for so many years. We're your trusted men—do you not even trust us? How could we joke about Fourth Young Master's Dou Qi strength?"
"Besides, at Family Square just now, Fourth Young Master fought Miss Xun'er and defeated her in less than one exchange. Many people witnessed it with their own eyes. If we've spoken even half a lie, we're willing to accept punishment."
Seeing how serious they looked, Xiao Zhan could tell they were not joking.
Only then did he believe them.
Excitement immediately churned through his heart like stormy waves.
But at that moment, the family elders each poured cold water over him.
"Xiao Zhan, don't mistake a tuft of dogtail grass for your lifeline. None of us elders believe a single word of this."
"Miss Xun'er is the greatest genius of our Xiao Family. How could Xiao Ze possibly possess such ability?"
Just then, the Great Elder's grandson, Xiao Ning, entered the hall.
The Great Elder called him over and asked, "Xiao Ning, come here. When you were at the square earlier, did you see Xiao Ze fight Xun'er?"
Xiao Ning had personally witnessed everything just moments ago, and even now, he still found it hard to believe.
He had thought his eyes were playing tricks on him.
Now that his grandfather had asked him, Xiao Ning was reluctant to admit it, but the facts were there.
Even if he lied, everyone else had seen it.
So he answered, "Grandfather, Xiao Ze truly did defeat Xiao Xun'er at the square just now."
"What? It really happened?" The elders froze, utterly dumbfounded and left speechless.
"Hahaha! I knew it! My son, Xiao Zhan's son, is truly promising!" Xiao Zhan was beside himself with excitement.
Even Xiao Ning, who had always disliked Xiao Yan and Xiao Ze, had said so. There could be no doubt about it—it had to be true!
Xiao Zhan thought to himself.
Damn it, if anyone dares say they want to strip my son of his family cultivation resources again, I'll bash his head in!
Amid his excitement, Xiao Zhan could no longer wait to see his son.
So Xiao Zhan left the family hall and headed outside.
He knew that Xiao Ze had been working hard lately. At this time every day, he would cultivate at the Back Mountain. Today was surely no exception.
Xiao Zhan went straight to the family's Back Mountain. Upon arriving, he saw Xiao Ze still cultivating diligently.
Just then, he looked at the system panel as it settled his rewards.
[Current mission: Defeat Xiao Xun'er and gain her acknowledgment.] [Mission reward: One Wind Attribute Cultivation Method.] [Mission complete. Reward successfully issued. Host may open the backpack to inspect it.]
Xiao Ze opened the System Backpack and inspected the mission reward he had just received.
It was a low-grade Earth-tier Wind Attribute Cultivation Method, perfectly suited for Xiao Zhan to cultivate.
Xiao Ze was, after all, fire-attributed and could not cultivate it.
Xiao Zhan was his father. If he gave it to him, Xiao Zhan could better protect himself, leaving Xiao Ze with one less weakness.
In the future, he would not be abducted by the Soul Hall either, and this could even alter the course of the plot.
Moreover, Xiao Zhan had always been a very responsible father. Over the years, even though Xiao Ze's talent had been poor and he had remained at merely one stage of Dou Qi, Xiao Zhan had never given up on him.
It was clear that he truly was a good father.
Now that he had a low-grade Earth-tier Wind Attribute Cultivation Method suitable for Xiao Zhan, Xiao Ze naturally did not hesitate to give it away.
When he saw Xiao Zhan striding over, Xiao Ze had not even had time to speak before Xiao Zhan excitedly spoke first.
"Haha, son, I guessed right. You really are cultivating here."
"Father." Seeing Xiao Zhan approach, Xiao Ze greeted him first.
Xiao Zhan said excitedly, "Son, I've already heard about your fight with Xun'er at the square."
"Who would have thought that just a few days ago, my son was still at one stage of Dou Qi? Yet in such a short time, you've already broken through to become a Dou Zhe—and even a four-star Dou Zhe!"
As Xiao Zhan continued, his emotions grew increasingly agitated.
This proved that his instincts had been correct. Xiao Ze truly had not disappointed him.
"I knew it! My son, Xiao Zhan's son, is no ordinary person! Perhaps you did not cultivate as quickly as others in the beginning, but a late bloomer is still far beyond anything they can compare to!" Xiao Zhan said excitedly.
While Xiao Zhan was thrilled, Xiao Ze remained calm.
He immediately retrieved the cultivation method he had obtained from the mission from the System Backpack.
It was a Wind Attribute Cultivation Method called Nine Revolutions of Heavenly Gang, a low-grade Earth-tier technique.
"What is this?" Xiao Zhan looked puzzled when Xiao Ze suddenly took out a cultivation method, staring at him in confusion.
Before Xiao Zhan could speak, Xiao Ze said,
"Father, I know that you cultivate wind-attributed methods, and that you've made no progress for many years at your current Da Dou Shi realm."
"I unexpectedly obtained a cultivation method called Nine Revolutions of Heavenly Gang. It is a low-grade Earth-tier method, and it is most suitable for you to cultivate, Father."
"Please accept it, Father. I have seen all the care you've shown me over these years."
Xiao Zhan was shocked. He had never expected his son to produce an Earth-tier cultivation method. It caught him completely by surprise.
Could his son have encountered some great fortune or opportunity? Otherwise, how could he casually take out an Earth-tier cultivation method for him to use?
And his progress over this period had been so rapid that it was simply unbelievable.
Could his guess have been right?
Had Xiao Ze truly obtained some extraordinary opportunity? Since Xiao Ze had not said anything, Xiao Zhan did not intend to ask further.
"Hahaha, good! Since this is Ze'er's filial offering, your father won't refuse it. There's no need for us father and son to stand on ceremony." After Xiao Zhan accepted it, Xiao Ze nodded in satisfaction.
According to the current course of the plot, it would not be long before the Three-Year Agreement and the famous scene of Xiao Yan's broken engagement.
Sure enough.
His guess had been completely correct.
At that moment, Xiao Zhan suddenly spoke up first. "Ze'er, a distinguished guest will visit our family in three days."
"You and Yan'er should both prepare yourselves to welcome our guest."
Before you continue