The night passed without incident.
The next day.
A thin mist hung in the air.
Xiao Ze awoke from his cultivation.
He deftly opened the system panel to inspect it.
[Host: Xiao Ze] [Age: 20] [ cultivation: One-Star Dou Emperor] [Dou Techniques: Holy Spirit Sword Technique, Myriad Transformation Phantom, Heaven Burning Palm] [Weapon: Taixiao Sword] [Trust List: Xiao Yan (Half-Star), Xiao Zhan (One-Star), Great Elder (One-Star), Second Elder (One-Star)...] [Current Trust Points: 5732]
"Phew~"
"Another day full of hope!"
Xiao Ze let out a long breath and stood up. Facing the mild sunlight outside the window, he stretched as his bones crackled.
He felt completely refreshed.
His Dou Qi, vast as a surging river, rested quietly within him, like a volcano storing its strength. The slightest movement could unleash energy capable of destroying the heavens and earth.
Knock, knock, knock—
A knock sounded at the door.
A young member of the Xiao Clan cautiously poked his head in. Somewhat flustered, he said, "Ancestor, the clan leader invites you to the clan grounds."
"Understood."
After a brief rest, Xiao Ze followed the young clansman to the Xiao Clan grounds.
Along the way, the boy, who looked only fourteen or fifteen, kept glancing nervously at Xiao Ze. His clear eyes were filled with confusion.
Ever since Xiao Ze had appeared the previous night,
everyone in the Xiao Clan knew that an exceptionally handsome ancestor had appeared among them!
All the Xiao Clan members were curious.
The boy was no exception.
On the way to the Xiao Clan grounds,
Xiao Ze felt quite at ease.
Now that he had exchanged for the Xiao Clan bloodline, he was a bona fide member of the Xiao Clan.
No matter how they tested his bloodline,
there could only be one result.
It would prove that he was an ancestor of the Xiao Clan!
When he arrived at the Xiao Clan grounds,
the place was bustling today. With the return of their ancestor at stake, almost eighty percent of the Xiao Clan had come to watch.
At the center of the crowd, the Xiao Clan elders stood respectfully,
quietly waiting for Xiao Ze to arrive.
"Ancestor, you're here!" Xiao Zhan stepped forward respectfully.
"Mhm. Let's not waste time. Get the bloodline test underway."
Xiao Ze didn't waste any time.
He was ready to take the test immediately.
After the Xiao Clan elders busied themselves for a while, they finally brought out the instrument used specifically to test bloodlines.
It was a palm-sized, entirely golden instrument resembling a compass. The person being tested only needed to drip their blood onto it, and it would identify their bloodline.
Once all the preparations were complete,
Xiao Ze cut his palm and let his blood fall onto the jade stone at the instrument's center.
Whoosh—
The next instant,
the ordinary-looking compass burst into brilliant golden light. Golden clouds gathered above it, swirling and shimmering three inches above its surface.
"His bloodline shines gold."
"Only someone of the Xiao Clan's direct line can achieve that!"
"He really is our Xiao Clan's ancestor!"
As they watched the golden clouds wafting above the compass, joy and excitement filled the faces of every Xiao Clan member.
This clearly proved that Xiao Ze was indeed their ancestor!
"Ancestor! Ancestor!"
Countless shouts rose and fell.
Gradually, the voices joined together, surging like a crashing tide.
[Xiao Clan member xxx has placed their trust in you. Current trust level: One-Star] [Trust Points +1000] [Xiao Clan member xxx has placed their trust in you. Current trust level: One-and-a-Half Stars] [Trust Points +2000] [Xiao Clan member xxx has placed their trust in you. Current trust level: Two Stars] [Trust Points +5000] [...] [Current Trust Points: 103452]
As every Xiao Clan member cheered deafeningly,
Xiao Ze's vision was instantly flooded with countless notifications.
At this moment!
He had won the recognition of every member of the Xiao Clan!
At the same time, his Trust Points were skyrocketing.
In just a few short minutes,
his Trust Points had climbed back into the six figures.
And that wasn't all.
His Trust Points were still rising at the astonishing rate of over a thousand per minute.
"Already a hundred thousand Trust Points?"
"Sure enough, pretending to be the Xiao Clan's ancestor was the right decision!"
Watching his Trust Points climb to a hundred thousand in just a few minutes,
Xiao Ze could hardly contain his delight.
Just as he was congratulating himself on the decision he'd made, another shocking notification suddenly appeared before his eyes.
[The trust of the Son of the Plane, Xiao Yan, in you has increased. Current trust level: One-Star] [Trust Points +500000] [Current Trust Points: 610485]
"How much?"
"Five hundred thousand Trust Points?"
"I've hit the jackpot again!"
Seeing the sudden addition of five hundred thousand Trust Points,
Xiao Ze's grin nearly split his face.
Was this the terrifying power of the protagonist?
Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful!
With the bloodline test complete,
Xiao Ze's position as the Xiao Clan's ancestor was officially secured.
Afterward,
the Xiao Clan leader, Xiao Zhan, and the other clan elders unanimously agreed to hold a grand banquet to welcome Xiao Ze, their ancestor, back to the clan.
The banquet lasted from day until night.
All the Xiao Clan members were immersed in the joy of their ancestor's return.
Night fell.
The moon hung high, and the stars glittered brilliantly.
Inside the Xiao Clan's main hall,
a group of clan elders brought their younger generations forward one by one to pay their respects to Xiao Ze, their ancestor. As clan leader, Xiao Zhan also stood nearby to introduce them.
"Ancestor, this is the current Great Elder of the Xiao Clan. He's responsible for..."
"This is the Second Elder..."
"This is the Third Elder..."
"...This is Xiao Ning, a direct descendant of the Xiao Clan."
"...This is also a direct descendant. Her name is Xiao Mei."
"This is..."
Seated in the main chair of the hall as the ancestor,
Xiao Ze listened attentively as Xiao Zhan introduced everyone.
Before long, Xiao Ze had gained a general understanding of the Xiao Clan's current structure.
When a young man with short black hair, around fifteen or sixteen years old, stepped up beside him, Xiao Zhan looked a little awkward. In the end, he still introduced him to Xiao Ze.
"Ancestor, this is my unworthy son, Xiao Yan."
"He currently ranks third in the family..."
Xiao Yan stepped forward and cupped his hands toward Xiao Ze. "Xiao Yan pays his respects to the ancestor!"
Looking at Xiao Yan, Xiao Ze couldn't help smiling. He sensed a trace of Dou Qi coming from him.
It seemed that Xiao Yan had officially met Elder Yao the night before.
And he, too, was about to embark on the path to becoming the Flame Emperor.
"Good, good, good..." Xiao Ze said with a smile, repeating the word several times before continuing, "Xiao Yan, was it? I think highly of you. Keep working hard, and fulfill the Three-Year Agreement I made last night!"
"Yes, Ancestor. Rest assured. I'll work hard!"
If Xiao Yan had felt uncertain about his future the night before,
today his heart was filled with hope.
And this change was entirely thanks to the old gentleman hidden inside his ring!
"Now I can gather my Dou Qi again."
"With the help of that mysterious old gentleman, I'm sure my strength will improve by leaps and bounds."
"The Three-Year Agreement..."
"It doesn't seem like an impossible task after all!"
Xiao Yan clenched his fists and silently made up his mind.
No matter what, he would avenge the humiliation of last night's broken engagement!
Before you continue