After exchanging a few words with Xiao Yan,
Xiao Ze's gaze fell once more on the peerlessly beautiful girl who had been by Xiao Yan's side the whole time.
If anyone in the entire Xiao Clan had the most terrifying background, it was perhaps the seemingly inconspicuous girl before him, with skin as smooth as cream and beauty enough to topple a kingdom.
"Ancestor, she's also a member of our Xiao Clan. Her name is Xiao Xun'er..."
"But due to an accident, both her parents passed away, and the entire clan is currently raising her."
Xiao Zhan continued his tireless introduction from the side.
Xiao Xun'er's clear, tranquil eyes met his as she bowed slightly. "Xun'er pays her respects to the ancestor..."
"Hello..." Xiao Ze smiled faintly at her.
Just as he thought this was nothing more than a simple introduction,
Xiao Xun'er's voice suddenly rang in his ear.
It was clear and melodious, as delightful as the chime of silver bells.
"Sir, although Xun'er doesn't know how you passed the bloodline test, she can be certain that you are absolutely not an ancestor of the Xiao Clan..."
"If you truly harbor ill intentions toward the Xiao Clan, the consequences will be severe."
"I urge you to think carefully before you act—"
She had spoken using voice transmission.
So only Xiao Ze could hear her words. Even Xiao Zhan, standing very close to him, hadn't heard a thing.
"What?"
"She knows I'm a fake?"
"How is that possible?"
Hearing Xiao Xun'er's voice transmission,
Xiao Ze's heart jolted, and his eyes grew somewhat flustered.
Had the Ancient Clan gathered such complete intelligence on the Xiao Tribe?
Did they even know the identity he had impersonated—a person from over a hundred years ago—inside and out?
That was impossible!
His Xiao Clan bloodline was genuine!
How had she figured out who I am?
Or was she just trying to trick me into revealing my identity?
Xiao Ze couldn't make sense of it.
Just as he hesitated,
a line of text suddenly appeared before his eyes.
[Gu Xun'er has begun to trust you a little. Current Trust: Half a Star] [Trust Points +50000] [Current Trust Points: 680345]
"Good grief..."
"So she really was trying to trick me!"
"Thank goodness I have a cheat, or I'd have blown my cover just from that one remark."
Looking at the text that had suddenly appeared,
Xiao Ze let out a long breath of relief.
Sure enough, this little girl had only been trying to trick him into revealing his identity.
It was fortunate the information had come in time; otherwise, his identity would have been exposed.
Now that he knew she was trying to trick him,
Xiao Ze naturally knew how to respond.
He gave a soft laugh and said to the girl before him, "What kind of nonsense are you spouting, junior?"
"Your old man was born into the Xiao Clan over a hundred years ago. Of course I'm an ancestor of the Xiao Clan!"
"Since you're still young, I'll let this pass without punishing you."
"Now, be off!"
As he spoke, he swept his long sleeve.
A burst of force pushed Xiao Xun'er back several steps.
"Xun'er!" Xiao Yan's expression changed. He hurried forward to steady her and asked with concern, "Xun'er, are you all right?"
"I'm fine." Xiao Xun'er shook her head.
After regaining her balance, she hurriedly bowed and apologized. "This junior was rash. I hope the ancestor will forgive me."
At the same time, a trace of suspicion flashed through her eyes.
Had she really been overthinking it?
Was the person before her truly a genuine ancestor of the Xiao Clan?
Then why hadn't she found any mention of this when she had gone undercover in the Xiao Clan and examined its records?
Could even the Ancient Clan, with all its power, have failed to gather complete intelligence on the Xiao Tribe?
Xiao Xun'er couldn't figure it out.
But deep down, she still had her doubts about Xiao Ze.
The feast didn't finally come to an end until late at night.
Escorted by a group of senior Xiao Clan members,
Xiao Ze returned to the courtyard where he now lived.
After checking that no one was around,
he closed the doors and windows, then sat cross-legged on the bed.
He opened the system.
His gaze fell straight on [Trust Points].
When he saw the six-digit number displayed there, he was overwhelmed with excitement.
[Current Trust Points: 700,000]
Though it was a large amount,
Xiao Ze understood that he had merely borrowed against the trust of the entire Xiao Clan in advance.
It wouldn't be nearly so easy to collect [Trust Points] again in the future.
"After all the tests, my identity as an ancestor of the Xiao Clan is finally established."
"The process was a bit bumpy, but the outcome is good."
"From now on, I only need to proceed step by step, gradually deepening the influence I have as an ancestor on the Xiao Clan. The more influence I have, the more the Xiao Clan will trust me, and the more Trust Points I'll earn!"
After summing up his goals going forward,
Xiao Ze turned his gaze to the System Shop.
With seven hundred thousand Trust Points in hand, he planned to buy himself some more things.
"Tier 5 Qi Recovery Pill? Bought!"
"Tier 5 Healing Pill? Bought!"
"Tier 6 Imperial Polar Pill? Is that the pill specifically meant to raise the level of Dou Huang experts?"
"Damn, three hundred thousand Trust Points for one? Are you trying to rob me?"
"Forget it. I'll buy one and see how it tastes..."
In the end,
after a bout of frenzied shopping,
Xiao Ze spent nearly five hundred thousand Trust Points.
He planned to save the remaining two hundred thousand, just in case.
Although he had spent a lot, he had also gotten plenty in return.
Take that Tier 6 Imperial Polar Pill, for instance. According to the original story, it could raise the cultivation of a Dou Huang expert.
Xiao Yan had once taken one when he was a Seven-Star Dou Huang, and his cultivation had immediately jumped two stars, soaring all the way to the peak of Nine-Star Dou Huang!
There was no doubt it was a fine pill.
But three hundred thousand Trust Points for one was outrageous!
With that much, he could buy three [Dou Huang Upgrade Cards].
"I hope one Imperial Pole Pill can match three [Dou Huang Upgrade Cards]. Otherwise, this thing will never appear in my redemption list again!"
Xiao Ze stared at the Imperial Pole Pill before him, heart aching.
He swore to himself
that if this Imperial Pole Pill didn't let him rise by three minor levels, he would delete it from the System Shop forever!
Worthless trash.
Ptooey!
"Swallow a pill, and fate is mine to command!"
"Imperial Pole Pill, help me break through!"
Xiao Ze clenched his teeth and swallowed the Imperial Pole Pill.
As soon as the pill entered his body,
a surging, pure energy burst out within him.
Vast Dou Qi spread through his body, and his aura continued to climb.
One-Star Dou Emperor, peak One-Star Dou Emperor!
Two-Star Dou Emperor, peak Two-Star Dou Emperor!
Three-Star Dou Emperor...
Four-Star Dou Emperor!
Until—
peak Four-Star Dou Emperor!
The Imperial Pole Pill hadn't let him down. One pill had raised him by three minor levels, bringing his cultivation all the way to peak Four-Star Dou Emperor!
While Xiao Ze was raising his cultivation,
in a residence to the northwest of his courtyard,
Xiao Yan was also training hard.
With Elder Yao's help, he gradually found his way back to cultivation, and large amounts of Dou Qi gathered within him.
Without Elder Yao devouring it, the Dou Qi finally stayed in his body.
"I did it! My Dou Qi can finally stay inside me!"
"I, Xiao Yan, can cultivate again!"
In the misty wooden tub, Xiao Yan laughed with excitement.
The useless young man of the past had disappeared.
In his place stood the once-brilliant young genius!
If it weren't already so late, Xiao Yan would have wanted to shout and tell the entire Xiao Clan that Hu Hansan had returned!
Before you continue