Breakthrough! The Realm of a One-Star Dou Huang!

The moon hung like a silver plate amidst a sky full of stars.

The Xiao Clan had arranged for Xiao Ze to rest in a quiet, secluded courtyard.

He closed the door behind him.

Xiao Ze sat cross-legged on the bed.

With over fifteen thousand Trust Points, I wonder what I can actually exchange for!

As he spoke, he tapped open the system.

He began to browse the system shop.

[Dou Di Pill: 100,000,000 Trust Points]

[Emperor-tier Dou Technique: 100,000,000 Trust Points]

[Tier 9 Nine-Colored Medicinal Pill: 50,000,000 Trust Points]

[Xiao Clan Emperor Blood: 100,000,000 Trust Points]

[Ancient Clan Emperor Blood: 100,000,000 Trust Points]

[Soul Clan Emperor Blood: ...]

[Heaven-tier Soul...]

[Tier 9 Alchemy Technique...]

Rows of items sat silently in the system shop.

Xiao Ze felt his eyes heat up just looking at them.

But glancing at his own pitiful total of ten thousand-plus Trust Points, he couldn't help but curse, "Damn it!"

"Can't afford it, can't afford it!"

"System, filter out everything I can't afford!"

The frustration of being able to see but not buy truly left him wanting to cry.

As his voice fell, the dazzling array of items that had previously overwhelmed him vanished entirely.

Only the items he could actually afford remained.

"Hm?"

"This thing can actually be bought?"

Once the unaffordable items disappeared, Xiao Ze's gaze fell back onto the system shop.

When he saw the first item, his eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.

The item was none other than—

[One-Star Dou Huang Cultivation: 10,000 Trust Points]

[Note: This item is 90% off (Limited time: 24 hours)]

"One-Star Dou Huang cultivation?"

"Cultivation can actually be bought?"

"This is a Dou Huang we're talking about!"

Xiao Ze's heart was filled with indescribable shock.

"Even with the discount, it only costs ten thousand Trust Points?"

"If I don't buy it now, when will I?"

Xiao Ze didn't hesitate for a second and immediately spent the ten thousand Trust Points to purchase it.

"Dou Huang, Dou Huang!"

"Xiao Ze is coming for you!"

Even though it was only one-star cultivation, it was enough to make Xiao Ze feel ecstatic.

As soon as the purchase was complete, a surging force of Dou Qi began to sprout within his body.

At the same time, the aura radiating from him rose at a rapid pace.

Dou Force: Stage One, Stage Two, Stage Three...

Dou Zhe: One-Star, Two-Star, Three-Star...

Dou Shi:...

Da Dou Shi:...

Dou Ling:...

Dou Wang:...

Dou Huang!

His cultivation base was climbing at a rapid pace.

The aura emanating from his body was also surging exponentially!

Until—

BOOM!

A thunderous hum resonated from within Xiao Ze's body, and simultaneously, the aura surrounding him stabilized at the level of a one-star Dou Huang.

A surging, torrential force rose from within him.

Feeling this energy, which seemed capable of shaking the heavens and moving the earth, Xiao Ze's face revealed a look of pleasant surprise.

Is this the terrifying nature of a Dou Huang's cultivation?

It is truly powerful!

Xiao Ze remained immersed in the might of a Dou Huang powerhouse.

It felt as though he only needed to stomp his foot to easily destroy the magnificent Wutan City before him!

"Hoo~"

After a long while, he let out a long breath.

Only then did he manage to detach himself from that illusory sense of grandeur.

After simply adapting to the explosive growth of his cultivation, Xiao Ze turned his gaze toward the window.

He saw that the night had already deepened.

And he, it seemed, was about to begin planning his "chance encounter" with Xiao Yan.

He pushed open the door and stepped out into the courtyard.

His one-star Dou Huang soul power poured out, instantly enveloping the entire Xiao Clan.

Just as he prepared to search for Xiao Yan's tracks, he suddenly saw that Xiao Yan was not at the back mountain, but inside the Xiao Clan's assembly hall.

It was not just him.

The other elders and high-ranking members of the Xiao Clan were also gathered in the assembly hall, as if they were discussing something.

On the other side of the hall sat three strangers.

One of them was an old man dressed in moon-white robes.

He was all smiles and full of spirit, with a glimmer of sharp light occasionally flashing through his narrow eyes. From the aura he emitted and the seven glittering golden stars embroidered on his chest, one could tell he was a seven-star Da Dou Shi!

Standing beside this old man were a young man and woman.

The man was handsome, with a strength at the five-star Dou Zhe level.

The woman was stunningly beautiful, with a strength at the three-star Dou Zhe level.

Looking at the younger generation across the entire Gama Empire, both of them could be considered top-tier talents.

Of course, this did not include Xiao Ze.

Otherwise, with his twenty years of age, once his one-star Dou Huang cultivation was revealed, even the prodigies from the eight great clans possessing Dou Di bloodlines might not be his match.

Looking across the entire Battle Through the Heavens Continent, it was estimated that only Xiao Yan's daughter, Xiao Xiao, was stronger than him.

After all, she was born a Dou Zong, and without much cultivation, she relied on her father's prestige to reach the level of a one-star Dou Sheng by the age of twelve.

Damn it!

Thinking of Xiao Xiao's future cultivation journey, Xiao Ze felt a wave of envy.

Even with his own cheats, he was nothing but a casual player compared to Xiao Xiao!

"Hmm?"

"Has the plot already progressed to this point?"

When Xiao Ze saw the three people in the assembly hall, he immediately realized what was happening.

If his guess was correct, the three people before him were likely the members of the Misty Cloud Sect who had come to annul the engagement.

And that young girl, whose appearance was only slightly inferior to Xiao Xun'er, must be Nalan Yanran?

Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, huh?

I can't miss out on such an iconic scene!

Besides, isn't this humiliation of my Xiao Clan the perfect opportunity for me to solidify my status?

Hehehe—

Nalan Yanran, Misty Cloud Sect... although there is no grudge between us, it's a pity that you aren't the protagonists!

In order to cement my identity as the ancestor of the Xiao Clan, I'll have to apologize to you all...

But then again, who told you to come here to annul the engagement?

The path you chose, you must finish walking even if you're crying!

Thinking of this, a subtle smile flashed in the depths of Xiao Ze's eyes. Without hesitation, he immediately strode toward the direction of the assembly hall.

Xiao Clan.

Assembly Hall.

"Has Clan Leader Xiao considered it?"

"As long as your Xiao Clan is willing to annul the engagement with our sect's Holy Maiden, this Qi Gathering Pill shall be given to your Xiao Clan as compensation."

"You must know that a single Qi Gathering Pill can help a person condense a Dou Qi Whirlpool with one hundred percent success, assisting them in breaking through to the Dou Zhe realm."

"Not to mention, this pill was refined by Elder Gu He of our sect."

"Its effects are even more potent; it will surely allow the Xiao Clan to produce another young Dou Zhe!"

"I wonder what Clan Leader and the elders think?"

"..."

Elder Ge Ye opened the ancient jade box in his hand, revealing a pill the size of a dragon's eye, green throughout. An alluring, exotic fragrance instantly permeated the hall.

"A Qi Gathering Pill?"

"And it was personally refined by the Pill King Gu He?"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the hall was moved.

The gazes they cast toward the Qi Gathering Pill grew a little more fervent.

What kind of person was the Pill King Gu He?

He was a top-tier alchemist of the Gama Empire, a Dou Wang powerhouse himself, and ranked among the top ten experts of the Gama Empire.

The grade and quality of any pill refined by him went without saying.

Since he claimed this Qi Gathering Pill could guarantee the condensation of a Dou Qi Whirlpool and help someone break through to the Dou Zhe realm, it would certainly succeed. Given the Xiao Clan's current strength, gaining another young Dou Zhe would undoubtedly be a massive boost to the family's future.

Crack— Xiao Zhan's expression was extremely ugly.

Even the jade cup in his hand was crushed into a pile of powder.

Just as he was about to erupt.

Suddenly.

A clear, cold voice rang out.

"There is no need!"