Little One, Do You Long for Power?

Bloodline test.

Just as the name suggested, it was a ritual for testing one's bloodline.

It was a tool used by certain powerful clans to verify bloodlines.

It could also help guard against spies from other factions to a certain extent.

The Xiao Tribe had once been one of the Dou Qi Continent's overlords.

Though it had fallen into decline time and again, its bloodline ritual had never been discontinued.

The Xiao Clan now had a set of instruments specifically for testing bloodlines.

"Bloodline test?" Xiao Ze's heart lurched when he heard this, but he remained calm, showing a hint of displeasure as he said, "Does this old man really need one?"

Xiao Zhan gave an awkward smile. "Ancestor, this has always been a Xiao Clan rule."

"Any suspected Xiao Clan descendant must undergo a bloodline test."

"Only after being confirmed as a member of the Xiao Clan may they enter our clan grounds and learn our techniques..."

Seeing Xiao Ze's gaze grow increasingly unfriendly, Xiao Zhan gave a dry laugh. "Of course, for you, Ancestor, this kind of test must be somewhat insulting."

"But rules are rules."

"As the Xiao Clan's patriarch, I naturally cannot break them."

"I hope you'll understand, Ancestor..."

Xiao Zhan's back was practically bent to the ground.

His tone could not have been more earnest.

He was only short of kneeling and begging Xiao Ze to take the bloodline test.

Faced with a scene like this, what could Xiao Ze say?

Refuse?

How could he?!

Hadn't Xiao Zhan said this was a Xiao Clan rule?

For a great clan like the Xiao Clan, clan rules stood above all else. Though the clan had fallen into decline, those rules still bound the vast majority of the Xiao Tribe's people.

If he refused to take the bloodline test, wouldn't that be tantamount to denying that he was the Xiao Clan's ancestor?

What if he used his strength to stay in the Xiao Clan anyway?

Without the Xiao Clan members' recognition, he wouldn't gain any [Trust Points]. And without [Trust Points], he couldn't increase his strength.

Unless he gave up pretending to be the Xiao Clan's ancestor, he had to take the bloodline test.

"Being the Xiao Clan's ancestor is still too important to me."

"I can't give it up unless I have no other choice."

"Sigh, looks like I can only take things one step at a time for now..."

Xiao Ze sighed inwardly, then feigned nonchalance. "Very well. Since it's a clan rule, this old man naturally can't break it either."

"We'll do as you say and conduct the bloodline test."

"But it's getting late today. We'll do it tomorrow!"

Although Xiao Ze had agreed to take the bloodline test, he decided to put it off for one night and see if he could think of a way to deal with it.

"Very well, tomorrow it is!" Xiao Zhan breathed a sigh of relief, a joyful smile appearing on his face.

He bowed deeply to Xiao Ze.

"Thank you for understanding, Ancestor!"

Xiao Ze waved a hand, then returned to the courtyard where he was staying, his mind heavy with worry.

Not long after Xiao Ze left,

the other Xiao Clan members also filed out one by one.

In the vast meeting hall, only Xiao Zhan remained, seated in the patriarch's chair and heaving sigh after sigh.

He rubbed his temples, fretting over the Xiao Clan's future.

"Sigh..."

"These are troubled times, troubled times indeed!"

Just then,

Xiao Yan came over from somewhere.

"Father..."

He spoke softly, rousing Xiao Zhan from his sorrowful thoughts.

"Oh, it's Yan'er. Is something troubling you?"

Xiao Yan's expression was grave. "Father, I'm worried about the Three-Year Agreement."

At this, a trace of helplessness flashed through Xiao Zhan's eyes. "Yan'er, I'm the one who's wronged you."

"Although we can't be sure whether this person is truly our Xiao Clan's ancestor, he has already made the Three-Year Agreement in our Xiao Clan's ancestor's name. So our clan has to honor it."

"Otherwise, our Xiao Clan will have nowhere to stand in Wutan City or the Jia Ma Empire."

"In three years, you must go to the Misty Cloud Sect and challenge Nalan Yanran!"

Looking at his father's stern expression, Xiao Yan gave a bitter smile. "Yes, Father. I understand!"

"Yan'er, you've truly suffered..." Xiao Zhan stroked Xiao Yan's head, comforting him.

Xiao Yan managed a strained smile, then asked, "By the way, Father, do you think he really is our Xiao Clan's ancestor?"

"Could he be an impostor?"

The scene of the man's commanding presence just moments ago rose in Xiao Yan's mind. With only a few words, he had frightened the Misty Cloud Sect's elders.

He had even made the Misty Cloud Sect promise to send twenty Qi Gathering Pills within a month.

The Qi Gathering Pill was a Fourth-grade Pill, priceless. A single one was something the Xiao Clan had never even seen, let alone twenty!

And there was also a Fifth-grade Pill.

A Fifth-grade Pill...

Not even Xiao Yan had ever seen one. His father probably hadn't either.

Such a show of might was entirely beyond his understanding.

"Yan'er, this has nothing to do with you," Xiao Zhan said gravely.

"This man's strength is completely beyond my own."

"No, he doesn't even take the Nalan Family seriously..."

"An expert of his caliber shouldn't covet anything from the Xiao Clan."

"Besides, there's nothing in our Xiao Clan worth coveting at his level..."

His tone held some helplessness, but it was simply the truth.

With the Xiao Clan's current foundations, it truly had nothing that could attract an expert of that level.

The Imperial Capital Xiao Clan of old might have been able to.

"So, Father, you believe he's our Xiao Clan's ancestor?" Xiao Yan asked.

"That's right!" Xiao Zhan nodded. "It's almost certain!"

"Once he passes tomorrow's bloodline test..."

"he'll officially become our Xiao Clan's ancestor!"

"Yan'er, from now on, whenever you see him, you must show him the utmost respect!"

Xiao Yan nodded. "Of course!"

Father and son chatted in the hall for a while longer.

At last, Xiao Yan left, his mind still heavy with worry.

He left the hall and made his way to the family's back mountain. Sitting halfway up the slope, he felt the night breeze and gazed into the distance at the Magical Beast Mountain Range, shrouded in mist.

He drew a deep breath and murmured to himself.

"I really hope he's our Xiao Clan's ancestor!"

"If our Xiao Clan had such a powerful expert backing us, then the whole of Wutan City... No, perhaps the entire Jia Ma Empire would have a place for our clan!"

"Maybe our Xiao Clan could even restore the prestige of the Imperial Capital Xiao Clan!"

Xiao Yan clenched his fists, his gaze filled with resolve.

Restoring the Imperial Capital Xiao Clan.

It was the lifelong dream of his father, his grandfather, and his great-grandfather!

According to the clan records, the Imperial Capital Xiao Clan of old had been magnificent. It was known as one of the Jia Ma Empire's Four Great Clans, and a Dou Wang expert had even stood guard within its ranks.

Its might had shaken the surrounding lands!

Some even said that, in an even more ancient age, a Dou Huang expert had emerged from the Xiao Clan!

But all of that had faded with the passage of time.

Now the Xiao Clan was huddled away in Wutan City, and no one knew when it might once again reclaim its former glory.

Just as Xiao Yan was lost in thoughts of the Xiao Clan's future,

an old, strange laugh rang out, suddenly reaching his ears.

"Ke... I got that wrong."

"Heh heh, little one, do you long for power?"