Nalan Yanran

Looking at the pale green magic core in his hand, tinged with a faint scent of blood, Xiao Le could only describe his expression as one of great astonishment.

"Bloodline? Beast soul? Battle skill?"

Such a tiny magic core actually contained so many downloadable entries.

Blue·[(Tier 1) Azure Wood Wolf Bloodline (Incomplete)], Blue·[(Tier 1) Azure Wood Wolf Beast Soul (Incomplete)], Blue·[(Low Yellow-tier Battle Skill) Azure Wood Wolf Claw], Blue·[(Mid Yellow-tier Battle Skill) Azure Wood Thorn], Blue·[Pure Tier 1 Wood-attribute Magic Core], and Blue·[(Low Yellow-tier Cultivation Art) Azure Wood Wolf Art].

Xiao Le discovered that downloading from nonliving objects he touched did not consume energy. It was more like stripping something away. After a magic core had been downloaded, Xiao Le could clearly sense that the energy within had become purer, losing its bloody scent and trace of spirituality.

He then took out all the corpses and downloaded every available option from them.

The incomplete bloodlines downloaded from the corpses happened to make up for the flaws in the bloodlines downloaded from the magic cores. The two merged into one, becoming complete bloodlines.

After busying himself for quite a while, Xiao Le's harvest was plentiful. There were twenty-one magic cores alone: three Tier 2 and eighteen Tier 1.

He had also obtained twenty-one incomplete beast souls and complete bloodlines.

His greatest gains were still the cultivation arts and battle skills downloaded from the magic cores. Tier 1 and Tier 2 magical beasts mostly possessed Yellow-tier cultivation arts and battle skills.

There were nine low Yellow-tier cultivation arts, seventeen low Yellow-tier battle skills, seven mid Yellow-tier cultivation arts, eleven mid Yellow-tier battle skills, four high Yellow-tier cultivation arts, six high Yellow-tier battle skills, one low Profound-tier cultivation art, and two low Profound-tier battle skills. This was enough to rival the Xiao Family's current foundation.

The harvest was truly abundant. Today, Xiao Le had finally seen what his golden finger could do—it could download magical beasts' cultivation and combat abilities into Dou Qi cultivation arts and battle skills. He had never expected his golden finger to have such a marvelous use.

Xiao Le stared at the bloodlines and beast souls, lost in thought. After pondering for a moment, he decided to catch a little white mouse to test them on.

The experimental result delighted Xiao Le immensely.

Just as Xiao Le was still immersed in his joy, an old man led a young man and woman into the Xiao Family.

"Knock, knock, knock!" A knock sounded at the door.

"Xiao Le, Father wants us at the reception hall. He said distinguished guests have arrived!" Xiao Yan's voice came from outside.

"Coming!" After recalling things for a moment, Xiao Le understood. Nalan Yanran must have arrived.

At this time, Xiao Yan still wore a lazy expression, completely unaware of what was about to happen.

After passing through the rear courtyard, they soon arrived at a broad and solemn hall. The atmosphere in the reception hall was extremely oppressive.

The Xiao Family's three great elders, along with a number of deacons and elders, were all present. After all, a high-ranking Da Dou Shi had arrived without warning, putting the entire Xiao Family on edge.

"Little Yan, Xiao Le, you're here. Come sit!" Seeing his two sons arrive, Xiao Zhan hurriedly called them over.

Xiao Yan and Xiao Le swept their eyes across the hall, only to find that no seats had been prepared for them. Anger rose within them both as they understood that the elders were deliberately making things difficult for them.

"Hmph, Second Elder truly does not take me, the clan head, seriously! Do you want me to give my position to you? If you do, then today I'll take my children and leave the Xiao Family!" Xiao Zhan flew into a rage.

The heavy threat in his words made the three elders beside him finally recognize the situation. Xiao Zhan was the Xiao Family's only top-tier fighter. If he left, the Xiao Family would exist in name only.

"Clan Head, what imposing prestige. Please be considerate of us old men. Our memories are poor, and we forgot about the two young masters!" said an elderly man in yellow robes seated below Xiao Zhan, his expression unfriendly.

"Brother Xiao Yan, Brother Xiao Le, over here!" Just as the two brothers stood where they were, waiting for the Second Elder to make arrangements, a silver-bell-like voice rang out from a corner. It was Xiao Xun'er.

Xiao Xun'er's mysterious identity made the three great elders unwilling to comment or provoke a conflict.

Xiao Le and Xiao Yan did not hesitate to sit beside Xiao Xun'er. Xiao Xun'er was dressed more like a young lady scholar today, elegant and refined, holding a tome and reading it with great interest.

"We have come to visit so abruptly. If there has been any breach of etiquette, I hope Clan Head Xiao will forgive us. This old man is Ge Ye." Among the three visitors—one old and two young—the white-robed elder cupped his hands as he spoke.

From the corner, Xiao Le carefully examined the three visitors. The leader was the white-robed elder Ge Ye. Beside him stood a young man of outstanding appearance, drawing admiring looks from many of the Xiao Family's young women. Last was a cold and beautiful young woman in a green dress, adorned with pale green earrings. Her looks were only slightly inferior to Xiao Xun'er's, and even Xiao Le could not help having his attention drawn to her.

As expected of one of Xiao Yan's confidantes. That face, that temperament. Xiao Le could not help looking forward to the other confidantes. He could not steal Xiao Xun'er, so for the sake of his brother's path of devotion, he could only sacrifice himself to feed the tiger.

"Brother Xiao Yan, do you know what relationship these visitors have with you?" Xiao Xun'er set down the book in her hands and asked gently.

"That emblem belongs to the Misty Cloud Sect, but why would the Misty Cloud Sect come to the Xiao Family?" Xiao Yan noticed the emblem on the visitors' robes and was puzzled.

"Brother, do you remember the gifted young lady of the Nalan Family in the Imperial Capital, Nalan Yanran? She's engaged to you!" Xiao Le could not help teasing him.

Xiao Yan's expression turned awkward. Looking at Nalan Yanran, who sat there like an obedient young lady, he smiled helplessly. "I heard that she was fortunate enough to be accepted as a disciple by Yun Yun, the Misty Cloud Sect's leader, some time ago. It seems this is my bargain fiancée. I hope today is not what I think it is!"

"Niece Nalan? Hahaha, how has Elder Nalan been lately?" Upon hearing Ge Ye state the young woman's identity, Xiao Zhan immediately became delighted.

Ge Ye looked embarrassed as he said apologetically, "Clan Head Xiao must have heard that Yanran has joined our Misty Cloud Sect and was even accepted as the sect leader's disciple. We came to visit the Xiao Family this time to carry out the sect leader's instructions. I hope Clan Head Xiao will forgive us and agree to dissolve Yanran's engagement..."

The instant these words were spoken, the porcelain cup in Xiao Zhan's hand shattered. Pale green Dou Qi surged from his body, gradually covering him from head to toe. A roaring blue lion with a fierce aura appeared upon Xiao Zhan's face.

It was the Xiao Family's finest inherited cultivation art: the mid Profound-tier Raging Lion Fury.

From the corner, Xiao Le immediately felt the air grow stifling, his breathing becoming hurried. Fortunately, he was far from Xiao Zhan. The younger generation seated in the front had all turned red-faced as they struggled to resist.

Ge Ye had long sensed that something was wrong and stepped in front of Nalan Yanran. His Da Dou Shi aura stood in equal opposition to Xiao Zhan's.

"Xiao Zhan, remember your responsibilities as clan head!" the First Elder shouted sharply.

Xiao Zhan seemed to age many years in an instant, collapsing despondently into his seat.

"Uncle Xiao..." Nalan Yanran looked at Xiao Zhan worriedly.

Xiao Zhan looked at Nalan Yanran coldly and sneered. "Don't call me Uncle anymore. Call me Clan Head Xiao instead. Your Nalan Family has latched onto the Misty Cloud Sect; our Xiao Family cannot afford to associate with you."

Ge Ye understood that they had no moral ground to stand on today, so he hurriedly stepped forward. "Clan Head Xiao, this is an order from our sect leader. I hope Clan Head Xiao will not make things difficult for us. Of course, we have also brought sufficient sincerity today."

With a flip of his hand, an exquisite wooden case appeared in Ge Ye's palm. A rich medicinal fragrance wafted forth, causing everyone's eyes to light up.

"Is that Qi Gathering Powder?" There were no lack of knowledgeable people present. As Ge Ye opened the case, a pale blue pill appeared before everyone.

The Xiao Family elders and younger disciples present could no longer remain calm. Qi Gathering Powder—a third-grade medicinal pill. A single pill was equivalent to gaining a Dou Zhe.

"Elder Ge Ye, you should take it back. I will not agree to this matter today!"