Terrifying Rewards

After parting with Xiao Xun'er, Xiao Ni found a place to train diligently for an hour. Feeling that he had made no progress, he returned to his room and continued soaking in the bath.

"Ah, soaking like this feels good, but without the nourishment of the Foundation Elixir, it always feels like something is missing. I should find something else to replace it. What would be best?" Xiao Ni stroked his chin and thought for a long while before finally making a decision.

"Why not try using a Ripple Snake's Monster Core first? Not only can that thing temper the body, it can also relieve fatigue. Mm, it's settled, then. Another day, I'll bring Xun'er to the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Maybe it'll help her grow stronger faster."

"Oh, right, and that Little Black Tiger. Before going to the Magic Beast Mountain Range, I can bring it along and let it eat a Heavenly Extreme Avatar Pill. Then I'll see what form it transforms into and how much its strength improves."

Xiao Ni muttered to himself for quite a while before finally ending his bath and stepping out of the wooden tub.

"Hmm?" Just as Xiao Ni was about to lie down on the bed, his powerful soul perception made him pause. His gaze flicked toward the wall in the corner, and only then did he relax and climb into bed.

He was certain that a dark-attributed Dou Emperor was hiding there. Since that person bore him no ill intent, there was nothing to worry about.

Though he did not particularly enjoy being protected, since this person had been sent by Xiao Xun'er to guard him in secret, he naturally could not reject her good intentions.

It was just that having a Dou Emperor secretly following him around from now on felt rather awkward. It seemed he had to speed things up and strive to become a Dou Emperor as soon as possible—or something even more powerful.

It seems I'll have to be more careful with what I say and do from now on. If Ling Ying overhears something and passes it on to Xun'er, that'll be troublesome. System, hurry up and give me a few more missions. Then I can grow stronger faster and obtain terrifying power. With that grumble in his heart, Xiao Ni finally closed his eyes.

The night passed quickly. Xiao Ni opened his eyes and stretched. When he failed to sense Ling Ying's aura nearby, the tension in his heart eased considerably.

After washing up, Xiao Ni soon arrived outside Xiao Xun'er's door, just in time to find her about to come looking for him.

"Morning, Xun'er. It's wonderful to see you." Xiao Ni flashed a bright smile, then naturally held out his hand toward Xiao Xun'er.

He had done this every morning for the past few days, so there was nothing to feel embarrassed about anymore.

"Here, the last thousand Gold Coins." Smiling, Xiao Xun'er placed a card in Xiao Ni's palm. Then the system's voice rang out in Xiao Ni's mind.

"Congratulations to the host for successfully completing the borrowing mission. Your level has advanced to Four-Star Dou Master. Thunder Shadow Step has been automatically comprehended and evolved into Thunder Flash Across a Thousand Miles. Soul strength has risen to the Heavenly Realm. Rewards: one hundred billion Gold Coins, Eight Desolations Dragon-Subduing Finger, Myriad Paths Return-to-Void Palm, Heavenly Phoenix Divine Armor."

As the system's voice faded, dense streams of information flooded Xiao Ni's mind. He was overjoyed inside, yet he maintained a calm expression without the slightest ripple on the surface.

Hahaha, I never expected the system to reward me not only with incomparably powerful Dou Techniques and armor, but also one hundred billion Gold Coins. I've struck it rich!

One hundred billion! What kind of concept was that? Even the entire wealth of the Jia Ma Empire combined probably could not compare to his. He was rich enough to rival a nation!

Stay calm, stay calm. Xun'er is still watching. I absolutely can't let even a hint of smugness show on my face.

"Brother Xiao Ni, y-you seem to have already become a Dou Master, haven't you?" Xiao Xun'er tilted her head slightly and asked tentatively.

She had always been able to see Xiao Ni's level before, but now she could no longer see through him clearly.

"Weren't your eyes sharp? Why can't you see my level now?" Xiao Ni teased in return.

It seemed having a system was useful after all. Perhaps his level had been too low before, allowing Xiao Xun'er to see through it. Once he became stronger and stronger, as long as he did not reveal his true level, she probably would not be able to discern it either.

"It must be because Brother Xiao Ni's cultivation technique is too profound. Even I can no longer see through Brother Xiao Ni's level." Xiao Xun'er pouted, acting spoiled.

"You little girl, if you wanted to know my level, couldn't you just ask? It's not as if I'd hide it from you." Xiao Ni shook his head with a laugh, then straightened his back and said, "That's right. I really am a One-Star Dou Master now."

"Brother Xiao Ni advanced from the Seventh Duan of Dou Qi to Dou Master in just a few days. That's incredible! The title of Xiao Household's number one genius may well be taken by Brother Xiao Ni." Hearing Xiao Ni honestly reveal his current level, Xiao Xun'er immediately smiled and praised him lavishly.

She did not ask further about Xiao Ni's cultivation technique, because she knew it was his secret. If Xiao Ni did not take the initiative to tell her, she would never press him for answers.

"Let's go to Black Jade Pavilion." Xiao Ni smiled as he stroked Xiao Xun'er's head, his eyes full of affection.

"Mm." Xiao Xun'er nodded slightly and happily followed Xiao Ni out of the Xiao Household.

Half an hour later, Xiao Ni and Xiao Xun'er stood before an open area. Looking around, there was almost nothing there apart from some flowers and grass.

"Xun'er, are you sure the entrance to Black Jade Pavilion is nearby?" Xiao Ni used his soul perception to inspect the surroundings before asking tentatively.

He had indeed sensed a barrier in this area, but it was enormous. If they could not find the correct entrance, they might need to spend a long time getting inside.

He truly could not understand it. The once-powerful Qieke Lineage had already declined to the point of relying on small businesses like Black Jade Pavilion to make a living, so why did they still set up a barrier around the perimeter? Did they even want to do business anymore? Or was it that—Gu He would not allow them to conduct business openly?

"It doesn't matter where the entrance is, because the barrier here only affects people below Five-Star Dou Practitioner." Xiao Xun'er giggled, then added, "But if we don't find the real entrance, there's no telling where we'll appear after entering."

Compared to finding the true entrance, she actually preferred entering at random, because it made things more exciting.

"You're already a Five-Star Dou Practitioner?" Xiao Ni asked.

This girl had only just broken through to become a Dou Zhe. She should not have jumped four stars that quickly, right? Even with the Foundation Elixir he had given her, it should not have been possible to advance that fast.

"Although I'm not a Five-Star Dou Practitioner, I have a way to get in." A gentle, captivating smile rested on Xiao Xun'er's lips. Her palm became covered in golden light before she pressed it against the empty air.

Buzz

A crisp buzzing sound rang out. The air rippled slightly, and then dense cracks appeared across the barrier, spreading until there was enough room for two people to pass through before finally stopping.

Xiao Ni was dumbfounded by the sight.

Wasn't this barrier supposed to stop anyone below Five-Star Dou Practitioner? How had Xun'er broken it open so easily? It seemed her golden light truly was extraordinarily powerful.

"Brother Xiao Ni, let's go!" A moment later, before Xiao Ni could react, Xiao Xun'er grabbed his hand and pulled him into the barrier.