Have You Heard of the Power of Percentage Bonuses?

Xun'er's brows drew tight, and her expression turned cold as she stepped in front of Xiao Yan.

"Cousin Xiao Ning, humiliating a member of your own family in public is rather inappropriate."

"Xun'er, I haven't humiliated Xiao Yan. What part of what I said isn't true? He can't cultivate, can he? And the clan leader has been sneaking him resources, hasn't he?"

Xiao Ning spread his hands as though he had every right to say it, then glanced at Xiao Yan's livid face.

"Everyone in the Xiao Family sees it the same way. He takes up resources without making any progress. That's unfair to the rest of us."

The Xiao Family youths behind him nodded along and began murmuring among themselves.

Xun'er was about to say more, but Xiao Yan caught her arm.

"Brother Xiao Yan?"

"Don't. Let's go..."

Xiao Yan said nothing more. Unwilling to argue, he turned down another path, his retreating figure carrying an indescribable loneliness.

Xun'er hurried after him and walked quietly at his side.

Lu Chuan followed with Zhu Zhuqing. As he passed Xiao Ning, he gave him a casual glance.

He truly couldn't understand what Xiao Ning was thinking, deliberately humiliating a member of his own family in front of outsiders.

However much Xiao Ning disliked Xiao Yan, he could argue with him behind closed doors. Putting on this spectacle before two visitors would only make the Xiao Family a laughingstock.

And surely he didn't think this would make Xiao Xun'er abandon Xiao Yan and throw herself into his arms? How childish.

Seeing Xiao Yan leave without a word, almost as if he had fled, Xiao Ning smiled as though he had won.

He lifted his chin proudly and turned to the youths beside him with a sneer.

"See? Once I hit the mark, he didn't even dare talk back."

"Hahaha! Boss, you're incredible!"

His lackeys immediately piled on the praise, and laughter rang through the courtyard.

The group entered Xiao Yan's small courtyard.

Xiao Yan took a deep breath and forced down his frustration. Once he had composed himself, he brought out a tea set and poured everyone a cup of hot tea.

He offered them their cups and spoke with a hint of embarrassment.

"Brother, sister-in-law, sorry you had to see that."

Sister-in-law?!

Zhu Zhuqing froze. A flicker of panic crossed her face, and the tips of her ears turned faintly red. She hurriedly waved her hands.

"No... I'm not..."

Lu Chuan took a sip of tea before speaking.

"We haven't reached that point yet."

"Oh, I understand. Heh."

Xiao Yan's eyes darted between them. He gave a knowing grin, as if he understood exactly what was going on, and pressed the matter no further.

Zhu Zhuqing sat to one side, her ears still warm. She pressed her lips together, embarrassed and helpless, but couldn't very well keep explaining. The more she said, the easier it would be to misunderstand.

Xun'er sat quietly with her teacup in hand. Her gaze passed over the three of them, a trace of curiosity hidden in her eyes.

Lu Chuan set down his cup and brought the conversation back to business.

"Now, about why we're here. You—"

"Wait!"

Xiao Yan quickly raised a hand to stop him, then turned to Xun'er with a troubled look.

"Xun'er, could you give us a moment alone?"

The matter of crossing worlds was too bizarre. He didn't dare let a third person hear it, and even with Xun'er, whom he had always trusted, he hesitated.

What if Xun'er learned that the person who had been by her side for over ten years was actually a man in his twenties or thirties inside, and she was disgusted with him?

Xun'er paused. Her fingers tightened slightly around her cup, and a faint disappointment flashed through her eyes. She soon recovered her usual gentle composure.

"It's all right, Brother Xiao Yan. I'll wait outside the courtyard. Just call me if you need anything."

"I don't think that's necessary. There are things I need to tell Miss Xun'er too, so she might as well stay."

Lu Chuan stopped Xun'er as she was about to rise.

"But, brother, I..."

"What? You did it, but you can't admit it? Besides, do you really think her people won't report our conversation to her?"

Lu Chuan gave him a cool glance.

Xiao Yan let out a rueful laugh and swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue.

He was right. Given Xun'er's extraordinary background, he couldn't hide this from her. Trying might only make her suspicious. He might as well be open about it.

He sat back down obediently, looking as though he awaited judgment, his stomach in knots.

Xun'er's expression did not change. She narrowed her beautiful eyes slightly, studying Xiao Yan and Lu Chuan in turn.

Perceptive as she was, she sensed that what came next would be no small matter. It might well be explosive.

Lu Chuan cleared his throat.

"I'm a merchant who travels between worlds. Zhu Zhuqing here comes from another world called Douluo Continent. There's no Dou Qi or Dou Techniques there. Instead, that world has a special power known as Martial Souls."

Xun'er's pupils contracted. Disbelief filled her face as she instinctively turned to Zhu Zhuqing for confirmation.

Meeting Xun'er's astonished gaze, Zhu Zhuqing nodded. Her voice was cool.

"That's right. I'm not from this world. I came here with Senior Lu to seek an opportunity."

With that, she summoned her Nether Civet Martial Soul. Two yellow Spirit Rings floated around her.

The proof was plain to see.

Xiao Yan froze in his chair, mouth slightly open, struggling to take it all in.

A merchant who traveled between worlds? Another world called Douluo Continent?

He had assumed Lu Chuan was like him, someone who had crossed over alone from Earth to this continent. He had never imagined the truth was anything like this. Lu Chuan had to be a powerhouse!

If he stuck close to Lu Chuan, wouldn't he have a chance to become a Dou Emperor, then lead his family back to the imperial capital?

At the thought, his breathing quickened.

Xun'er turned her gaze to Xiao Yan, her feelings tangled. No wonder Brother Xiao Yan sometimes said things she couldn't understand.

But he had grown up in the Xiao Family. How could he be from another world?

Unless... a soul had taken over his body!

Did that mean she might have been talking to some old man every day, calling him "brother" all the while?!

Xun'er's scalp tingled at the thought. She dared not dwell on it and turned to Lu Chuan instead.

"Senior, what's special about a Martial Soul? This young lady's cultivation doesn't seem particularly high."

Lu Chuan took Zhu Zhuqing's hand and began to explain.

"A Martial Soul is something everyone is born with. It lies hidden in the bloodline and can be awakened through special means.

"Every ten levels, you can acquire a Spirit Ring and gain a special Spirit Skill. Have you ever heard of the power of percentage bonuses?"

"Percentage?"

"Percentage!"

Xun'er looked utterly puzzled by the unfamiliar word. She had no idea what it meant.

Xiao Yan, on the other hand, lit up with excitement he could barely contain. As an experienced gamer, he knew exactly what it meant!

Seeing their starkly different reactions, Lu Chuan smiled slightly and patiently explained.

"Let me give you an example. Say your base strength is one hundred. After using a Spirit Skill, you could gain a bonus of sixty, seventy, or even two hundred percent."

"More importantly, your cultivation level doesn't limit that bonus. No matter how strong you become, it will always scale at a fixed rate. As your Soul Power rises, that rate can even increase."