(Things take off in chapter four.)
He had transmigrated to the Dou Qi Continent and become Xiao Yan's third brother, who had never existed in the original novel.
After eighteen years of bitter cultivation, Xiao Ce finally struggled his way to the fifth stage of Dou Qi and recognized a fact.
He most likely had no chance of reaching the continent's summit.
On a flat rock two meters long and wide on the Xiao Clan's rear mountain, Xiao Ce finished cultivating cross-legged and sighed.
"To reach the summit, effort is indispensable, but talent is even more crucial."
"Eighteen years old, and I've only barely broken through to fifth stage Dou Qi. Never mind the entire Jia Ma Empire-even in the Xiao Clan, this talent only ranks below average."
"Looks like I can only find a way to keep my little life safe and wait for my fourth brother to break through to Dou Di. Then I can soar on the strength of our bloodline."
"Heh, at least that's pretty easy."
Xiao Ce smiled to console himself, though his smile held some unwillingness.
If he could, he would rather reach the mountaintop through his own strength.
[Host detected to have reached eighteen years of age. Deployment System bound.] [Binding successful.]
The next instant, a panel visible only to Xiao Ce appeared before his eyes.
[Host: Xiao Ce] [Race: Human] [Cultivation: Fifth stage Dou Qi] [Soul: Mortal realm] [Physique: Tier zero] [Cultivation method: None] [Dou Technique: Rock-Splitting Palm (Yellow tier, high grade / Minor accomplishment)] [Bloodline: Xiao Clan Dou Di bloodline (Extremely faint)] [Constitution: None] [Mount: None] [Pet beast: None] [Natural spiritual treasures: None] [Deployments: 1 (One gained with each breakthrough to a major realm)]
?
Xiao Ce's scalp tingled. He abruptly rose from the rock, his voice carrying a barely perceptible tremor. "A cheat!"
As he looked at the panel, a great deal of information suddenly appeared in his mind, and he immediately understood the system's function.
The Deployment System's effect was simple and direct: by consuming a deployment, he could deploy an avatar into a random bygone era. The greater the avatar's achievements, the better the rewards he would receive.
That was how it was described, but without actually deploying once, he could never figure out the specifics.
With that thought, Xiao Ce intended to begin his first deployment immediately.
This was most likely his chance to defy heaven and change his fate!
Just then, a youth who bore some resemblance to Xiao Ce, but was somewhat less handsome, arrived.
Looking at Xiao Ce sitting cross-legged on the rock in a daze, he called, "Third Brother, Father wants you. He told you to come to the main hall."
Xiao Ce came back to himself and looked toward the voice, his expression shifting slightly. "Fourth Brother, what does Father want me for?"
Xiao Yan shook his head. "I'm not sure, but some outsiders seem to have come to the clan. Their status seems pretty high. Father and the three elders are all receiving them."
"Third Brother, let's hurry over. It might be something important."
Xiao Ce suppressed the urge to deploy immediately and rose. "Let's go, then, Fourth Brother."
The brothers set off, hurrying from the rear mountain toward the Xiao Clan's main hall.
Along the way, they discussed yesterday's Dou Qi test.
"Fourth Brother, has your Dou Qi still not improved?" Xiao Ce asked despite knowing the answer, his gaze sweeping almost imperceptibly over the Storage Ring on Xiao Yan's finger.
Xiao Yan's expression dimmed, his tone dejected. "Yeah, the same as always. All the Dou Qi I cultivate disappears for no reason. My cultivation is still at third stage Dou Qi."
"It's all right. You have your third brother with you. We brothers can be mocked together. At least we won't be alone." Xiao Ce smiled with easy acceptance.
Affected by his mood, Xiao Yan felt much of his frustration dissipate. He nodded. "Third Brother, let's both work hard!"
Xiao Ce nodded, a faint flicker passing through his eyes as he considered inwardly, Yesterday was the Dou Qi test, so the outsiders who came today should be Nalan Yanran and the others from the Misty Cloud Sect.
Ah, Nalan Yanran will break off the engagement today. The person being rejected will suffer immense humiliation, and that person... happens to be me.
Yes, because he had been born three years before Xiao Yan, he had become the one betrothed to Nalan Yanran in childhood.
The brothers soon arrived at the Xiao Clan's main hall.
Upon entering, they immediately saw Xiao Zhan seated in the central seat of honor, along with the Xiao Clan's three elders.
To the left sat elders of some standing within the Xiao Clan, as well as the clan's talented younger generation.
Among them, a girl in a pale purple dress stood out the most.
Her brows and eyes were exquisite, naturally carrying an elegant tenderness. Her lips were rosy, their sheen alluring, and her fresh bearing drew the eye.
A faint smile rested at the corners of her flawless, beautiful face.
"Brother Xiao Ce, Brother Xiao Yan, come sit here with Xun'er." Xiao Xun'er gestured toward the two seats beside her.
Xiao Ce and Xiao Yan took their seats. Xiao Ce sat beside Xiao Xun'er, and Xiao Yan beside Xiao Ce, the three sitting in a row.
From the seat of honor, Xiao Zhan said, "Since everyone is here, invite them in."
As Xiao Zhan finished speaking, a Xiao Clan servant led three people into the hall: an old man, a young woman, and a young man, all wearing cloud-white brocade robes bearing the Misty Cloud Sect's emblem on their chests.
Xiao Ce glanced over them, his gaze settling mainly on the girl.
After looking her over carefully, he offered a four-word appraisal: beauty to rival Xun'er.
Those four words alone were enough to show how outstanding the girl's looks were.
Nalan Yanran? She's pretty, but she's here to break off the engagement today. What a pity. Xiao Ce shook his head inwardly.
Xiao Ce entertained no other illusions.
Having read the original novel, he knew clearly that many factors had led Nalan Yanran to decide to break off the engagement, but the biggest was her disdain for her useless fiancé.
He was now at fifth stage Dou Qi, but he was already eighteen. If his father Xiao Zhan had not intervened, he would long since have been sent away to manage some small shop. He was a genuine... good-for-nothing.
Nalan Yanran had come to break off the engagement in the original novel, and things would be no different now.
What followed did indeed develop as Xiao Ce had expected.
Ge Ye, a deacon of the Misty Cloud Sect, stepped forward to speak with Xiao Zhan. They exchanged meaningless pleasantries, and though his attitude was polite, he gradually steered the conversation toward the engagement. Every so often, he remarked that the Misty Cloud Sect did not support childhood betrothals, yet he never directly said they wanted to break it off.
The atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly heavy.
Although Ge Ye had not said it, everyone had already guessed something, and gazes of pity or mockery fell upon Xiao Ce.
Finally, after a round of pleasantries, Nalan Yanran spoke with a trace of impatience between her brows. "Uncle Xiao, Yanran has come to the Xiao Clan today over a certain matter."
Xiao Zhan's expression stiffened; he had already guessed something. "Niece Yanran, what is it?"
Nalan Yanran's voice was decisive. "Uncle Xiao, I have become the Misty Cloud Sect's junior sect leader, and the Misty Cloud Sect does not permit its junior sect leader to have contact with men outside the sect."
"So, could my engagement to Xiao Ce... be dissolved?"
The moment Nalan Yanran finished speaking, the Xiao Clan's main hall fell so quiet that a falling pin could have been heard.
Within the hall, mocking and derisive gazes fell upon the father and son, Xiao Zhan and Xiao Ce.
The Xiao Clan's first elder, in particular, could not conceal his smile, secretly rejoicing. Someone has come right to your door to forcefully dissolve the engagement. Let's see what prestige you'll have left to manage the clan!
Xiao Zhan's face instantly turned white.
His fourth son's talent had vanished, his Dou Qi stuck at the third stage, and now his third son's engagement had been broken off.
The crushing blows made his heart twist with pain.
He rose, dense Dou Qi gathering around him.
"You... you people!" Xiao Zhan gasped for breath, his face filled with fury.
Ge Ye abandoned his earlier politeness, his expression instantly turning solemn. His cultivation as a Seven-Star Great Dou Master was fully revealed as he confronted Xiao Zhan head-on.
Yet before their auras could collide-
At the seat of honor, blood had already surged to Xiao Zhan's head. He clutched his forehead and fell to the floor with a thud.
Before you continue