With two mighty cheats in hand, who would become a Dou Di if not me?

Xiao Baichuan had not expected Yao Chen to be so perceptive, discovering the truth in an instant.

His expression shifted slightly, then turned icy.

Yao Chen immediately grew wary. His illusory body drifted back two feet, and he even prepared to strike and flee at any moment.

This young man had too many secrets hidden about him.

That movement technique and combat awareness were absolutely not things a boy at the eighth stage of Dou Qi could possess.

Looking at Yao Chen acting as though he faced a formidable enemy, Xiao Baichuan scoffed and spoke in an icy voice.

"To think you discovered it so quickly."

"Since that is the case, this emperor will stop pretending and lay his cards on the table."

He stood with his hands behind his back and raised his chin slightly, his tone carrying a hint of world-weariness and lofty pride.

"In truth, this emperor is the reincarnation of an ancient Dou Di."

"Countless ages ago, this emperor attained the imperial realm and single-handedly fought the entire Otherworld Wasteland, protecting the heavens."

"In the end, I narrowly lost and fell. Now, this emperor has defied death through nine lifetimes to become an immortal, all to wage war on the Otherworld Wasteland once more and protect the entire Dou Qi Continent again!"

Hearing this in the Sea of Consciousness, Ling Xi stared at him in disbelief.

This lecher made it sound so real.

Floating in midair, Yao Chen listened to Xiao Baichuan, and a trace of shock first appeared on his illusory face.

It was as though that scene had truly appeared before his eyes.

An ancient Dou Di, fighting the Otherworld alone, protecting the heavens, falling in a narrow defeat, and defying death through nine lifetimes.

His blood began to boil!

Then Yao Chen realized that the brat was making a fool of him.

"You must be itching for a beating!"

Yao Chen slapped Xiao Baichuan on the back of the head. His illusory palm carried Soul Force, and the blow sent Xiao Baichuan stumbling.

"Defying death through nine lifetimes to become an immortal? Protecting the continent?"

"Why not say you were born a Dou Di and shattered the entire Dou Qi Continent with one punch?"

"At least make your lies believable!"

Yao Chen bristled and glared, pointing at Xiao Baichuan's nose as he berated him.

"If you really were a reincarnated Dou Di, would you still have failed to break through to Dou Zhe at eighteen?"

"Do you take me for a three-year-old?"

After Yao Chen's slap, Xiao Baichuan immediately reverted to his true colors, rubbing the back of his head with a sheepish grin.

"Hehe, I was just livening things up. Don't take it seriously."

Then he composed his expression and spoke.

"But this actually has to do with that jade pendant I carry."

Hearing this in the Sea of Consciousness, Ling Xi immediately warned him.

"You lecher, are you sure you want to tell him?"

"This Yao Chen doesn't look honest. He has the same sleazy, leering look as you. If he learns the truth about the Twin Fish Jade Pendant, he might attack you."

Xiao Baichuan replied in his mind.

"Relax. I know what I'm doing."

Seeing this, Ling Xi stopped trying to dissuade him.

Yao Chen narrowed his eyes and stared at Xiao Baichuan for several breaths before suddenly speaking.

"You mean that jade pendant that can absorb Dou Qi and nourish the soul?"

Xiao Baichuan nodded.

"That's right."

Then he began spinning a tale in a natural tone.

"I found this jade pendant in some ancient ruins, along with a secret manual."

"The moves I used against Liu Ling just now were learned from that manual."

With Xiao Baichuan's explanation, many things suddenly made sense.

As for something like combat awareness, it varied from person to person in the first place and was difficult to explain.

People with extraordinary talent could learn something after seeing it just once, and such examples were not uncommon on the Dou Qi Continent.

Perhaps Xiao Baichuan really did have a gift for combat.

After listening, Yao Chen stroked his beard and fell silent for a moment.

He knew this brat certainly had other secrets.

But Yao Chen would not pry. Not only would that easily invite misunderstandings, it would also make him look like a broke bastard, beneath the stature of the Dou Qi Continent's foremost Alchemist.

As for expecting this brat to reveal everything, that was impossible.

If the brat really told him all his secrets, Yao Chen would actually think a little less of him.

For cultivators, the greatest taboo was showing off everywhere and exposing themselves.

Before gaining sufficient strength, it was best to keep a low profile.

Xiao Baichuan had handled that very well.

Yao Chen withdrew his gaze and snorted.

"At least you have some brains, brat. Blind trust is a cultivator's greatest taboo."

"Even those dearest to you might stab you in the back over a treasure."

Hearing Yao Chen's warning, Xiao Baichuan nodded.

He knew Yao Chen had once been stabbed in the back, which was why he now regarded familial affection with such indifference.

Now that Xiao Baichuan had utterly crushed Liu Ling despite the gap in their levels, he had made something of a name for himself in the Jia Ma Empire.

He just did not know whether Gu He would come in person afterward to avenge his disciple, thinking of that crowd of fence-sitters in the Jia Ma Empire.

Relying on others was ultimately no guarantee. Xiao Baichuan still felt that raising his own cultivation realm was the only solid capital.

He now had two mighty cheats in hand!

One was the Nine-Colored Empress he had seduced from ancient times.

The other was the Dou Qi Continent's foremost Alchemist, whom he had tricked into joining him.

With such a luxurious lineup, who would become a Dou Di if not me!

Xiao Baichuan's performance soon drew everyone's attention.

In a quiet side room in the Xiao Clan's rear courtyard.

Dressed in a pale purple gown, Gu Xun'er sat upright by the window, holding an ancient book, but her fingers had rested on the page for a long time without turning it.

The door opened without a sound, and a black shadow slipped inside and dropped to one knee.

Ling Ying, the guard the Gu Clan had sent to secretly protect Gu Xun'er, a Dou Huang expert.

"My lady."

Gu Xun'er set down the book and turned, her cool face betraying no expression.

"How was it?"

Ling Ying raised his head. His usually expressionless face now held a hint of delighted surprise he could not conceal.

"I secretly observed the entire battle between Xiao Baichuan and Liu Ling today."

"Liu Ling, a five-star Dou Zhe, Pill King Gu He's disciple."

"Xiao Baichuan, at the eighth stage of Dou Qi, used a secret technique to temporarily rise to a one-star Dou Zhe."

Gu Xun'er nodded slightly.

"And the result?"

Ling Ying drew a deep breath, genuine admiration in his voice.

"Xiao Baichuan won."

"And it was a one-sided crushing. Liu Ling fell to the ground severely injured without even touching a hair on his head."

Gu Xun'er's fingers paused as she turned a page.

Ling Ying continued, speaking a little faster than usual, as though he could barely contain his excitement.

"Not only were Xiao Baichuan's movements uncanny, his control over Dou Qi was as fine as silk."

"From the beginning of the battle to the end, he used only one hand."

Gu Xun'er finally raised her head, a flicker of interest crossing her eyes.

"Yes, and not only that, his combat awareness was also terrifying. Although his cultivation realm was clearly below Liu Ling's, he effortlessly countered every move Liu Ling made."

At this point, Ling Ying paused, and his tone grew solemn.

"My lady, watching Xiao Baichuan fight felt like watching an old monster tempered by a hundred battles make his move."

Gu Xun'er fell silent for a moment, tapping her thigh lightly with her fingers.

"Could you identify the origins of the secret technique he used to increase his strength?"

Ling Ying shook his head.

"I couldn't see through it."