Chapter 22: The Emperor’s Bloodline, Xiao Xun’er

At his peak, Haibo Dong was a Five-Star Dou Emperor. The seal on him had lasted too long, so even now that it was lifted, his cultivation had declined.

“There’s such a pill!” Haibo Dong’s expression was filled with excitement.

“Our sect has far more pill formulas than you can imagine,” Su Yun said with a faint smile.

The reward from the system was the rank of Sixth-Grade Alchemist, which was no trivial matter. Throughout history, he could refine all pills below the sixth grade, even those formulas now lost on the Dou Qi Continent.

“That’s good... I can also present some ancient prescriptions to further solidify my identity.” Perhaps no one would doubt him in the Gama Empire, but it would be difficult once he reached Central Continent. Moreover, the world was not lacking in truly ancient beings who had lived for a thousand years.

“Haibo Dong, accompany me to the royal palace,” Su Yun said lightly, stepping forward, causing ripples in the void.

What business did they have at the palace? To stir trouble for Jia Xingtian?

“Yes,” Haibo Dong replied, puzzled but silent. He unfolded his Dou Qi wings and followed Su Yun.

***

At the royal palace, Jia Xingtian stood on the terrace, gazing toward the Mittel family with a complicated expression.

“Haibo Dong, that old fellow, has restored his cultivation,” he muttered. Haibo Dong had flattered Su Yun and regained his strength, but Jia Xingtian had offended Su Yun and ended up poisoned and half-disabled. Their situations had effectively been reversed.

Princess Yao Ye sighed. “With the Ice Emperor’s return, the Mittel family’s power has greatly increased. That’s not good news for the royal family.”

“What can we do?” Jia Xingtian shook his head.

Yao Ye felt a headache coming on. Ever since the battle with that ancient powerhouse, their great-grandfather had begun showing signs of despair.

With both internal turmoil and external threats, the Gama Empire was in grave danger.

“Wait...” Jia Xingtian’s pupils suddenly contracted. Though he couldn’t fight directly, his eyesight was still sharp. Two figures flew out from the Mittel family, heading straight for the royal city!

Moments later, Yao Ye saw the two figures and tensed. “Great-grandfather, should we call the guards?”

“What good would that do?”

“Are we just going to wait helplessly?” Yao Ye asked, unwilling to give in.

Jia Xingtian was helpless. He was no match for Su Yun even before the breakthrough, let alone now.

After a few breaths, the two landed in the royal city.

***

“Old monster, long time no see!” Haibo Dong laughed heartily.

“Indeed,” Jia Xingtian said with emotion, though now was not the time for nostalgia.

Jia Xingtian looked at Su Yun and cupped his hands. “May I ask the purpose of your visit?”

“I have been dormant too long and lack understanding of this land and era. The royal family should have official historians recording the local culture and geography,” Su Yun replied.

“There are,” Jia Xingtian and Yao Ye exchanged glances and sighed in relief. Such a simple matter was no concern. When they saw Su Yun bring Haibo Dong here, their worst suspicion was that Su Yun intended to support the Mittel family in usurping the royal family’s position.

“Yao Ye, take Lord Su to the archives.”

“Yes,” Yao Ye said. It was her first time meeting Su Yun up close. The Dou Zong powerhouse was astonishingly young, making her involuntarily wonder if Su Yun might even be younger than her.

“Please, Lord Su,” Yao Ye said with an upright and imposing posture, her noble upbringing as a royal princess ensuring she maintained proper decorum.

“Mm,” Su Yun responded.

With Su Yun’s departure, Haibo Dong and Jia Xingtian relaxed somewhat. They had been unable to ease up in Su Yun’s presence.

“Hahaha, old monster, decades have passed. Let me test your strength!” Haibo Dong, having just restored his cultivation, was itching to fight.

But Jia Xingtian’s expression shifted slightly. “What are you doing?”

Haibo Dong sneered, “You’re a nine-star peak Dou Emperor—are you afraid of me?” He casually unleashed an ice blade. “Come, spar with me!”

After a few moves, Haibo Dong sensed something wrong. “Huh... old monster, why aren’t you counterattacking?”

“You bastard!” Jia Xingtian cursed loudly.

***

Meanwhile, Su Yun and Yao Ye walked through the palace corridors.

It had to be said, the royal family owning the entire Gama Empire was truly wealthy. The palaces gleamed with gold and jade, glazed tiles reflected the sun, and gold and jade paved the steps. Though the Mittel family was a business giant, it still fell short of the royal family.

“Maybe I should try living in the palace for a while,” Su Yun mused.

Shortly after, they entered a white jade pavilion.

“Lord Su, this is the royal archives,” Yao Ye said.

Su Yun nodded. “You may leave.”

He did not want Yao Ye to know what he intended to look for.

***

“Yes.”

Su Yun entered alone. Hundreds of sandalwood bookshelves filled the hall, each holding hundreds of ancient texts—a truly vast collection.

Fortunately, with Su Yun’s abilities, he did not need to leaf through them one by one.

With a flicker of his mind, his spiritual power covered all the books, quickly selecting what he needed.

He summoned a faint glow of Dou Qi, and an ancient tome detached itself from the shelf, floating into his hand.

Su Yun opened it.

“The Xiao family is a mysterious clan that migrated from Central Continent hundreds of years ago. They settled in the Northwest Continent before moving several times, eventually arriving in the Gama Empire. After the death of the Dou King Xiao Lin, they moved from the imperial capital to Utan City...”

Indeed, Su Yun sought the history of the Xiao family on the Northwest Continent. He knew their true origins, but the details required ancient records.

“It’s time to prepare the second grand deception—to select an identity and lay the groundwork in advance...” Su Yun planned multiple backups for his second identity.

The Pure Lotus Demon Saint was too powerful and difficult to manifest, so it was temporarily discarded.

The Xiao family’s ancestor was another viable choice.

Even with the Calamity Poisoned Body, raising cultivation to Dou Zun was not easy; it was better to find a faster path.

“The conditions for manifestation are affected by many factors: the number of people who believe the lie, their strength, and their connection to the lie...”

Su Yun pondered deeply. The success of the first grand deception was due to meticulous planning.

What abilities did the first identity possess?

Calamity Poisoned Body, Netherworld Poison Fire, Sixth-Grade Alchemist, Nine-Star Dou Emperor.

Little Medical Immortal bore the Calamity Poisoned Body, serving as a trigger for its manifestation.

Bone Spirit Cold Fire was also an exotic fire, a trigger for manifesting Netherworld Poison Fire.

The Sixth-Grade Alchemist identity was analogous.

As for cultivation, Medicine Elder, a former Dou Zun, had soul power rivaling a Dou Emperor.

All these elements combined to create Su Yun’s success.

“So, what abilities should the Xiao family ancestor have?

First, formidable cultivation—at least Dou Zun. Without that, why manifest him? But not Dou Sheng, that would be too difficult.

Second, Dou Emperor bloodline. This is even more versatile than the Calamity Poisoned Body and must be arranged!”

Yet, who on the Northwest Continent possessed the Dou Emperor bloodline?

The Xiao family’s Dou Emperor bloodline had become extinct—likely useless.

A name flashed in Su Yun’s mind.

“Xiao Xun’er!”