People in Doupo: The beginning of the game intercepts the rich woman Xun'er

"Tsk tsk, look at Yun Yun's expression. It's probably not like you could just bend your finger and she'd be completely at your mercy."

After Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran's figures transformed into two streaks of light and completely disappeared into the horizon, Little Fairy Doctor turned her head with a half-smile, her gaze falling on Xiao Ling, her tone carrying a hint of mockery.

Seeing this, Qinglin couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle.

In response, Xiao Ling couldn't help but roll his eyes at Little Fairy Doctor.
"Alright, Xiao Yan and the others have been gone for a while now, let's head back to the Xiao family first."

After saying that, Xiao Ling's figure transformed into a streak of light and flew downwards.

Upon seeing this, Xiao Yixian Qinglin also moved and followed closely behind.

……

Three streaks of light tore through the sky, trailing brilliant flames as they pierced the firmament of the Holy City of Gama, and plunged straight into the core area of ​​the Holy City, landing steadily in front of the vermilion and gold-plated Xiao family mansion.

The light and shadow spread out like ripples, and three slender figures slowly appeared, namely Xiao Ling, Qing Lin and Xiao Yi Xian.

At this moment, the Xiao family mansion was already packed with people. On both sides of the vermilion gate, members of the Xiao family lined up in neat rows, men, women, and children all dressed in brand-new family attire, their faces full of eager smiles.

Bright red silk hung high above the mansion's gate, with golden tassels swaying gently in the wind. The blue stone steps on both sides of the porch were filled with blooming exotic flowers and plants, clearly a carefully arranged display.

At the very front of the group stood Xiao Zhan and his son Xiao Yan, who had returned earlier.

Such a grand display was clearly something the father and son had specially instructed their clansmen to prepare, just to welcome Xiao Ling and his party back.

Beside Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan stood two tall men, whose appearances were somewhat similar to Xiao Yan's, but whose demeanor was much more mature.

Xiao Ling glanced at them and immediately recognized them as Xiao Yan's two brothers, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li.

Upon seeing Xiao Ling and his two companions appear, a unified shout erupted in front of the Xiao family mansion.

Men, women, and children all clasped their hands and bowed, their voices soaring to the heavens, causing the red silk on the lintel to tremble slightly: "Welcome Elder Xiao Ling back to the Xiao family!"

The crowd was bustling with activity, and the faces of the clansmen were filled with awe and enthusiasm. Their robes fluttered in the wind, revealing an air of grandeur that rivaled that of top sects when welcoming guests.

Such a display of force caused a hint of surprise to cross Xiao Ling's brows. He turned his head and cast a strange look in the direction of Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan.

Noticing his gaze, Xiao Yan scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly, a sheepish smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. Xiao Zhan, on the other hand, stood solemnly with his back ramrod straight, clearly taking this welcoming ceremony very seriously.

Seeing this, Xiao Ling didn't ask any further questions.

His gaze swept over the densely packed clansmen ahead, and a warm feeling of blood ties quietly welled up in his heart. No matter how high his position was in Zhongzhou, he was still a member of the Xiao family, and he always held a special attachment to them.

He immediately raised his hand and pressed down, his powerful yet gentle fighting spirit spreading out and instantly suppressing the clamor of the crowd.

He said loudly, "Gentlemen, there's no need for such formalities."

The voice, imbued with fighting spirit, clearly reached the ears of every clansman: "After years of wandering, we have finally returned home. Since the clan leader has prepared a feast, let us share in the joy."

At this point, he changed the subject, a smile flashing in his eyes, "At the banquet, I will offer five seventh-grade pills and twenty sixth-grade pills as prizes. Everyone is welcome to compete for them based on their abilities. Consider it a small gift from me to the Xiao family!"

These words caused an uproar in the audience.

Grade 7 pills! Those are treasures that even Gu He, the Pill King of the Jia Ma Empire, struggled to refine. Ordinary Dou Zong and Dou Huang experts would be envious, let alone five of them! And those twenty Grade 6 pills, any one of them would be enough to save an ordinary disciple from taking several years of detours on their cultivation path!

The tribesmen's breathing instantly became heavy, and their gazes toward Xiao Ling were filled with awe mixed with fervent worship.

The streets outside the mansion were already crowded with people from the holy city of Gama who had come to see what was happening.

When Xiao Ling's resounding words drifted out on the wind, the crowd instantly erupted in chaos. Countless shocked gazes were cast toward the gates of the Xiao residence, and gasps of astonishment rose and fell.

"Five grade seven pills! And twenty grade six pills as a prize?!"

"My goodness! This kind of generosity is something even the royal family can only dream of!"

Amid exclamations of surprise, the crowd looked at the Xiao family members with undisguised envy. Some even pounded their chests and cursed in frustration, "How I hate it! Why wasn't I born into the Xiao family! The Xiao family's descendants are simply blessed!"

The onlookers, who were already in awe of the Xiao family's grandeur, now looked at the vermilion gate with an even more burning longing, regretting that they did not have the bloodline and opportunity to join such a prosperous family.

Immediately, amidst the chorus of respectful farewells from the Xiao family members, Xiao Ling, with a faint smile on his face, nodded to several familiar family members. Occasionally, he would stop to exchange a few words with the gray-haired elders of the Xiao family, inquiring about the recent situation of the clan, while leading Little Fairy Doctor and Qing Lin slowly towards the depths of the Xiao family mansion.

Along the way, the tribespeople had already spontaneously lined up on both sides, their eyes filled with almost devout reverence and worship as they looked at Xiao Ling. They even subconsciously softened their breathing, afraid of disturbing this legend of the tribe.

Back then, Xiao Ling displayed extraordinary talent for cultivation in his youth. He was exceptionally admitted to Canaan Academy when he was young and went to the Black Corner Region for further study.

After returning from his studies, he spent very little time with the Xiao family. After only a short while, he set off for Zhongzhou to pursue a higher level of cultivation.

Since then, the number of times he has returned to his hometown has become extremely limited, almost becoming a legend that the younger members of the clan can only look up to in the oral accounts of their elders.

Even some of the younger generation of the Xiao family had never seen the true face of this legendary figure of their clan. They had only heard from their elders about how he stirred up a storm in Zhongzhou and how he earned a great reputation for the Xiao family through his cultivation and alchemy skills. In those stories passed down by word of mouth, Xiao Ling was a prodigy with exceptional talent, a top expert who shook Zhongzhou, and a solid pillar supporting the Xiao family as they stood at the pinnacle of the Jia Ma Empire.

Now that they could see him in person up close and witness his gentle and humble yet dignified appearance, their heartfelt enthusiasm and excitement were impossible to hide. Even their eyes shone brightly. Many young disciples clenched their fists, secretly regarding him as a benchmark on their path of cultivation.

The hustle and bustle along the way finally dissipated when Xiao Ling stepped into his own courtyard, transforming into a serene and tranquil space.

The courtyard is small, but exquisitely designed. The winding path paved with bluestone is polished to a mirror-like shine, without a trace of moss. The pavilions and towers on both sides have upturned eaves and carved beams and painted rafters, which, despite the passage of time, are still as bright as new. The windows and doors are spotless, without a single fallen leaf or speck of dust.

In the flowerbed in the center of the courtyard, all kinds of flowers and plants were neatly trimmed. Roses were in full bloom, orchids were fragrant, and several old locust trees stood tall and majestic, their branches and leaves so lush that they blocked out the sun. The stone tables and benches under the shade of the trees were also wiped clean.

This state of affairs clearly indicates that someone has been meticulously maintaining the courtyard for many years. Even though he was away from home for most of the year, the Xiao family never neglected it, with people coming every day to sweep and prune, thus ensuring that the courtyard has always maintained its former appearance.

Xiao Ling slowly stepped into the courtyard, his gaze sweeping over the familiar plants and trees. His fingertips lightly brushed the cool surface of the stone table, a hint of undisguised nostalgia flashing in his eyes. He couldn't help but sigh softly.

"It's been so many years since I've been back, and I didn't expect it to still look the same as before."

Little Fairy Doctor stood to one side, her gaze gently sweeping over every blade of grass and tree in the courtyard, her fingertips brushing against the vines hanging from the eaves, and softly echoing,
"Yes, returning here now feels like those days were just yesterday. I really miss them."

Upon hearing this, Qinglin, standing nearby, immediately smiled, her eyes crinkling with delight. Her clear voice, like the tinkling of silver bells, echoed through the courtyard.

"Hehe, Qinglin had a lot of fun during those days at the Xiao family! It's just a pity that Master is still busy handling the affairs of the Talisman Spirit Hall in the Pill Hall and couldn't come along. Otherwise, today would definitely be even more lively."

The three exchanged a smile and slowly walked towards the pavilion in the center of the courtyard, each taking a seat on a stone bench. A gentle breeze swept through the corridor, lifting the copper bells hanging from the eaves, causing them to tinkle softly. In that delicate sound, there was indeed a touch of the leisurely comfort of their youth.

Little Fairy Doctor picked up a locust leaf that had fallen on the stone table, a faint smile playing on her lips, and recounted the embarrassing incident from years ago when Xiao Ling was instructing her on how to cultivate poison-attribute combat techniques in the courtyard, almost causing half the flowers and plants in the yard to wilt from the fumes.

Qinglin couldn't help but smile charmingly, and then made a gesture with her delicate hand in the air.

Suddenly, several colorful lights and shadows darted out from the grass in the corner of the courtyard, transforming into snake shadows several feet long that snaked and slithered over, coiling steadily at her feet.

These serpentine monsters were covered in iridescent scales, the gold and red patterns shimmering in the sunlight. Their triangular heads were slightly raised, their tongues flicking out. They were beautiful but not ferocious, instead exuding a lively and docile charm.

However, the cultivation levels of these snake-like magical beasts were relatively weak. Even the one with the strongest aura was only at the level of a second-tier magical beast.

"Speaking of these little guys, they were captured back in the Monster Mountain Range." Qinglin bent down, gently scratching the neck of the thickest crimson-gold snake with her fingertips, her eyes curving into crescents.

"After I left Zhongzhou, I let them roam freely in this courtyard and forbade them from harboring any ill will towards the Xiao family members. I never expected that after so many years, they would still be at the same level of cultivation. They really haven't made any progress at all."

As Xiao Ling listened to the two of them chatting, the smile on her lips grew even gentler. Occasionally, she would chime in with a few words to correct any minor discrepancies in their memories.

The three of them picked up those scattered fragments of the past and pieced them together into a vivid picture.

The fragrance of flowers wafts outside the pavilion, and the shadows of the trees sway gently. This warm and tranquil atmosphere washes away all the fatigue from the journey.

The three of them felt a sense of peace and tranquility amidst these reminiscences, as if they had truly returned to that carefree time of their youth.

……

Because of the earth-shattering phenomenon in the sky above Gama Holy City that morning, the news of Xiao Ling, the legendary figure of the Gama Empire, returning to his homeland spread like wildfire throughout the entire holy city.

For a time, this matter became the hottest topic of conversation in the streets, alleys, teahouses, and taverns. Regardless of age or gender, everyone was talking about this proud son of the Xiao family who had stirred up so much trouble.

After all, Xiao Ling's rise to prominence is only a matter of the last twenty years. From a young genius who first showed his talent at Canaan Academy to a legendary figure who ventured to the Central Plains and gradually ascended to the position of a top expert, this magnificent journey has been embellished and told countless times by the people of Jiama.

Even though he had long since left the Gama Empire and was now a powerful figure in the vast lands of Zhongzhou, the legends about him had never ceased on this homeland. Those stories, whether stirring or legendary, were deeply imprinted in the hearts of every Gama person, becoming a glorious mark known to all.

The moment the news spread, the major powers and prominent families of Gama Holy City were instantly abuzz, like a lake tossed with pebbles.

Those leaders who had appeared in front of the Xiao residence that morning immediately summoned their clan elders and stewards upon returning home, meticulously checking their treasured possessions, fearing that the gifts they had prepared were not substantial enough to match Xiao Ling's current status and position.

Those families who couldn't go to greet the Xiao family immediately were even more anxious, like ants on a hot pan. They sent people to find out the exact time of the banquet at the Xiao family's residence, and took out all the treasures they had hidden away, wishing they could bring out their entire fortune, just hoping to win the favor of the Xiao family at the banquet with a generous gift.

After all, everyone knows that Xiao Ling is now a top expert who can intimidate the Central Plains, and the Xiao family has taken advantage of this momentum to stand firmly at the top of the Jia Ma Empire.

Forging a close relationship with such a behemoth paves a smooth path to success for the family, bringing unimaginable benefits in terms of cultivation resources and protection. No one would want to miss such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Even more extreme, some cunning leaders actually planned to single out the most beautiful and talented young women in their clans to attend the banquet that the Xiao family planned to hold later.

As for the purpose of these people, they simply hoped that these women could attract Xiao Ling's attention at the banquet with their outstanding looks and talents. If they could be noticed by this top expert who returned from Zhongzhou, it would undoubtedly be like climbing a mountain of support for their families.

Unfortunately, all the schemes and plots of these leaders were nothing more than fleeting, insignificant matters in Xiao Ling's eyes.

He had long stood atop the Central Plains, having witnessed too many changes in fortune and power struggles. The conflicts and schemes within the Gama Empire were, to him, as insignificant as the croaking of frogs at the bottom of a well.

His return was merely to check on Queen Medusa's situation. His return to the Xiao family now is also because he has been away for too long and wants to come back and see her.

As for whether these forces can use this opportunity to curry favor with the Xiao family and build closer ties, that's something Xiao Zhan, the current patriarch, needs to consider. He has never taken it to heart, nor bothered to care. (End of Chapter)