The system only arrives when you're old? Then let's create a super-rich family!

Li Haitao, Chen Wenbin, and Ma Hongming's pupils constricted, and they all gasped in shock, instinctively holding their breath as they stared incredulously at Qin Zheng, who appeared completely at ease.

The Xie family's rich history, as explained by Lu Chengan, has already overturned their decades-long understanding.

This ancient family, with its long history spanning thousands of years, has a deep and intricate network of connections. Its members are present throughout the imperial court, and it can easily crush all the powerful families in Jiangnan. Even the Yuan family is insignificant compared to the Xie family.

Even knowing how terrifying the Xie family was, Qin Zheng remained calm and composed, even stating that the Xie family was not worthy of the Bai family's intervention.

That tone was truly terrifying.

Bai Lingxi's face instantly darkened, her delicate brows furrowed, and her eyes were filled with displeasure and anger.

She personally intervened, suppressed Xie Mingqiu's anger, and single-handedly saved the Qin family, shielding them from a catastrophic disaster.

Instead of receiving a single word of thanks from the Qin family, they were met with Qin Zheng's remark, "What is the Xie family anyway?"

Is this implying she's meddling? Isn't this a slap in the face?

In her view, this was not confidence at all, but rather ungratefulness!

Bai Lingxi's gaze suddenly turned cold, and her aura instantly intensified as she coldly questioned:

"Old Master Qin, do you know what the Xie family's background is?"

"You've only just surpassed the Yuan family, and you think the Qin family is invincible? You think all the powerful families in the world are on par with the Yuan family?"

"You're underestimating the Xie family! Even three Yuan families combined wouldn't be a match for them!"

Do you know who the Xie family's ancestors were?

She looked down at him and asked three questions in a row, preparing to publicly recount the Xie family's wealth and make Qin Zheng realize reality and put away his ridiculous arrogance.

But just as she was about to speak, Lu Cheng'an, who was standing beside her, keenly noticed the barely perceptible impatience in Qin Zheng's eyes, and he quickly reminded her:

"Miss Bai, my master is aware of the backgrounds of the Wang, Bai, Li, and Xie families."

Upon hearing this, Bai Lingxi swallowed back the words she was about to say.

She looked at Qin Zheng, who had a calm expression, and felt increasingly surprised.

Since you are well aware of the immense resources of the four families, how dare you make such outrageous remarks?

After a moment, Bai Lingxi's eyes turned cold, and she spoke again:

"Since you know the Xie family's formidable strength, yet you still dare to speak like this, do you perhaps believe that the Qin family's ancestral heritage is even more powerful than the Xie family's thousand-year history?"

This question instantly voiced the thoughts of everyone present.

Li Haitao and the other two were tense, their eyes fixed on Qin Zheng, filled with trepidation and immense curiosity.

Even Qin Zihao raised his eyes slightly, his eyes full of doubt, and quietly looked at his grandfather.

He also wanted to know what kind of hidden strength the Qin family possessed that made them dare to challenge the ancient Xie family.

Under the watchful eyes of the audience, Qin Zheng remained calm and nodded slightly, which was considered an admission.

Seeing this, Bai Lingxi was so angry she almost laughed, her anger surging uncontrollably.

Even now, Qin Zheng is still stubbornly clinging to his pride and refusing to back down, proving utterly obstinate.

She snorted coldly, her tone filled with utter disappointment and indifference: "Fine, very well."

"Since the Qin family's ancestors had such profound influence, I will not interfere in the feud between the Qin and Xie families."

"The Qin family should think twice!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Bai Lingxi turned around and left without lingering.

But Qin Zheng suddenly chuckled twice and called out to her.

"Little girl, are you currently engaged?"

The room fell silent upon hearing this.

Qin Zihao was completely stunned, his eyes filled with astonishment.

Just a moment ago they were arguing about the power dynamics of the aristocratic families, and now they're asking about each other's marriage prospects?

Grandpa... could he be planning to arrange a marriage for him...?

With the Bai family's formidable background, a marriage proposal is clearly not an option.

In his plan, he would definitely win over Bai Lingxi first, and then go to the Bai family to propose marriage.

In this way, the chances of success are even higher.

Bai Lingxi paused, her back stiffened slightly, and she slowly turned around, her eyes filled with arrogance and incomprehension as she coldly looked at Qin Zheng.

"So what if I have it? So what if I don't?"

"Does Old Master Qin perhaps believe that the Qin family is now qualified to associate with the Bai family?"

In her eyes, even though the Qin family had risen rapidly, they were still just a newly emerging wealthy family with shallow foundations. They couldn't even get close to the Xie family, let alone be compared with the top-tier Bai family.

Qin Zheng smiled faintly, "You've got it backwards."

"If we're talking about seniority, with the Qin family's foundation, your Bai family is the inferior one."

He really wanted to say: Bai Lingxi, don't get it wrong, you are the challenger.

However, given my own position, such a statement would be a bit childish and inappropriate, so I didn't say it.

boom!

These words struck everyone like a thunderbolt in broad daylight.

Li Haitao, Chen Wenbin, and Ma Hongming trembled all over, gasped again, and their minds went blank.

too crazy!

The sheer power and resources of Wang, Bai, Li, and Xie were terrifying; just thinking about them made their hearts pound.

But Qin Zheng actually said that the Bai family was only inferior to the Qin family?

Who exactly rebelled?

The three of them were completely baffled, unable to fathom the source of Qin Zheng's confidence.

Bai Lingxi frowned, shook her head slightly, and her eyes were filled with utter helplessness and disdain.

In her opinion, Qin Zheng was talking nonsense.

She had been familiar with the genealogies and origins of all the ancient families in the Dragon Kingdom since childhood, and had never heard of any terrifying Qin family.

Even though the Qin family had always kept a low profile and secretly developed its heritage, even if its ancestor was Qin Qiong from the Tang Dynasty, it could only sit at the same table as aristocratic families like the Yuan family.

The Xie family is an insurmountable barrier that the Qin family could not overcome even if they devoted their entire lives or several generations to their efforts, let alone the Wang, Bai, and Li families.

Qin Zheng is too arrogant, so arrogant that he looks down on everyone else.

If it weren't for the fact that Wang Zhaoyue was frequently going to chat with Qin Ziyang on live streams these days, and she didn't want her best friend to have an unhappy month, she wouldn't have bothered to say anything more.

Bai Lingxi suppressed all her impatience, said no more, turned around and walked straight out, her posture resolute.

Upon seeing this, Qin Zihao instinctively stood up, his heart filled with helplessness and embarrassment.

Grandpa's outrageous remarks today will only lower his image in Bai Lingxi's eyes.

But he dared not complain in the slightest, for everything he possessed was given to him by his grandfather.

He suppressed his disappointment, his expression calm and composed, and bowed as he said, "Grandpa, I'll go see Miss Bai off."

The barely perceptible hint of disappointment in his tone did not escape Qin Zheng's ears.

Looking at his grandson's slightly frustrated back, Qin Zheng laughed and pushed out an ancient, heavy, round jade pendant in the shape of a dragon from the table.

The jade pendant has a warm and smooth texture, with simple and ancient patterns, and is surrounded by a profound aura of time.

"Grandson, do you think your grandfather is just bragging?"

"This is the confidence that Grandpa gave you, the foundation of my Qin family."

Qin Zheng smiled broadly, "Give this jade pendant to that little girl from the Bai family, and consider it an engagement gift from my Qin family to the Bai family."

"Grandpa promises you, one day you'll definitely win the heart of your beauty!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes immediately focused on the dragon-shaped jade pendant.

Lu Cheng'an's pupils suddenly contracted as he stared intently at the patterns on the jade pendant, his mind reeling.

Li Haitao, Chen Wenbin, and Ma Hongming stared intently, their breathing suddenly stopping.

No matter how closely they examined it, they couldn't see anything special about the jade pendant. They only thought it had an antique style and was at most a valuable piece of jade.

With just a jade pendant, how dare he claim to easily surpass the Wang, Bai, and Li families and even challenge the ancient Xie family?

Everyone was filled with doubt and couldn't figure it out.

Without hesitation, Qin Zihao stepped forward and picked up the jade pendant. The moment his fingertips touched the jade pendant, he felt a warm and profound aura wafting towards him.

He didn't have time to investigate further and quickly turned around and chased after the person out of the tea room.

Inside, watching Qin Zihao's departing figure, Chen Wenbin finally couldn't suppress the doubts in his heart.

As expected, his son Chen Jun will become the Qin family's grandson-in-law in the future, making him a relative by marriage. It wouldn't be presumptuous for him to ask, and among the people still in the house, it seems that he is the only one who is appropriate to ask.

Thinking this, he then asked:

"Old Master Qin, if I may ask, who is this jade pendant related to?"

Upon hearing this, the remaining people all stared intently, their eyes filled with anticipation and nervousness.

They desperately wanted to know the Qin family's true strength and unfathomable resources, so they could have a better understanding of the future situation.

Qin Zheng picked up his teacup, took a sip of the fragrant Longjing tea, and with a calm expression, smiled as he reassured everyone.

"Secretary Li, Governor Chen, my Qin family would not speak recklessly without prior notice."

"Even the Wang, Bai, and Li families, in terms of their ancestral lineage and heritage, are still far inferior to my Qin family."

Qin Zhengke didn't intend to go into details, so he left it at that.

Seeing this, everyone could only suppress their curiosity and begin to speculate.

Li Haitao pondered for a moment, then tentatively spoke:

"Old Master Qin, could it be that your ancestor was a hegemon of the Qin clan during the Spring and Autumn Period?"

Many hegemons ruled during the Spring and Autumn Period, including Duke Mu of Qin, Duke Xiang of Qin, and Duke Xuan of Qin...

But as soon as he finished speaking, Li Haitao froze, instantly contradicting himself, and blurted out, "That's not right!"

"All the hegemons of the Spring and Autumn Period were of the Ying surname, and Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of Qin, was also of the Ying surname and Zhao clan. From ancient times to the present, there has never been a hegemon with the surname Qin!"

One sentence plunged the scene into silence once again.

Chen Wenbin and Ma Hongming fell into deep thought, their minds racing through all the historical records.

Wang Jian of the Wang family, Bai Qi of the Bai family, and members of the Li family, all members of the Tang imperial family, were top figures who left their mark on history and dominated their respective dynasties.

They searched through five thousand years of history but couldn't find a single ancestor with the surname Qin who could outshine the three founding ancestors.

Lu Cheng'an, standing to the side, was inwardly turbulent.

He had previously held the preconceived notion that the Qin family were descendants of Qin Shi Huang, but upon closer examination, he realized that the details didn't match up at all and were full of loopholes.

The lineage of the First Emperor was surnamed Ying, not Qin.

Historical records state that when Xiang Yu burned Xianyang, he massacred the Ying royal family, wiping them out completely.

The lineage of Qin Shi Huang can be said to have ended. He only regarded Qin as the rightful ruler and the government of Qin, and never thought much of it.

Once a person has made up their mind about something, even if it's wrong, they will ignore many details.

Could it be that the Qin family is not a direct descendant of the First Emperor?

With countless doubts swirling in his mind, Lu Cheng'an began to thoroughly doubt his own judgment for the first time.

At this moment, Qin Zheng looked at everyone, who were deep in thought and full of confusion, and remained calm and composed.

He didn't know much about the history of the Spring and Autumn Period, so he simply called upon the system in his mind.

"System, who were Qin Zheng's ancestors?"

[Qin Zheng was Duke Mu of Qin, and the twenty-second generation direct descendant of Ying Renhao.]

Qin Zheng understood instantly.

It turns out that our ancestors can be traced directly back to Duke Mu of Qin, the hegemon of the Spring and Autumn Period.

Although everyone knows that the Qin and Ying families were not separated, directly invoking the First Emperor would obviously have a stronger deterrent effect.

A faint smile flickered in his eyes.

No further words or explanations are needed now.

When the little girl from the Bai family uses the jade pendant to investigate its origins and publicly verify the identity of the Qin family, everyone in the world will naturally know the Qin family's background.

At this moment, in the front hall of the Qin residence.

Qin Zihao walked quickly and finally caught up with Bai Lingxi, who was about to get into the car, at the steps of the gate.

Watching the girl's aloof and resolute back, he quickly stepped forward, his tone tinged with apology, and spoke sincerely.

"Miss Bai, my grandfather has always been proud and straightforward, and he had no intention of targeting you or the Bai family. I hope he will not take his words to heart."

Upon hearing this, Bai Lingxi frowned even more deeply, her impatience growing stronger.

Her impression of the Qin family at this moment was completely fixed as "an overnight rise to wealth, an arrogant and conceited nouveau riche".

There was no point in saying anything more, and she was too lazy to even argue. She just gave him a cold glance and then decided to continue walking and getting into the car.

Upon seeing this, Qin Zihao felt a surge of anxiety and immediately took out the warm and ancient dragon-shaped jade pendant, handing it to Bai Lingxi.

"Miss Bai!"

"My grandfather said that this is the true foundation of my Qin family. He asked me to give this to you. Once you find out its origin, you will know whether what he said today is true or false."

Bai Lingxi paused, glanced sideways, and her gaze fell on the dragon-shaped jade pendant.

Born into a prestigious family, she had seen countless heirlooms and ancient artifacts, yet she had no recollection of this jade pendant.

She doesn't understand antique appreciation, so naturally she couldn't see the mystery behind it.

"Didn't your grandfather tell you the origin and owner of this jade pendant?" Bai Lingxi asked calmly.

Qin Zihao shook his head slightly, a hint of helplessness and certainty in his eyes: "My grandfather only revealed the Qin family's hidden identity to us a week ago, along with many ancestral secrets, which I haven't had time to inquire about yet."

"Pretending to be profound." Bai Lingxi murmured softly, her tone full of disdain.

But she did not refuse outright; instead, she gestured for her personal secretary to take the jade pendant.

"it is good."

"I will accept this item. I want to see if your Qin family's so-called thousand-year heritage can truly support your grandfather's arrogant words today."

Qin Zihao clenched his fists tightly, his eyes filled with determination.

From childhood to adulthood, his grandfather had never lied to him even once.

This time, absolutely not!

Watching Bai Lingxi get into the car, the door close, and the black luxury car slowly drive away from the Qin residence, the secretary softly asked a question.

"Boss, should we immediately contact top antique experts in the industry to authenticate the jade pendant's origin and age overnight?"

Bai Lingxi leaned back in the soft chair, closed her eyes to rest, and spoke in a lazy and casual tone, seemingly unconcerned.

"What can be found out from a mere jade pendant? It's nothing but wishful thinking on the part of the Qin family."

"Just have anyone take a look, go through the formalities, and then return the jade pendant to the Qin family."

Deep down, she was already convinced that the Qin family was just bluffing.

This jade pendant is most likely just an ordinary antique; what historical figure could it possibly be associated with?