"Good," nodded the anciently dressed beauty.
Bai Xiao'e extended her finger, pouting as she said, "So you're found out, aren't you? You still claim you have no special feelings for the Godson, but as soon as I mention it, you agree to go. You should know that you were not even willing to take a second look at Qin Qi, the Great Young Master Qin, who is a murderer."
The anciently dressed beauty looked at her with serene eyes and began to speak,
"There's no denying that I admire such an exceptional hero, but it's not the kind of affection between a man and a woman. Your thoughts are far dirtier than that."
"Ah, you're calling me dirty, speaking ill in veiled terms, I won't let this go!" Bai Xiao'e sprang from the bed with bared teeth and claws, like a little tiger gone mad.
...
"What, you say you were saved by a freshman???"
Inside the Cao Family's grand and magnificent estate, Patriarch Cao Xiong looked incredulously at Cao Ritian, who had just returned from a brush with death.
Cao Ying stood straight beside Cao Ritian.
The young master Cao Potian, with his well-built upper body bare, casually draped in a large robe, his chest clearly adorned with pairs of red lipstick marks that seemed freshly made, still emitting the scent of a woman's perfume, lit up with excitement as he heard Cao Ritian's account.
Cao Ritian nodded, "Yes, that guy was too fierce, he slew a demon from two thousand years ago, that was a true First Rank Summit."
"No! If not for the suppression of the heaven and earth's rules, I fear that Mountain Lord's cultivation level is definitely more than just at the First Rank Summit."
"This..." Cao Xiong, who was a family head experienced in weathering great storms and one of the true power holders of Great Xia, was unavoidably struck with astonishment.
He turned his gaze to Cao Ying, standing next to Cao Ritian.
"Is this true?"
Cao Ying nodded, "Master, what Ritian Young Master said is absolutely true. That freshman is none other than the Da Xia Godson, Director Luo's grandson, Luo Yu."
"What?" Cao Xiong was even more shocked, "That old man's grandson is just an impostor, how could he have such strength?"
That's when Cao Potian also said, "Grandfather, didn't you tell me before that Luo Yu's talent was all a façade? How do you explain what happened to Ritian today then, since it's clear that the person truly has genuine capabilities?"
"Impossible, Luo Yu's talent must be fake; we were the ones who devised that scheme before he was even born." Cao Xiong shook his head, looking again at Cao Ying, "Tell me the whole matter from beginning to end."
A while later, Cao Xiong's face was filled with shock.
"How is this possible..."
"That kid is only eighteen, hadn't awakened his Heroic Spirit for more than a year, no matter what, he shouldn't have such battle power."
"It's fake, it must be fake. That kid must have used a treasure given to him by Elder Luo to have such strength."
"At the beginning, the Pretense Jade Pendant that we handed over to Luo Tiance was enough to cause chaos with its authenticity and to display the aura of a true strong person, coupled with the bead that creates illusions and the treasure that stores attacks, it might not be impossible to contend with a First Rank Summit expert."
Cao Xiong shook his head repeatedly, as if trying to find a reasonable explanation for himself.
But the astute him could not help but notice the inconsistency here.
That is, if Luo Yu was a fake prodigy, everything could be faked, but invoking the statue left by Emperor Qin Shi Huang to attack couldn't possibly be fake, could it?
However, this scheme of the impostor Godson was something they had discussed in advance.
It was the discussion that came first, followed by the birth of the Godson.
"Grandfather, it seems our Da Xia Godson really does have genuine materials," laughed Cao Potian from the side. "Our family Ritian is not someone who can be easily moved, yet look how much he has praised the Godson since coming back."
Cao Ying also chimed in, "Master, I too have personally witnessed Godchild Luo Yu, and his bearing is extraordinary, a man of outstanding talent, definitely not the image of an impostor."
Cao Xiong rubbed his temples.
"Stop talking for now, let me think."
After a few breaths, he looked up hesitantly and said, "Do you think a person, no matter how talented, can possess over a hundred God Rank Ancient Spirits?"
"Can a person, no matter how monstrous, upgrade from Ninth Grade to a level capable of slaying First Grade in less than a year's time?"
As soon as these words were spoken, people like Cao Ying immediately shook their heads, thinking it impossible.
"Indeed, that's unrealistic," Cao Ritian honestly replied.
"Yes, that's exactly the issue," Cao Xiong said with a wry smile. "It's clear that Elder Luo's grandson has talent, but for it to be this extraordinary, it's just too fake."
"So, I suspect it's highly likely that it's three parts true and seven parts fake; part of it is this kid really has some capabilities, while the rest is through the use of Luo Tiance's exotic treasures."
Upon hearing Cao Xiong's supposition, the others felt it was somewhat acceptable, for what Luo Yu had demonstrated now truly seemed too otherworldly to be human.
At this moment, Cao Ritian spoke up, "No matter what, he is the one who saved my life, and while the Cao Family can forget this debt, I will never forget it."
"What kind of talk is that? Is our Cao Family the type to be ungrateful?" Cao Xiong retorted. "The Cao Family always repays its debts and reciprocates its favors."
"Yes, Grandfather is right," Cao Ritian immediately smiled apologetically.
Cao Xiong turned his gaze to Cao Potian standing beside him:
"Potian, knowing that such an exceptional individual has appeared, don't you want to try to test him out?"
"Tss."
Cao Potian shook his head.
"A test?"
"With that time, wouldn't it be better to spend it with my beauties? Why go look for trouble? I certainly won't."
A twitch appeared at the corner of Cao Xiong's mouth, and he suddenly felt his entire demeanor worsen.
Cao Ritian held back a laugh, while Cao Ying, standing nearby, had a strange expression on his face, continuously sighing.
"Buzz!"
Cao Xiong looked down at the vibrating communicator and said, "Elder Luo is pulling me into a meeting, you guys go ahead and leave."
"I'm out of here, old man. I'm going to finish what I left undone. Don't disturb me unless it's important," Cao Potian said lazily, waving his hand and disappearing on the spot.
Cao Ying also took Cao Ritian to recuperate.
"Swoosh!"
Cao Xiong connected the communicator, and immediately, a projection of a meeting room appeared around him.
Behind a long black table were nine seats in total.
Luo Tiance sat at the head position, with Cao Xiong and the other seven Great Family Heads of Great Xia sitting below.
"Elder Luo, thanks for this time," said Cao Xiong.
Entering the meeting room, Cao Xiong was the first to express his gratitude with a cupped-fist salute, not saying much more, just getting to the point.
Luo Tiance nodded, then his gaze swept over everyone as he began to speak:
"This meeting has been convened to solicit recognition for my grandson's merits."
Patriarch Zhu Wushi of the Zhu Family exclaimed in a loud voice:
"To solicit recognition for your grandson's merits?"
"What merits does he have to be recognized for? There hasn't been any news about him doing anything noteworthy recently."
As the person involved, Cao Xiong naturally knew the details, but he didn't speak, though he did find it somewhat strange.
Why was Luo Tiance, who told everyone in the Secret Realm to keep the matter confidential, now appearing to state the facts to all family heads in the meeting?
What exactly was his purpose?
Luo Tiance didn't beat around the bush, and directly played the video recorded by Demon Province Martial University for everyone to see.
It shocked all the Eight Great Family Heads of Great Xia sufficiently.
Zhu Wushi said in amazement, "This... this is your grandson?"
"Holy smokes, cut it out. He can even kill First Rank Summit cultivators now? Even with outside help, isn't that too impressive?"
Qin Zheng of the Qin Family said, "What kind of treasure did you lend your grandson to display such earth-shattering combat power? I can't believe this is his own strength."
The other family heads nodded in agreement at his words.
Cao Xiong had only listened to his grandson and Cao Ying describe it before, and wasn't too moved by the tale, but now that he had personally seen the video, his heart was immensely shaken.
Luo Tiance said, "I didn't lend my grandson any treasure. This is all by his own effort. As a Godson, he should have some abilities to live up to the name, right?"
Zhu Wushi and the others immediately showed expressions as if to say 'do you think we would believe that?'
Luo Tiance recounted each merit as if he was cataloging treasures:
"My grandson first rescued the people of Guangyuan City."
"Then, he found and eliminated the real culprit behind the Jiang City massacre, saving hundreds of Martial University elites. Such merits deserve a national level recognition, don't they?"
"If this was his own strength, I'd have nothing to say, but it's clear that this isn't the power level he should have," retorted Zhu Wushi.
Patriarch Liu Shengji of the Liu family also nodded in agreement, "Elder Luo, this is where you are being unfair. Are we brothers not aware whether your grandson's talent is real or fake?"
"Hmph!"
Luo Tiance's face darkened.
"Is it important whether it's real or fake?"
"Regardless of whether it's his true strength or not, the fact remains that my grandson has established such great merit."
"I'm not here to discuss this with you, but these merits must be recognized."
"The nation's pillar, the wolf's abode, and the horse's drink from the vast sea—of these three top titles, one must be conferred upon my grandson, and there's no room for negotiation!"