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Half an hour later.
At the Xiao family estate, inside Xiao Yan's courtyard.
Lu Xian and Ye Hei were sitting together at a stone table in the courtyard, each with one earbud in, watching a Three Kingdoms-themed movie to pass the time while waiting for further news.
Most of the elite forces from the Jia Lie and Aoba families had already been dealt with. The only ones left were a few scattered remnants—old folks, women, and children—hiding here and there. The Xiao family was sweeping through the city to hunt them down, determined to eradicate them completely. There was no need for these two 'high-level combatants' to get involved anymore.
"Tap, tap!" Footsteps sounded from outside the courtyard. Before long, Xiao Yan strode in, beaming with pride, his face glowing with excitement. He walked with his head held high, a grin so wide it barely fit on his face.
"Brother Lu, Brother Ye Hei! Thanks to you both, I've finally had my moment of triumph! You wouldn't believe the looks the elders just gave me. It was so..."
Noticing that neither of them even lifted an eyelid to acknowledge him, Xiao Yan walked closer, feeling puzzled. He sat across from them and asked, "What are you guys watching?"
"Romance of the Three Kingdoms..." Lu Xian replied absentmindedly, eyes glued to the phone screen.
"Your world has Romance of the Three Kingdoms too? But what's so great about that? Let me tell you, just now, I totally..."
Xiao Yan circled around the table to stand behind them, glanced at the phone screen, and his eyes widened in shock. "Holy sh*t!"
On the screen, five burly men in crooked armor were engaging in an intense 'battle' with a delicate young woman draped in silk.
"You two beasts! You're watching this? You dare call this Romance of the Three Kingdoms?!" Xiao Yan looked utterly scandalized.
Lu Xian shot him a disdainful glance. "Shows what you know."
"The five men in armor are—"
"Cao Cao!"
"Cao Ren!"
"Cao Pi!"
"Cao Zhen!"
"Cao Shuang!"
"The woman in the middle is Diao Chan. They're all figures from the Three Kingdoms. So why wouldn't this be called Romance of the Three Kingdoms? If you really can't accept it, you can just think of it as a Three Kingdoms fanfic!"
Wait, what?!
Have the films started recently incorporating such deep storytelling into cosplay?
Back when I crossed over, cosplay videos were mostly just about detective themes...
Xiao Yan froze for a second, then suddenly changed his tune. "Well... technically, it is Romance of the Three Kingdoms!"
"Good brothers, let me borrow an earbud so I can properly critique this!"
Lu Xian and Ye Hei immediately clamped their hands over their ears, preventing him from snatching one.
"What are you even watching? Have you finished dealing with everything?" Lu Xian gave him a side glance.
Xiao Yan, disappointed that he couldn't listen in, felt like a man watching a video that froze just when things were getting good.
"My father and the Grand Elder are finishing the cleanup. They sent me back to have the kitchen prepare a feast to properly thank you both. You guys really helped us out this time!"
Xiao Yan placed a hand on each of their shoulders, leaning in to watch the phone screen.
"In that case, it looks like there's nothing left for Lu Xian and me to do here." Ye Hei took out his earbud and stood up. "I'll skip the feast. I need to retrieve the lost Source and break through to the Life Spring realm. See you next time."
"Huh? You're leaving already? Not staying for the celebration?" Xiao Yan tried to persuade him.
"I'll pass." Lu Xian also turned off his phone and stood up. "If you really want to thank me, go borrow that Emperor Seal Technique from your little girlfriend and let me take a look at it."
"Uh... Xun'er and I aren't officially together yet. It'd be kinda awkward to ask her..." Xiao Yan scratched the back of his head, looking troubled.
Lu Xian shook his head in disappointment. "I even gave you a perfect setup earlier today, and you still didn't take the opportunity? A man hesitating in matters like this—are you seriously waiting for her to make the first move?"
"It's not that..."
Xiao Yan forced a wry smile. "It's just that you told me before—Xun'er's background is ridiculously powerful... I'm not worthy of her right now. I'll confess once I've gotten stronger..."
The classic problem with men—they never doubt their girlfriends but always doubt themselves, fearing they can't provide a good life.
Before Lu Xian crossed over, he was the same.
But after crossing over, his mindset had changed completely. With two powerful cheats at his disposal, he was destined to stand above the multiverse, a god ruling over the abstract. The feeling of inferiority? That no longer had anything to do with him. The only thing that had taken root in his heart was unshakable confidence.
"Xiao Yan, you need to change your mindset!"
Lu Xian shook his head. "Yes, Xun'er has a powerful background, but you're not lacking either. You have a chat group system and Yao Lao, one of the continent's top alchemists, personally guiding you. Your future isn't just about standing at the peak of the Dou Qi Continent—you'll stand at the peak of the multiverse!"
"So, be confident!"
He patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder.
"Sure, women might slow down your training, but rich lolis won't. Why not just drug her and make things official? The Gu Clan wouldn't be able to deny it then. Hell, they might even shower you with cultivation resources, saving you ten years of effort. Breaking through to Dou Di would be just around the corner!"
Xiao Yan: ...
Xun'er, who had just entered the courtyard: ...
"Ahem! Ye Hei and I will be leaving now..."
They had actually gotten caught saying this by the person in question!
Lu Xian and Ye Hei immediately opened a portal and vanished, leaving Xiao Yan frozen in shock. This scene felt oddly familiar...
Damn it!
Those two definitely noticed Xun'er approaching and set me up again!
Xun'er's expression shifted briefly, then she smiled sweetly and walked forward. "Xiao Yan-gege, who were those two? They even know space teleportation? And what were you just talking about? Drugging who? Aren't you going to explain?"
"Uh..."
"Xun'er, let me defend myself—I mean, let me explain..."
Douluo World.
Lu Xian stepped out of the portal quietly. The room was dark, and the little cat and the young girl were already asleep.
He tiptoed to his own room, lit some incense, and prepared for the golden legendary draw from the premium prize pool.
Abstract Value Balance: 139,000.
This trip to the Battle Through the Heavens world had been insanely profitable!
Soaking in the bathtub, incense burning beside him, Lu Xian's hands trembled as he tapped the draw button.
"All aboard the hype train—"
[Congratulations! You have drawn the Golden Flash Prize: Divine Grindstone.]
[A new premium prize pool has been refreshed.]
"What the hell is this? A treasure? A grindstone? Does it grind enemies to death or something?"
Lu Xian was momentarily stunned before opening the item details...
"....."