Douluo Starting with the Chaos Divine Examination

"Young friend, if you value that ring, it's the Xiao Clan's honor. Xiao Yan, hand over the ring on your finger to Young Master Mu Chen," the Xiao Clan's First Elder urged.

"No way. This ring is my mother's keepsake," Xiao Yan refused outright.

"Young friend, the Xiao Clan has many other rings. Why not choose another one?" the First Elder said awkwardly, looking at Mu Chen.

"Xun'er, it seems the Xiao Clan lacks sincerity. It's a shame they've wasted your efforts to plead for them. Let's go. I heard there's a new noodle shop opening in the western part of the city today, and they're offering discounts. Let's try it out!" Mu Chen said as he reached for Gu Xun'er's hand, preparing to leave.

"Young friend!"

"Young friend!"

"Young friend, please stay! Please stay!"

The Third Elder quickly stepped forward, blocking Mu Chen's path. Smiling, he said, "Young friend, please be patient. Xiao Yan, hand over the ring on your finger to Young Master Mu Chen."

"No way! I told you, this is my mother's keepsake," Xiao Yan refused again.

"It's just a ring. I'll have someone make you a better one," the Third Elder replied.

"No. Even if you make an identical one, it won't carry the same meaning," Xiao Yan insisted.

"Xiao Zhan! As the Clan Leader, are you just going to stay silent?" the Second Elder asked coldly, glaring at Xiao Zhan.

Xiao Zhan remained silent. It was, after all, his late wife's keepsake.

Though the ring on Xiao Yan's finger seemed ordinary and far from valuable, its sentimental significance made Xiao Zhan reluctant to give it away. Additionally, Xiao Zhan felt a strange unease about Mu Chen. Despite his young appearance, Mu Chen's demeanor suggested an old soul, experienced and shrewd.

What puzzled Xiao Zhan even more was Mu Chen's peculiar interest in this seemingly ordinary ring. If Mu Chen had requested something else, it wouldn't have been surprising. But his insistence on this particular ring made Xiao Zhan deeply curious.

Before she passed, Xiao Zhan's wife had explicitly told him never to lose the ring. This added to his hesitation. If he gave the ring away, how could he face his late wife in the afterlife?

"Xiao Zhan, are you really so stingy over a mere ring?" the Third Elder asked coldly again.

Xiao Zhan looked at him, still visibly struggling with the decision.

"Clan Leader, with all due respect, if this continues, our Xiao Clan's marketplace will be forced to close. Within three months, the Xiao Clan will face bankruptcy, and our family will collapse. If that happens, the Xiao Clan will cease to exist in Wu Tan City. As the Clan Leader, you must prioritize the survival of the clan over a trivial ring. Your reluctance raises serious doubts about your ability to lead this family," the First Elder said sharply, his tone filled with disappointment.

As his words fell, all eyes in the hall turned to Xiao Zhan, their gazes heavy with expectation. The pressure on Xiao Zhan intensified.

Mu Chen's face remained calm, but internally, he was thoroughly pleased.

The ring was a keepsake from Xiao Yan's mother, holding significant sentimental value. Such an item couldn't simply be handed over with a few words.

In fact, the Healing Pills flooding the Jia Lie Clan's market were Mu Chen's doing, distributed through Ya Fei's connections. Creating a crisis in Wu Tan City and putting the Xiao Clan under pressure was a calculated move. Only by making the Xiao Clan feel cornered could he force Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan to hand over the ring.

"Clan Leader!"

"Clan Leader!"

"Clan Leader!"

The Xiao Clan disciples all turned their gazes toward Xiao Zhan, intensifying his dilemma.

Xiao Zhan scanned the room, noticing that even some of his closest allies were looking at him expectantly. If he refused now, his reputation would take a severe hit, and he might even face impeachment.

If he were impeached and stripped of his title as Clan Leader, his successor would undoubtedly force him and Xiao Yan to relinquish the ring. If they resisted, they would likely be expelled from the clan.

This would be the worst possible outcome.

"Xiao Yan, give him the ring!" Xiao Zhan finally said, his voice heavy with resignation.

Xiao Zhan had no courage to face expulsion. How could he meet his late father, the former Clan Leader and Dou King, in the afterlife if he let the Xiao Clan fall apart?

"Father!" Xiao Yan protested.

"Just give it to him. It's only a ring," Xiao Zhan said.

"But Father, it's Mother's keepsake," Xiao Yan reminded him.

"I said, give it to him! Didn't you hear me?" Xiao Zhan's temper flared as he glared at Xiao Yan. "You're the son of the Clan Leader, the one most likely to inherit the position. You must distinguish between personal feelings and the greater good. Hand over the ring—this is my order!"

Xiao Yan froze, stunned by his father's outburst. It was the first time Xiao Zhan had ever spoken to him so harshly.

Xiao Yan wasn't an ordinary child. His soul hailed from the modern world of Earth. He understood that his father was acting out of desperation. Slowly, he turned his gaze to Mu Chen.

With a piercing glare, Xiao Yan removed the black ring from his right hand and threw it toward Mu Chen.

"Rude! How dare you treat a guest of the Xiao Clan with such disrespect?" the First Elder reprimanded Xiao Yan sharply. Then, turning to Mu Chen with a flattering smile, he said, "Young friend, please forgive Xiao Yan's behavior. I assure you, I will personally see to it that he is disciplined."

"There's no need, First Elder. You're being too polite," Mu Chen said with a faint smile as he held the ring, sensing the faint soul fluctuations within it. He stored the ring into his spatial storage.

"Young friend, now that this matter is settled, shall we discuss a potential partnership between you and the Xiao Clan?" the First Elder asked with a warm smile.

"Of course. It seems the Xiao Clan is showing sincerity. For the sake of Xun'er and Xiao Yu, I will assist the Xiao Clan this time," Mu Chen said.

"Xiao Yu…" The First Elder blinked in surprise and turned to look at his precious granddaughter, Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu was equally stunned. She hadn't expected Mu Chen to name-drop her like this. The upcoming partnership would determine the Xiao Clan's survival, and by ment

ioning her, Mu Chen had effectively elevated her standing within the clan.

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