"I didn't know much about the Beth family before, but from what I've heard, the Beth family seems to be a very powerful clan, right?" After thinking for a moment, Stone decided to probe indirectly.
Huo Xiaoxiao had no suspicions. Besides, she had heard a lot of bad things about those aristocratic families since she was a child, so she blurted out without thinking, "That was hundreds of years ago! Ever since our six great families in the East rose to prominence, let alone a large aristocratic family like the Beth family, even those noble families have started to decline. Humph, who told them they don't have our divine artifacts!"
A magical artifact?!
Stone was suddenly dumbfounded. What did this have to do with the divine artifact? Just as he was about to speak, Baozi's voice suddenly rang in his mind: "Gaga, Master! Ask her what kind of divine artifact it is! This is extremely important!"
If you hadn't told me, I would have asked you already.
╭(╯^╰)╮
Stone wiped his sweat with a depressed look on his face and asked, "Miss Huo, what kind of magical artifact is it? By the way, is it the magical artifact you used to coax that show-off Milk last time?"
"Why are you still calling me Miss Huo? It sounds so formal! Just call me Xiaoxiao." Huo Xiaoxiao looked like she was unhappy that I was being treated like an outsider: "As for divine artifacts, all six major families in the East have them. However, each family obtains different divine artifacts, which are basically corresponding to our magical talents."
"Can you tell me what kind of divine artifacts they are? This isn't a secret, is it?" Stone was genuinely curious. Each of the six major families possessed a divine artifact. Could it be that this was a world overflowing with divine artifacts?
"That's not exactly a secret, but apart from the Huo and Shui families, I've heard of the other families' divine artifacts, but I've never seen them, so I'm not very clear about them." Huo Xiaoxiao hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.
☆, Chapter 123 The Scourge of the Imperial Capital Academy
"The Huo family's innate magic is fire-based, so all of our family's artifacts are related to fire. The one I used to deal with that show-off Milk last time was the Explosive Flame Rocket Launcher," Huo Xiaoxiao said smugly. "However, the one I took out wasn't the Huo family's real artifact, but a replica made by one of our ancestors' blacksmiths, so its power naturally can't compare to the real artifact."
The power wasn't strong enough, yet it blasted the flamboyant milk into a pile of poop.
"Just how powerful is the real divine artifact?" Stone hesitated, ultimately not uttering the question that had been on her mind. Well, she was a lady...
Huo Xiaoxiao tilted her head and thought for a moment: "The Huo family has a complete set of real artifacts. They look similar to my explosive rocket launcher, but the size is different. I remember the largest one is about three stories high and as thick as two or three adults could encircle. It is said that if you put a specific explosive bullet in it, it can collapse a building a kilometer away. The smallest one is only as long and thin as my arm, but if you put a specific explosive bullet in it, it can still blast through two walls!"
Shi Tou suddenly felt a lot of pressure. Um, why does this sound so much like a firearm from her past life?
"The Shui family's artifact is completely different from our Huo family's. It's not a powerful weapon, but a divine artifact that can save lives." Huo Xiaoxiao fell into thought: "I've only seen that thing once. It can restore rotting skin and flesh to its original state and heal broken bones. But even so, my mother still couldn't be saved."
At this point, Huo Xiaoxiao's face showed a sad expression, but she shook her head vigorously and soon regained her normal expression.
"As for the artifacts of the other families, I haven't seen them with my own eyes. I only remember hearing my father and grandfather talk about them when I was little. The Qin family, the head of the six great families, possesses an artifact that can create space. The Chu family possesses an artifact that can grant ultimate martial power. The Lin family possesses an artifact that can grant the ability to communicate with plants. As for the last one, the Han family's artifact, I really don't know anything about it." Huo Xiaoxiao smiled apologetically at Shi Tou: "The Han family is a very low-key family. Every generation has been at the bottom of the six great families. I remember my grandfather once joked that the Han family possesses an artifact that can ensure their descendants are always at the bottom."
Pfft! ⊙﹏⊙b Sweat!
Shi Tou didn't know whether to say the Han family was tough or Huo Xiaoxiao's grandfather was tough.
"But just take it as a joke. Generally speaking, the six major families won't bring out their divine artifacts unless absolutely necessary." Huo Xiaoxiao saw the collapse on Shi Tou's face and chuckled, "Moreover, I've also heard that some families have more than one divine artifact."
Damn, are magical artifacts in this world really as common as cabbages?!
Shi Tou suddenly felt that his worldview was on the verge of collapse: "Xiao Xiao, where did your six major families get their artifacts?" There shouldn't be any place to fight bosses in this world, right?
"It's a family heirloom!" Huo Xiaoxiao's answer was very concise and... infuriating.
Okay, Stone thinks that rich kids are awesome.
Seeing Shi Tou's depressed expression, Huo Xiaoxiao chuckled: "Oh, right, I'll tell you something else secretly. It's about the Beth family."
The stone blinked, indicating that she was very interested.
“Apart from the two direct descendants, the rest of the next generation of elite members of the Beth family went to the Crimson Forest last year, including you, Serena.” Huo Xiaoxiao suddenly revealed a strange smile: “But, Serena, you may not know, but at that time, the Beth family head’s plan was to train you well and then have you follow the two direct descendants to fight for the Beth family.”
Stone frowned. Two more direct descendants? If that's the case, they're not important figures. Why would the Beth family break ties with the Eternal Night Mercenary Group, the leader of mercenary groups, for some unimportant family members?
Seeing the confusion on Shi Tou's face, Huo Xiaoxiao kindly explained to him: "Because of those two legitimate sons, one is dead and the other is crippled."
"What?" Even though Stone had no connection with the Beth family, he was still taken aback by the news: "What happened?"
Huo Xiaoxiao took out some snacks from a hidden compartment in the carriage and placed them on the small tea table in the middle of the carriage: "If you ask me, those people from the Beth family are completely brainless. Have you ever heard of any great family appointing two heirs at once? Isn't that deliberately trying to make them kill each other? And they're supposed to be a great family with a history of thousands of years!"
Fighting each other?
Shi Tou raised an eyebrow: "You mean, those two legitimate sons killed each other?"
“Although there is no clear evidence, everyone thinks this is the reason.” Huo Xiaoxiao picked up a pastry and threw it into her mouth. “But what the truth is, no one knows except the Beth family.”
The stone lowered its head and began to think quietly.
It's been several months since she left the Dwarf Kingdom. During this time, she has tried her best to integrate into the human kingdom, and at least for now, she hasn't given herself away. However, after hearing Huo Xiaoxiao's words and thinking about what happened before, Shi Tou couldn't help but feel uneasy.
From the first time he saw humans to his gradual integration, Stone followed Baozi's instructions. First, he learned the common human language, then he fabricated a false identity, and finally he followed the mercenary group into the Crimson Forest. Although Linda played a part in this, Baozi's opinion prevailed more often.
At least her troublesome Miss Beth identity was created by Baozi.
She hadn't thought much of it before, but now that she thought about it, why did Baozi insist on making her pretend to be a descendant of a powerful clan? Was it just a coincidence or intentional?
"Serena, the Imperial Academy will be recruiting students in a few months. Are you planning to go this year?" After eating some snacks for a while, Huo Xiaoxiao was probably bored again: "I will definitely participate, and Nana will definitely participate too."
Imperial Capital Academy?
This term wasn't unfamiliar to Shi Tou; she also knew that the Imperial Capital Academy was divided into a Magic Academy and a Martial Arts Academy. If it were Huo Xiaoxiao and Nana Ke, they would definitely attend the Magic Academy.
"I haven't successfully awakened my magical talent, can I still participate?" Stone raised an eyebrow. Actually, she really wanted to ask, "Are you really going to be classmates with Nana?"
"Yes, it's possible. But if you become an apprentice mage first, you can practically guarantee admission. However, for someone like you, well, if the Beth family strongly insists, it wouldn't be too difficult." Huo Xiaoxiao thought for a moment. Actually, she felt that it would be quite difficult for Shi Tou to get in on his own merit.
"Gah gah, Imperial Capital Academy! Master, are you going to cause trouble for Imperial Capital Academy again? That's terrifying! Master, your ultimate dream really is to wreak havoc on Imperial Capital Academy!"
Just as Shi Tou was about to ask some questions about admissions, Bao Zi's voice suddenly rang out again, startling her so much that she almost fell off her chair. Luckily, Linda reacted quickly and pulled Shi Tou back up; otherwise, Shi Tou would have been utterly humiliated.
"What's wrong?" Huo Xiaoxiao asked, confused. "Wasn't the car quite stable?"
"It's nothing!" Stone gritted his teeth. "I was just spacing out." Damn it! You stupid bun, no one will think you're mute if you don't talk.
Huo Xiaoxiao nodded: "By the way. Imperial Capital Academy accepts applications from people under the age of 12. You're only 8 anyway, so there's no rush."
Stone genuinely didn't care about studying. Or rather, she utterly loathed it. After all, in her previous life she'd spent four years in kindergarten, six years in elementary school, three years in junior high, three years in high school, plus four years in university!
Life... Her life in her past life was ruined by that horrible school. In this life, she refuses to stay in that awful school any longer! Even if that school teaches magic, it doesn't matter!
Damn it, she's not Harry Potter!
"I never thought about going to Imperial Academy. My biggest wish is to travel all over the world, see all the beautiful landscapes of our motherland, and experience the customs and cultures of different places. Tsk tsk, that's what life is all about!" After being a homebody for so many years in her previous life, she finally transmigrated this time, and she doesn't want to stay in the same place all the time!
Backpackers and such, that sounds pretty good.
“Uh.” Shi Tou thought it was good, but Huo Xiaoxiao didn’t think so. She stared at Shi Tou for a while before murmuring, “But, Serena, aren’t you the only heir of the Beth family? If I remember correctly, the heir of the Beth family can’t leave the capital for life.”
Holy crap!!!
Stone immediately jumped up from his chair, his head making a fierce and intimate contact with the top of the carriage!
"Bang!"
With a loud bang, not only Huo Xiaoxiao, who had been watching the stone the whole time, but even Huo Yi, who was huddled in the corner of the carriage, couldn't help but look up and stare in astonishment at the stone, who was clutching his head and groaning.
"Miss!" Linda immediately picked the stone up from the ground. "Are you alright?"
Stone, still dazed, was helped to a chair by Linda. He instinctively clutched his head with his hands, looking at Linda with a blank expression: "Gold dust...so much gold dust..."
puff!
Huo Xiaoxiao burst out without hesitation: "Serena, you, you!"
After a while, Shi Tou returned to normal and naturally remembered the culprit who had caused the bump on her head: "Xiao Xiao, I don't have any grudge against you, do I?"
Huo Xiaoxiao kept a straight face and said seriously, "No, but I didn't do anything. I just told you something that everyone knows: the heir of the Beth family can never leave the capital... Hahaha!" After saying that, Huo Xiaoxiao finally couldn't hold back anymore and burst into laughter, clutching her stomach.
Shi Tou leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on the ceiling of the carriage, and he forced out a sentence through gritted teeth: "Xiao Xiao, starting today, I'm going to eat steamed buns with every meal! They should be soup dumplings, and I'll cut them into small pieces with a knife. Of course, it would be even better if they could be ground into powder!"
-----
Honey, Shengjianbao did something incredibly stupid.
Because I took a few days off to go to the hospital due to a foot injury a few days ago, I completely forgot that yesterday was Saturday!
Oops, I made a mistake. This was an extra update from yesterday.
There will be an extra update today, meaning there will be three updates today.
☆, Chapter 124: Huo Yi - Stealing the Dragon and Switching the Phoenix
"Mmm, the paomo tastes really good, it's a pity it's not mutton soup!" From then on, Shi Tou started eating steamed buns for every meal. Fortunately, although Huo Xiaoxiao didn't know why Shi Tou was gritting his teeth and eating steamed buns every day, she did instruct the accompanying cook to serve Shi Tou a bowl of good soup with every meal.
So, even though he ate steamed buns every meal—well, steamed buns that Stone broke into tiny pieces—Stone still managed to gain weight. Two months later, they finally arrived in the capital, but Stone was a whole size bigger than when he left the Dwarf Kingdom.
"Serena, in half a day, we'll be entering the capital." Every time it's mealtime, Huo Xiaoxiao can't bear to look at Shi Tou, because every time she sees him eating his buns with such a bitter expression, Huo Xiaoxiao is bound to spit out her food: "Cough cough, Serena, can't you just eat your buns properly?"
"This is how you should eat a steamed bun!" Shi Tou said without looking up, his hands constantly breaking apart the bun. "Are you going back to the Huo family after you get to the capital?"
Huo Xiaoxiao looked at Shi Tou, who was still struggling with the bun in his hand, with a mix of amusement and exasperation: "Yes, so I need to ask, are you going to the Beth family? If so, I'll have the driver take you there first."
"No way!" Stone finally stopped arguing with Baozi and shook his head desperately, "I'd rather die than go!"
Huo Xiaoxiao felt helpless. She felt that telling Shi Tou the truth was the stupidest thing she had ever done in her life: "But you are now the only heir of the Beth family!"
"So what? You yourself said that the children who died in the Beth family were all around my age, not really all of them. Don't worry. As long as they try harder, they'll definitely be able to have a baby again." Stone calmly comforted Huo Xiaoxiao. Besides, even if the Beth family were to die out, let alone now, what did it matter to her?!
"But..." Huo Xiaoxiao didn't know how to persuade Shi Tou for a moment, and could only look at her with a troubled expression.
"It's alright, as long as you don't tell the Beth family, they won't know I'm still alive." Stone felt that for now, she still needed to change her name again, but this time she had to think it over carefully.
Huo Xiaoxiao pursed her lips in distress: "Of course I won't tell the Beth family, but the news that you're still alive will reach them sooner or later. Serena, have you forgotten? The Starshine Mercenary Group knows everything about you."
"Don't be afraid!" Stone waved his hand. "They only know I exist, but do they know where I went afterward? Besides, do they have any proof that I'm a young lady from the Beth family?"
"This..." Huo Xiaoxiao was truly helpless. This was too fake, wasn't it? However, because she still felt indebted to Shi Tou, she couldn't be too forceful: "Then why don't you come home with me first? Although Nana invited you, I think it's best if you don't go with her."
"Why?" To be honest, Shi Tou had never considered following Huo Xiaoxiao or Nana Ke. Although they had known each other for a few months, Shi Tou felt that such a relationship was far too inappropriate for children.
Huo Xiaoxiao organized her thoughts and slowly began to speak: "I am the eldest daughter of the Huo family. In fact, my grandfather is now in charge of the Huo family. In addition, my father is my grandfather's only son, and I am the only eldest daughter of the Huo family. Therefore, as long as I ask, I can guarantee that your status in the Huo family will be second only to mine."
"What about Nana?" Stone really wanted to say that she only wanted to travel the world and find the real dwarf princess along the way. As for living in someone else's house, she had never even thought about it.
“Nana was originally the eldest daughter of the Kuruvis family, but now she herself is living under someone else's roof, how could she possibly have the ability to protect you? Although her uncle is the young master of the Kru family, he is not a direct descendant, but only a collateral descendant. They have no say in the Kru family at all.”
Huo Xiaoxiao looked very serious and sincere: "Nana is an apprentice magician, and her aunt gave birth to her uncle's only two children, so no one goesssips about Nana living with the Kru family. But you are different."