The Yan World.
Inside the Council Hall.
Huo Xuan sat in the Hall Master. This position had always belonged to Yan Jin, but now Yan Jin was in seclusion. Before his seclusion, he entrusted Huo Xuan with the important task of managing the Flame Clan and asked the elders to assist Huo Xuan in managing the Flame Clan.
Huo Xuan originally didn't want to take this position, but the elders forced him into it. Their reasoning was simple: Huo Xuan would be the clan leader in the future anyway, so it didn't matter whether he took the position sooner or later; they just wanted Huo Xuan to experience what it was like to be the clan leader.
Fortunately, the elders did not entrust him with all the decision-making power and affairs of the clan, otherwise Huo Xuan would have been exhausted.
Now, everyone can express their opinions when handling affairs every day, and a decision can only be made after everyone has discussed it.
"Alright, elders, all matters for today have been settled. Huo Xuan will take his leave now." After finishing today's affairs, Huo Xuan stood up and bid farewell to the elders.
Seeing this, the elders did not stop him, after all, they still needed to give Huo Xuan some private time.
After leaving the Council Hall, Huo Xuan wandered aimlessly through the Yan World, trying to clear his mind...
"How come you're out of quarantine so quickly?"
As soon as Huo Xuan arrived at the very spacious square in the center of the Yan World, he immediately saw Huo Yun, Yan Ling, and Yan Liao, the three underlings he had taken in back then.
"Because our cultivation has still progressed, that's why we're emerging from seclusion so quickly..."
Although Huo Yun's talent is not considered genius, with his own efforts and the help of the Great Elder, his current cultivation level has reached the Nine Star Dou Zong.
Yan Ling and Yan Liao have both reached the High-level Dou Zong, making them outstanding members of the younger generation of the Flame Clan.
Yan Ling's cultivation has reached the Peak Dou Zong. Yan Liao's talent is slightly better than Yan Ling's, and his cultivation has reached the peak of the Eight-Star Dou Zong. Although their bloodlines are not very high and they are in a mediocre state, their status among the younger generation of the Flame Clan is very high because there is a person standing behind them, Huo Xuan!
The three of them looked at Huo Xuan in front of them. The gap between them was already huge back then. Now, after a period of seclusion, seeing Huo Xuan again, they found that Huo Xuan's strength seemed to have increased again. They felt that the gap between them and Huo Xuan had become even deeper.
"Hmm, you guys are pretty good." Huo Xuan looked at the three people in front of him and said calmly.
"Young Clan Leader, you jest."
"Alright, stop calling me 'Young Clan Leader' all the time. I'm sick of hearing it... I'm older than you all, so if you don't mind, just call me 'Big Brother' from now on," Huo Xuan said gently.
"This... this..."
Hearing Huo Xuan's words, the three of them really didn't know what to say. They looked at each other, feeling a bit helpless.
Seeing this, Huo Xuan feigned confusion and asked, "What? Are you unwilling?"
"No... no, absolutely not. Since Young Clan Leader... no, Brother Huo Xuan, you've said so, how could we possibly object to this matter of address?" The three exchanged glances and quickly responded.
The title "Big Brother" is far more prestigious than "Young Clan Leader." Everyone can call Huo Xuan "Young Clan Leader," but they call him "Huo Xuan Brother." Doesn't this clearly show that their relationship with Huo Xuan is different from others? Doesn't this clearly show that they have completely become Huo Xuan's people from now on?
Huo Xuan's chances of inheriting the clan leadership are so high that there is no doubt about it. As people who will be close to the future clan leader, they will definitely have a position in the Flame Clan that is second only to Huo Xuan and above everyone else.
"Strive to cultivate diligently, for in the future, more than half of the Flame Clan may belong to you."
"Wh... what!"
Upon hearing this, the three of them were once again filled with shock. After a moment, a hint of joy gradually appeared on their faces, because judging from his tone, Huo Xuan seemed to have no interest in managing the Flame Clan.
If that's the case, then the Flame Clan will be the ones in control in the future! They will be the emperors, while Huo Xuan will be the retired emperor, only this retired emperor will have more power than them. Huo Xuan can put them on the throne, and he can also remove them from power at any time.
To be fair, although the Flame Clan will still be under Huo Xuan's control in the future, and they can only be considered as working for Huo Xuan, so what? Their bloodline is not very high. Their cultivation talent would be considered geniuses if they were outside, but among the Ancient Eight Clans, they can only be considered average. Because of their own reasons, their ambition is not very big. They are already very satisfied with having a status second only to Huo Xuan in the future.
With this position, they will have considerable power in the future, and with considerable power, they will also enjoy many more benefits.
Since they could enjoy so many benefits, why not work for Huo Xuan? However, they also knew that all their power and status were given to them by Huo Xuan. After obtaining power and status, they also had to fulfill their obligations and responsibilities, and at the same time, not cross Huo Xuan's bottom line. As long as they didn't do anything stupid, they wouldn't be targeted by Huo Xuan for no reason and die inexplicably.
Huo Xuan couldn't know what they were thinking, and Huo Xuan didn't bother to guess what they were thinking because... there was simply no need!
Huo Xuan plans to hand over the power to govern the Flame Clan to them in the future, but he will not completely give up power. He can entrust them with small matters, but he will still personally oversee some important matters. Huo Xuan also believes that as long as they are not fools, they will absolutely not dare to have any disloyal thoughts!
Meanwhile, not far away, a figure was silently watching them. That figure was a handsome young man, his eyes filled with boundless rage and killing intent as he gazed at Huo Xuan and the others...
South of the Yan World, at a Martial Arts Arena.
Huo Cheng stood in the Martial Arts Arena with a gloomy expression. A terrifying Dou Qi slowly spread outwards from his center. Below the Martial Arts Arena lay more than a dozen people of similar age to Huo Cheng, all of whom were badly injured.
Just now, Huo Cheng overheard Huo Xuan and the others discussing important matters concerning the Flame Clan. He vaguely heard Huo Xuan say that he would hand over the Flame Clan to his three underlings to manage in the future...
Hearing this, Huo Cheng filled with Huo Cheng. So he gathered his dozen or so underlings and brought them to the Martial Arts Arena. He Huo Cheng a furious rage, leaving his underlings covered in wounds and bearing undue anger.
Huo Cheng looked at the people lying on the ground below the Martial Arts Arena, ran his fingers through his Storage Ring, took out a few jade bottles, and tossed them to them.
"Get up, all of you! Take your healing pills and keep fighting me!" Huo Cheng roared at the fallen men.
"Cough cough... Brother Huo Cheng... Stop fighting... We'll die if we keep fighting..."
"Yeah... Brother Huo Cheng, please let us go..."
"Brother Huo Cheng, if you really want to keep fighting, why don't you... why don't you go find the Young Clan Leader... he's much more resilient than any of us..."
"What did you say!"
Upon hearing this, Huo Cheng gave the man a sharp look, which frightened him so much that he took a step back with difficulty, shrinking his neck back as well.
He realized he had said the wrong thing.
Huo Cheng hates Huo Xuan the most, yet he actually calls Huo Xuan the Young Clan Leader. Isn't he just asking for trouble?
The man realized he had said the wrong thing, but it was too late to take it back...
His gaze swept over the people in the audience for a long time before Huo Cheng slowly said, "Tell me, have I mistreated you all these years?"
Upon hearing this, everyone shuddered. Had Huo Cheng mistreated them? The answer was yes. Over the years, they had followed Huo Cheng Huo Cheng when he was at his peak, and they had followed Huo Cheng when Huo Cheng was down on his luck. But whether in glory or in poverty, Huo Cheng had never given them the slightest benefit.
"Brother Huo Cheng, of course you've never treated us unfairly."
Although they felt that Huo Cheng had treated them unfairly, they could only curse Huo Cheng in their hearts, while still saying the insincere words that he had never treated them unfairly.
Will they be betrayed if they choose to follow Huo Cheng?
The answer is yes, they were extremely ashamed and regretted it to the core.
They were initially unhappy that Huo Xuan had become the Young Clan Leader. Huo Cheng told them that if they followed him, he would give them all sorts of benefits once he became the Young Clan Leader. Tempted by the various benefits promised by Huo Cheng, they finally decided to stand on the same side as Huo Cheng and oppose Huo Xuan.
But now... they haven't received any of the promised benefits. On the other hand, Huo Xuan's Huo Xuan are thriving in the Flame Clan, living a life of ease and success...
If given another chance, he would never choose to oppose Huo Cheng and Huo Xuan.
But there aren't so many "what ifs" in the world. Now they seem to be in the same boat as Huo Cheng.
They can't just leave Huo Cheng and join Huo Xuan's camp. They know Huo Xuan's personality all too well. Look at Huo Cheng's current decline; this is the consequence of offending Huo Xuan. As Huo Cheng's underlings and accomplices, will Huo Xuan generously accept them?
The answer is no. They should be grateful that Huo Xuan doesn't come looking for trouble. Right now, they have no choice but to stick with Huo Cheng to the bitter end. After all, Huo Xuan doesn't accept them, and if they announce that they are severing ties with Huo Cheng will definitely not let them off the hook.
Now we're truly caught between a rock Huo Cheng is dangerous, but Huo Cheng also poses a danger...
Looking at Huo Cheng on the Martial Arts Arena, they couldn't help but curse him fiercely in their hearts.
We're all Flame Clan, it would be so much better if we could all live in peace.
If Huo Cheng hadn't been so reckless as to Huo Xuan, he wouldn't have ended up in such a Huo Xuan state, and more importantly, he dragged them down with him.
"Alright, you can all leave." Looking at his underlings, Huo Cheng waved his hand and said helplessly.
Upon hearing this, the group did not hesitate for a moment and immediately got up and left. They left decisively, without even looking back.
Watching their departing figures, Huo Cheng slumped to the ground. Huo Cheng knew that these people were loyal to one side but not to the other. On the surface, they were on the same side as him, but once Huo Xuan extended an olive branch to them, they would abandon him without hesitation.
That guy Huo Xuan, he's only the Young Clan Leader now, yet he's managed to suppress me to this extent. Who knows, once he becomes the clan leader, he might even try to kill me.
Was he just waiting to die? This thought suddenly popped into Huo Cheng's mind. No! He couldn't go on like this. He had to make a change, or he would really only have death as his future.
Huo Xuan left him no way out, so he had no choice but to find his own way to survive...