Jia Nan Academy and the Misty Cloud Sect

Ignoring the few old men whose faces were blooming like chrysanthemums with their smiles, Xiao Ming strode forward and bowed. "Clan Leader, Three Elders!"

"Ah, no need for such formalities. Sit, sit." Just as Xiao Zhan was about to speak, the Great Elder hurriedly beat him to it.

That old fox!

Having his words stolen, Xiao Zhan felt somewhat displeased. He knew what these elders were thinking—they simply wanted to win over a genius like Xiao Ming.

For the Xiao Family, which could only remain tucked away in Wu Tan City, a genius of Xiao Ming's caliber held no small amount of influence within the clan.

Besides, Xiao Ming had no enemies. It was only natural for every member of the Xiao Family to greet him with smiling faces.

Watching Xiao Ming take his seat, composed and steady in his mannerisms, Xiao Zhan somehow thought of his own son, Xiao Yan.

Ever since Xiao Ming had emerged out of nowhere, Xiao Yan had shed his usual carefree manner and begun cultivating desperately. He had probably been hit hard.

After sitting down, Xiao Ming exchanged a few pleasantries with the elders. However, the gap in their ages was rather great, and there seemed to be a generation gap. After a few awkward exchanges, Xiao Ming raised his question.

"Clan Leader, Elders, why did you call Xiao Ming here?"

Xiao Ming's question jolted Xiao Zhan out of his thoughts.

"It's nothing much. We simply wanted to ask about your plans for the future."

"My plans for the future?"

"That's right. Before that, could you tell us your current cultivation?"

Xiao Ming was somewhat puzzled. "What does my future planning have to do with my current cultivation?"

"There isn't much of a connection, actually. I was just a little curious." Xiao Zhan awkwardly patted his nose.

The other elders also cast curious looks at him.

After Xiao Ming had displayed the strength of a Dou Zhe, he had stopped going to the Magic Stone Tablet for tests. Every time he went, a group of children would crowd around him, chattering endlessly and irritating him beyond measure.

Xiao Ming could not dislike or scold his fellow clan members for their closeness, so he simply stopped testing his Dou Qi. No one else said anything either. Geniuses always had privileges, didn't they?

Seeing Xiao Zhan and the others staring at him eagerly, Xiao Ming did not hide it and said calmly, "I've already reached Three-star Dou Zhe."

"Hiss—" Xiao Zhan and the elders sucked in a breath of cold air. A six-year-old Three-Star Dou Zhe—truly terrifying!

Xiao Ming looked at their stunned expressions, their eyeballs practically about to fall out, and felt rather speechless. Was that really necessary?

Cultivation at the Dou Zhe stage was naturally faster than at the Dou Qi Power stage. Judging from his earlier cultivation speed, this rate was perfectly normal. If not for the sake of his foundation, he could have cultivated even faster.

He coughed softly to remind them to come back to their senses. "Elders, can we discuss the proper business now?"

"Yes, yes. We called you here for your future plans. You know more or less about our clan's circumstances. The Xiao Family is not one of the great families."

Xiao Ming nodded. The Xiao Family's annual income was only a little over a hundred thousand gold coins, while Xiao Zhan, their strongest member, was currently only a Three-Star Great Dou Shi. To ordinary people, he was a towering figure, but within the Jia Ma Empire, he did not even rank among the third-rate. They truly were a small clan.

"So?"

"For a genius like you, staying in the clan would be too wasteful. Your talent would be buried here. The clan cannot afford to support you, and it would affect the speed of your growth. Jia Nan Academy happens to be coming to Wu Tan City tomorrow to recruit students, so we wanted to ask whether you would be willing to go there.

If you have no interest in Jia Nan Academy, then a month from now, the Misty Cloud Sect will hold a ceremony to recruit disciples. You can take part in the selection. With your talent, you will surely pass with ease. You might even be accepted as the Sect Master's personal disciple."

The Great Elder said with a smile.

Xiao Ming understood why Xiao Zhan and the elders had called him here. So it was for this.

Xiao Ming had also planned to leave the Xiao Family and join a faction. His original target had been Jia Nan Academy.

Now, the elders had provided him with another option: the Misty Cloud Sect.

To be honest, if they had not mentioned it, Xiao Ming truly would not have known when the Misty Cloud Sect recruited disciples.

Should I join the Misty Cloud Sect? The Misty Cloud Sect has a Dou Emperor Sect Master and several Dou Wang elders. With my talent, I would definitely be valued after joining, and there is a high chance Yun Yun would take me as her disciple. My safety would also be guaranteed. Joining Jia Nan Academy as a student definitely would not provide as many resources as joining a sect, and I would have to fight for other things myself... Xiao Ming compared the benefits of joining the Misty Cloud Sect and entering Jia Nan Academy.

After pondering for a while, he ultimately shook his head. "I decided long ago to enter Jia Nan Academy and study there."

"Why? We actually recommend that you join the Misty Cloud Sect. If I remember correctly, the cultivation technique you practice should be the Yellow Tier High Grade Cultivation Technique, Flame Refining Burning. The Misty Cloud Sect certainly has better ones. With your talent, changing cultivation methods after joining would be effortless."

"Jia Nan Academy definitely has higher-grade cultivation methods as well. However, an academy is different from a sect. Although its restrictions are looser, the resources you enjoy will correspondingly be fewer. You will also need to compete with others, which will certainly affect your cultivation. Moreover, the Misty Cloud Sect is still within the Jia Ma Empire. If anything happens, the clan can look after you." Upon hearing Xiao Ming's choice, Xiao Zhan frowned deeply, seemingly unable to understand it.

There was actually something Xiao Zhan had not said: if Xiao Ming successfully became the Misty Cloud Sect Master's disciple, it would also benefit the Xiao Family.

Nonsense. How could I not know that joining a sect would give me more resources than Jia Nan Academy? But the Misty Cloud Sect has a Hall of Souls Protector!

Xiao Ming secretly rolled his eyes. He knew that Yun Shan, the Misty Cloud Sect's old Sect Master, would collude with the Hall of Souls. Going there as a Xiao Family clan member would be like a sheep walking into a tiger's mouth. If his surname were not Xiao, he would have gone!

Of course, he could not speak of the Misty Cloud Sect having a Hall of Souls Protector, at least not now. Thus, Xiao Ming could only explain it this way.

"Jia Nan Academy has a strong faculty. I don't think being a student there is any worse than being a disciple of the Misty Cloud Sect. Besides, with my talent, perhaps some Dou Huang Expert might take me as a disciple."

By the end, Xiao Ming had made a rare joke.

"Well... forget it. It's up to you!"

Xiao Zhan and the elders exchanged glances and sighed.

If someone was unwilling to go, could they tie him up and force him? Besides, Xiao Ming's reasoning was not without merit. What if someone really did take him as a disciple?

"It's good that you're going to Jia Nan Academy. It saves the Second Elder the trouble of escorting you. However, money is bound to be inconveniently scarce when you are away from home. Here, this is thirty thousand gold coins to support you."

Xiao Zhan took out a Black Card from his pocket and handed it to Xiao Ming.

Xiao Ming hesitated upon seeing this, then glanced at the other three elders. Thirty thousand gold coins might not seem like much, but for the Xiao Family, it was already quite a considerable sum. Was it truly appropriate for Xiao Zhan to give him so much?

Seeing Xiao Ming's questioning gaze, the Great Elder stroked his grizzled beard and smiled. "Take it. Don't worry. This was discussed with the other clan members."

The implication was that these thirty thousand gold coins came from the clan, not Xiao Zhan.

Only then did Xiao Ming step forward and take the card.

"Thank you, Clan Leader and Three Elders."

"No need to thank us yet. There are still things for you to take."

"Yes, this is..."