Town South King, Xu Yaozu (Seeking recommendations, seeking follow-ups)

Because of the injury to his hand, he could not continue practicing Thousandfold Strike today, so Xu Haoyu turned to practicing Sky Stepping Steps instead.

He circulated his dou qi into his legs, activating his muscles and strengthening his tendons and bones. Then he began leaping up and down. A burst of dou qi could launch a person into the air, but maintaining balance while airborne was no easy matter.

One careless mistake, and he would become a live target. Maintaining balance in the air while dodging, shifting, and maneuvering—allowing for agile attacks, retreats, and evasion of an enemy's dou techniques—all required extensive training to build proficiency.

However, with Xu Tianlong personally instructing him, Xu Haoyu quickly grasped the trick. He could step through the air three times in succession, climb more than ten meters high, and then nimbly flip himself back down.

Only after several hours had passed, when Xu Haoyu's dou qi, physical strength, and mental energy had all reached their limits, did today's training come to an end.

As they stepped down from the arena, Xu Shigao led a group of instructors forward, their faces full of smiles as they offered flattering congratulations.

"Congratulations, Grand Elder. Young Master Haoyu truly deserves to be called the Xu Family's greatest genius. He advanced to Dou Zhe before even reaching ten years old. One day, he will surely become a Dou Zong powerhouse like you, Grand Elder."

Xu Tianlong smiled. Praising his grandson made him happier than being praised himself. After waving his hand, he said, "It is still too early to say that. Haoyu is only a Dou Zhe now; he is still a hundred and eight thousand miles away from breaking through to Dou Zong."

"Carry on with your work. Train the young people of the clan well. They are the future of our Xu Family."

Xu Shigao and the many instructors respectfully replied, "As you command, Grand Elder!"

Immediately afterward, the group turned solemn and drove the other youths back to continue their training. Those assigned to spar sparred, while those assigned to challenge the array challenged the array.

Sparring meant two people fighting each other, while challenging the array meant attempting the Wooden Dummy Array, which was one of the clan's tests for Dou Zhe.

Eighteen wooden dummies were placed within an array disk and powered by dou qi, allowing them to slide along predetermined paths. Anyone who could make it through was an exceptionally talented genius.

The wooden dummies were made of ironwood, their hardness no less than metal. Breaking through them was not easy. Now that Xu Haoyu had also advanced to Dou Zhe, he would come here to try it once he had mastered Thousandfold Strike and Sky Stepping Steps.

A moment later, while Xu Tianlong was leading Xu Haoyu away, another person suddenly approached. He wore a python robe, his face stern and imposing, with the aura of a man in power bearing down on them.

As he approached, the middle-aged man bowed to Xu Tianlong. "Greetings, Grand Elder!"

Xu Tianlong smiled calmly upon hearing this. "Yaozu, even you were alerted? Aren't you usually very busy? Yet you rushed over today."

The newcomer was Xu Yaozu, the Xu Family's patriarch. He wore a python robe because he was also the Town South King of the Tianxin Empire.

Back then, the Xu Family's Old Ancestor had followed the Old Ancestor of the Xia Family Royal Family of the Tianxin Empire in conquering territory. After they claimed the land and established the Tianxin Empire, the Xu Family was granted the Southern Three Provinces as its fief, and the Xu Family had developed to its present state ever since.

Xu Yaozu's gaze shifted past Xu Tianlong to Xu Haoyu. Shock was written across his face as he said solemnly, "Nothing is more important than the emergence of a genius in our Xu Family. Nephew Haoyu became a Dou Zhe before even reaching ten years old. This is undoubtedly the bearing of a Dou Zong. Our Xu Family will produce a second Dou Zong powerhouse."

Amid his shock, Xu Yaozu thought, The Grand Elder's branch has an heir. As for my Yun'er and Feng'er, although they are also exceptionally talented, neither can compare to Xu Haoyu.

Xu Yun and Xu Feng were Xu Yaozu's son and daughter. They had once been Xu Yaozu's pride, but ever since Xu Haoyu began cultivating, they had been completely overshadowed.

At this moment, Xu Tianlong's eyes narrowed as he stared directly at Xu Yaozu and said, "Actually, if you could set aside the power in your hands and sincerely enter seclusion for a few years, our Xu Family would have a second Dou Zong powerhouse."

Xu Yaozu was both the Xu Family patriarch and the Town South King of the Tianxin Empire. His talent was certainly not lacking, and his resources were sufficient as well. He was already a Nine Star Dou Huang. If he could settle down, enter seclusion, abandon power, and devote himself wholeheartedly to cultivation, it was not impossible for him to break through to Dou Zong.

But upon hearing this, an awkward expression appeared on Xu Yaozu's face. His eyes flickered with hesitation as he searched for an excuse. "Grand Elder, it is not that I am unwilling to lay down power. It is simply that too many matters require my arrangements. The Ten Thousand Mountains in the south unleash a Beast Tide every few years, and after the Xia Family Royal Family of the Tianxin Empire joined forces with the Alchemist Guild and Lin Family Commerce, they have been eyeing us kings of different surnames like tigers watching prey. They intend to reclaim our fiefs and unify the Tianxin Empire. I do not dare relax for even a single day."

Upon hearing this, Xu Tianlong said nothing more. He merely sighed inwardly, Brother Tiande, your descendants are growing worse with every generation...

The Ten Thousand Mountains in the south were guarded by the Xu Family's Second Elder, Third Elder, and three hundred thousand Town South Army soldiers. Within that army were three elite cavalry units: Blood Wolf, Flying Eagle, and Fiend Tiger. The weakest among their soldiers were Dou Zhe, while their mounts were magical beasts that had been tamed—powerful, fierce, and capable of fighting ten enemies alone.

The Xia Family Royal Family wanted to reclaim the fiefs, while the Alchemist Guild and Lin Family Commerce wanted to open up their markets. Their shared interests were why they had joined forces.

Although the Xia Family Royal Family could ally with the Alchemist Guild and Lin Family Commerce, the Xu Family also had the Zhao Family and Wei Family as two natural allies.

The fiefs of the Xu Family, Zhao Family, and Wei Family—three kingly families of different surnames—occupied half the territory of the One Capital Thirteen Provinces of the Tianxin Empire. Neither the Xia Family Royal Family nor the Alchemist Guild and Lin Family Commerce could extend their hands into this territory.

Under such circumstances, a Nine Star Dou Huang could not make much of a difference. But after breaking through, even a One Star Dou Zong could play an enormous role.

Xu Tianlong shook his head slightly and thought with satisfaction, Haoyu possesses outstanding talent, a special physique, and a special opportunity. He has received the guidance of a Dou Zun powerhouse's soul body. His future achievements will certainly surpass mine. When that time comes, grandfather and grandson will strike together and crush all enemies before us...

Then Xu Tianlong laughed and said, "Haoyu, let's go."

Xu Haoyu answered, then looked at Xu Yaozu and said apologetically, "Patriarch, Grandpa and I will be leaving first."

Then grandfather and grandson departed in carefree fashion. Xu Yaozu flicked his sleeve, his expression shifting unpredictably. "Such vast power—is it something one can simply cast aside? The territory our ancestors fought to secure... can't I at least enjoy it for a while...?"

Meanwhile!

Xu Tianlong turned his head and looked earnestly at Xu Haoyu. "Haoyu, you must remember this: power is like passing clouds. Only the strength in your own hands is everything. On the Dou Qi Continent, the strong are revered!"

Xu Haoyu nodded in deep agreement. "Grandpa, I understand!"

The Tianxin Empire was actually very large, but compared with the vast future Xu Haoyu saw before him, it seemed pitifully small. He planned to leave the Dou Qi Continent one day and venture into the Great Thousand World.