He Was a One Star Dou Zhe

Methods were merely a means to success.

Not long after, everyone had finished testing. The clan assembly moved on to its next stage.

Clan Leader Xiao Zhan rose to his feet, swept his gaze over the crowd below for a moment, and began speaking.

"Very good. You have not let down the family's expectations. Your strength has improved greatly. I hope you will continue to cultivate even harder, stay true to your original aspirations, and forge ahead bravely."

After a pause, he continued, "Now, we will proceed to the second stage: the arena matches. This time, stop at the proper point. Safety comes first. Begin!"

At Xiao Zhan's words, the youths below grew solemn. Their eyes constantly swept across the other clan members in the arena as they selected opponents for themselves.

Before long, some youths began stepping onto the arena and naming the opponents they wished to challenge.

What followed were lively-looking fights, at least in the eyes of the youths.

But to Xiao Bai, it all felt like children playing house. Then again, they really were children right now.

You punched me, and I kicked you back. There were no dazzling Dou Skills raining down, only the simplest clashes of flesh and bone.

After watching a few matches, Xiao Bai completely lost the desire to keep watching.

Watching this kind of fighting is less interesting than going home to sleep.

Xiao Bai thought to himself.

Thoughts were one thing, but he could not truly leave without permission.

The family had its rules, and every clan member was required to abide by them.

Of course, nothing was absolute. As long as your strength allowed you to step beyond that circle, it did not matter whether you followed the rules or not.

After all, this was a world where the strong reigned supreme!

Finally, amid Xiao Bai's utter boredom, the matches came to an end.

He had originally hoped someone would challenge him. That would have been far more interesting than sitting still, but after learning of his strength, who would be foolish enough to seek a beating?

Still, this part of the clan assembly's proceedings was finally over.

On the platform, the Clan Leader praised the outstanding clan members and encouraged those who had lost. In short, he had taken care of everyone.

This is probably the usual style of a leader!

Xiao Bai grumbled inwardly. He could not say he liked such methods, nor could he say he hated them. He could only accept them.

After the Clan Leader finished speaking, it was the turn of the elders. It seemed every person with actual authority had to say a word or two.

This reminded Xiao Bai of school assemblies back on Earth. Every time, the leaders would say they only had two points to make. The students would be delighted, thinking it would end quickly, but the result was never quite so pleasant.

In the end, the leaders would talk for a full half hour.

That suffering was beyond words.

All he could say was that he had been young and naive to believe in the leaders' "two points" theory!

This time, it was not only Xiao Bai. Even the other clan members looked drowsy. Perhaps this was a common affliction of youth.

Finally, finally, as dusk approached, everything came to an end.

At Clan Leader Xiao Zhan's shout of "Dismissed," the young people felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

Like prisoners who had been locked up for years and suddenly sensed the air of freedom and smelled its fragrance, they all went madly rushing out.

In the blink of an eye, the training ground was empty. Only a few people in power remained on the platform, shaking their heads with bitter smiles.

The Second Elder's anxious and troubled expression stood out from everyone else's. At last, it drew the attention of all those present.

The others noticed the Second Elder's expression as well, but no one asked. Their status was equal to or even lower than his. If even he wore such an expression, then it was clearly not something people like them could decide.

Under everyone's curious gazes, Xiao Zhan was ultimately the one who spoke first.

"Second Elder, is there something you need to discuss?"

Seeing the Clan Leader ask him, the Second Elder hesitated for a moment before gritting his teeth and deciding to speak.

"Clan Leader, it's like this."

The Second Elder gathered his thoughts, then continued, "Didn't Xiao Bai say he wanted to contribute the Dou Skill Mystic Seal to the family? Because of us, however, he attached a condition. He said we had to exchange cultivation resources for it. Clan Leader, what do you think about this...?"

Hearing this, the surrounding elders immediately became unhappy.

"Clan Leader, how can Xiao Bai act like this?"

"Does Xiao Bai still count as a member of the family if he behaves this way? I don't think he has even the slightest sense of family honor."

"Exactly, exactly! We absolutely cannot agree to it! If we set this precedent, will we have to do the same in the future?"

"Shut up!"

Xiao Zhan's furious roar silenced them all.

But the Great Elder was displeased. With an ugly expression, he glared at him, even changing the way he addressed him to Xiao Zhan.

"Xiao Zhan, how dare you rebuke us like that? Don't think we fear you just because you're the Clan Leader. We elders also have a say in the Xiao Family. So long as more than half the people stand with me, I can veto even your decision."

The Great Elder's voice carried a heavy threat. After Xiao Zhan had offended so many people, he did not believe those people would still side with Xiao Zhan. He was even less worried about losing.

The Xiao Family had once established such a rule.

When the Clan Leader and the elders disagreed, they would hold a vote, and every Xiao Family member with voting rights had to participate.

Under fair, just, and open conditions, the side with the most votes would win, while the losing side would lose its right to speak.

That was why the Great Elder was not worried in the slightest. Xiao Zhan had already lost too many votes; he was simply no match for him.

If Xiao Bai knew the Xiao Family had such a rule, he would certainly admire the wisdom of that ancestor. He might even think that ancestor had transmigrated from Earth as well.

Because anyone with eyes could see that this was simply modern democratic voting.

"Hmph, Great Elder, don't go too far. Others may not see why I agreed to give Xiao Bai resources, but have you not seen it either? If that is truly the case, then I am quite disappointed in you!"

As he spoke, Xiao Zhan wore an expression of profound disappointment.

He shook his head and sighed as he spoke, as if lamenting why everyone around him was an idiot and why no one could match his intelligence.

The Great Elder was so furious at this sight that he nearly failed to catch his breath.

However, after a moment, the Great Elder still forcibly suppressed his anger and pondered the meaning behind Xiao Zhan's words.

Suddenly, he seemed to think of something and asked in an uncertain tone, "You mean Xiao Bai's strength?"

"That's right. He is a One Star Dou Zhe!"

This time, Xiao Zhan was unusually solemn. Even the elders who had not cared before instantly changed expressions.

The elders who had been smiling confidently, as if victory were already in their grasp, went pale and bloodless the moment they heard "One Star Dou Zhe."

Because a One Star Dou Zhe represented many things.