Let All Thorns Prostrate Beneath My Feet

"Big Brother, Second Brother!"

The moment Xiao Yan saw the two young men, a smile appeared at the corner of his lips, and he quickened his pace toward them.

Seeing Xiao Yan approach, many of the Xiao Family's younger members tactfully moved aside. Back when Xiao Yan's Dou Qi had fallen, quite a few of them had dreamed of trampling the family's greatest genius of the past century beneath their feet.

But later, cruel reality told them that it had all been nothing more than an unrealistic fantasy.

At a family gathering two months ago, Xiao Yan's strength had already recovered to Dou Qi level 7. At his previous rate of progress, he was probably already at the peak of Dou Qi level 8—or perhaps even Dou Qi Level 9—by now.

Just a few months had seen him advance faster than they could in years of cultivation. This terrifying pace had once driven the Xiao Family's young members to despair.

"Haha, Xiao Yanzi, you finally made it."

"If you'd taken any longer, we would've gone over there and spanked you."

Seeing Xiao Yan arrive, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li laughed heartily. Looking at the youth, who had grown noticeably taller since they had left home, both brothers were clearly delighted.

"Big Brother, Second Brother, your strength has improved so quickly over these past two years."

Xiao Yan looked at his two elder brothers, a meaningful smile on his lips.

In terms of talent, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were indeed slightly more gifted than even Xiao Zhan.

They possessed such talent without even awakening their Dou Di Bloodline. Once it was awakened, their cultivation would surely soar once more.

"You're no slouch yourself, kid. When it comes to talent, you surpass the two of us."

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged a smile, their gazes toward Xiao Yan filled with affection.

Just as Xiao Ding was about to ask Xiao Yan about his situation, he saw Xiao Zhan enter with several elders and other clan members.

Xiao Ning and Xiao Yu followed closely behind Third Elder. The instant the siblings saw Xiao Yan, their expressions changed slightly.

There was now a trace of fear in Xiao Ning's gaze toward Xiao Yan, while Xiao Yu's gaze held an extra measure of embarrassed anger beneath her wariness.

Ignoring the siblings' stares, Xiao Yan and his two brothers looked toward Xiao Zhan at the head of the group before bowing slightly. "Father."

"Hahaha, good, very good! You three brothers truly are your father's pride."

Looking at the three brothers before him, Xiao Zhan's heart swelled with pride.

One was a twenty-two-year-old Dou Master, one a twenty-year-old nine-star Dou Zhe, and then there was the even more monstrous Xiao Yan. Of the three brothers, even the one with the lowest future achievements would likely surpass Xiao Zhan himself.

Among the younger generation of the entire clan, aside from the exceptional Xun'er, who could compare with his three children?

What ordinary clan member returning home would receive such a grand welcome from the entire family?

Was it not because everyone acknowledged Xiao Ding and Xiao Li's strength and potential?

"Let the feast begin!"

Xiao Zhan waved his hand, his face beaming with a smile.

Behind him, the elders exchanged glances, seeing the helplessness and envy in each other's eyes.

All three sons possessed the bearing of dragons and tigers. Having even one such child was already a great fortune, yet every one of Xiao Zhan's three sons was like this. It truly inspired envy.

The banquet tables stretched in a long row, with higher status assigned to those seated farther up. Given Xiao Yan's talent, he should have occupied the foremost seat among the younger generation, but now that Xiao Ding and Xiao Li had returned, he naturally gave that place to his two brothers.

Below him sat Xun'er as always. After half a year of growth, some of the childishness had faded from her little face, while her intoxicating temperament, like a green lotus, had become even more distinct.

"Brother Xiao Yan, have some food."

Sitting beside Xiao Yan, delight danced in Xun'er's beautiful eyes. Over the past half year, Xiao Yan had immersed himself in arduous cultivation almost every day, and few people ever caught sight of him.

Though Xiao Yan had readily agreed whenever she went looking for him, seeing how serious he was, she had not wanted to disturb him too often.

Now that they finally had a chance to sit together, her mood immediately brightened.

"Haha, Xiao Yanzi, you really do have some charm. I never expected even Xun'er to treat you so well."

Seeing this, Xiao Li could not help but laugh.

"To be treated this way by Xun'er is a blessing you couldn't cultivate in a lifetime. Xiao Yanzi, the two of you have been childhood sweethearts since you were young. You must cherish Xun'er in the future."

Xiao Ding rarely joined in the teasing as well.

Xun'er's beauty and temperament were beyond question. Even at such a young age, she was already breathtaking to anyone who saw her. Who knew how stunning she would be once she grew up?

If Xiao Yan could marry Xun'er, it would indeed be something that made his brothers proud.

"Brother Xiao Ding, what are you saying?"

How could a little girl of only twelve withstand Xiao Li's teasing? A blush appeared on her tender, porcelain-white face.

"What are you two saying? If you're not full, then eat properly. Don't just say whatever nonsense comes to mind."

At the head of the table, Xiao Zhan was smiling as several elders toasted him. Yet when he saw Xiao Ding and Xiao Li acting this way, his eyelids twitched slightly, and he glared as he spoke.

At Xiao Zhan's glare, the two brothers exchanged confused looks. Though they did not know why Xiao Zhan had reacted this way, they decisively changed the subject.

"Father, I think my two brothers make a lot of sense."

Just as Xiao Zhan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, Xiao Yan's voice rang out calmly.

"I, Xiao Yan, will definitely marry Xun'er someday."

Xiao Yan's voice was not loud, and he still wore a smile, but the moment his words fell, the entire hall fell silent.

Xun'er, especially, went rigid the moment she heard those words. Then a blush rapidly spread across her cheeks, dyeing her entire delicate face red like an apple.

At that moment, the young men and women exchanged glances, as though they could all hear the sound of each other's hearts shattering.

When the boys in the room saw Xun'er sitting beside Xiao Yan, incomparably shy yet offering no objection whatsoever, they felt an indescribable oppression in their hearts.

Someone wanted to shatter this cruel reality.

Yet the words "I disagree" were forcibly stuck in their throats.

If anyone else dared say such words to Xun'er, they would probably never get another chance to speak with that girl again.

But it just had to be the black-clad youth beside her. The moment he opened his mouth, he could make the girl blush to the very limit.

"Eat, eat. Why are you all staring at me?"

Seeing everyone in the room looking at him, Xiao Yan showed no trace of nervousness and spoke with a broad smile.

In his previous life, he had held those words in until he became a Dou Sheng before daring to say them.

But in this life, he wanted to let it all out and domineeringly announce to the world that the girl beside him would be his future wife.

"Girl, eat some food. Why are you so nervous?"

Seeing Xun'er's flushed and blank little face, Xiao Yan could not help but smile as he patted her head. Then his gentle voice fell beside her ear.

"Don't worry. This time, I will make every thorn obediently crawl beneath my feet."

"No one has the right to stand in our way."