The Mysterious Third Brother

The Mysterious Third Brother

That night, the Xiao Clan, having reaped a bountiful harvest, held a rare family banquet.

As the instigator behind it all, Xiao Yuan naturally received immense praise.

Many clan members wanted to ingratiate themselves with him.

Xiao Yuan was not particularly interested in that. Managing a clan was an exceedingly complicated matter. Back when he could not cultivate, he could still participate in such things.

But now, clearly, nothing was more important than cultivation.

Besides, he had other matters to attend to that night.

After forcing himself to deal with everyone at the banquet, Xiao Yuan left the feast with Xiao Yan, the two of them looking like the closest of brothers.

Inside Xiao Yan's room.

Xiao Yuan sat beside the table, calmly watching Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan rubbed his nose, then called out in his heart, "Teacher."

The moment his words fell, the ring on Xiao Yan's hand trembled slightly, and an illusory, aged figure quietly emerged.

"Sir, are you a soul body?"

Xiao Yuan narrowed his eyes as he looked at Yao Lao's phantom-like body and asked with a smile.

"Mm, correct. You've got sharp eyes, little one!"

Yao Lao stroked his beard and replied with a smile.

"Brother, this is my teacher. You may call him Yao Lao."

Xiao Yan introduced him from the side.

Xiao Yuan nodded, rose to his feet, and gave the salute of a junior before apologetically saying, "Yao Lao, I should apologize to you for what happened during the day. This should have been something the Xiao Clan handled ourselves. In your current state, helping the Xiao Clan destroy the Oba Family must have consumed quite a bit of your Soul Strength."

At Xiao Yuan's words, surprise appeared on Xiao Yan's face, and he turned to look at Yao Lao.

"Your knowledge really is rather surprising, little one."

Yao Lao did not deny it. Instead, he gave Xiao Yuan a curious look.

"Hehe, I'm curious as well. Some of the surviving fragments of ancient records in the Xiao Clan contain quite a bit of similar knowledge, yet the Xiao Clan seems to have remained in the Jia Ma Empire for nearly a hundred years. Such information should never have appeared there."

Xiao Yuan raised a brow and spoke calmly.

Since he had been unable to cultivate these past years, he had read through every record the Xiao Clan had available.

He had indeed uncovered some of the foundation accumulated by the Xiao Clan in the past.

But that knowledge was not particularly useful. After all, everyone was busy cultivating, and no one would bother reading such things.

Even Xiao Zhan only knew that the clan possessed some inherited records. As for their contents, he had never looked into them.

"Sir, you do not appear to be an expert from the Jia Ma Empire. Have you heard of Central State?"

Xiao Yuan continued.

"Central State?"

An even stronger look of surprise surfaced on Yao Lao's aged face. He then asked, "Was that mentioned in your clan's records as well?"

"Correct. It seems that the Xiao Clan migrated from Central State to the Jia Ma Empire long ago."

Xiao Yuan nodded.

"Central State is the center of the continent. It gathers the continent's strongest factions and better resources as well. But for you and Xiao Yan now, such matters are still far too distant."

A trace of reminiscence flashed through Yao Lao's eyes, but it quickly faded as he spoke indifferently.

"So, Brother, when you said you wanted to make the clan stronger, you meant..."

Xiao Yan, standing to the side, immediately understood and hurriedly asked.

"Mm. Since we know that our ancestors were once prosperous, and the two of us are so talented, why shouldn't we lead the clan toward revival?"

Xiao Yuan nodded, his tone solemn and grave.

Yao Lao, however, was somewhat noncommittal.

A clan, huh! Seemingly recalling something unpleasant, a trace of coldness flashed in Yao Lao's eyes.

But he did not speak up to dampen Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yan's enthusiasm.

After all, one needed a goal to become strong.

A person without a goal could never grow stronger.

"Still, thanks to Yao Lao, Wutan City has been unified under the Xiao Clan ahead of schedule. From here on, as long as we develop step by step, and with the Mite'er Family's connections, I can leave the clan without worry."

As Xiao Yuan spoke, he cupped his hands toward Yao Lao once more.

"You're leaving the clan already?"

Xiao Yan was somewhat surprised.

"Mm. The Monster Mountain Range is a fine place. Wutan City was able to reach its current scale precisely because it relies on the Monster Mountain Range. I plan to develop some forces there. In the future, the Monster Mountain Range will become the Xiao Clan's Back Mountain. By then, the Xiao Clan will rise from the Jia Ma Empire and make its name known across the Northwest Continent."

As he spoke, Xiao Yuan's eyes shone with confidence and anticipation.

"You certainly have ambition!"

Yao Lao nodded as he looked at the high-spirited Xiao Yuan.

"So, while I'm away, you need to pay a little more attention to the marketplace. To the other factions in Wutan City—or rather, to everyone else—it does not really matter who owns the marketplace, so long as they can buy Blood Coagulation Powder."

After giving Xiao Yan that reminder, Xiao Yuan handed Liu Xi's Storage Ring to him and continued,

"This is Liu Xi's Storage Ring. There are some decent Medicinal Herbs inside. The pill formulas are nothing special, but I have no use for them. They might come in handy when you practice in the future."

Xiao Yan accepted the Storage Ring and nodded with a smile. "Mm, thank you, Third Brother!"

"Xiao Yuan, your aptitude truly is excellent. Unfortunately, your Dou Qi is of the Ice Attribute. Though the help I can provide you will not be as effective as it is for Xiao Yan, it is still better than having you fumble your way through cultivation alone. Would you be willing to take me as your teacher?"

After hesitating for a moment, Yao Lao finally spoke.

Xiao Yuan was rather surprised. He had not expected Yao Lao to say something like this at such a time.

"Hehe, that vigorous spirit of yours is quite similar to how I was back then. You two little fellows are both very talented. It would truly be a pity if you took the wrong path because no one was there to guide you!"

Yao Lao said with a chuckle.

"Haha, I appreciate Yao Lao's regard. Taking you as my teacher would indeed benefit me, but you are currently unable to spare the time, and I already have plans of my own. Xiao Yan's alchemy still requires your guidance. I would not want to affect his development because of me.

"As for my own cultivation, hehe, don't worry. You should have seen how quickly I've advanced these past days. If I have any questions, I can come ask you. After all, you and Xiao Yan will be bound together for a long time to come."

Xiao Yuan waved his hand and smiled.

He had his own advantage, so naturally there was no need to occupy the time Yao Lao should spend teaching Xiao Yan.

"It seems you already have a complete plan."

A trace of admiration flashed through Yao Lao's eyes.

"Brother..."

Xiao Yan felt somewhat guilty. In his view, Xiao Yuan was most likely doing this for his sake as his younger brother.

"Everyone has their own path. That girl Xun Er is not simple. If you want to be with her, you will probably need to at least reach the Dou Zun level. Your path will be far more difficult than mine."

Xiao Yuan shook his head. After offering that reminder, he said his farewells.

"Alright, that's all for today. Go cultivate. Yao Lao, this junior will take his leave!"

With that, Xiao Yuan pushed open the door and departed with an easy grace.

"Your Third Brother is no ordinary person!"

After a moment of silence, Yao Lao sighed sincerely once more.

Even with his experience, he could no longer see through Xiao Yuan.