At just twenty-three or twenty-four, he could already contend with a Six-Star Dou Saint. Yet this brat still seemed dissatisfied.
Their talents had not been poor either, but who among them had broken through to the Saint Level before their forties or fifties—or even past a hundred?
At such an age and with such cultivation, those in the clan who had hoped to compete for the position of Young Patriarch could only obediently shut their mouths.
It was not that they had not been given a chance. Their opponent was simply on an entirely different level, completely crushing them.
Xiao Xuan said, "Let's wait a little longer. Father, do you really want to step down that badly?"
"Of course. I've sat in this Patriarch's seat for over a thousand years. I got tired of it long ago.
By the way, you're not young anymore. How come there isn't a girl you like?
Go visit the other clans more often. If you find one you like, I'll propose marriage for you."
Marriage? Xiao Xuan truly had not paid much attention to it.
"At my realm, my lifespan is long.
There is no need to rush fate. We can take it slowly and see how things go.
Speaking of which, Ruoruo will soon be four. Why don't I take her out and let her see the world?
If you keep spoiling her like this, it won't be loving her—it'll be harming her.
Sooner or later, she'll become a spoiled, willful young lady who cannot even lift a finger."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Feng and his wife exchanged a glance. Gu Qin said worriedly, "Isn't she still too young?
She isn't even four yet. Although she has had the help of your Yishi Pill,
even if Ruoruo's talent is inferior to yours, she should still not be beneath Xiao Xiong and the others.
I think she should build her foundation in the clan for a while and wait until she is older."
With his strength, the clan elders and Xiao Xiong's group had already abandoned their unrealistic ambitions.
After Xiao Xuan tossed hundreds, even thousands, of seventh- and eighth-tier magic cores into the Treasure Pavilion, he even placed the Earth Tier high-grade soul cultivation technique, the Nine Revolutions Soul Forging Technique, directly on the fourth floor of the Scripture Depository.
Though it was only Earth Tier, its value was no less than that of a Heaven Tier technique.
When the clan elders learned of this, they recognized him as the Young Patriarch even more.
Quite a few clan members went to study the technique. Even Dou Saints did not dare neglect soul cultivation. Who would ever complain that their soul level was too high?
Xiao Xuan treasured his younger sister beyond measure and taught her personally.
From basic literacy and understanding the meridians within the body to the Nine Revolutions Soul Forging Technique and the Eight Sounds of the Heavenly Dragon, he gradually taught her everything in the course of his lessons.
Before he realized it, six years had passed since his return to the clan. Over those six years, his strength had advanced further. After entering the Heavenly Tomb once and devouring Energy Bodies to cultivate, his cultivation had surged straight to the seventh star.
Such strength was rare even within the Xiao Clan.
Moreover, strengthened by a Heavenly Realm Grand Perfection soul, his own combat power was no weaker than that of any Eight-Star Dou Saint. He truly deserved the position of Young Patriarch, and he often helped Xiao Feng handle clan affairs.
His younger sister, Xiao Ruo, was already ten years old. With his help over the years, she had already attained the strength of a Da Dou Shi.
"Brother, where are we going?"
On a street in the Xiao Realm, Xiao Ruoruo darted about like a little sprite, tugging at him and asking endless questions.
Clearly, she was delighted to finally be allowed out of the Xiao Realm and into the outside world.
"Let's go to Shengdan City first. It's been a long time since I saw those two. They should have entered the Saint Level by now, right?"
"Hehe, I'll listen to Brother."
After leaving the Xiao Realm and entering the Central Plains, Xiao Xuan traveled with Xiao Ruoruo for half a month before arriving at a small city.
Above the city gate, the three large words "Guihua City" were faded and worn, clearly having gone unrepaired for a long time.
"Brother, this city is so old."
"Let's go in and rest first. We've been traveling for half a month, and you've been clamoring for a rest the whole way, little sister."
The pair, one older and one younger, entered the city and found an inn.
"Esteemed guests, are you here to eat or stay the night?"
"We'll eat first, then stay the night. Waiter, bring us two of your signature dishes."
"Certainly! Please have a seat, esteemed guests!"
"X-Xiao... Big Brother Xiao... is that you?"
Just as he was about to pull Xiao Ruoruo over to find a table, a delighted yet uncertain voice suddenly rang out.
Xiao Xuan turned toward the voice and saw a female Dou Zong in her twenties, dressed in a black gown, staring at him with delight. Yet when she looked at Xiao Ruoruo, her expression became particularly complicated.
"It's you? Miss Nangong? What are you doing in the Central Plains?"
Nangong Ling'er was the woman he had rescued several years ago while traveling through the Eastern Region.
"I...
Big Brother Xiao, congratulations. Your daughter is already this grown?"
Xiao Xuan's expression stiffened. Xiao Ruoruo giggled. "Brother, is this my sister-in-law? Why do I smell something sour?"
"Ow! Brother, what are you doing? Why did you flick my forehead?"
Xiao Xuan said, "You little rascal. Ruoruo, how do you know about such things at your age? I don't remember teaching you that."
Upon hearing Ruoruo's words, Nangong Ling'er blushed, but she could not hide the delight in her eyes.
"Big Brother Xiao, this little sister is... your younger sister?"
Xiao Xuan was speechless. He had spent some time with this woman before. How had he failed to notice back then that she seemed somewhat lacking in common sense?
"Yes, my younger sister. My biological younger sister, Xiao Ruoruo."
"Oh, your biological younger sister. With such a large age gap, I thought you..."
Xiao Ruoruo said, "Thought what? That I was Brother's daughter?
Hehe, Brother, that's not very nice of you.
Such a beautiful sister-in-law, yet you never told me about her?
I'm going to tell Father and Mother on you!"
Left with no choice, he directly suppressed this little troublemaker and pulled her behind him.
"Miss Nangong, don't mind this girl. Congratulations on reaching the Dou Zong level. When did you come to the Central Plains?"
Nangong Ling'er said, "It is all thanks to the pills Big Brother Xiao left behind back then. Otherwise, it would have been difficult to say whether I could even break through to Dou Emperor.
Some time ago, I was training in the Black-Corner Region, then I fell into a Space Wormhole.
When I emerged again, I was already ten thousand li away from Guihua City."
"Hehe, Sister Nangong, so you don't have anywhere to go either.
How about this? Follow us from now on."
Nangong Ling'er blushed at her words and became hesitant.
"Th-this... is that all right?
Wouldn't I delay you?"
Xiao Ruoruo said, "What could we possibly have to do? Brother brought me out specially to train, and we don't have a fixed destination. We'll just travel and see where we end up.
Brother, what do you think about letting Sister Nangong come with us?"
Seeing the little girl's cunning expression that plainly said she would cry if he refused, Xiao Xuan rolled his eyes at her.
In the Xiao Family, he could handle his father, his mother could handle him, his little sister could handle his mother, and his father could handle his little sister—a perfect cycle.
Other than their father, his little sister feared no one and listened to no one.
"Yes, yes, yes. You've already decided, little sister, so why ask me?
Whenever it's just the two of us, aren't you always the one who makes the final decision?"
"Hehe, Sister Nangong, Brother didn't object. Follow us from now on, and we'll travel across the Central Plains."
"Big Brother Xiao has already agreed. From now on, I'll follow you both and travel through the Central Plains."
Before you continue