In a corner of the backyard.
Seeing that Xiao Zhan hesitated to speak for a long time, the First Elder stepped forward and frowned as he said to Xiao Huohuo,
"Young Clan Leader, the Xiao lineage has indeed run into some difficulties recently."
"The Aocheng Family, which has always opposed our Xiao lineage, has grown quite arrogant lately."
"Not only do they suppress the Xiao lineage at every turn,"
"they even sent people right under our noses to snatch away one of the Xiao lineage's markets..."
Hearing this, Xiao Huohuo immediately said with excitement,
"Then we'll just go deal with them."
"When did those two bunches from the Aocheng Family and Liu Family ever dare to provoke my Xiao lineage!"
The First Elder let out a long sigh and said,
"Young Clan Leader, in the past those two households would never have had such audacity."
"But the Aocheng Family recently recruited a guest elder at the Postnatal Middle Stage."
"That master swordsman has quite a reputation in the surrounding several cities."
"His Postnatal Middle Stage strength is somewhat higher than ours."
"With that guest elder around, they completely disregard the likes of us and act with impunity."
At this point, the First Elder paused and asked tentatively,
"So we discussed whether we might be able to invite the immortal master out to deter them."
At these words, Xiao Huohuo did not reply, merely smiling.
Just as Xiao Zhan and the others thought the matter was beyond negotiation, they saw Xiao Huohuo say with disdain,
"The Postnatal Middle Stage—what need is there for Teacher to make a move?"
"As it happens, I've just broken through to the first layer of Qi Refining, and my strength is far greater than before."
"Besides, Master just taught me a divine skill."
"Once I master this divine skill, I'll go personally find them to settle the score!"
"And help the lineage take back the market!"
Seeing Xiao Huohuo's confident demeanor, Xiao Zhan and the other three were utterly shocked, exchanging glances in dismay.
The first layer of Qi Refining—did this mean Xiao Huohuo had truly stepped onto the path of cultivating immortality?
Yet what shocked them even more was Xiao Huohuo's self-assurance.
Judging by his tone right now, wasn't it implying that someone who had just stepped onto the path of cultivating immortality could already rival experts at the Postnatal Middle Stage?
Observing the four men's incredulous expressions, Xiao Huohuo naturally knew what they were thinking, and said proudly,
"Cultivating immortality is the way of longevity."
"Even just stepping across the threshold is something ordinary martial cultivators can never compare to."
"However..."
Xiao Huohuo frowned slightly and said,
"Considering that I am Master's disciple,"
"if I fail to crush martial artists on my very first outing, wouldn't that bring shame upon Master's face?"
"To be safe, I'd better learn the immortal technique in my hands first before doing anything else."
At the mere thought of the Half Finger Shakes the Heavens wielded by Master just moments ago, Xiao Huohuo surged with excitement all over.
The momentum of that move earlier had been so terrifying that surely the entire Dongli City must have witnessed it.
If he could learn it, and then display it before the eyes of the entire Dongli City to let the Aocheng Family experience it—
wouldn't that instantly wash away the label of trash that had been resting upon his head for all these years?
As Xiao Huohuo daydreamed thus, Xiao Zhan and the other three remained unable to calm down, seemingly unable to fully accept it all at once.
In a mere four months, could Xiao Huohuo really transform from the trash of the Xiao lineage into its main pillar?
This growth was simply coming too fast!
Steadily reining in his churning state of mind, Xiao Zhan said,
"Huohuo, cultivate diligently and don't fail the immortal master's expectations."
"Whatever you lack, or whatever the immortal master lacks, just tell Dad."
"Dad will surely provide."
With that, Xiao Zhan gave Xiao Huohuo a few more instructions, telling him not to displease the immortal master, and then left humming a little tune.
Once Xiao Zhan and the others departed, Xiao Huohuo crossed his legs once more and began breathing.
He found that the breathing technique taught to him by Master was simply a supreme treasure.
Not only could it be used to perceive spiritual energy, but while in the breathing state, it also clarified the mind, rendering his thoughts unprecedentedly sharp.
Having entered the breathing state, he recalled everything Master had spoken, and even comprehending the profound meanings within became remarkably lucid.
With every intake and expulsion of breath, he pondered the words of Chu Feng in his mind...
Over the next few days, Xiao Huohuo's life grew exceedingly monotonous.
Aside from bathing and eating, he devoted all his remaining time entirely to cultivation.
Moreover, his cultivation time was strictly divided.
Half of the time was spent on normal practice, absorbing the Spiritual Energy of Heaven and Earth, while the other half was dedicated to trying to sense the energy of heaven and earth and comprehending the Great Desolation Prison Heaven Finger.
Following his breakthrough to the Qi Refining Realm, his progress in realm cultivation had slowed down.
As for the Great Desolation Prison Heaven Finger...
At the center of the courtyard, sweating profusely, Xiao Huohuo quietly gathered the surrounding spiritual energy.
The spiritual energy was plundered from all around him, descending into his body and then manifesting at his fingertips.
The phantom of a giant finger slowly emerged around his body.
However, this phantom did not persist for long before dissipating once more.
Hah!
As the energy scattered, the tension in Xiao Huohuo's body entirely collapsed.
He abruptly expelled a breath of turbid qi from his body, breathing heavily.
Looking at the tip of his forefinger where that faint glow was dissolving into nothingness, he said with some helplessness,
"Still not working?"
"It must be that my comprehension is still insufficient, and I wasn't focused enough at the start."
"It has to be that!"
Over these past days, although the Great Desolation Prison Heaven Finger had made some progress, he was still unable to unleash it.
This inevitably left Xiao Huohuo somewhat discouraged.
Yet even after practicing it a thousand and one times, and failing a thousand and one times, he always sought the reasons within himself, never once suspecting an issue with the technique.
After all, how could Master ever be wrong?
Quieting his mind completely, Xiao Huohuo once again circulated the breathing technique, visualizing his recent cultivation process:
"Could the qi-condensation step have been wrong?"
"Or did something go awry while I was drawing in the spiritual energy?"
While reviewing the experiences of the Martial Ancestor as described by Chu Feng, Xiao Huohuo sensed the Spiritual Energy of Heaven and Earth and adjusted the circulation method of the spiritual energy within his body.
Yet this entire scene of his fell squarely into the eyes of the middle-aged man outside the courtyard.
Over these past few days, Xiao Zhan would occasionally arrive here to watch Xiao Huohuo cultivate.
Moreover, because of what Xiao Huohuo had said, Xiao Zhan had completely ignored the movements of the Aocheng Family and Liu Family during this period.
He understood full well that if that guest elder at the Postnatal Middle Stage could not be dealt with, then anything they did would merely be in vain.
Gazing at the youth's figure, Xiao Zhan's gaze hardened.
"Aocheng Nan, just you wait."
"The moment my son steps out into the world will be the day your Aocheng Family collapses!"
Elsewhere.
Not far from the Xiao lineage, another estate of nearly identical scale stood here.
The luxury of the manor was in no way inferior to the Xiao lineage.
In the main hall of this estate sat two middle-aged men, drinking wine while laughing heartily.
Beside them also sat a young man in black robes.
The two laughing men were none other than Aocheng Nan, First Elder of the Aocheng Family, and Liu Qing, the Liu Family Head.
Their peals of laughter had not ceased from half an hour ago until now.
With unprecedented relief, Aocheng Nan said,
"Brother Liu, it seems the Xiao lineage has indeed grown terrified of us."
Before you continue