Family Matters Settled

Xiao Li and Xiao Lin stood side by side, standing guard for their grandfather, Xiao Ting.

"Xiao Li, where did you get the Longevity King Pill and Dou Spirit Pill? From President Wang?" Xiao Lin asked.

"Mm. I gathered the ingredients for the Longevity King Pill in the Magical Beast Mountain Range and asked Teacher to refine it. As for the Dou Spirit Pill, I bought it from Teacher on credit." Xiao Li shrugged.

"You can even buy a Dou Spirit Pill on credit? Only a Disciple like you would have that privilege." Xiao Lin was speechless.

"There was no other way. At present, my Alchemy can only refine low-grade Grade 5 pills. The Longevity King Pill is equivalent to a high-grade Grade 5 pill, and I couldn't guarantee my success rate, so I could only ask Teacher to refine it.

"The Dou Spirit Pill is even a peak Grade 5 pill. Its refinement difficulty is no less than that of a Grade 6 Pill. In the entire Jia Ma Empire, only Teacher can refine a Dou Spirit Pill."

Xiao Li had no choice. His Alchemy was still insufficient, and with his grandfather's time running out, he could only ask Teacher for help.

"By the way, Eldest Brother, what stage of Dou Qi is Xiao Zhan at now?" Xiao Li suddenly asked. He remembered the little brat who had always trailed after him. Now, that little brat had grown into a resolute Youngster.

Xiao Lin said, "Thanks to your Medicinal Bath, Zhan'er has already reached Eight Stage Dou Qi."

"Eight Stage Dou Qi? That's decent enough. Sigh... Xiao Zhan's talent is still inferior to yours, Eldest Brother. Dou Wang and Dou Emperor definitely won't be your endpoint. Once I become a Rank 6 Alchemist, our Xiao Clan's strength will rise another level."

Xiao Li had always been increasing the Xiao Clan's strength. As descendants of the Xiao Tribe, although the Dou God Bloodline within their bodies had vanished, they were still descendants of the Dou God. There had been powerhouses a thousand years ago, and there would be powerhouses in the future as well.

The setbacks of today were not setbacks, but the path to rise again!

The Xiao Clan members Xiao Li currently wanted to focus on nurturing were the old Patriarch Xiao Ting, his eldest brother Xiao Lin, and Xiao Yuan, the Elder guarding the Dou Technique Pavilion.

The Xiao Clan had only just begun to recover. If not for the Dou Wang who had always supported the clan, it would have collapsed long ago. Anyone who could cultivate to the Dou Wang realm with such limited resources had no low potential.

Take Xiao Li's eldest brother, Xiao Lin, for example. Though his name was Xiao Lin, his Dou Qi was not Wood Attribute Dou Qi. Xiao Lin's Dou Qi attribute was Wind Attribute mixed with Thunder Qi.

It was much like Xiao Li's Fire Attribute Dou Qi mixed with a trace of Wood Qi.

Xiao Lin's Dou Qi possessed not only the Vigorous Force of wind, but also the violent fury of lightning. It gave him a considerable advantage in battles against opponents of the same rank.

"Eldest Brother, this is the Gathering Qi Powder I refined. Its quality is quite good. Keep it, and give it to Xiao Zhan when he reaches Ninth Stage Dou Disciple."

Xiao Li handed a green Jade Bottle to Xiao Lin.

"Mm, thank you. What are you planning to do next?" Xiao Lin asked.

Xiao Li said, "Train myself. I'll go to Jia Nan Academy to temper myself and see the 'geniuses' from all over the Dou Qi Continent."

"Then cultivate well. With me at home, you can cultivate without worry. I'm still waiting to take the Dou Spirit Pill you refine." Xiao Lin hooked an arm around Xiao Li's shoulders and laughed.

"Ha ha, of course. Oh, and Eldest Brother, when you train the clan disciples in the future, don't just test their cultivation. Test the will of our Xiao Clan as well!" Xiao Li said seriously.

"The will of our Xiao Clan?"

"That's right. Our Xiao Clan was once incomparably glorious, yet we have fallen into such a state that we do not even have a Dou Emperor.

"Our Xiao Clan carries the bloodline to rise in the face of adversity! Even if we are weak, our blood must never be weak!"

Xiao Li's words stunned Xiao Lin. He felt the blood in his veins boiling.

"I understand."

"Li'er is right. Though our Xiao Tribe has declined, our hearts and our spirit must not bring shame upon our ancestors!" An aged voice rang out. Xiao Ting had finished absorbing the medicinal power of the Longevity King Pill.

Xiao Ting still looked like an old man, but his figure had become more upright, and the wrinkles on his face had faded considerably.

"Grandfather!"

Xiao Ting nodded and looked at Xiao Li. "Li'er, although Grandfather does not know much, our Xiao Tribe was once an existence of utmost glory a thousand years ago. Back then, the Patriarch, Xiao Xuan, was the strongest person in the world.

"And now, you are the only one in our Xiao Tribe with any hope of restoring our ancestors' glory. Remember this: the burden of reviving the Xiao Tribe will fall upon your shoulders!"

"I understand. After this, Grandfather, I plan to follow Teacher to the Black Horn Region for training. As for you, continue cultivating diligently. It would be best if you can reach the Dou Emperor realm. But after you break through to Dou Emperor, Grandfather, don't announce it. Other than Eldest Brother, tell no one.

"Eldest Brother, just announce to the outside world that Grandfather failed to survive his final days."

Xiao Lin was confused. "Why?"

"Because our Xiao Clan has enemies. We cannot casually show ourselves. Our Xiao Clan is still too weak. We cannot let those great factions set their eyes on us, or a calamity of destruction will befall the Xiao Clan."

Seeing the serious look on Xiao Li's face, Xiao Lin knew there had to be a formidable enemy.

Xiao Ting frowned. "Li'er, do you know something?"

"Mm, a little. Grandfather, first raise your cultivation to Dou Emperor. Once I become a Rank 6 Alchemist, I'll find a way to help you reach Dou Zong. With a Dou Zong at home, I'll feel more at ease.

"The same goes for you, Eldest Brother. Don't slack off in your cultivation. I'll also find ways to raise your strength. Then keep an eye out for exceptionally talented children in the clan. They are all worth nurturing."

Xiao Li's way of thinking was different. He did not merely want to grow stronger himself; he wanted his clansmen to grow stronger too. There would always come a day when he was not home. If the family was raided then, it would be over.

"Leave the family matters to Grandfather and your eldest brother. You only need to cultivate diligently." Xiao Ting patted Xiao Li's shoulder.

"Mm, understood. Eldest Brother, all the pills I refined during this period are in this Storage Ring. I marked the effects of every kind of pill. Use them to raise the clan's strength.

"Once I reach Jia Nan Academy, we can stay in touch by letter." Xiao Li handed a Storage Ring to Xiao Lin.

"Understood."

"Good. Now that the family matters are settled, I can rest easy. It's time for me to cultivate. Farewell, Grandfather, Eldest Brother!"

Xiao Li cupped his hands toward Xiao Ting and Xiao Lin.

"Li'er, don't bury yourself in cultivation and damage your health!" Xiao Ting said slowly.

"Mm, I know. Grandfather, take care of your health too."

Outside the Xiao Clan's gates,

"Eldest Brother, this is far enough. I'll leave the family matters to you."

Xiao Li bid farewell to Xiao Lin. A pair of Orange-Red wings suddenly appeared behind his back.

"Oh? Dou Qi Wings? No, you're only a Dou Ling. A Flying Dou Technique?" Xiao Lin asked as he stared at the wings behind Xiao Li.

"That's right, the Flying Dou Technique, Crimson Flame Wings! I'm leaving, Eldest Brother!"

With a spread of his wings, Xiao Li flew away from the Xiao Clan. After leaving the Imperial Capital, an aged figure flew to his side.

"Finished saying goodbye?"

"Mm."

Old Wang stroked his beard. He was very satisfied with a child like Xiao Li who valued family so deeply.

"Let's go. The Black Horn Region is no pleasant place. You'll have plenty of hardship ahead, kid."

"I can't wait!" Xiao Li's gaze was resolute.

As an old fellow and the Dou Wang of the Xiao Clan two generations ago, he definitely knew some things. In the original story, Xiao Lin had died suddenly and unexpectedly, causing the Xiao Clan to decline in an instant. Once the Xiao Clan, a Dou Wang clan, suddenly lost its Dou Wang, other clans would surely covet the Xiao Clan's assets.

When the Xiao Clan moved to Wutan City, quite a few Dou Spirit Elders had likely died, along with many Xiao Clan Disciples who perished on the road. But now that Xiao Li was here, it was no longer much of a problem. The Xiao Clan was steadily flourishing.