Family Matters Settled

Xiao Li and Xiao Lin stood side by side, guarding their grandfather, Xiao Ting.

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

"Yeah. I gathered the ingredients for the Longevity King Pill in the Magical Beast Mountain Range and asked my teacher to refine it. As for the Dou Spirit Pill, I bought it on credit from my teacher." 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.

"It couldn't be helped. At my current level of Alchemy, I could only refine low-grade Grade 5 pills. The Longevity King Pill was comparable to a high-grade Grade 5 pill, and I couldn't guarantee my success rate, so I could only ask my teacher to refine it.

The Dou Spirit Pill was even a peak Grade 5 pill. Calling its refinement difficulty equivalent to a Grade 6 Pill would not be an exaggeration. In the entire Jia Ma Empire, only my teacher could refine a Dou Spirit Pill."

Xiao Li had no other choice. His Alchemy was not yet good enough, and his grandfather's time was running out. He could only ask his teacher for help.

"By the way, Brother, what stage of Dou Qi is Xiao Zhan at now?" Xiao Li suddenly asked. He remembered the little brat who had always followed behind him. That little brat had now grown into a resolute young man.

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

"Eight Stage Dou Qi? That's decent enough. Sigh... Xiao Zhan's talent is not as good as yours, Brother. Dou Wang and Dou Emperor are definitely not your limits. Once I become a Rank 6 Alchemist, the Xiao Clan's strength will rise to another level."

Xiao Li had always been working to increase the Xiao Clan's strength. As descendants of the Xiao Tribe, although the Dou God Bloodline in their bodies had faded away, they were still descendants of a Dou God. There had been powerful experts among them a thousand years ago, and there would be again in the future.

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

The Xiao Clan members Xiao Li most wanted to nurture were the old Patriarch Xiao Ting, his elder brother Xiao Lin, and Elder Xiao Yuan, who guarded the Dou Technique Pavilion.

The Xiao Clan had only just begun to recover. If not for a Dou Wang supporting the clan all this time, it would have collapsed long ago. Anyone who could cultivate to the Dou Wang realm with such limited resources had no small potential.

Take Xiao Li's elder 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 similar to Xiao Li's Fire Attribute mixed with a trace of Wood Qi.

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

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

Xiao Li handed a green Jade Bottle to Xiao Lin.

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

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

"Then cultivate well. I'm here at home, so you can focus on cultivation 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.

"Haha, of course. By the way, Brother, when you train the clan disciples in the future, don't just test their cultivation. Test the Xiao Clan's will as well!" Xiao Li said seriously.

"The Xiao Clan's will?"

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

The Xiao Clan possesses a bloodline that rises to meet hardship! Even if we are weak, our blood cannot be weak!"

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

"I understand."

"Li is right. Though the Xiao Tribe has declined, our hearts and our spirit must not shame our ancestors!" An aged voice sounded. Xiao Ting had finished absorbing the Medicinal Power of the Longevity King Pill.

Xiao Ting still looked like an old man, but his posture had become much straighter, and the wrinkles on his face had faded considerably.

"Grandfather!"

Xiao Ting nodded and looked at Xiao Li. "Li, though your grandfather does not know much, the Xiao Tribe was an existence of unparalleled glory a thousand years ago. Back then, the Patriarch, Xiao Xuan, was the strongest man of his era.

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

"I understand. Grandfather, afterward, I plan to follow my teacher to the Black Horn Region to temper myself. As for you, continue cultivating diligently. It would be best if you could reach the Dou Emperor realm. But after you break through to Dou Emperor, do not announce it. Other than Brother, tell no one.

Brother, just tell the public that Grandfather failed to survive his final days."

Xiao Lin was puzzled. "Why?"

"Because the Xiao Clan has enemies. We cannot reveal ourselves recklessly. The Xiao Clan is still too weak. We cannot let those great factions set their sights on us, or disaster will befall the Xiao Clan."

Seeing Xiao Li's serious expression, Xiao Lin knew there had to be a powerful enemy.

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

"Yes, a little. Grandfather, first raise your strength to Dou Emperor. Once I become a Rank 6 Alchemist, I'll find a way to push you to Dou Zong. I'll feel more at ease with a Dou Zong at home.

The same goes for you, Brother. Do not slack off in your cultivation. I'll find ways to increase your strength as well. Also, keep an eye out for gifted children in the clan. They are all worth nurturing."

Xiao Li thought differently. He did not merely want to become stronger himself; he wanted his clansmen to become stronger too. One day, he would not be home. If someone attacked the Xiao Clan then, it would be over.

"Leave the clan affairs to your grandfather and elder brother. You only need to cultivate diligently." Xiao Ting patted Xiao Li's shoulder.

"Mm, I understand. Brother, the pills I refined during this period are all in this Storage Ring. I marked the effects of every kind of pill. Use them to increase 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 I can rest assured about the clan's affairs, it is time for me to cultivate. Grandfather, Brother, farewell!"

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

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

"Mm, I know. Grandfather, you should take care of yourself too."

Outside the Xiao Clan's gates,

"Brother, this is far enough. I'll leave the clan affairs 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 questioned as he looked at the wings behind Xiao Li.

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

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 pleased with a child like Xiao Li, who valued his family so deeply.

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

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