Xiao Clan, Training Stage
At this moment, four people stood on the Training Stage: one youth and three young men. Upon closer inspection, the youth was facing off against the three young men.
"Xiao Li, aren't you being too arrogant? You want to challenge all three of us at once? Do you really think your cousins' fists are made of clay?"
The younger young man said angrily.
"Cousin Xiao Hu, to me, your fists really are made of clay. You're only a Seventh Stage Dou Disciple, two stages below me. What right do you have to strut around?"
"You!"
The young man named Xiao Hu, the future Third Elder of the Xiao Clan, flew into a rage and immediately unleashed his Dou Qi, intending to fight Xiao Li to determine the victor.
The oldest of the young men pulled back Xiao Hu, who was about to lose control.
"Xiao Hu, don't be impatient. Since our little cousin wants to challenge the three of us, let's give him a chance to show us what he's capable of."
This young man was named Xiao Lie, the future Great Elder. He was mature and steady, and had already reached the Ninth Stage Dou Disciple. Once he broke through to become a Dou Zhe, he would be able to help the clan handle certain matters.
"Little cousin, fists and feet have no eyes. Be careful." The young man in the middle spoke. His name was Xiao Ying, the future Second Elder. Among the three, his talent was perhaps the best, and he too had reached the Dou Qi Ninth Stage.
Although Xiao Li called the three opponents before him cousins, their blood relation had practically passed beyond five degrees of kinship. Perhaps calling them clan brothers would have been more fitting, but they were all family and of the same generation, so there was no need to be so particular.
"Please." Xiao Li placed one hand behind his back and gestured for his three clan brothers to make their move.
A faint layer of Dou Qi appeared around the hands of the three young men.
The three attacked at the same time, charging toward Xiao Li. For these Dou Qi "experts," combat was extremely rudimentary—nothing more than a simple clash of bodies, without any flashy techniques.
Pishan Palm!
Xiao Lie swiftly closed in on Xiao Li. Dou Qi gathered slightly over his right palm, and with a swing of his hand, he slashed diagonally toward Xiao Li's shoulder.
[Pishan Palm, a Yellow Rank Mid-Level Dou Technique. Only clan members above the Fifth Stage Dou Disciple were qualified to learn it!]
Facing Xiao Lie's attack, Xiao Li remained calm. He raised his left elbow and blocked the strike.
But the attack was not over. Xiao Li's opponent was not Xiao Lie alone—there were also Xiao Ying and Xiao Hu!
Iron Mountain Fist!
With two loud shouts, Xiao Ying and Xiao Hu suddenly clenched their fists. A sharp gust of force cut through the air with a low rumble as they attacked Xiao Li's shoulder and knee respectively.
[Iron Mountain Fist, a Yellow Rank High Level Dou Technique. It possesses considerable power, and only those above the Seventh Stage Dou Disciple are qualified to cultivate it.]
Though they were using the same Yellow Rank High Level Dou Technique, the power Xiao Ying displayed far surpassed Xiao Hu's. Xiao Hu looked fierce, but his attack was more show than substance.
Xiao Li naturally saw through it. Without shifting his body, he clenched his right fist and responded to Xiao Ying with an Iron Mountain Fist of his own.
As for Xiao Hu's attack, Xiao Li raised his right leg to block it.
Bang—
Dust rose across the Training Stage. Xiao Li alone had blocked the attacks of Xiao Lie, Xiao Ying, and Xiao Hu, and he had done so with remarkable ease.
"Your coordination is quite good. Keep it up in the future! Fiery Cloud Palm!"
[Fiery Cloud Palm, a Profound Rank Low-Level Dou Technique. As a Profound Rank Low-Level Dou Technique, it was more advanced and powerful than Yellow Rank Dou Techniques. It demanded greater control and application of Dou Qi, allowing it to unleash far more astonishing power than Yellow Rank Dou Techniques. The user had to gather Dou Qi in both palms, transforming it into blazing flames, then use the palms as weapons to strike the opponent. The palm wind carried searing fire and possessed great destructive force.]
However, Xiao Li did not use his full strength. He merely knocked the three back. After all, they were fellow clansmen bound by blood, so a spar only needed to go so far.
Bang—
All three were forced back by Xiao Li. Xiao Hu fell directly onto the ground, Xiao Lie dropped to one knee, and Xiao Ying barely managed to remain standing.
"Thank you for letting me win." Xiao Li cupped his fists toward his three cousins.
The three naturally saw Xiao Li's gesture and hurriedly returned the salute. Their skills were already inferior; they could not afford to lose face in etiquette as well.
Smiling, Xiao Li walked down from the stage, only to see a little child hurrying toward him.
"Little Uncle, Little Uncle, you're amazing! Even when my three cousin uncles joined forces, they couldn't beat you. I want to be as strong as you too."
The little child speaking was Xiao Zhan. That's right—the future father of Yan Emperor Xiao Yan, Xiao Zhan.
"Haha, you want to be as strong as me? Then you'll have to cultivate properly. You're only at Three Stages of Dou Qi now, still far from it. Cultivate well. When you reach the Seventh Stage Dou Disciple, how about I teach you Dou Techniques?"
Xiao Li rubbed Xiao Zhan's head. He liked children very much, even though he was a child himself.
Not far from the Training Stage, four old men stood watching. They had also observed Xiao Li's spar with the other three.
"Hehe, Li'er is truly impressive. I've lived for so long, yet I've never seen such a genius."
"Yes, yes. As long as Li'er cultivates steadily, he will certainly become a Dou Emperor Expert in the future. He might even become a Dou Zong!"
"Exactly, exactly!"
The four speakers were the three Elders of the Xiao Clan and the Pavilion Master of the Dou Technique Pavilion. All of them were Dou Ling experts.
"What are you all whispering about?" An aged voice sounded.
The Elders turned around and saw that the Patriarch had returned. And the person behind him was—
President Wang!
Heavens! President Wang had actually come to the Xiao Clan!
"Patriarch!" The Dou Spirit Elders first saluted Xiao Ting, then respectfully bowed to President Wang.
"Greetings, President Wang. President Wang's presence in the Xiao Clan truly brings glory to our humble home..."
Before the Dou Spirit Elders could finish speaking, President Wang interrupted them.
"Enough, enough. Stop with those phrases I've heard to death. I'm merely here as a guest. Just relax."
President Wang himself disliked such roundabout formalities. He found them troublesome.
President Wang looked toward the youth, and his eyes lit up. "Old Xiao, is this your grandson? He looks quite good. At such a young age, he can already use a Profound Rank Low-Level Dou Technique, and his physical condition is quite impressive too."
President Wang stroked his beard, delighted inwardly. However, it was not yet time to celebrate. He still needed to examine him before he could be at ease.
How could Xiao Ting not know what needed to be done next? He called out to Xiao Li, "Li'er, come here for a moment."
Hearing someone call him, Xiao Li followed the voice and looked over. It was actually his grandfather. Beside him stood the Dou Ling Elders of the clan, as well as an old man Xiao Li did not recognize.
"Xiao Zhan, go back and cultivate. Your Little Uncle has something to do." Xiao Li gently rubbed Xiao Zhan's head.
"Okay, Little Uncle. I'm going to cultivate now. Goodbye, Little Uncle!" Xiao Zhan was very obedient and ran straight toward his own house. Children were simple like that.
After sending Xiao Zhan away, Xiao Li jogged over to his grandfather and saluted the old men present.
"Grandfather, Elder Grandfathers, and this Grandfather, greetings to you all!"
President Wang stroked his beard and laughed. "This little fellow has good manners. Very good—neither arrogant nor impatient. His future is promising. Come, child, come over to Grandfather. Let Grandfather examine your body."
Xiao Li looked at this unfamiliar grandfather. What kind of outrageous words was he saying? He then looked toward his own grandfather.
Xiao Ting's expression turned somewhat stern. "Li'er, do not be disrespectful. This is the Chief Alchemist of our Jia Ma Empire, the President of the Alchemist Guild, Wang Ming—President Wang."
"He ranks third among the Jia Ma Empire's Top Ten Experts. He is a Dou Emperor Expert, and even more so, a Rank 6 Alchemist."
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