Reunion

"Hahaha! Little Brother, you're back!" The moment Xiao Lin saw Xiao Li, he gave him a bear hug and lifted him straight off the ground.

Xiao Li was already eighteen, nearly nineteen. On the Dou Qi Continent, he was considered an adult, but to his Eldest Brother Xiao Lin, he was still just a little sprout.

Xiao Li was not short at all, standing a full 1.85 meters tall, but Xiao Lin was huge. He stood over two meters tall, and his arms were nearly as thick as Xiao Li's thighs.

"Eldest Brother, how did you get even more burly? Though you've got a lot more white hair too." Xiao Li noticed that Xiao Lin's temples had begun to turn gray, white strands mixed into his hair, while his crow's feet and nasolabial folds had deepened considerably.

"Ah, there are too many matters for a Patriarch to handle. Fortunately, the clan is stable now, so I don't have to worry as much as before. Come on, Little Brother, drink with me until we drop! We're not going home until we're drunk!"

Xiao Lin hooked an arm over Xiao Li's shoulder and laughed heartily.

"There's no rush. Eldest Brother, let me introduce someone. This is Xia Yilong, from Black Rock City. He was my classmate at Jia Nan Academy. Since he is alone, I invited him to join our Xiao Clan and would like him to serve as a steward."

Xiao Li introduced Xia Yilong to Xiao Lin. Xia Yilong handled matters quite well, and both his talent and cultivation were impressive. With careful training, he would become another Dou Emperor in the future.

"Patriarch Xiao." Xia Yilong clasped his hands and bowed to Xiao Lin. Xiao Lin was Xiao Li's Eldest Brother and the head of the Xiao Clan, so proper etiquette was necessary.

"Xia Yilong, right? Since you're Xiao Li's classmate, you can call me Eldest Brother in private, just as he does." Xiao Lin had also noticed that Xia Yilong was no ordinary man. Though much younger than him, he had already reached the level of a Six Star Dou Ling.

He would likely become a Dou Wang within a few years. Since his Little Brother had recommended him, it meant Xiao Li had already seen through his character. He could be trusted.

"I wouldn't dare." Xia Yilong was cautious by nature. Though his senior was offering him respect, he did not dare take advantage of it. Keeping a low profile was best.

"Hehe, it's fine. The clan's current steward is already advanced in years and has worked hard for half his life. It's time for him to rest.

Xia Yilong, from now on, live in the second main room of the West District. The first room is the steward's residence. I'll write a letter for you to give him, and he will teach you the steward's duties."

Xiao Lin quickly went to the desk, picked up a brush, and wrote a letter. After stamping it with his seal, he handed it to Xia Yilong.

"Take this letter and find him. Treat this place as your own home. Our Xiao Clan has none of those convoluted rules. As long as you do not betray the clan, we do not discriminate against those with other surnames. Live here without worry," Xiao Lin said, patting Xia Yilong's shoulder.

"Yes! Thank you, Patriarch, for your appreciation. This subordinate shall take his leave." Xia Yilong formally bowed to Xiao Lin, then bowed once more to Xiao Li before leaving.

"Tsk, who would have thought that my rough-and-tumble Eldest Brother would know how to do this now? Times really have changed." Xiao Li crossed his arms and clicked his tongue.

"I don't want to either, but once I'm in this position, I have to do what this position demands. I can't be as reckless as before. I have to be responsible for the entire clan!" Xiao Lin said seriously.

"Come on, let's see Grandfather first. I brought back quite a few good things this time. Oh, right, Eldest Brother, did you take that Dou Spirit Pill?" Xiao Li asked.

"I did. Why? I'm already a Three Star Dou King now. But I couldn't see through your cultivation the moment you came in. Your cultivation is higher than mine now, isn't it?" Ever since Xiao Li entered, Xiao Lin had been unable to discern his cultivation.

"I'm an Eight Star Dou King now. What a pity—my Alchemy has improved greatly, and I refined a Top-Grade Dou Spirit Pill some time ago. It might have raised your cultivation by two stars! What a waste!"

Xiao Li had not expected his Eldest Brother to take the Dou Spirit Pill so quickly.

"If you refined it, of course I ate it. Don't think I don't know that the one you gave me was already of exceptional quality. I had only just entered the Two Star Dou King realm before, but after taking it, I broke through to the Three Star Dou King realm. There's still quite a bit of Medicinal Power left.

I'm only a little short of becoming a Four Star Dou King now. I should break through again within half a year."

Xiao Lin knew that Xiao Li devoted himself wholeheartedly to the clan. Xiao Li had worried over many things for its sake.

"Ah, it's fine. A Dou Spirit Pill can only be taken once, but I can refine pills to aid your cultivation as well. Don't worry, Eldest Brother. I'm confident I can make you a Dou Emperor within five years!"

Most pills that raised cultivation could only be taken once, but pills that assisted cultivation could be taken multiple times. Xiao Li happened to have pills that could help a Dou Wang cultivate, much like the Qing Yuan Pill.

Xiao Lin brought Xiao Li to the Xiao Clan's Back Mountain. Amid the forest stood a Thatched Cottage, and an old man in gray robes was watering the small trees before him with a kettle.

"Hmm?"

The old man sensed two people approaching. Raising his head, he saw that his Grandson had returned.

"Hehe, Li'er is back. Come, sit!"

The old man was Xiao Ting. He had now broken through to the Dou Emperor realm, so he had no immediate concerns regarding his lifespan. Constant secluded cultivation was also dull, so he stayed on the Back Mountain, built himself a Thatched Cottage, and lived the carefree life of a recluse.

"Haha, Grandfather, what elegant leisure." Xiao Li clasped his hands toward his Grandfather. He also noticed that the wrinkles on Xiao Ting's face had faded considerably, his complexion was exceptionally rosy, and he looked full of vigor.

"Hehe, one can't cultivate endlessly. It's good to relax occasionally and cultivate one's temperament," Xiao Ting said with a smile. The moment Xiao Li arrived, he noticed his cultivation—an Eight Star Dou King. He would soon surpass him.

"Li'er, Grandfather must thank you for the Cultivation Method, and also for the pills." Xiao Ting had naturally learned from Xiao Lin where the Cultivation Method and pills had come from.

It could be said that this Grandfather had not done much to help his Grandson, yet his Grandson had instead gone everywhere and worked tirelessly for him.

"Grandfather, what are you saying? You're my own Grandfather. If I don't care for you, who should I care for? Why be so polite with your Grandson? Come, come! Grandfather, your Grandson prepared a gift for you."

Xiao Li took an icy jade box from his Storage Ring and pushed it toward Xiao Ting.

"Ta-da! A Supreme Imperial Origin Pill, refined by me. I was very lucky at the time, and it turned out top-grade. This Imperial Origin Pill should be able to raise your cultivation by two stars!"

Xiao Li said proudly. This was the Supreme Imperial Origin Pill he had refined at Jia Nan Academy. From fifteen sets of ingredients, he had produced ten Imperial Origin Pills. Xiao Li selected the five best-quality pills for himself and left the rest at Jia Nan Academy.

As for the Breaking Ancestor Pill, Xiao Li had refined it as well, and he had succeeded. He refined two of them. It could be said that Xiao Li was now a Peak Grade 6 Alchemist.

However, luck had played a significant part in both pills. Although luck was also a part of strength, Xiao Li had entered the Dan Soul Realm during those two sessions of alchemy.

In the Dan Soul Realm, an Alchemist's Soul Force would be amplified without limit. Before that terrifying Soul Force—which was fleeting as an epiphyllum's bloom—refining pills carried not the slightest chance of failure. In other words, once one entered this state, that alchemy attempt would certainly succeed!

Even Mang Tian Ruler could not help sighing at how incredibly lucky Xiao Li was—so lucky that he felt a little envious.