Reunion

"Ha ha ha ha, little brother, you're back!" The moment Xiao Lin saw Xiao Li, he pulled him into 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, over two meters tall, with arms nearly as thick as Xiao Li's thighs.

"Big 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 gray, with strands of white mixed into his hair. His crow's feet and nasolabial folds had also deepened considerably.

"Sigh, there are too many things to handle as the Patriarch. Fortunately, the clan is stable now, so it isn't as worrying as before. Come on, little brother, drink with me until we're completely drunk. We won't go home until we are!"

Xiao Lin threw an arm around Xiao Li's shoulders and laughed heartily.

"There's no rush. Big Brother, let me introduce someone. This is Xia Yilong, from Black Rock City. He's my classmate at Jia Nan Academy. Since he has no one else, I invited him to join our Xiao Clan. I'd also like him to serve as a steward."

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

"Patriarch Xiao." Xia Yilong cupped his hands in salute toward Xiao Lin. Xiao Lin was Xiao Li's elder brother and the head of the Xiao Clan, so proper etiquette was necessary.

"You're Xia Yilong, right? Since you're Little Li's classmate, you can call me Big Brother in private, just like he does." Xiao Lin had also noticed that Xia Yilong was no ordinary person. He was much younger than Xiao Lin, yet he had already reached Six Star Dou Ling.

In a few years, he would likely become a Dou Wang expert. Since his little brother had recommended him, it meant Xiao Li had already judged his character and found him usable.

"I wouldn't dare." Xia Yilong was cautious by nature. Although the elder was showing him favor, he would not dare take liberties. Keeping a low profile was best.

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

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

Xiao Lin quickly walked over 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 doesn't have all those convoluted rules. As long as you don't betray the clan, we don't discriminate against outsiders. Stay here without worry," Xiao Lin said, patting Xia Yilong on the shoulder.

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

"Tsk, I never expected my reckless big brother to learn this sort of thing. Times really have changed." Xiao Li crossed his arms and sucked his teeth.

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

"Come on, let's go see Grandfather first. I brought quite a few good things this time. Oh, right, Big 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. You're stronger than me now, aren't you?" 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 not long ago I refined a Top-Grade Dou Spirit Pill. It might have raised your cultivation by two stars! What a waste!"

Xiao Li had not expected his elder brother to take the Dou Spirit Pill so quickly.

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

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

Xiao Lin knew that Xiao Li had always cared deeply about the clan. For its sake, Xiao Li had put in no small amount of effort.

"Sigh, it's fine. A Dou Spirit Pill can only be taken once, but I can also refine pills that assist your cultivation. Don't worry, Big Brother. I'm confident I can make you a Dou Emperor within five years!"

Most pills that directly increased cultivation could only be taken once, but pills that aided cultivation could be taken multiple times. As it happened, Xiao Li had pills that could assist a Dou Wang's cultivation, just like the Qing Yuan Pill.

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

"Hm?"

The old man sensed two people approaching. Looking up, 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 no longer needed to worry about his lifespan for the time being. Constant seclusion was also dull, so he stayed on the Back Mountain, built himself a Thatched Cottage, and lived the carefree life of a recluse.

"Ha ha, Grandfather, you're certainly in the mood." Xiao Li cupped his hands toward his grandfather. He also noticed that the wrinkles on Xiao Ting's face had faded considerably. His complexion was especially rosy, and he looked full of energy.

"Hehe, one can't cultivate endlessly. You have to relax from time to time and cultivate your temperament," Xiao Ting said with a chuckle. The instant Xiao Li arrived, he noticed Xiao Li's cultivation: Eight Star Dou King. He would soon surpass him.

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

It could be said that this grandfather had not helped his grandson much, while his grandson had instead been running around everywhere for him.

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

Xiao Li took out an Ice 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 came 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. Out of fifteen sets of ingredients, he had refined ten Imperial Origin Pills. Xiao Li kept the five best-quality pills and left the rest for Jia Nan Academy.

As for the Breaking Ancestor Pill, Xiao Li had refined it as well, and he had succeeded. He produced two pills, which meant Xiao Li could now be considered a Rank 6 Peak Alchemist.

However, luck had played a major role in those two pills. Though luck was also part of strength, Xiao Li had entered the Dan Soul Realm during both refinements.

In the Dan Soul Realm, an Alchemist's Soul Force would be infinitely amplified. Before that terrifying power, fleeting though it was, refining pills carried not the slightest chance of failure. In other words, once one entered this state, that refinement would definitely succeed!

Even Mang Tian Chi could not help sighing at how good Xiao Li's luck was. It was so good that Mang Tian Chi felt a little jealous.