Admonition

Xiao Jie came to the place where the clan leader and elders cultivated. Before long, the clan leader and all nine elders emerged.

"Supreme Elder, why have you come personally? You only needed to send us word. How could we possibly let you come here yourself?"

The First Elder was the first to speak.

"Yes, yes. You only needed to have someone give the order. How could we possibly let you come here yourself?"

The many elders echoed him.

Ever since Xiao Jie had revealed his Dou Wang-level cultivation, the clan leader and elders had placed him in the position of Supreme Elder. He normally did not need to manage affairs, yet he still possessed great authority.

That was how things worked in a world where personal strength reigned supreme. Strength brought status, and Xiao Jie was happy with the arrangement, so he let them have their way.

Clan Leader Xiao Zhan and the elders all treated Xiao Jie with great respect. Over the past few years, the cultivation methods, Dou techniques, and medicinal pills he had given the clan had benefited them immensely. Though the cultivation methods and Dou techniques were only Xuan-rank, they were things the Xiao Clan had never even dared dream of before.

There were nine elders because anyone from the Xiao Clan bloodline who possessed Da Dou Shi-level cultivation could become an elder.

The Xiao Clan now had twelve Da Dou Shi cultivators in total. Two were guest elders from outside the clan. The First Elder and Clan Leader Xiao Zhan were both at the peak of Da Dou Shi, while the remaining eight were low- to mid-level Da Dou Shi cultivators.

Clan Leader Xiao Zhan was extremely grateful to Xiao Jie for speaking up for Xiao Yan, and Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er felt the same way.

At Xiao Zhan's request, Xiao Jie had examined Xiao Yan several times, but he had found no way to resolve the issue. Xiao Jie understood why Xiao Yan had become like this, but he had no intention of revealing it, so he pretended not to know. Xiao Zhan had also invited other alchemists, but they likewise failed to find the problem.

Xiao Jie knew that Xiao Yan would recover within a month or two. By then, Yao Lao would become his greatest advantage. This youth would also declare, "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river; never bully a poor youth," after Nalan Yanran broke off their engagement, thus beginning his Three Year Agreement with her. However, Xiao Jie would not be around to see it.

Xiao Jie planned to leave the Xiao Clan soon to travel, seek opportunities, and search for information about Heavenly Flames. He simply did not know whether the Misty Cloud Sect and the Nalan Clan would change their attitudes because the Xiao Clan had produced a young Dou Wang and a fifth-tier alchemist.

"Clan Leader, elders, I plan to head out in some time to seek opportunities. I came to explain a few matters to you, and to give you the medicinal pills you need."

As he spoke, Xiao Jie took out fifty bottles of medicinal pills from his Storage Ring.

"These twenty bottles are Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills, each capable of raising a Da Dou Shi's cultivation by one star. These ten bottles are Spirit-Breaking Pills, which increase the chance of a Da Dou Shi breaking through to Dou Ling by fifty percent. These five bottles are Spirit-Raising Pills, each capable of raising a Dou Ling's cultivation by one star. The rest are healing pills, all fourth- or fifth-tier."

Some of these pills had been refined by Xiao Jie himself, while others had been obtained from the Simulator. Since he had no use for them, he gave them to the clan. Over the past seven years, Xiao Jie's parents had also reached the Dou Shi level.

He was not worried that they would die of old age. What he feared was that the Xiao Clan might encounter some unforeseen disaster and drag them into it. Thus, strengthening the clan's foundation was necessary. Once he became a Dou Di and awakened the Dou Emperor Bloodline, his parents' cultivation would soar, and their lifespans would increase as well.

Xiao Zhan and the other elders stared at the medicinal pills before them, so stunned that they could not speak. In the end, Xiao Zhan was the first to recover. He put away the pills and said,

"Supreme Elder, you have truly gone to too much trouble for us. But with these pills, it will not be long before our Xiao Clan produces Dou Ling-level experts. This is wonderful!"

"However, Supreme Elder, what was it that you wished to instruct us about? Since you came here personally, do you intend to be away for a long time?"

"Yes. This time, I may be gone for as little as three years or as long as ten. I am leaving to search for Heavenly Flames. You must also take good care of my parents. Finally, the Xiao Clan must spend several years consolidating itself before it continues expanding."

"The Xiao Clan is severely lacking in strength. Aside from me, a Dou Wang, we do not have a single Dou Ling. The resources and wealth the Xiao Clan now possesses have already exceeded what a clan with only Da Dou Shi cultivators should have. No one dares entertain any thoughts only because I am still here. No matter how great one's wealth and resources are, they must be matched by corresponding strength, or disaster will easily follow. I am preparing to travel far away, and I do not want to return next time only to find the Xiao Clan reduced to ruins. Do you understand?"

Cold sweat streamed down Xiao Zhan's and the elders' backs as they listened. That was right—without Xiao Jie, a Dou Wang, keeping others in check, the Xiao Clan, a small clan with only Da Dou Shi cultivators, would have long since been targeted. Snapping back to their senses, they immediately said,

"Supreme Elder, your lesson is correct. We will remember it well, and we will send stronger cultivators to protect your parents."

Having understood the situation, they promised to protect Xiao Jie's parents well. In their hearts, they knew that as long as his parents remained safely here, this place would be Xiao Jie's home, and he would return.