Warning

Xiao Jie arrived at the place where the Clan Head and the elders practiced; soon, the nine elders and the Clan Head emerged.

"Supreme Elder, why have you come? If you had any instructions, you only needed to send word; how could we let you make the trip yourself?"

The First Elder was the first to speak.

"Indeed, indeed! If you had only sent someone to tell us, we would never have allowed you to come in person."

The many elders echoed these sentiments.

Ever since Xiao Jie revealed his cultivation at the Dou King level, the Clan Head and the elders had elevated him to the position of Supreme Elder, a role that required no daily management but carried immense authority.

In this world where power is absolute, such is the way; those with strength command status. Xiao Jie was content with this arrangement, so he let them have their way.

Clan Head Xiao Zhan and the various elders were all very respectful toward Xiao Jie. After all, the cultivation methods, Dou Techniques, and medicinal pills he had gifted the clan over the past few years had benefited them greatly. Although the methods and techniques were only of the Xuan tier, for the Xiao Clan, these were things they had never dared to imagine before.

As for the nine elders, it was because in the Xiao Clan, one only needed to possess the cultivation of a Dou Grandmaster to become an elder; naturally, this required the bloodline of the Xiao Clan.

The Xiao Clan currently possessed a total of twelve Dou Grandmasters, two of whom were guest elders from outside. The two peak Dou Grandmasters were the First Elder and Clan Head Xiao Zhan, while the remaining eight were low-to-mid-level Dou Grandmasters.

Clan Head Xiao Zhan was deeply grateful to Xiao Jie for speaking up for Xiao Yan, as were Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er.

Xiao Jie had examined Xiao Yan several times at Xiao Zhan's request, but he could find no solution. Xiao Jie understood why Xiao Yan had become this way, but he did not intend to reveal it, so he feigned ignorance. Xiao Zhan had also invited other alchemists, but they had likewise been unable to identify the problem.

Xiao Jie knew that Xiao Yan would recover in a month or two, at which point Yao Lao would become his "cheat," and the young man would utter the words, "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river; do not bully the young because they are poor," following Nalan Yanran's annulment of their engagement, thus beginning their three-year agreement. However, Xiao Jie would not be around to see it.

Xiao Jie planned to leave the Xiao Clan soon to travel, seek opportunities, and hunt for information on Heavenly Flames. He just wondered if the Misty Cloud Sect and the Nalan Clan would change their attitudes now that the Xiao Clan had produced a young Dou King and a fifth-grade alchemist.

"Clan Head, elders, I plan to head out in a while to seek opportunities, so I have come to entrust you with some matters and, incidentally, provide you with the pills you need."

As Xiao Jie spoke, he took fifty bottles of pills from his storage ring.

"Here are twenty bottles of Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills, which can raise a Dou Grandmaster's cultivation by one star; ten bottles of Spirit-Breaking Pills, which increase the chance of a Dou Grandmaster breaking through to Dou Ling by fifty percent; five bottles of Spirit-Raising Pills, which can increase a Dou Ling's cultivation by one star; the rest are healing pills, all of the fourth or fifth grade," Xiao Jie said.

Aside from those Xiao Jie had refined himself, some of these pills had been obtained from the Simulator. Since he had no use for them, he brought them out for the clan. Xiao Jie's parents had also reached the Dou Master level over these seven years.

He wasn't worried about them dying of old age, but he feared the Xiao Clan might be caught in an unexpected disaster, so strengthening the clan's foundation was necessary. In the future, once he became a Dou Di and his Dou Di bloodline was awakened, his parents' cultivation would skyrocket, and their lifespans would increase accordingly.

Xiao Zhan and the other elders were so stunned by the pills before them that they were speechless. Eventually, it was Xiao Zhan who regained his composure first, collected the pills, and said:

"This is too much trouble for you, Supreme Elder. But with these pills, it won't be long before our Xiao Clan produces a powerhouse at the Dou Ling level. This is truly wonderful."

"But Supreme Elder, what was the matter you wished to entrust to us? Did you need to come in person because you intend to be away for a long time?"

"Yes. This time, I will be away for at least three years, perhaps up to ten. I am leaving to search for Heavenly Flames. Secondly, I need you to take good care of my parents. The final matter is that the Xiao Clan must settle down and consolidate for a few years before continuing to expand."

"The Xiao Clan's current strength is severely lacking; aside from myself, a Dou King, there isn't a single Dou Ling. The resources and wealth the Xiao Clan currently possesses already exceed what a clan of only Dou Grandmasters should have. It is only because I am here that no one dares to harbor ill intentions. No matter how great the wealth and resources, they must be matched by corresponding strength, or disaster will easily follow. I am about to go on a long journey, and I do not want to return to find the Xiao Clan in ruins. Do you understand?"

Clan Head Xiao Zhan and the elders broke out in a cold sweat. Indeed, without Xiao Jie, a Dou King, to suppress others, a small clan consisting only of Dou Grandmasters would have been targeted long ago. Regaining their senses, they immediately replied:

"The Supreme Elder's instruction is correct; we will certainly keep it in mind and will dispatch those with higher cultivation to protect your parents."

The group, having realized the gravity of the situation, promised to protect Xiao Jie's parents well. In their hearts, they knew that as long as Xiao Jie's parents remained safe here, this place would remain Xiao Jie's home, and he would return.