Xiao Yan

The Jia Ma Empire lay in the Northwest Continent of the Dou Qi Continent. Its overall strength ranked near the bottom of the entire Northwest Continent, and its strongest experts were merely Dou Emperors.

As a result, it was not particularly renowned across the Dou Qi Continent.

Wutan City was a third-rate city among the many cities of the Jia Ma Empire. For a city of this level, the Imperial Family could not even be bothered to appoint a city lord.

Thus, Wutan City was controlled by the three great families: the Xiao Family, the Jia Lie Family, and the Ao Ba Family.

Among the three great families, the strongest expert in each was a three-star Da Dou Shi.

At this moment, inside a room in a tranquil courtyard of the Xiao Family.

On the bed, a young man sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, his hands forming an unusual seal before him. His chest rose and fell faintly, each breath forming a perfect cycle. As his breathing circulated, faint streams of white air flowed through his nose and mouth into his body, nourishing his bones and flesh.

While the youth cultivated with his eyes closed, the ancient black ring on his finger once again glimmered strangely before falling silent...

"Phew..."

Slowly exhaling a breath of stale air, the young man abruptly opened his eyes. A faint white gleam flashed through his dark pupils—it was Dou Qi that had just been absorbed but had not yet been completely refined.

"The Dou Qi I worked so hard to cultivate is disappearing again... Damn it!"

After focusing inward to sense his body, fury suddenly appeared on the young man's face, and he cursed in a shrill voice.

Xiao Yan, the third young master of the Xiao Family, had once been the Xiao Family's greatest genius. His talent had earned him quite a reputation even throughout the Jia Ma Empire.

After finishing his cultivation, the frustrated and helpless Xiao Yan got up and headed for the Xiao Family's back mountain to clear his mind.

It was the place he visited most often.

After casually stretching his body in the room, an aged voice came from outside. "Third Young Master, the clan leader requests your presence in the main hall!"

"Alright." He answered casually, changed into another set of clothes, and walked out. Smiling at the elderly man in green outside, Xiao Yan said, "Let's go, Steward Mo." Looking at the youth's immature face, the old man in green nodded kindly. Yet the moment he turned around, a barely noticeable trace of regret passed through his clouded eyes. With Third Young Master's former talent, he should have long since become an outstanding Dou Zhe. What a pity...

Following the old steward through the rear courtyard, Xiao Yan eventually stopped outside the solemn reception hall. After respectfully knocking on the door, he gently pushed it open and entered, then casually found a seat and sat down.

The hall was quite spacious and held many people. Seated at the very top were Xiao Zhan and three elderly men with indifferent expressions. They were the clan elders, and their authority was no less than the clan leader's.

Below them on the left sat several elders with considerable influence and strength within the family. Beside them were some outstanding members of the younger generation.

"Everyone is here. Since that's the case, let's discuss serious matters!"

With Xiao Yan's arrival, Xiao Zhan swept his gaze through the hall. After confirming that no one was missing, he spoke in a deep voice.

"Clan Leader, what exactly is this about? Why summon us all so early in the morning?"

"After discussing it with the three elders, we have decided to relocate the Xiao Family to the Tagor Desert. The eldest and second brothers have already built up a considerable foundation there. Once we arrive, we will at least have somewhere to settle."

"What? Clan Leader, Elders, I do not agree with this decision. The Xiao Family struggled so hard to build such a great foundation and estate in Wutan City. If we relocate, all these years of effort will be wasted!"

The speaker was an elder of considerable authority in the Xiao Family, overseeing both the family's external and internal medicinal herb businesses.

This elder was a seven-star Dou Shi.

The reason he opposed relocating the Xiao Family was that he cultivated wood-attributed Dou Qi.

Everyone knew that cultivating Dou Qi was closely tied to one's environment. Among the least suitable environments for wood-attributed Dou Qi cultivation, the desert would absolutely rank among the top three.

He was at most a year away from breaking through to an eight-star Dou Shi. If the Xiao Family moved to the Tagor Desert, his breakthrough would likely be delayed considerably.

And once he broke through to an eight-star Dou Shi, he would become the fifth strongest person in the Xiao Family. Apart from Clan Leader Xiao Zhan and the Xiao Family's three elders, no one would be able to match him.

Therefore, the moment he spoke, the others immediately echoed his objections.

As for juniors like Xiao Yan, they were tactful enough to merely blink and watch the show.

After all, they had no decision-making power whatsoever in the Xiao Family, unless Xiao Yan still possessed his former talent and could say a few words.

As for everyone else, there was only...

At that thought, the Xiao Family youths all turned their gazes toward the window in unspoken agreement.

There, a girl in green quietly held a thick, ancient book. Her slender fingers occasionally turned the pages, and her tranquil, elegant appearance drew furtive glances from many peers nearby.

Although she sat quietly by the window with her mind immersed in the book, the slight furrow between her delicate brows showed that she was not entirely unconcerned by Xiao Zhan's sudden decision.

Bang!

"There is no need to say more. This is a joint decision made by the three elders and me. You need only carry it out. Third Elder, go to the Miter Auction House now and request an audience with Miss Ya Fei. Tell her that in three days, the Xiao Family will auction off all the marketplaces under our name and invite her to conduct the auction."

Xiao Zhan slammed his palm on the table in anger and spoke coldly.

The Xiao Family could not exactly be called Xiao Zhan's personal domain, but once he and the Xiao Family's three elders shared the same opinion, it practically represented the entire Xiao Family.

As for everyone else's opinions, they were not particularly important.

The main reason the others opposed the move was that once they left Wutan City, all the connections and resources they had painstakingly built over the years would vanish.

In truth, Xiao Zhan did not wish for the Xiao Family to leave Wutan City either, but the Ancestor had spoken.

As a descendant separated by who knew how many generations, how could he dare disobey?

Of course, the most important reason was that the compensation offered by the Ancestor was simply too generous.

Therefore, regardless of whether this Ancestor was genuine or not, Xiao Zhan did not mind acknowledging this kinship.

After saying that, Xiao Zhan flicked his sleeve, rose, and strode out of the hall, leaving behind a group of Xiao Family members staring at one another in dismay.

The moon hung like a silver platter amid a sky full of stars. At the peak of a cliff, Xiao Yan reclined on the grass with a blade of green grass between his lips, gently chewing as he let its faint bitterness spread through his mouth...

He raised his somewhat pale hand before his eyes and gazed through the gaps between his fingers at the enormous Yinyue in the sky.

"Brother Xiao Yan, I knew you would be here."

The girl, as elegant and unworldly as a Green Lotus, drifted gracefully toward Xiao Yan like a butterfly among flowers.

Sitting beside Xiao Yan, Xiao Xun'er giggled, her beautiful eyes curving into lovely crescents.

"You little girl, why did you come here?"

Xiao Yan helplessly spat out the grass stem and gave a bitter smile.

"Brother Xiao Yan, why do you think Uncle Xiao Zhan and the three elders are in such a hurry to move the entire Xiao Family to the Tagor Desert?"

"Who knows? But it's fine. I haven't seen my eldest and second brothers in a long time either."

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