You'll Pay for the Compensation!

Ever since Xiao Ze had displayed his strength, the First Elder had managed to incur the wrath of the whole clan.

If everyone had still been unclear about what strength like Xiao Ze's meant,

then after Xiao Zhan's explanation, no one dared underestimate Xiao Ze's future potential.

At the very least, he'd reach Dou Wang, with a great chance of becoming a Dou Emperor. He could even aspire to the legendary Dou Zong realm!

That was extremely high praise, but with Xiao Ze's talent, he was more than worthy of it!

An eleven-year-old Nine-Star Dou Zhe!

Many of them might spend most of their lives struggling just to reach Nine-Star Dou Zhe.

The gap between them was like a chasm, and they were convinced of the heights Xiao Ze would reach in the future.

"First Elder, you really brought this on yourself! You actually dared to attack a future Dou Wang. If you'd hurt him, you'd have become a sinner of the Xiao Clan!"

"Exactly! If the Xiao Clan had a Dou Wang, even a legendary Alchemist might choose to settle here. Then we'd never have to worry about lacking pills for cultivation!"

"With a Dou Wang expert guarding the clan, maybe the cultivation technique I get in the future will at least be high-grade Yellow Tier!"

Everyone chattered excitedly, indulging in endless fantasies about all the help Xiao Ze would bring the Xiao Clan in the future.

Their praise left even Xiao Ze feeling a little embarrassed.

Of course, if he really reached that level of strength one day, he'd be willing to do whatever he could to help the Xiao Clan.

The First Elder's face turned purple, then green.

But this time, it wasn't because of his internal injuries. It was because of the crowd's discussion and their accusations against him.

Xiao Zhan gave a cold laugh and said to the First Elder, "Now, do you have any objections to the punishment I've imposed on you?"

The First Elder's expression shifted at those words. In the end, he let out a slow sigh.

"I willingly accept the punishment. I'll temporarily step down as First Elder. If I offend again, I'll cripple my own cultivation and leave the Xiao Clan!"

When the First Elder admitted defeat in a dejected voice, the entire Dou Technique Pavilion erupted. Everyone turned to look at Xiao Ze.

They approved of the clan leader's punishment.

And they were keenly aware of just how valuable a genius like Xiao Ze was!

Xiao Zhan continued, "Since the First Elder has admitted his fault, he can also cover the repair costs for the Dou Technique Pavilion, along with the medical expenses for the Xiao Clan disciples injured here!"

"Huh?"

The First Elder froze. He hadn't expected Xiao Zhan to spring that on him, too.

The cost of repairing the Dou Technique Pavilion wasn't much, but most of the Xiao Clan disciples had been injured because of you, hadn't they?

And now I have to pay for it!

The First Elder's heart bled. Now that he'd stepped down as First Elder, all these expenses would come out of his personal savings!

How could that not make his heart bleed?

The Xiao Clan disciples injured by the shock waves of the battle cheered.

They'd thought they'd have to swallow the loss without complaint.

They hadn't expected the clan leader to consider their needs so thoughtfully,

and make the First Elder pay their medical expenses.

How could that not make them happy?

After all, getting injured meant having to pay for treatment.

The Xiao Clan didn't give them many gold coins each month. Spending them on treatment would've hurt.

But if the First Elder was paying, it didn't hurt at all.

It wasn't their money, after all!

Amid the cheers, the First Elder found Xiao Ning.

Xiao Ning had been sent tumbling by the aftershocks of the battle. He'd happened to hit a wall and passed out.

With a pained expression, the First Elder carried Xiao Ning away from the Dou Technique Pavilion amid the cheering.

After all, Xiao Ning was his own grandson. He'd caused this mess, so the First Elder would have to clean it up.

Meanwhile, Xiao Zhan led Xiao Ze out of the Dou Technique Pavilion as well.

They reached a secluded, empty corner. Xiao Zhan stopped and said to Xiao Ze, his tone both exasperated and fond,

"Ze'er, what a surprise you've given your father! Nine-Star Dou Zhe!"

Xiao Zhan pressed his fingers to his temples, feeling a little dizzy from the overwhelming happiness.

"Haha, I didn't expect things to get so out of hand either. Though I suppose it was more of a shock than a surprise."

Xiao Ze laughed and joked.

"So you do know!"

Xiao Zhan smiled too and said, "Now we can use this incident to bring the First Elder down."

"It'll also serve as a warning to the others in the clan, so Yan'er won't have to endure rumors or even get beaten up. After all, who wouldn't want to trample on a former genius?"

Xiao Zhan sighed, then looked at Xiao Ze with a pleading expression.

"Ze'er, you'll have to help your third brother more from now on. If your strength allows it, investigate why his Dou Qi disappeared for no apparent reason."

"Mm-hmm. But you'll have to help me turn down some of those social engagements. I didn't show my strength before because I didn't want to deal with all that."

Xiao Ze nodded and seized the opportunity to make his request.

Xiao Zhan thumped his chest and promised boldly,

"Don't worry! Nothing will be allowed to bother you. Just focus on cultivating and getting stronger!"

After a while, Xiao Ze watched Xiao Zhan leave.

He could feel how genuinely happy Xiao Zhan was. His departing steps were full of swagger.

Xiao Ze stood there for a moment, then turned and headed for the back mountain.

When he arrived, he spotted that familiar figure amid the lush greenery.

The girl's smooth black hair fell all the way to her hips. She wore a pale green dress.

A white jade belt cinched her slender waist, so narrow it seemed he could wrap one hand around it.

Perhaps sensing someone behind her, the girl turned around. Seeing the person she'd been waiting for, she immediately smiled.

"Brother Xiao Ze!"

"I knew you'd be waiting for me here."

Xiao Ze walked over and stood beside Xiao Xun'er.

"After all, this is where we spend so much time together."

Xiao Xun'er tucked back her wind-tossed hair. "Speaking of which, Brother Xiao Ze really stole the show today. I'm sure you've got countless little admirers throughout the Xiao Clan now."

"You little rascal. You're so young, and you already know how to get jealous?"

As he spoke, Xiao Ze deliberately sniffed around, as if trying to smell vinegar that wasn't there.

"Stop it!"

Xiao Xun'er pouted and lightly slapped Xiao Ze.

"Seriously, Brother Xiao Ze, you really will have countless little admirers from now on."

"It's no different from before. I don't like spending time with them anyway."

Xiao Ze shrugged and turned to Xiao Xun'er, speaking seriously.

"Before, I kept a low profile, so they didn't want to associate with me. Now that I've made a name for myself, I don't want to associate with them."

"That's true." Xiao Xun'er chuckled.

She had every right to speak on what Xiao Ze had said.

Ever since they'd started cultivating together at the age of four, they'd spent nearly all their time together, except when they were asleep.

They were childhood sweethearts, innocent and inseparable. That wasn't just an expression!

So Xiao Xun'er knew Xiao Ze wasn't exaggerating.

"Xun'er, would you like me to nourish your meridians again? You're already at the Ninth Stage of Dou Qi, and you're about to condense a Dou Qi Vortex and advance to Dou Zhe."

"Condensing a Dou Qi Vortex puts strict demands on your meridians. Strengthening them a little certainly couldn't hurt."

"Brother Xiao Ze, are you just eager to use your Dou Qi to travel through all the meridians in my body?"

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