You're Paying the Compensation!

Ever since Xiao Ze displayed his strength, the First Elder had truly incurred the public's wrath.

If everyone had been unclear before about what such strength meant for Xiao Ze, then after Xiao Zhan's explanation, no one dared to overlook Xiao Ze's future potential.

A guaranteed Dou King, a high probability of becoming a Dou Emperor, and perhaps even a chance to pursue the legendary Dou Zong!

This was an incredibly high evaluation, yet given Xiao Ze's talent, he was fully capable of bearing it!

An eleven-year-old nine-star Dou Practitioner!

Many among them might spend the better part of their lives struggling just to reach the nine-star Dou Practitioner level.

The chasm-like gap between them and him made them firmly believe in the achievements Xiao Ze would reach in the future.

"First Elder, you really went too far! To dare lay a hand on a future Dou King—if you had injured him, you would be a sinner of the Xiao Clan!"

"That's right! If the Xiao Clan possesses a Dou King, even legendary Alchemists might settle in our clan. We wouldn't be short on medicinal pills for cultivation then!"

"If we have a Dou King powerhouse guarding us, perhaps the cultivation techniques I use in the future could at least be of the Yellow-tier high grade!"

The crowd discussed it fervently, lost in infinite daydreams about the help Xiao Ze would bring to the Xiao Clan in the future.

Xiao Ze felt a little embarrassed hearing all this.

Of course, if he truly reached that level of strength in the future, he would be willing to provide the Xiao Clan with whatever help he could.

The First Elder's face turned from green to purple.

But this time, it wasn't because of the injuries inside his body, but because of the crowd's discussion and their accusations against him.

Xiao Zhan sneered and said to the First Elder, "Now, First Elder, do you have any objections to the punishment I have imposed on you?"

Hearing this, the First Elder's expression shifted uncertainly, and he finally let out a long sigh.

"I willingly accept the punishment. I shall temporarily resign from the position of First Elder. If I offend again, I shall cripple my own cultivation and leave the Xiao Clan!"

As the First Elder spoke in a dejected tone, the entire Dou Technique Pavilion erupted in an uproar, and everyone turned their gazes toward Xiao Ze.

They approved of the Clan Head's punishment.

They also deeply realized the true value of this genius, Xiao Ze!

Xiao Zhan continued, "Since the First Elder has admitted your fault, then you might as well cover the repair costs for the Dou Technique Pavilion, as well as the medical expenses for the Xiao Clan disciples who were injured here!"

"What?"

The First Elder was stunned; he hadn't expected Xiao Zhan to be waiting for him here.

The repair costs for the Dou Technique Pavilion grounds were nothing, but the injuries to the Xiao Clan disciples were mostly caused by you, weren't they!

And this money has to come out of my pocket!

The First Elder's heart bled. Now that he had resigned from his position, these expenses would all have to be deducted from his personal treasury!

How could this not make his heart bleed?

Those Xiao Clan disciples who had been injured by the shockwaves of the battle began to cheer.

Originally, they thought they would have to swallow this bitter pill in silence.

They hadn't expected the Clan Head to be so considerate of them.

He was making the First Elder pay for their medical expenses.

How could they not feel happy about this?

After all, medical treatment cost money.

The gold coins given by the Xiao Clan each month were not much, and spending them on this would have made their hearts ache.

If the First Elder was paying, then it wouldn't hurt.

After all, it wasn't their own money!

Amidst the cheers, the First Elder found Xiao Ning.

Xiao Ning had been sent rolling like a gourd by the aftermath of the battle, accidentally hitting a wall and passing out.

With a pained expression, the First Elder hoisted Xiao Ning up and left the Dou Technique Pavilion amidst the cheering.

He was his own grandson, after all; the trouble he caused could only be cleaned up by himself.

On the other side, Xiao Zhan also led Xiao Ze away from the Dou Technique Pavilion.

In a secluded, deserted corner, Xiao Zhan stopped and spoke to Xiao Ze with a huff.

"Ze'er, you have given your father quite a surprise! A nine-star Dou Practitioner!"

Xiao Zhan pressed his fingers to his temples, feeling a bit dizzy—dizzy from being overwhelmed by happiness!

"Haha, I didn't expect things to blow up this big either, though this should probably count as a shock," Xiao Ze laughed, joking.

"So you know that, do you!"

Xiao Zhan also revealed a smile and said, "Now, taking advantage of this incident, we can force the Great Elder to step down."

"It will also serve to deter others in the clan, so that Yan'er doesn't have to endure gossip or even physical hostility. After all, who wouldn't want to step on a former genius?"

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

"Ze'er, you must help your Third Brother more in the future. If your strength allows, investigate the reason why your Third Brother's Dou Qi mysteriously disappeared."

"En, I will. But Father, you must help me decline some of those social engagements. I didn't show my strength before precisely because I didn't want to deal with those things."

Xiao Ze nodded and took the opportunity to say.

Xiao Zhan patted his chest in assurance and said heroically.

"Rest assured! Nothing will be allowed to disturb you. Just focus on your cultivation and grow stronger quickly!"

After a while, Xiao Ze watched Xiao Zhan depart.

He could feel that Xiao Zhan's happiness came from the bottom of his heart; the footsteps of his departure seemed full of high spirits.

Xiao Ze stood where he was, pondered for a moment, and then turned to head toward the back mountain.

Arriving at the back mountain, amidst the lush greenery, Xiao Ze indeed saw that figure.

The young girl's long black hair hung down smoothly to her hips, and she was dressed in a pale cyan dress.

A white jade belt was tied around her waist, revealing a slender waist that could barely be grasped by a hand.

Seemingly sensing someone behind her, the girl turned her head, and upon seeing the person she was waiting for, she immediately revealed a smile.

"Brother Xiao Ze!"

"I knew you would be waiting for me here."

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

"After all, this is where we often spend our time."

Xiao Xun'er smoothed back the hair that had been scattered by the wind. "Speaking of which, Brother Xiao Ze really stole the spotlight today. I'm afraid there are countless little fan girls throughout the entire Xiao Clan now."

"You little girl, you know how to be jealous at such a young age?"

As Xiao Ze spoke, he deliberately sniffed around, as if smelling the scent of vinegar that didn't exist in the air.

"Hateful!"

Xiao Xun'er gave a coquettish snort and lightly tapped Xiao Ze.

"Seriously, Brother Xiao Ze, I'm afraid you really will have countless little fan girls from now on."

"It's the same as before; I don't like interacting with them anyway."

Xiao Ze shrugged his shoulders, turned his head, and said to Xiao Xun'er earnestly.

"In the past, I kept a low profile, and they didn't want to interact with me. Now that I've stolen the spotlight, I don't want to interact with them."

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

Regarding what Xiao Ze said, she had the absolute right to speak.

Ever since they began cultivating together at the age of four, the two of them had basically been inseparable, except when sleeping.

Childhood sweethearts, innocent and pure—that was no joke!

Therefore, Xiao Xun'er also knew that Xiao Ze spoke the truth.

"Xun'er, do you want to nourish your meridians again? You are already at the ninth stage of Dou Qi and are preparing to condense a Dou Qi Whirlpool to advance to a Dou Practitioner."

"Condensing a Dou Qi Whirlpool has very strict requirements for the meridians. Strengthening them a bit more certainly won't be a mistake."

"Does Brother Xiao Ze want to use your Dou Qi to travel through all my meridians that much?"