The young man wore a fitted black outfit. His tall, straight frame was lean and strong, and his dark eyes held both laziness and sharpness. A bright smile played across his face.
"Xiao Yanzi, even after breaking through to Dou Zhe, you're still no match for me. Hahaha!"
Hearing his second brother's hearty laughter, Xiao Yan climbed to his feet with a wounded look. "Damn it, you're only three years older than me! If I were as old as you, I'd definitely have a higher cultivation level!"
Xiao Ding watched from the side, amused. Both of his younger brothers were exceptionally gifted.
Their third brother, Xiao Yan, had become a Dou Zhe at eleven. Their second brother, Xiao Li, was even more of a monster: he'd become a Dou Zhe at ten, and now, at fourteen, despite receiving little help from the family, he'd already reached Nine-Star Dou Zhe. He'd left even his eldest brother in the dust.
Though Xiao Ding wore a smile, he couldn't help thinking that he needed to work harder at cultivation. He was already sixteen and only a Four-Star Dou Zhe. That really wasn't much to brag about.
After chatting with Xiao Ding and Xiao Yan for a while, Xiao Li returned to his room.
He drew a deep breath, tamping down the aura that had surged while sparring with Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan had lived two lives and possessed exceptionally powerful soul strength. Xiao Li was no different. Ever since he'd transmigrated fourteen years ago and become Xiao Yan's second brother, he'd shown an extraordinary soul: he was quick-witted, had an eidetic memory, and displayed all sorts of other remarkable traits.
Xiao Li hadn't expected to transmigrate not to one of the Eight Ancient Clans or to the Central Plains, but into the body of the righteous, ruthless Xiao Li from the original story.
The ruthless Xiao Li, who was willing to swallow a Life-Devouring Pill for his family and younger brother.
Looking at the proud Xiao Yan outside the window, a trace of hesitation flashed through Xiao Li's eyes. Since childhood, his third brother had left his peers miles behind, and it had made him arrogant and complacent. Maybe letting Yao Lao put him through three years of trials would be for the best.
When Hun Tiandi became a Dou Emperor and sacrificed the Dou Qi Continent in a blood offering, Xiao Yan would have to stop him. Xiao Li asked himself honestly: even with foreknowledge, could he guarantee that he would become a Dou Emperor?
It was best to let Xiao Yan follow his own path. Recklessly changing Xiao Yan's development would be unreasonable.
"Ah, you've got it rough, Xiao Yanzi. Just hang in there. Once these three years are over, I'll make it up to you." Xiao Li smacked his lips twice, his eyes gleaming with malicious glee at the misfortunes awaiting his own little brother.
Xiao Li put the clothes he'd packed into the Storage Ring his father, Xiao Zhan, had given him. He planned to set out on a training journey soon.
The family's resources had indeed affected Xiao Li's cultivation. It had taken him four years to go from One-Star Dou Practitioner to Nine-Star Dou Zhe. Compared with Xiao Yan's progress in just over a year in the original story, that was nothing to boast about.
Even though the clan had recognized his talent and given him everything it could, all he'd received amounted to a few first-grade pills and medicinal herbs.
The Xiao Clan had fallen on hard times, and there were a lot of people in the clan. Now they also had another equally gifted genius in Xiao Yan, so resources were stretched even thinner. It was better to go out and train sooner rather than later.
The only question was whether his father would agree to let him go.
In Xiao Zhan's bedroom
Xiao Li cupped his hands in greeting and spoke clearly. "Father."
Xiao Zhan set down the book in his hands. "It's Li'er. What is it? If you need more cultivation resources, I'll get them for you in a few days."
At the mention of resources, Xiao Zhan hesitated, but still made the promise.
Xiao Li saw it all and felt a warmth in his heart. "It's not about cultivation resources. I want to go out and train. Training behind closed doors will only take me so far."
"What? No! You're still too young. If you were your eldest brother's age, I might agree, but not now." Xiao Zhan refused outright. What was he thinking? Let his most gifted son go out and train? It was too dangerous. Absolutely not.
"Li'er, if you go out to train, you'll have to take a Dou Master with you. The Xiao Clan has fallen on hard times, and our Dou Masters are now the backbone of the clan. How could I casually send one out to serve as your bodyguard?" Xiao Zhan frowned, his voice tinged with dejection.
Ever since Xiao Lin had died of his severe injuries, the Xiao Clan hadn't even been able to stay in the imperial capital of the Jia Ma Empire. They'd come to Wutan City in a sorry state.
The Xiao Clan was an outsider here, and the Jia Lie and Aoba families were constantly squeezing them out. If he sent away an elder-level Dou Master as well...
As for the Dou Zhe, at Xiao Li's current level, it was hard to say who would be protecting whom.
Xiao Li fell silent. The world outside was indeed dangerous, but that wasn't a reason for him to stay safely within the clan.
Thinking of his kind, generous eldest brother Xiao Ding, his mischievous third brother Xiao Yan, and his father Xiao Zhan, who always put him first, Xiao Li couldn't bring himself to give up striving.
The threat of Soul Hall was right at their doorstep. Never mind that colossal force; even the Misty Cloud Sect of the Jia Ma Empire could bring the Xiao Clan the disgrace of a broken engagement.
"Father, I understand." Xiao Li suddenly smiled and turned to leave.
Xiao Zhan watched him go and shook his head slightly. His stern face was full of helplessness. Of his three sons, only the eldest, Xiao Ding, was sensible. The other two were both handfuls.
Deep into the night, the moon hung high.
Xiao Li finished writing his farewell letter. A true man ought to accomplish something extraordinary. How could he let a little danger scare him? Saying goodbye to his father and brothers in person would be too heartbreaking. A letter would be much more direct.
He quietly closed the door. A spear planted in the courtyard caught his attention.
Faint arcs of electricity flowed over it, making the shaft gleam with an imposing aura. The eight-foot spear was purple-black, and a purple-black fish seemed to swim up and down along it. It was truly a magnificent sight.
A note hung from the butt of the spear. Xiao Li looked up, and recognized his father Xiao Zhan's handwriting.
"My son Xiao Li, I know your heart soars higher than the heavens, and I know I can't stop you. This Thunder Scale Spear was left behind by the old clan leader. I've also included a lightning-attribute Dou Technique. When you're away from home, remember..."
The note ran to several hundred words. Xiao Li read every one, his eyes brimming with tears.
He carefully tucked the note into his Storage Ring, then bowed deeply toward Xiao Zhan's bedroom.
"Father, thank you."
After a long while, Xiao Li finally straightened and stepped out through the Xiao Clan's gate.
Hidden in the shadows, Xiao Zhan felt an aching emptiness. "I'm sorry, Li'er. I'd wanted to protect you in secret for a while, but as clan leader, I can't get away. Don't blame your father..."
Xiao Zhan turned around. The moonlight seemed desolate.
"Xiao Yan, why are you still awake so late?"
Just as he turned, Xiao Zhan saw Xiao Yan coming out of the house.
Xiao Yan froze mid-sneak and stiffly turned to look at Xiao Zhan.
"F-Father, I was going to... going to the toilet. Yes, the toilet. Heh heh." Xiao Yan laughed awkwardly. He couldn't exactly tell his father he was going to Xun'er's room to give her a massage.
Xiao Zhan's mouth twitched, and his eyes filled with even more helplessness. "Go and come right back."
With that, Xiao Zhan didn't bother pointing out that Xiao Yan was heading in the wrong direction for the toilet. He simply shook his head and sighed to himself.
"You boys... If only you were half as sensible as Ding'er. In the future, the position of Xiao Clan leader will have to go to Ding'er. Ah..."
Inside the house, Xiao Ding was writing up a plan to become a mercenary group leader two years later when he sneezed.
"That's strange. It isn't even cold."