Master Chen Returns

Master Chen Returns

"Second Elder, you are responsible for all external defenses within the clan. Do you know what happened in Wutan City today?"

Xiao Zhan frowned, leaning back in his chair with his fingers interlocked.

The muscles on the Second Elder's face twitched as he gave a cold laugh.

"The elites of the Ao Ba and Jia Lie Clans have all vanished. Needless to say, they are planning to make a move against our Xiao Clan."

"Hmph! I think they're tired of living. I've long wanted to wipe them all out, so they stop taking such a large share of Wutan City every year."

The First Elder raised his brows and looked at the Third Elder, who sat silently nearby. "Second Elder, Third Elder, how much fighting strength do you have under your command?"

"Jia Lie and Ao Ba together only have five Grand Battle Masters. That little strength is nothing to fear..."

The Second Elder shot him a sidelong glance. "Even the Clan Leader alone would be enough to handle them. Yet they still dare to act under such circumstances. Don't you find that strange?"

"If you have something to say, Second Elder, say it."

Xiao Zhan's gaze was filled with icy coldness, and the rhythm of his tapping fingers grew faster and faster.

"According to secret intelligence, the Misty Cloud Sect has sent an expert to assist the Jia Lie Clan!"

The Second Elder swept his gaze around the room before finally settling it on Xiao Zhan. "Clan Leader, do I need to explain why the Misty Cloud Sect has acted?"

The moment those words fell, everyone's expressions changed.

Xiao Zhan's eyes darkened as he silently waited for the Second Elder to continue.

"When Nalan Yanran came to break off the engagement, she had already brought ample compensation. Besides, what standing did our Xiao Clan have to offend the Misty Cloud Sect? The Nalan Clan did not pursue the matter because they were in the wrong. But Xiao Yan and Chen Qiye humiliated the Misty Cloud Sect like that—would the Misty Cloud Sect let us off? Now look at this. Chen Qiye patted his ass and ran off, acting like none of it mattered. But our entire clan is still living in Wutan City! The Jia Lie and Ao Ba Clans have always been watching our Xiao Clan like tigers eyeing prey. Now that the Misty Cloud Sect has joined in, how can our Xiao Clan withstand this? What do we have to withstand it with?!"

Inside the Xiao Clan's main hall, many clan members were gathered. The Second Elder spoke arrogantly, his head held high.

The First Elder, Second Elder, and the Xiao Clan's other influential figures all wore grim expressions. Their gazes toward Xiao Yan were filled with gloom.

"Then what does the Second Elder propose?"

Flames seemed to burn in Xiao Zhan's eyes as he forced out each word through clenched teeth.

"Naturally, hand Xiao Yan over to quell the Misty Cloud Sect's anger!" The Second Elder curled his lips into a cold smile. "This is the only way. If we can win the Misty Cloud Sect's support, then today, it would be our Xiao Clan ruling Wutan City. But Xiao Yan and his teacher ruined all of that and brought a catastrophe upon our clan!"

As those words fell, some of the clansmen beside Xiao Yan nodded slightly, seeming to agree. The First Elder and Third Elder looked thoughtful, as though they had no objections either.

Xiao Zhan's face was as dark as water. The teacup in his hand was instantly crushed into powder.

"Second Elder, are you saying Xiao Yan's brother should be sent to his death?" Xiao Xun'er's face was incomparably cold. Faint golden flames flickered repeatedly in her eyes, and as her jade-like hand slowly clenched, scorching heat immediately gathered around it.

"Sent to his death?" The Second Elder glanced at Xiao Xun'er and laughed disdainfully. "From beginning to end, Xiao Yan and his teacher Chen Qiye were the ones who caused this. Why should everyone in our Xiao Clan bear the consequences for them? It would be one thing if he were useless, but he had to bite off more than he could chew!"

"Enough!" Xiao Zhan suddenly rose to his feet, glaring furiously at the Second Elder. His eyes were bloodshot. "Even without the matter of Nalan Yanran, the Jia Lie and Ao Ba Clans would have attacked us sooner or later. Now is not the time for internal strife. We should be thinking about how to deal with the enemy outside!"

"Hehe, deal with the enemy outside?" The Second Elder slowly stood up and met Xiao Zhan's gaze without fear. "Do you know who the Misty Cloud Sect sent?"

"Who?" Everyone turned their attention toward him.

"Yun Tianbing, hailed as the number one genius among the outer sect disciples. He is at least a one-star Dou Spirit. What does our Xiao Clan have to contend with him?"

Buzz!

A Dou Spirit expert!

After those words fell, the Xiao Clan members could no longer remain calm. Wutan City had not seen a Dou Spirit expert for a full twenty years!

Everyone's gaze instantly converged on Xiao Yan!

At that moment, a flicker of fury rose on that stubborn face. Under everyone's indifferent gazes, his fists slowly clenched!

Xiao Yan suddenly stepped forward, bent one knee, and knelt before Xiao Zhan. He heavily knocked his head against the floor. "Father, I brought today's trouble upon myself. A man must take responsibility for his own actions! I will deal with Yun Tianbing of the Misty Cloud Sect myself. There is no need for any of you to worry!"

After speaking, Xiao Yan rose directly to his feet. His cold gaze swept across the Xiao Clan members present, and his Dou Qi immediately surged forth!

"You're already a three-star Dou Practitioner!"

The instant his Dou Qi erupted, the entire hall fell into shock. The First Elder even slapped the table and sprang to his feet.

Xiao Yan was only fifteen years old, yet he was already a three-star Dou Practitioner. How could they not be shocked?

"Yan'er, you..."

Xiao Zhan was stunned as well. Not only had his son's talent returned, it had even improved. Given half a year, defeating Nalan Yanran would be effortless for him!

"Hmph, so what if he is a three-star Dou Practitioner? Does that make him Yun Tianbing's opponent?"

The Second Elder paid no heed to everyone's shock. His words were like a basin of icy water dumped over them. "A Dou Spirit expert can condense Qi into tangible forms. Even three nine-star Grand Battle Masters might not defeat a one-star Dou Spirit. What use is a Dou Practitioner!"

As soon as he said this, the entire hall turned cold.

That was right! Yun Tianbing was a Dou Spirit expert. What use was a Dou Practitioner?

The other Xiao Clan members immediately shook their heads. The shock brought by Xiao Yan's talent vanished in an instant, and the hall remained filled with sorrowful faces.

Xiao Zhan slammed his palm onto the table and roared, "Enough! I will deal with Yun Tianbing. Everyone else, prepare for battle. Today, either the Xiao Clan falls, or we rise from this day onward and dominate Wutan City!"

"Xiao Zhan! You are only a three-star Grand Battle Master. What will you use to deal with Yun Tianbing?" The Second Elder pressed him step by step. "If we want to survive, we can only hand over Xiao Yan!"

Xiao Yan stood there without saying a word, suppressing the rage in his heart as he stared coldly at the Second Elder.

The other Xiao Clan members were equally troubled, their expressions clouded with worry.

Xiao Xun'er could no longer endure the Second Elder's ugly face. She slowly rose to her feet and was just about to speak when—

"My disciple, Chen Qiye's disciple, is not someone you can persecute!" At that moment, an icy voice, like snow at dusk in the twelfth lunar month, suddenly rang out from beyond the hall.

Everyone looked toward the sound and saw a bloodstained figure slowly walking in. Behind him followed a delicate little girl, as light and pure as a white lotus.

Xiao Yan turned his head and casually glanced over, but in that instant, tears welled in his eyes.

"Teacher... you're back!"

"Ding! Emotion value from Xiao Yan +1000!"

"Ding! From..."

"Ding! Obtained 10 Master Teacher points!"

(End of Chapter)