Distributing the Pills

Xiao Zhan and the others stared unblinkingly at the six bottles of pills on the table. When they heard Xiao Yun's distribution, their breathing quickened.

They knew that even the cheapest of those six pills, the Gathering Qi Powder, would severely drain the Xiao Clan's resources if they tried to buy it. As for the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill, which could raise a Da Dou Shi by one star, they could not afford it even if they sold the entire Xiao Clan. Yet Xiao Yun was actually giving each of them one!

"No, Xiao Yun. Forget the Gathering Qi Powder—it is only useful to those at the Ninth Duan of Dou Qi. But the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill can raise a Da Dou Shi's strength. Aren't you a Da Dou Shi too? You should take it yourself. We old fellows have been stuck at the same level for years. Taking it would only waste such precious pills."

The First Elder, who had seen the most and was the oldest, was the first to recover from his shock. Though he could be somewhat self-serving at times, he still understood the bigger picture. The value of these four pills was simply too great. Giving them to a few old men like them would truly be a waste.

Xiao Zhan: "..."

This First Elder had called me an old fellow again. I'm only thirty-five this year! How am I old?!

"That's right, Xiao Yun. The First Elder is correct. The cultivation methods and Dou Techniques you brought back for the Xiao Clan have already helped us immensely. Once the three elders finish switching to their new cultivation methods and Dou Techniques, their strength will surely rise another level. You should take the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill back."

Although Xiao Zhan had some prejudice against the First Elder, he shared the same thoughts and hoped Xiao Yun would take the pills himself.

Hearing them, Xiao Yun felt warmth in his heart. He smiled. "Since I took these pills out, I will not take them back."

He raised a hand to stop Xiao Zhan and the others, who were about to say something, then stood up and circulated his Dou Qi, releasing his aura.

At once, the powerful aura of a Six-Star Da Dou Shi filled the hall. Feeling that overwhelming pressure, Xiao Zhan and the others exchanged looks, fear rising in their hearts. After all, Xiao Zhan, the strongest among them, was only a Four-Star Da Dou Shi. He was two minor realms below Xiao Yun.

"I am already a Six-Star Da Dou Shi. When I reach Eight-Star Da Dou Shi, I will take the pill and strive to break through to the Dou Ling realm in one go. Besides, how could I, the disciple of a Fifth-Tier Alchemist, lack pills?"

"That is good, then. We will not stand on ceremony with you."

After hearing Xiao Yun's words, Xiao Zhan and the others finally stopped refusing. Smiles spread across their faces as they swiftly divided up all the cultivation methods, Dou Techniques, and pills on the table.

"I only returned this time to stay with the clan for a few days. Once Jia Nan Academy finishes its recruitment, I will return to the academy with them."

"So there is no need to make a big fuss over my return to Wutan City. I would rather have some peace and cultivate properly within the clan."

Xiao Yun did not want to draw too much attention. If the other powers in Wutan City learned he had returned, people would certainly come calling, which would interfere with his cultivation.

Thus, Xiao Yun spoke with the four of them for a long time about what he had seen and experienced at Jia Nan Academy. Only when the sky gradually darkened did their conversation come to an end.

Xiao Zhan had arranged for a meal to be prepared early. Once everyone stopped chatting, the stewards and servants waiting outside immediately brought in the food, filling the round table with delicious dishes.

After dinner, Xiao Yun returned to the small courtyard where he lived.

The courtyard was very tidy. It seemed someone came regularly to clean it. Several maids stood at the entrance as well, holding all sorts of refined daily necessities and waiting for Xiao Yun.

"Young Master, the water has been heated, and we have brought these daily necessities. Shall we carry them inside for you?"

The leading maid asked respectfully.

"Give them to me. You do not need to wait outside. Go back. I can handle it myself."

Xiao Yun raised his hand and stored everything in his Storage Ring, then dismissed the maids. He was not used to being served by others.

At the same time, Xiao Zhan and the three elders were not idle either.

The three elders all hurried back to switch to their new cultivation methods, while Xiao Zhan, who had already cultivated a Xuan Tier method, was responsible for personally distributing cultivation methods and Dou Techniques to the Xiao Clan's elite.

Ever since Xiao Yun returned to the Xiao Clan, aside from meeting Xiao Zhan and the others on the first day, he had spent all his remaining time cultivating in his small courtyard.

Early in the morning, Xiao Yun sat cross-legged on his bed, his hands forming seals as he cultivated his Dou Qi.

Knock, knock, knock!

Suddenly, someone knocked on the courtyard gate.

Xiao Yun opened his eyes, a fiery red gleam flashing through them. With a light tap of his feet, he landed gracefully on the ground.

His palms pressed downward in parallel, calming the slightly restless Dou Qi that had been disturbed by the knocking. Then he walked out of the room and opened the courtyard gate.

The moment he opened it, he found Xiao Zhan and Xiao Ding standing before him, both looking somewhat nervous.

"Xiao Yun, we did not interrupt your cultivation, did we?" Seeing Xiao Yun open the gate, Xiao Zhan revealed an embarrassed smile.

You ask that? Even if you interrupted me, what could I do to you?

"No, Uncle Xiao Zhan. I had just gotten up myself. Come in first and tell me what is going on." Xiao Yun waved a hand and led Xiao Zhan and Xiao Ding into the courtyard.

"This is my eldest son, Xiao Ding. You should have met him when you were younger, right? He is three years older than you and is twelve this year."

"Mm, I remember Cousin Xiao Ding."

Looking at Xiao Ding before him, Xiao Yun recalled him as well. In the original story, aside from Xiao Yan, Xiao Ding seemed to have possessed the best talent in the entire Xiao Clan.

"Here is the matter. Xiao Ding reached Eight-Stage Dou Qi this year as well. Now that you have achieved success at Jia Nan Academy, and the Xiao Long and Xiao Hu brothers are doing quite well too, I thought I might as well send Xiao Ding to Jia Nan Academy." Xiao Zhan scratched his head somewhat awkwardly as he explained why he had come to find Xiao Yun.

"It is just that Xiao Ding is usually rather quiet. I am afraid that after he goes to Jia Nan Academy, he might get bullied and not tell the family. So I wanted to trouble you to look after him a little when the time comes."

Understanding, Xiao Yun nodded to show that he grasped Xiao Zhan's meaning.

But as he recalled it, Xiao Ding had not joined Jia Nan Academy in the original story. Had seeing him thrive at Jia Nan Academy made Xiao Zhan want Xiao Ding to give it a try? After all, having one of their own there and having no one there were completely different matters.

Would Xiao Yan join Jia Nan Academy early, then? If Yao Lao absorbed his Dou Qi after he joined, causing him to drop out, that would be far more humiliating than in the original story.

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Yun decided not to worry about it. By the time Yao Lao absorbed Xiao Yan's Dou Qi after he broke through to Dou Zhe, Xiao Yun would probably already be a Dou Wang. He could control the rumors a little then, and it should not deal Xiao Yan too great a blow.

"It is no problem. Since he already meets the academy's requirements, let him leave with me when the time comes. I will look after Cousin Xiao Ding at Jia Nan Academy." Though it was somewhat strange for a ten-year-old child to speak of looking after someone, both Xiao Yun and Xiao Zhan found it perfectly normal. After all, Xiao Yun was now effectively the strongest person in the clan, so looking after Xiao Ding, who was at Eight-Stage Dou Qi, was only reasonable.

"However, Jia Nan Academy is divided into the Inner Academy and the Outer Academy. When I return this time, I will enter the Inner Academy to cultivate. The Inner Academy and Outer Academy are not in the same place, so if Cousin Xiao Ding runs into trouble, I may not be able to arrive immediately."

To avoid any misunderstandings, Xiao Yun still explained Jia Nan Academy's situation. If Xiao Ding truly encountered trouble and could not find Xiao Yun anywhere, he might think Xiao Yun was deliberately refusing to help, which would be bad if it led to conflict.

"It does not matter, it does not matter. Your cultivation comes first. I will already be satisfied if you can occasionally lend him a hand."

It had to be said that Xiao Zhan might have been somewhat unqualified as a clan leader, but as a father, he did remarkably well. Whether it was Xiao Ding, Xiao Li, or Xiao Yan after he later became "trash," Xiao Zhan had always done his utmost to help them.

After Xiao Zhan's visit, Xiao Yun worried that someone else might come looking for him while he cultivated. He simply shut the courtyard gate and decided to stroll around the Xiao Clan's training grounds instead.

Since it was Jia Nan Academy's recruitment period, most members of the Xiao Clan had gone to watch the excitement of the admissions, leaving only a group of boys and girls training together in the vast training grounds.

Hey! Ha!

Bang!

"Cousin Xiao Yu, admit defeat. You are still no match for me." Xiao Yan caught Xiao Yu's long leg as she kicked toward him. His hand tightened around her calf, preventing her from pulling her leg back.

"Hmph! I admit defeat, you little pervert. Why have you not let go of my leg yet?" Xiao Yu tried to pull her long leg back, but Xiao Yan's hand clamped around the base of her calf like an iron vice. After several failed attempts, she could only obediently concede.

"Brother Xiao Yan, you are amazing! I never thought you could defeat even Sister Xiao Yu, who is three years older than you." Seeing that the two had decided the victor, Xiao Mei hurried over to Xiao Yan, grabbed one of his hands, and spoke with a worshipful expression.

That awful Xiao Mei got ahead of me again!

Seeing Xiao Mei rush forward, Xiao Xun'er, who had been standing beside her, was displeased. She hurried after her, grabbed Xiao Yan's other hand, and made a face at Xiao Mei across from her.

"Hahaha! I am the Xiao Clan's king of children, the future clan leader of the Xiao Clan. If I were not strong enough, how could I lead the Xiao Clan to greater heights?" Xiao Yan was an old hand at this. With both hands held by the girls, he did not blush in the slightest. Instead, he proudly delivered his flirtatious line.

"Really? I don't believe you."

Hearing those mood-killing words, Xiao Yan, who had been immersed in blissful softness, immediately flew into a rage. He turned toward the source of the voice and said, "Which bastard dares not believe what I say? Believe it or not, I will make sure you cannot survive in the Xiao Clan—"

His voice abruptly stopped. Xiao Yan stared blankly at Xiao Yun in the distance, unable to utter another word.

"What is it, Little Flame? Are you going to make it impossible for me to survive in the Xiao Clan?" Xiao Yun slowly approached. Looking at Xiao Yan with a girl on each arm, he raised an eyebrow, a mischievous smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

Seeing Xiao Yun's expression and sensing the dangerous aura around him, Xiao Yan quickly released Xiao Xun'er and the other girl's hands. "No, Cousin Xiao Yun. How could I dare say something like that? You are the one who could make it impossible for me to survive in the Xiao Clan."

Xiao Yun smiled. As expected of a transmigrator, Xiao Yan actually dared to turn the tables on him. If he had truly been a child and impulsively told Xiao Yan to get out of the Xiao Clan, whether Xiao Yan left or not, there would definitely be some conflict between him and Xiao Zhan.

Ignoring Xiao Yan, Xiao Yun took several jade bottles from his Storage Ring. With a flick of his finger, the bottles turned into streaks of light and flew into the hands of the three girls.

"These are some pills I refined myself. They can assist your cultivation. Consider them gifts I brought back for you from Jia Nan Academy."

"Thank you, Cousin Xiao Yun." The three girls spoke in unison. Since the gifts came from Xiao Yun, even if Xiao Xun'er might not need them, they were rare treasures to Xiao Yu and Xiao Mei.

"Alright, you can leave first. I need to discuss something with Xiao Yan." He waved a hand, signaling the three girls to leave and give him space to speak with Xiao Yan.

Very quickly, only Xiao Yun and Xiao Yan remained in the training grounds.

"Cousin, do I have a gift too? And what did you want to talk to me about?" Seeing the jade bottles in the three girls' hands, Xiao Yan's eyes nearly bulged out. He had long wanted to ask whether Xiao Yun had prepared a gift for him. With Xiao Yu and the others present just now, asking directly would have damaged his authority before the Xiao Clan's children. The moment they left, he revealed his true colors.

"Yes, do not worry. Of course I prepared a gift for you!" Xiao Yun smiled as he slowly rolled up his sleeves.

"What treasure is it?"

"It is an iron fist of familial affection!"