A Peaceful Year
The funeral of the patriarch Xiao Dongcheng was conducted in a very low-key Xiao Household, just as he had instructed before his death.
Furthermore, although everyone in the Xiao Household was deeply saddened by the passing of the patriarch Xiao Dongcheng, it did not actually have any impact on the Xiao Household's development.
After all, the other party had stepped down from the position of clan leader many years ago.
The development and management of all aspects of the Xiao Household are also the responsibility of the Leadership members, headed by Xiao Lin, the current patriarch.
Therefore, after the death of the old patriarch Xiao Dongcheng, due to the Xiao Household's low-key handling of the matter, only some forces with good relations with the Xiao Household sent people to pay their respects.
Furthermore, Xiao Lin also heeded the last words left by the old clan chief, Xiao Dongcheng.
In fact, the Xiao Household has developed rather too quickly these days.
Especially after Yun Shan learned of Xiao Lin's strength, and Hai Bodong of the Mittel Family went missing.
Nowadays, the Xiao Household's development is showing signs of surpassing that of the Mittel Family.
It should be noted that Hai Bodong of the Mittel Family has only disappeared, and Xiao Lin's exposed cultivation level is only Five-Star Battle King.
This has led to Xiao Lin's development becoming somewhat distorted.
Sure enough, the corruption and decadence of the Xiao Household, which Xiao Lin had previously wiped out, has begun to resurface in the last two years.
Many clansmen whom Xiao Lin didn't pay much attention to began to act arrogantly and domineeringly.
Furthermore, a small number of Leadership Xiao Household were involved in crimes such as corruption and cover-ups.
This enraged Xiao Lin after he found out!
Several Leadership members of the Xiao Household were even subjected to the strict rules of the Xiao Lin family by Xiao Lin!
In light of this, Xiao Lin urgently brought the Xiao Household, whose development was somewhat off track, back on track.
Fortunately, the old clan chief Xiao Dongcheng's warning before his death made Xiao Lin realize that something was wrong.
To be fair, although the old patriarch Xiao Dongcheng wasn't particularly powerful, he had managed the Xiao Household for so many years, and his judgment was still quite sharp.
Despite Xiao Lin, the current clan leader, being blinded by his own involvement, he was able to see through this point clearly.
It has to be said, having an elder in the family is like having a treasure!
Sadly, he is gone.
However, after Xiao Lin discovered that something was wrong with the Xiao Household's development, he followed the dying wish of the old patriarch Xiao Dongcheng and put the Xiao Household into a low-key development phase.
This caused some of the earlier, subtle, unfavorable comments about the Xiao Household to vanish before they even began to escalate.
And so, through Xiao Lin's behind-the-scenes manipulation, the Xiao Household regained its rightful place as a Dou Wang Family.
They are slightly stronger than the Nalan Family and Mu Household families, but weaker than the Mittel Family.
At the same time, Xiao Lin also instructed Yun Shan to temporarily stop allowing the Misty Cloud Sect to secretly support the Xiao Household's development.
Although Yun Shan was somewhat surprised by this, he did not object since it was Xiao Lin's idea.
After a series of maneuvers, Xiao Lin once again pulled the reins on the Xiao Household's development and put it under his control.
After the passing of the patriarch Xiao Dongcheng, the Xiao Household quietly developed for a year.
This year was also a rather peaceful one.
Xiao Lin also devoted a significant portion of his time to cultivation.
His simple-minded son Xiao Zhan, and his obedient daughter-in-law Yang Xiyue, spent about half their time at the Xiao Household and the other half at the Misty Cloud Sect.
Xiao Zhan's cultivation level has broken through to the Two-Star Dou Ling.
As for Yang Xiyue...
After marrying into the Xiao Household and learning some of Xiao Household secrets, she was naturally allowed to switch to Earth Tier Cultivation Method and learn Earth Rank Dou Technique.
Therefore, she has now broken through from her earlier Three-Star Dou Venerable Da Dou Shi cultivation to seven stars, catching up with her cultivation level after the Original Work story of Xiao Zhan began.
Furthermore, the remnant soul of Yao Lao within the ring in Yang Xiyue's hand still showed no sign of awakening.
However, as time went by, the Remnant Soul of the Yao Lao became slightly more solidified.
The reason for this is also somewhat related to Yang Xiyue.
It's not that Yao Lao's Remnant Soul has recovered to the point where it can automatically absorb the Dou Qi within Yang Xiyue's body.
Instead, it's the remnant soul of the old medicine master who absorbs a small portion of Yang Xiyue's cultivation energy each time she cultivates. For example, if Yang Xiyue absorbs 100 units of cultivation energy each time, then 1 unit of that energy will be absorbed by her.
Each unit of Dou Qi spirit will be absorbed by Yao Lao, thus restoring his Remnant Soul.
Because the amount of Dou Qi absorbed was very small, Yang Xiyue herself did not notice it.
Xiao Lin discovered this when he was observing Yao Lao's condition and found that Yang Xiyue was in the middle of cultivation.
This caused Xiao Lin to change his initial plan.
Initially, Xiao Lin thought that the remnant soul of Yao Lao in Yang Xiyue's ring wouldn't affect his daughter-in-law, so he wasn't in a hurry to take the ring from her.
Now, although the remnant soul of the old medicine master has not yet affected Yang Xiyue herself, it has begun to affect her cultivation. Therefore, Xiao Lin has no choice but to take the ring containing the remnant soul of the old medicine master from his daughter-in-law in advance.
On this day, Xiao Zhan and Yang Xiyue, a married couple, returned from the Misty Cloud Sect, Xiao Lin immediately called them over.
"Dad! x2"
The two people who entered the lobby shouted in unison.
Having been married into the Xiao Household for so long, Yang Xiyue naturally found it easy to call him that.
At the same time, the awkwardness I used to feel when meeting my crush's parents has long since disappeared.
Now, Yang Xiyue is very poised and confident in front of her father-in-law, Xiao Lin.
This shows that she has completely integrated into the Xiao Household.
Looking at his silly son and obedient daughter-in-law walking in, Xiao Lin smiled and nodded.
"You're back? Have a seat!"
As Xiao Lin finished speaking, the couple didn't stand on ceremony and sat down directly in the seat to Xiao Lin left.
"Father, you called us over as soon as we got back. Is there something you need?"
A year has passed, and the group has recovered from the grief of losing their patriarch.
At this moment, Xiao Lin ignored his son's question and turned to look at his daughter-in-law.
"You're just a side job; my main target is Xiyue."
Xiao Lin showed no mercy to his foolish son.
Sure enough, as soon as Xiao Lin finished speaking, a look of embarrassment appeared on Xiao Zhan's face.
This old man is giving me less and less face!
Yang Xiyue, meanwhile, covered her mouth and chuckled to herself.
This is the kind of family atmosphere she likes.
The Yang Household was the same in the past.
This may be one of the reasons why Yang Xiyue was able to integrate into the Xiao Household so quickly.
"Father, what is the purpose of your call?"
After a light laugh, Yang Xiyue looked at her father-in-law with a puzzled expression.
Xiao Lin first took a sip of tea, then slowly said, "Strictly speaking, Xiyue, I came to you because of the ring on your hand!"
Xiao Lin didn't mince words and went straight to the point.