Six Years

Yi Huang widened her eyes, somewhat incredulous. "You really dare to imagine it!"

She had already understood Xiao Han's plan, and Xiao Han was not the first person to think this way.

Strange Fire was a Mysterious Object of heaven and earth that countless people longed to obtain. At last, through generation after generation of exploration, people had figured out the formation conditions, appearance, power, uses, and more of many Strange Fires, and even the so-called Strange Fire Ranking had appeared.

From ancient times to the present, countless people had hoped to find Strange Fires of the same kind but from different sources. Yet no one had ever succeeded.

Although, in theory, there could be more than one Strange Fire, the conditions required for its formation were simply too stringent.

In this world, it was almost impossible for there to be a second place that met the requirements. Most of the time, only after one Strange Fire disappeared would a second one be born in the original location, and that location might even shift continuously as the years passed.

Over time, everyone had begun to give up. Yet unexpectedly, today, Xiao Han had actually brought it up.

"I know this idea isn't very suitable..." Xiao Han rubbed his nose and said with a somewhat embarrassed laugh, "So I'm only troubling you to keep an eye out a little. I'm not planning on it definitely succeeding."

"Fine. Anything else?" Yi Huang shot Xiao Han an annoyed glance. She had thought that by handing the pavilion's affairs to that fellow Ye Jianxin, he had learned to feel sorry for her.

She had not expected that there would actually be this matter waiting for her too.

"Also, pay attention to whether any places on the continent suddenly show extreme-cold anomalies. This is very important. Once you discover one, notify me directly." Xiao Han's expression turned serious.

"All right, I will." Whenever Xiao Han revealed this kind of expression, it meant this matter was extremely important to him.

"One last thing..." Xiao Han said somewhat apologetically, "I'll have to trouble you to look after those Xiao Clan youngsters. This was originally something I should have done."

"Of course, no problem!" Yi Huang smiled faintly. "After all, those little fellows are my juniors too, aren't they?

I'll go to the Xiao Clan regularly to take a look."

"Right, then I'll have to trouble Ancestress Yi Huang," Xiao Han teased.

"Get lost!" Yi Huang punched him.

In the blink of an eye, five or six years passed. Xiao Han, who had once said he would come out of seclusion in a year, still showed no sign of breaking through and emerging.

However, because of Xiao Han's glorious battle record of killing Heavenly Underworld Old Demon in one fight back then, as well as Langya Pavilion's powerful strength, although Langya Pavilion Master had once again disappeared, no one dared to raise any ill intentions toward Langya Pavilion again.

However, this indifference was limited to ordinary elders and disciples. It did not include a certain deeply resentful Grand Elder.

"Damn Xiao Han, didn't you say you'd come out after one year? Just you wait." Ye Jianxin glanced at the mountain of Langya Pavilion documents piled up before him and let out a despairing roar.

But complaining was useless. The things that had to be done still had to be done.

"Ah..."

After venting while clutching his head, Ye Jianxin could only tremblingly pick up his brush and continue reviewing. Each document was processed in only two or three breaths, and afterimages even appeared at the tip of his brush.

After such a long period of training, Ye Jianxin had indeed made tremendous progress.

Reading ten lines at a glance was completely effortless for him.

In fact, under the high pressure of endless tasks, Ye Jianxin displayed an outstanding talent for managing the sect.

He opened up many authorities and selected several elders to help him filter out a portion of the documents and attach handling suggestions, helping himself reduce the difficulty of his work.

Mm... If Xiao Han saw this, he would certainly be surprised to discover, wasn't this just an Inner Cabinet?

As expected, if you did not force a person, you would never know just how great a power they could erupt with.

Not only that, Ye Jianxin had actually unknowingly broken through to Dou Zun Peak amid his heavy workload.

He only needed to enter seclusion for a year, then pile on Spirit Gathering Pills and the improved version of the Bodhi Pill, and Half-Saint would be just around the corner.

Jia Ma Empire, Xiao Clan.

Xiao Zhan stood respectfully before Yi Huang, reporting the Xiao Clan's recent situation to her.

Although Yi Huang and Xiao Han had never been willing to interfere in the Xiao Clan's affairs, since they were not part of the Xiao Clan's management, even if their status was extremely high, they still could not break the rules.

Besides, Xiao Zhan was already very mature now and handled the clan's affairs with ease. There was no need for her to interfere at all.

It was just that she truly could not refuse Xiao Zhan. In Xiao Zhan's words, "Ancestor is already a part of the clan, so naturally you have the right to know the Xiao Clan's affairs."

Yi Huang could feel the sincerity of Xiao Zhan and the other Xiao Clan members.

Regarding this, although she did not care about any power, she was still very gratified.

At least the Xiao Clan had not become ungrateful wolves, thinking that now that their wings had grown strong, they could start guarding against the ancestor who had brought them transformation.

Nor, out of fear, did they blindly lay out every single practice in full.

They merely let Yi Huang have a simple understanding of the Xiao Clan's changes, and this was precisely the sign of a clan's maturity.

They did not completely rely on top-tier power. While accepting their help, they likewise required the clan members to be self-reliant, with no intention of becoming freeloaders.

Xiao Han, your clansmen truly haven't failed your expectations! Unable to help herself, Yi Huang sighed inwardly.

After finishing his report, Xiao Zhan stepped forward and asked, "Senior, has my great-uncle still not come out of seclusion?"

It was not only Langya Pavilion; the Xiao Clan also cared greatly about news of Xiao Han, which was why he asked.

Yi Huang shook her head. "Although he has been in seclusion for a long time, there should be no danger. Besides..."

Yi Huang drew out her voice for a moment. "I have a feeling that when he comes out this time, his strength will definitely have improved greatly."

"Yes. Thank you for telling me, Senior."

Then Xiao Zhan hesitated for a moment before saying, "May I ask if Senior has any intention of staying at the Xiao Clan for a while? I would like to invite Senior to attend the Full Moon Banquet for my third child."

"Oh? You already have a third child now?" Yi Huang was somewhat surprised. She had not expected this kid Xiao Zhan to be so good at having children!

As for children, Yi Huang actually wanted one as well; she simply had never had the chance.

Then she suddenly came back to herself and flung aside the thoughts in her mind. What am I thinking about?

Xiao Zhan watched as Senior's expression changed again and again, even flushing a little in the end.

Thinking something had happened, he asked nervously, "Senior, is there a problem?"

Yi Huang suddenly snapped back to her senses and hurriedly waved her hand.

"It's nothing, nothing. Although I cannot stay for long, I can promise you that I will come attend when the time comes."

Damn it. How could she lose her composure like that in front of a junior? Yi Huang grumbled at herself.

Without realizing it, Yi Huang had already fully accepted the fact that her seniority was a great deal higher than the rest of the Xiao Clan, and had even begun to place importance on the dignity of an elder in front of them.

"Then thank you all the more for honoring us with your presence, Senior."

"What is there to thank me for?" Yi Huang said unconcernedly, while calculating inwardly what gift would be appropriate.

"Why don't I bring that child Xiao Wu over? All he thinks about all day is cultivation. Isn't he afraid of ruining himself through training?

Besides, since they are both members of the Xiao Clan, there should be some sense of closeness between them, right?" On this point, Yi Huang was somewhat uncertain.

"Forget it. I'll bring that boy over when the time comes and see!"