"Dou Power, Third Stage!"
Xiao Yan stared at the five glaring characters on the Testing Magic Stone Tablet, a self-mocking smile on his lips as his fists clenched unconsciously.
"Heh, Third Stage again! Just as expected, this 'genius' spent another year going nowhere!"
"Ugh! This trash has disgraced the entire clan!"
"If he weren't the clan leader's son, he would've been thrown out of the Xiao Clan ages ago and left to fend for himself! Why should we keep letting him freeload?"
Xiao Yan stood where he was, unmoved by their mockery, but the self-mocking smile on his lips seemed to grow even more bitter.
"Xiao Third, what the hell are you barking about?!"
Just then, a strong, resonant voice broke the awkward atmosphere:
"Even with Third Stage dou qi, he could beat the teeth out of your Second Stage mouth. Want to try him?!"
At that voice, some people grimaced, some looked angry, and others shrank back.
Xiao Yan's face lit up, and he quickly turned toward the crowd.
Among them stood a straight-backed young man with jet-black eyes and a gaze as sharp as a hawk's, staring with a faint, mocking smile at the Xiao Clan members who had just spoken.
"Brother Dong!"
A genuine smile appeared on Xiao Yan's face. Calling out, he quickly hopped down from the Testing Magic Stone Tablet's platform and jogged over to Lin Dong. "You're back?!"
"Of course I came back once I finished my business."
Lin Dong grinned at Xiao Yan's greeting.
Those people at school only knew he had chosen the useless Xiao Yan. They had no idea how high he had raised Xiao Yan's affection!
That guy Ye Haonan had spent eight million buying Tang San a Soul Bone, only to raise his affection to 5%.
Yet Lin Dong hadn't spent a cent, and Xiao Yan already called him big brother willingly.
The Flame Emperor's big brother!
At that thought, Lin Dong turned toward another young man in the crowd and said coldly, "And you, Xiao Pohu. You only have Third Stage dou qi yourself. What right do you have to mock my little brother?"
"Believe me, even at the same stage, my little brother could beat the shit out of you!"
The young man he singled out went pale, then flushed. He stiffened his neck, wanting to say something, but couldn't find the words.
"Lin Dong! This is the Xiao Clan! Watch your filthy mouth!"
Xiao Ning, from the Second Elder's faction, stepped out of the crowd and sneered, "Your little brother's so amazing, is he? Then let him fight me if he has the guts!"
Lin Dong sneered back. "You think your Eighth Stage dou qi is impressive?"
Xiao Ning folded his arms smugly. "I don't know about impressive, but it's more than enough to beat your little brother!"
"What's wrong? Too scared?!"
The people Lin Dong had singled out immediately joined in, jeering and shouting.
Lin Dong turned and saw Xiao Yan clenching his fists, unable to vent his anger. He could only lower his head and endure it.
"Haah..."
Lin Dong sighed and shook his head. "Little brother, go get your dad!"
"Huh?!"
Xiao Yan raised his head and blinked in bewilderment.
Xiao Ning sneered. "What? Can't take it? Running to your parents?"
"This isn't about being unable to take it!"
Lin Dong smiled calmly. "It's about making proper use of the resources you have!"
"Don't you like picking on people weaker than you?"
"My little brother's family has powerful people too!"
"Why did his dad cultivate all the way to Da Dou Shi?"
"So his son could have a better life, of course!"
"Why struggle on your own when you have a dad to back you up? Are you out of your mind?"
As he spoke, Lin Dong patted Xiao Yan's shoulder and declared, "Little brother, go get your dad right now!"
"If your dad is too concerned about his dignity to fight a junior, then you can just die here today!"
"Let's see whether your dad avenges you!"
"I refuse to believe someone with a Da Dou Shi for a father has to put up with this bullying!"
"If I remember correctly, there are only three Da Dou Shi in all of Wutan City, right?!"
"You! You! You!"
Xiao Ning's face alternated between pale and flushed under that barrage, but he didn't dare say anything more.
He really was afraid Xiao Yan might die here on the spot.
If Xiao Yan truly died, they would be in serious trouble!
"Too scared, huh?"
Lin Dong pressed his advantage, pointing at Xiao Yan as he declared, "Then apologize to my little brother!"
"You want me to apologize to him?!"
Xiao Ning was furious. "Why should I apologize to him?!"
"Because you don't dare kill him!"
Lin Dong smiled. "Because you don't have a Da Dou Shi for a dad!"
"Ridiculous!"
Xiao Ning completely lost his temper. "So I don't dare kill him. Does he dare kill me?!"
Lin Dong didn't answer. Instead, he turned toward Xiao Yan and smiled. "Little brother, do you dare?"
Xiao Yan's entire body jolted!
Lin Dong drew a dagger from inside his clothes and smiled calmly. "There's nothing wrong with being kind to others, but seek peace through compromise, and peace will perish!"
"Only through struggle! Seek peace through struggle, and peace will endure!"
"If your big brother dies today, you don't need to avenge me. All I ask is that you persevere and never lose the fire in your heart!"
As he spoke, Lin Dong turned toward Xiao Ning with a savage grin. "It's fine. I dare!"
"Xiao Yan is my little brother. Insult him, and you insult me, Lin Dong!"
"Die!"
Clang!
The dagger left its sheath, its cold gleam startling everyone present!
Prepared to die, Lin Dong charged at Xiao Ning, his chilling killing intent making everyone shudder!
Xiao Ning had never imagined Lin Dong would actually dare attack!
This was the Xiao Clan's home turf!
Everyone here belonged to the Xiao Clan!
Wasn't Lin Dong afraid of dying?!
A hundred thousand questions raced through Xiao Ning's mind, but he had no time to think!
Lin Dong's killing intent was terrifying!
His jet-black eyes gleamed with an eerie light, like a wolf spirit in the night!
Xiao Ning felt a chill shoot from the soles of his feet straight to the crown of his head, leaving his entire body rigid and unable to move.
It even made him forget that he had Eighth Stage dou qi, while Lin Dong was only an ordinary person.
I'm going to die! I'm going to die!
Like a rabbit targeted by a lion, Xiao Ning completely lost the ability to think. His body stiffened, and he didn't dare move a muscle.
Everyone present jumped at this sudden turn of events!
The younger generation in particular was completely cowed by the killing intent Lin Dong unleashed!
"You bastard! How dare you!!"
Just as Lin Dong's dagger was about to pierce Xiao Ning's heart, a furious roar erupted like thunder!
In the next instant!
Lin Dong felt as though a wall had appeared before him. No matter how hard he pushed, he couldn't advance another step!
"You're courting death!"
The furious roar rang out again!
In the next instant!
Lin Dong saw a ribbon of green energy hurtling toward him like a lion, intent on killing him!
Boom!
An explosion suddenly rang out!
Lin Dong felt as though a speeding train had struck him. His internal organs churned, and he couldn't help coughing up a mouthful of blood!
"Big brother!"
Xiao Yan cried out and hurried over, anxiously checking him. "Big brother! Are you all right?!"
"W-wait!"
Lin Dong was barely breathing after the blast, but instead of tending to his injuries, he fumbled inside his clothes and pulled out two bottles of potion.
Seeing that the potions were intact, Lin Dong finally sighed in relief and said through a mouthful of blood, "Thank goodness... they weren't damaged!"
"Brother Yan, these are the potions I got for you. They can strengthen your body. Maybe... maybe they'll help with your cultivation."
"Big brother!!!"
Xiao Yan had never imagined that after being injured, his big brother's first concern wouldn't be his own wounds, but the potions he had bought for him!
His big brother had nearly been beaten to death, yet even now, his final concern was still Xiao Yan?!
After three years of witnessing the warmth and cruelty of human nature, Xiao Yan could no longer hold back. He burst into great, wracking sobs!
[Ding! Xiao Yan's affection increased by 100%!]
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