Meanwhile, after casually putting Oba Pa and Jia Lie Bi in their place, Xiao Xuan brought Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan back to the Xiao Clan.
To Xiao Xuan, this sort of thing was actually rather troublesome.
If the Ao Ba Family and the Jia Lie Family had been stronger, they would have been easier to deal with. If they had been his equals, Xiao Xuan could have slapped them dead without the slightest burden on his conscience.
The crux of the problem was that they were too weak. What were these ninth-rate families you could find by any roadside? Sometimes, an opponent being too weak actually made things harder.
If Xiao Xuan crushed them outright and word spread afterward, it would affect his reputation as a nine-star Dou Sheng. It would hardly be good if people said he bullied the weak with his strength.
So Xiao Xuan had given them a warning, hoping they would be smart about it. He had given them a chance, and a chance like this was precious indeed.
Back at the Xiao Clan, Xiao Zhan felt utterly exhilarated.
He said, "Ancestor, you have no idea how many times Oba Pa and Jia Lie Bi have joined forces against our Xiao Clan over the years. Who knows how many hidden losses we've suffered at their hands?
"In the past, our Xiao Clan wasn't strong enough to openly fall out with them, so we could only endure it. But with you backing us this time, we've finally won a round back. What a relief! Hahaha!"
Xiao Zhan felt immensely satisfied. He had long wanted to see those two old fellows, Jia Lie Bi and Oba Pa, get put in their place-especially by the Xiao Clan. Today had felt wonderful.
Seeing how delighted Xiao Zhan was, Xiao Xuan said, "Xiao Zhan, you are, after all, the current patriarch of our Xiao Clan. Be mindful of your position.
"I don't care how things were before. Now that I, Xiao Xuan, have returned, the Xiao Clan will no longer remain as fallen as it is today.
"Soon, I will lead the Xiao Clan back to the Central Plains, back to our ancestral lands. When that happens, we will return to the ranks of the continent's foremost clans.
"You must change your outlook as soon as possible, too. I hope you won't let such minor characters sway your emotions so much in the future. The patriarch of our Xiao Clan cannot be so lacking in composure."
Looking at Xiao Zhan, who still fell somewhat short of being presentable on a grander stage, Xiao Xuan could not help reminding him.
Could you pay a little attention to your own position?
Do you still think the Xiao Clan is just the Xiao Clan of this tiny Wutan City? Your ancestor has returned. Could you set your sights a little farther ahead? Before long, Oba Pa and Jia Lie Bi won't even belong to the same world as our Xiao Clan, so rein it in.
Xiao Zhan immediately came to his senses upon hearing this. He really had gotten carried away just now.
His ancestor was right. He truly needed to pay attention to such things, since the Xiao Clan was no longer what it had been.
Xiao Zhan reminded himself that he needed to be mindful of his position now!
Xiao Xuan asked, "I heard from Xiao Yan that the Xiao Clan will hold a Dou Qi test for its younger generation in three days? I will attend in person to assess the Xiao Clan's current youngsters. Make proper preparations."
If Xiao Xuan wanted to revitalize the Xiao Clan, he had to start with its young blood. He would personally attend the Dou Qi test in three days.
Besides that, Xiao Xuan had not forgotten the Xiao Clan's few old Da Dou Shi scallions. These old scallions, Xiao Zhan included, needed some nurturing too. Otherwise, returning to the Central Plains with a handful of Da Dou Shi in tow would hardly give him much prestige.
How embarrassing.
Xiao Xuan said, "Besides, you elders are the backbone of our Xiao Clan now, and you count as its upper-level fighting strength. I don't care what rubbish cultivation techniques you practiced before. Abandon them all from this moment onward.
"I will personally impart cultivation techniques and Dou Techniques to you. From this moment on, you need only practice our Xiao Clan's inherited cultivation technique."
At Ancestor Xiao Xuan's words, Xiao Zhan and the Xiao Clan's elders all lit up.
The ancestor was going to teach them personally?
That was wonderful!
Instruction from a Dou Sheng-this was a tremendous opportunity they could never have hoped to obtain!
Previously, they would not even have dared dream of such a thing.
The Xiao Clan's inherited cultivation technique? What grade would these cultivation methods and combat skills be?
Then Xiao Xuan swept his sleeve, sending several streams of cultivation teachings into the minds of Xiao Zhan and the Xiao Clan's elders.
It was not just Xiao Zhan. Xiao Yan, standing nearby, received them too; Xiao Xuan gave him a copy of the cultivation technique while he was at it.
For one thing, Xiao Yan was also a member of the Xiao Clan, and of its direct bloodline at that. As the patriarch's son, he was entitled to study the clan's inherited cultivation technique anyway. Xiao Xuan would have to give it to him sooner or later.
For another, Xiao Yan's character and loyalty were very much to Xiao Xuan's liking. After observing this junior, Xiao Xuan had found him quite commendable, so letting him encounter these teachings early was a good thing.
What Xiao Xuan imparted to them now was the Xiao Clan's exclusive inherited cultivation technique-the Emperor Vein Heart Sutra!
After carefully contemplating the inherited cultivation technique Xiao Xuan had passed down, Xiao Zhan, Xiao Yan, and the Xiao Clan's elders all wore expressions of profound shock.
Before this, the highest-grade technique Xiao Zhan had ever encountered was merely a Yellow Tier cultivation technique. When had he ever seen a top-tier technique so unfathomably profound?
Just a cursory glance at the Emperor Vein Heart Sutra told him it was countless times stronger than Flame Refining Burn, the Xiao Clan's Yellow Tier cultivation technique he currently practiced.
Compared to it, Flame Refining Burn was simply a pile of shit!
No, even calling it a pile of shit was giving Flame Refining Burn too much credit.
Xiao Zhan's hands were trembling. Never in his life had he imagined he would get to practice such a high-grade cultivation technique.
He could not help asking, "Ancestor, just what grade is our Xiao Clan's inherited cultivation technique?"
The technique's grade was too high, beyond the scope of his knowledge.
For now, he could only tell that it was extremely high-grade. He did not dare estimate exactly how high.
It was actually much like Oba Pa and Jia Lie Bi trying to guess Xiao Xuan's cultivation level. Their own level was too low. Those two Da Dou Shi had seen little of the world; ordinarily, they could not even come into contact with a Dou Wang, and they had to address any Dou Ling they met as "sir."
Could anyone expect them to recognize just how high Xiao Xuan's cultivation was? They could only tell that he was strong, not exactly how strong. At most, Oba Pa had only dared guess that Xiao Xuan was a Dou Wang.
But Xiao Zhan did not dare guess the grade of the clan's cultivation technique bestowed by his ancestor. If his guess was too low, wouldn't he be belittling his own clan's foundations?
So he could only ask Xiao Xuan.
In the most matter-of-fact tone imaginable, Xiao Xuan said, "Our Ancient Xiao Clan's inherited cultivation technique was created and left behind by our clan's Dou Di, then refined by several generations of Dou Di. Naturally, it is a Heaven Rank High Grade cultivation technique. Surely you didn't think it could be below Heaven Tier?"
Xiao Xuan looked at Xiao Zhan. Are you questioning the caliber of our Xiao Clan's ancestors?
A Heaven Tier cultivation technique!
And a Heaven Rank High Grade one at that!
My heavens!
Xiao Zhan felt as though a ten-billion jackpot had landed on his head. For a moment, his head swam.
He could hardly be blamed. Before this, the Xiao Clan's highest-grade cultivation technique had only been high-level Yellow Tier. Now they had suddenly been given a Heaven Tier technique—and a Heaven Rank High Grade one at that. Who wouldn't be stunned?
If someone was getting along just fine in poverty and suddenly received a ten-billion check, who wouldn't feel dizzy?
So it was not just Xiao Zhan. Every last one of the Xiao Clan's elders was dizzy with delight. Two even found their legs going weak and could not stand up for a while.
Looking at these descendants of his, Xiao Zhan and the others, acting so hopelessly as though they had never seen anything good before, Xiao Xuan did not know what to say for a moment.
He said, "Don't be so hopeless. This belonged to our Xiao Clan in the first place. Switch to cultivating it as soon as possible. This technique will resonate with the Xiao Clan Bloodline within you, and by practicing it, your cultivation will rise rapidly.
"Besides this cultivation technique, there are plenty of inherited Heaven Tier Dou Techniques waiting for you to practice later. Don't act as though you've never seen the world. You'll make yourselves a laughingstock."
Xiao Zhan and the Xiao Clan's elders were nearly mad with excitement.
There were Heaven Tier Dou Techniques too!
They would get to wield Heaven Tier Dou Techniques as well?
Before you continue