Stripped of Their Positions as Elders!

"Hmph!"

"Xiao Zhan, what right do you have to make us leave the clan?"

"You and your son caused this trouble. You should resolve it yourselves instead of dragging the entire clan down with you."

Hearing Xiao Zhan's words, the Great Elder spoke with defiance written all over his face.

"Exactly! Whoever does the deed must bear the consequences. Since you and your son offended the Misty Cloud Sect, you should be the ones to leave the Xiao Clan!"

"Having a clan head like you is truly a misfortune for our Xiao Clan!"

"Xiao Zhan, you aren't fit to be the head of our Xiao Clan!"

The Second Elder and Third Elder chimed in from the side, every word aimed at Xiao Zhan and his son. They had torn away every last shred of civility.

"Unfit!"

"Unfit!"

"Unfit!"

Hearing the Three Elders' words, the Xiao Clan members present shouted in unison.

"If I'm unfit to be clan head, then who is fit?"

Faced with the clansmen's "rebellion," a cold smile curled Xiao Zhan's lips.

With a mere thought, a powerful pressure descended upon the courtyard.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Under that immense pressure, the clansmen's expressions changed, and they fell straight to their knees. Even the Three Great Elders, who had looked so smug moments earlier, were no exception.

"I already gave you three a chance. You simply didn't know how to treasure it."

Xiao Zhan turned his gaze toward the Three Great Elders, then lightly closed his hand.

Bang!

With three muffled thuds, the Three Great Elders turned deathly pale, their faces contorted in pain.

"You... you crippled our cultivation?"

The Three Great Elders' faces were ashen. Sensing their current condition, they stared at Xiao Zhan in disbelief.

What?!

At those words, the Xiao Clan members present felt their hearts jolt, fear spreading across their faces.

None of them had seen Xiao Zhan make a move, yet the Three Elders' cultivation had been crippled.

What kind of ability was this?

"Teacher, did you see when Father made his move?"

Xiao Yan, standing nearby, also looked astonished as he asked Yao Lao inwardly.

"No..."

Yao Lao fell silent for a moment, then gave a bitter smile.

"Even you couldn't tell how Father made his move, Teacher?"

Xiao Yan found it hard to believe. His teacher had once been a Nine Revolutions Dou Zun, after all, yet even he had failed to detect how his father had crippled the Three Elders' cultivation.

This was simply...

Yao Lao's voice carried reverence. "How could I possibly see through the methods of the esteemed Immortal Emperor..."

In Yao Chen's eyes, he was no different from an ordinary mortal compared to Xiao Zhan. How could mere mortal eyes see through the esteemed Immortal Emperor's heaven-reaching methods?

"Father is far too powerful!"

Hearing this, Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Zhan, who stood with imposing majesty, admiration shining in his eyes.

"From this day onward, you three are no longer elders of the Xiao Clan."

Xiao Zhan looked at the despairing Three Great Elders, his expression indifferent.

Then Xiao Zhan swept his icy gaze over the clansmen present. "If anyone still refuses to accept me, Xiao Zhan, as clan head, you may step forward now."

Seeing his cold eyes, everyone instinctively lowered their heads, not daring to meet his gaze.

They had witnessed the Three Great Elders' fate with their own eyes.

Xiao Zhan's ruthlessness and strength had also filled their hearts with dread.

Without the Great Elder and the others leading them, naturally, no one present spoke up against Xiao Zhan again.

"Very good. It seems everyone is quite satisfied with me as clan head."

Only when he saw that no one dared step forward did Xiao Zhan nod in satisfaction. He glanced at the ashen-faced Three Great Elders beside him, a trace of disdain curling his lips.

If you lack strength, don't come out here flaunting that meager wit of yours.

In this world, the strong would always reign supreme!

"Since everyone accepts me as clan head, I don't want to hear anyone discussing the Misty Cloud Sect affair behind my back again. Otherwise, you'll meet the same fate as the Three Elders."

With a thought, Xiao Zhan withdrew the pressure shrouding the courtyard. Only then did everyone's bodies relax, allowing them to straighten up.

Remembering the Three Great Elders' fate, everyone felt a chill in their hearts.

For a cultivator, losing their cultivation was more agonizing than being killed.

None of them wanted to meet the same fate as the Three Great Elders. They hurriedly bowed their heads and answered Xiao Zhan in unison, "Yes, Clan Leader!"

"All right, get out!"

"Drag these three old fellows out too."

Xiao Zhan waved his hand, and the others helped the three elders, whose cultivation had been completely crippled, out of the courtyard, slinking away with their tails between their legs.

"Father!"

Once everyone had left, Xiao Yan hurried up to Xiao Zhan, a hint of excitement on his face.

His father's display just now had been so commanding that Xiao Yan's heart stirred with excitement, pride written all over his face.

"Yan'er, you're here."

Seeing Xiao Yan, Xiao Zhan smiled faintly.

"Father, the Great Elder and the others finally won't be able to jump around causing trouble anymore."

Remembering the Three Elders' miserable state after their cultivation had been crippled, a glimmer of satisfaction flashed through Xiao Yan's eyes.

Over the past three years, those Three Elders had targeted him time and again, subjecting him to endless humiliation.

Now that they had met such a fate, Xiao Yan naturally felt a tremendous rush of satisfaction.

"Yan'er, remember this: in this world, the strong will always reign supreme."

"Before unparalleled strength, all schemes and intrigues are nothing but illusions."

Xiao Zhan spoke calmly.

"Yes, I understand."

Xiao Yan nodded.

Indeed, if his father hadn't possessed such great strength today, he would have had no way out of that predicament. He might truly have lost his position as clan head.

At that thought, Xiao Yan clenched his fists.

If I were strong, how would Nalan Yanran have dared come here to break off our engagement?

How would the Great Elder and the others have dared act so brazenly!

Seeing the fighting spirit blazing in Xiao Yan's eyes, Xiao Zhan smiled faintly.

Little Yanzi, hurry up and grow stronger...

"Teacher, could you bring out your Heavenly Flames in a little while so I can cultivate?"

A short while later, Xiao Yan left the courtyard. After hearing Xiao Zhan's words, he could hardly wait to become stronger.

"No. Your cultivation hasn't completely stabilized yet. Wait a few more days."

Yao Chen firmly refused Xiao Yan and admonished him sternly, "My disciple, on the path of cultivation, nothing is more dangerous than chasing quick success and immediate gains. This mindset of yours won't do."

Xiao Yan's heart tightened at those words. He then nodded and said, "Teacher, I understand."

"Brother Xiao Yan."

Just then, Xiao Xun'er appeared ahead of Xiao Yan and called out in a clear, sweet voice.

"Little Sister Xun'er."

Xiao Yan looked over, and a smile immediately appeared on his face.

Looking at the young man, Xiao Xun'er froze slightly. Although she hadn't seen him for only a day, she felt that the Xiao Yan before her now seemed to possess something more than before...

When their wandering gazes met, Xun'er finally realized what the young man had gained. It was... confidence!

After three years, the brightest halo that had once surrounded the young man seemed to have finally returned.

A little entranced by the faint smile playing at the corners of his lips, Xiao Xun'er's lovely cheeks dimpled adorably as she smiled. "Judging by how you look now, Brother Xiao Yan, it seems you don't need any comforting anymore..."