Xiao Yan's words left Xiao Zhan and the three elders rooted to the spot.
None of them had expected that Xiao Yan, at only ten years old, was already thinking about the future of the clan.
The three elders had harbored some complaints about Xiao Yan because of what had happened during the day, but hearing his words now, they could not help feeling a trace of shame.
For a moment, no one even noticed that Xiao Yan had spoken somewhat recklessly, making the presumptuous declaration that he would be the next clan leader.
"All right, Yan'er!"
At the head of the room, the smile had never left Xiao Zhan's face. Watching the three elders lower their heads in thought, he felt a satisfaction that reached his very bones.
The three old fellows had lectured him for so many years, yet now his own son had turned the tables and taught them a lesson.
All the frustration Xiao Zhan had suffered at the three elders' hands over the years was swept away by Xiao Yan's scolding, leaving him utterly satisfied.
But he was Xiao Yan's father and the leader of the Xiao Clan, after all. Naturally, he could not let the two sides truly become enemies.
That was why he spoke up, easing the conflict between them.
After all, no matter what, the three elders' contributions to the Xiao Clan were real.
"Father, elders, although my strength is meager, if we go to war with the Jia Lie Family, I am willing to be the first to take the lead and set an example for the disciples of the Xiao Clan!"
Xiao Yan understood what Xiao Zhan's look meant. He spoke solemnly to them once more, then gave a deep bow and addressed the three elders:
"Elders, I was ignorant and offended my seniors, but I still want to tell you this: disciples of the Xiao Clan should be open and upright, and press ever onward. I, Xiao Yan, fear no one."
With that, Xiao Yan nodded to Xiao Zhan, left the room, and returned to his own courtyard.
That was all he could do.
After all, he was still only a ten-year-old child. With his reputation as the foremost genius, he might be able to influence the clan's decisions to some extent.
But when it came to the actual decision, only Xiao Zhan and the three elders had the authority to make it.
Still, judging by the effect he had just achieved, Xiao Yan felt there was a good chance it would work.
Back in his room, Xiao Yan felt no sleepiness whatsoever. Instead, he could sense that quite a bit of the medicinal power contained in the pill Xun'er had given him earlier still remained in his body.
So Xiao Yan sat down to cultivate as usual and began refining the medicinal power within him.
During this process, aided by the Soul Division Martial Soul, Xiao Yan keenly noticed that the Soul Power and medicinal power in his body seemed to be flowing toward his right hand at an extremely slow pace.
Then Xiao Yan realized that a trace of his Soul Power was gone, and his heart lurched.
Swish!
Xiao Yan, who had been immersed in cultivation, suddenly opened his eyes and stared in shock at his fingertips. A grayish-brown ring rested quietly around his finger.
A flicker of struggle passed through Xiao Yan's eyes.
Just now, he had clearly sensed a trace of Soul Power in his body approaching his fingertip without his noticing, as if drawn there by some force, before abruptly vanishing.
If not for the freakish perception granted by the Clone Martial Soul, even Xiao Yan himself probably would not have noticed that tiny change.
"So... this is what caused his Dou Qi Vortex to disappear?"
Xiao Yan frowned deeply and immediately removed the ring from his finger, placing it on the table. After a moment's hesitation, he extended his index finger, a trace of Soul Power surging at its tip as he slowly brought it toward the ring on the table.
Whoosh!
This time, Xiao Yan sensed it with perfect clarity. That wisp of Soul Power was absorbed by the eerie ring, disappearing from his body.
"Found it!"
Xiao Yan's gaze turned cold.
Barring any surprises, this ring was probably the culprit behind the disappearance of Xiao Yan's Dou Qi Vortex and the leakage of his Dou Qi!
At that thought, Xiao Yan did not dare put the ring back on his finger. Instead, he took a wooden box from the cupboard, wrapped the ring in a handkerchief, and put it inside. Then he placed the box on the inner side of his pillow.
"If... the Clone Martial Soul is the basis for the two of us crossing into each other's worlds, doesn't that mean that if I withdraw the Soul Division Martial Soul, we can each return to our original worlds?"
After putting away the eerie ring that absorbed Soul Power, Xiao Yan sensed the Soul Division Martial Soul within him and pondered for a moment.
As Xiao Yan gradually sensed the Soul Division Martial Soul, he could tell that it seemed to have become part of his body, fused throughout it.
With a thought from Xiao Yan, the Soul Division Martial Soul slowly withdrew from within his body and gathered together again.
Xiao Yan could clearly feel that as the Soul Division Martial Soul gradually separated from his body, his control over it grew weaker and weaker.
At the same time, a familiar fluctuation from a distant space was forming a connection with him...
Swish!
As the Soul Division Martial Soul separated completely, the familiar dizziness returned. Xiao Yan felt as though he were about to return to that mysterious space.
Swish!
Sure enough, as his vision gradually cleared, the familiar Battle Through the Heavens Xiao Yan appeared opposite him again, accompanied by an inverted galaxy and a sky full of stars.
"I found out why your Dou Qi Vortex disappeared!"
Xiao Yan's words left the other man frozen in place.
"What was the reason?"
Battle Through the Heavens Xiao Yan looked at him in shock. He had just been about to tell Douluo Xiao Yan that after arriving in the Douluo World where the other man lived, he had even managed to re-form the Dou Qi Vortex that had vanished from his body.
After listening to Douluo Xiao Yan describe the eerie ring, Battle Through the Heavens Xiao Yan showed a look of realization.
"A ring that absorbed my Dou Qi Vortex... do you think it could be an inheritance left behind by some powerful expert?"
Both of them came from Blue Star. Since they had already transmigrated, it seemed reasonable enough for a powerful grandpa to show up too.
"But can you guarantee he's definitely a good person?"
Douluo Xiao Yan shrugged, and the two of them sighed. Such worries were not without reason.
They did not know the other party's strength or identity. If he was a powerful expert who wanted to seize a body, they might not be able to stop him.
"Looks like I can only set it aside for now."
Battle Through the Heavens Xiao Yan sighed, then regained his high-spirited air.
"But as long as I've found the reason my Dou Qi Vortex disappeared, I can rest easy."
With a trace of pride on his face, Battle Through the Heavens Xiao Yan said, "In the Douluo World, freed from the ring's hold, I've already re-formed my Dou Qi Vortex."
Seeing his proud expression, Douluo Xiao Yan nodded lightly and then said:
"Oh, right, I helped you ignite the conflict between the Xiao Clan and the Jia Lie Family, and I also gave the three elders a scolding. If nothing unexpected happens, the Xiao Clan and the Jia Lie Family should gradually go to war."
"No prob... what?"
The excitement on Battle Through the Heavens Xiao Yan's face vanished in an instant, and he could not help saying:
"You're saying that in just one day, you not only ignited the conflict between the Xiao Clan and the Jia Lie Family, but also scolded the three elders?"
"What, did you make Jia Lie Bi wear a green hat?"