A Modest Goal: Two Children in Three Years

"Yes!"

With his head bowed and his eyes lowered, Xiao Yan knew he couldn't provoke his ancestor any further now, or he would suffer for it later.

"Anything else? If not, go back to your own business!"

With a wave of his hand, Xiao Xuan really did intend to send them away.

"Wait, Ancestor. Xiao Zhan has important clan business to report!"

Putting on a shameless smile, Xiao Zhan and his son Xiao Yan were cut from the same cloth.

And as for "important clan business"... was that really a term he could use? The Xiao Clan was so weak now that even if something really did come up, Xiao Xuan could solve it with a puff of breath.

Important business, indeed!

Shooting him a sidelong glance, Xiao Xuan lazily raised a hand, signaling Xiao Zhan to spit it out.

"Next, I intend to launch a large-scale uprising. Aside from the few surrounding cities, the entire Jia Ma Empire should be brought under our Xiao Clan's control. During that process, though, I wonder if Mr. Yao Chen could lend a hand?"

Xiao Zhan smiled sheepishly. He was asking for outside help.

After all, Yao Chen was a legendary Dou Zun. Even though Xiao Zhan's horizons had broadened now, he still wanted to get some free labor.

"Then go!"

With a sweeping wave of his hand, Xiao Xuan saw nothing wrong with it.

"Senior, the Hall of Souls has entrenched itself everywhere under heaven. If we rise up rashly..."

Yao Chen's face twitched. He hadn't expected a Da Dou Shi like Xiao Zhan-well, a former Da Dou Shi and current Dou Wang-to dare set his sights on him.

If there were no troubles waiting afterward, he wouldn't have minded lending a hand. Either way, it was just a small country in the northwest.

But things were different when the Hall of Souls was involved. The fellows in there were truly troublesome, like maggots clinging to bone.

"If possible, why doesn't the Xiao Clan move behind the scenes and control the Jia Ma Imperial Family and the Misty Cloud Sect out in the open? That would achieve the same goal."

Yao Chen was quite proactive in offering advice, effectively tying himself to the Xiao Clan's warship.

Still, what he said was realistic. After all, the Xiao Clan wasn't flourishing yet, and it actually didn't need many resources. It might as well stay somewhat hidden.

Temporarily!

"The Hall of Souls? One listen and I can tell it's the Hun Clan's doing. How powerful can they be?"

Xiao Xuan curled his lip, full of contempt for these rats hiding in the dark, but he also sensed the Hun Clan's scheme behind it all.

A thousand years ago, when they were at their height, the Hun Clan hadn't dared pull such things all over the continent.

Now they had created what was openly the continent's number one faction. If anyone said there was no scheme behind it, even Xiao Xuan wouldn't believe them.

"Let me look for traces of those little Hun Clan brats!"

Slowly closing his eyes, Xiao Xuan rapidly extended his soul perception.

This time, with a target in mind, his search was much easier and more effortless.

The Hun Clan's nastiness was still quite conspicuous.

"Misty Cloud Mountain?"

Having just swept across the entire Jia Ma Empire, Xiao Xuan had little inclination to extend his perception any farther. The Hun Clan hadn't stationed many people out here, either.

Presumably, the heart of their scheme was still in the Central Plains. That was where the true elites gathered, with more experts and more resources.

In a barren place like the northwest, even an entire empire had only one pitiful little fellow who was slightly tainted by the Hun Clan's presence.

"There's a little fellow up there, barely at the Dou Zong level. I'm afraid he received some help from the Hun Clan; he carries traces of their presence."

Xiao Xuan lapsed back into his lazy manner.

"Then that must be the Misty Cloud Sect?"

Xiao Zhan's expression involuntarily grew somewhat solemn. He had rather special feelings about the Misty Cloud Sect, since it was the Jia Ma Empire's number one faction.

It had existed for a long time.

But as Xiao Zhan spoke of the Misty Cloud Sect, he hesitated.

"Ancestor, before you awakened, the Misty Cloud Sect Master's disciple was engaged to Little Yanzi. Although the engagement was eventually broken off, how do you think we should handle this?"

Wearing a shameless smile, Xiao Zhan knew that Xiao Yan was now held in considerable regard by their ancestor, so naturally many matters were left to their ancestor to decide.

"Such a trivial matter..."

A little displeasure appeared on Xiao Xuan's face. When he awakened from the Tou She Ancient God Jade that day, he had already learned quite a bit, and naturally knew all about Xiao Yan's broken engagement.

But did he have to step in for such a minor tempering?

"Wasn't this little fellow shouting about the Three-Year Agreement?!"

Glancing at Xiao Yan, whose head was buried low beside him, Xiao Xuan continued teasingly, "Raise the standard a little and consider it a trial for this boy."

"That Dou Zong on Misty Cloud Mountain is nothing special. Once Little Yanzi finishes refining a Heavenly Flame, let him go deal with him!"

The gap in their levels did exist, and it was considerable, even after Xiao Yan finished refining a Heavenly Flame.

But if he could truly complete it with ease, it wouldn't be called a trial.

"A D-Dou Zong?"

As though struck by five bolts of lightning, Xiao Yan's expression turned ugly. He knew his ancestor would have him take on this trial in half a year or a year at most.

But Xiao Yan reckoned he would be a Dou Wang at best by then!

After all, even though his ancestor had replenished the energy contained in the Heavenly Flame, Xiao Yan would be lucky to break through two major stages with what he obtained from it.

What's more, Xiao Yan still had to solidify his Dou Qi.

That would make the loss even greater. He would probably have to sacrifice some of the depth of his foundation just to break through to Dou Wang.

Besides, even at the Dou Wang level, he really might not be able to defeat a Dou Zong.

Not even the most ordinary "little Dou Zong fellow," as his ancestor called him.

"Yes!"

Countless thoughts twisted and turned in his heart, but when he opened his mouth, he still had to agree respectfully.

Xiao Yan thought that when the time came, he really didn't have to go alone. One way or another, he had to bring his master Yao Chen along!

With a Dou Zun backing him... he could compete at his best and show what he was made of!

Xiao Yan had a poor impression of the Hun Clan as well.

Since it was an evil force that plundered souls, it ought to be destroyed.

"Good spirit. That girl from the Misty Cloud Sect can be your reward!"

Still indifferent, Xiao Xuan casually decided Nalan Yanran's fate.

Never mind the sect's rules; the Xiao Clan had its own family rules too.

Since she had courted trouble, she had to pay the price.

"A girl? Ancestor, you mean..."

Xiao Yan's face suddenly flushed red. He had no favorable feelings toward Nalan Yanran whatsoever. Treat her as a reward? What was his ancestor trying to do?

"Nalan Yanran? I have no use for her!"

None at all!

But Xiao Xuan wore a faint smile. "Whether she's useful or not, what I reward you with is yours."

Xiao Yan still wanted to argue, but the tender flesh at his waist let out a cry from the very soul.

"Xun'er~"

"Since Senior has said so, Brother Xiao Yan, just agree!"

Gu Xun'er spoke with a smile, revealing two adorable dimples.

But it would have been perfect if she could have stopped what her hand was doing.

"Little Xun'er is wonderful! You're a considerate daughter-in-law of our Xiao Clan. Later on, why don't you find a few concubines for Little Yanzi? The Xiao Clan doesn't have enough people now."

"Both of you are very talented, but you can't let Little Yanzi's resources go to waste either. There's nothing wrong with finding a few more concubines."

"As for you two, have two children in three years!"

"Of course, not now. After you're married."

He was being very thoughtful and attentive.

Xiao Xuan felt he truly had endless things to worry about.