The ride to the Li City was silent for the majority of the time, except for the beginning where Xiao Lan was bragging about her breakthrough in cultivation.
"Mother, father, I had a breakthrough yesterday, achieving Fifth Level Profound Qi Realm!" she said proudly with her nose pointed towards the sky.
"Good girl!" Both Xiao Mo Li and Xiao Tian praised.
"Although you are only 19, you have already achieved Fifth Level Profound Qi Realm. It will only be a matter of time before you reach the Sixth Level Profound Qi Realm and finally be qualified to partake in the Profound Spirit Sect's entrance exam!" Xiao Mo Li said.
"I have high hopes for you like your two elder brothers who are already at the seventh level and ninth level in the Profound Qi Realm." Xiao Tian spoke highly of her, but everybody knew that he also wanted to irritate Xiao Long, who has no cultivation.
Xiao Mo Li laughed inwardly, thinking to herself that it would be fun to witness their expressions when they realize that Xiao Long is already a cultivator.
She looked at him with a gentle smile, only to be surprised at his profound demeanor.
Xiao Long sat there silently with his eyes closed, but he was clearly awake. His breathing seemed to be in a rhythm, and there was an incomprehensible aura surrounding him.
"He's… cultivating? No, that's not possible since the Spiritual Essence is not reacting to him." Xiao Mo Li pondered with a serious expression, "Not to mention that we are currently in a carriage. There's also no way a beginner like him can cultivate in such an unstable and loud environment."
"What exactly is he doing, or thinking about?"
She wanted to know what he was doing, but she was also afraid to interrupt him, so she decided to silently watch him.
"Junior brother—"
"Shhh!"
Xiao Mo Li covered her lips with a single finger, signaling Xiao Lan, who was able to call for Xiao Long, to stop.
"Eh? Ah… he's sleeping.."
Xiao Tian and the brothers looked at him with frowns. How could he be sleeping now? Did he not sleep last night?
—
Inside Xiao Long's consciousness, he was standing in pure darkness with nothing there except for the two giant golden eyeballs above him that slightly illuminated some of the darkness whilst staring down at him like two suns close up.
He stared at the eyeballs, and the eyeballs also stared at him.
"It seems like this mortal body does not have the capability to withstand the power of my Calamity God Soul, forcing it to seal away the majority of its own power to prevent my body from exploding…"
"It is a pity. However, just this much is enough for me to use my Heaven Devouring technique and guarantee my safety while I grow in this world. Additionally, it should release more strength as I increase in my cultivation; it also shouldn't take too long to return to my previous strength."
"And once I reach that point…"
A solemn feeling suddenly appeared in his aura.
How long will his peaceful life last? What will he do once he reaches the apex, again? What would a human do once they fulfill their desires?
"Perhaps, when that time comes, I will have to find another desire."
"For now, I will live my life to the fullest, until I reach that point."
Xiao Long leaves the world in his consciousness and opened his eyes.
The first thing he noticed when opening his eyes was how everybody there was staring at him.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Are you okay, Long'er? You went silent and wouldn't open your eyes… Look, we have already arrived at the Li City." Xiao Mo Li said to him with a worried expression, afraid that he might have actually collapsed again.
"I was just thinking over some things, don't mind me."
"If you say so…"
"Anyway, we're already at our destination; let's go straight to the Li Family's residence."
Xiao Long looks out at the window, and a crowd of people enters his view.
There were at least a thousand people outside just waiting to enter the city. How many people are here today for this ceremony?
"Make way for the Xiao Family! Make way!" The carriage driver shouted, not even bothering to slow down for the people.
"It's the Xiao Family!"
"Quickly, get out of the way!"
The crowd quickly divided into two parts like a river getting cut in half by a sword strike.
The guards at the gate greeted them, "The Li Family has been expecting the Xiao Family. Please, enter."
"Hah!"
The driver cracks his whip, and the Xiao Family enters the family without further ado.
After entering, they did not spare any time for detours and went straight for the Li Family's residence that was directly in the middle for the city.
—
"The Xiao Family has arrived!" The entrance guards for the Li Family shouted viciously upon noticing their carriage, catching the attention of those who were outside in the busy streets and behind the gate, where many people were running back and forth welcoming new guests.
The Xiao Family's carriage quickly came to a halt directly in front of a large gate with a gold-plated billboard on the top that read 'Residence of Li'.
Upon stopping, the doors to the carriages beside the one holding the main members of the Xiao Family opened, and servants and guards walked out in a uniformed and elegant manner.
The head servant then walked to open the door in the main carriage where Xiao Long and the rest were inside.
Xiao Tian was the first to walk out as the head of the family, followed by Xiao Mo Li his mistress, then the eldest son Xiao Xiang, the second oldest Xiao Cheng, then Xiao Lan, and lastly, Xiao Long.
By the time the Xiao Family has stepped out of the carriage, a middle-aged man with a similar aura and demeanor to Xiao Tian was already waiting for them by the door.
"Xiao Tian, your family is finally here! You are so late that I almost believed that you weren't coming!" laughed the middle-aged man.
"Li Shen, what lateness are you speaking of? If I am late, then how come I don't see a single soul sitting down anywhere? Everybody must be late today!" Xiao Tian also laughed.
"Hahaha! Let's forget about the small details! Come! It's been a while since we last seen each other! We have a lot to catch up on, don't we?"
"Good. I have also brought gifts for you and your family for intruding today. Where should we place them?"
"Just leave them by the door; I will have my people grab them."
"I appreciate your offer, but there is no need. I have brought enough people here today to do the minor work." Xiao Tian looked at his servants, "Go bring the gifts inside and place them beside the others."
"Yes, sir!"
While the servants move the gifts, Li Shen led them into their residence where many tables and chairs have already been set up.
"Today your second daughter turns 16, becoming an adult. It's been over ten years since I last saw her. I hope you can surprise me, Li Shen!"
"Worry not, Xiao Tian. I can guarantee you that she has grown into a wonderful woman and will not disappoint. Your travel will be well worth it once you see just beautiful of a treasure she is."
"I can't wait." Xiao Tian glanced at his two eldest sons and smiled.
"Rumors of the Young Lady's beauty has spread to even our city, so I am sure that she is an extraordinary woman." Xiao Xiang spoke with a handsome smile.
"Not only is her beauty widespread but so is her talent in cultivation. From the words of my fellow disciples, the Young Lady has reached the Sixth Level Profound Qi Realm recently and will be going to partake in the Profound Spirit Sect entrance exam soon." Xiao Cheng said.
Li Shen glanced at them and smiled, "Oh, I nearly forgot that your Xiao Family already has two exceptional geniuses accepted into the Profound Spirit Sect. When the day my daughter gets accepted into the sect as a disciple, I hope the two of you will make sure that she isn't treated with injustice."
"Fear not, Senior Li. When the Young Lady becomes a fellow disciple, it will naturally be our responsibility to protect her." Xiao Xiang patted his chest with confidence.
"Good, good, good! Then make sure you get familiar with each other today, so when the time comes, you won't see each other as strangers but as acquaintances."
"Yes, Senior Li!"
Xiao Tian smiled inwardly, hoping that one of his two sons could attract the Young Lady's attention, later developing feelings for each other.
This way, if their family gets together by marriage, then their family's position will surely rise within the Spirit Province!
Xiao Mo Li glanced at Xiao Long when they began speaking of the Young Lady.
When it comes to looks between the siblings, she was confident that Xiao Long and his elegant features that came from her would win without any competition. However, in this world where strength usually comes first, it would be extremely hard for him to win over the Young Lady with his inferior talent, being only First Level Profound Qi Realm at the age 17.
"What a pity," she sighed.