Both grandfather and grandson sat together and chatted for the rest of the night; with their cultivation, they could easily stay awake for a couple of days.
Only after the sunrise the next day did Xiao Ning's grandfather tell him to return to his courtyard. But, before Xiao Ning walked out, he saw a smirk on his grandfather's face, which puzzled him.
He only realized the meaning behind the latter's smirk after he saw his residence. For a moment, Xiao Ning blinked his eyes and looked again.
"Is this my house?" Xiao Ning blankly questioned himself. It differed entirely from earlier. The changes were so significant that he doubted whether he had arrived at the wrong place.
The deserted front was full of greenery and colorful flowers. On top of that, a faint familiar fragrance lingered in the surrounding.
Xiao Ning took a deep breath, slowly opened the door, and walked into his old room. After seeing the changes in his room, guilt riddled his heart, and a bitter expression appeared on his face.
Who else could it be apart from Ya Fei? Only she could bring such changes; from the look of it, Xiao Ning guessed she moved to Xiao Clan after his departure and lived in his house. Slight warmth appeared within his heart, filled with rage.
After a while, a steward knocked on his door and said, "Young Master, the Clan Leader, and your grandfather are waiting for you in the main hall."
Xiao Ning reluctantly opened his eyes after hearing his voice. The next second, his reluctance disappeared, and he firmly stepped out of the room.
Soon, he followed the steward to the main hall, where Xiao Zhan, his grandfather, and other elders were waiting for him. After seeing him, everyone's eyes moved, and a bright smile appeared on their faces.
Xiao Ning bowed slightly as he greeted the elders and when he turned towards Xiao Zhan, an unusual light flickered in his eyes.
Xiao Ning's body stiffened for a split second, and the thought of killing Xiao Zhan flashed in his mind. But the next moment, he suppressed it and regained his composure.
Xiao Ning smiled and came forward and occupied the vacant chair.
With his arrival, the meeting began. First, Xiao Zhan coughed lightly to gain their attention and spoke about significant events after Xiao Ning left. Then, in turn, the elders reported the current situation of the clan.
Not long after, the four turned their heads and collectively looked toward Xiao Ning. Then, without losing his demeanor as the clan leader, Xiao Zhan asked, "Xiao Ning, what's your cultivation base?"
When Xiao Ning stepped into the hall, the four repeatedly tried to find his cultivation rank, but they failed to do so.
The four people in this hall are Dou Grandmasters and the pillars of the clan.
With the time Xiao Ning spent outside and his talent, they expected him to be a Dou Master. Even then, they were mentally prepared if Xiao Ning became a Dou Grandmaster.
But, they couldn't even sense a slight dou qi fluctuation in Xiao Ning's body, which led to the current scene.
After listening to Xiao Zhan's question, Xiao Ning grinned, "9-star Dou Spirit." The moment he spoke, Xiao Ning also released his breath, and his qi covered the entire hall.
Xiao Zhan, Xiao Ning's grandfather, and the other two elders were stunned as if struck by lightning. Before they could question the authenticity of his statement, they felt a heavy pressure descending on them.
A Dou Grandmaster's instinct kicked in, and their bodies released dou qi to resist Xiao Ning's pressure. Even four Dou Grandmasters together couldn't get rid of it.
Xiao Ning stopped actively releasing dou qi from his body, and the pressure vanished. However, he was a little embarrassed after seeing their condition, took out a bottle, and handed a pill to each.
The four elders did not hesitate, swallowed the pill, and replenished their dou qi. Then, a few moments later, they opened their eyes, and a brilliant light flashed on their faces.
A burst of loud laughter sounded through the hall. The four elderly couldn't hide the happiness on their faces.
"It is real."
"Our Xiao Clan's time has come."
"He is my grandson."
One after another, they spoke; even Xiao Zhan's eyes turned red. How many years has it been? He thought to himself. Xiao Zhan was clear about how the patriarch position fell into his hands; he knew how many catties he had.
For many years, Xiao Zhan has been bearing the pressure and tried all possible means to lead the clan towards prosperity. But, in the end, his strength wasn't enough.
Furthermore, with his limited talent, Xiao Zhan had given up on raising his cultivation; instead, he began nurturing the younger generation in the hope that one day the young children he cultivated would make Xiao Clan a giant in the empire.
Seeing Xiao Ning sitting before him, Xiao Zhan felt his dream come true. He thought that Dou King might not be the end for Xiao Ning.
Xiao Ning didn't know about Xiao Zhan's inner thoughts; if he knew, he would smile and say, "What you have said is the truth, but I don't think you and your sons will live to see the day."
After their initial shock, the elders coughed lightly to ease their embarrassment and proposed Xiao Ning take over as the next patriarch. They looked at Xiao Zhan after speaking; even though they had some rights as the clan's elders, the latter was the current patriarch.
Without Xiao Zhan's consent, it would be difficult for Xiao Ning to take over the clan. So although it won't be impossible, it won't be easy.
After the elders spoke, there was an awkward silence in the hall. Xiao Zhan tapped the armrest of his chair and looked back and forth. He pondered for a moment, after which his facial expressions eased, and a relaxed smile appeared on his face.
"I agree with your proposal; it is time for the younger generation to take over." After speaking, Xiao Zhan felt as if a heavy mountain were lifted off his shoulders.