"Come on, Xuanyin."
Xiao spoke to Xuanyin, who was looking at both of them. Xuanyin nodded her head as she walked towards Xiao. Seeing it, he opened his arms for a hug. There wasn't a change of expression on her face as she ran up to him and hugged him. Xiao smiled as he held his sister in his arms.
To others, she might look like an emotionless doll, but due to their connection, he could feel all that was hidden on the inside. He had felt the deep anxiety when she entered the room, he had felt the relief she had when she saw him, and he had also felt the immense happiness in her when she was called out for a hug.
To Xiao, she looked like a shy girl taking her brother's hug. Well, that perspective only worked for him because, truthfully, Xuanyin lets no one else even touch her. Once she had turned six, she even didn't let her own mother hug or touch her. Within the cosmos, the only one that is allowed is Xiao, and no one else.
The reason for this is simple. It's because of her physique. The Frostborne Glacierheart physique is something that ranks within the top 50. It's a foregone conclusion that she would reach the level of an immortal. It was only a matter of when. The only drawback of it is that as the physique slowly awakens, a person becomes more like an ice block, becoming eerily similar to the Ice phoenixes of the cosmos.
Ice phoenixes are extremely cold-hearted and very hard to befriend. They are always like an ice block, unmoving. But once they choose someone, their loyalty is unending until their death. To those who cannot feel, finding someone who can make them feel is extremely rewarding.
Of course, the situation with the Frostborne Glacierheart physique is much harsher and cruel than that. The power that surpasses all doesn't come free. In the future, this issue would be a headache that would continuously plague Xiao. Not knowing the problem that would one day haunt him, Xiao lovingly ruffled Xuanyin's hair.
She shook her head, trying to avoid it, but Xiao knew that she loved it when he ruffled her hair. After teasing her a bit, he turned his attention back to the elders who had entered inside. He could even see his grandfather among them. He stood in the front, tall and straight, as he led the group of elders. When all of them entered and saw him, they were all surprised, as the change within him was big.
"So you were successful?"
Yun Hao spoke without much change in his expression. Xiao straightened his back as he gave a respectful bow to Yun Hao. Grandfather or not, Yun Hao was the family head, and respect deserving of such must be given. Seeing Xiao bow, Yun Hao nodded his head. He used his spiritual sense to scan Xiao inside out.
He could see that Xiao had managed to increase his talent by one level, making him an Earth Core Realm talent. But Yun Hao frowned. His gut feeling was telling him that there was more. Among the younger generation, it was only Xiao who had caught his interest. Not because of his talent or maturity, but because Yun Hao could feel that Xiao possessed the answer to move forward.
Yun Hao had survived till now by trusting his instincts. It was a special power that led him to take the seat of the family head. And this same instinct was screaming that the little boy in front of him possessed an immense secret. But no matter how he scanned or looked, there was nothing he could find.
A sense of frustration built within him, but no matter what, he could not lash out. Looking at the calm Xiao, Yun Hao analyzed. No matter what, the boy would be in the family, and with the talent he saw, Xiao might not get strong fast. So he planned to wait. With an approving nod, Yun Hao spoke.
"Good. You have improved your talent by a level. You shall now be registered as an Earth Core Realm talent."
"I thank the Head."
Xiao spoke back with respect to Yun Hao. Seeing it, Yun Hao spoke his goodbye and left, along with the line of elders that followed him. It was only after they left that he heard his mother's concerned scream.
"Xiao, what happened to you?!"
Yun Lan shouted out. Previously, she was still absorbed in making sure that Xiao was safe. She didn't focus on the changes that had taken place in him. It was only now when she had calmed down that she noticed the change within him.
Before, Xiao had a bit of a handsome look that was blooming. Along with his skill, {Connection}, there was always a sense of peace and calmness when one talked to him. It was always relaxing to be near him. But now, all that had upgraded.
His hair, a mix of white and black, seemed a mess, but that mess seemed to come together and create a sense of harmonic beauty that drew one in. His deep black eyes with a hint of white in them were hypnotic. One would be drawn into them instantly. His aura, which always seemed calm, now had a sense of danger and mostly rejection.
It was as if he seemed to be going against everything that came face to face with him. It created a sense of danger in him that piqued one's interest. If before, he would make people just take a glance at him, now he would draw attention wherever he went, raising people's interest to know more about him.
"Wow, my son's definitely breaking a lot of girls' hearts in the future."
Yun Lan teased with a smile on her face. Seeing her son get better would make any parent proud. Hearing his mother's teasing, Xiao pouted 'childishly' as he replied back with fake embarrassment.
"Mom..."
"Hehehe... okay, okay, I will stop for now."
Seeing his mom finally letting go, Xiao sighed inside. After that, he turned to his sister, who was looking at his face intently. Seeing it, a smug smile came to his face as he spoke to his sister.
"What is it, Xuanyin? Do you think your brother is dashing?"
Xuanyin: Nods Head
"Oh? I am happy to hear that."
"..."
"Oh? You also liked my past look, too?"
"..."
"I see... well, your brother does look good in anything."
Xiao continued to chat with Xuanyin with a smile on his face, while Xuanyin didn't even open her mouth. Sometimes, she would nod, and other times, she would shake her head. Meanwhile, Yun Lan stood on the side and watched this interaction with a smile. Over the years, she had gotten used to the way they talked.
Though she had to say that she was jealous of her son being able to talk to her daughter so easily. Unlike Xiao, who could spend time with her easily and help support Xuanyin with her cold blasts, Yun Lan couldn't do any of those. Plus, Xuanyin seemed to be getting colder and more distant.
The only good thing was that she could see that Xuanyin was close to Xiao and seemed to be getting along with him, too. As a mother, how could she watch as her child experiences never never-ending cold and is unable to cultivate? She had been searching for a method to cure her in the last few years, but alas, she could not find anything. Now, she could only hope for a miracle to help her daughter.