"Even though Huang Wei possesses a Tenth-level Martial Soul, Father is being too biased!" Su Yan said discontentedly, "At the year-end conference, does our Xiao Long really have to—?!" Her eyes reddened as she spoke.
"I'll go talk to Father!" At that moment, Huang Peng abruptly stood up, frustrated.
"No need, Dad!" Suddenly, Huang Xiaolong spoke, "There's no need to go to Grandfather!"
Huang Peng and Su Yan involuntarily looked towards their son.
Just as Huang Peng was about to speak, suddenly, he saw bursts of Fighting Energy radiance erupting from his son's body.
"Fighting Energy, external release of Fighting Energy?!" After a moment of shock, Huang Peng and Su Yan exclaimed in disbelief.
External release of Fighting Energy, could it be?! A thought flashed through Huang Peng and Su Yan's minds, Warrior First Rank?! Only reaching the Warrior First Rank could one externally release Fighting Energy, even successfully condensing Fighting Energy wouldn't allow this.
"Xiao Long, you, have you already advanced to the First Order?!" Huang Peng asked with a trembling voice. Even though he saw it with his own eyes, he still couldn't believe it and feared it was not true.
"Yes, Dad, Mom, I've already advanced to First Order!" Huang Xiaolong nodded, he didn't want his parents to worry about the year-end conference all the time, which is why he chose to reveal part of his strength now.
Hearing their son personally admit it, Huang Peng and Su Yan finally believed what they were seeing, and then their faces lit up with great joy, especially Su Yan who ran over excitedly and hugged Huang Xiaolong tightly, "Wonderful, wonderful, my son has finally advanced to First Order!"
Su Yan started crying, tears streaming down her face, tears of extreme joy.
With Su Yan's ample chest tightly pressing against him, Huang Xiaolong felt almost suffocated, barely managing to wriggle free. He inwardly sighed with a wry smile, it was just advancing to First Order, was such a big reaction necessary?
However, he could genuinely sense the love Huang Peng and Su Yan had for him.
After a long while, Huang Peng and Su Yan gradually calmed down from their great joy.
"Xiao Long, how did you advance to First Order?" Huang Peng voiced his doubt, knowing that with Huang Xiaolong's Level 7 Martial Soul talent, it generally took about a year to advance to First Order.
Su Yan also looked at her son, clearly having the same question.
Huang Xiaolong did not speak but reached into his chest. Under the puzzled looks of Huang Peng and Su Yan, his hand came out holding two red fruits.
The Red Fruits were dazzlingly red.
"Are these, are these Yang Fruits?!" Huang Peng and Su Yan cried out in surprise.
"That's right." Huang Xiaolong smiled, "One month ago, I happened upon them in a valley in the back mountains, a total of five; I've already devoured three."
Indeed, there were five Yang Fruits, but at that moment, Huang Xiaolong had only devoured one.
"Devoured three!" Huang Peng and Su Yan exchanged a look, now they finally understood the "real reason" for their son's advancement to First Order.
"Great, haha, Xiao Long, I didn't expect you to have such an incredible encounter! These Yang Fruits are divine fruits of heaven and earth, their effects are no less than the Thousand-year-old Luo Xin Grass that your grandfather purchased for Huang Wei." Huang Peng laughed heartily, his heart filled with joy, "And they will greatly benefit your future cultivation!"
Su Yan also beamed with joy.
"Dad, Mom, take one Yang Fruit each and use them for your cultivation," Huang Xiaolong said.
Huang Peng and Su Yan's smiles faltered, just as they were about to refuse, Huang Xiaolong spoke up to interrupt, "I've already devoured three, devouring these two won't have much effect on me anymore. It's better to let Dad and Mom use these two Yang Fruits for cultivation."
Huang Peng and Su Yan both remained silent.
After a while, Huang Peng nodded and said, "Alright." After finishing his words, he took the Yang Fruit from his son Huang Xiaolong, looked at the Yang Fruit in his hand, took a deep breath, and tried his best to suppress the excitement in his heart. He had been stuck at the Sixth-stage Late Stage for more than a year, and with this Yang Fruit, he should be able to reach the Sixth-stage Late-stage Peak within two months.
He indeed needed this Yang Fruit very much.
As Su Yan looked at the Yang Fruit in her hand, her expression was almost the same as Huang Peng's. Being at the Fifth-stage Late Stage Peak, with this Yang Fruit, she now held the hope of breaking through to the Sixth Rank.
"Xiao Long, don't talk about your breakthrough from the First Order to anyone for now," Huang Peng regained his senses and said to his son, "Also, even though you've consumed the Yang Fruit to break through the First Order, you still need to practice diligently and strive to reach the First Order Middle Stage by the end of the year."
In Huang Peng's view, as long as his son achieved the First Order Middle Stage by then, even if Huang Wei reached the First-stage Late Stage, he wouldn't be able to cripple his son with his own hands.
The gap between the First Order Middle Stage and the First-stage Late Stage wasn't big.
"Dad, Mom, don't worry, I won't let you down," Huang Xiaolong said.
Hearing this, Huang Peng and Su Yan felt relieved in their hearts.
After a while, Huang Xiaolong left the East Hall and went back to his own small courtyard. Once back there, Huang Xiaolong resumed his cultivation. After breaking through to the Third Rank, he ran the Asura Technique, and the speed at which the Two-headed Snake Martial Soul behind him devoured the Nine Netherworld Dark Energy increased significantly, and his inner Fighting Energy grew stronger.
Almost every other day, Huang Xiaolong's inner Fighting Energy would increase.
Huang Xiaolong's small courtyard was located in the farthest eastern corner of the Huang Family Manor, so aside from his parents and his sister Huang Min, few people passed by, which made it convenient for Huang Xiaolong to cultivate.
In his relentless practice day and night, Huang Xiaolong's Fighting Energy and Inner Strength increased at an astonishing rate.
Third-stage Early Peak, Third-stage Mid Stage, Third-stage Middle Peak, Third Stage Late Stage!
When three months had passed, Huang Xiaolong's Fighting Energy had reached the Third Stage Late Stage Peak and he was on the verge of breaking through to Fourth-stage, with only a few days left until the family's annual meeting.
However, the Fourth-stage was a watershed. The barrier to the Fourth-stage was much thicker and larger than those of the Second and Third Ranks, making the breakthrough to the Fourth-stage far more difficult.
Some disciples within the Huang Family Manor, possessing Level 8 Martial Souls, had been stuck at the Third-stage Late Stage Peak for two years and still couldn't break through to the Fourth-stage. Even for those with Level 8 Martial Souls, it generally took a year to breakthrough from the Third-stage Late Stage Peak to the Fourth-stage.
A dozen days passed quickly.
As the family's annual meeting approached, the Huang Family Manor was filled with joy, as the annual meeting was followed by the new year in two days, so the manor was decorated with lights and festivity everywhere. Compared to other parts of the Huang Family Manor, the little courtyard where Huang Xiaolong stayed seemed lonely and quiet.
"Tomorrow is the annual meeting," Huang Xiaolong stepped out from his room. Despite ten days of intensive hard practice, he was still stuck at the Third Stage Late Stage Peak, and it seemed that breaking through to the Fourth-stage was not going to be a matter of just a few days.
Huang Xiaolong strolled out from his small courtyard.
"Tomorrow is the family's annual meeting. Have you heard? The old manor master will also be there!"
"This year is Young Master Huang Wei's first participation in the family annual meeting since his Martial Soul was awakened, so of course the old manor master will attend. Not only that, but I also heard that the old manor master has invited the Old Clan Chief of the Li Family!"
"So, the Old Clan Chief from the Li Family is also coming?"
Both the Li Family and the Huang Family Manor were major forces in Canglan County, and Li Mu, the Old Clan Chief of the Li Family, had always had a good relationship with Huang Xiaolong's grandfather, Huang Qide. Huang Xiaolong listened to guards talking as they walked past, his eyes sparkling.
(In the next chapter, the family annual meeting begins!)