In the main hall of the Xiao family, Xiao Zhan could hardly contain his excitement and mixed emotions.
This morning, Yunlan Sect's Ge Ye came with Nalan Yanran to forcefully break off the engagement with his son, Xiao Yan. He felt sad and indignant, feeling that the heavens were unfair to his son. Not only did they take away his Dou Qi talent, but they also caused him great humiliation.
However, today turned out to be a turning point for his son. A terrifying powerhouse suddenly appeared, taking charge of the Xiao family and causing Ge Ye and the others to retreat in shame. This powerhouse even discovered the reason behind Xiao Yan's talent loss and helped him recover it.
But what was even more unbelievable was that this terrifying powerhouse came to the Xiao family for other reasons but unexpectedly discovered Xiao Yan's talent and wanted to take him as a disciple. Life truly had its ups and downs and was full of unexpected surprises.
Down below, Xiao Yan knelt on the ground with great respect, holding up a cup of tea with both hands above his head. His face was solemn and full of respect, but his eyes were filled with joy.
Li Xiu looked down at Xiao Yan kneeling before him and spoke with a cold and stern voice: "To become my disciple, you must respect me as you would respect a god. Can you do that?"
Xiao Yan raised the cup of tea a little higher, his heart beating like thunder. He replied in a solemn voice: "I will always remember my duty and respect you as my master. I ask that you please take me as your disciple."
With a slight sound of drinking tea in his ear, Li Xiu said: "Get up, my disciple."
Xiao Yan's hands trembled as he clenched them tightly. He was extremely excited to be accepted as a disciple by such a terrifying powerhouse. He immediately kowtowed once again before standing up and bowing respectfully to Li Xiu.
"Greetings, Master."
Li Xiu nodded lightly and then turned to Xiao Zhan: "Family Head Xiao, I will take Xiao Yan on a journey in the near future. It may be years before we return. I hope you can understand."
Xiao Zhan's expression froze for a moment upon hearing this, and he couldn't help but glance at Xiao Yan with reluctance. However, he still said: "Everything is up to you."
"Although Xiao Yan's talent for Dou Qi has been restored, his current strength is only at the Dou Zhi Qi 3rd Stage. If he wants to catch up with Nalan Yanran within three years, it won't be an easy task. He needs to experience life and death crises during his travels, so that he can better tap into his potential and improve his strength."
After explaining this to Xiao Zhan, Li Xiu turned to Xiao Yan and said: "Xiao Yan, come with me. I will teach you the cultivation techniques of our sect."
With that, he stood up and walked out.
Xiao Yan was taken aback upon hearing that his master was going to teach him cultivation techniques so soon. It was only thanks to Xiao Zhan's reminder that he quickly turned around and hurried to catch up with Li Xiu.
As they exited the Xiao family's main hall, Li Xiu walked ahead with his hands behind his back, while Xiao Yan followed closely behind.
Along the way, most of the Xiao family members had already heard about Xiao Yan's restored talent and how he had caught the eye of a mysterious powerhouse, becoming his disciple. Countless envious and jealous glances were once again directed at him.
With his exceptional hearing, Xiao Yan also overheard some conversations among family members expressing surprise, envy, regret and fear.
"I heard that Xiao Yan's talent has actually been restored!"
"Not only that, did you see? A terrifying expert scared the disciple of Yunlan Sect out of his wits and took Xiao Yan as his own disciple upon appearing. The clan meeting hall was just sealed off because of Xiao Yan's apprenticeship."
"Hey, if I had befriended Xiao Yan during the time when his talent disappeared and he was down on his luck, and encouraged him all along, would I be able to share in his success when he becomes a big shot in the future?"
"Well, what's the use of saying that now? We should think about whether we've ever been unfair to Xiao Yan in the past. I... I made a few sarcastic comments to him before. I don't know if he'll hold a grudge against me when he rises to power in the future."
"I think I've done that too, what should I do?"
...
Listening to these words, Xiao Yan let out a long breath, feeling lighter with each step, but his strides became stronger and more forceful, as if he could crush rocks underfoot. His gaze became sharp, and he sighed deeply in his heart: "It's been three years, this feeling is really long overdue!"
Both of them soon arrived at the back mountain of the Xiao family. Li Xiu suddenly stopped, and Xiao Yan quickly followed suit.
"Did you hear it as we walked slowly here?"
Li Xiu suddenly turned around and asked with an inscrutable expression.
Xiao Yan was startled and instinctively asked: "Hear... hear what?"
Li Xiu's voice seemed to stir people's hearts and souls as he said: "The envy and fear in people's hearts, one after another."
"I heard it."
Xiao Yan answered, with his heart stunned as if someone had clenched it and cut off his breath.
"Why?"
Li Xiu suddenly stared into Xiao Yan's eyes and asked again.
Xiao Yan felt as if Li Xiu's gaze had peered straight into his heart, causing him to speak out his true thoughts without any hesitation.
"It's because my talent has been restored, it's because I've been accepted as a disciple by my master, that they are envious again! It's because I'm about to surpass them again, to a point where they can't measure my strength, that they are starting to fear!"
Xiao Yan spoke in a low, almost growling voice. When his mind finally calmed down, he realized that Li Xiu had turned his head towards the mist-shrouded mountain range in the distance, but he wasn't sure when.
There was a long silence between the two, and Xiao Yan grew more anxious in his heart. He regretted why he had been so blunt. Would his words displease his master?
Just as Xiao Yan was about to say something to make up for it, he saw Li Xiu nod lightly and say: "Exactly, this is what a strong person is like. Standing with their hands behind their back at a high place, countless people below envy, jealousy, and fear you. The more you have these things, the stronger you are!"
Xiao Yan's heart leaped and a broad smile of joy spread across his face. He couldn't believe that his master had agreed with his thoughts.
Li Xiu turned around and looked at Xiao Yan with an inscrutable expression. He said slowly: "However, a true strong person does not need any reliance. They are called strong not because of their connections with anyone or their future potential, but because they currently hold a power that is feared and dreaded, possessing a terrifying strength."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan fell to his knees in excitement and said with a tremble in his voice: "Please teach me the ways of the strong, Master!"
Li Xiu stretched out his hand and a jet-black scroll suddenly appeared in his grasp. "This is our sect's true method. If you cultivate it deeply, you can destroy mountains, flatten peaks, turn rivers and overturn seas. Go and study it carefully."
Xiao Yan's excitement was evident on his face as he respectfully received the scroll from Li Xiu. After Li Xiu waved his hand, Xiao Yan concealed the scroll in his embrace and headed down the mountain.
Suddenly, a white light flashed and a semi-transparent, elderly figure appeared.
Yao Chen looked thoughtful as he said: "I don't know why, but I feel like something is off about what you said."
Li Xiu withdrew his gaze from the mountain and slowly asked: "Oh? Did I say something wrong?"
Yao Chen thought for a moment and shook his head: "No, it's just too straightforward."
"Is being straightforward a bad thing?"
Li Xiu chuckled and said, then without waiting for Yao Chen to say anything, turned to him and asked: "Do you know of any alchemy formulas that can enhance the concentration of a magical beast's bloodline?"
Yao Chen replied after some thought: "There are a few, but they are all ancient formulas with rare and hard-to-find ingredients. Gathering all the necessary components depends on luck."
After pondering for a moment, Li Xiu asked another question: "What about pills that can temporarily boost the bloodline? I can acquire the necessary ingredients for such pills without leaving the Jia Ma Empire."
Asking for a temporary boost was a demanding request, but Yao Chen confidently answered: "Yes, such pills do exist."
"Very good."
Li Xiu said upon hearing the response. He looked towards the distant mountains, chuckled lightly, and nodded in satisfaction.