Chapter 42: Seven Days! Seven Days! Do You Know How I Spent These Seven Days?!
In the evening, Xiao Zhan led all the senior members of the Xiao Family, standing outside the gate.
Their eyes were filled with anticipation, waiting for the arrival of the person Xiao Ze had mentioned!
The senior members of the Xiao Family standing behind him were still somewhat incredulous!
The instructor from Canaan Academy, who had always maintained a lofty position, was actually going to stay at the Xiao Family?
If these words hadn't come from Xiao Ze's mouth, they probably wouldn't have believed it!
But now, Xiao Ze held significant authority within the Xiao Family!
During this period, Xiao Zhan had not been idle.
Leveraging Xiao Ze's initial demonstration of his nine-star fighter strength and depicting a brilliant future for the Xiao Family's descendants like painting a pie during the conflict with the Grand Elder.
He successfully secured his position as clan leader!
Greatly weakening the power of other elders and senior members of the Xiao Family!
And witnessing Xiao Ze's breakthroughs in realm twice, Xiao Zhan's determination to pass the position of clan leader to Xiao Ze became firm!
Xiao Zhan had been working behind the scenes to build momentum for Xiao Ze within the Xiao Family!
Perhaps even Xiao Ze himself wouldn't have expected that his authority would surpass that of all the elders!
In anticipation, Xiao Yu, along with Instructor Ruolin and a large group of female students, returned to the Xiao Family.
Xiao Zhan's nervous mood finally relaxed, and he greeted them with a joyful smile on his face.
"You must be Instructor Ruolin. I am Xiao Zhan, the clan leader of the Xiao Family."
"Indeed, I am. Nice to meet you, Clan Leader Xiao. Your son's talent is truly enviable."
Instructor Ruolin showed a gentle smile and replied politely. After all, she was Xiao Ze's father.
"I brought a group of students. Will it be inconvenient for the Xiao Family?"
"Of course not. It's an honor for the Xiao Family to accommodate the talented students and powerful instructors of Canaan. It will surely add luster to the Xiao Family!"
Xiao Zhan warmly welcomed them to the guest rooms.
Based on Xiao Ze's earlier message, he had already instructed someone to prepare the guest rooms.
They were ready for occupancy at any time.
Such considerate hospitality made Instructor Ruolin very satisfied.
Early the next morning, Xiao Ze stood on the mountaintop and noticed many carriages parked outside the Xiao Family gate.
The emblems on the carriages represented some of the top powers in Uthan City!
"With this wave of exchanges of interests, it should be enough to propel the Xiao Family's rapid development for a while."
"Next, the most important thing when going to Canaan Academy is to improve my strength!"
After setting a short-term goal, Xiao Ze became even more reclusive compared to before.
It was as if he had already left the Xiao Family and was heading to Canaan Academy.
However, unfortunately, Canaan Academy required a seven-day stay in Uthan City.
They had to thoroughly conduct the enrollment ceremony before returning to Canaan Academy with the newly recruited students.
Time flew by, and seven days passed.
Xiao Ze sat cross-legged on a stone platform, his body emitting a faint blue light, vast like the sea.
"Phew, a three-star Grand Fighter. Progress is not bad!"
Xiao Ze felt the crystal within the cyclone of his fighting energy expand slightly, nodding in satisfaction.
Two stars advanced in just seven days! In the realm of Grand Fighter, it was very difficult to achieve this through ordinary cultivation without using elixirs.
Occasionally, Xiao Ze used the venom of the little doctor to enhance his fighting energy cultivation by utilizing the power of the Hardship Poison Body.
"Xiao Ze, are you ready? Today is the day we leave."
Xiao Xun, accompanied by the little doctor, arrived at the mountaintop. Sensing Xiao Ze's lingering momentum, she couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
With exceptional talent and the rapid cultivation progress of the Hardship Poison Body in the early stages, one day of cultivation was equivalent to several years for others!
"I'm ready. There's nothing much to take from the Xiao Family. Farewells were said long ago, and showing up again now would seem a bit artificial."
Xiao Ze stretched his muscles and completely restrained his aura, appearing like an ordinary youth.
"Let's go. Let's meet up with Instructor Ruolin!"
The three of them arrived at the gate and found Xiao Yu already waiting there.
Seeing Xiao Ze and the others, she quickly approached with long strides.
"I finally get to see you three. You've been as elusive as ghosts for these seven days, completely unreachable!"
Xiao Yu exaggeratedly said, although if one were to look for them, they could just go to the back mountain.
But Xiao Yu wasn't idle either, just going to find Xiao Ze and the others.
"Haha, immersed in cultivation. Please forgive us, Cousin Xiao Yu."
"You guys had it good, staying hidden and quiet. I, on the other hand, was dragged around by Instructor Ruolin. These three days were spent busy with new student registrations... sigh~"
The four of them headed to the square, with Xiao Yu venting her frustrations to Xiao Ze and the others along the way.
Xiao Ze smiled as he listened to Xiao Yu's complaints.
As they neared the square, Xiao Yu sensibly closed her mouth.
"I thought you were going to keep venting until we reached the square."
Xiao Xun chuckled, and Xiao Yu rolled her eyes, saying unenthusiastically.
"Although Instructor Ruolin is gentle, I can't complain in front of her. Otherwise, my butt will be in trouble!"
The four of them arrived at the square and saw the enrollment team from Canaan Academy doing the final preparations.
Seeing the three finally appear, Instructor Ruolin heaved a sigh of relief.
"You three finally showed up. If you didn't, I would have thought you were going to stand us up!"
"Sorry, Instructor Ruolin. We've actually been staying in the mountains behind the Xiao Family all along. Canaan Academy is a sacred place for learning. How could we stand you up?"
Upon hearing Xiao Ze's words, Instructor Ruolin's complexion finally eased a bit.
Now she understood just how peaceful Xiao Ze meant by "seeking tranquility"!
She hoped that when they reached the academy, he wouldn't skip classes...
Instructor Ruolin asked the three to help with the final preparations.
Xiao Ze went to a certain place to assist, when suddenly a dark-skinned person in the academy uniform rushed out and called out to him.
"Xiao Ze!"
Xiao Ze couldn't help but be puzzled. "Do I know you, senior?"
Xiao Ze looked at this dark-skinned person, wondering if he was one of the students recruited from the Tagore Desert?
Upon hearing this, the dark-skinned person's face visibly filled with anger!
"Seven days! Seven days! Do you know how I spent these seven days?!"
Seven days... plus this somewhat familiar voice, made Xiao Ze recall.
Wasn't this Rod, the senior student?
Xiao Ze looked Rod up and down. His skin was dark all over, completely different from Rod seven days ago. No wonder he didn't recognize him at first.
He couldn't help but nod and say, "I see. You must have been basking in the sun for a full seven days, right?"
Upon hearing Xiao Ze's words, Rod couldn't help but clench his fists, gritting his teeth.
"Do you even know what I've been through these seven days?"
"Oh! So what if I do? Do you want to regain your dignity with me?"
Xiao Ze said indifferently.
Seeing Rod's unwillingness to admit defeat and his tendency to use excessive force during sparring, Xiao Ze felt that he had been too lenient earlier.
Hearing Xiao Ze's indifferent words, Rod couldn't help but raise his fist.
"Hey! Senior Rod, think about the consequences before acting. If you get seriously injured this time, it will take longer to recover from the exhaustion of travel."
Hearing this, Rod's body involuntarily stiffened, swallowing hard.
Xiao Ze's words seemed to awaken his wounds.
He felt a fiery pain in his chest again, even though it had already healed. Why did it still hurt?!
"Senior Rod, remember, self-awareness is essential for a person."
Rod sighed dejectedly and turned away.