The Fifth Elder, Seventh Elder, and Eighth Elder had gloomy expressions on their faces that were as dark as water.
No one dared to publicly violate the clan's rules.
The atmosphere suddenly became much more solemn.
The Third Elder, Xiao Chong, looked at Xiao Yi with a gleam of pleasure in his eyes. He had thought that Xiao Yi would certainly be wronged tonight, but he had never expected that Xiao Yi would strike back so forcefully, and with such sharpness.
"Truly, the blessing of the ancestors of the Xiao family, Yii'er has grown up," thought Xiao Chong to himself.
Indeed, a good-for-nothing who had been inept for many years had suddenly become so mature, so brave; as an elder who loved him dearly, it was naturally an utmost joy.
Suddenly, Xiao Ruohan, who was beside the Fifth Elder, stepped forward and first paid respects to the elders and deacons present.
Then he said, "Elders, deacons, what Xiao Yi said makes sense. However, the opportunity to cultivate in the Purple Cloud Cave is very important to any member of our family."
"If it were true that Xiao Yi, as the Young Master, could overpower the rest of us family members, we would naturally have nothing to say. But with his current minor cultivation, giving him special treatment would be very unfair to the other family members."
"Even more so, among the younger generation, this will lead to much dissatisfaction with the family."
"I think that our ancestors, when they established these rules, certainly wanted our Xiao Family to become stronger with each passing day. They would never want to see such unfairness arise, nor would they want to see our family members harbor resentment toward the family."
"Therefore." Xiao Ruohan had said a lot before he solemnly added, "I think we can make an adjustment to the rules."
Xiao Ruohan was known as a genius of the Xiao Family, graceful and mature, and was the favoured junior of many elders.
Moreover, he was only 17 years old this year, with his cultivation already at the Mortal Realm Seventh Layer, truly the foremost among the family's younger generation.
Given time, he would break through to the Postnatal Realm.
It's very possible that he will become the youngest deacon in the history of the Xiao Family, and even become an elder in the future.
So, his words carried significant weight within the family.
Upon hearing his words, the elder deacons nodded slightly.
At this moment, the Fourth Elder, who had not spoken until now, said, "Ruohan, your point makes sense. So, how do you think we should adjust the rules?"
The Fourth Elder was the most impartial person in the family and had always been neutral.
Xiao Ruohan replied, "Reporting to Fourth Elder, I believe that for the sake of fairness, we indeed should not directly strip Xiao Yi of the opportunity to cultivate in the Purple Cloud Cave, nor should we directly give it to him."
"Oh?" The Fourth Elder looked puzzled.
Xiao Ruohan continued, "In half a month, on the eve of the Purple Cloud Cave's opening, the family will hold a competition. According to the rules, only the top nine ranked disciples can obtain a spot. I think, let Xiao Yi also participate in this competition, instead of directly exempting him from it, letting him seize his spot through genuine strength."
Xiao Yi rolled his eyes upon hearing this. Xiao Ruohan's words were tantamount to saying nothing at all.
The Fourth Elder nodded and turned to Xiao Yi, saying, "Xiao Yi, this is a relatively fair proposal, what do you think?"
"I refuse," Xiao Yi blurted out.
The Fourth Elder frowned and said, "Xiao Yi, as a good man of our Xiao family, you should not be so reticent. A martial artist should be bold and fearless in the face of adversity, calm in the face of danger, and establish a firm and unyielding heart, in order to achieve success in martial arts cultivation."
Xiao Yi shrugged and said, "The opportunity to cultivate in the Purple Cloud Cave is rightfully mine. Why should I go through this trouble and risk losing it by agreeing to this request?"
"In my view, if I really agreed, it's not a matter of being reticent or not, it's simply foolish behavior."
Upon hearing Xiao Yi's words, the elder deacons shook their heads disapprovingly, instinctively feeling that Xiao Yi was a scoundrel.
"This..." The Fifth Elder and others cursed silently in their hearts, "Xiao Yi, this trash, clearly a useless wretch, where did he learn these scoundrel-like tricks?"
Xiao Ruohan, who was beside him, did not hurry at all and still maintained a breezy smile, saying, "Young Master Xiao Yi, could it be that you are afraid?"
Xiao Yi looked directly at Xiao Ruohan and said, "It's not a matter of being afraid, but that if I accept your request, things become risky. If I compete and lose, the price I'll have to pay is too high."
"As I said before, only a fool would make a deal that is harmful to oneself and beneficial to others."
Xiao Ruohan frowned, if Xiao Yi kept insisting on clan rules and continued to play hardball, there wouldn't be much he could do.
At that moment, however, Xiao Yi smiled and said, "Of course, since this request was put forth by you, Xiao Ruohan, if you're willing to take the same risk and pay the same price as I, then I don't mind your request."
"It's just as you said, about being fair, I can't be the only fool here; you should also play the fool."
"Coarse." Hearing Xiao Yi's repeated use of 'fool,' Xiao Ruohan frowned.
"What kind of risk and price do you want me to face?" asked Xiao Ruohan.
In fact, Xiao Ruohan was inwardly pleased at this moment; as long as Xiao Yi was willing to accept the proposal, he would step by step fall into the trap that he had carefully laid out.
Xiao Ruohan was a man of schemes.
"It's simple," said Xiao Yi, "In half a month, I will participate in the family's competition. If I lose, I will give up the spot for cultivation. If I win, then you, Xiao Ruohan, will give up your spot for this round and will not enter the Purple Cloud Cave for cultivation."
As Xiao Yi spoke, he suddenly stood up, walked in front of Xiao Ruohan, and with frost in his eyes, he challenged, "Xiao Ruohan, do you dare or do you not dare?"
"I..." Xiao Ruohan was suddenly shouted at by Xiao Yi and almost blurted out 'I dare'. But he quickly recovered and fell silent.
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Among the younger generation of the family who are ranked in the top ten, the weakest are at the Mortal Realm Sixth Layer.
Logically, with Xiao Yi's minimal strength, there's absolutely no way he could win in half a month.
Yet, Xiao Ruohan still hesitated. The triennial cultivation in the Purple Cloud Cave was extremely important, even greatly influencing his future cultivation.
The best time for a Martial Artist to establish their foundation is before the age of 18, and he was already 17 this year; he couldn't wait for the next opening of the Purple Cloud Cave three years later.
Thus, this cultivation spot was of extraordinary significance to him, and he dared not agree readily.
"What's the matter, Xiao Ruohan, are you afraid?" Xiao Yi asked in a pressing tone.
The same phrase 'are you afraid?' spoken by Xiao Yi, felt like a harsh slap across the face of Xiao Ruohan, known as a genius.
"What genius of the Xiao Family you're famous to be, in my eyes, Xiao Yi, you're nothing but a coward."
"What did you say? Xiao Yi, you little waste, do you really think I'm afraid of you?" Xiao Ruohan was always arrogant, having grown up basked in the aura of a genius, never been insulted as a coward by anyone.
Suddenly, a 'slap' sound.
Xiao Yi had unexpectedly slapped Xiao Ruohan across the face without warning.
"Bastard, who are you calling waste?" Xiao Yi roared angrily after slapping him.
"You...you dare to hit me?" Xiao Ruohan was somewhat unable to react.
He never imagined that being at Mortal Realm Seventh Layer, Xiao Yi would dare to lay a hand on him, and that too, slapping him in the face in full view of everyone.
It was only when he felt the burning pain on his face that he reacted, becoming furious with murderous intent, "You little waste, you dare to hit me, I'll kill you!"
For him, a genius observed by all, being publicly slapped by Xiao Yi, the waste, was an utter disgrace.
"You dare?" Xiao Yi was not at all intimidated and even shouted back without flinching.
"I am the Young Master of Xiao Family, second only to the Family Head in status, on par with the elders. You, Xiao Ruohan, are but an ordinary family member, yet dare to call me 'waste'. This is insolence and subordination."
"Fourth Elder." Xiao Yi looked towards the Fourth Elder at his side and asked, "According to family rules, if a family member disrespects an elder and is insolent, how should they be punished?"
The Fourth Elder replied truthfully, "For a minor offense, thirty strokes; for a severe offense, confinement for a month; and for even more serious cases, expulsion from the Xiao Family."
"Good." Xiao Yi sneered, "Xiao Ruohan, go on, touch me if you dare."
"You...you...." Xiao Ruohan gnashed his teeth, nearly dying of anger.
The Xiao Family did have such a rule, but as long as it wasn't too outrageous, the elders generally didn't take it too seriously.
As for the Young Master, the young top contender from previous generations had never been in a position to be accused of insubordination.
Xiao Yi was an exception, the most useless Young Master in the history of the Xiao Family.
Moreover, he had always been submissive and useless in the past, which made other family members disregard him.
But now, Xiao Yi was mature beyond his years, decisive in killing, and naturally would use every advantage he had to deal with Xiao Ruohan.
The title of Young Master was one point, and support from the Third Elder was another.
The slap he had just delivered was for Yiyi's sake.
"I'll ask you one more time, do you dare or not!" Xiao Yi challenged, "If not, then stop wasting my time with your nonsense."
"Little... what do I have to be afraid of." Xiao Ruohan subconsciously wanted to curse 'little waste' but stopped himself and shouted angrily, "Xiao Yi, I accept your challenge. If you win in half a month, I'll give up my spot for this cultivation opportunity."
"Good." Xiao Yi's lips curled into a smug, cold smirk, "Elders and deacons present bear witness, this matter is settled, no changes allowed."
...
After an entire day of deadlock, the elder's meeting finally concluded with a standoff between the two most renowned members of the family.
Of course, Xiao Ruohan was a famous genius; Xiao Yi was infamously useless.
...
Inside the residence of the Fifth Elder, with a worried expression, he said, "Ruohan, your agreement to that little waste was a bit impulsive."
"Don't worry, father." Xiao Ruohan said confidently, "That little waste is merely at Mortal Realm First Layer, a huge difference from Mortal Realm Sixth Layer like heaven and earth. Do you think that little waste has any chance of winning?"
"Unless," Xiao Ruohan sneered, "Unless he advances to Mortal Realm Sixth Layer in half a month, but martial cultivation is so difficult. It took me a whole year to go from Mortal Realm Fifth Layer to Mortal Realm Sixth Layer, let alone from Mortal Realm First Layer. What can that little waste do in half a month?"
"That's true." The Fifth Elder nodded, his mind at ease, and said, "It's just my overcautiousness. But what's taking Yang Fu so long to make his move? He almost disrupted our plan tonight."
Xiao Ruohan's face turned cold as he pondered and said, "Although Yang Fu is a well-known assassin, he's only at Mortal Realm Ninth Layer, probably finding it difficult to infiltrate the Xiao Family."
They were still unaware that Yang Fu had already died at the hands of Xiao Yi.
"No matter what, now that little waste has fallen into our calculations, and within a few months, he's as good as dead."
From the residence, the eerie laughter of Xiao Ruohan and his father echoed.
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