"Father, you've always known that your eldest grandson has had a mind of his own since he was a child,"
Xiao Liangting began, his tone trying to sound reassuring.
"It's normal for him to go out occasionally. Don't you agree?"
After speaking, Xiao Liangting cast a pleading glance at the other three men, silently urging them to support his words.
"Yes, Patriarch,"
"Xuan'er is an intelligent young man. There's no need to worry too much about him."
"That's right, Just recently, Xuan'er sparred with me, and we were evenly matched."
Xiao Zhongzheng, seated at the head of the hall, perked up at this statement. His eyes lit up with interest, and a hint of pride flickered across his face.
He knew the man who spoke—Xiao Liangyu—was an accomplished cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refining. If his grandson, Xiao Xuan, could stand toe-to-toe with him while only at the sixth level of Qi Refining, it was undeniable proof of his remarkable talent.
The tense atmosphere in the Great Hall began to ease slightly, as murmurs of approval circulated among the gathered elders.
But the calm was short-lived.
Suddenly, a deafening roar echoed through the hall, shaking its very foundations.
"Boom!!!"
"Xuan'er is missing, and you, as his father, have no idea where he is?!"
Xiao Zhongzheng thundered, his fury reigniting like a wildfire.
"You've grown bold, haven't you, Liangting? Do you dare think you can fool me?!"
In a blur of motion, Xiao Zhongzheng descended from his seat. With a powerful kick, he sent Xiao Liangting sprawling to the floor. The impact resounded through the hall, silencing everyone.
The patriarch's gaze swept over the room, his eyes blazing with anger.
"Tell me—where has Xuan'er gone?!"
The Great Hall fell into a suffocating silence. None of the gathered men dared to meet Xiao Zhongzheng's gaze, their heads bowed under the weight of his fury.
Xiao Zhongzheng, though nearing the end of his life, still commanded absolute authority. His Cultivation Base, at the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining, was undeniable. Among those present, no one dared challenge him—they simply weren't his match.
At this critical moment, Xiao Zhongzhi, seated nearby, quickly stepped in to calm the situation.
Xiao Zhongzhi, the elder of the Xiao family, was at the eighth level of Qi Refining. Of Xiao Zhongzheng's generation, only three members were still alive, including him.
"Brother," Xiao Zhongzhi began with a sigh, his tone filled with regret.
"It's my fault for not stopping him. He knew you only had two months left, yet he insisted on venturing into the Immortal Sword Mountains to find Xuan Huang Grass to extend your life."
He paused, glancing down as if ashamed.
"I did my best to stop him, but he was too fast. Before we could catch up, he was already gone."
When Xiao Zhongzhi finished, the others in the hall lowered their heads, not daring to meet Xiao Zhongzheng's fiery gaze.
Hearing this, Xiao Zhongzheng trembled with rage, his outstretched finger pointing accusingly at the group.
"You fools! Do you not understand?" he bellowed, his voice quaking with both anger and frustration.
"I am an old man. My death is inevitable—I've already accepted it."
His voice softened slightly, though his tone remained sharp.
"But Xuan'er... Xuan'er is the hope of the Xiao family! He is a genius unlike any we have ever seen!"
Xiao Zhongzheng's eyes blazed as he continued, his words striking deep.
"If every single member of the Xiao family were to perish, it wouldn't matter—as long as Xuan'er survives!"
The weight of his words fell heavily on the hall. None of the four men dared to respond. They all understood the truth behind his fury.
Since Xiao Xuan had been discovered at the age of five to possess Earth Spiritual Roots, with attributes in both space and wind, the focus of the entire Xiao family had shifted.
No longer was the family solely concerned with expanding its influence.
Instead, their priority had become the protection and cultivation of Xiao Xuan, ensuring his rapid growth and future success.
The Xiao family understood a simple truth: if Xiao Xuan could fully mature and reach his potential, their entire family would rise to prominence, achieving heights they could only dream of.
With his unmatched talent, their family's strength and influence would soar.
At this moment, Xiao Zhongzheng abruptly stood, his face set in determination as he stormed toward the hall's entrance.
"Go!"
"Search everywhere! Don't come back unless you find him!"
The four elders didn't hesitate. They rushed out immediately, their faces grim with urgency.
Before they could begin their search, however, a clansman ran in from outside, his voice loud with excitement.
"Brother Xuan is back!"
"He's already headed to the back mountain secret room!"
At this news, the hall collectively exhaled in relief. Smiles broke out among the group as the tension eased.
"Patriarch, I told you, Xuan'er is fine!"
"That's right, Apart from a ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator, who in Qinghe Town could possibly be a match for him?"
"This boy, He's so bold—he really treats the Immortal Sword Mountain Range as his personal playground."
Hearing these reassurances, the worry etched into Xiao Zhongzheng's face faded. A faint smile crossed his lips, and he gestured for everyone to follow him.
"Come, Let's head to the back mountain secret room."
The elders and clansmen followed him eagerly, their expressions filled with relief and anticipation.
It was no surprise to them that Xiao Xuan had gone directly to the back mountain secret room. For years, this had been his routine whenever he returned from an outing. The patriarch and the elders always gathered there to discuss his progress and plans.
The mountain behind the Xiao family estate was vast, its dense jungle teeming with life.
The towering trees stood like ancient sentinels, their thick roots gripping the earth tightly as if protecting the family they sheltered.
Beneath this mountain lay a first-order high-grade spiritual vein, continuously nourishing the Xiao family with Spiritual Qi. This precious vein, discovered by their ancestors centuries ago, was the reason the Xiao family had settled here in the first place.
The mountain's proximity to the Immortal Sword Mountain Range made it an even more advantageous location.
The mountain range was rich in resources, attracting not only the Xiao family but also the Wang and Li families. Over time, the three families formed a power system that controlled Qinghe Town.
For the past three centuries, the Wang, Li, and Xiao families had worked together, forging alliances and facing challenges as one.
It was through this cooperation that Qinghe Town had grown into the thriving, prosperous community it was today.