Chapter 12

Looking at Xiao Zhan's incredulous yet understanding gaze, Xiao Li helplessly slapped his forehead, hurriedly explaining, he didn't want to be like Xiao Yan, the books were all finished, being nagged by readers for over ten years.

After the explanation, Xiao Zhan barely understood.

"Since you have no home, child, if you don't mind, come to our Xiao Clan."

Xiao Zhan saw Xiao Li, his mood brightened considerably, and on his exhausted face appeared a kind smile, letting Xiao Yixian hiding behind Xiao Li breathe a sigh of relief.

"Thank you, Uncle Xiao."

Xiao Zhan waved his hand indifferently, then turned his head to look at Xiao Li, sizing him up from head to toe.

"I can't tell your strength anymore, not bad. After the coming-of-age ceremony next year, I don't know how many young ladies from noble families will send matchmakers for you."

Xiao Yixian's face tightened, she glanced at her petite figure and gritted her teeth.

Xiao Li chuckled helplessly, not wanting to discuss the topic further.

"Xiao Yanzi said he wanted to surpass me; how is he doing now?"

Upon mentioning Xiao Yan, Xiao Zhan's cheerful face stiffened, and he let out a sigh: "Let's talk as we walk. By the way, Father brought you a gift."

Xiao Zhan forced a smile and took out a book.

Seeing Xiao Zhan's appearance, Xiao Li understood at once; it seemed Yao Lao had started to exert his power.

Taking the book, Xiao Li's eyes widened.

"Profound Tier Low-Level Skill, Deep Thunder Abyss Secret!"

"Father, this……"

"Yan'er has encountered some situation; originally resources were to be split between you two geniuses, but now the clan mainly supplies them to you alone. Plus you haven't used clan resources for a year, so Father fought to obtain this technique for you." Xiao Zhan explained.

Xiao Li clenched the technique, his feelings mixed: "Thank you, Father."

Not to mention he hasn't used clan resources for a year; even if the entire Xiao Clan went without food or drink for a year, they couldn't afford this technique, showing how much Xiao Zhan sacrificed for it.

He patted Xiao Li's shoulder: "Alright, come home with me. The admissions for Jia Nan Academy are coming up soon; I hope you spend a year at home to consolidate, then go to Jia Nan Academy to study, so you can progress further."

Xiao Li nodded; he had considered this over the year. Although benefits come with risks, entering Jia Nan Academy is obviously much safer than Heijiao Yu, and the gains are not low—at least enough for him to cultivate smoothly to Fighting King.

……Xiao Clan

"Dou Qi, eighth stage!"

Gazing at the five shining, even somewhat blinding characters on the test magic stone tablet, the youth's face was expressionless, a hint of self-mockery at the corner of his mouth, his tightly clenched palm, due to the force, causing his slightly sharp nails to dig deep into his palm, bringing waves of heart-piercing pain…

"Xiao Yan, Dou Qi, eighth stage! Rank: High-level!"

Beside the test magic stone tablet, a middle-aged man glanced at the information displayed on the tablet and announced it with a tone of regret.

"Originally the family's second talent, how did he fall so?"

The middle-aged man secretly thought it a pity; at the age of Third Young Master, eighth stage is still unmatched among peers, yet clearly a year ago he was still a Fighter.

As soon as the middle-aged man's words left his mouth, inevitably a stir of discussion arose in the crowded square.

"Ah, Third Young Master's cultivation hasn't recovered yet; a few months ago he was ninth stage, how come……"

"Yeah, maybe the side effects of forcibly breaking through to Fighter haven't faded yet."

"Really, I don't know what the Family Head and Elders are up to, not even helping Third Young Master get treatment."

Because of Xiao Li, the cohesion of the younger generation of the Xiao Clan far exceeds the original; even Xiao Yan's original bit of arrogance has been smoothed by Xiao Li, and the clan's impression of Xiao Yan is also good, so Xiao Yan's downfall is met not with mockery but with pity.

On the stands, the Great Elder shook his head sorrowfully: "Xiao Yan is such a pity."

The Second Elder silently sighed, then shook his head again: "Fortunately we still have Xiao Li; otherwise our Xiao Clan's younger generation would truly lack any outstanding talent."

Upon mentioning Xiao Li, the Great Elder's face brightened considerably: "Indeed, Xiao Li is even more talented than Xiao Yan; I don't know what the Clan Chief is thinking, actually letting Xiao Li go out for training alone without telling us where—if not, I'd want to drag him back myself!"

Upon mentioning Xiao Zhan, the three elders were gritting their teeth.

Below the stage, Xiao Ning put his arm around Xiao Yan's shoulders: "Hey hey, stop sighing; you haven't cultivated for a year yet your strength is still higher than mine—shouldn't it be me who's sighing?"

Xiao Yan with a worried, bitter face shook his head and gave a wry laugh, "Also not bad, I've gotten used to this over the past year, but I won't give up; maybe I'll recover tomorrow, don't get left behind by my flight!"

Xiao Yan smiled optimistically, not noticing at all the flash of light from the ring on his finger.

Yao Lao clicked his tongue twice in amazement, "Not bad, kid, a year of setbacks hasn't knocked you down, your character is neither arrogant nor humble, but after a year without setbacks, who knows what two or three years will bring, hehehe..."

Xun Er stood guard in the corner of the testing ground; Xiao Ning, seeing this, understood tacitly and gave a strange chuckle twice, patted Xiao Yan's shoulder, then walked away.

Xiao Yan smiled helplessly and walked over to Xun Er's side.

"Xun Er..."

"Don't lose heart, Xiao Yan brother, your strange illness will surely get better soon!"

On the beautiful face of the maiden appeared a fresh and elegant smile that made the surrounding girls envious.

Seeing this, Xiao Mei's steps halted, she stomped her feet angrily, "Damn Xiao Xun Er, she got ahead of me again!"

Xiao Yan nodded slightly, gazing into the distance with a hint of sorrow.

The path of a genius seems always winding; a year ago he was still a peak-reputation genius youth, but then he suddenly suffered the harshest blow of his life—not only did the battle qi vortex, painstakingly cultivated over years, vanish overnight, but the battle qi within his body also strangely dwindled with the passage of time...

"Being a genius is really hard..."

No, thinking of that second brother who always pats his head, Xiao Yan gritted his teeth again—my second brother is definitely still a genius; we're both geniuses, so why am I the only one going through this!

Thinking of his second brother Xiao Li, who left last year to gain experience, and his eldest brother Xiao Ding, who left after the coming-of-age ceremony last year to become a mercenary.

"Damn it, I haven't even seen this vast world yet—how can I collapse in this little Wu Tan City!"

Watching Xiao Yan hide in the corner, muttering chuunibyou lines to himself, thinking no one could hear, Yao Lao, hiding in the ring, laughed so hard he almost fainted.

"This little guy is interesting; it seems the trial time can be shortened a bit, fortunately he has a good second brother to keep him in check."

Thinking of that equally talented little guy, Yao Lao raised his eyebrows, "It seems two familiar auras are approaching."

"One is the Xiao clan chief Xiao Zhan, the other... seems to be Xiao Li, hiss... this strength!"

His gaze shifted to Xiao Yan crouched in the corner, Yao Lao's eyes held a hint of pity.

"You want to surpass your second brother? That might be a bit difficult."

(End of chapter)