Chapter 319: Meeting Arrangements

Southern Region of Central Plains, Langya City.

As the main city of the super-power Langya Pavilion, Langya was typically a scene of bustling activity; the shops lining the route displaying all sorts of goods and the throngs of pedestrians all signaled the prosperity and peace of this city.

Order and prosperity were the main themes of Langya Pavilion. On this day, Langya City, which swallowed and spat out massive crowds of people, welcomed several special guests.

Within a grand building in the West City of Langya City, the tightly shut doors opened silently, and several figures entered.

"Why has the clan summoned us here?" one burly man, who was bare-chested and behaved crudely, asked in a rough voice.

Another man in Confucian robes saw this, frowned, and said with a hint of disdain, "Xiaoshan, have you been hanging out with savages? This is far too unrefined."

"Cut it out, Xiaowen," Xiaoshan retorted defiantly. "Even if you dress like a gentleman, your reputation for being black-hearted and ruthless has spread all over the Central Plains."

His tone was full of mockery: "Heh, who doesn't know your great name, 'Literary Rakshasa'?"

"So what if I'm black-hearted and ruthless?" Xiaowen was completely indifferent. "Should one be soft-hearted toward enemies?"

"Unlike you, who only knows how to be Reckless!" Xiaowen said with contempt. "Giant Axe Venerable, have you forgotten your own name of 'Reckless'?"

"Oh?" Xiaoshan grinned, stood up, and clenched his fists. "It seems the Literary Rakshasa is prepared to spar with me?"

"Why not!"

"Enough, enough!" Seeing that the two were about to fight again, the middle-aged leader with a powerful aura couldn't help but rub his forehead. He slammed the table and interrupted, "You two only know how to bicker all day long. Can't you just settle down?"

The others were also speechless. Xiaowen and Xiaoshan had been rivals since childhood; even after venturing into the Central Plains, it remained the same. The sects they each founded were even in the same territory, and they would fight from time to time. If one were to say these two were on the same side, most people's first reaction would be:

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

Clearly, this leader's prestige was quite high. Once he spoke, the two immediately shut their mouths and listened to his instructions obediently.

The middle-aged man coughed a few times, cleared his throat, and said amidst the expectant gazes of the others, "I summoned you all here today because there is something I need you to do."

"Oh?" The group was full of excitement and anticipation. Although there were only eight or nine people gathered here, every one of them was a High-stage Dou Venerate, and the leading middle-aged man had even reached Six-Star Dou Zun Peak.

The forces behind each of them had also made quite a name for themselves in the Central Plains. More importantly, they had not merged their forces into the currently flourishing Heavenly Mansion in the Central Plains like others, but were scattered across various parts of the Central Plains, all to play a role when the day came.

Now it seemed that this was the time to put their troops to use.

"Boss, tell us, is the clan finally going to issue a mission?" the hot-tempered Xiaoshan asked impatiently.

The middle-aged man known as the boss smiled, waved his sleeve, and several streaks of light shot toward the others. The latter caught them one after another, opened the scrolls, and began to read...

After a while, someone raised the scroll in their hand and asked in confusion, "Boss, what is the purpose of collecting these materials?"

"Is it a bit too easy?"

Their scrolls were lists of materials. The quantity was not particularly huge, but the scope was quite broad, ranging from ordinary Tier 1 Magic Crystals to Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Herbs that could be called treasures, covering almost everything, yet they were not difficult to collect.

But he was very puzzled as to why such trivial matters required them to take action personally. These were things that could be bought easily at any auction house, and it had nothing to do with the "arduous mission" he had anticipated.

Could it be...

The clan was out of money and needed them to provide some relief?

This thought was also shared by the others; clearly, their respective scrolls contained similar content.

The boss said irritably, "Do it if you want, don't if you don't!"

If they asked him, he didn't know either! Although he knew more than most, the message sent from the clan this time did not explain the reason, leaving him completely baffled.

Afterward, the boss added, "Don't say the clan has treated you unfairly. If this is done well, there will be a Heaven-Tier Dou Technique."

"That's generous enough, right!"

"Enough, enough, enough..." The group's faces lit up with joy, and the confusion in their hearts was thrown to the back of their minds.

Why ask so much? Isn't it just running errands and doing work? Isn't a Heaven-Tier Dou Technique worth it?

"Get it done within a month, and then store all these materials at this location..."

As he spoke, the boss transmitted his voice to the group.

"Understood!" The group looked at each other in silence and nodded in agreement.

After everyone left, the boss leaned back against his chair and said calmly, "Young Master, may you inform me of the purpose of this?"

Following his words, a blue-clothed figure slowly appeared behind him.

Xiao Ding wore a faint smile: "Senior Xiao Qing, please rest assured. This is absolutely a great thing that will benefit our Xiao Clan!"

"I am naturally aware of that." Xiao Qing had little respect for Xiao Ding, the Young Master of the Xiao Clan. This was not an isolated case; the people of the Xiao Clan venturing in the Central Plains believed in only one thing—strength!

Although it was only a matter of time before Xiao Ding's displayed talent surpassed the former, as long as he could not defeat the other party, the Xiao Clan members would not give him any special treatment because of his status.

They had racked their brains for the Xiao Clan and fought their way out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood; who would dare to put on airs of status in front of them?

The reason Xiao Ding could command Xiao Qing and the others was entirely because he had produced the Ancestor Jade Tablet unique to Xiao Han. Even if the latter were arrogant, he would not ignore the order of the Ancestor who had brought about the transformation of the Xiao Clan.

"It's getting late, so I shall take my leave."

As Xiao Qing prepared to leave, Xiao Ding called him back and said slowly, "Senior Xiao Qing, there is less than ten years left!"

Hearing this, Xiao Qing suddenly clenched his fists, and finally let out a long breath, "Good!"

Having said that, he left with a light step.

Watching Xiao Qing's retreating back, Xiao Ding couldn't help but reveal a smile and bowed in salute.

Xiao Qing belonged to the same generation as Xiao Zhan. According to the Clan Genealogy, Xiao Ding should even address him as Uncle.

As one of the first groups of people from the Xiao Clan to head to the Central Plains, Xiao Qing's sacrifices and contributions had not been forgotten.

And for someone like Xiao Qing, who had experienced the entire process of the Xiao Clan's decline and rise, his greatest wish was nothing more than to see the Xiao Clan return to the stage of the Central Plains with his own eyes, rather than being as they were now—possessing great strength but having to hide their names and skulk about.

Xiao Ding's words gave Xiao Qing a visible goal, which, to him, was no less than the so-called Heaven-Tier Dou Technique.

This was also a sign of respect for the older generation of powerhouses.

Looking in the direction of Langya Pavilion, Xiao Ding revealed a heartfelt smile, "The final step is about to begin!"