Chapter 17: Long Yi's Conspiracy, Long Anhai's Sixtieth Birthday

Xiao Fan, of course, was unaware of the Xiao Family's thoughts.

At this moment, he was Cultivating in the secret room, and with the help of massive resources, Xiao Fan's Cultivation speed was incredibly fast.

He sat cross-legged, gripping a Spirit Stone in each hand, absorbing the surging spiritual power from within them into his Dantian, where it circulated throughout his body's meridians.

However, from an outsider's perspective, Xiao Fan merely appeared to be sitting cross-legged in meditation, with nothing out of the ordinary, yet his aura clearly showed growth.

The peculiar aspect of the Zhou Tian Star Chart was that its outer and inner Realms were not interconnected, as if it contained a world of its own.

Xiao Fan had never heard of such a Magic Treasure, but he estimated it was at least a Heaven Rank treasure.

Time flew by, and another seven days passed without the Xiao Family sending anyone.

Inside the Long Residence, although Xiao Fan was in seclusion, occasionally appearing, the people monitoring him never relaxed their vigilance, reporting everything to Long Anhai.

In a hidden secret room within the Long Family, Long Anhai respectfully reported Xiao Fan's recent schedule to the Long Family Old Ancestor.

“Father, this boy has been in seclusion since he returned; he hasn't left the Long Family at all. Do you think that Opportunity might be with him?”

Long Anhai's thoughts aligned with the Xiao Family's; they both believed Xiao Fan must have obtained some kind of Opportunity for his strength to advance so rapidly.

Otherwise, how could a 'waste' of nearly twenty years suddenly become strong?

“He hasn't left at all….” The Long Family Old Ancestor murmured to himself, lowering his head in thought for a moment before slowly saying, “In the past few days, I have secretly observed him many times. This Xiao Fan has been Cultivating in the secret room and hasn't shown anything suspicious.”

The Long Family Old Ancestor's Realm was Tongtian Realm, one major Realm higher than Xiao Fan.

And the secret room Xiao Fan used was also very ordinary. With the Long Family Old Ancestor's strength, it was very easy to probe inside without Xiao Fan knowing.

Upon hearing this, Long Anhai was greatly surprised and asked, “Father, then what do you mean?”

“There's nothing strange about this boy; at least it confirms that even if he has a Magic Treasure to improve his Cultivation, it's not on him.”

“Could it be that he relies on his own Aptitude…. That's impossible, isn't it? To go from Body Tempering Realm Second Level to Qi Transformation Realm in less than a month?” Long Anhai couldn't believe that the ‘waste’ everyone had looked down upon suddenly became a Genius.

This stark contrast made him feel it was so unreal.

The Long Family Old Ancestor nodded and sighed, “I'm also curious about this matter. However, observing him during his meditation, his aura clearly grows, and his Cultivation speed is very fast; he definitely has top-grade Aptitude!”

“As for why the Xiao Family has called him a waste all these years, I'm not sure. Or perhaps this Xiao Fan has always hidden his Aptitude and never revealed it.”

Long Anhai seemed to understand something and said, “The Xiao Family has always focused their energy on their second son, Xiao Tian. That Xiao Tian has astonishing Aptitude, while this Xiao Fan's Aptitude is average, and he is usually not favored by the Xiao Family, constantly being targeted by Xiao Tian. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been sent to our Long Family as a live-in son-in-law in exchange for resources…. Could it be that this Xiao Fan was afraid of being persecuted by the Xiao Family or Xiao Tian? That's why he always hid.”

The Long Family Old Ancestor nodded: “That's very possible. In short, be kinder to this Xiao Fan in the future. If he truly is a person of astonishing Aptitude, his joining our Long Family would be a good thing for us.”

“Understood, Father.”

Long Anhai knew what a Genius who could reach Qi Transformation Realm from Body Tempering Realm in a month represented!

No matter how much he resented Xiao Fan, from the Family's perspective, he had to reconsider matters concerning Xiao Fan.

......

In a luxurious courtyard within the Long Family.

Long Xiaotian was sitting cross-legged in his room. After this period of recuperation, his injuries were fine; only his Qi and blood were depleted, making his complexion appear somewhat pale.

Since losing the life-and-death battle with Xiao Fan, he had not left his courtyard a single step.

Sitting beside him was a person, none other than his younger brother, Long Yi!

“Big Brother, how are you?” Long Yi asked.

Long Xiaotian shook his head and said, “My injuries are fine, but the side effects of the medicine haven't faded yet. I need to rest for a while to recover.”

Long Yi hesitated for a moment and then asked, “Big Brother… are we really just going to let that Xiao Fan go?”

“Big Brother, you are the future Young Lord of the Long Family. He's just a live-in son-in-law, yet he dared to injure you. Can you really swallow this indignity, Big Brother?”

Upon hearing this, Long Xiaotian's Face darkened. Losing to a 'waste' in others' eyes was too great a blow to him.

Seeing Long Xiaotian remain silent, Long Yi's voice grew a bit louder: “Big Brother, this Xiao Fan dares to injure and humiliate you in broad daylight now, not giving you any Face at all. What about later? When his strength becomes even greater, will he not even put the Old Ancestor in his eyes?!”

If Long Xiaotian didn't hate Xiao Fan, that would be false. He, the dignified Young Lord of the Long Family, was beaten like a dead dog in public in Jingchuan City….

“Then what else can be done? I am not his opponent, and no one among the Long Family's peers is his opponent!”

The Long Family's rules dictated that only peers could spar, and elders could not interfere in the affairs of Juniors.

“Big Brother, no one among our Long Family's younger generation is his opponent, but that doesn't mean Xiao Fan is Wudi among the younger generation!” Long Yi said with a hint of a pleased, mischievous smile in his eyes: “There are still ten days until Father's sixtieth birthday. At that time, not only people from Jingchuan City will come to attend, but also families like the Wang Family from Linchuan City and the Su Family from Moyun City will send people. At that time, we can instigate them and Xiao Fan….”

The Wang Family from Linchuan City and the Su Family from Moyun City were both top-tier major powers in their respective areas, equivalent to the Long Family's status in Jingchuan City. The families had maintained good relations for many years.

Whenever they visited other powers, the Family usually brought along outstanding members of the younger generation. On one hand, it was to broaden their horizons, and on the other, it was to give them opportunities to befriend peers from other powers.

......

On the other side, Xiao Fan had been Cultivating in the secret room.

Having been a 'waste' for nearly twenty years, he had always held a grudge in his heart. He wished he could Cultivate and improve his strength without sleep or rest.

This seclusion had already lasted ten days, and Xiao Fan finally slowly opened his eyes.

“I've finally reached Qi Transformation Realm Third Level. It's time to go out.”

Xiao Fan smiled slightly, feeling good. This Breakthrough took a bit longer, mainly because he was Cultivating the first Martial Skill among the Qi Transformation Nine Transformations: Throat Crushing Lock.

This move possessed astonishing power, capable of instantly unleashing three times his Peak strength in destructive power!

According to power levels, if Xiao Fan was currently at Qi Transformation Realm Third Level, a full-power Throat Crushing Lock could unleash the destructive power of Qi Transformation Realm Fifth Level!

However, its drawback was also obvious: it consumed too much, so it could only be used as a trump card, but this still left Xiao Fan satisfied.

Leaving the secret room, Long Miaoyin no longer needed to guard outside the door, except for personally delivering meals every day.

Actually, anyone could deliver meals, but Long Miaoyin insisted on doing it herself.

Upon reaching the main hall and seeing Long Miaoyin, she awkwardly informed Xiao Fan of a piece of news.

“Xiao Fan, there are still seven days until my father's birthday….”

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