Xiao He sat in the manor, drinking sullenly. His features bore an uncanny resemblance to Xiao Han’s, yet his thick eyebrows carried an oppressive evil qi, and his sharp, vicious eyes exuded menace—he hardly seemed like a good soul.
Though his temper was atrocious, he was diligent in his cultivation. He understood well that the Xiao Clan tolerated his reckless nature only because his cultivation was rare among the younger generation.
Over these twenty-odd years, it wasn’t that his temper had changed or that he’d stopped causing trouble. Rather, after forming a third-grade elixir, he had been unable to break through the "Acupoint Barrier" and step into the Second Level of the Hua Dan Realm. This lack of progress left him without the confidence to recklessly roam as before.
Moreover, the Xiao Clan had stationed a senior nearby to keep him in check, ensuring he couldn’t act as he pleased.
But this didn’t mean the fire of anger within his heart had been extinguished—it was merely hidden for the moment, accumulating with each passing day, awaiting just a spark to ignite.
These past few days, the rumors circulating among the sect finally tipped him over. He abruptly threw his wine cup to the ground with a shattering "crack" and stood up, saying, "Fifth Uncle, I’m stifled. Let your nephew go out for a stroll."
The middle-aged man donned a flat expression. His hair was tied in a Daoist bun, and he wore a coarse Daoist robe paired with hemp shoes—a look that gave no hint he was a Xiao Clan disciple.
He looked at Xiao He and replied calmly, "I’ve told you before: If you can break through the Shell Barrier, I won’t stop you from going wherever you please."
Xiao He’s face remained taut for a while, seemingly suppressing his emotions. After a pause, he sat down again, grumbling, "Fifth Uncle, you know perfectly well that I have formed a third-grade elixir. Breaking through the ’Acupoint Barrier’ with an upper three-grade Golden Core isn’t something easily achieved. Progress requires patience and grinding—it can’t be done in such a short time."
The middle-aged man responded coldly, "Then don’t go anywhere. Focus on cultivating properly on the island."
He stood up and left the building. When he reached the Jade Stairs outside the door, he turned back and said, "Don’t think about running off or trying any tricks. I’ll be watching you."
Xiao He’s eyelid twitched, and he suppressed a smirk, thinking to himself, "You think I can’t escape? Just wait and see."
With a flick of his long sleeve, he headed for the inner chamber, lit an incense burner, and fetched a mirror. He bit his fingertip and let two drops of essence blood fall onto the surface. In a split second, an indistinct beam of light, barely discernible to the naked eye, pierced through the roof and ascended into the Heavens. Laughing quietly, he settled cross-legged onto the bed to circulate his qi and practice his technique, keeping his ears tuned to the sounds from outside.
By midnight, he suddenly heard a commotion outside—waves of clamor, mingled with angry shouts. His spirits lifted instantly. Shaking his shoulders, he transformed into a cloud of smoke and floated out of the building. Looking up, he saw his Fifth Uncle standing across from a young Daoist with deep and piercing eyes.
The young Daoist wore a sky-blue Daoist robe, standing atop a drifting mist-like haze that encircled his feet. Above his head, a resplendent white radiance erupted like a magnificent rainbow, surging and cascading in thousands of snowy veils—a stunning sight.
Xiao He couldn’t contain his joy and shouted, "Brother Chen, you’ve truly come! Such a trustworthy person you are!"
The young Daoist didn’t spare him a glance, instead fixing his gaze on the Fifth Uncle ahead. Smiling faintly, he said, "On that day, your Junior Brother Xiao helped me. Today, I return a favor."
Fifth Uncle’s face turned dark. "Chen Feng, do you know what you’re doing? Do you intend to sour relations between the Xiao Clan and the Chen Family?"
The young Daoist, still smiling, replied, "Xiao Yansui, today I’ve come only to spar with you. As for all other matters—I know nothing of what you speak."
"You..." ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡⁂𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚⁂𝙣𝙚𝙩
Xiao Yansui’s face grew even more grim, his lips moving as though framing a retort, yet he managed just one line. "Xiao He, should you leave and lose to Zhang Yan, under circumstances like these, the clan won’t step in to defend you. Consider your decision carefully!"
The young Daoist turned to him as well and said, "Junior Brother, be cautious. Zhang Yan has formed a first-grade elixir; he’s no easy opponent. Don’t underestimate him."
Xiao He burst out laughing. "Brother, rest assured! I’ve trained arduously under our master’s tutelage for over twenty years. Zhang Yan has only just become a Hua Dan Cultivator—he hasn’t even learned any Xuanmen Sect Skills yet! This is the perfect opportunity to deal with him. Those old fogeys are hesitant and overcautious. Hmph! If I don’t strike now, then in three years, he’ll pose a genuine threat—dealing with him then will truly be troublesome."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yansui felt a tinge of surprise in his heart. He thought to himself, "It seems my nephew isn’t completely foolish; he does have some sense. So be it. What he says isn’t without merit. I’ve managed to hold him back for twenty years—can I keep him confined for fifty years, or a hundred? Besides, Chen Feng’s profound skill is deep, and judging by his demeanor, he won’t yield lightly. If we truly fight, neither side would benefit from injuries. I’ll let him go."