Battle Through the Heavens: Xiao Yan, I am your second master

"Don't worry, little brother. Even if I'm not around, Steward Xia can protect the family. Even if Steward Xia can't hold on, the guards you've trained over the past year are more than enough to cover for you," Xiao Lin said with a smile, patting Xiao Li on the shoulder.

"Secret guards, secret guards, of course, are guards who protect the family in secret. They cannot appear at will. Once they are exposed, the secret guards will not be very useful."

Moreover, the Dou Qi Continent is vast, and our Xiao Clan has an extraordinary origin. We will inevitably encounter powerful beings in the future, and only through diligent cultivation can we protect our clan.

Xiao Li spent the past year nurturing the family, refining a Longevity King Pill for each of the older elders to extend their lifespan by three years, and also giving them pills to improve their cultivation.

Those Douling elders had all reached the Douwang level, and some were still in seclusion breaking through. Xiao Li instructed them to hide away, relinquish their important positions, and hand them over to the younger generation in the family.

These elders became the family's secret guards, protecting the Xiao family in secret, and spending the rest of their time cultivating and striving to break through their cultivation levels.

For these elderly people, only if they can break through to the Dou Huang level will they have enough lifespan to protect their families.

Xiao Li gave them everything he could: cultivation pills and high-level Xuan-rank cultivation techniques. Whether they could break through to the Dou Huang realm depended entirely on themselves.

"Big brother, let's go." A pair of black flame wings appeared on Xiao Li's back, and then he flew away.

Xiao Lin looked up at his younger brother as he departed into the distance and sighed, "Ever since my younger brother displayed his extraordinary talent and sacrificed so much for the family, even with two Dou Huangs and several Dou Wangs, it still isn't enough. It seems the family's future enemies are quite formidable."

Could it be a Dou Zun? Or a Dou Sheng? It seems everything depends on this thing.

Xiao Lin was playing with an ancient jade that emitted a strange glow in his hand. Under the sunlight, strange patterns appeared on the surface of the jade.

"Grandpa said this thing belongs to the Xiao family—no! It's the heirloom of the Xiao clan! Even if the clan is destroyed and its people perish, this thing cannot be lost. It seems my little brother has learned something. Cultivate! Strive to break through to the Dou Huang realm before my little brother returns, and give him a surprise!"

Xiao Lin thought to himself, his cultivation is improving rapidly. It's only been a short time since he broke through to the Dou Wang level, and he's already an eight-star Dou Wang. He also has a lot of pills to help him with his cultivation.

If you can't even become a Dou Huang, you might as well go to the Monster Mountain Range and find a fusion ape to spend the rest of your life with.

"Father, Uncle has passed away?" A young man walked over. This young man was quite handsome and walked with a powerful stride. Most importantly, he looked seven-tenths like Xiao Lin.

"Zhan'er is here. That's right, your uncle has left. According to him, he will be going to Zhongzhou with the Dou Zun Dean of Canaan Academy." Xiao Lin said calmly. That's right, this young man is Xiao Zhan, the future Yan Emperor's father!

Xiao Zhan's eyes were filled with envy, but also with some disappointment. He said, "I really envy Uncle's talent. It's a pity that I'm not talented enough. I'm almost nineteen years old and I'm only a barely eight-star Dou Shi. I feel a bit sorry for the pills Uncle gave me."

Xiao Lin patted Xiao Zhan's head: "Sigh~ If it weren't for your uncle, you would probably only be a Dou Zhe now. And your uncle also said that even if you don't have the talent, he can use pills to make you reach the Dou Zong level."

There are many pills in the Dou Qi Continent that can improve one's aptitude. Some powerful individuals even achieve great things late in life. You don't need to be too nervous. It's just that your progress is slow right now. There is still hope for the future.

I've always felt that Zhan'er has the potential to become a Dou Sheng (Battle Saint)!

Xiao Lin said with a smile, little did he know that his words would actually come true in the future.

"Thank you for your encouragement, Father. By the way, Father, please teach me how to handle family affairs. Since my talent is not particularly outstanding, I can help you with some matters and lighten your burden so that you can focus more on your cultivation."

Xiao Zhan may not be outstanding in cultivation talent, but he is exceptionally serious when dealing with family matters. He is very responsible and truly cares about his family.

Xiao Lin nodded: "Good! I don't think your uncle will take over as the head of the family in the future. He has already made himself a Supreme Elder, so he probably doesn't want to be the head of the family."

The responsibility of being the head of this family will eventually fall on your shoulders, but Zhan'er, remember this: as the head of the family, your cultivation must be excellent! Your methods must also be superb, otherwise you'll easily be bullied!

While handling family affairs, don't neglect your cultivation. Although your talent isn't unparalleled, it's still quite good. Work hard in your cultivation and strive to reach the Dou Ling level before you turn twenty-five.

"I understand, Father. By the way, Father, where is Great-Grandfather?" Xiao Zhan asked.

Xiao Zhan knew that his great-grandfather was still alive and had broken through to the Dou Huang level. As the future young patriarch of the Xiao family, he knew a lot.

"Your great-grandfather is busy with some matters and will probably need to stay away for a few years. This matter is also related to your uncle, so don't worry. By the way, as always, don't talk about anything related to your great-grandfather."

Xiao Lin said seriously, after all, not many people knew that Xiao Ting was alive. Even Jia Xingtian thought that Xiao Ting was gone. Who would have thought that Xiao Ting was not only alive, but also broke through to the Dou Huang level, and is now a six-star Dou Huang.

That's right, in just one year, Xiao Ting broke through two stars in the Dou Huang realm.

Xiao Li collected several good pill formulas in the Yunlan Sect's treasury, including one that could enhance the cultivation of a Thunder Attribute Dou Huang. Xiao Ting had improved his cultivation by one star thanks to this pill.

In addition, Xiao Li also had a pill that could help a lightning-attribute Dou Huang improve his cultivation. With the help of these two pills, Old Master Xiao reached the level of a six-star Dou Huang, but this was not his final goal.

Five years. In just five years, Grandpa Xiao will reach the peak of Dou Huang, at which point he can attempt to break through to Dou Zong.

The entire Xiao family is steadily improving. Xiao Li's three cousins, Xiao Lie, Xiao Ying, and Xiao Hu, have all made significant progress, reaching the level of Great Dou Master. Xiao Ying's cultivation has even reached the level of a four-star Great Dou Master.

All three of them were quite accomplished in handling family affairs. Now, most of the older elders of the Xiao family have stepped down from their posts and handed over the affairs to the younger members of the family.

. . . . . .

Yunlan Sect, Sect Master's Hall

The previous sect leader, Yun Shan, went into seclusion to break through to the Dou Zong realm, while the current sect leader, Yun Yun, is breaking through to the Dou Huang realm. The current leader of the Yunlan Sect is the Grand Elder, Yun Ji.

"Elder, the Mo family of Yancheng has offered many fine gifts in hopes of securing a position as a steward of the Yunlan Sect. What is your opinion, Elder?" A white-robed elder stood up and said to Yun Ji.

At this moment, in the main hall of the sect, the elders of the Yunlan Sect gathered for a brief meeting. The old man who was speaking was seated at the back of the table and belonged to the Douling Elder.

Yun Ji frowned: "The Mo family of Yancheng? What kind of family is that? Why are they trying to seize the position of steward of my Yunlan Sect? Are they trying to use the name of my Yunlan Sect to do some dirty work? Explain yourself, Yun Leng!"

The old man named Yun Leng was one of the forces that led Yunlan Sect to its destruction. However, Yun Leng had only been a member of the Yunlan Sect's elder council for less than five years, but he was still very dedicated to the sect and did his best to protect its reputation.

Yun Leng's cultivation is also quite good. He currently has the cultivation of an eight-star Dou Ling, and he may be able to try to break through to Dou Wang soon.

"This, Elder..." Yun Leng didn't expect the Elder to ask such a question. He had accepted Mo Cheng's gift and intended to help Mo Cheng. Yun Leng had not carefully investigated the Mo family.

"Hmph! Everyone, remember this: Yunlan Sect is a sacred place for cultivation. This place is for quiet cultivation, not for fighting for power and profit. If anyone violates the sect rules, I will not show any mercy. Do you understand?" Yun Ji said sternly, his Dou Huang aura intimidating the entire audience.

"Understood!"

Yun Leng lowered his head, and began to rethink what he wanted to do in the future.

Yun Ji suddenly raised his head: "Hmm? Why is he here? Ahem, everyone, disperse. Remember what I said."

After giving his instructions, Yun Ji left, and the other elders followed suit.