"Hao’Er, that was far too impulsive of you. Your strength is still too weak. You must endure the humiliation for now. Otherwise, you could easily bring a fatal disaster upon yourself."
After returning to their residence, Xiao Chen couldn’t help but admonish Xiao Hao.
"Adoptive Father, you’re right to lecture me. I’ll be more low-key in the future."
Xiao Hao said with a nod.
"Sigh! My father and my older brother are unscrupulous. Expecting them to honor the promise from back then is a fool’s hope. But don’t you worry. As long as I, your adoptive father, am still alive, I will do everything in my power to protect you."
Xiao Chen sighed, feeling immensely guilty toward Xiao Hao.
"Adoptive Father, you’re the only person in this world who is truly genuine with me. Once I become strong, I will definitely find a way to heal your Dantian."
A warmth spread through Xiao Hao’s heart as he made a silent vow.
Immediately after, he entered his room and began cultivating in seclusion.
The family competition was only a month away. He would show Xiao Yu that even without the Qi Gathering Pill, he could still crush her underfoot.
’Heaven-Devouring Martial Soul, activate!’
As the thought crossed Xiao Hao’s mind, a small black snake materialized behind him. It opened its mouth and began to frantically devour the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.
This Spiritual Qi was then continuously converted into True Qi and stored in Xiao Hao’s Qi Sea, gradually expanding it.
Five days later, Xiao Hao’s cultivation successfully broke through to the Third Layer of the Yellow Realm.
Twelve days later, he broke through to the Fourth Layer of the Yellow Realm.
Such speed could only be described as shocking and utterly unconventional.
However, after stepping into the Fourth Layer, he noticed his cultivation speed had started to slow down a bit.
’It seems the higher one’s cultivation, the more difficult it is to increase one’s strength. No wonder even many powerful Martial Artists need elixirs to aid them.’
Xiao Hao muttered to himself.
As far as he knew, elixirs were an indispensable cultivation resource in this world.
Even the most heaven-defying geniuses would typically consume elixirs to raise their cultivation.
For him to have reached this realm in just half a month without any elixirs was already a miracle.
’Although my cultivation speed has started to slow, I should still be able to advance one more small realm before the family competition. That will be more than enough to deal with Xiao Yu.’
With that thought, Xiao Hao resumed his cultivation.
Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, a month had passed.
’Just as I predicted. My cultivation has successfully broken through to the Fifth Layer of the Yellow Realm. It’s time to go out and take a look.’
Inside his room, Xiao Hao’s eyes snapped open, a sharp glint of light bursting forth from his pupils.
The next moment, he stood up, stretched lazily, and then strode out of his residence.
The Xiao Family’s competition was the next day, and the entire estate was decorated with lanterns and colored banners, creating an incredibly festive atmosphere.
"Haha! Miss Yu is truly amazing! She was actually noticed by the Grand Elder of the Profound Sword Academy, who wants to take her as his closed-door disciple!"
"The day of our Xiao Family’s rise is not far off!"
Walking along the path, Xiao Hao overheard many Xiao Clan Members discussing this excitedly.
The Profound Sword Academy was the most powerful academy in the Great Li Dynasty, a place countless young Martial Artists dreamed of joining.
The Grand Elder of the Profound Sword Academy held a position second only to the Dean. Even members of the Great Li Dynasty’s Royal Family had to be completely respectful in his presence.
Yet, such a monumental figure, upon hearing that Xiao Yu had awakened the Snow Phoenix Martial Soul, was actually planning to come to the Xiao Family in person to accept her as his student.
This matter had now shaken the entirety of Celestial Water City.
"Look, isn’t that Celestial Water City’s former number one genius?"
"Haha! What ’number one genius’ bullshit? He’s just a piece of trash now."
"I heard he plans to fight our Miss Yu at the family competition tomorrow. Who gave him the courage for that?"
Just then, several Xiao Clan Members spotted Xiao Hao and began to jeer, looking at him as if he were a pitiful, posturing clown.
Xiao Hao, however, ignored their mocking gazes and walked straight past them.
Tomorrow, he would prove everything with his strength.
...
「Early the next morning」
The Xiao Family Martial Arts Arena was already teeming with people.
The Xiao Family’s competition was to be held here, so all the clan members had gathered to watch.
Xiao Hao, following behind his adoptive father, also made his way to the main platform.
However, the assembled Xiao Family Elders couldn’t even be bothered to glance at him, treating him as if he were thin air.
Just a piece of trash, unworthy of their attention.
Just then, an old man in a purple battle robe strode toward the Martial Arts Arena with the gait of a dragon and the prowl of a tiger. His entire being radiated an incomparable aura, making it impossible for anyone to look at him directly.
Following behind him were the Celestial Water City Lord and the Patriarchs of several great families.
However, these men, who were usually so high and mighty, appeared as humble as servants before the old man.
"We respectfully welcome Lord Tang Feng!"
Xiao Long and the other Xiao Family Elders hurriedly stood up and rushed to greet the old man, their expressions reverent to the extreme.
This old man was none other than the Grand Elder of the Profound Sword Academy, Tang Feng—a figure to whom even the members of the Great Li Dynasty’s Royal Family had to show deference.
"This Elder has come to the Xiao Family today to see Xiao Yu. Where is she?"
Tang Feng said indifferently.
"Greetings, Lord Tang Feng."
Looking extremely nervous, Xiao Yu stepped out from the crowd and bowed to Tang Feng.
"So you are Xiao Yu? Show me your Martial Soul."
Tang Feng said with a slight smile.
"Yes!"
Xiao Yu said, nodding hastily.
VMMMM!
The next moment, a snow-white phoenix materialized behind her. It was a full ten feet long, and its entire body radiated an intensely cold aura, causing the surrounding temperature to drop abruptly.
"Good. Very good. It truly is the Snow Phoenix Martial Soul. My trip here was not in vain. Xiao Yu, are you willing to accept me as your master?"
Tang Feng said, his expression extremely excited.
The Snow Phoenix Martial Soul was considered one of the absolute top-tier Martial Souls, even in the entire Great Li Dynasty.
If he didn’t act first and take Xiao Yu as his disciple, she would quickly be snatched up by someone else.
"I am willing! Of course, I am willing! Greetings, Master!"
Xiao Yu excitedly dropped to her knees and performed the ceremony to acknowledge him as her master.
As long as she wasn’t a fool, she naturally wouldn’t refuse Tang Feng.
After all, he was the Grand Elder of the Profound Sword Academy! With a master like him, she would never lack cultivation resources in the future.
"Good disciple, rise. After the clan competition ends, you will return with me to the Profound Sword Academy."
Tang Feng said with a smile.
"Yes, Master!" Xiao Yu replied. Then, her gaze fell on Xiao Hao and she sneered, "Xiao Hao, get your ass out here right now! Today, I will crush you under my foot in front of everyone!"
Before leaving for the Profound Sword Academy, she was determined to thoroughly torment Xiao Hao and vent all the frustration she had bottled up for so many years.
"You are not my match! I could crush you underfoot before, and I can do it again now. You are destined to be defeated by my hand for the rest of your life."
Xiao Hao slowly stepped out from behind Xiao Chen, his tone incomparably forceful and domineering.
"Heh! Hahaha! Did I hear that right? Xiao Hao actually deludes himself into thinking he can defeat Miss Yu? Does he really think he’s still that number one genius from back then?"
"He’s nothing but a complete piece of trash now. Miss Yu could crush him with a single finger."
"If I were him, I’d immediately get on my knees and beg Miss Yu for mercy to avoid humiliating myself."
The Xiao Family Elders and clan members burst into uproarious laughter.
’It’s such a shame about this Xiao Hao. His comprehension was so high, yet he awakened a trash Martial Soul like the Black Snake Martial Soul.’
’It’s only natural that he’s not willing to submit to Xiao Yu. After all, going from the number one genius of Celestial Water City to a piece of trash overnight... who could accept that?’
’A pity. Reality is just that cruel. It’s useless for him to deceive himself.’
The Celestial Water City Lord and the Patriarchs of several great families lamented privately.
They had never expected that Xiao Hao, the number one genius of Celestial Water City, would fall to such a miserable state.
"Who is this young man?"
Even Tang Feng asked, somewhat curious.
"Grand Elder, he is merely a piece of trash who awakened a One-Star Bronze Martial Soul. He is not worthy of your time."
Xiao Long said with a look of contempt.
"Oh."
Tang Feng said indifferently and didn’t spare Xiao Hao another glance.
WHOOSH!
The next moment, under the mocking gazes of the crowd, Xiao Hao shot toward Xiao Yu.
Soon, he was standing thirty feet away from Xiao Yu.
"Hmph! You trash. Let’s see how long you can keep up that tough talk. Right now, you aren’t even qualified to carry my shoes."
Xiao Yu said with a dark expression.
BOOM!
In the next instant, a powerful surge of True Qi erupted from her body.
"Heavens! Miss Yu’s cultivation has actually reached the Yellow Realm Second Layer! That’s too heaven-defying!"
The Xiao Clan Members all cried out in alarm.
Even the pupils of the Celestial Water City Lord and the Patriarchs of the various great families contracted sharply, their shock palpable.
Xiao Yu had only taken one month to break through to the Yellow Realm Second Layer.
Such a cultivation speed was completely unprecedented in the history of Celestial Water City.
"Good! Worthy of being my disciple."
Tang Feng’s expression was one of great delight.
Even in the Profound Sword Academy, people with such cultivation speed were as rare as a phoenix feather or a qilin’s horn.
"Trash, did you see that? I have already reached the Yellow Realm Second Layer. What do you have to fight me with?"
Xiao Yu held her head high, as proud as a white swan.