The
morning sun
cast its golden light over the
Xiao Family estate
, but the atmosphere within the clan was tense.
Word of
Xiao Li’s victory over Xiao Feng
had spread like wildfire throughout Linfun City.
A cripple had returned from the dead.
And not only had he
regained his cultivation
, but he had also
defeated the so-called genius of the younger generation in a single strike.
To the outside world, this was
an unprecedented miracle.
But within the Xiao Family…
"This is a disaster."
Inside a
dimly lit chamber
, several Xiao Family elders sat in
a secret meeting.
The atmosphere was
heavy
with anxiety and dissatisfaction.
One of the elders,
Xiao Yuan
, the same man who had warned Xiao Li after his duel, sat in silence, his expression unreadable.
The others, however, were not so calm.
"That boy should have died!"
An elder slammed his fist on the table, his face red with anger.
"How did he regain his cultivation?! He was supposed to be useless!"
Another elder
gritted his teeth
, his expression dark.
"His return has upset the balance within the family. Xiao Feng was our chosen heir… and now he is nothing but a joke!"
The elders
murmured amongst themselves
, but Xiao Yuan finally spoke.
"What do you propose?"
The room fell silent.
An elder with a
scar over his left eye
sneered.
"It’s simple. We cannot allow Xiao Li to grow stronger."
"Accidents happen all the time in the Azure Kingdom Royal Academy."
A few elders nodded in agreement.
"Yes… an unfortunate accident. A beast attack. A duel gone wrong. A fatal cultivation deviation."
Xiao Yuan closed his eyes,
deep in thought.
He had warned Xiao Li.
And now, the
hidden enemies within the Xiao Family
were already moving.
"Xiao Li… I hope you are ready."
Meanwhile, in a secluded courtyard,
Xiao Li sat cross-legged
, cultivating.
[1000x Cultivation Speed Activated]
[Qi Refining Stage 5 → Qi Refining Stage 6]
A
wave of power surged through his body
, refining his meridians and reinforcing his foundation.
The
Azure Kingdom Royal Academy
would be filled with
powerful disciples, scheming nobles, and hidden dangers.
He needed to be
ready for anything.
"There will be strong opponents… and hidden enemies."
His eyes flashed with
cold amusement.
"Good. I need more stepping stones."
At that moment, a
knock
echoed at his door.
"Young Master Xiao Li, the carriage is ready."
Xiao Li slowly stood up, dusting off his robes.
His
lips curled into a smirk.
"Then let’s not waste time."
At the
Xiao Family gates
, several guards and servants were lined up, ready to send Xiao Li off.
The
carriage
, pulled by two
spirit horses
, was a sign of prestige, granted only to those traveling under the
Xiao Family’s name.
However, among those gathered,
one person was missing.
Xiao Feng.
The
disgraced former heir
was nowhere to be seen.
Xiao Li chuckled to himself.
"Hiding in shame? Or plotting something already?"
Either way,
it didn’t matter.
Xiao Zhen, the
Patriarch
, finally spoke.
"Xiao Li, your performance yesterday proved your worth."
His voice was
calm, unreadable.
"Do not disgrace the Xiao Family name."
Xiao Li smirked.
"Of course."
With that, he stepped into the
carriage
, and the
journey to the Azure Kingdom Royal Academy began.
"A new battlefield awaits."
And
Xiao Li was ready to dominate it.