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**
"Xiao Lin, you... you mean..."
Due to his excitement, Clan Leader Xiao Dongcheng became somewhat incoherent.
Seeing this, Xiao Lin simply smiled.
He had delayed this responsibility for so long; it was finally time for him to shoulder it. Coincidentally, now that he had promoted to Dou Zun, it would be difficult to make any major breakthroughs in strength within a short period.
Therefore, for the upcoming period, it was time for him to settle down.
That being the case, if he continued to delay certain matters, it would be irresponsible toward himself and the Xiao Clan!
"That's right, Clan Leader. You should retire and enjoy a few years of peace. From now on, let me take the position of Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan. I now have at least a 'tiny bit' of strength to protect the clan."
Xiao Lin spoke calmly as he looked at Clan Leader Xiao Dongcheng.
Perhaps only Xiao Lin could demand power so righteously. If this were any typical faction, people would probably think a coup d'état was taking place!
But the current situation of the Xiao Clan was different.
Indeed, as Xiao Lin's words fell, the joy on Clan Leader Xiao Dongcheng's face was almost beyond words. Even his beard trembled with excitement.
"Good, good! I have been waiting for this day for a long time, Xiao Lin!"
From his trembling hands, one could see just how excited Clan Leader Xiao Dongcheng was at this moment.
This was actually quite normal.
In fact, as early as when Xiao Lin resigned from his position as a General of the Jia Ma Empire, Xiao Dongcheng had already wanted to pass the position of Clan Leader to him.
Unfortunately, at that time, Xiao Lin had no intention of succeeding the position so early and being tied down to the Xiao Clan.
Back then, he lacked a sense of security!
His mind was solely focused on improving his own strength first.
Therefore, even though Xiao Dongcheng mentioned it many times, and even the clan members hoped he would succeed the position, Xiao Lin directly made excuses to decline. After delaying it again and again, they had reached the present.
It could be said that from the current Clan Leader Xiao Dongcheng down to the ordinary clan members, every single one of them hoped Xiao Lin would take over the position.
Let alone the fact that Xiao Lin took the initiative to mention it now; even if he hadn't, Xiao Dongcheng would have likely spent the coming days finding every possible way to make him agree to become the new Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan.
If anything, Xiao Lin's initiative to speak up this time was somewhat beyond Clan Leader Xiao Dongcheng's expectations.
However, Xiao Lin's words were exactly what Clan Leader Xiao Dongcheng desired. It was no wonder that Xiao Dongcheng became so emotional when Xiao Lin brought it up.
"Xiao Lin, I must say, after going out this time, you have truly grown!"
Once his emotions slowly calmed down, Clan Leader Xiao Dongcheng spoke with a tone full of meaning.
The "growth" he referred to was clearly suggestive; it definitely didn't just refer to Xiao Lin's strength. In Clan Leader Xiao Dongcheng's eyes, Xiao Lin's greatest growth was actually his sense of responsibility!
In the past, given Xiao Lin's temperament, he would never have actively proposed to succeed the position of Clan Leader.
Even if Xiao Lin were to become the Clan Leader one day in the future, it likely would have been because Xiao Dongcheng had passed away, leaving Xiao Lin with no choice but to take over.
But these six years of experience had caused Xiao Lin's state of mind to undergo a change for the first time.
Perhaps it was seeing the final struggle the Emperor of the Sky Serpent Empire made for his imperial family and country, or perhaps it was the influence of First Elder Su Qian of Jia Nan Academy.
In short, the current Xiao Lin was no longer the man who only wanted to cling to the thighs of his future grandson. If possible, why couldn't he himself become the "thigh" of the Xiao Clan?
Xiao Yan of the original story did not exactly have a smooth path of growth. If he became stronger and the Xiao Clan became stronger, could they provide more assistance to Xiao Yan?
This was a question that had been popping up in Xiao Lin's mind recently.
It was precisely because of this that Xiao Lin gained the sense of responsibility to become the Clan Leader and shoulder all the glory and disgrace of the Xiao Clan!
"Clan Leader, people always have to grow up, don't they?"
Xiao Lin's reply brought great comfort to Xiao Dongcheng's old heart.
Subsequently, Xiao Lin and Xiao Dongcheng discussed the details of the succession ceremony that would take place in the near future.
By the time they finished talking, night had already fallen.
Xiao Lin took the opportunity to take his leave.
The date for Xiao Lin to succeed as the Clan Leader had been set—it would be in one month, on the day of his son Xiao Zhan's coming-of-age ceremony!
Because the decision had been made, Clan Leader Xiao Dongcheng had already ordered clan members overnight to begin preparing the invitation cards.
This time, for the ceremony of the new Clan Leader's succession a month from now, the Xiao Clan was going to hold a grand celebration!
That being the case, many factions within the borders of the Jia Ma Empire that had decent relations with the Xiao Clan would clearly be invited.
On the surface, the Xiao Clan was currently considered a Dou Wang clan; they needed to maintain a certain level of prestige to prevent small-time thugs from looking down on them.
While Clan Leader Xiao Dongcheng and the clan members began to get busy, Xiao Lin had already returned to his small courtyard. As soon as he returned, Xiao Lin saw his son, Xiao Zhan, staring at him with a face full of resentment.
Seeing this, Xiao Lin's expression instantly stiffened.
Uh, it seemed he had chatted too long with Clan Leader Xiao Dongcheng and forgotten that his son was still waiting for him!
"Cough, cough... Zhan'er, have you had dinner yet? If not, shall we eat together?"
Faking a cough to hide his embarrassment, Xiao Lin extended an invitation to his son.
Hearing his father's question, Xiao Zhan was stunned for a moment, then shook his head.
Seeing this, Xiao Lin didn't hesitate.
After instructing the Xiao Clan servants who were always attending near his courtyard to prepare dinner, he walked over and sat down in front of his son.
"Waited all afternoon?"
The moment he sat down, Xiao Lin asked.
Hearing the question, Xiao Zhan nodded.
Having not seen him for six years, Xiao Zhan had indeed grown up a lot.
He was now a handsome young man.
Dressed in green robes with his hair casually tied back, he looked quite free and easy.
Although Xiao Zhan's cultivation talent could only be considered average, in terms of appearance, to be honest, he had definitely inherited the best features of both Xiao Lin and his wife. He might not be described as stunningly handsome, but he certainly counted as elegant and poised.
While Xiao Lin was sizing up his son, Xiao Zhan finally spoke.
"Dad, what on earth did you and the Clan Leader have to talk about until nightfall? You made me wait for you all afternoon."
Xiao Zhan spoke with a hint of complaint.
One had to know that ever since he found out his father had returned to the Jia Ma Empire, he had been looking forward to his return every day.
But his father was something else; as soon as he got back, he chatted with the Clan Leader for an entire day, leaving him out in the cold for just as long. Was he actually his father's biological son or what?
"Hahaha, it wasn't much. We just chatted about clan matters and, by the way, discussed when I would succeed the position of Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan."
Xiao Lin had no intention of hiding it from his son, choosing instead to tell him the truth.
**
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