In the Eternal Dream Realm, Xiao Zhan found himself suspended in midair. His legs nearly buckled from sheer terror. He turned to stare at Xiao Tian.
"Tian'er, you... Are you already a Dou Ancestor? And what place is this?"
Xiao Zhan's lips quivered. He instinctively seized hold of Xiao Tian, terrified of abruptly plummeting. Falling from such a height would surely scatter him across the landscape.
"No. This is a small world that our ancestor assisted me in creating."
Xiao Tian briefly explained the nature of the small world to Xiao Zhan.
"So you intend to move the Xiao Clan into this place?"
Xiao Zhan surveyed the magnificent small world stretching below. As far as his eyes could see, there were cities far larger than Wutan City, along with five towering mountain peaks.
"Exactly. That mountain peak is the place I have prepared for the Xiao Clan."
Xiao Tian gestured toward a peak to the left of the tallest one. Numerous palace complexes adorned its slopes.
"Compared to this, our present Xiao family estate looks no better than a dog's kennel."
Xiao Zhan gazed at the resplendent palace complexes before him. His eyes gleamed with golden light, brimming with fervent desire. He had never laid eyes upon structures of such grandeur.
"Here, the Hun Clan will absolutely be unable to locate us. Even if they do, I will not fear them entering, for everything here lies under my absolute control."
"As for ingress and egress, I shall handle all such matters in due course."
Xiao Tian briefly outlined the future development trajectory of the Xiao family with Xiao Zhan, even touching upon their eventual return to the Central Plains.
Xiao Zhan felt the radiating confidence from Xiao Tian. With a small world manifesting before him and considering Xiao Tian's talent, his fear of the Ancient Eight Clans diminished considerably. Perhaps, in times to come, the Xiao family would flourish under his lineage. When he finally met the ancestors of the Xiao family, they might even sing his praises.
"I suspect we need not even expend much effort persuading them. Just bring those three old fossils in here, and they most likely will not wish to leave. Moreover, the heaven and earth energy here is far denser than in Wutan City."
Xiao Zhan's lips curved into a brilliant smile. His fear of heights evaporated in an instant.
Xiao Tian also informed Xiao Zhan that the Mitel family had already relocated here and now served as an affiliated force of his Heaven Suppressing Hall. They were to be regarded as their own people.
"What of the Misty Cloud Sect?"
Xiao Zhan recalled that among his daughters-in-law, the Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect was also included. He regarded Xiao Tian with an odd expression, never having imagined his son possessed such capability as to win over a lofty and untouchable Dou Emperor.
"The Misty Cloud Sect harbors their own ambitions. They are not here."
Xiao Tian had previously broached these matters with Yun Shan, but Yun Shan had refused. Xiao Tian had not pressed the issue.
Yun Shan, however, had worn a thunderous expression that day. Not only had Yun Yun been taken away, but Nalan Yanran had also temporarily departed the Misty Cloud Sect. Her whereabouts were likewise connected to the Xiao family. With both the Sect Master and the Young Sect Master gone, it would have been strange indeed if Yun Shan had worn a pleasant face.
Had it not been for the generous compensation Xiao Tian had provided earlier, Yun Shan might have been unwilling even to receive him, let alone permit him to remain in the Misty Cloud Sect—for fear that one day the entire sect might be completely whisked away, leaving only himself behind.
Shortly thereafter, the two reappeared within the Xiao family estate. Xiao Zhan immediately summoned the three elders and brought them into the Eternal Dream Realm. Upon beholding this magnificent world and feeling its energy, coupled with Xiao Tian's explanation of future development, they declared in perfect unison,
"This old man agrees a hundred times over! You may beat me to death, and I still shall not leave. This old man shall die right here!"
Xiao Tian and Xiao Zhan watched the three elders, who resembled Granny Liu stepping into the Grand View Garden, with broad smiles spreading across their faces.
Xiao Zhan also apprised the three elders of the Xiao Clan's origins and the enemies they would face in the future.
The three elders' faces drained of all color. They were suddenly overcome with the profound realization that their family had been exceedingly fortunate to produce a prodigy. Otherwise, they might have been left with nothing but to await their doom.
"Patriarch, Third Young Master, fret not. I shall certainly persuade every last clan member."
Now that the three elders comprehended the terrifying enemy the Xiao family confronted, they cast aside all past rivalries. Though the three elders had once vehemently opposed Xiao Zhan's position as patriarch, deep within their hearts, they still cared profoundly for the Xiao family.
That very night, the three elders and Xiao Zhan issued a decree summoning every member of the Xiao family to return for assembly.
Xiao Tian delegated the matter entirely to them, having no intention of interfering personally. He was ill-suited to such affairs. They were far too mentally exhausting. Professional matters were best left to professionals.
Throughout that night, the entire Xiao family stirred into action. The other two major families detected the anomaly but lacked the courage to investigate. As for the reason why...
Xiao Tian sought out Old Mo.
"Old Mo, you have labored tirelessly these past two years."
Xiao Tian regarded Jin Mo before him, his smile gentle.
"It was no hardship. As the Hall Master commanded, your subordinate naturally carried out his duties with utmost diligence."
Jin Mo answered with deference.
"Mm. Old Mo, has anything transpired during my absence?"
"Two months after the Hall Master departed, a Rank 4 Alchemist at the Dou Spirit realm came, intent on harming the Xiao family. Some time ago, a Dou Spirit and several Great Dou Masters also harbored malicious intentions. All of them were directly slain by your subordinate."
"Your subordinate also ascertained their motives. The Alchemist was the teacher of Liu Xi, whom you eliminated previously. As for the Dou Spirit and Great Dou Masters from the earlier incident, they claimed to have acted upon the orders of the Misty Cloud Sect's Great Elder."
Hearing that Yun Ling had actually dispatched men to strike at the Xiao family, Xiao Tian felt the man had truly deserved a far worse death.
Xiao Tian dismissed him with a wave. Old Mo nodded and promptly withdrew.
"You are cautious enough to have a peak nine-star Dou Emperor guarding your family."
A cold and alluring voice resonated through the chamber. A seductive woman in a crimson dress materialized—none other than Queen Medusa.
"Without certain precautions, I would not feel at ease journeying abroad."
Xiao Tian remained seated, observing the abruptly appearing Queen Medusa with keen interest.
"I simply did not expect Cai Li to be so invested in this, arriving with such haste. Surely you have not been eavesdropping this entire time? Or did you come because you were worried about me?"
"Worried about you? Hmph. You think far too highly of yourself."
Medusa departed with a soft snort, vanishing from the room in a heartbeat.
Xiao Tian's lips curved into a smile. Medusa had materialized outside the chamber the very moment Old Mo had appeared and had even silently circulated her Dou Qi.
Late that night, Xiao Tian lay upon the grass of the rear mountain, gazing up at the moon suspended in the sky.
Suddenly, four heads came to rest upon his body.
They were Xiao Yi Xian and the others. Medusa sat upon a tree branch some distance away.
The four understood without a word that Xiao Tian was most likely missing his childhood sweetheart, Xun'er. Wisely, none of them broached the subject. Xiao Tian had long since confessed Xun'er's existence to them. At that time, the tender flesh at his waist had been thoroughly treated.
If the truth were told, they were the latecomers. This girl they had never met was Xiao Tian's very first love. The four were also deeply curious and eager to meet her one day.
The five lay quietly upon the ground, savoring the warmth of the moment.
Observing the five from her perch in the great tree, Medusa felt a trace of longing flicker through her eyes. It vanished as swiftly as it came. Finally, she closed her eyes.
---
The next morning, Xiao Tian emerged from the Heaven Suppressing Hall in the rear mountain and flew toward the Xiao family training grounds.
The entire Xiao family had already assembled there.
"Patriarch, three elders, may I ask why we must depart from Wutan City?"
A member of the Xiao Clan stepped forward and inquired with due respect.
Xiao Zhan proceeded to inform the clansman that their family had once been a preeminent clan in the Central Plains, and that their former enemies had now come searching for them. Before these foes, their present family was no more than an ant to be crushed at will. He refrained from mentioning the Ancient Eight Clans.
"Patriarch, we are not afraid of them! Even if we die in battle, I will tear a chunk of flesh from their bones!"
A youthful clansman stepped forward, his voice resolute and unyielding.
"That is right! We are not afraid! The Xiao family has no cowards!"
The others were immediately ignited by his courage and roared their approval in unison, their eyes blazing with fierce determination.