Soul Emperor Martial God

Chapter 21: Chapter 20: The Three-Day Battle

Outside the Purple Cloud Cave, clan members were packed as tightly as they could be.

After all, it was a once-every-three-years grand event, and the clan members also wanted to see just how much the most outstanding descendants of their family had grown.

”Here they come, they’re coming out!” a sharp-eyed clan member called out loudly.

”Look at them all, smiling from ear to ear, their cultivation must have surged greatly.”

The clan members buzzed with discussions.

The relatives of the ten family disciples were even more full of expectation, pressing them with questions.

”Zimu, how did it go?”

”My strong boy, which layer of cultivation have you reached now?”

”...”

”Yii’er.” The Third Elder looked at Xiao Yi with a face full of affection.

”Rest assured, Third Elder, Yii’er has reaped many benefits inside,” Xiao Yi said with a smile.

”That’s good to hear.” The Third Elder did not inquire further about Xiao Yi’s cultivation, but simply nodded. To him, the surprise Xiao Yi had given him ten days ago was already enough, regardless of Xiao Yi’s gains in the Purple Cloud Cave, he was very satisfied.

However, amidst this happy chatter, two people’s faces turned extremely unsightly.

One was Xiao Ruohan, and the other was his father, the Fifth Elder.

”What on earth is going on?” the Fifth Elder said indignantly, ”With your Yellow Rank Martial Soul, Ruohan, you should definitely have been able to condense a Qi Pill. How could you suddenly be unable to absorb Spiritual Energy on the final day?”

Xiao Ruohan shook his head and replied in a low voice, ”I don’t know either, but I feel that on the last day, it was that good-for-nothing’s doing.”

”That’s impossible,” the Fifth Elder said, ”The good-for-nothing doesn’t have that ability. His Red Rank Martial Soul and his low aptitude are far from being your match.”

Xiao Ruohan countered, ”But then, how do you explain his sudden increase in strength a few days ago? I refuse to believe he could leap four layers in half a month, and his strange techniques as well. There must be something fishy going on.”

The Fifth Elder fell silent for a moment, then said in a deep voice, ”Regardless of that, the fact that you have not been able to break through to the Postnatal Realm makes things complicated going forward. Lucky for us, I was prepared for this.”

”Prepared?” Xiao Ruohan was slightly puzzled.

”Mhm,” the Fifth Elder snickered and said, ”Ruohan, tell me, with your current strength, are you confident you can beat that good-for-nothing?”

”Of course,” Xiao Ruohan confidently stated, ”Although I don’t know to what extent his cultivation has grown during these days in the Purple Cloud Cave, it’s absolutely impossible for him to have broken through to the Postnatal Realm.”

”As long as he’s not in the Postnatal Realm, with my Fire Cloud Python Martial Soul, I can easily crush him.”

Xiao Ruohan was quite cunning, often scheming against others, and he had indeed guessed some things about Xiao Yi.

”Good, so long as you’re confident.” The Fifth Elder finished speaking and then suddenly stepped in front of all the clan members.

”Fellow clan members, please hear me out.” Supported by profound True Qi, the Fifth Elder’s voice was extremely resonant.

The lively atmosphere of the clan members stopped instantly, and they all turned to look at him.

”This guy, what is he plotting now?” Xiao Yi and the Third Elder frowned at the same time.

”Clan members.” The Fifth Elder spoke with an air of righteousness, ”A family should not be without a leader for even a day. The position of the Patriarch of the Xiao Family has been vacant for too long, and the family is declining day by day. As a Xiao Family Elder, I am unwilling to see the Xiao Family continue to decline.

Therefore, I propose we elect a new Family Head!”

The words of the Fifth Elder were so abrupt that the clan members were momentarily unable to react.

In fact, though the Patriarch of the Xiao Family’s position was vacant, the Third Elder, as the Acting Patriarch, had managed the Xiao Family well these years. Without claiming that the family was thriving as in the past, they still retained their imposing presence.

At that moment, some clan members questioned, ”When was the Patriarchy of the Xiao Family ever vacant? The Patriarch is still the same Patriarch, just not present at the moment. Moreover, Fifth Elder, are you suggesting all this because you want to be the Patriarch?”

The Fifth Elder immediately responded seriously, ”The Patriarch has been missing for a long time, in name only. And to avoid any allegations, I assure all clan members here and now that I will never become the Patriarch.”

The Fifth Elder continued, ”As an Elder, I must put the family first. What the Xiao Family needs now is a leader with determination. Though I am not old, I am of an age where I no longer possess the ambitious spirit of youth.”

The clan members said, ”It is rare to find such great wisdom and understanding in the Fifth Elder, but the position of Patriarch is of the utmost importance. Thus, we cannot simply select someone on a whim, we must consider thoroughly.”

”Of this I am certainly aware,” replied the Fifth Elder, ”so, for now, we are just making preparations for the future. And one of these preparations is to nominate a capable Young Master.”

”Young Master?” The clan members suddenly displayed looks of surprise and began to murmur amongst themselves.

The Third Elder, standing aside, cursed under his breath, having understood the Fifth Elder’s intent, and immediately exclaimed, ”Fifth Elder, don’t you overstep. Half a month ago, you already made things difficult for Yii’er. Today, well aware that Yii’er is the Young Master, you still wish to re-elect a Young Master; do you really think that I, Xiao Chong, am easily bullied?”

The matter concerned Xiao Yi, and the Third Elder instantly became enraged, his True Qi surging forth, ready to start a fight.

The Fifth Elder seemed to have anticipated the Third Elder’s reaction and said calmly, ”Third Elder, there is no need for agitation. The position of Patriarch of the Xiao Family has always gone to the most capable. Back then, the Patriarch’s cultivation was unmatched in the entire clan, and hence, his son Xiao Yi becoming the Young Master was justified.”

”But now, with the Patriarch missing for many years without a trace, it would be unfair to the other clan youths to continue letting Xiao Yi hold the title of Young Master. If Xiao Yi is capable, naturally, he should hold the position of Young Master, but if he is not, then I absolutely cannot turn a blind eye and risk him hindering the growth of our family down the road.”

”In the end, I simply do not wish to see our Xiao Family fall into decline under the rule of an incompetent person.”

The Fifth Elder’s stream of words were sincere and righteous, and anyone unaware of the full circumstances might truly believe he was a person who exhausted his thoughts and considerations for the family.

”Well spoken,” retorted the Third Elder sarcastically. ”Yii’er defeated Xiao Zimu just ten days ago, how is he lacking in ability?”

The Fifth Elder smiled, ”Since the Third Elder believes Xiao Yi is capable, then let’s put it to the test.”

”How will you test him?” the Third Elder asked.

”Very simply,” replied the Fifth Elder, ”Xiao Yi must once again accept the challenges of all the clan youths.”

”Challenges?” the Third Elder frowned.

”Indeed,” said the Fifth Elder with a smile, ”The position of Young Master must be held by the most outstanding descendants. Today, our family’s greatest talents have emerged from the Purple Cloud Cave, their cultivation vastly improved, full of ambition and distinguished aura. If we can select an even better Young Master from among them, then even if the Patriarch remains missing, our Xiao Family need not remain without a leader for long, and we can swiftly select a new leader.”

The Fifth Elder spoke seamlessly, his words portraying consideration for the family, which instantly silenced any doubts among the clan members.

Of course, from certain perspectives, his proposal today was not wrong.

”It seems you need a lesson for getting too audacious,” the Third Elder could no longer suppress the anger in his heart and was ready to take action.

Xiao Yi quickly grabbed him and then stood out, calling loudly, ”I accept the challenge from any descendant. As you wish, Fifth Elder, when shall the test begin?”

Xiao Yi was well aware that the so-called challenge from all descendants was really only from Xiao Ruohan.

After all, since Xiao Yi had easily defeated Xiao Zimu ten days prior, the other descendants already recognized themselves as no match. Only Xiao Ruohan had the power to fight on equal terms with him.

Moreover, many in the clan probably also wanted to know whether Xiao Ruohan, the leading figure among the younger generation, was stronger, or whether he, a Young Master who had risen abruptly, was more powerful.

”Excellent,” declared the Fifth Elder loudly, ”It’s rare to see such understanding from you, Xiao Yi. I admire that. You’ve just come out of the Purple Cloud Cave, and you must be weary. So that you can perform to the best of your ability, you’ll be given three days rest. In three days, at the family’s martial arts arena, you will accept the challenge.”

”Hmph,” Xiao Yi sneered inwardly, ”You speak so nicely, yet who knows what schemes you’re plotting behind the scenes.”

However, he responded, ”Fine, let’s do as the Fifth Elder suggests.”