Chapter 3: Not Entirely Impossible
"Ugh..." Xiao Jiande's eyes widened in shock, but before he could say anything, Xiao Yan delivered a swift roundhouse kick.
Crack!
The sound of breaking bones echoed through the air, followed by Xiao Jiande's pained scream. The scream was so piercing that it reverberated across half the sky before he passed out cold.
"You enjoy trampling others because of your background, don't you? Then you'd better be prepared to get stomped yourself," Xiao Yan sneered.
In his previous life, he wasn't much better off than those commoners who'd risen to Dou Wang. With no connections or guidance, he struggled and fought his way up, only achieving modest success in his career at thirty.
But even then, when he encountered someone like Xiao Jiande protected by a powerful family he had no choice but to swallow his grievances. People like Xiao Jiande could destroy years of effort with just a single word.
Fortunately, in this life, Xiao Yan was born into a family with a terrifyingly powerful background. So, when faced with someone like Xiao Jiande again, he had no qualms about trampling him thoroughly.
"Take your useless young master and get out of here. Tell him this: if he wants revenge, Xiao Yan is ready and waiting if he dares!"
With a flick of his wrist, Xiao Yan sent Xiao Jiande flying into the arms of the nearby Dou Huangs like a lifeless dog.
A dignified Dou Huang fainting from the pain of having his legs broken was a testament to how weak willed Xiao Jiande truly was.
The Dou Huangs exchanged uneasy glances before hastily carrying Xiao Jiande away. Xiao Yan's earlier words about his grandfather being a Dou Sheng rang loud and clear in their minds.
Conflicts between the younger generation of clans with such immense power weren't something they dared to meddle in. At their level, they could only bully grassroots Dou Wangs, and even then, they wouldn't touch anyone with a Dou Zong relative.
"Not bad, Xiao Yan," Xiao Yu said approvingly as she flew over and patted him on the shoulder.
"What can I say? With a sister as attractive as you, it's my duty as your cousin to help swat away the flies," Xiao Yan said with a wave of his hand, then smiled and nodded at Xiao Niu, Xiao Ma, and the third teammate behind her.
The trio chuckled nervously, unsure how to respond to someone who had been born so far above their station.
"You're getting better at sweet talking," Xiao Yu teased, her red lips curving into a playful smile. Then, to Xiao Yan's surprise, she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.
"This is your reward for helping your sister out," she said cheekily.
"Hey! You sly woman!" Xiao Yan exclaimed, his voice full of mock outrage. "I'm grown up now stop treating me like a kid!"
Suppressing certain thoughts that surfaced at her boldness, he mentally chanted, "Stay calm, stay calm, family first."
After sending Xiao Niu, Xiao Ma, and the other teammate off, Xiao Yan and Xiao Yu began flying back toward their family's territory.
The rushing winds blew through Xiao Yan's hair as he gazed down at the boundless landscape of the Xiao Realm.
Below, fertile plains stretched endlessly, with magical beasts grazing across expansive pastures. Fragrant herb fields dotted the land, while towering mountains pierced the skies, their peaks shrouded in mist a testament to the secluded cultivation of Dou Zun powerhouses.
Rivers, lakes, and seas teemed with aquatic magical beasts, some of which surfaced momentarily, their forms reminiscent of dragons or serpents.
Above, people flew through the skies, either using Dou Qi wings like Xiao Yan or riding tamed flying magical beasts.
Occasionally, powerful individuals crossed the air on foot, covering vast distances with each step.
With the Xiao Clan's resurgence, bolstered by fresh Dou Di bloodlines and powerful new Dou Di figures, its geniuses seemed to emerge endlessly. This abundance of talent created a fiercely competitive atmosphere within the clan.
Among the Seven Ancient Clans, Dou Wangs and Dou Huangs weren't at the top of the hierarchy, but they were far from insignificant. Yet, within the Xiao Clan, they were so common that the phrase "Dou Wangs are as common as dogs, and Dou Huangs roam freely" was no exaggeration.
Anyone who hadn't reached Dou Wang by age forty wasn't even qualified to be officially recognized as part of the clan. They were given a singular title: "clan commoners."
Among the Seven Ancient Clans, the status of commoners was extremely low. Most would never leave the Xiao Realm in their lifetime.
However, these concerns felt distant to Xiao Yan. This timeline hadn't granted him the kind of struggles expected of a protagonist.
There was no mysterious black ring, no wise elder absorbing his Dou Qi, and certainly no dramatic rise from obscurity.
Of course, in a clan like the Xiao Clan, anyone who dared to drain Xiao Yan's Dou Qi even a fragment of a Dou Sheng's soul would find themselves forcibly extracted and refined.
There was no fallen branch, no crippled father to avenge, and no childhood rival who constantly overshadowed him.
Because in this life, he was the childhood genius everyone looked up to.
"I just hope that somewhere on this continent, there isn't some small town named Birdtank City or Chickentank City with a kid named Hun Yan waiting to rise up," Xiao Yan mused with a wry smile as he and Xiao Yu descended to the plaza.
"Look! Brother Yan is back!" A group of teenagers in the plaza cheered, their faces lighting up.
"And Sister Xiao Yu is back too!" someone added, their tone excited.
"Xiao Yan! I was just about to look for you!"
The booming voice came from a tall, silver robed young man. His face was sharp and commanding, with faint arcs of electricity crackling through his hair.
This was Xiao Yan's second brother, Xiao Li a Five Star Dou Zong!
The teenagers nearby shrank back slightly at his presence. Besides being a squad leader in the Xiao Clan's enforcement team, Xiao Li also taught Dou Techniques to the clan's youth a role that earned him both respect and fear.
"Second Brother!" Xiao Yan's eyes lit up as he greeted him.
"Brother Li," Xiao Yu called out with a friendly wave. Since Xiao Li was only five or six years older than her, she hadn't been under his instruction and wasn't as wary of him as the others.
"Xiao Yan, shouldn't we celebrate tonight?" Xiao Ning suggested, seeing everyone gathered. "After all, we've made some progress this year, and Sister Xiao Yu and Teacher Li are both here. How about a party?"
"Good idea!" Xiao Yan grinned, giving Xiao Ning an approving nod. Over the years, Xiao Ning had become more attuned to his thinking, showing the makings of a top tier sidekick.
"Thanks, Brother Yan!" Xiao Ning beamed with pride.
"I swear, my little brother's practically been brainwashed by Xiao Yan," Xiao Yu muttered, pressing a hand to her forehead in mock exasperation.
"Since Second Brother is here, I have a plan," Xiao Yan said, motioning for everyone to gather.
"We "
"What? No way! Those Sky Dragon Fish are my grandfather's prized pets!" Xiao Yu interrupted, the first to object to his idea.
"Their meat is known for its beauty enhancing properties," Xiao Yan said with a sly grin. "And my grilled fish is legendary. Don't you want to try it?"
"Beauty enhancing?" Xiao Yu hesitated.
"Not to mention, their magic cores can be used to craft Fourth Tier Jade Beauty Pills."
"Well, if my grandfather is keeping so many without eating or using them, it does seem like a waste. A little fishing wouldn't hurt," Xiao Yu conceded.
As the group eagerly discussed their plans, none of them noticed a faint ripple in the air not far away.
(End of Chapter)
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