Chapter 4: The "New Energy Fishing Rod"
In the sky above, the pale white sun blazed fiercely. It was just past noon, and in an ancient valley, two rows of teenagers were marching in orderly fashion.
"Second Brother, are you really that scary to these kids?" Xiao Yan asked, glancing at the poor group of younger clan members.
The once carefree boys were now standing straight and marching in perfect formation after Xiao Li took charge.
"Maybe I've been a bit too strict with them," Xiao Li replied, scratching his head with a sheepish smile.
While he was known for his cold and domineering demeanor, he seemed almost goofy when interacting with his younger brother.
The two orderly lines of teenagers marched through the dense forest of the valley. Their journey led them to a small lake.
Although the lake wasn't very large, its beauty was captivating. The fresh green grass, scattered falling blossoms, and shimmering surface reflecting the sunlight made it a picturesque sight.
On a nearby ancient tree, a palm sized Tier 2 magical beast, the "Wolf Demon Spider," was busy spinning its web on a branch extending over the lake.
Suddenly Splash!
The calm surface of the lake erupted as a dazzling, golden scaled fish about a meter long leapt out of the water.
Before the Wolf Demon Spider could react, it was swallowed in one gulp.
"That's the one!" Xiao Yan exclaimed, rubbing his hands together in excitement. Xiao Yu's eyes sparkled with anticipation as well.
"Brother Yan, the Sky Dragon Fish is a Tier 4 magical beast and incredibly difficult to catch in water. If it's in a group, even a Dou Wang could be in serious danger. How are we supposed to catch it?" one of the boys asked nervously.
Among them, the strongest was only a Five Star Dou Ling. Going into the water would be suicidal it would be less "fishing" and more "serving themselves as bait."
"No need to worry! My second brother will handle it!" Xiao Yan waved off their concerns, pulling out two pouches filled with gold coins.
"Xiao Yan, what are you planning to do?" Xiao Li asked curiously.
"Hehe, just watch!" Xiao Yan said confidently.
With a flick of his hand, a vibrant green flame burst into existence, radiating intense heat.
This was the Green Lion Beast Flame, the beast flame of an eighth tier magical beast, the Green Winged Sky Demon Lion. Xiao Yan had acquired it thanks to Xiao Lin's mount, which happened to be a Green Winged Sky Demon Lion.
Under the envious gazes of the group, Xiao Yan used the flame to quickly melt the gold coins, shaping them into two thin, golden rods.
"Brother Yan, are those fishing spears?" Xiao Ning asked curiously.
"Nope." Xiao Yan grinned and shook his head. "This is my invention, a new fishing tool called the 'New Energy Fishing Rod.'"
"Fishing rod?" The group exchanged puzzled glances. It didn't look like any fishing rod they'd seen it didn't even have a line.
"Second Brother, take these rods and stick them into the water. Then, channel your lightning attribute Dou Qi through them."
Xiao Yan handed the two golden rods to Xiao Li.
"Alright," Xiao Li said, still a bit skeptical but choosing to trust Xiao Yan without hesitation.
Grasping the rods, Xiao Li plunged them into the water. Then, he activated his vast reserves of lightning attribute Dou Qi.
Buzz!
A faint arc of electricity coursed through his hands and into the rods.
Moments later, ripples began to form in the water near Xiao Li, and several Sky Dragon Fish could be seen darting around restlessly.
As a Dou Zong with a lightning attribute, Xiao Li seemed to catch on quickly.
Buzz! Buzz!
He intensified the flow of electricity.
Plop! Plop!
In an instant, the small lake seemed to boil. Sky Dragon Fish started leaping out of the water like mad, some jumping as high as a hundred meters.
Buzz! Buzz!
Before long, the area of the lake nearest to Xiao Li was filled with over twenty Sky Dragon Fish floating belly up, their shimmering golden scales glinting under the sun.
"Second Brother, that's enough!" Xiao Yan called out.
But Xiao Li ignored him, fully engrossed in the thrill of "electric fishing."
Just then, a subtle ripple appeared in the space behind Xiao Li, and an elderly man in a brocade robe silently materialized.
"Oh no, it's the Great Elder!"
The group's expressions changed instantly. Xiao Ning and Xiao Yu, in particular, scrambled to find a bush to hide in.
Sensing the spatial ripple behind him, Xiao Li, with his extensive combat experience, turned abruptly. His face froze as he saw the Great Elder's expression, dark as the bottom of a pot.
"Xiao Li, you seem to be enjoying yourself electro fishing," the Great Elder said with a sinister smirk.
"I... Great Elder, I..." Xiao Li gave an awkward laugh, but he couldn't come up with a good excuse.
As the captain of the enforcement team, caught red handed fishing with a group of teenagers, the embarrassment would be monumental if word got out.
"This is all my idea!" Xiao Yan stepped forward decisively. "If you're upset, take it out on me."
Being a leader wasn't just about having great strength. It was also about uniting your team and taking responsibility when things went south.
"Hmph, don't think your talent will stop me from hitting you," the Great Elder huffed coldly.
Xiao Yan didn't respond, flashing only an apologetic smile.
"But," the Great Elder suddenly changed his tone, patting Xiao Yan on the shoulder, "you did well today."
He grinned slyly and added, "Next time you encounter trash like that, make sure to break their third leg too."
"Huh?" Xiao Yan froze for a second before realizing the elder's meaning.
"In the future, if you meet scum like that, stomp on them mercilessly. Don't bother worrying whether their grandfathers are Dou Zuns or not. If there's any trouble, I'll handle it."
The Great Elder's tone turned serious. "However, if their grandfather is a Dou Sheng... well, in that case, you'd better go find your grandfather."
Xiao Yan: "..."
"Since you all did well today, I won't pursue this matter. Take those fish and get out of here."
With a wave of his hand, the Great Elder swept more than twenty Sky Dragon Fish still belly up from the shocking onto the shore.
"Thank you, Great Elder! You're the best!" Xiao Yan said, activating his ultimate Heavenly Rank Dou Technique: Flattering Smile!
"Scram! Don't suck up to me," the Great Elder muttered, waving him off.
"But without your selfless support, we wouldn't have had this harvest today. A thousand thanks to you, Great Elder!" Xiao Yan exclaimed, piling on more compliments while motioning for his underlings to carry the fish away.
Amid Xiao Yan's endless flattery, the group gradually dispersed.
"Wait, Xiao Li!" the Great Elder's voice stopped the last member attempting to sneak away.
"Great Elder, do you need something else?" Xiao Li asked, forcing what he thought was a polite smile.
"Leave those two golden rods," the Great Elder said with a glance.
"Got it." Xiao Li obediently set down the rods and asked meekly, "May I leave now?"
"Go."
Before the word fully left the elder's lips, Xiao Li's figure disappeared, leaving behind only a faint afterimage and a crackling arc of electricity.
"This Xiao Yan…" The Great Elder shook his head in exasperation.
Xiao Yan had everything: talent, intelligence, and leadership skills. But he just couldn't resist stirring up trouble.
Today, it was stealing fish from the clan's lake. Tomorrow, it might be stealing chickens from the Second Elder's yard. And the day after that, perhaps chopping down the Third Elder's trees. He kept the old men in constant chaos.
But after a moment, the Great Elder smiled.
Daring to think big, to act boldly, to take responsibility, and to inspire loyalty in others Xiao Yan was a natural born leader.
If this next generation could unite under such a figure and maximize their potential, so what if it caused a bit of hassle for the old timers now?
Shaking his head with a chuckle, the Great Elder turned his attention to the two golden rods.
Curious, he placed the rods back into the water, raised his hand, and let small arcs of electricity flow from his fingers.
Buzz! Buzz!
The once quiet lake erupted again, boiling with activity.
(End of Chapter)
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