Inside the Xiao family's main hall, a chaotic commotion had already broken out.
"Patriarch! Now that Xiao Chen has returned, he should be sent back to the family! After all, he is a member of the Xiao family, and there may be other hidden stories behind what happened back then!"
The speaker was the clan's third elder, who had once held Xiao Chen in high regard.
"Third Elder, you are too naive!"
A middle-aged clansman with a pointed face and monkey-like features immediately retorted, "He ruined the family's major affairs back then, and after his meridians were all severed, he became utterly despondent and was expelled from the clan long ago! Now, I don't know what kind of luck he's had to recover his cultivation. Who knows, he might want to come back to compete for resources, or even take revenge on the family!"
"Li Er is right!"
A ruddy-faced man next to him chimed in, "Back then, how much effort did the family put into finding medicine for him? He didn't even say thank you. Now that he's back, why should we let him enter the Xiao family again?"
"But everyone outside is saying he's recovered! If he really has the talent he had back then, or even stronger... that would be a huge help to my Xiao family!"
"Someone said enviously, "The Wang family in the east of the city has been eyeing our mines lately. If Xiao Chen were here..."
"An ally? I think he's a hindrance!" the sharp-mouthed man sneered. "Who knows where he got his cultivation level? What if it's some kind of evil or crooked practice that gets him into trouble? I think we should just kick him out and save ourselves the trouble!"
"You!" The Third Elder was so angry that he blew his beard and glared. "What talent did Xiao Chen have back then? If he hadn't gone to the Eternal Spear Tomb, how could he have ended up like that? Now that he has returned, it is a blessing for our Xiao family!"
Everyone was talking at once, arguing fiercely, with spittle flying everywhere.
At the head of the table sat Xiao Lie, the patriarch of the Xiao family. His square face was tense, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table, and his eyes were dark and unfathomable.
He was weighing his options.
If Xiao Chen truly recovers his peak strength, or even becomes stronger, it will undoubtedly solidify the Xiao family's position; but if he harbors resentment... the resilience of a genius who can rise from the ashes should not be underestimated.
"Shut up!" Xiao Lie suddenly shouted, and the hall fell silent instantly.
He was about to say something when a voice suddenly came from outside the door announcing:
"Master, outside... Xiao Chen is back."
Everyone was taken aback, then turned to look at the doorway.
A figure in a green robe walked in slowly; it was Xiao Chen.
He was tall and slender, with eyes as calm as a deep pool, completely different from the spirited young man he once was, yet he exuded an indescribable air of authority.
The arguing in the hall stopped abruptly, and all eyes were on him, filled with surprise, scrutiny, hostility, and a mix of emotions.
Xiao Chen's gaze swept over everyone present, finally landing on Xiao Lie. He nodded slightly and said in a calm tone, "Clan Chief."
There was no use of the title "father," nor any deliberate distance; it was just a simple form of address, yet it caused Xiao Lie's expression to stiffen slightly.
When my own mother passed away, he didn't even glance at her, constantly talking about family, but later I realized that my relationship with my mother was only superficial.
Just then, another commotion came from outside the door. The Su family patriarch, along with Su Qing (Xiao Chen's childhood sweetheart sister) and Li family patriarch Li Batian, walked in together.
"Clan Chief Xiao, we have come to congratulate you on your son's return!" Li Batian laughed heartily, but his eyes lingered on Xiao Chen with undisguised curiosity.
The Su family patriarch wore a forced smile. Su Wanqing stood behind him, head down, her fingers tightly gripping her sleeves, not daring to look at Xiao Chen.
Behind Li Batian was a young man in brocade robes, who was none other than his eldest son, Li Hao.
Li Hao's eyes instantly turned red the moment he saw Xiao Chen!
This is the man! He appeared out of nowhere back then and stole the title of "Number One Genius of Tianfeng City" that rightfully belonged to him! Back when he was at his lowest point, I trampled him underfoot and humiliated him in every way!
This good-for-nothing actually dares to come back? And he even acts all high and mighty?
The Li family worried that if Xiao Chen recovered, their family would be nowhere to be found. They then said...
"Clan Head Xiao, Xiao Chen has returned today. Well then, hand him over to us, or I will join forces with the other two families to attack your Xiao family."
The Xiao family patriarch's face turned ashen with anger, but he didn't utter a single word, fearing that the Li family might actually do such a thing, as long as the Li family paid some price.
Li Hao was instantly blinded by jealousy and resentment. He abruptly drew his long sword from his waist, pointed it at Xiao Chen, and roared:
"Xiao Chen! You piece of trash, you dare to come back? You're lucky I didn't kill you back then! Today I'll show you who the real genius of Tianfeng City is!"
Before he finished speaking, Li Hao moved swiftly, his longsword carrying a sharp sword aura, and thrust straight at Xiao Chen's chest!
"Li Hao!" Li Batian shouted, but did not actually stop him—he also wanted to see just how capable Xiao Chen really was.
The Xiao family members watched coldly, and Xiao Lie even narrowed his eyes slightly.
Very good, this is a good opportunity to see how much strength he has recovered.
Facing the thrusting sword, Xiao Chen's face remained completely calm, as if he hadn't seen it at all.
Just as the sword tip was about to touch him, he moved.
No one saw how he moved; they only saw a blur before their eyes and a dark gun shadow flash by.
"Pfft!"
A soft sound.
The rusty iron spear had appeared in Xiao Chen's hand at some point, and its tip pierced Li Hao's heart with pinpoint accuracy.
The ferocious smile on Li Hao's face froze. He looked down in disbelief at the spear tip in his chest, then looked up at Xiao Chen's emotionless eyes. His lips moved a few times before he finally collapsed, dying with his eyes wide open.
The entire hall fell into a deathly silence.
You could hear a pin drop.
Everyone was stunned.
Li Batian's smile froze, his pupils contracted sharply, and a chill ran from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
The Xiao family members gasped in shock, their faces filled with disbelief.
Li Hao was at the early stage of the Golden Core realm! Even if Xiao Chen had recovered, he shouldn't have... killed him so easily, right?
And that marksmanship... was so fast that no one could react at all!
Xiao Chen slowly drew out the rusty iron spear. The bloodstains on the spear tip were instantly shaken off by an invisible force, leaving it still covered in rust.
He didn't even glance at the corpse on the ground, but instead turned his gaze to Li Batian, whose face was ashen, and spoke in a flat tone:
"You should have thought of this day when your son insulted me back then."
The sound wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears, carrying a chilling killing intent.
The air in the hall seemed to freeze.
Everyone realized that Xiao Chen, who had returned from the Qingyun Sect, was no longer the boy they remembered.
He returned, with unfathomable strength and a cold heart.
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