'Damn, this guy reached the peak of the Qi Gathering Realm so fast?'
The moment Zhixian saw Xiao Chen's realm, his eyes almost went wide. Fortunately, he controlled his expression in time.
'But how is this possible? Wasn't he at the Early Level of the Qi Gathering Realm just the other day? Even with luck, it shouldn't be this fast.'
Zhixian thought with a solemn look.
'Even his physique is still in the Unawakened state. Did he just get lucky and find a good treasure in prison or what?'
He thought speechlessly.
Honestly, seeing Xiao Chen's stats, Zhixian was quite envious.
After all, his talent was higher than his. He had a physique with "Dragon" in its name, and his fortune was green. Well, the last one he might not be envious of—but others would be.
"So What about them? Do you think realm and talent are everything?"
Just when Xiao Zhixian was musing inwardly, he heard a questioning remark from his grandfather.
Seeing that Xiao Heng was trying to entice the clan members against him, Xiao Baizhen suddenly smiled sarcastically at him and said,
"If that were really the case, then you also had a higher realm and talent than the previous Elders. But see what did you do? Didn't your foolish decisions almost lead to the destruction of the Xiao family?"
"Isn't this a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black?"
The Grand Elder said this directly to Xiao Heng's face, causing the crowd to chuckle.
Even a few Elders giggled slightly, trying hard to contain their laughter.
"Grand Elder, are you saying I'm stupid?"
Just when Xiao Heng thought everything was going in his favor, he was shot down like this in joking tone. How could he remain calm?
He also had his prestige.
"Yeah, I'm indeed saying you're stupid. In fact, you and your son are both stupid."
The Grand Elder seemed to have had enough. He flared his nostrils, pointed his finger at them, and cursed at the father-and-son duo.
"You two have no idea what forbearance is or how to keep your emotions from clouding your judgment."
"I was so blind to feel sympathy for you and make you the clan leader back then. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had to witness this mess today."
The more he spoke, the angrier he became, practically spitting as he lashed out.
He was truly enraged at this bastard, who was now objecting to him at every turn just because his realm had reached the Essence Forging Realm.
He always barked at Zhixian for not respecting elders, and yet, look at him now—
Making a spectacle of himself in front of the entire crowd. Was this how a person repaid gratitude?
Hypocrisy at its peak.
"Grandpa, control yourself. Don't let your emotions take over."
Zhixian sensed his grandpa's heavy, rage-filled breaths and quickly urged him to stay calm. He could see the disappointment in his eyes, but this wasn't the right place to express it.
Once his grandfather calmed down, Zhixian finally stood up from his seat and looked at Xiao Heng and Xiao Chen.
After being scolded like this in public, both of them looked visibly embarrassed. But Zhixian didn't pay them any attention and brought the topic back.
"Since Elder Xiao Heng, Xiao Jian, and Xiao Rong think I'm not ready for the clan leader position yet, what do you think I should do to prove myself?"
He already knew what they wanted—to make him fight Xiao Chen.
After all, everyone knew Xiao Chen was less talented than he was and at a lower realm too.
And the thing about cultivation was that unless one was a Foundation Establishment expert who had opened their spiritual consciousness, no one could see another person's realm without them releasing their aura.
So, nobody knew Xiao Chen's true realm—or his.
In the end, it was a conspiracy through and through. So why waste time putting on a spectacle like this?
"Hmm?"
Seeing Xiao Zhixian suddenly speak up, all the Elders and the crowd turned their attention to the tall youth radiating vibrant energy.
"Zhixian, there's no need to take their words into account. Even by the rules, the majority still agrees for you to become the Clan Leader."
Xiao Baizhen feared that Zhixian might have been swayed by their words, so he hurriedly stopped him before he messed things up.
"Grandpa, I know what I'm doing. Don't worry."
Zhixian reassured his grandpa with his eyes before turning to face everyone.
"Although their words and actions had a selfish purpose, one thing they said earlier was indeed true."
"I might become the Clan Leader of the Xiao family like this. But I will have no respect if it is by force."
He then looked at Xiao Heng and once again asked,
"So, I want to ask Elder Xiao Heng again, what do you think I should do to prove myself so that nobody will object to me becoming the head?"
His gaze seemed to say, "I gave you the chance you wanted—now what?"
'Heh... foolish young man. You are still immature after all.'
Seeing the cold and questioning gaze of the youth heading in his direction, Xiao Heng smiled a little slyly.
Meanwhile, the Grand Elder placed his hand on his head as Zhixian had basically handed these guys a chance on a silver platter.
However, since he had told him to believe in himself, Baizhen didn't say anything to stop him. But he had already decided that if these bastards played dirty, he would forcefully set things right.
However, while both the Grand Elder and Xiao Heng were lost in their own thoughts, they failed to notice the light in the eyes of the Elders and clan members around them.
If their support for making Xiao Zhixian the Clan Leader before was due to the prestige of the Grand Elder, now, after hearing his speech and seeing his courage in taking on the challenge, they finally began to see him in a new light.
"Heh... a daring young man is indeed commendable, but one must also have the strength to back it up."
Since Zhixian had already given him the chance, Xiao Heng wasn't going to throw it away.
However, before he could say anything else, Xiao Chen, who had been silently standing alone at the side, suddenly stepped forward and coldly shouted at Zhixian, cutting off his father's speech.
"Zhixian, all you need to do to prove yourself is to fight me fair and square and win—not like before when you beat me sneakily."
After saying that, he immediately released the aura of a peak Middle-Level Qi Gathering cultivator, ensuring no one would think he was spouting nonsense.
"What...?"
"How did his realm increase so fast?"
"What happened?"
Sure enough, after feeling his strong aura, the people who were about to ridicule him were stunned in their places.
After all, Xiao Chen was previously considered trash who couldn't cultivate. Now, suddenly seeing him at a higher realm was indeed a surprise. Not to mention, it seemed he was on the verge of breaking through to the next realm.
Even the Grand Elder's face became solemn after sensing his aura, as it felt quite stable—not at all like the flimsy realm that could be obtained through shortcuts.
"So, what do you think? You and I have the same realm, and most importantly, we are the same age. As long as you can defeat me fair and square, I don't think anyone will doubt you anymore."
Xiao Chen asked in a condescending tone while leveling his gaze at Zhixian. He still hadn't forgotten that massive slap and punch from a week ago.
So, he immediately wanted to redeem his dignity today. That's why he cut off his father—he couldn't wait anymore.
"Zhixian, don't."
"There is no need to."
"Heh... brother, why don't I show him his place instead? Just because his realm increased a bit, he started showing off?"
After hearing Xiao Chen's challenge, before he could say anything, Zhixian heard multiple voices behind him telling him to refuse.
Even he noticed a burly boy, taller than him with a large scar across his face, approaching and offering help.
Zhixian recalled that this boy seemed to be one of the bullies who used to beat Xiao Chen up whenever they had the chance—Xiao Guo.
Seeing them come to his rescue or offer assistance, he couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.
'They have no trust in me at all.'
He thought with bitterness. But he also knew it was to be expected, as everyone believed his talent was mediocre.
Otherwise, wouldn't he have already joined a sect just like the other Xiao Clan brothers and sisters who have better talent?
So, not wanting to give them a chance to set up a face-slapping plot, Zhixian looked at Xiao Chen with the same gaze, released his aura—also at the peak Middle-Level Qi Gathering Realm—and declared in a solemn voice filled with authority,
"Challenge accepted!"
'Heh, do you think only you know how to hide your real strength?'
Zhixian thought with an imperceptible light flickering in his eyes.