Chapter 25: The Five-Element Warrior!

  It's been almost two months in the blink of an eye.

  Xiao family, there are only two days left before the Xiao family's grand competition day.

  The Xiang family's disciples under the age of 20 were all exerting their utmost effort, making a final push. Especially the Ji and Xiang generations of disciples, these two generations of disciples were the main force in the year-end competition, and every single one of them had to participate, with the final ranking affecting the treatment they would receive from the family in the first half of next year.

  It's not just a matter of face, but also has substantial benefits. Especially for every word that can be ranked in the top ten, the treatment is absolutely super good. Unfortunately, Chen Huan, who was originally qualified to enjoy it, did not get to enjoy it after all.

  Ten days ago, all disciples had stopped gathering for cultivation and were practicing on their own, making a final effort for the upcoming family competition.

  ……

  Xiao's house, Xiao Lao's room.

  "Ancestor, little brother shouldn't have any accidents, right? There are only two days left before the family competition, how come he's still not back?" Xiao Jiyan asked with some concern after completing her training under Xiao Lao's protection.

  Xiao Jiyuan, although young and relatively simple-minded, now understands that Chen Huan has been suppressed by Xiao Jihan to some extent because of her. This makes her feel somewhat guilty. Although she had long known that Old Man Xiao would not let Chen Huan die in the life-and-death battle with Xiao Jihan, it still puts a lot of pressure on Chen Huan now.

  Otherwise, Chen Huan would not have gone through the only training that could be done at the warrior level when he had just been promoted to martial artist.

  This is all because of Xiao Jihan's coercion...

  Now, Chen Huan has been gone for four months. This is something that has never happened among the disciples of the Xiao family. Even when they are out training, they usually return to their families after a week or two at most to resupply. At the very least, they would take some time to adjust before setting off again. But Chen Huan hasn't returned even once.

  If Chen Hao really encounters an accident, Xiao Jiyuan will feel very guilty.

  "Don't mention that kid..." Originally calm and collected, Xiao Lao's expression changed upon hearing Xiao Jiyuan's words. He suddenly looked like he was about to explode, puffing out his chest and glaring, seemingly very angry...

  Xiao Jiyuan stuck out her tongue and saw that it was nothing unusual. Xiao Lao had been like this several times before, and Xiao Jiyuan had already seen it many times.

  Of course, it's only when she mentions Chen Hao that Xiao Lao would react like this. Although Xiao Jiyuan doesn't know the specifics, she knows for sure that it has something to do with Chen Hao. Between the lines, she can also guess a bit.

  At first, when Chen Hao strongly requested to go to the Magic Cloud Mountains for training, Xiao Lao originally refused to agree, but later was persuaded and reluctantly agreed to let Chen Hao go.

  Just as Chen Huan left, Xiao Lao followed closely behind. After all, Chen Huan was the most talented disciple Xiao Lao had encountered in decades, and he didn't want Chen Huan to perish in the treacherous Magic Cloud Mountains, so secretly protecting him was a must.

  But what surprised Xiao Jiyuan was that just three days later, Xiao Lao returned alone with a gloomy face. From then on, whenever Xiao Jiyuan asked Chen Huan, Xiao Lao would puff out his chest and glare, and even his old face would turn red...

  The first time I saw her, Xiao Jiyuan was shocked and surprised, but after seeing her many times, I got used to it.

  "Ancestors, we're worried about your precious disciple... Will he really be okay? There are only two days left... Little Brother shouldn't be too afraid to come back, should he?"

  "Afraid? He even dares to mess with our ancestors... Don't bother about him. Before the big match, that stinky brat will definitely come back..."

  "Ancestor, how can you be so sure? Tell Yanyan about it..."

  "That kid is a freak, talking nonsense... Alright, there are still two days left, you don't need to come here either, just prepare yourself... Go, go..."

  "Oh..." Xiao Jiyuan pouted, and when she reached the door, she suddenly turned her head and said to Old Man Xiao: "Ancestor, you wouldn't have lost Little Shidi, would you?"

  "Nonsense! Nothing of the sort... My ancestors, I'm a martial arts master of the Wu Emperor level, and you think I'd lose to him? It's just that I don't want to bother with this kid... Stop wasting words, hurry up and go..." Xiao Lao's face turned red with anger as he pretended to scold Xiao Jiyuan.

  It's really embarrassing, a great master like myself, yet I let a small martial artist slip away with his tail between his legs. Not only did he leave, but he also left a message threatening to give up on his training and other excuses, telling Xiao Lao not to follow him anymore...

  "Hehe......" Xiao Jiyuan giggled and quickly ran out of the house.

  After walking out of the house, Xiao Jiyuan furrowed her brow and muttered to herself: "I must have guessed it right... but why doesn't our ancestor worry? My junior brother is indeed formidable. The 'Longevity Secret' is so difficult to enter, yet he advanced to a 9th rank martial artist in just two months, which is several times faster than I was back then... now who knows what level he's at... only two days left... Ji Han Shixiong..."

  Xiao Jihuan thought of Xiao Jixian, and Xiao Jixian's eyebrows slowly furrowed.

  Xiao Jihan has always had a good image in her mind, and is also the senior brother she respects, likes and even admires. Especially since Xiao Jihan was better to her than her own brother, with all sorts of pampering and care, making her psychologically very dependent on him. For three years after entering the Xiao family, their relationship has been as close as siblings.

  But because of Chen Hao, she felt a slight estrangement from Xiao Jihuan...

  She originally wanted to find Xiao Jihans face-to-face questioning, but Xiao Jihan didn't give her the opportunity and went into closed cultivation directly.

  On one hand, there was her doting and affectionate senior brother who treated her even better than her own biological brothers; on the other hand, there was her junior brother whom she had a crush on and saw great potential in. If these two could get along peacefully, it would be what Xiaojie Yan desired most to see.

  But now it's time for a life-or-death showdown...

  Fortunately, Xiao Lao spoke up and had Xiaoding mediate, so a life-or-death duel between the two should be avoided.

  "Two months ago, the six elders spread the news that Brother Jihanchan had advanced to a first-class martial artist. Another two months have passed, and I heard that Brother Jihanchan's family sent him a fifth-grade spiritual medicine. With his talent, it's possible... he might even become a third-class martial artist... How can Little Brother be his match?..." Xiao Jidian furrowed her brow, lowered her head, and walked out of the Wenyuan Pavilion while lost in thought.

  A fifth-grade spiritual medicine, even if it's refined by a fifth-grade martial artist, has an astonishing effect. For a first-grade martial artist, the effect is naturally better. Even with the Xiao family's foundation, the number of fifth-grade spiritual medicines is quite limited.

  ……

  "Ji Yan!"

  Just as Xiao Jiyuan had just walked out of the Wenyuan Pavilion, a gentle and elegant voice with a hint of joy and pride suddenly sounded.

  Xiao Jihan, dressed in white like snow, with a face as smooth as jade, and a spring breeze-like smile on his face, appeared in front of Xiao Jiyuan. Gazing at Xiao Jiyuan, who had become even more beautiful after not seeing her for nearly half a year, this guy's smile was even more radiant, without hiding the admiration and affection in his eyes.

  It's clear this guy has been waiting at the door for a while.

  "It's been half a year since we last met, Jiyuan, you've become even more beautiful..." Xiao Jihan habitually stretched out his hand, doting on wanting to pat Xiao Jiyuan's little head.

  However, upon seeing Xiao Jihuan suddenly appear, Xiao Jiyuan, who seemed to be in shock, stared with wide eyes and quickly retreated two steps, saying: "Shifu Jihuan..."

  "What's wrong? Don't recognize your senior brother?" Xiao Jihanshen smiled slightly, slowly withdrawing his hand that had been suspended in mid-air, and said: "For the past half year, for the sake of our family being able to redeem ourselves at the Yunzhou Martial Assembly, Senior Brother has been in closed-door training. You mustn't misunderstand Senior Brother's distance from you during this time. Look, I've just come out of seclusion and have come to find you. What do you think this is?"

  Xiao Jihan said, taking out a delicate jewelry box from his bosom, with a faint smile on his face, shaking it at Xiao Jiyuan. Usually, Xiao Jiyuan would have eagerly snatched it from Xiao Jihan's hand, but this time, Xiao Jiyuan seemed to not notice the gift in Xiao Jihan's hand, her eyes fixed strangely on him.

  "Ji Yan...... what's wrong with you? Are you really angry? Shixiong didn't deceive you, he indeed went into closed-door training with all his might. Except for the Sixth Elder, he hasn't seen anyone else in half a year. You see..." Xiao Jihansaid.

  While speaking, the aura around him suddenly underwent a shocking change.

  Rumble...

  A majestic yuan force fluctuation burst forth from Xiao Jihan's body in an instant, his surroundings suddenly condensed into a layer of fiery red protective aura, a white shirt fluttering without wind, long hair dancing, that majestic and powerful aura instantly attracted the passing Xiao family disciples, one by one stopping in their tracks, shocked beyond measure, gazing at Xiao Jihan standing proudly, their eyes filled with admiration, jealousy, and reverence.

  ……

  "Wu Shi... Brother Ji Han has really entered the Wu Shi realm! This yuan force fluctuation, color... I'm afraid it's a third-grade Wu Shi?"

  "Yes, it's really fierce... Xiao Xianghao that ignorant guy is definitely going to die..."

  "That's for sure, he might have been dead long ago. It's been four months since that kid went to the Magic Cloud Mountains alone to train and hasn't returned yet..."

  "That's not necessarily true, I think that kid is more likely to escape, maybe he has already run to some mountainous area and doesn't dare come out."

  "It's possible! If I were him... maybe he'd really do it, better to live a life of shame than die..."

  ……

  "Fourth rank... Fourth rank martial artist?"

  Xiao Jiyuan's eyes widened in shock, saying that the fire-red protective aura condensed from Yuanli was absolutely impossible for a first to third-rate martial artist to achieve. This point, Xiao Jiyuan naturally understood more clearly than an ordinary Xiao family disciple. First to third-rate, at most, it would only be a light red color, with third-rate being the darkest, but it would never reach this fiery flame-like color. Only the Yuanli of a fourth-rate martial artist or above would be this color.

  Xiao Jihan listened to the discussions of the crowd around him, and then saw Xiao Jieyan's stunningly beautiful face filled with shock. The corners of his mouth slightly curled up, revealing a hint of a smile. His voice carried an unmistakable tone of pride as he said, "No, it's fifth rank!"

  (Second update. Seeking recommendation votes, collections, clicks and all kinds of support. New book is really in need of friends' help... give some motivation, thank you!)