Chapter 3: The Crippled Young Master’s ReturnThe Xiao Family’s Main Hall was deathly silent.

    Xiao Feng lay sprawled on the floor, his cheek red and swollen, his entire body trembling.

    He had never been humiliated like this before.

    Just yesterday, he had crippled Xiao Li with his own hands. He had declared him a waste, a dead man walking.

    Yet now, the very person he thought had been finished stood above him—stronger than ever.

    "This… isn''t possible."

    Xiao Feng gritted his teeth, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his skin.

    He had spent years cultivating, struggling to reach his current level.

    But Xiao Li, who was supposed to be crippled, was already stronger than him?!

    "HOW?!" he roared, his voice shaking with disbelief.

    Xiao Li’s expression remained calm, his eyes cold and unreadable.

    "You talk too much, Xiao Feng."

    He raised his foot—

    THUD!

    —and stomped down on Xiao Feng’s chest.

    CRACK!

    A scream tore from Xiao Feng’s lips as he felt something snap inside him. Pain shot through his ribs, but the worst part was the humiliation.

    He—the supposed heir to the Xiao Family—was being stepped on like a worm!

    "Xiao Li, you dare?!"

    One of the Xiao Elders, an old man with a long white beard, slammed his hand on the table.

    "Unfilial child! You dare attack your own family in the main hall?!"

    Xiao Li didn’t even glance at the elder.

    His foot pressed down harder, making Xiao Feng gasp in pain.

    "Where was your righteous talk when my own family left me for dead?"

    The elder’s face twisted, but he had no response.

    Because Xiao Li was right.

    No one had lifted a finger when Xiao Feng had beaten and crippled his own brother.

    Now, seeing Xiao Li return with overwhelming strength, they were suddenly acting righteous?

    "Hypocrites," Xiao Li muttered, his voice laced with disgust.

    He lifted his foot, stepping away from Xiao Feng, who lay panting, humiliated, and enraged beyond reason.

    At the highest seat in the hall, Xiao Zhen, the Patriarch of the Xiao Family, finally spoke.

    "Enough."

    His voice was calm—too calm.

    Xiao Li turned his gaze toward his father.

    Unlike the elders and disciples, Xiao Zhen showed no anger, no surprise, no warmth.

    Just cold indifference.

    "Xiao Li," he said, "you are still alive. That is unexpected."

    "Disappointed?" Xiao Li replied.

    A few gasps were heard from the clan members.

    Xiao Li’s words were like a dagger, cutting straight through the unspoken truth.

    Xiao Zhen had abandoned him.

    Xiao Zhen’s gaze didn’t waver.

    "You were crippled. It was only natural that the family would no longer waste resources on you."

    "Waste resources?" Xiao Li chuckled, shaking his head. "I was your son."

    The room fell silent again.

    Xiao Zhen didn’t flinch.

    "Blood alone does not make someone worthy of this family."

    Xiao Li’s fist clenched.

    He had expected this reaction. He had known his father wouldn’t suddenly welcome him back with open arms.

    Even so…

    To hear it so plainly, so heartlessly—

    "Then I suppose I should thank Xiao Feng for crippling me?" Xiao Li asked, his voice sharp. Sёar?h the novёlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Xiao Zhen didn’t answer immediately.

    "You were too arrogant before," he finally said. "You had talent, but you lacked patience. Perhaps losing everything was the lesson you needed."

    A mocking smirk crossed Xiao Li’s lips.

    "A lesson, huh?"

    Xiao Feng, still struggling to stand, grinned despite the pain.

    "That’s right, brother," he sneered. "You should be thanking me for making you understand your place—"

    BOOM!

    Xiao Li vanished from his spot, appearing in front of Xiao Feng in an instant.

    Before anyone could react—

    CRACK!

    His fist smashed into Xiao Feng’s face, sending him flying across the hall.

    Xiao Feng slammed into the stone wall, blood spurting from his nose and mouth.

    He collapsed onto the floor, groaning in agony.

    The room froze.

    Xiao Li lowered his fist, his calm expression never changing.

    "Let me make one thing clear," he said, his voice filled with quiet authority. "I am no longer the same person you crippled."

    He turned his gaze toward his father.

    "And if you believe I need to prove myself to this family again..."

    He took a step forward, his Qi swirling around him—powerful, overwhelming, far beyond what a mere Qi Refining disciple should have.

    "...then I will do it the way I know best."

    His eyes burned with cold determination.

    "Through absolute power."