Chapter 4: The Challenge of the Xiao ClanA heavy silence filled the Xiao Family’s Main Hall.

    Xiao Li stood calmly, his gaze sweeping across the room filled with elders, disciples, and nobles—all of whom had, just yesterday, considered him dead and worthless.

    Xiao Feng lay motionless on the floor, groaning in pain, his face swollen and bloodied. The once-proud heir of the Xiao Family, humiliated in front of everyone.

    Yet the most terrifying thing was not Xiao Feng’s defeat—

    It was the aura radiating from Xiao Li.

    This was not the crippled young master they had cast aside.

    This was a monster.

    And no one understood how he had become this powerful so quickly.

    Xiao Zhen, the Xiao Clan Patriarch, remained silent as he observed his son.

    For the first time in years, a flicker of interest appeared in his usually cold eyes.

    "Your cultivation... It is far stronger than before."

    Xiao Li smirked.

    "Disappointed?"

    Murmurs spread through the gathered family members.

    "How did he regain his cultivation?"

    "Could it be that he found a hidden treasure?"

    "This is impossible!"

    One of the Xiao Elders, an old man with long white hair, stepped forward, narrowing his eyes at Xiao Li.

    "You should be dead," he said coldly. "You were crippled beyond recovery. No medicine, no technique, no divine intervention should have been able to bring you back."

    Xiao Li’s gaze met the elder’s.

    "And yet, here I stand."

    The elder’s face darkened.

    "You dare disrespect the family elders?"

    Xiao Li let out a low chuckle.

    "Respect?" His eyes gleamed with mockery. "Did you respect me when you stood by and watched me be crippled?"

    The elder’s face twisted in anger.

    But before he could respond—

    Xiao Li’s gaze shifted to his father.

    "Let’s not waste time."

    He straightened his posture, his voice calm, yet commanding.

    "I challenge Xiao Feng for the position of First Young Master of the Xiao Family."

    The entire hall erupted in chaos.

    "What?!"

    "He just returned, and he dares to challenge Xiao Feng?!"

    "Does he have a death wish?!"

    Xiao Zhen’s eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable.

    "You wish to reclaim your position?"

    Xiao Li’s smirk deepened.

    "Wasn’t it you who said that only the strong deserve their place in this family?"

    A flicker of amusement passed through Xiao Zhen’s gaze.

    "Very well."

    He raised his hand, silencing the uproar in the hall.

    "Tomorrow at dawn, in the Outer Courtyard, Xiao Li will face Xiao Feng in an official duel."

    "The winner shall claim the position of First Young Master."

    The Xiao family members whispered among themselves, their expressions filled with anticipation and disbelief.

    A cripple who had miraculously recovered… challenging the supposed heir of the family?

    No one could predict how this would end.

    But one thing was certain—

    Tomorrow, the Xiao Family would witness a battle like never before.

    That night, Xiao Li sat cross-legged in his courtyard, his eyes closed as he focused on his cultivation.

    [1000x Cultivation Speed Activated]

    A surge of Qi flooded into his body, refining itself at a speed that would take other cultivators months, if not years, to achieve.

    [Qi Refining Stage 3 → Stage 4]

    [Qi Refining Stage 4 → Stage 5]

    Xiao Li’s body trembled as an overwhelming wave of energy coursed through him.

    In just one night, he had already reached the fifth stage of Qi Refining.

    His power skyrocketed.

    His control over Qi sharpened.

    By the time the first rays of dawn appeared, Xiao Li stood up, his eyes burning with determination.

    "Xiao Feng… Today, I will end you."

    The Outer Courtyard was packed with Xiao Family members, all eager to witness the duel.

    Some were curious, others eager to see Xiao Li fail, and a few were simply terrified of what he had become.

    At the center of the courtyard, Xiao Feng stood with his sword drawn, his face still bruised from yesterday’s humiliation.

    "You should have stayed dead," Xiao Feng spat, his voice filled with venom.

    Xiao Li smirked, his hands still lazily resting at his side.

    "Are you sure you’re in any position to be giving me advice?"

    Xiao Feng’s fists clenched, his anger boiling over.

    "Enough talk! Let’s see if your so-called ''return'' is anything more than a joke!"

    Xiao Zhen, seated at the judge’s platform, raised his hand.

    "The duel between Xiao Li and Xiao Feng will now commence."

    "Begin!"

    BOOM!

    The moment the words left the Patriarch’s mouth, Xiao Feng charged forward, his sword flashing with sharp Qi energy.

    "DIE!"

    His blade cut through the air with deadly precision, aiming straight for Xiao Li’s throat.

    But—

    Xiao Li didn’t move.

    He simply stood there, watching.

    At the last moment—

    WHOOSH!

    Xiao Li’s figure vanished.

    The next thing Xiao Feng knew—

    A fist slammed into his stomach.

    "GUH!"

    Xiao Feng staggered back, his eyes wide in shock.

    Xiao Li stood behind him, his expression unreadable.

    "Too slow."

    The Xiao Family gasped in disbelief.

    "What speed…!"

    "I didn’t even see him move!"

    "How is this possible?!"

    Xiao Feng’s mind reeled.

    "How… how did you dodge that?!"

    Xiao Li tilted his head.

    "Dodge?"

    His smirk widened.

    "I didn’t need to."

    Xiao Feng’s face paled.

    "W-What?!"

    Xiao Li slowly raised his hand, a faint golden glow swirling around his fingers.

    "My turn."

    And then, in the blink of an eye—

    BOOM!

    Xiao Li disappeared.

    Before Xiao Feng could even react, a devastating force slammed into his chest.

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    Xiao Feng’s body was sent flying, smashing into the ground with an earth-shaking impact.

    Dust exploded into the air.

    When it finally cleared—

    Xiao Feng lay motionless, his sword shattered beside him.

    The Xiao Family fell into complete silence.

    No one could believe what they had just witnessed.

    A single strike.

    That was all it took.

    "I…" Xiao Feng tried to speak, but coughed out blood.

    Xiao Li slowly walked forward, towering over his fallen brother.

    "You thought you were strong."

    "You thought you had won."

    His eyes burned coldly.

    "You were wrong."

    And with that, he turned away.

    "This duel is over."

    The Xiao Family sat in stunned silence.

    Xiao Feng—defeated.

    Xiao Li—unstoppable.

    The young master had returned.

    And this was only the beginning.