BTTH: I Am the Ancestor of the Xiao Clan Chapter 4: A Harsh Reality

Xiao Realm, Xiao Xuan's Residence.

"As long as the green hills remain, there's no fear of running out of firewood."

Xiao Xuan murmured to himself, watching Xiao Tiance leave. His deep, distant gaze reflected unwavering determination. "Tiance, perhaps you are right, but if I lose the will to press forward, I am no longer Xiao Xuan."

After returning to the ninth floor of the Tiance Mansion, Xiao Tiance also fell into deep thought. His conversation with Xiao Xuan had confird one thing Xiao Xuan had already made up his mind.

No amount of persuasion would sway him.

Xiao Tiance had suspected this all along. After all, if Xiao Xuan were the kind of person to abandon such an ambitious plan due to a few words, he wouldn't be Xiao Xuan.

*"Sigh, Brother Xuan is both incredibly charismatic and tragically stubborn.

But the Dou Qi Continent no longer has Source Qi. Even with your unparalleled talent, Brother Xuan, it's impossible for you to reach the Dou Di realm."*

With a sigh, Xiao Tiance decided to prepare for two outcos.

First, he would quietly move his branch of the clan out of the Xiao Realm within the ti limit Xiao Xuan had given. He would develop his own forces in secret.

Second, he would continue trying to persuade Xiao Xuan to reconsider. Attempting sothing dood to failure was simply not worth it.

As he contemplated, a faint glow flickered on his spatial ring. He crushed a crystalline object in his hand, and monts later, the space in the ninth floor rippled.

From the distortion erged an elderly man, a middle aged man, and a young man who appeared to be in his twenties.

"Tiance."

"Brother Tiance."

"Third Uncle."

The three greeted him as they arrived.

"Elder Uncle, Tianming, Qing'er, you're all here," Xiao Tiance said with a smile.

The elder was Xiao Chun, the first person who had rushed to Xiao Tiance's side when he woke up. He was the only elder remaining in their branch of the family, a Three Star Dou Sheng at the early stage and Xiao Tiance's father's blood brother.

"Why did you summon us?" Xiao Chun asked.

"Yes, Brother Tiance, I was about to head out. If there's sothing urgent, just let know," said Xiao Tianming, a Three Star Dou Sheng at the peak stage, just a step away from becoming a Four Star Dou Sheng. He was Xiao Chun's only son.

The youngest, Xiao Qing, remained silent but looked at Xiao Tiance with respect. He was Xiao Tiance's nephew, orphaned at a young age, and raised by Xiao Tiance. At the age of twenty, he had already reached the peak of Two Star Dou Sheng, a rising star of the Xiao Clan.

Seeing the three of them, Xiao Tiance gestured for them to sit. Four chairs appeared with a wave of his hand, and once everyone was seated, he began.

"I called you here for an urgent matter. You've probably heard that the clan leader intends to gather the bloodline power of all clansn into himself to attempt a breakthrough to the Dou Di realm, right?"

All three nodded. As Dou Shengs of the Xiao Clan, they were naturally aware of it. However, their branch was under Xiao Tiance's leadership, and clan rules forbade them from making independent decisions without his consent.

Xiao Chun explained, "The clan leader proposed this plan twenty years ago. Most of the elders and clansn have already agreed to assist him. But because you were in a coma, we didn't dare make any decisions without your input.

This has led to resentnt from the other branches, and there were even near conflicts because of it. Now that you've awakened, we naturally await your decision."

"My father is right," Xiao Tianming added. "If you agree, we'll support the plan. While it's a gamble, there's a chance for success."

Xiao Qing bowed and said solemnly, "Third Uncle, I owe everything to you. Whatever you decide, I will support you without hesitation."

Xiao Tiance felt a wave of warmth. Despite his century long coma, none of them had tried to take over his leadership.

Shaking his head, he explained, "I've already rejected the clan leader's plan. It's too risky. When I asked him about his chances of success, he admitted it's less than 10%. The odds are far too low.

For the sake of the Xiao Clan's future and the survival of our branch, I cannot agree to such a reckless gamble."

The mont he finished speaking, all three stood up in shock. It was almost unthinkable for anyone to openly refuse Xiao Xuan, the strongest man on the Dou Qi Continent.

Xiao Tiance gestured for them to sit again, smiling. "Don't worry. Brother Xuan is the clan leader, but I've made my stance clear. In the end, he agreed to give us ten years to move our branch out of the Xiao Realm."

"Really? The clan leader agreed?" Xiao Chun exclaid in disbelief.

Despite his seniority, Xiao Chun had always been overshadowed by Xiao Xuan in both strength and status. He had never imagined Xiao Xuan, known for his domineering nature, would relent.

"This is incredible! The clan leader didn't bla you, Brother Tiance?" Xiao Tianming added, equally stunned.

Even Xiao Qing, though silent, looked visibly shocked.

"He agreed," Xiao Tiance confird. "Not only that, but he also promised to send all the clan's resources with us. If he succeeds, we can return. If he fails, we will be the Xiao Clan's last hope."

Seeing their astonishnt, Xiao Tiance pressed on. "Now, I've called you here to understand the current strength of our branch. How do we stand?"

Xiao Chun glanced at Xiao Tianming, signaling him to answer.

Standing, Xiao Tianming bowed and said, "Brother Tiance, these past years have not been easy for our branch. We've faced constant suppression from the other branches.

If not for my father, myself, and Qing'er, we would have lost 80% of the resources allotted to us.

Currently, our branch has the following strength:

Dou Shengs: 4 (including the three of us).

Dou Zuns: 21, with 3 at the peak, 6 at nine stars, 2 at eight stars, 1 at seven stars, 4 at six stars, 2 at five stars, and 1 at four stars. The remaining 2 are at the initial stage.

Dou Zongs: 75.

Dou Huangs: 120.

Below Dou Huang: 343.

Two clansn are unable to cultivate at all."

Hearing this, Xiao Tiance's expression darkened. If his mory was correct, their branch had roughly the sa strength a century ago. Despite a hundred years, there had been almost no improvent.

Seeing his displeasure, Xiao Chun quickly explained, "Tiance, over the past century, our branch has been forced to take on the most dangerous missions. Many of our clansn died because of this.

With you in a coma, there was no one to stand up for us. My own strength is limited, so we could only endure in silence."

"Ridiculous! And the clan leader? Did he just ignore all this?"

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