Xiao Ren's hands clenched tightly under the table, but he offered no rebuttal. The other elders shifted uncomfortably in their seats. No one wanted to revisit the scandal of Xiao Bai's downfall or the tragic death of his wife, Mo Chen. It was a dark stain in the clan's recent history—one that had left lingering resentment in many hearts.
Xiao Fen stood slowly, his tall frame imposing as his martial aura pressed lightly on the room.
"As for the Mo Clan, send them a message. We will not surrender."Xiao Fei said.
Some of the elders stiffened, confused. But before they could speak, Xiao Fen raised a hand to quiet them.
"We will not fight either. We will retreat."Xiao Fei added.
"Retreat?"Elder Xu repeated softly.
"Yes. Like the Hu Clan, we will move out of the city. It's pointless to stay here and lose our lives in a battle we cannot win."Xiao Fen said, his eyes were sharp and decisive.
"My sons, Xiao Yan and Xiao Yen, are both extremely talented. Xiao Yen has also been accepted as Outer Disciple in the Sword Pavilion. Within three years, both my son's will come back. And when he does, we will reclaim what is ours from the Mo Clan."Xiao Fei explained.
There was a pause, and then nods of agreement spread around the table. One by one, the elders began to speak.
"First Young Master Xiao Yen is a genius. If anyone can lead the next generation, it's him."
"Indeed, the Sword Pavilion is one of the strongest sects. His future is limitless."
"Three years is not long. We will prepare in silence and return in glory."
Xiao Fen allowed himself a small, rare smile as the support of his council rallied behind him. He was a strategist, a survivor—he would not let the Xiao Clan perish because of pride. And with Xiao Yen's future assured, he could see a path forward. Not through strength, but patience.
But then Elder Xu, ever the careful observer, raised a question that had been bothering him.
"Clan Leader, what about Xiao Wei?"Elder Xu said.
Xiao Fen's expression turned cold in an instant.
"What about him?"Xiao Fen asked.
"Some of the disciples say he returned to the clan earlier today"Elder Xu said, his voice neutral.
"Tell everyone that Xiao Wei was expelled from the clan. He failed to attend his duties, ignored his training, and went missing for months without a word. We don't need trash like him in our Xiao Clan."Xiao Fen said, his tone final.
Elder Xu opened his mouth to argue, but Xiao Fen was already turning away, the conversation over.
"Make the preparations for relocation. We leave by sunrise. And let Xiao Wei know—if he chooses to remain here, he does so alone."Xiao Fen said as he walked toward the exit.
The sound of the heavy door closing behind the Clan Leader echoed like a final verdict in the hall. No one dared speak after that.
From the darkest corner of the meeting room, a faint ripple stirred. A black of darkness detached from the shadows behind a pillar, forming a low, misty shape that drifted silently along the floor and slipped out of the hall unnoticed.
Shadow Ming had seen and heard everything.
*I was wondering what kind of clan Xiao Wei belonged to. Now I see. Short-sighted fools drunk on their own pride and politics. No wonder he's better off alone.*Shadow Ming thought with a wry smile forming in his face.
He moved like a wisp of smoke, gliding through the quiet corridors as he explore the place.
Three hours passed in silence after Xiao Wei returned to his room within the Xiao Clan.
Shadow Ming, who had been out roaming the Xiao Clan in his formless state, finally returned, slipping silently back into the darkened corners of the room. Xiao Wei still lay on his bed, breathing steadily, seemingly fast asleep.
'Boy, wake up'Shadow Ming's voice echoed directly into Xiao Wei's mind.
Xiao Wei's eyes snapped open. He sat up immediately, fully alert.
"What happened?"Xiao Wei asked, glancing around with sharp eyes that betrayed no sign of fatigue.
"I have some bad news"Shadow Ming said grimly.
Without delay, he recounted everything he had witnessed in the Xiao Clan's meeting room—the discussions of surrender, the retreat plan to avoid the Mo Clan's wrath, and most notably, the decision to expel Xiao Wei, branding him as a failure who lacked discipline.
However, to Shadow Ming's surprise, Xiao Wei's expression didn't change. There was no outrage, no sorrow—only a calm, unreadable stillness.
In truth, Xiao Wei wasn't surprised at all. He had long since sensed his place in the clan growing colder.
*Don't worry, real Xiao Wei, you may be gone, but I now have your body. I'll make them pay—but not yet. First, I need strength.*Xiao Wei thought, gazing blankly at the ceiling.
He rose from the bed and walked slowly to the window, looking out over the sky.
"They're expelling me. So where should I go now?"Xiao Wei muttered, more to himself than to Shadow Ming.
Shadow Ming didn't respond, only silently merging back into Xiao Wei's shadow without a word. The two of them understood what needed to be done—there was no time for useless emotions.
Half an hour passed.
A soft knock echoed through the room. Xiao Wei turned toward the door just as it creaked open. Elder Xu, the Xiao Clan's Third Elder, stepped inside, his expression impassive and his eyes avoiding Xiao Wei's gaze.
"Xiao Wei, the clan has decided to expel you. Your absence from training and lack of participation in clan duties have made it… necessary."Elder Xu said as he take out a small cloth pouch, heavy with Spirit Coins from his Storage Ring.
"Take this, 1000 Spirit Coins. The clan offers this as compensation."Elder Xu said.
Xiao Wei took the pouch slowly, weighing it in his hand. Then, without a word, he threw it down at the Elder's feet with a dull thud, coins clinking together inside.
"I don't want clans pity. From now on, I have nothing to do with the Xiao Clan."Xiao Wei said coldly, his voice was firm, laced with cold resolve.
Elder Xu hesitated for a moment, as if wanting to say more, but ultimately turned and walked away, saying nothing further.
Xiao Wei didn't linger. He left his room and strode straight toward the main gate of the Xiao Clan. Disciples and servants turned their heads as he passed, whispering among themselves.
When he reached the gates, Xiao Wei paused, then turned to face the clan grounds. He took a deep breath, and with a voice sharpened by fury and determination, he shouted.
"Xiao Clan! Pray that I die somewhere outside. Because if I survive… the day I return, the Elders who killed my parents will beg for mercy!"
His voice rang through the compound, echoing off stone walls and tiled roofs. Disciples froze. Elders glanced up from their scrolls. Servants stopped mid-task. Outside on the street, even pedestrians halted, curious and startled by the voice filled with iron and flame.
Without another word, Xiao Wei turned his back on the clan that had raised him and walked out of the gate, his steps neither hurried nor hesitant.
By dusk, Xiao Wei had left Mo City far behind and entered the dense greenery of Tiger Mountain's outer region. He moved silently through the underbrush, his mind was clear, his path set.
Soon, he arrived at a hidden cave nestled between two rocky cliffs—a place, where he always take refuge.
Here, away from the chaos of clans and cities, he could focus on his Cultivation, uninterrupted.
Inside the deepest part of the cave, Xiao Wei reached into his Tier 4 Storage Ring and pulled out a Tier 5 Cauldron, Burner. It landed with a soft metallic thud, steady and imposing.
He didn't rest. Instead, he sat cross-legged before the cauldron. Then, one by one, he withdrew herbs from the ring—carefully selected Tier 1 ingredients for a Tier 1 Spirit Power Pill.
Each step was done with calm precision: heating the cauldron to the exact temperature, adding the ingredients in the right sequence, and grinding them into powder.
The cave began to fill with a faint, medicinal fragrance. Sweat rolled down Xiao Wei's brow, but he didn't blink, didn't flinch. His hands moved like they were part of a long-practiced dance, smooth and unwavering.
After nearly an hours, the mixture inside the cauldron settled into a gentle bubbling glow. Xiao Wei exhaled deeply and made the final hand seal. The cauldron trembled slightly before emitting a faint puff of white smoke.
He opened the lid.
Inside, two glowing pills rested at the bottom, radiating a soft light—both High-Grade Tier 1 Spirit Power Pill.
He placed the pills into a bottle and immediately began preparing for a second batch.
*****
[Author Note - Readers please comment and support my novel.]