Xiao Clan's Heavenly 'Delinquent'

Being accepted into the Xiao Sect, their true ancestral ground was the dream of every Xiao Clan member. No one had ever displayed the talent worthy of such a position, however... with this opportunity, you only had to be the most talented in the Xiao Clan to make it into the Xiao Sect! As a result, everyone had started to look at Xiao Jiantian as if he was already a Xiao Sect disciple.

Just another morning.

"When will you show your true strength? With your talent, returning to the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region wouldn't be difficult. There, you would gain resources to help you reach your former strength again."

"What reason do I have to actively chase strength? Is there an enemy I can't defeat? Am I worried about my life span? Is there a calamity I must prevent?" Xiao Jiantian questioned. "Does someone miss me from the Realm of the Gods? You know, damn near every peak existence abhors me because I put them all in their place."

"I know what I'm capable of and a few years of peace won't be the end of me. Actually... the people I pity most are those who waste their whole lives chasing the way of the Profound without ever truly living their life. Then they die at some bottle-neck they could never truly breakthrough, all depressed and shit."

He sighed, realising that he had spent countless reincarnations living by that very principle. Not anymore, he had long since decided.

"The Xiao Clan's ancestor's father Xiao Zheng fits this quite well, actually... after realising that life wasn't all about strength and fame, he regretted the expulsion of his son. But it was far too late by then."

Xia Qingyue nodded, agreeing with what he said. "... I don't desire to be strong for the sake of being strong either. My greatest desire is to find my mother and reunite our family. To do so, I need to ascend to the Realm of the Gods as you once did..."

"Your mother mentioned the Realm of the Gods when she left?"

"Indeed... I've been chasing it ever since, in any way I could."

Xiao Jiantian scoffed. "What a careless mother, she shouldn't have ever mentioned the Realm of the Gods. By doing that, she set you up for a goal that is almost hopeless. Though... I want to know more about her. You never know, maybe I could help you in your quest?"

"You would help me?" Her eyes almost glowed like the stars of a dark night as she looked at him with shining hope. The assistance of Xuanyuan Jiantian himself... it was like a dream.

"Of course, I need to retrieve my mother-in-law, don't I?" Xiao Jiantian smiled before speaking in a more serious tone. "But... the Realm of the Gods is a dark place full of hypocrisy, intrigue, murder and savagery. If she truly is still alive, then I will surely do my very best to help you find her. If not..."

"I'm certain she's still alive! She has to be."

Seeing her refute the possibility so ferociously, he didn't speak further on that matter. "I think so too. For her to birth two children with special physiques with extraordinary talent in a row... there is no doubt in my mind that she is valued wherever she has returned. She might have the treasured Divine Stainless Body which transfers primordial energy to her children..."

"My brother has a special physique?" The word 'talented' didn't really come to mind when she thought of her little brother. Sure, he was absurdly muscular for his age but his profound strength was below average at best.

"Indeed, though it has yet to be awakened. In his case... it'll be very difficult to do so. The bearers of his physique must have a tyrannical view of the world and its people to fully awaken. Xia Yuanba... he's far from a tyrant. Unfortunately, it's likely that he won't ever reach the True Profound Realm."

"Knowing this, the thought of making him my disciple did come to mind but my training method would be extremely punishing. However, I didn't want my future wife to start thinking I was bullying her little brother so I didn't act."

"You don't have to worry about that anymore. If he wants to go through with it, then it's his decision. The curse of such a bottleneck is far too cruel."

"Eh, I'll think about it." Xiao Jiantian shrugged. "But wouldn't you be a little embarrassed if your little brother suddenly surpassed you?"

"No, not at all. I would be proud of him... he works harder than you do, at the very least." She looked at him disapprovingly. "I haven't seen you cultivate once."

"I make up for it at night." He smiled playfully.

He chuckled when he saw Xia Qingyue show slight timidness, looking away. She then grabbed a pillow and turned his smirk into a look of surprise as she forced him down from his sitting position.

"Pillow-fighting, are we? Two can play that game!"

...

Later on, Xiao Jiantian decided to have a taste of Xia Qingyue's cooking. After all, what is a wife if she can't c-... well, being a heavenly chef, he expected his wife to be somewhat decent. If she wasn't... naturally, it was his duty to teach!

"This soup... it's pretty damn good, if I do say so myself." Xiao Jiantian complimented as he channelled his inner Gordon Ramsay. "A little bland but we can work on that."

"Hmph." Xia Qingyue pursed her lips. "Show me how I can improve then."

"Next time, I will." Xiao Jiantian nodded. "On a side note, the visitors from the Xiao Sect are going to arrive within seven or so hours, judging from their slow pace."

"How do you know that so easily?"

"Well, my perception is quite exceptional and an Earth Profound Practitioner is pretty easy to separate from all the other trash." Xiao Jiantian stated indifferently. "If they dare act up in my little City, however, I won't hesitate to serve them all a piece of humble pie."

"By revealing your true strength?"

"Something like that." He chuckled. "It'll be fun."

~

"Che'er, come hunting with me." Xiao Jiantian met with his brother later when it was noon. "I'm going to catch something big for dinner today!"

"Huh, something big?"

"I'm talking True Profound Realm, hehe."

"True Profound Realm!? I know brother is strong but isn't that reaching far too high?" Xiao Che questioned.

"Have faith in me, alright?"

"... Alright!"

And so, they set off into the hills. Xiao Jiantian led the way without a single weapon in hand while Xiao Che was constantly looking around every corner, slightly frightened. For someone with broken profound veins since birth... well, this was to be expected.

'Five beasts... perfect.'

From his profound energy, Xiao Jiantian created a bow and five arrows. He leapt high into the air, did a whole backflip and took aim.

'Mighty Heavenly Flamboyant Mid-Air Quintuple Shot!'

In one instant, all five arrows went flying and hit their targets before Xiao Jiantian landed. Once he did, all five beasts were dead. Xiao Che clapped so loudly that it seemed like he had a whole crowd once Xiao Jiantian landed.

"Wow, that was amazing, brother Jiantian!"

Xiao Jiantian did a gentle-man-like bow and smiled. "I wouldn't be the number one genius if I didn't have a few tricks up my sleeve, eh?"

"Hehe, only brother Jiantian ever uses the bow with such grace!"

They both smiled and marched onwards, deeper in the forest. Xiao Che became more and more confident in his brother as he witnessed even Nascent Profound Realm profound beasts run away from him. Then, once Xiao Jiantian actually took down a True Profound Realm profound beast, they camped for a little while.

Eventually, Xiao Jiantian decided to bring up a more important topic.

"Remember our promise, Che'er?"

Xiao Che's expression was one of uncertainty...

"What about it?"

"I'm going to give you brand new profound veins today." Xiao Jiantian stated simply as if it was something he could easily do. "You won't have to solely rely on me anymore as you'll finally be able to have your own strength. It won't be easy, though. You'll have to work your ass off to catch up to everyone else."

"I will do my best, I swear it!" Xiao Che promised with great resolve. "But... how will you give me new profound veins? Something like that shouldn't even be possible..."

"Your brother is a God of Miracles."

"Stand still." Xiao Jiantian reassured him as he channelled the Law of Nothingness. He placed his palm on the very core of his profound vein. "I have to remove your profound veins completely first."

"Com... completely!?"

"Just trust me, you buffoon."

'Wait... a Profound Handle?' Xiao Jiantian's eyes widened in shock for a moment. He observed further and realised that they weren't exactly biological brothers. 'This...'

Using his profound energy, he erased Xiao Che's profound veins and created a brand new set, imitating what Xiao Che's original profound veins would've looked like. However, there were extra benefits; his new profound veins had been born with all fifty-four profound entrances opened and, due to the nature of its creation, had a spark of primordial energy.

Xiao Jiantian's entire body was overflowing with extraordinarily pure primordial energy so this act wasn't too difficult.

"Wow... this feeling... I can't even explain it..." Xiao Che stated, absolutely shocked that his profound veins had been fixed. "I can finally start breaking through... right?"

"Mhm, go right on ahead."

On the way back home to the Xiao Clan, Xiao Che was like an erupting volcano of excitement the whole time. The man even started skipping instead of walking! Though, the possibility of Xiao Che becoming strong led to Xiao Jiantian thinking about how he would retaliate against all of his previous bullies.

Though this physical bullying period did not last long since Xiao Jiantian was around, the subtle looks and comments of clear disdain still remained when he wasn't with him.

He, himself, remembered his days as a sect disciple when he was Jun Zhi. He had beaten up a few of his fellow sect disciples to the point where they had almost died... despite being a kind medical saint in his previous life. Late-bloomers usually ended up being extremely violent and he knew it himself.

"So, what do you want me to tell everyone?"

"The truth."

"So you want everyone to know that you can heal broken profound veins?"

"Imagine how the streets of the Floating Cloud City would be bustling with activity when this news spreads!" Xiao Jiantian chuckled. "The Xiao Clan would be rich in absolutely no time."

"Mn, sounds good!" Xiao Che nodded.

'The Profound Handle... the Mirror of Samsara...' Xiao Jiantian observed Xiao Che's necklace. He had known almost since birth that a heavenly treasure was right there for the taking. But the Mirror of Samsara... well, he thought it was kind of useless considering his own reincarnation ability. 'The Heavenly Handle Yun Clan? Ah, yes... the patriarch who fled to an unknown world, refusing to hand over their heavenly treasure to the Burning Moon Realm! He must've settled down on one of the other two continents as I've never witnessed a Profound Handle in the Profound Sky Continent... meaning that there must've been an inter-continent affair for this 'brother' of mine to be here.'

'This Blue Pole Star... it's so bloody eventful for a backwater planet.'

Being from an even more backwater Floating Cloud City, Xiao Jiantian's knowledge over the present Five Great Sacred Grounds was quite lacking but he managed to get the gist of it with a few clues. Though, from the assumption that he had made, Xiao Jiantian was a little displeased. He hoped that the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region did not involve themselves in needless conflict, as he had taught his potential successors to avoid bloodshed. If they did involve themselves... well, he swore to make a swift return and lecture the current Sword Master.

~

5 in the afternoon.

A Xiao Clan member had come running back as fast as he could after witnessing Xiao Kuangyun and his entourage. Xiao Yulong, despite feeling down due to his son's death, prepared a welcoming expression. Of course, all five of Xiao Clan's elders had been waiting with him for several hours on end.

Who would even dare to miss Xiao Sect's beyond generous visit?

In the end, even Xiao Jiantian with Xia Qingyue in hand came just as Xiao Kuangyun's party did.

"Are you four lads from the Xiao Sect? I, Xiao Jiantian, would like to personally welcome you to my beautiful city!"

"Jiantian...!" Xiao Yunhai frowned at him. Who the hell addresses Xiao Sect visitors as 'lads'!? It was simply disrespectful, especially to the elderly Xiao Moshan. "Forgive my Xiao Clan's young delinquent for his disrespectful behaviour!"

"Hmm-" Xiao Kuangyun's eyes had landed on Xia Qingyue's fairy-like appearance and he froze for a long moment... he was very clearly fixated. The young man even licked his lips in the most vulgar way Xiao Jiantian had witnessed in a while.

'And I thought I was horny...'

That was when Xiao Jiantian approached and hanged his arm over his neck like they were best friends.

"How dare you lay a hand on our young master!" Xiao Ba, one of Xiao Sect's disciples almost exploded.

"Say, why don't I give you a nice tour around Floating Cloud City? Maybe we can go hunt some profound beasts together?"

"..." Xiao Kuangyun was in disbelief. How could someone from this lowly place so casually disrespect him? When he tried to remove his arm, he was unable to do so... it was far too strong.

"Xiao Ba, remove him off me." Xiao Kuangyun commanded.

Immediately, Xiao Ba attacked Xiao Jiantian. He stepped back with grace, dodging the attack.

"What!?"

He shouted out loud, in shock. How could someone so young dodge his attack in a place like this?

"Apologise to the great Xiao Kuangyun at once!" Xiao Yunhai commanded. "You may do as you wish in the Xiao Clan but this is a young master of the Xiao Sect you're offending! The Xiao Sect!"

He repeated Xiao Sect twice in panic.

"Hmph... my bad for being friendly. You all may proceed with your ass-kissing." Xiao Jiantian made a small sarcastic bow and started making his way back. "Qingyue, come."

A simple, insincere, 'my bad'...

"..." Xiao Kuangyun was still in disbelief as Xiao Jiantian's figure faded. "What... am I even to say? I am... simply put, disgusted by what I just experienced. If this is how the Xiao Clan treats guests from the Xiao Sect... then I must ask, how are other, less important, guests welcomed?"

"Young master Xiao Jiantian has always been unpredictable and very casual towards everyone. Please, on the behalf of the rest of the Xiao Clan, forgive him."

"The Xiao Jiantian?" Xiao Moshan stroked his beard. "7th level of the Nascent Profound Realm at the age of fifteen. That Xiao Jiantian?"

"Yes... he is our number one genius in the Xiao Clan and Floating Cloud City as a whole." Xiao Yunhai stated.

"7th level Nascent... a dump like this?" Xiao Kuangyun was quite surprised... impressed, in truth. "With our Xiao Sect's resources..."

Xiao Moshan nodded. "Indeed, such a talent would soar like a dragon. One of the elders considered going to pick him up himself before Xiao Zheng's passing."

"He might need some disciplining which I will leave to you, Xiao Moshan. I will forgive his earlier offence as there was no ill intent... it seemed like he just wanted to be friends. In truth, it was a fresh change of pace. He even dodged Xiao Ba's strike with ease, something that is commendable." Xiao Kuangyun stated.

"I was holding back, young master. If I truly wanted to, I could've pummeled him!"

Xiao Kuangyun did not reply. Instead, he turned to Xiao Yunhai. "Gather all of the Xiao Clan tomorrow for an inspection of its young talent. From there I will choose the Xiao Clan member who will ascend to the Xiao Sect."

"It will be done." Bowing his head low, Xiao Yunhai agreed to the order.

Later, the mayor even gave gifts to Xiao Kuangyun. Following that, more people came providing gifts...

~

"You're still spying around, hmm?" Xiao Jiantian approached Chu Yueli, his aura completely concealed. "Must be quite depressing to lose by far the most talented disciple you've ever had over some foolish rule. So... why are you still here? Didn't you say you'd cut all ties? Or... is my handsome face keeping you captivated?"

"..." Chue Yueli shook her head. "No. You are the first male to gain the Frozen Cloud Arts... even more importantly, you are not related to the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace in any way which is an issue."

"Ah, right, your 3rd-rate Profound Art that I'll never use! I promise not to spread its great power to anyone, don't you worry. Is that good enough?"

"Would you be willing to come to the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace with me? Perhaps our Grand Palace Mistress and your great self could come to an agreement."

"I'm somewhat interested... but first, I must settle my business with the Xiao Sect. It should only take a day or two."

"What do you intend to do?" Chu Yueli inquired, curious as to what an existence like him would have to do with the Xiao Sect. Being a disciple was surely out of the question...

"Ah, nothing too big."

~

At nine in the morning, everyone in the Xiao Clan was seated in their designated positions on a platform that had been set up in a wide middle ground. There were several tables, enough chairs for everyone and there were all kinds of equipment set around the area. At the closed entrance of the Xiao Clan was a large crowd, patiently waiting to possibly be let in. Even if they weren't... they were more than happy to be on the outside.

Meanwhile, Xiao Kuangyun sat on the seat of honour as he swept his gaze over the Xiao Clan members. Naturally, being a young master from the Xiao Sect, he looked down on everyone in the Floating Cloud City. He noticed that one seat was still empty... even after his arrival, which did irritate him.

And it was the most important one, too.

"Where is Xiao Jiantian?"

"Ah..." Xiao Yunhai laughed nervously. "He hasn't been seen since last night. Forgive him, he's a bit of a troublemaker. In truth, I think he is acting this way to dodge the opportunity of becoming a Xiao Sect disciple."

"Dodge?" Xiao Kuangyun frowned. Someone from the Xiao Clan DOES NOT want to be a Xiao Sect disciple!? Such a thought was inconceivable. "Whatever the case may be, it is your duty to drag him here. I will not be offended further-"

"Drag this King? Who among you has the qualifications for that?" That was when Xiao Jiantian entered through the entrance with Xia Qingyue beside him. "Look at these poor people waiting by the entrance... I'll allow them to enter."

"..." Xiao Kuangyun shrugged. "Sure... let them in."

Xiao Jiantian leisurely walked up the platform and took his seat. "So, I know you Xiao Sect lads ever so kindly came here to pick up the best talent in the Xiao Clan but I'm honestly not interested at all. I'm a free, casual spirit so a place where I'm not near the top of the hierarchy... well, it gets a little dicey. I'm afraid that I'd only cause problems as a Xiao Sect disciple."

"It wouldn't be the first time that the Xiao Sect had unruly yet extremely talented disciples." Xiao Moshan stated. "I've personally dealt with many of them in my time."

"... This King is a little different." Xiao Jiantian smirked, grabbing his cup of wine. "You see, it's a little difficult to obey those weaker than you... wouldn't you agree?"

"What are you trying to say?" Xiao Moshan frowned.

"What I tried to say is that you're a worthless piece of trash."