Volume 1: Sword Heart Chapter 13: Xiao Family

  "Cock-a-doodle-doo!" A loud crowing sound came from the Xiao estate. The sky had just begun to brighten, and the Xiao family's large courtyard was already bustling with people.

  "Hah! Hah! Hah!" The sound of uniform shouting echoed continuously within the spacious training grounds, where a group of young men of roughly the same age stood in several rows practicing basic martial techniques.

  The Tianqi Empire was founded by military power, with a strong and fierce folk culture. The strong were revered, from the elderly to young children, everyone practiced martial arts.

  A person's innate talent and achievements in martial arts determine his future.

  The Tianqi Empire was founded over 600 years ago, and the Xiao family made great contributions to the founding emperor of the Tianqi Empire. They became one of the four major families in the empire and were considered the most prestigious family. However, as with all things that rise to greatness, they eventually decline. This is an unchanging truth that no dynasty or family can escape. Over the past century, the Xiao family has gradually declined.

  In order for a family to thrive and be passed down in the world of Tianyuan where martial arts are prevalent, having extensive connections is only a basic condition. High-level martial artists are the guarantee for a family's long-lasting prosperity. It's worth noting that a powerful martial artist can instantly destroy a large family.

  For a hundred years, the Xiao family has not produced any high-level warriors. As the once-powerful family gradually declined, they began to focus on cultivating the younger generation. Three-month-old babies would be tested for their talent, and if they showed promise, they would receive special training; at five years old, another test of their innate abilities would determine which skills to pass down to them; at sixteen, a final test would be administered, and those who failed to meet expectations would leave the family, either to make their own way in the world or to contribute to the family's development from the grassroots level, bidding farewell to the family's core forever.

  Five-year-old Xiao Ran opened his eyes with a joyful face, stretching out his limbs lazily. The warm sunshine of the sky shone through the window into the room, and a new day had begun. Xiao Ran, oh no, it should be called Xiao Zhan now, this life his name was taken from his father Xiao Bie Li and mother Zhan Yan Er's surname.

  Xiao Zhan sat cross-legged on the bed with his feet bare, quietly feeling the changes in his body. Now that he was five years old, he could finally move around like a normal child. His body no longer panted and wheezed with even slight activity, all thanks to the effects of that set of fist techniques and the "Body Refining Mantra".

  "Wow!" His mouth didn't utter a sound of surprise, but he couldn't believe it. In less than a month of cultivation, his physical condition had improved significantly. Although he hadn't opened up a single acupoint, he could clearly feel that there was an acupoint inside him that was heating up and swelling, as if all he needed to do was add a bit more effort to open it up. This situation made Xiao Zhan's heart surge with excitement. If he really could open it up, he would possess the legendary internal energy. Just thinking about becoming a top martial artist in the future made Xiao Zhan so excited that he wanted to shout out loud, and he was filled with anticipation for what was to come.

  "Tap, tap." Two pebbles hit the window, interrupting Xiao Zhan's excitement.

  Xiao Zhan slowly came back to his senses, his eyes fixed intently on the window, his spiritual energy radiating from his body. In an instant, a scene appeared in his mind: a 14-year-old boy wearing a purple warrior robe, holding a small stone in his hand, with a sly smile at the corner of his mouth, constantly gesturing towards the window, as if planning to throw the stone at the window again.

  Xiao Zhan was taken aback, "Big brother, what are you doing here so early in the morning?"

  Big brother Xiao Jian is the son of Second Madam Liu Ruyan, nine years older than Xiao Zhan. He is a rare talent in this generation of the Xiao family. Second Madam gave birth to one boy and one girl for Father. The boy is Xiao Jian outside the window, and the girl is only two years old this year, named Xiao Ruyue.

  Xiao Zhan hummed a soft incantation, and his body floated up lightly, slowly descending to the window. A pair of small hands pushed open the window, and he poked his head out, staring irritably at the zither sword below.

  "Hey big brother, what are you doing so early in the morning?"

  Xiao Jian, who was just about to throw the stone in his hand, was stunned when he saw Xiao Zhan suddenly appear before him and became somewhat at a loss. Strange? Why hadn't he heard any footsteps just now?

  He immediately threw the stone in his hand and smiled: "Little brother, good morning. Of course, I came over so early to see if you were sleeping in." After glancing at Xiao Zhan's body, he continued: "It seems that I'm being overly cautious."

  Xiao Zhan rolled his eyes and said, "But big brother, why didn't you leave through the main gate? Why did you have to do it this way?"

  "It doesn't matter about these things, today brother is here to take you out to see the world, don't stay indoors all day, young people should go out and move around more."

  "Oh, going out! Is Big Brother preparing to leave the mansion?" Xiao Zhan's face showed an excited expression. Having been in Xiao Mansion for several days already, staying in the other courtyard all day, it was time to go out and take a look around, get to know the customs and people of Yu Jing City.

  "Uh... of course... no way." Xiao Jian said awkwardly, "If I take you out, your mother will definitely break my leg."

  "Where to go?" Xiao Zhan said with a low mood.

  Looking at Xiao Zhan, who was suddenly listless, Xiao Jian said seriously: "Younger brother, is this your first time coming to the Jade Capital's Xiao family? The Xiao family is so big and you haven't taken a good look around. Today, I'll be your guide and take you on a good tour."

  "It's just some houses, what's there to look at?"

  "Hehe, no matter what you're looking at, today you must go out with your brother." After finishing speaking, he kept urging, as if he wouldn't give up until his goal was achieved.

  Facing his garrulous brother Xiao Zhan, he was quite helpless and wondered why he had never noticed how talkative he was before.

  The Xiao Fu occupies a vast area of land and is located in the deepest part of the Yu Jing City where the nobles gather.

  Although the Xiao family has been declining in recent years, its vast influence and power are still not comparable to those of ordinary noble families, and it is undoubtedly one of the top two or three aristocratic families in Tianqi.

  Xiao Zhan's family lived in a place located east of the Xiao Mansion. It was originally a prince's estate, but after being convicted of a crime and imprisoned, it was later bought by the neighboring Xiao family and incorporated into the Xiao Mansion. It became a separate courtyard independent of the entire Xiao Mansion system, making it a quiet and secluded retreat.

  Xiao Zhan followed his elder brother Xiao Jian, the two of them strolling alone in the Xiao estate, listening to his brother's continuous explanations, Xiao Zhan couldn't help but exclaim in surprise from time to time. This was simply a beautiful park.

  At the height of their excitement, they ran into a group of gorgeously dressed young masters, led by a 16 or 17-year-old boy with a handsome face. His name was Xiao Ce, the most outstanding person of his generation in the Xiao family, and he was known as one of the "Xiao Family's Twin Jewels" along with his older brother Xiao Jian.

  By his side was a slightly younger noble young master in Chinese attire, who frowned and became gloomy when he saw Xiao Jian approaching. However, when he saw the five-year-old child beside Xiao Jian, his eyes lit up, and a cold smile spread across his face. He leaned into Xiao Ce's ear and whispered, their gazes occasionally darting towards the two Xiao brothers as they let out cold, mocking snickers.

  Suddenly, Xiao Mu blocked Xiao Jian's path with his horse, looking at him with a provocative gaze and a cold smile hanging from the corner of his mouth.