Chapter 66: The Reason
"Within these two main divisions, there are ten smaller squads, each consisting of one hundred members all at the Battle Venerable realm — with a Half-Saint serving as each squad's captain."
"The two of you are in command of the guard corps. You must ensure that every member maintains their combat capability.
There must be no one who holds a high realm in name only but cannot bring out their full strength.
Maintain the necessary training at all times. Even though the Xiao Clan is currently safe and sound, you must never let your guard down — no accidents of any kind can be allowed to happen."
"If I find anyone neglecting their duties or slackening in spirit, the punishment will be severe and without exception!" The guard corps was an extremely important pillar of the Xiao Clan — in a sense, it represented the clan's very security — so Xiao Feng could not help but add a few extra words of warning.
Ever since the Xiao Clan's members had settled within the Xiao Clan's small world, there had never been a single instance of an outsider intruding or wandering in by accident. As a result, the guard corps had been living a rather easy and uneventful existence. But Xiao Feng had no intention of allowing that mindset to persist. What he wanted to see was a guard corps that remained in a constant state of vigilance — one capable of responding to any sudden development with the best possible defensive measures.
With his words of warning delivered, Xiao Qi and Xiao Ren naturally did not dare to let them go in one ear and out the other. Both were sharp-minded individuals who understood perfectly well what needed to be done. It could be safely assumed that in the days ahead, the members of the Xiao Clan's guard corps were in for a round of brutal training. The laxness that may have crept in before would never be permitted again.
"Yes! We will faithfully follow Clan Leader's instructions!" the two replied.
"Xiao Xing, Xiao Hai — tell me about the current situation of 'Hell.'" Xiao Feng turned his gaze toward Xiao Xing and Xiao Hai.
"Clan Leader, 'Hell' has already become one of the top-tier forces in the Central Region. Our shadow agents have also spread across the other four regions. However, due to the presence of the ancient clans and primordial races within the Central Region, we have been unable to fully penetrate it. We have failed in our duties and await Clan Leader's punishment!"
As they said this, a look of guilt appeared on their faces, and they immediately knelt before Xiao Feng, heads lowered in silence.
Seeing their behavior, Xiao Feng could only shake his head with a wry smile. The fact that "Hell" had grown to its current scale was a testament to their hard work and dedication, which was absolutely worthy of recognition. As for himself, the title of "hands-off leader" suited him quite well. Besides, this matter was genuinely difficult to begin with — he had no intention of holding anyone accountable for it.
With a wave of his sleeve, an invisible force lifted the kneeling men to their feet. Against that power, even if Xiao Xing and the others had exerted every ounce of their strength, it would have been utterly futile — so they had no choice but to rise obediently.
"It is fine. What has been accomplished is already very impressive. The Central Region is the heart of the Dou Qi Continent, home to all the great ancient races. Fully penetrating the entire Central Region is naturally fraught with difficulties. Even the Xiao Clan of old, at the height of its power, could never have managed such a thing. There is no need for self-reproach. Continue developing 'Hell' — let this be one of its long-term goals. Keep pressing toward it, and success will come in time."
"Yes! We will heed Clan Leader's teaching!"
With that matter resolved, Xiao Xing continued: "Beyond that, the four of us personally oversee 'Hell's' operations in the Central Region, supported by five Half-Saints and several thousand Battle Venerables. In each of the other four regions, one Half-Saint commands operations there, backed by a number of Battle Venerables."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Feng inwardly approved. He did not feel that Xiao Xing and the others were wasting strength by deploying so many capable people in this way. After all, in the East, South, West, and North regions, a Battle Venerable was already an exceptionally formidable existence. Now that the Xiao Clan had grown strong and boasted many clansmen at the Half-Saint realm, deploying them in this distributed manner would not hinder the clan in any meaningful way. On the contrary, it would make "Hell's" branches across the four outer regions far more stable and allow them to develop at a much faster pace.
With their presence, no one would dare obstruct "Hell's" expansion — and indeed, no one would even think to try.
A Half-Saint was not a particularly rare figure in the Central Region, and lingering there without sufficient backing brought few rewards but many risks — one wrong step could invite a fatal encounter. But in the other four regions, the strength of a Half-Saint made it quite easy to secure advantages, and the number of individuals who could genuinely threaten them would be extremely few.
Most importantly, by spreading out in this way, they drew far less attention to themselves. If they had all gathered together in the Central Region, it would have been easy for sharp-eyed individuals to take notice — and various troubles would have inevitably followed.
"Excellent!" He gave Xiao Xing and the others a clear word of affirmation for their approach.
Upon hearing Xiao Feng's praise, smiles of delight broke across everyone's faces. In their eyes, nothing could bring more satisfaction than earning the recognition of their Clan Leader.
In the time that followed, Xiao Feng discussed various matters with everyone at length. Time slipped away swiftly amid their back-and-forth exchanges — from the rising of the morning sun at the start, to the sinking of the golden crow in the west by now; from the freshness of early morning to the warm amber glow of dusk.
Suddenly, Xiao Feng glanced at the faces before him and recalled something. With a puzzled expression, he asked: "What was it that brought all of you here today? What important matter has arisen within the clan?"
The Xiao Clan's affairs kept everyone constantly busy, and Xiao Hu, Xiao Xing, and the others each managed different areas of responsibility — it was rare for any of them to return to the clan. Yet here they all were, gathered together without a single one absent. Clearly, there was a significant matter they had intended to discuss.
Xiao Feng had not noticed this detail earlier, nor had he given it any thought. Only now, in this moment, did the realization strike him.
At his words, Xiao Hu and the others suddenly seemed to remember something as well, and their eyes shifted toward Xiao Xing and the others.
It had been Xiao Xing's group who had summoned them all here in the first place — but before they had managed to say a word, Xiao Feng had suddenly appeared. Between the surprise of his emergence and everything that followed, they had all temporarily forgotten their original purpose. Now that Xiao Feng had brought it up, they too found themselves equally puzzled.
*"Could it be that Xiao Xing's group already knew the Clan Leader would emerge from seclusion today? No, that can't be right — Clan Leader himself said he hadn't just come out today. And besides, why would Clan Leader notify only Xiao Xing's group and not the rest of us? That's impossible!"* Such thoughts flickered through the minds of Xiao Hai and the others, only to be quickly dismissed.
The shifting glances among the group naturally could not escape Xiao Feng's notice from his elevated position. Seeing this, he understood that it must have been Xiao Xing's group who had called everyone together today. So he, too, turned his gaze toward Xiao Xing and the others, curious to learn what matter had prompted all of this.
Beneath the weight of everyone's questioning stares, Xiao Xing and Xiao Hai felt utterly at a loss for words.
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End of this chapter .