Chapter 25: Clan Meeting

After the Du Clan's competition, Du Fei originally thought that he wouldn't be able to live a peaceful life for the next few days. However, unexpectedly, things did not develop as he had anticipated.

However, since outsiders were not anxious, Du Fei was not anxious either. Although he occasionally received various invitations during these days, he had Xiao Ai reject them all. He focused on cultivating in the courtyard, not as intensely as before, but this meticulous experience deepened his understanding of his own strength.

Although there was no substantial breakthrough in his strength, Du Fei believed that with his current strength, encountering a Ninth Rank Martial Artist would be uncertain, but facing someone at the Ninth Level of the Body Tempering stage, he could probably retreat unscathed even if he couldn't defeat them.

After just three months of cultivation, Du Fei was quite satisfied with his achievements!

"Ha..."

With a light shout, Du Fei slapped his palm onto a stone in front of him. The stone trembled slightly, showing no reaction where his palm landed, but a clear palm print instantly appeared on the opposite side.

"Clap, clap, clap..."

A light applause sounded.

"Master, your Reverse Punch has truly reached the level of complete control. With your strength, you are invincible below the Ninth Level of Body Tempering!" Xiao Ai smiled lightly, clapping her hands, her eyes filled with amusement.

"Are you making fun of me too?" Du Fei smiled lightly, then his face showed a hint of mischief. "Since Xiao Ai says I'm invincible below the Ninth Level of Body Tempering, I should find someone at the Eighth Level to test it out!"

"That's a good idea." Xiao Ai clapped her hands, then frowned. "But I'm not very familiar with the Du Clan, so I don't know who is at the Eighth Level of Body Tempering!"

"If I can't find someone at the Eighth Level, isn't there someone at the Ninth Level right in front of me?" Du Fei chuckled, then stomped his foot hard, his figure darting diagonally towards Xiao Ai.

"Master! You're bullying me..." Xiao Ai stomped her foot slightly, muttering, but her movements were quick. She shifted her body slightly, and her delicate hand slapped forward.

"Clap, clap, clap, clap..."

In the courtyard, the two figures crossed, their palms clashing countless times, causing a slight airflow to form due to the surge of true qi, instantly sweeping up the withered leaves around them.

"Xiao Ai is indeed formidable! No wonder she is at the Ninth Level of Body Tempering!" Du Fei thought to himself, his movements not slowing down. He clenched his right hand into a fist, a strange energy instantly coalescing, then he punched out!

"Reverse Punch!"

"Master, such a move won't be very effective against me!" With a silver bell-like laugh, Xiao Ai extended her right hand into a sword, then struck Du Fei's chest before he could react.

"Such speed!" Du Fei was slightly startled, realizing he was already a bit slower in speed. He was afraid that before his punch could land, Xiao Ai would strike him.

Immediately, Du Fei's toes touched the ground, his figure hesitated slightly, then he retreated quickly, making Xiao Ai's strike miss. His retreating figure paused in mid-air, then instantly transformed into two afterimages, rushing towards Xiao Ai.

Seeing Du Fei's fierce attack, Xiao Ai's eyes narrowed like a crescent moon. She pressed her right hand to the ground, then swept her leg out.

"Air Splitting Flash!"

"Swallow Return!"

As Du Fei approached, Xiao Ai's sweeping leg passed through his afterimage, then almost simultaneously, both legs landed heavily on Du Fei's chest.

"Bang..."

Crossing his hands in front of his chest, Du Fei barely blocked Xiao Ai's attack, but he was forced to slide back several steps before stopping.

"Tsk tsk... so strong... is this an Eighth Rank Combat Technique?" Although Xiao Ai was one level higher than Du Fei, only an Eighth Rank Combat Technique could withstand another Eighth Rank Combat Technique.

"Yes, but this move isn't as powerful as the Air Splitting Flash. I've been cultivating for a longer time, so naturally, you can't match me. However, reaching this level in just three months, Master is indeed a top genius..." Xiao Ai explained, seemingly worried that Du Fei might be unhappy.

Nodding without comment, Du Fei smiled. "Alright, you don't need to worry. I'm not so fragile that I'll break just because I lose to you. I've only been cultivating for three months, and I'm already very satisfied with my progress! But Xiao Ai, don't just focus on me; you should also cultivate more. When you advance to the Ninth Rank of Martial Artist, I will find the most suitable cultivation technique for you. Don't worry!"

Du Fei wasn't just saying this. As a core disciple of the Du Clan, he had the right to enter the third floor of the Martial Cultivation Pavilion. With the system's ability, recording all the techniques in the Martial Cultivation Pavilion and selecting the most suitable one for Xiao Ai wasn't too difficult.

"Okay, I understand!" Xiao Ai nodded, having not cultivated much recently due to Du Fei's presence. Hearing Du Fei's words, her tense mind relaxed a bit.

"Alright! Let's continue cultivating!" Patting Xiao Ai's head, Du Fei smiled, then pulled her into the courtyard. They both assumed their stances and began the Body Tempering Fist, flowing smoothly...

"Grandfather! Grandfather... I can't accept it! I can't accept it!!!"

In a rather eerie courtyard in the Du Clan's backyard, a ghostly wailing sound echoed, the resentment in the words making one's teeth ache.

"Sir, is there really no way?" In a spacious room in the courtyard, Du Qing lay on a bed, while Du Zhenfeng, with a cold expression, spoke softly in the center of the room.

"Sigh, Elder Three, it's not that I'm unwilling to help, but... our alchemists have their limits. However... I've heard that there is a medicine called Bone Continuation Powder among Eighth Rank medicines, which should be able to heal Young Master Qing. If we can find it, it should..."

An old man in a gray robe, standing beside Du Zhenfeng, shook his head helplessly.

"Eighth Rank medicine! Alchemist!" Du Zhenfeng's lips twitched, then he said through gritted teeth, "Qing'er, rest assured! Grandfather will not only heal you but also help you take revenge! My grandson is not someone anyone can offend!"

Sitting on one side of the spacious hall, Du Fei was calm, his eyes fixed on his nose, his nose on his heart.

The Du Clan's monthly clan meeting was in progress. With Du Fei's status, having a seat at the clan meeting was already quite surprising.

After all, even among the Du Clan's previous eight core disciples, only Du Han, sitting opposite Du Fei, and Du Qian beside him, had this treatment.

As for Xiao Ai, being a servant, Du Fei had no intention of taking her as a disciple, so she did not have the right to attend the clan meeting.

On both sides of the hall, rows of people sat, and at the head of the table was the Du Clan's patriarch, Du Zhen Tian.

Du Zhen Tian's eyes were slightly narrowed, and he did not speak, making the already tense atmosphere of the clan meeting even more awkward.

"Third Elder, how is Du Qing's injury?"

After a long, awkward silence, Du Zhen Tian turned his head slightly, his eyes landing on Du Zhenfeng with a smile that was not quite a smile.

At this moment, the third elder of the Du Clan seemed a bit calmer. He took a deep breath and said slowly, "The alchemist has already examined him. Qing'er is completely crippled. Unless an Eighth Rank Alchemist is willing to help, no one can save him... However, this is all his own fault, and it's not the fault of others."

Hearing this, most of the Du Clan's high-ranking members showed a hint of strange expressions, but no one said much.

"Eighth Rank Alchemist!" Du Zhen Tian nodded slightly, then turned to Du Xuanfeng and said softly, "Find a time to go to the capital and see if we can invite an Eighth Rank Alchemist from the main family. Du Qing is still a member of our Du Clan, and I won't let him fall into decline!"

"Yes!" Du Xuanfeng nodded slightly.

"Thank you, Patriarch!" Du Zhenfeng said gratefully.

"Ha ha, we are all family, no need for such formalities." Du Zhen Tian waved his hand, as if completely forgetting the clan competition, "Du Fei... although Du Qing's injury was his own fault, you did go a bit too far, so..."

Hearing this extremely hypocritical dialogue suddenly turn to himself, Du Fei felt quite helpless. However, he did not say much, but stood up, took a few steps forward, and bowed slightly to Du Zhenfeng, "Third Elder, I was too impulsive during the clan competition!"

Du Zhenfeng took a deep breath, his face twitching slightly, then he showed a strange smile and said lightly, "It's fine, I was also too impulsive that day... Ha ha, young people's matters should be resolved by young people. Qing'er's fault is his own, and I, as his grandfather, can't say much..."

"Third Elder is magnanimous, Du Fei admires you!" Du Fei showed a hint of admiration, seemingly very respectful.

"Hmph! Just a brat!" Du Zhenfeng sneered inwardly, but his expression remained calm, and he nodded slightly, accepting the words.

"Hmph! Just an old fox!" Du Fei also sneered inwardly, but his expression showed no signs of breaking.

"Ha ha, since both of you can forgive each other, it is a blessing for our Du Clan!" Du Zhen Tian clapped his hands slightly, "Du Fei, from now on, you are the ninth core disciple of our Du Clan. If you need anything, just go to the accounting office. You can also enter the third floor of the Martial Cultivation Pavilion at will... Yes, let Du Qian take you there!"

"Yes!" Du Fei bowed slightly, then retreated to his seat and sat down quietly.

The rest of the clan meeting proceeded with the usual content, such as the Du Clan's income and the status of Bujue City.

Listening casually for a moment, Du Fei had little interest in these matters and soon felt a bit dizzy. In the end, he stopped listening and continued to think about his cultivation.

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(End of Chapter 25)