Chapter 8

This book has already been signed. This is my second book, and I guarantee its credibility. Please feel free to collect it, recommend it widely, and thank you!

Several people entered the room. Seeing the expressions of the clan leader and her father, Xiziyang already knew that the matter could not be concealed any longer. She closed the door with a bitter smile. Xu Haoran looked at Xu Guang across from him with an agitated expression and called out softly:

"Eleventh Brother!"

"Are you really Eleventh Brother?" Xu Haobo, standing beside him, also stepped forward excitedly and grabbed Xu Guang's arm.

Xu Guang gave a bitter smile, then, with his wife, bowed deeply to Xu Haoran and Xu Haobo and said:

"Eldest Brother!"

Xu Haoran stepped forward and grabbed Xu Guang's arm, his eyes red with emotion. He said in a trembling voice:

"Haoguang, it really is you!"

"Haoguang? Could Father's original name have been Xu Haoguang?" Xiziyang thought to herself.

"Eldest Brother, Second Brother, it's me," Xu Haoguang said, his head lowered, his face filled with emotion, his eyes reflecting both memories and confusion.

The three of them, Xu Haoran, Xu Haobo, and Xu Haoguang, seemed to have endless things to talk about and endless emotions to express. Xiziyang and her mother sat quietly on the side. Xu's face showed the fear of someone from a small place facing the unknown, while Xiziyang was filled with curiosity. She listened carefully to the conversation between her father and her two uncles, familiarizing herself with this world and the family she would live with in the future.

However, as the three of them chatted, the atmosphere in the room gradually became heavy. Xiziyang could tell from their conversation that the Xu family was not at peace. Externally, the Xiao family and the Wu family were secretly joining forces to suppress them, and internally, Xu Haoran, the clan leader, had not fully taken control of the entire clan. In total, there were twenty-three siblings in Xu Haoran's generation: fifteen men and eight women. Five of the women had married out, and three had taken in sons-in-law.

The eighteen people who remained in the family were divided into two factions. With Xu Haoran as the leader, he had united nine brothers and two sisters, giving him a clear advantage. However, the ninth brother, Xu Haoliang, had also rallied five brothers and one sister, forming a significant force. Xu Haoliang was the one who had led the ridicule against Xu Haoguang.

"Haoguang, what position do you want to take in the family? Speak up, and I'll arrange it for you," Xu Haoran asked softly after a brief silence.

Xu Haoguang shook his head lightly and said calmly, "Eldest Brother, don't make it difficult for yourself. I'm only at the seventh level of the Later Heaven stage. If you give me a position in the family, I doubt I could get past the ninth brother."

"But what about Xiziyang..."

"Xiziyang is Xiziyang, and I am I!" Xu Haoguang shook his head again, a bitter smile crossing his lips. He sighed lightly and said, "Eldest Brother, I don't want the clan to know I'm back."

"It won't stay hidden!" Xu Haoran shook his head lightly. "When Second Brother and I welcomed you at the door, I'm sure the ninth brother and his people were watching from a distance. Even if they didn't recognize you just now, over time, when they meet you, they won't fail to recognize you."

"But Xiziyang is still young, just returned to the family, and her cultivation is weak..." Xu Haoguang's eyes showed concern.

"So what?" Xu Haoran straightened his chest, a domineering aura emanating from him. He said in a deep voice, "With me here, who dares to do anything to Xiziyang?" His eyes then showed a hint of regret, and he said to Xu Haoguang with a helpless tone, "But... Haoguang, the ninth brother and his people will likely target you again... and if the ninth brother finds out that Xiziyang is your daughter and has such potential in talisman making, he might..."

Listening to her father's words, Xiziyang was deep in thought. She thought for a long time but couldn't come up with a good solution. The only thing she could think of was to "stall." But she wasn't sure if it would work, so she softly shared her idea.

After hearing Xiziyang's words, the room fell silent. Finally, Xu Haoran slapped his thigh and praised:

"Brilliant! We just need to arrange for the eleventh brother and his family to stay in Second Brother's garden, and then tell others that Xiziyang doesn't like being disturbed, and we won't let the ninth brother and his people meet Haoguang. But..."

Xu Haoran suddenly fell silent, deep in thought. Xu Haobo, standing beside him, also reacted and said slowly:

"But Xiziyang will have to work in the Talisman Hall and will have to meet people. Over time, if the ninth brother and his people insist on meeting Xiziyang's parents, it will be hard for Xiziyang to refuse them face-to-face. After all, the ninth brother and his people have a high status in the family, while Xiziyang is just a guest elder!"

"Then... I won't go to the Talisman Hall. I'll just make talismans in Second Uncle's garden," Xiziyang said after a moment of thought.

"That won't work either!" Xu Haoran shook his head. "Hiding in Second Uncle's garden isn't a problem. Everyone knows that talisman masters have peculiar temperaments, so it won't be strange if you don't see people. But as a guest elder of the family, you have the right to browse the secret texts on the first three floors of the library. If you don't leave Second Uncle's garden, how will you read the texts in the library? If you don't read the texts, how will you improve your cultivation? But if you go to the library, you will inevitably meet the ninth brother and his people. They won't let go of the opportunity to recruit you, and you can't avoid them."

"The library?" Xiziyang's eyes lit up. Since she came to this world, she knew very little about it. The library undoubtedly provided an opportunity for her to understand this world. Xiziyang also understood that this was a world of cultivators, and martial power was the best guarantee for survival. The library contained the Xu family's thousand-year-old treasures, so she wouldn't give up the chance to read the texts there. However, she didn't want to get into trouble while her cultivation was weak, so she frowned and sat silently.

The room was very quiet, so quiet that you could hear the restlessness in the air. Snowflakes began to fall outside the window. Xiziyang suddenly had an idea:

"Eldest Uncle, how many people know that I am a guest elder of the family?"

"Hmm, at least the high-ranking members of the clan should know," Xu Haoran looked at Xiziyang in confusion, not understanding why she was asking.

"How many people have seen me?"

"Not many. Only a few people have seen you up close. Just me, Second Uncle, Lin Pinghai, and a few disciples."

Hearing Xu Haoran's words, Xiziyang's expression became determined. She said softly, "Eldest Uncle, I want to know, if I were a clan disciple, would I be able to read the texts in the library?"

Xu Haoran was taken aback, seemingly understanding Xiziyang's intention but still not fully grasping it. He explained to her:

"The clan disciples are divided into three levels. Those under fifteen who haven't broken through the fifth level of the Later Heaven stage train in the clan academy. In the academy, they naturally have teachers to guide them. If they haven't broken through the fifth level by the age of fifteen, they will be forced to leave the academy and do what they can for the clan."

At this point, Xu Haoran paused, looking somewhat awkwardly at Xu Haoguang. Xu Haoguang's expression was also uncomfortable, and he avoided his brother's gaze. Xu Haoran收回了目光，重新望着许紫烟说道：

"If you break through the fifth level of the Later Heaven stage, you will enter the outer hall of the clan. As an outer hall disciple, you can read the texts on the first floor of the library. Once you break through to the Innate stage, you can enter the inner hall. Inner hall disciples are already the elite of the clan. Disciples at the first to fourth levels of the Qi Condensation stage can read the texts on the second floor of the library. Disciples at the fifth to eighth levels of the Qi Condensation stage can read the texts on the third floor. Disciples at the ninth to twelfth levels of the Qi Condensation stage can read the texts on the fourth floor. The highest level, the fifth floor, can only be read by those at the Foundation Establishment stage. The Foundation Establishment stage is already a high level of cultivation in the secular world, and our Xu family has only five people at this stage."

"Oh, Eldest Uncle, who are these five elders?" Xiziyang asked curiously.

"Three of them are my elders. One is our clan's great-grandfather, who is always in seclusion on the back mountain. No one knows his current cultivation level. The other two are my father and the father of your ninth uncle, both of whom are also in seclusion on the back mountain. The remaining two are me and your ninth uncle. I am currently at the initial third level of the Foundation Establishment stage, while your ninth uncle is at the late second level, slightly weaker than me."

"Eldest Uncle, was the previous clan leader your father?" Xiziyang asked softly.

"Yes!" Xu Haoran's eyes showed a hint of approval as he looked at Xiziyang.

Xiziyang couldn't help but sigh. It seemed that Eldest Uncle's family and Ninth Uncle's family had been in constant conflict. Eldest Uncle's family had always been able to keep Ninth Uncle's family in check, mainly because they had higher cultivation levels. It seemed that in this world, the level of cultivation could determine everything. This only strengthened her resolve. She organized her thoughts and said seriously to Xu Haoran:

"Eldest Uncle, I want to go to the library as a clan disciple. As for my background, I'll leave it to you to handle."

"What about your position as a guest elder?" Xu Haoran looked hesitant.

"Just say I don't want to meet outsiders. With Second Uncle's protection, no one will dare to intrude on his estate. I need you to forge an identity for me and find me a place to live, as a regular disciple. As for the monthly talismans, I'll secretly give them to Second Uncle."

Xu Haoran looked at Xiziyang seriously and finally shook his head, saying, "Hiding your identity is simple. I can say you are a distant niece of one of my subordinates. I can immediately send the disciples who know your identity to places far from the clan, ensuring that no one in the capital will recognize you. As for those who have seen you from a distance, they didn't get a clear look. If you change your appearance slightly, no one will recognize you. However, the sudden appearance of a disciple at the first level of the Qi Condensation stage might raise suspicions."

---

The page turns, and the advertisement begins.

The page turns, and the advertisement ends.