Chapter 12

"Grandfather Huang Qide actually invited the old patriarch of the Li family, Li Mu, to this year's family gathering. It seems he has truly put a lot of thought into it!" Huang Xiaolong thought to himself.

However, the intention behind Grandfather inviting the old patriarch of the Li family, Li Mu, was probably not that simple.

Huang Xiaolong headed towards the East Hall. Along the way, some of the guards and maids who were decorating the hall stopped and greeted him: "Young Master Xiaolong!"

Huang Xiaolong nodded.

But as he walked, Huang Xiaolong could feel the strange gazes of the guards and maids behind him. It seemed that the news of Huang Wei breaking his hands at the family gathering had spread to them as well.

Huang Xiaolong arrived at the East Hall.

In the hall, Huang Peng and Su Yan were both present.

"Father, Mother," Huang Xiaolong said as he entered the hall.

"Xiaolong, you're here," Su Yan said, gesturing for Huang Xiaolong to sit beside her. She then asked, "The family gathering is tomorrow. How is your cultivation?"

Huang Peng also stared intently at Huang Xiaolong.

Huang Xiaolong smiled, "Father, Mother, don't worry. I won't let you down tomorrow."

Unexpectedly, as soon as Huang Xiaolong finished speaking, Su Yan exclaimed in surprise, "Xiaolong, you've advanced to the mid-stage of the First Rank?!" It seemed that Su Yan thought her son was referring to advancing to the mid-stage of the First Rank.

At this moment, Huang Peng also smiled, "Good, son, you haven't let Father down!"

Hearing this, Huang Xiaolong inwardly chuckled. Could it be that advancing to the mid-stage of the First Rank was the highest expectation his parents had for him before the family gathering?

"Father, I heard from the guards that the old patriarch of the Li family, Li Mu, will also attend this year's family gathering?" Huang Xiaolong changed the subject and asked.

Huang Peng nodded, "I've heard about this too. Besides the old patriarch, he will also bring his granddaughter, Li Lu."

"His granddaughter, Li Lu?" Huang Xiaolong was somewhat surprised and then joked, "Could it be that the old patriarch is bringing his granddaughter for a match-making session?"

However, Huang Peng said, "Your grandfather and the old patriarch probably have this in mind. After the family gathering, they plan to betroth Huang Wei and Li Lu, so that the Huang family and the Li family can become in-laws!"

Huang Xiaolong was taken aback.

"Li Lu is said to have excellent talent. Her martial soul is a top-tier martial soul among the Ninth Rank, the Dark God Sword!" Su Yan added.

A top-tier martial soul among the Ninth Rank, the Dark God Sword!

Huang Xiaolong was surprised. He didn't expect that Li Mu's granddaughter, Li Lu, would have the Dark God Sword as her martial soul.

In the world of martial souls, there are many classifications of martial souls, including beast martial souls, weapon martial souls, plant martial souls, and even natural martial souls like lightning, wind, water, and fire.

The Dark God Sword is a type of weapon martial soul.

Of course, in the world of martial souls, most martial souls are beast martial souls, such as Huang Wei's Three-Eyed Black Tiger, Huang Qide's Six-Winged Golden Monkey, and Huang Xiaolong's mutated two-headed snake.

After a while, Huang Xiaolong returned from the East Hall and continued to cultivate the Asura Sutra.

As night slowly fell, Huang Xiaolong stood motionless on the top of the mountain behind the estate. However, he was not cultivating but quietly watching the sea in front of him. To be honest, Huang Xiaolong had never taken Huang Wei seriously.

Huang Xiaolong released his two-headed snake martial soul, which floated behind his head. After reaching the peak of the Third Rank, Huang Xiaolong could increasingly feel the power of his two-headed snake martial soul. This power could only be deeply felt by Huang Xiaolong himself.

"It seems I need to find an opportunity to go to the library and verify what my martial soul is," Huang Xiaolong thought to himself.

However, to enter the library of the Huang Family Estate, one must reach the Fourth Rank. Therefore, Huang Xiaolong needed to break through to the Fourth Rank as soon as possible.

The moonlight stretched Huang Xiaolong's small and thin figure very long.

As the night slowly faded and the sky gradually brightened, Huang Xiaolong flashed and headed back to the Huang Family Estate.

"The family gathering is finally about to begin!"

The family gathering is finally about to begin!

Huang Xiaolong returned to the Huang Family Estate and headed towards the East Hall courtyard. His parents, Huang Peng and Su Yan, saw him arrive and didn't say much, but led Huang Xiaolong to the front hall of the estate.

The front hall of the Huang Family Estate was twice as large as the martial hall, capable of accommodating a thousand people. In the center of the front hall was a martial arts stage, and around the stage were rows of seats. These seats were for the elders and managers of the Huang Family Estate, while other disciples could only stand on the open ground behind the seats.

When Huang Peng and Su Yan brought Huang Xiaolong in, many of the elders and managers were already present.

"Second Estate Master!"

"Second Estate Master!"

The elders, managers, and disciples all greeted them.

Huang Peng nodded and, with Su Yan, led Huang Xiaolong to sit in the front row on the right side of the hall. After sitting down, Huang Xiaolong felt a cold gaze staring at him. He looked up and saw Huang Wei sitting opposite him.

At this moment, Huang Wei and Huang Xiaolong's gazes met. Huang Wei's gaze was full of arrogance, condescension, provocation, and smugness.

Next to Huang Wei sat Huang Ming. Huang Ming sat there with his usual deadpan face, showing no expression. Huang Peng sat down without greeting him. Since the incident in the North Hall, the two brothers had not spoken to each other and were like strangers.

Not long after Huang Xiaolong and the others arrived, a hearty laugh echoed from outside the hall. Hearing the laughter, everyone stood up. Huang Xiaolong looked and saw Grandfather Huang Qide walking in with a smile. Beside Grandfather was an old man with silver hair and a spirited appearance, about the same age as Grandfather. Huang Xiaolong knew this was the old patriarch of the Li family, Li Mu. Behind Li Mu followed a cute girl with two braids and bright, black eyes.

"Old Estate Master!"

"Old Patriarch Li!"

Everyone hurriedly greeted them. After the greetings, Huang Ming and Huang Peng also stepped forward: "Father, Old Patriarch Li!"

"Grandfather, Old Patriarch Li," Huang Wei and Huang Xiaolong also said in unison.

Huang Qide chuckled and nodded to everyone, then pointed to Huang Wei and said to Li Mu with a smile, "This is my grandson, Huang Wei." However, he only introduced Huang Wei and did not mention Huang Xiaolong.

Li Mu looked Huang Wei up and down and said with approval, "Good, very good. Brother Qide, I heard that your grandson advanced to the First Rank warrior in less than two months. When I advanced to the First Rank, it took me over five months!"

Hearing this, Huang Qide laughed heartily, "Old Brother Limu, you flatter me. In the future, I hope you will give him more guidance."

"Of course, in the future," Li Mu smiled.

After a while, everyone returned to their seats.

Then, the head steward, Chen Ying, stood up and began the opening remarks for the family gathering. After finishing the remarks, he turned to Huang Qide and, after receiving a nod, loudly announced, "Now, the family gathering begins!"

As Chen Ying's voice fell, the hall fell silent.

According to the usual rules of the family gathering, those who awakened their martial souls this year would usually go on stage first.

Everyone couldn't help but look at Huang Wei. Everyone knew the main purpose of Old Estate Master Huang Qide's appearance at this year's family gathering, and Huang Wei was destined to be the most prominent figure at this year's gathering.

"Huang Wei, go up and show everyone the results of your efforts over the past five months!" Huang Qide said to his grandson Huang Wei with a smile, his eyes full of encouragement.

"Yes, Grandfather," Huang Wei stood up and responded loudly. He then leaped and landed on the martial arts stage in the center of the hall.

After landing on the stage, Huang Wei activated his cultivation technique, and his full combat aura was released. As Huang Wei's combat aura was released, his Tenth Rank martial soul, the Three-Eyed Black Tiger, floated out, emitting a powerful aura.

"Late-stage of the First Rank!"

Sensing the combat aura from Huang Wei, the elders, managers, and disciples of the Huang Family Estate were all greatly surprised and agitated. Huang Wei had reached the late-stage of the First Rank in just five months of cultivation!