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**
After informing the members of the Xiao Clan about Xiao Lin's condition, Yun Shan returned to the Yun Lan Sect. At the same time, as requested by Xiao Lin, Yun Shan also quietly leaked his condition to the outside world!
This time, the members of the Xiao Clan, who had originally wanted to temporarily conceal their Clan Leader's situation, were now completely unable to keep it a secret.
Within the Jia Ma Empire, the majority of people were currently discussing Xiao Lin's situation. After all, not long ago, Yun Shan, the Sect Master of the Yun Lan Sect, had visited the Xiao Clan in person!
"Hey, have you heard? The reason why the Xiao Clan Leader Xiao Lin was severely injured and comatose was actually because he went to attend a life-and-death duel with an enemy earlier!"
"What? So that's how it is! I was wondering how the Xiao Clan Leader, who was perfectly fine, could suddenly return covered in injuries."
"Not only that, I also heard that although Sect Master Yun Shan saved the Xiao Clan Leader's life, the Xiao Clan Leader's body will suffer from a lingering ailment from now on."
"Oh? What do you mean by that?"
"What else could it mean? Suffering such a severe injury and being comatose for so many days, it is already a miracle that he was saved. Naturally, a certain price had to be paid."
"What price?"
"I'll tell you quietly, don't spread it around! I heard that from now on, not only will the Xiao Clan Leader's cultivation be unable to make an inch of progress, it might even regress. Even overexerting himself on a daily basis will affect his lifespan!"
"Ah? It's actually that serious? Heaven is truly jealous of geniuses! I originally thought the Xiao Clan Leader would become the next person in our Jia Ma Empire to break through to the Dou Huang realm! What a pity..."
"Sigh, who says otherwise? The Xiao Clan Leader is actually a very good person. Who would have thought he would encounter such a disaster."
...
Similar conversations, under Yun Shan's secret dissemination, spread through every street and alley of the Jia Ma Imperial Capital in just a few short days. From the cause of Xiao Lin's injury to his current physical condition, it was leaked almost entirely and completely!
This resulted in the Xiao Clan being fundamentally unable to hide anything at all!
However, now that things had come to this, what could the members of the Xiao Clan do? If anything, they were already rejoicing that their Clan Leader was able to "awaken". Otherwise, the current situation of their Xiao Clan would only be even worse!
Fortunately, in the following days, Yun Shan ordered quite a few disciples and elders of the Yun Lan Sect to go down the mountain to help the Xiao Clan stabilize the situation, which finally allowed everything in the Xiao Clan to get back on track.
In the blink of an eye, about a month had passed since Xiao Lin "awakened".
During this period, no one from the Xiao Clan dared to let Xiao Lin, the Clan Leader, handle too many clan affairs. After all, the words Yun Shan had left behind back then were still ringing in their ears!
Their Clan Leader could not overexert himself, otherwise it would affect his lifespan!
Who would dare to let their Lord Clan Leader manage clan affairs at a critical juncture like this? It was precisely because of this that Xiao Lin also gradually felt that the timing was about right.
On this day, Xiao Lin called over his son, Xiao Zhan.
"Father, is there anywhere in your body that still feels uncomfortable?"
As soon as he saw his old man, Xiao Zhan immediately asked with concern.
During this past month, Xiao Lin had already heard this kind of greeting an unknown number of times, to the point that his ears were almost growing calluses.
"Rest assured, there hasn't been any major issue for a long time. As long as I worry less and fight less with others in the future, living to a hundred years old won't be a problem for me."
Xiao Lin also tirelessly smiled and replied to his son's greeting.
Hearing his father say this, Xiao Zhan also nodded.
Within this past month or so, Xiao Zhan could truly be said to have undergone a complete transformation!
He had become much more mature.
This was not only physical growth, but a psychological maturity as well. Since his father's physical condition was currently like this, then as the Young Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan, he himself had to shoulder the future of the Xiao Clan!
Therefore, during this past month or so, the affairs of the Xiao Clan, big and small, were basically all handled by Xiao Zhan. This was different from the previous situation when Xiao Lin went to the Central Plains.
Back then, although Xiao Zhan was also responsible for handling the clan's affairs, he had the assistance of the various elders of the Xiao Clan.
But during this past month or so, except for the first few days, all subsequent matters that originally should have been handled by the Xiao Clan Leader were processed by Xiao Zhan completely on his own!
It could be said that the current Xiao Zhan was already a qualified Young Clan Leader.
This was not because of his strength, but due to his shrewdness in handling affairs. The current Xiao Zhan had already gained the recognition of the entire upper and lower echelons of the Xiao Clan in every aspect.
This was also the reason why Xiao Lin felt that the timing was ripe.
"Father, then why did you call me over today? Did Yue'er fail to take good care of you, or did the three of them—Xiao Ding, Xiao Li, or Xiao Yan—make you angry?"
Ever since Xiao Lin fell into a "severe injury and coma", not only Xiao Zhan, but also his daughter-in-law Yang Xiyue had been worried for a very long time.
Therefore, after Xiao Lin awakened, she was basically the one taking care of him. In addition, Xiao Lin's three grandsons, namely Xiao Ding, Xiao Li, and Xiao Yan, had all been terrified at the time.
Even Xiao Yan, whose affection for his relatives in this life was the shallowest, had a heavy heart during that period, with a worried look constantly hanging on his face.
After all, although he had not completely recognized these relatives of this life in his heart yet, who could reject people who treated them well unconditionally?
Whether it was his grandfather, his parents, or his two older brothers, Xiao Yan could feel that all of them truly and deeply loved him. Now that his grandfather was "severely injured and comatose", how could he not worry?
Therefore, during this period after the "awakening", the three of them basically squeezed out time every day to visit Xiao Lin.
Only because of this did Xiao Zhan ask this question now.
"Naturally not. Zhan'er, I just feel that with my current physical condition, I am already powerless to lead the Xiao Clan. I am thinking that it is time for me to step down from the position of Clan Leader, so you, Zhan'er..."
"Father, just leave the position of Clan Leader and the future of the Xiao Clan to me! From now on, you just peacefully enjoy your blessings!"
What Xiao Lin did not expect was that just as he had barely brought up the topic on his end, Xiao Zhan blurted out the answer on that end.
This caused Xiao Lin to be stunned for a brief moment.
By the time Xiao Lin snapped back to his senses, a gratified smile also appeared on his face.
"Good! As expected of my son, you have a sense of responsibility!"
Xiao Lin praised his son, which was a rare occurrence.
"Actually, even if you hadn't brought up this matter, Father, I was prepared to take the initiative to ask for it after some time! Teacher said that you are no longer suited to overexert yourself now!"
When Xiao Zhan said these words, his expression was exceptionally serious.
This was also what Xiao Lin had agreed upon with Yun Shan back then, which was to have the latter drop a subtle hint to Xiao Zhan.
Looking at it now, the effect was surprisingly excellent!
It was very obvious that during this past month or so, Xiao Zhan had also long since made preparations to become the new Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan!
Just like this, the matter was settled.
Three months later, Xiao Lin formally stepped down from the position of the Xiao Clan Leader.
At the same time, Xiao Zhan also became the new Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan!
**
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