Chapter 16 The Dark Side Behind the Glamour
Some clever people, upon considering these things, came up with a plan: to cultivate a good relationship with Xiao Huo.
Although they did not know this mysterious and powerful figure, they knew Xiao Huo. If they could befriend Xiao Huo and get him to say a few good words for them, they might be able to seize this opportunity to rise to prominence.
Time flew by as they anxiously awaited Xiao Huo's awakening. Soon, he opened his eyes, and judging from his aura, his injuries had fully healed. Just as they were about to approach and speak with Xiao Huo, Xiao Feng suddenly opened his eyes, took a step with Xiao Huo, and left the area.
Watching Xiao Huo and his companion fly away through the void, their hearts were filled with regret. They regretted not befriending Xiao Huo sooner, regretted not daring to act earlier, and some even resented Xiao Feng for not valuing them. Unfortunately, they didn't realize that opportunities are reserved for those who are prepared, for those with perseverance and ideas, not for those who are petty, weak-willed, and opportunistic.
In the blink of an eye, the two arrived atop a luxurious manor. Seeing the people below completely unaware, still preoccupied with their own affairs, Xiao Feng unleashed a battle technique, striking down into the manor. Only then did the powerful figures within the manor notice the aura emanating from the technique. However, it was too late. Before they could offer any resistance, Xiao Feng's technique struck with the force of thunder, leveling the entire manor. Naturally, no one escaped; they were all killed!
Faced with such a bloody and cruel scene, Xiao Feng's expression remained unchanged. What was this scene to him? Before he broke through to the Dou Sheng realm, he had experienced countless battles that were even more brutal than this.
"Well? Do you think I've been too cruel?" he asked Xiao Huo with a smile. The reason he brought Xiao Huo here to witness all of this was to test him.
"Xiao Huo did not think that Master was cruel. Xiao Zhou and his family are notorious for their evil deeds, and they are well-known far and wide in the outskirts of Xiao Di City. What Master did today was not only not cruel, but even a blessing to them. Otherwise, given the evil deeds they have committed, they would not have been spared even if they were torn to pieces!" Xiao Huo said angrily.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Feng smiled with satisfaction. He already knew what Xiao Huo was saying; he simply wanted to see what Xiao Huo was thinking. As expected, he didn't disappoint him—ruthless enough! Only in this way could one survive in this dog-eat-dog world!
At this moment, Xiao Huo was unaware that his words had further solidified Xiao Feng's resolve to mentor him; otherwise, he would have been too excited to speak.
The annihilation of a family would naturally cause a great shock. Countless families sent their subordinates to investigate. Seeing this, Xiao Feng took Xiao Huo and left. He came here to find some promising talents to take with him and did not want to make too much of a fuss. However, this time Young Master Zhou was blind and offended the wrong person, which led to the destruction of his family.
Where there are people, there is a world of intrigue; where there are people, there is power; where there are people, there is struggle and intrigue. These are undeniable facts. Although these descendants of the Xiao clan are merely descendants, they are still part of the Xiao clan and can even receive some support from the clan. These few points alone are enough to make countless people envious. Therefore, although the bloodline of the Dou Di in their bodies is not strong, there are still some powerful individuals among them.
These powerful individuals formed small factions, engaging in gang warfare, oppressing the common people, and even robbing the cultivation herbs distributed by their clans—they committed virtually every imaginable evil. Because of their overwhelming strength, others dared not speak out against them. So what if their cultivation herbs were stolen? At least their lives wouldn't be threatened. But if they actually resisted, their lives would be in danger.
Because the Xiao clan did not pay much attention to these descendants, even if some clansmen were eliminated, no one would care, and no one would stand up for justice or intervene in these matters. It was precisely because of this that these descendants of the Xiao clan were in dire straits...
Xiao Feng knew all this; he had even been a victim of persecution himself. But even now, with the power to change everything, he didn't interfere much—except for those who dared to provoke him. This was merely a small-scale punishment, unlikely to cause significant change.
These descendants are also considered members of the Xiao clan, and they have contributed some clansmen with strong Dou Di bloodlines to the Xiao clan. They also regularly pay tribute to the clan every year, so naturally they will not be abandoned by the clan. So why does no one stop this situation? Why does no one take action to change all of this?
It's not that we can't, but that we don't want to. The world isn't black and white. As the saying goes, "If the water is too clear, there will be no fish." In this situation, simply stopping it won't have a fundamental effect. Money can corrupt people's hearts. Even if the clan takes action to eliminate these "scourges," there will be others to do it. It's a cycle of change, endless.
However, this matter is not entirely without its benefits. Firstly, it can serve as a training ground for the clansmen, allowing them to gain a deeper understanding of the cruelty of this world and making them braver and more resilient! As for those who cannot adapt or even lose their lives as a result, they have no one to blame but themselves. Moreover, if they cannot survive among the descendants of the Xiao clan, will they have a place to survive on the even more cruel Dou Qi Continent?
Besides, this incident can also serve as a reminder to them: it doesn't matter if you're not strong enough; you can compete, you can rob, you can even steal! As long as you can seize some pills and treasures to improve your cultivation, that's acceptable. This easily creates a cycle—the strong get stronger, and the weak get weaker, thus boosting the Xiao Clan's combat power. And those who can stand out from the crowd (like Xiao Feng) are true geniuses, truly capable of growing into powerful members of the Xiao Clan!
More importantly, the Xiao clan needs to regularly distribute cultivation resources to these descendants. Although the amount is small, it is enough to guarantee their basic cultivation. This is a very large expense. Under these circumstances, some weaker individuals are eliminated, which can greatly save this expense and ensure that only capable people enjoy these resources.
Don't think this is too cruel or too unrealistic. The fact that the Xiao Clan, such a behemoth, has achieved this much is already quite remarkable. Don't be fooled by its glamorous appearance; behind it lies darkness and bloodshed.
Naturally, it has its own methods for dealing with this. Perhaps these methods are extremely cruel and unbelievable, but they are necessary for its existence!
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End of this chapter...