309: Chapter 309 The Deeply Hidden Talent of Xiao Tianhao

"You went to the Chen Family? Did they not make things difficult for you?" Second Uncle Xiao Ting was shocked.

"Do you think the Chen Family has the ability to make things difficult for me? Since I could destroy the Sun Family, I can naturally destroy the Chen Family as well. Moreover, when I went to the Chen Family, the Ma Family was also there.

I fought with Chen Tianhe and Patriarch Ma Juncai. Chen Tianhe even had both of his arms broken by me, though they have been reattached now.

During this time, I have been staying at the Chen Family. Because of my mother, I did not make things difficult for them, and both the Chen Family and the Ma Family have realized their mistakes.

When I came back, Chen Tianhe and Patriarch Ma Juncai came with me to Leshan City, saying they wanted to take the initiative to apologize to the Xiao Family. They are in Leshan City right now.

Of course, I didn't bring them here to plead on their behalf. They actively requested to apologize to the Xiao Family, and I won't plead for them either. As for whether to forgive them or not, you can make your own decision. No matter what, I will support your decision."

Hearing these words from Xiao Yuchen, everyone in the Xiao Family was also extremely shocked, but they also understood that the Chen Family and Ma Family actively apologizing to the Xiao Family was out of respect for Xiao Yuchen's Face.

"Yuchen, then let them come. I also want to see how they will apologize to the Xiao Family," Second Uncle Xiao Ting said.

However, hearing Second Uncle Xiao Ting's words, Xiao Yuchen waved his hand. "There's no rush for this. Let's leave them out in the cold for a few days first and let them reflect more. Let's talk about our own matters. Although I've learned some things about what happened back then from my mother, there are still some things I need you to answer."

"Alright, then go ahead and ask," Second Uncle Xiao Ting nodded in agreement.

"First of all, during the Human-Demon War back then, the Four Great Sects of the Central Divine Continent and all sixteen first-class families participated in the battle. But as far as I know, only three cultivators at the Tribulation Transcendence Stage died in battle back then. Why were two of them from the Xiao Family?"

"This..."

Second Uncle Xiao Ting fell silent. He didn't expect Xiao Yuchen's very first question to stump him.

"I have also always found this question very strange, but I can't say for sure whether there was a conspiracy involved. Afterwards, I inquired about this matter. The sixteen families all received the same orders, but in the end, the two from the Xiao Family did not return.

According to the Heavenly Court, Father and Big Brother always acted together and were ambushed by the Demon Race on their way back, leading to their complete annihilation. We don't know the specific reasons beyond that," Xiao Tingsheng answered truthfully.

"Then what about Great-Grandfather and Grandfather's bodies? How was it confirmed that they died?" Xiao Yuchen asked again.

"There were no bodies. According to the people from the Heavenly Court, Father and Big Brother's bodies and Primordial Spirits were directly devoured by a demon general. Although we didn't see their bodies, their soul plaques shattered, so they are indeed dead."

"Alright, in that case, there really is no hope."

The reason Xiao Yuchen asked this was because he thought of the demon seeds. If his great-grandfather and grandfather had merely become Demon Puppets, then he would still

have a chance to save them.

But a shattered soul plaque only proved that they were indeed dead, because even if they became Demon Puppets, it meant they were still alive, and their soul plaques would not have shattered.

"The second matter: how strong was my father? I once asked my mother this question, but she actually didn't know my father's strength. This doesn't make sense."

Hearing Xiao Yuchen's words, Second Uncle Xiao Ting replied, "Your father was a cultivation Genius of the Xiao Family. He broke through to the Mahayana Stage at a hundred years old, and broke through to the Tribulation Transcendence Stage around three hundred years old. He was the future successor of the Xiao Family.

Originally, the Xiao Family was the strongest among the sixteen families. But with Father and Big Brother passing away one after another, and your father being hunted by the Chen and Ma families and fleeing, the Xiao Family was left with only me, a single Tribulation Transcendence Stage cultivator.

Crucially, my talent is insufficient. I have been stuck at the Tribulation Transcendence Stage for many years, unable to break through to the Mid Tribulation Transcending Stage. Having me support the entire Xiao Family really makes me feel a bit overwhelmed."

Hearing Second Uncle Xiao Ting's words, Xiao Yuchen was shocked in his heart. His father had actually reached the Tribulation Transcendence Stage. But why did his father hide his cultivation in front of his mother?

Xiao Yuchen knew now was not the time to think about this. He could well imagine the hardships the Xiao Family had faced.

"Second Uncle, the Xiao Family has sacrificed so much for the Xuantian Continent. Did the Heavenly Court not show any appreciation? They actually let the Sun Family bully the Xiao Family like this."

Xiao Yuchen was puzzled. He felt that the Heavenly Court treated him quite well. Was it only because he had utility value? Could they just discard those who no longer had utility value?

"They gave some compensation, but what the Xiao Family lacks is not wealth, but the strength to protect that wealth. After Father and Big Brother passed away, the Xiao Family's businesses shrank by more than half, and some businesses were even handed over by me voluntarily.

My thinking was very simple. As long as the people are still here, the Xiao Family will still have a chance to rise again in the future. Your father is our hope. But if the people are gone, what use is even the greatest Family fortune?"

"Second Uncle, you did the right thing. Everything the Xiao Family has lost, I will get it all back. But this time you were a bit impulsive. If I hadn't arrived in time, you would have probably faced disaster."

Xiao Yuchen was glad he had arrived in time, otherwise he didn't know what would have become of the Xiao Family.

"Yes, I was indeed a bit impulsive this time. It was mainly because the Sun Family went too far. Not only did they make all the families pay them Spirit Stones, but they also embezzled eighty percent of our businesses. I really couldn't bear it anymore. It's just that I didn't expect those families to be nothing but fence-sitters."

Second Uncle Xiao Ting was clearly a bit angry. Previously, the heads of those second-class families had approached him together, hoping the Xiao Family would stand up for everyone. Out of the principle of seeking benefits for everyone, Second Uncle Xiao Ting agreed, but in the end, those families directly betrayed the Xiao Family.

"Second Uncle, the current Xiao Family is considered weak even among second-class families. Do you know why those families wanted you to take the lead and were willing to listen to your commands?"

"Why?" Second Uncle Xiao Ting shook his head.

"Because the bird that sticks its head out gets shot. They knew the Sun Family was strong, so they just wanted to find a scapegoat. If they could successfully overthrow the Sun Family, that would be best. Even if they couldn't, they could push the responsibility onto the Xiao Family and protect themselves.

I can guarantee that even if you successfully overthrew the Sun Family, the benefits the Xiao Family would receive would be pitifully small. They would definitely burn the bridge after crossing it. This is human nature.

I think you should have been able to figure some of this out. Was there another reason why you agreed to them?" Xiao Yuchen asked tentatively.

"Haha!" Second Uncle Xiao Ting laughed heartily. "I've been the Family head for so long, and neither my son nor my daughter understands my decisions, saying that doing this would lead the Xiao Family to ruin. I really didn't expect that the one who understands me best would actually be you, Xiao Chen."

"What exactly is the reason?"

Xiao Yuchen felt that this reason might be the answer he had always been looking for.

"Ever since Father and Big Brother passed away, other families have been eyeing the Xiao Family greedily, all wanting to replace us. I gave up our businesses for self-preservation, but that alone was simply not enough.

Many families wanted the Xiao Family to completely disappear, and indeed, some did move against us in the dark. At that time, several second-class families had already united to make a move against the Xiao Family.

But later on, those families were either wiped out or changed their minds, giving up their ambitions to swallow the Xiao Family. At that time, I suspected someone was secretly helping the Xiao Family.

"At first, I thought of your father, but on second thought, it seemed unlikely. Your father was only at the Tribulation Transcendence Stage, while those people had already reached the Mid Tribulation Transcending Stage, and there were several of them. Your father didn't have that kind of strength."