I made up the mythical age
Chapter 15 - Even the Prefect Bows Before Me

Chapter 15  Even the Prefect Bows Before Me

The prefect personally came to offer his congratulations?

Moreover, his words clearly implied his approval of the Xiao family swallowing up the Wang and Lu families, becoming the foremost clan in the Blackstone Commandery.

The onlookers were full of surprise. Even the members of the Xiao family found it puzzling. As the prefect appointed by the imperial court to oversee Blackstone Commandery, he had no reason to curry favor with the Xiao family. But Xiao Ding understood perfectly.

The prefect wasn’t trying to please the Xiao family—he was trying to please his daughter, Xiao Yueying!

At only nineteen years old, she was already at the peak of the 9th level of the Foundation Establishment Realm. Anyone with even a little discernment could tell what that meant—It meant she was likely to reach the Core Formation Realm!

It meant her future was boundless!

Not to mention, she had casually killed a powerful opponent at the half-step Core Formation level. A prodigy like her was naturally worth the prefect lowering himself to win over.

Realizing this, a faint smile appeared on Xiao Ding’s face.

“Master Liu is too kind. It is we of the Xiao family who should rely on your guidance and support,” Xiao Ding replied smoothly with a polite and diplomatic tone.

The prefect Liu straightened his posture and said humbly, “With such an outstanding daughter, reaching Core Formation is only the beginning. Achieving the Nascent Soul stage in the future should be effortless. When the Xiao family returns to the Holy Capital and regains your founding duke’s honor, I hope you, Clan Leader Xiao, will remember the bond we share in co-governing Blackstone Commandery and lend this official a helping hand.”

Very few people knew about the Xiao family’s past. Governor Liu, being a high-ranking official from the Sacred Capital, naturally had some background and connections, which allowed him to know certain hidden truths.

Back in the day, the ancestor of the Xiao family had followed Ancestor Chixiao in founding the Chixiao Divine Dynasty and had been one of the only four founding marquises—a position of great prestige.

Unfortunately, times changed, and the Xiao family declined with each generation, finding it increasingly difficult to survive in the Sacred Capital.

Things deteriorated completely when the last Core Formation stage cultivator of the Xiao family passed away over fifty years ago. To avoid total collapse, the Xiao family decided to leave the Sacred Capital and eventually settled in Blackstone Commandery.

However, as a founding noble family, the Xiao clan still held some favor in the eyes of the Chixiao Empress—especially because of the imperial edict and iron pardon token bestowed by Ancestor Chixiao himself.

As long as Xiao Yueying could break through to the Core Formation stage before the age of thirty, the Xiao family’s rise would be unstoppable. Even if they couldn’t regain their former glory as one of the four founding marquises, they could still become a highly influential noble clan in the Sacred Capital.

Naturally, Governor Liu was eager to curry favor. But Xiao Yueying wasn’t impressed by him at all. After witnessing the unmatched divine might of the ancient Demon Emperor Dijun from the Archaic Era, her standards had risen immensely.

Like a frog that suddenly leapt out of a well, her horizons were no longer limited to the Chixiao Divine Dynasty. Sensing Xiao Yueying’s cold indifference, Governor Liu didn’t dare linger. After a few more flattering words, he wisely excused himself and left.

“Miss… Miss Xiao, have you really reached the peak of the ninth level of Foundation Establishment?”

Xiao Yun, the Grand Elder of the Xiao family, cautiously stepped forward to ask. The other elders also turned their gazes toward Xiao Yueying, their eyes filled with admiration and attempts to please.

Most of these people had kicked her while she was down when her cultivation was crippled, but now they all acted meek and deferential. Even the once-arrogant Grand Elder of the clan. Such is the change that power brings.

In this world, the law of the strong reigning supreme is a truth universally acknowledged.

“That’s right, I was lucky enough to enter a secret realm and obtain the inheritance of a powerful figure,” Xiao Yueying said, half-truthfully.

It was true that she had received an inheritance from the Golden Crow Secret Realm, but her rapid breakthroughs to the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage were all thanks to Yan Fei. However, Yan Fei’s background was far too mysterious, and she had no intention of telling anyone about her—not even her father.

“As long as your cultivation is restored, that’s all that matters. That’s all that matters,” Xiao Ding said as he stepped forward, eyes brimming with tears.

They were tears of joy. His daughter, Xiao Yueying, had finally regained the grace and glory of her past—when she had once been a peerless prodigy.

“Um… we’ve offended you in the past. Please, Young Miss, don’t hold it against us.”

“Yes, we looked down on you before. That was our mistake.”

“Please return to the family, Young Miss. The Xiao family cannot go on without you.”

A group of Xiao family elders stepped forward one after another, apologizing sincerely to Xiao Yueying.

Xiao Yueying replied, “This time, I was the one who brought trouble upon us, nearly causing great harm to the family. Let’s call it even and let the past be the past.”

“Good, good, good! Let the past be the past.”

“From now on, if anyone dares to speak ill of the Young Miss in this family, I’ll be the first to deal with them!”

“And so will I!”

“Today, the Young Miss has slain the experts of both the Wang and Lu families. There is no longer any rival to the Xiao family in Blackstone County. This is a moment of great celebration—we must hold a grand feast!”

“That’s right, we must celebrate properly.”

The elders of the Xiao family all breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that Xiao Yueying wasn’t holding them accountable. Their expressions quickly turned to excitement.

With the Wang and Lu families gone, the Xiao family was now the undisputed number one family. As elders, they would naturally rise with the tide and gain more resources.

Not to mention, with Xiao Yueying’s talent, it was only a matter of time before she led the Xiao family out of Heishi County and restored the former glory of their ancestors.

As members of the Xiao clan, how could they not be excited?

Xiao Yueying frowned slightly and said, “Elders, feel free to celebrate. I have other matters to attend to—I plan to enter seclusion for a while.”

Xiao Ding was startled by this and asked with concern, “Were you injured during the battle earlier? We still have a few treasured millennium herbs at home. I’ll have someone fetch them right away.”

The other elders also looked at Xiao Yueying nervously.

Xiao Yueying smiled slightly and said, “Father, you misunderstood. I’m not injured. It’s just that the treasure I obtained in the secret realm hasn’t been fully refined yet. Once I finish refining it, I should be able to attempt a breakthrough to the Core Formation stage.”

Breakthrough to the Core Formation stage?

Xiao Ding and all the Xiao family elders were completely stunned.