The Terrifying Xiao Surname

Gu Changge glanced at Xuanyangzi, the corners of his mouth twitching up into a smirk. "One month of quiet cultivation is enough. That tomb is perfect for them to practice on, and it will save them from having nowhere to vent their boundless energy at home!"

After a long moment, Xuanyangzi waved his hand helplessly. In his mind, he was already calculating how to clean up the mess after these brats inevitably stirred up trouble.

A rich and lively celebration banquet finally came to an end amidst Xuanyangzi's complicated feelings, Lao Huang's immense gratitude, Shi Wanshan's heartache over the expenses, and Fatty Wang's bountiful harvest.

After the meal, Xiao Ruobai smiled and patted Fatty Wang, who was still trying hard to digest and was emitting spiritual energy all over. "Fatty, let's go. Your senior brother will take you to pick a spot and build a place to live."

Fatty Wang's eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly. "Sure, sure! Thank you for the trouble, Eldest Senior Brother!"

He exactly needed to walk around to ease the surging spiritual energy within his body.

Xiao Ruobai led Fatty Wang to an empty clearing next to his own bamboo cabin—which was rough in style but at least structurally sound—and stopped.

"Fatty, what do you think of this place? It's right next to me, so it'll be easy to look after you if anything happens," Xiao Ruobai introduced enthusiastically.

Fatty Wang looked at the clearing. With green bamboo at its back and facing a spirit pool, the spiritual energy was dense. It was indeed a good place, so he nodded hastily. "Good, good, good! Thank you, Eldest Senior Brother!"

"We're brothers, no need to be polite! Come on, I'll help you. It'll be done in no time!"

With that said, he rolled up his sleeves and got to work.

However, the process that followed made Fatty Wang's eyelids twitch wildly.

Xiao Ruobai's techniques were still bold and sweeping, but they clearly revealed a sense of unfamiliarity.

In just a short while, a bamboo cabin that was even rougher than Xiao Ruobai's own—and even seemed to be teetering on the verge of collapse—stood up.

The gaps in the walls were big enough to let the wind howl through, the roof was uneven in thickness, and the doors and windows creaked.

Fatty Wang looked at this new home in front of him that seemed like it could be blown away by a single gust of wind. He then turned his head to look at his Eldest Senior Brother's bamboo cabin next door, which, although rugged in style, was at least structurally stable and clearly built with care. His small eyes blinked rapidly as he couldn't help but mutter in his heart:

"How did Eldest Senior Brother's house-building skills regress so severely? This gap is too huge!"

Xiao Ruobai looked at his latest masterpiece and then at his junior brother's hesitant, complicated expression. A rare, embarrassed, silly smile appeared on his face. He scratched his head and explained:

"Cough... Ah, well... You see, Fatty, it's been a long time since your senior brother built a house with his own hands, so I'm a bit rusty, hehe... a bit rusty..."

He slapped the most unstable-looking pillar hard, trying to prove its reliability. "But don't worry! It's absolutely sturdy! It's livable! I guarantee you it definitely won't collapse! You have to trust your senior brother's craftsmanship!"

Fatty Wang: "..."

He looked at his Eldest Senior Brother's confident yet unconvincing appearance, and then at the bamboo cabin that creaked wildly with every breeze. His sense of security instantly plummeted to freezing point.

This stark contrast made him involuntarily recall the exquisite, unique, and spiritually rich ready-made courtyard from yesterday...

A massive psychological gap struck him once again.

Fatty Wang wore a long face and let out a silent, even more desperate scream in his heart:

"Is it too late... for me to regret this now?!"

Taking advantage of a break, Xiao Ruobai's expression turned serious as he said to Fatty Wang, "Fatty, since you've joined Purple Bamboo Peak, there are some rules I need to tell you about. These were established by our Master, and they are the foundation of our Purple Bamboo Peak's survival."

Fatty Wang immediately sat up straight, his chubby face turning solemn. "Please speak, Eldest Senior Brother! I will definitely keep them in mind!"

As Xiao Ruobai explained the rules one by one, Fatty Wang's eyes widened into perfect circles, his brain rapidly digesting the information.

He thought of his previous trouble-making behavior; these rules were practically tailor-made for him!

He only felt that they perfectly matched his fear of death... ah no, his pursuit of a steady character!

He couldn't help but slap his thigh and exclaim in a low voice, "Brilliant! Eldest Senior Brother! These rules are too professional! No wonder our Purple Bamboo Peak is so... steady!"

Especially when he heard his Eldest Senior Brother solemnly emphasize the need to avoid people with special surnames, including the surname Xiao, Fatty Wang suddenly shuddered, his small eyes instantly bursting with the light of sudden realization!

The valiant, god-of-war-like figure of Eldest Senior Brother Xiao immediately surfaced in his mind, along with the incredibly miserable fates of the Demonic Heaven Sect, the Blood Soul Sect, and even the arrogant Glazed Holy Land, who had all provoked his Eldest Senior Brother before...

"Hiss!"

Fatty Wang gasped, his chubby face full of lingering fear and deep agreement, nodding his head like a chicken pecking at rice. "Understood! Eldest Senior Brother! I understand! This rule... Master is so right! It must be obeyed! Resolutely executed!"

He muttered inwardly: People surnamed Xiao are terrifyingly powerful! I can't afford to provoke them, absolutely cannot! How are these Master's rules? This is clearly a survival guide summarized from bloody lessons!

At this moment, Fatty Wang's sense of agreement with Purple Bamboo Peak's steady flow survival laws reached an unprecedented height.

In the early morning, Purple Bamboo Peak was still shrouded in a thin layer of spiritual mist.

Fatty Wang was already busy in front of his bamboo cabin, which leaked air from all sides.

Holding a newly cut spirit bamboo in his hand, his butt sticking out, he was trying to wedge it into a crack in the wall that let light through. His chubby face was full of concentration, and fine sweat dotted his forehead.

"Crack..." The bamboo wasn't wedged firmly and slipped out again.

Fatty Wang sighed, wiped his sweat, and muttered softly, "Eldest Senior Brother's craftsmanship... sigh, I still have to rely on myself..."

Just then, Xiao Ruobai's smiling voice came from behind. "Fatty, so diligent? Getting up early in the morning to repair your cave dwelling?"

Fatty Wang jumped in fright, and the bamboo in his hand fell to the ground with a clatter.

He hastily turned around and saw Xiao Ruobai standing not far away with a teasing smile on his face. Fatty Wang's chubby face flushed red. He rubbed his hands in embarrassment and stammered an explanation:

"Ah, morning, Eldest Senior Brother! I... I just think this house um... has really good ventilation! Yes, good ventilation! The spiritual energy flows smoothly! I'm ab-absolutely not worried that it isn't sturdy! I'm definitely confident in Eldest Senior Brother's craftsmanship!"

His voice grew quieter as he spoke, his eyes darting around, clearly lacking confidence.

Xiao Ruobai looked at his attempt to cover things up and couldn't help but burst into loud laughter. He was just about to tease him a bit more when he saw that Gu Changge was standing at the entrance of the courtyard at some unknown time, with Fang Hanyu and Ling Xi standing quietly by his side.

Gu Changge's gaze lightly swept over the half-repaired bamboo in Fatty Wang's hand and his slightly disheveled appearance. He didn't say much, only stating calmly, "Come here, all of you."

The few of them hastily responded and quickly walked over.

Arriving before him, Fatty Wang secretly peeked at his Master and his two senior martial siblings, his heart drumming slightly: Calling everyone over so early, could it be that the noise of him repairing the house was too loud and woke up Master?

Gu Changge's gaze swept over the four of them, finally landing on Fatty Wang. It lingered for a moment before he plainly opened his mouth to speak:

"Late stage of the Grotto-Heaven Realm. Your aptitude is acceptable. Among cultivators of the same realm in the outside world, you would be considered quite good."

Hearing this, Fatty Wang was just about to breathe a sigh of relief, but then Gu Changge's tone took a sharp turn.

"However, your foundation is unstable, and there is much stagnation in the circulation of your spiritual energy. It is obvious that you were eager for quick success and did not polish each realm to perfection, resulting in a weak foundation."

These words were like a light warning bell ringing in Fatty Wang's heart, instantly causing his nerves to pull taut.

"M-Master..." Fatty Wang hurriedly stood up straight, his chubby face showing a look of nervousness and shame.

He understood that his Master's standards were clearly far beyond what was considered normal in the outside world.

Four chapters today!