Fantasy: The Clan Chief Lies Down, His House Is Full of Emperors

The standard for a fourth-rate power is that the clan has a strong person in the late stage or perfect stage of the Profound Core Realm, and at least a dozen other Profound Core Realm cultivators.

The Xu family of the past didn't quite qualify, but the Xu family of today does.

The standard for third-rate forces is raised by one level, requiring a powerful expert at the late or perfect Purple Mansion Realm, along with at least a dozen Purple Mansion Realm cultivators.

The current Xu family is far inferior to them, but with Su Xinyan around, the Xu family is not afraid of any third-rate forces.

Lingyue City has a total of five third-rate forces, four long-established families, and a large, independent cultivator force.

The Qiao family, whose ancestor was the Supreme Elder of the Lingyue Sect, deeply understood Xu Muge's importance, and thus fostered a close relationship between the Qiao and Xu families.

The Qiao family's senior members all clearly remember the old ancestor's words.

"Xu Muge is the future of the Lingyue Sect. If he can grow up smoothly, the small temple of the Great Qi Dynasty will not be able to contain him. His world is so vast that you cannot even imagine it. Therefore, you must do your best to befriend the Xu family!!"

His words impressed the Qiao family's senior management, who kept them firmly in mind. When the Xu family moved in, Qiao Tianshu, the head of the Qiao family, personally visited them with generous gifts.

Later, after news of the Azure Dragon Secret Realm reached them, they learned that the Xu family not only had a true dragon, Xu Muge, but also a unicorn son, Xu Luo—a family with two prodigies!

As a result, the Qiao family and the Xu family frequently cooperated during these six months, and each time it was the Qiao family that initiated the cooperation and even offered concessions, which could be described as a loss-making collaboration.

Qiao Tianshu also frequently sought out Xu Qingzhou under various pretexts. Despite being a powerful expert at the Purple Mansion Realm, he addressed Xu Qingzhou as a brother.

That day, Xu Qingzhou had just finished drinking with Qiao Tianshu and returned home when he encountered Xu Luo and his bandit-suppression squad. They were covered in blood and clearly had just been in a battle.

"I've met the clan leader!"

Xu Luo took the lead, and his clansmen respectfully shouted.

The Xu family cannot rely solely on the chosen one; it needs to become stronger as a whole. Therefore, it is also important to cultivate some exceptionally talented clansmen.

Xu Qingzhou had met them before and given them a lot of cultivation resources. He looked at the group and was very satisfied.

"As expected of the elites of the Xu family, they are all very good, especially Xu Yan. The others should learn more from him."

"It's the clan leader!"

The crowd responded loudly.

Aside from Captain Xu Luo, Xu Yan is the strongest member of the bandit-suppression team, and everyone else respects him.

Just as Xu Qingzhou was about to turn and leave.

Xu Yan suddenly spoke up, "Clan leader, I wonder if you have time? I would like to ask you some questions."

"Okay, come with me."

Xu Qingzhou led him directly to a nearby pavilion. "What is it? Tell me."

"I am in love with Qiao Yanran, the granddaughter of the second elder of the Qiao family, so I would like to ask you, clan leader, to help me propose marriage," Xu Yan said respectfully, still a little embarrassed.

He met Qiao Yanran in the Demon Cloud Mountains. At the time, Qiao Yanran was training in the Demon Cloud Mountains when she encountered danger. Xu Yan stepped forward to save her, and the two fell in love at first sight. It was a very common story of a hero saving a beauty.

He could have asked his father to propose marriage, but he felt that since Qiao Yanran was the granddaughter of the second elder of the Qiao family, someone of higher status should propose marriage, and Xu Qingzhou was naturally the most suitable.

Xu Qingzhou's eyes lit up after hearing this.

“That’s great! You can propose anytime you want, right now is fine too. I just met with the head of the Qiao family.”

Under the instructions of their ancestor, the Qiao family intended to befriend the Xu family, believing that having more friends meant having more options and fewer enemies meant having fewer obstacles.

Therefore, Xu Qingzhou was also willing to be on good terms with the Qiao family. As long as both parties agreed, this kind of marriage was the best way to improve the relationship between the two families.

“Yanran and I agreed to meet three days later,” Xu Yan replied.

Xu Qingzhou patted him on the shoulder, "Okay, I'll remember this. We'll go to the Qiao family together in three days."

"Thank you, Clan Chief," Xu Yan replied, both excited and grateful.

.....

The Qiao family, though a third-rate power, possesses a foundation and strength that the Xu family, a newly emerging fourth-rate power, cannot match.

The Qiao Family Compound is also located on Chaoxia Peak, and it is even larger and more luxurious than the Xu Family Compound.

Today is an important day. Qiao Tianshu, the head of the Qiao family, and a group of elders have all put aside their other matters and are sitting in the guest hall of their home, as if waiting for something.

"I'm coming!!"

The butler ran and shouted, and everyone in the Qiao family perked up at the sound of his voice.

"They're here already? That's quite early."

"It is a bit early."

The steward entered the guest hall and found that Qiao Tianshu and the elders were all there.

Qiao Tianchu coughed lightly twice.

"Please come quickly, or else, let's all go and greet the Xu family patriarch."

Qiao Tianchu and all the elders stood up. They felt there was nothing wrong with it and it was perfectly appropriate.

Unexpectedly, the butler suddenly said, "It's not the Xu family patriarch, it's the Lan family patriarch, Lan Jiang."

"what?"

Qiao Tianshu and the elders were slightly taken aback. Although there was only a one-word difference, it made their mood plummet.

The expressions of excitement and anticipation that had been there instantly turned into disgust; those who had stood up sat back down.

"The housekeeper should explain things clearly next time, so we don't get all worked up for nothing."

"What are the Lan family doing here at this time? Aren't they just making things worse!"

It should be noted that the Lan family, like the Qiao family, is one of the five major third-rate forces in Lingyue City, while the Xu family is only a fourth-rate force, far inferior to them.

They, however, were more eager for the Xu family to come and looked down on the Lan family.

This was not only because they wanted to befriend the Xu family, but also because they were already at odds with the Lan family.

Qiao Tianchu's enthusiastic face instantly turned cold.

"After all, the Lan family is one of the five major third-rate forces in the city, just like us. Although our relationship is very bad, let's still give them a proper welcome."

The elder spoke up, reminding them, "Send them away as soon as possible; we can't let this delay our business."

The other elders echoed.

"Yes, yes, ask what it is, and then send them away quickly."

Qiao Tianchu waved his hand, signaling the butler to bring the person over, and then sat back down himself.

The butler trotted out and quickly brought the Lan family over.

There were only three people in total: Lan Jiang, the head of the Lan family; the Lan family steward; and Lan Jiang's youngest son, Lan Jiaxin.

Qiao Tianchu forced a smile, which didn't look very good.

"Oh dear, where did this strong wind come from today? How did it manage to bring such a distinguished guest as Brother Lan here?"

Lan Jiang smiled and said, "I apologize for disturbing you, Brother Qiao, I hope you won't take offense."

When he saw that the elders of the Qiao family were also there, he was very pleased. The fact that all the higher-ups had come to receive him showed that the other party valued him highly.

“There’s no need for presumption between us,” Qiao Tianchu replied.

After a few polite exchanges, Qiao Tianchu, wanting to get rid of them as quickly as possible, went straight to asking Lan Jiang's purpose.

After Lan Jiang finished speaking, everyone in the Qiao family was dumbfounded. They stood there, stunned, with extremely strange expressions, completely at a loss for words.