The Immortal Clan begins with deductive intelligence.

The next morning.

Early in the morning, Xu Changqing dragged Xu Xining and the other two out of their warm beds and herded them like ducks to a muddy beach on the west side of the island.

This place is far from the main waterway, and usually only some low-level aquatic beasts climb up here to sunbathe or lay eggs.

"Cheer up, everyone!"

Xu Changqing stood with his hands behind his back on a slightly drier black rock, his eyes scanning the reeds like those of a hawk.

"I didn't bring you out here today so you could play in the mud."

Xu Xining was carrying a sharpened iron short sword, which Xu Changqing had specially ordered someone to find in the storeroom. Although it couldn't be said to be able to cut through iron like mud, it could at least draw blood.

The young man wielded the short sword with great flair, his face beaming with eager anticipation. His eyes darted around, as if he wished a demonic beast would leap out and let him slash at it.

"Don't worry, Chieftain! I was practicing my 'Forest Walk' in my dreams last night, and I was just looking for some ignorant beast to give me some practice!"

Xu Xining puffed out her small chest, and while speaking, she couldn't stay still with her feet, twisting her waist a couple of times while stepping on the mud, striking what she thought was a dashing pose.

"Let's begin then."

Xu Changqing waved his hand, releasing the spiritual energy binding him, and the withered reeds in front of him swayed.

"Splash!"

A black water rat, covered in black fur and the size of a mongrel, emerged.

This thing was the lowest-ranking of the first-tier early-stage demonic beasts, but it was frightened at the moment. Its two beady eyes turned red, and two large, yellowed teeth bared in its mouth, making it look extremely ferocious.

"go."

Xu Changqing tapped his toes and floated back two zhang, clearing the space.

"No one is allowed to back down. If we back down even a step, we won't get any food tonight."

Seeing that the three little creatures blocking its way were not even as tall as it, the black water rat, driven by its wickedness, didn't hesitate at all. With a kick of its hind legs, it transformed into a black shadow and pounced straight at Xu Xining in the middle.

"Well done!"

Xu Xining let out a strange cry and advanced instead of retreating.

His eyes were wide open; far from being afraid, he looked eager to try.

He rolled up his sleeves, revealing a thin arm, and turned to shout at the two people behind him:

"Xiwen, Xiyue, step back a bit! Watch me show you something!"

After saying that, the kid didn't bother with any strategy and charged forward with his short sword.

"Watch me cleave you in two with one sword!"

But this mudflat is not the hard ground of a training ground.

As he exerted force, the mud beneath his feet slipped.

"Ouch!"

Xu Xining's body swayed, and the originally fierce sword strike went directly to his grandmother's house, striking the muddy ground next to him and splashing up a puddle of black mud.

The black water rat had no sense of martial ethics; taking advantage of the opening, it opened its mouth and bit Xu Xining's thigh.

If it bites hard, you'll tear off at least two ounces of meat.

"Brother! Watch out!"

Xu Xiyue screamed in fright and covered her eyes.

"Ouch!"

Xu Xining scrambled backward, his trouser leg ripped open, nearly injuring himself.

Xu Xiwen stood behind, holding a short sword in her hand, her small face tense.

He glanced at the clan chief who was still watching the show, then at his elder brother who was being chased all over the place, gritted his teeth, and shouted.

"Let me help you!"

Xu Xiwen didn't dare to confront it head-on. Instead, he went around to the side and, taking advantage of the moment when the black water rat was chasing Xu Xining, stabbed the black water rat's soft belly with his short sword.

Although the force was insufficient, it still managed to penetrate half an inch.

"squeak--!"

The black water rat cried out in pain, its movement of biting Xu Xining faltered, and it twisted its body, its long tail lashing out at Xu Xiwen like a whip.

Xu Xiwen landed a successful blow but didn't linger. He rolled into the mud, barely avoiding the tail. He ended up covered in mud but was unharmed.

Xu Xining realized what was happening at that moment.

This troublemaker may be mischievous, but he also has a ruthless streak.

Seeing that he had almost been caught off guard and that his underling had to come to his rescue, his face turned a deep purplish-red.

"You damned rat! You dared to trick me!"

The two boys surrounded the black water rat, taking turns hitting it. Although their fighting was completely haphazard and just wild, they at least dared to put up a fight.

Only Xu Xiyue.

The little girl was terrified. Her face was deathly pale, and her eyes were filled with tears. She was too scared to move when she saw the menacing black water rat and the splashing mud.

"It's...too ugly..."

She mumbled through her tears, her body trembling.

Xu Changqing frowned.

That won't do.

In the world of cultivation, there is no distinction between men and women, and even demonic beasts are not picky eaters when they devour humans.

If this girl is afraid of even this, she'll be scared to death with just a glance from someone when she's on the dueling platform.

"Xiwen! Stab it! Stab it again!"

Xu Xining threw down his sword and pounced on the black water rat, grabbing its neck tightly with both hands and pinning the struggling beast to the muddy ground.

Despite the black water rat's claws scratching several bloody marks on his arm, causing him to grimace in pain, he refused to let go.

Xu Xiwen climbed out of the mud, found the right spot, and smacked the black water rat in the heart again.

Two times.

Three times.

Only when the black water rat stopped moving completely did Xu Xining sit down heavily in the mud, panting heavily.

He wiped the mud and rat blood off his face, grinned, revealing a set of white teeth, looking both disheveled and ferocious.

"Pah! You think you can bite me? Maybe in your next life!"

Xu Changqing stood by and watched the whole time, and even though Xu Xining was almost bitten just now, he didn't do anything.

Only when he saw that the battle was over did he slowly walk over.

"Xiyue, come here."

Xu Changqing's voice was not loud, but it carried an air of unquestionable authority.

Xu Xiyue took two shaky steps, looking at Xu Changqing with teary eyes: "Clan...Clan Chief..."

"Take your dagger."

Xu Changqing pointed to the black water rat on the ground that was already dead.

"Go, finish it off."

"what?"

Xu Xiyue shook her head desperately, tears streaming down her face like a broken string of pearls.

"I...I'm scared...it's bleeding...it's terrifying..."

Xu Changqing's tone was icy.

"If you don't stab me today, then you won't need to practice anymore. Go home and learn embroidery from your mother. My Xu family doesn't raise useless cries."

That's a harsh statement.

Xu Xining stopped joking and looked at his sister with some heartache. He wanted to plead for her, but Xu Changqing glared at him and shut him up.

Xu Xiyue cried even harder, her small body trembling like a leaf.

She looked at the hideous dead rat, then at the clan chief's indifferent face.

Embroidering at home?

No... she doesn't want to.

She remembered how happy her parents were the day they found out she had spiritual roots, and she remembered her mother saying that she would bring glory to the family in the future.

If I'm sent back...

Xu Xiyue bit her lip so hard that the skin on her lower lip broke, and a bead of blood seeped out.

She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and raised the small dagger in her hand.

"ah--!"

"Pfft."

The dagger missed its mark and pierced the rat's thigh.

But at least it made it in.

Xu Xiyue opened her eyes and looked at the blood on her hand. Her initial fear turned into a strange numbness.

It doesn't seem... that scary?