Gu Xiao's Origins

An elderly man in white rose to his feet and addressed Gu Yuan, his tone solemn and serious, filled with unwavering resolve.

This elder was no ordinary figure. He was Gu Dao, one of the Three Immortals of the Ancient Clan, and held a position of immense importance within the Gu Clan.

His words naturally carried great weight. As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Yuan nodded slightly. "Elder Gu Dao, rest assured. Xiao'er is far too important. I naturally will not allow him to leave the Ancient Realm. Please take a seat first."

Gu Dao breathed a sigh of relief before sitting back down.

Gu Yuan swept his gaze around the room, his eyes shifting slightly. Whenever Gu Xiao was mentioned, he recalled the scene of Gu Xiao's birth.

It had been morning that day, and he had been standing atop a mountain in the Ancient Realm, gazing out over the Cloud Sea.

Then, without warning, the entire Central Continent began to tremble for no apparent reason. Rosy clouds stretched across the sky, auspicious lights filled the heavens, sweet rain fell from above, and endless golden lotuses surged from the earth.

A hazy purple aura came from the east, vast and mighty for thirty thousand li, stretching on without end.

Even from within the Ancient Realm, he could still see such a shocking sight.

Filled with astonishment, he immediately rushed toward its source.

Upon reaching the destination, the first thing that entered his sight was an exceptionally radiant Twelve-Colored Lotus descending from the sky.

The lotus was roughly three meters in diameter and had twelve petals. Every petal was composed of different colors, emanating an aura of supreme nobility.

That aura was so ancient and terrifying that even with his Peak Nine-Star Dou Sheng strength, he had trembled in fear, utterly unable to summon any thought of resistance.

He did not know just how powerful that aura was, but he knew it had to be at least at the Dou Di realm. After all, only the aura of a Dou Di could make a Peak Nine-Star Dou Sheng Strong Person feel fear.

At the center of the twelve-petaled lotus, upon its lotus platform, lay a fair and spotless infant. His entire body radiated dazzling divine light, and that infant was Gu Xiao as he was now.

It was precisely because he had sensed Gu Xiao's extraordinariness that he had immediately brought Gu Xiao back to the Ancient Realm.

Gu Xiao's origins were exceedingly mysterious. The phenomenon caused by his birth had been even more astonishing than the phenomenon recorded in ancient texts when Tou She Ancient God became an emperor.

Moreover, Gu Yuan had been trapped at the Peak Nine-Star Dou Sheng realm for many years and possessed an extreme desire to become an emperor.

He had once made detailed guesses about Gu Xiao's identity. Was he a Divine Son descended from the heavens, or the reincarnation of an ancient Dou Di?

To be honest, he did not know!

But regardless of which it was, Gu Xiao's astonishing origins and mysterious nature made him suspect that Gu Xiao might possess the Opportunity to Become Emperor. Naturally, he would not allow Gu Xiao to take even half a step out of the Ancient Realm.

After all, he had not been the only one to sense Gu Xiao's existence back then. Some people might already be making their moves.

"Clan Leader, since Young Master Gu Xiao cannot leave the Ancient Realm, and you do not wish to force Miss Xun'er, this old man suggests selecting another suitable candidate from the clan to take Miss Xun'er's place. No matter what, we must obtain the Tou She Ancient God Jade from the Xiao Clan."

Upon hearing Gu Yuan's words, an Elder spoke up.

As soon as he said this, the other elders nodded in approval. This was indeed a solution that satisfied both sides.

"Then we shall proceed as Elder Gu Lin suggests. Select a suitable candidate as soon as possible. When the time comes, I will personally send her to the Xiao Clan. There should not be much of a problem."

Gu Yuan tapped the tabletop with his finger and made the final decision.

"We understand." The many elders responded in unison.

"Mm. Let us end it here for today. Dismissed." As Gu Yuan's voice fell, his figure flashed and vanished from the spot.

The elders exchanged glances before slowly withdrawing as well.

Meanwhile, Gu Xiao and Gu Xun'er were still walking along the roadside hand in hand.

A gentle breeze blew past, carrying bursts of floral fragrance. The rich scent was intoxicating.

"Xun'er, has Uncle Gu mentioned again that he wants you to go to the Xiao Clan?"

As they walked, Gu Xiao asked.

He knew that the reason Gu Xun'er had been able to remain in the Ancient Realm until now instead of going to the Xiao Clan was entirely because of him.

Gu Yuan wanted something from him, and so did the entire Gu Clan. They had always believed that some earth-shattering secret, some Opportunity to Become Emperor, lay hidden within him.

To the people of the Gu Clan, his existence was even more important than the Ancient Jade. There were eight pieces of Ancient Jade in total, and only by gathering all eight could they open the Ancient Emperor's Cave Dwelling. But how difficult would that be?

Yet he was right here within the Gu Clan. He knew full well that those people were racking their brains, trying to uncover his secret and strengthen the Gu Clan.

Gu Xun'er was close to him and maintained a good relationship with him, so those people naturally would not object. This would only make him feel a greater sense of belonging toward the Gu Clan and become more attached to it. As long as he was here, they would not force Gu Xun'er.

But in truth, what earth-shattering secret or Opportunity to Become Emperor did he have?

In the end, it was all a trap set by the system. Those so-called phenomena had all been arranged by the system. He was merely a so-called genius whose constitution remained sealed to this day.

"Since that time, Father has not mentioned this matter to Xun'er again."

Sure enough, Gu Xun'er's words confirmed Gu Xiao's guess.

"It seems Xun'er's tears back then were quite effective." Gu Xiao rolled his eyes and said with a smile.

Xun'er had only been four years old then. Although she had matured early, her mind had only been comparable to that of a seven- or eight-year-old child. Unlike now, when her maturity was no less than that of a twelve- or thirteen-year-old girl, she had burst into tears on the spot after being pushed too far.

When Gu Xiao brought up that incident, Gu Xun'er's pretty face immediately reddened slightly. It could be considered the only embarrassing thing she had done so far.

From childhood until now, she had cried only that one time.

"Brother Gu Xiao!" Gu Xun'er bit her lip, her voice carrying a hint of embarrassed annoyance.

"Alright, alright, I won't mention it anymore." Gu Xiao naturally knew that Gu Xun'er was thin-skinned. Seeing her embarrassment, he promptly dropped the subject.

"Let's go sit over there, Xun'er." Gu Xiao pointed toward a small pavilion in the distance and said in a soft voice.

"Alright!" Gu Xun'er answered, taking small steps as she headed with Gu Xiao toward the pavilion not far away.

There was a stone table inside the pavilion. Since Gu Xiao and Gu Xun'er often played there, fruits and pastries were usually kept on hand. The two little ones sat before the stone table, eating pastries, and the atmosphere was especially harmonious for a while.

"It seems the two of you little fellows are in quite a good mood today."

A faint chuckle sounded beside them, and Gu Yuan's figure appeared before them.

He quietly watched the two of them, a gentle smile on his face.

"Father!"

"Uncle Gu!"

Upon seeing Gu Yuan appear, Gu Xun'er and Gu Xiao called out at the same time. Gu Xun'er even climbed down from the stone stool and threw herself into Gu Yuan's embrace.