Soul Emperor, the Uninvited Guest

Gu Yuan caught Gu Xun'er in one arm and reached out to rub her head, his eyes carrying a faint look of affection.

As his only blood relative, Gu Xun'er was naturally cherished beyond measure.

What was more, Gu Xun'er had long earned the recognition of the Golden Emperor Sky-Burning Flame and fused with this inherited flame of the Gu Clan. Coupled with her exceptionally rich and pure Dou Di Bloodline, her potential was limitless. Naturally, Gu Yuan held his daughter in even higher regard.

Furthermore, Gu Xiao, whom he regarded as possessing a world-shaking secret, was only close to Gu Xun'er within the Gu Clan. This undoubtedly caused Gu Yuan to devote even more attention to Gu Xun'er.

Gu Xiao was mature of temperament and extraordinary from birth, far surpassing ordinary children. The only person he cared about was Gu Xun'er, and Gu Yuan had seen that clearly.

Thus, in a sense, Gu Xun'er was an important link in maintaining Gu Xiao's closeness and sense of belonging toward the Gu Clan.

Gu Yuan stroked Gu Xun'er's long hair with one hand as his gaze shifted gently toward Gu Xiao.

That calm gaze seemed to see through everything, making Gu Xiao feel as though he were naked and exposed beneath the sunlight.

And that feeling was definitely far from pleasant.

"Have you broken through to the Fourth Stage Dou Disciple?" Gu Yuan asked with a smile.

"Yes, Uncle Gu," Gu Xiao replied, his voice calm and gentle.

"Not bad. Your cultivation speed is quite fast. However, the Dou Disciple realm is the stage where one lays one's foundation. You must not rush it. Proceed step by step and steadily solidify your foundation. Only then will you be able to go farther in the future."

Gu Yuan spoke in an even tone.

"I understand. Thank you for your guidance, Uncle Gu." Gu Xiao answered softly. Naturally, he understood this principle better than anyone.

He had already made his own plans!

"Father, rest assured. Brother Gu Xiao's foundation is very stable. His Dou Qi is solid and condensed, without the slightest hint of instability."

Gu Xun'er poked her head out from Gu Yuan's embrace and said in a sweet voice.

"Oh? And how would you know that, Xun'er?" Gu Yuan asked teasingly.

"Of course Xun'er knows. Xun'er often practices Dou Skills with Brother Gu Xiao."

Gu Xun'er pursed her lips in a smile, her clear voice as crisp as a yellow oriole's.

Hearing this, Gu Xiao smiled faintly. He did indeed often practice Dou Skills with Gu Xun'er. Though the Gu Clan sought something from him and restricted his freedom by forbidding him from leaving the Ancient Realm, they did not impose many restrictions in this regard.

For one thing, Gu Yuan had brought Gu Xiao back when he was still an infant. The people of the Gu Clan generally believed that Gu Xiao had no memories and did not know his own identity, and that he had long regarded himself as one of the Gu Clan.

Thus, they naturally would not obstruct him in this matter. After all, every member of the Gu Clan could enter the Dou Skill Pavilion.

Actually stopping him would only make Gu Xiao dissatisfied and resentful toward the Ancient Realm. They wanted Gu Xiao to remain in the Ancient Realm forever.

Yet they had no idea that Gu Xiao had been reincarnated with the memories of his previous life. He saw through all the Gu Clan's intentions and covert actions.

Every act of surveillance and secret observation, every hidden probe, had been detected and reported by the system.

The Gu Clan all believed Gu Xiao was innately aloof and therefore close only to Gu Xun'er, but the truth was exactly the opposite. He was not aloof. Rather, he had a fairly gentle temperament. He was close only to Gu Xun'er simply because she harbored no ill intentions and sincerely treated him well.

His so-called indifference was merely an act. After all, it was impossible to be warm toward a group of people who spent every day trying to dig out your secrets and keep you in the Ancient Realm forever.

As for the second reason, it was even simpler. What Dou Skills could cultivation rookies at the third or fourth stage of Dou Qi possibly practice? At most, Profound-tier skills. The Gu Clan was immensely wealthy and did not think much of Profound-tier Dou Skills, so naturally they would not restrict Gu Xiao's practice.

"Oh, then that's very good. What Dou Skills have you two practiced?" Listening to Gu Xun'er, Gu Yuan asked with a smile, curiosity flickering across his face.

"I practiced the Low Profound-tier Profound Spirit Finger. Brother Gu Xiao is the impressive one—he mastered the High Profound-tier Tide-Watching Fist, and he only took one afternoon!"

Gu Xun'er spoke sweetly, her face full of pride. Those unaware might have thought she had mastered it herself.

"Is that so? Not bad, Xiao'er." Gu Yuan offered a faint word of praise, a knowing look in his eyes. As expected of someone with such a mysterious origin—his talent truly was astonishing.

"Thank you for the praise, Uncle Gu. I still have a long way to go," Gu Xiao said warmly.

In truth, he had learned the Tide-Watching Fist after looking through it once. He was a natural martial arts genius with extraordinary comprehension. Taking half a day was already him concealing his abilities.

"Modesty is a good thing, but there is no need to be overly modest. To learn the High Profound-tier Tide-Watching Fist in a single afternoon, you have every right to be proud."

Gu Yuan did not stint on his praise. Even he greatly acknowledged Gu Xiao's talent.

Gu Xiao opened his mouth, about to speak, when he noticed Gu Yuan's expression suddenly turn solemn. His gaze stretched into the distance, and a trace of gravity appeared in his eyes.

At that sight, Gu Xiao's heart jolted, and thoughts raced wildly through his mind. There were not many people or things capable of making Gu Yuan so grave.

With Ancient Void Dragon Emperor Zhukun trapped outside the Ancient Emperor's Cave Dwelling and the Emperor Pill still imprisoned within it, there seemed to be only one person on the continent who could make Gu Yuan reveal such a grave expression...

"Soul Emperor, since you're here, why sneak around? That isn't your style."

Gu Yuan looked into the distant void and spoke indifferently.

"Haha, Gu Yuan, after all these years, your perception is still as keen as ever!"

Along with a gentle laugh, a Space Gate emerged in the void. A White Clad Figure stepped out, followed by more than a dozen others. Every one of them radiated an immensely powerful and terrifying pressure.

Within the pitch-black Space Gate, the densely packed forces of the Soul Clan could be vaguely seen.

"The Four Demonic Saints of the Soul Clan, plus a dozen or so Dou Saints. Soul Emperor, if you think this handful of people is enough to destroy my Gu Clan, you are still far from it."

Gu Yuan pushed Gu Xun'er to Gu Xiao's side and drew both of them behind him. Facing the aggressively advancing Soul Emperor, his tone remained calm. With a light wave of his hand, more than a dozen powerful auras erupted from within the Gu Clan.

Three White-haired Elders immediately appeared beside him, their Seven-Star Dou Sheng strength fully revealed. They were the Gu Clan's counterparts to the Four Demonic Saints of the Soul Clan—the Three Immortals of the Ancient Clan.

Besides the Three Immortals of the Ancient Clan, more than a dozen other auras emerged, each belonging to a Dou Saint.

In the distance, countless powerful auras were also rushing over. The Black Smoke Army, the Gu Clan's most elite force, was filled with powerful experts, and the one leading them was the Black Smoke King of this generation, Gu Lie.