The Peak Battle Was About to Begin

Black Smoke King Gu Lie was likewise a Seven-Star Dou Sheng. Even compared with the Three Immortals of the Ancient Clan and the Four Demonic Saints of the Soul Clan, he was not inferior in the slightest.

As the continent's foremost power in the open, the Gu Clan was indeed immensely strong. In the current age, it was surpassed only by the deeply hidden Soul Clan.

It was utterly impossible to destroy the Gu Clan with merely a dozen or so Dou Saints. Even if the Soul Clan mobilized its entire force, it might be able to cripple the Gu Clan severely, but the Soul Clan itself would also be driven to the brink of collapse.

"Hehe, Gu Yuan, you're mistaken. I have no intention of destroying the Gu Clan."

Soul Emperor smiled faintly, a gentle smile appearing on his face.

He wore a long white robe and looked to be around thirty. His features were handsome, his eyes exceptionally bright, and he exuded an elegant, scholarly air. If he held a book in his hands, he would be no different from a scholar.

It was hard to imagine that the Soul Clan Leader bearing the domineering name Soul Emperor, a Peak Nine-Star Dou Sheng and one of the continent's supreme experts, would be such a seemingly frail middle-aged man.

"Then why have you come to my Gu Clan with such fanfare?"

Gu Yuan's gaze flickered as he spoke calmly.

He understood Soul Emperor. This fellow, who appeared refined and frail, was in truth ruthless and even somewhat insane. Since he had come to the Gu Clan, he must want something.

"Mm, I came today to invite a young friend to visit my Soul Clan. Compared with the Gu Clan, I believe our Soul Clan is more suitable for this young friend."

Soul Emperor smiled faintly and turned his gaze toward Gu Xiao behind Gu Yuan, his voice gentle.

The moment those words were spoken, Gu Xiao's heart tightened. Sure enough, they had come for him again?

He had known it. The phenomenon caused by the system back then had been so enormous, even surpassing the phenomenon when Tou She Ancient God became an Emperor. Moreover, it had released an aura beyond the Emperor Realm. How could these people, all obsessed with becoming Emperors, possibly have no other thoughts?

If Gu Yuan had arrived one step later, perhaps it would have been Soul Emperor who took him away.

"Brother Gu Xiao!" Gu Xun'er looked at Gu Xiao, her eyes carrying a trace of confusion.

Soul Emperor and the others had arrived aggressively, daring to invade the Gu Clan. This was the first time she had seen such a scene. And they had come for Gu Xiao, which truly left her puzzled.

Just what secret did Gu Xiao possess that made the Soul Clan go to such lengths to come to their door and seize him?

"Don't ask. You'll know in the future." Gu Xiao rubbed Gu Xun'er's cheek and spoke softly.

Gu Xun'er blinked and looked deeply at Gu Xiao. She really was curious, but since Gu Xiao was unwilling to tell her, she did not ask further.

Though she was still young, she was already quite understanding.

"Xun'er, the Yin Pendant is a very precious treasure. You must keep it safe."

Gu Xiao changed the subject, his tone earnest and solemn.

"Xun'er knows. Xun'er always keeps it close to her body." Gu Xun'er touched her clothes, where the Yin Pendant was hidden.

"That's good." Gu Xiao smiled faintly, his smile calm.

The Soul Clan was deeply hidden, especially Soul Emperor, who had always planned everything before acting. Since they had come today, they were certainly determined to obtain him. What was visible was merely a ruse; there were undoubtedly killing moves concealed in the shadows.

He had the system's gifted chance to travel through worlds, so if the situation turned bad, he could flee at any time. But Gu Xun'er would find it difficult to escape. If anything went wrong, the Yin Pendant could protect her life.

The Yin-Yang Profound Heart Pendant—the Yin Pendant specialized in defense, while the Yang Pendant specialized in offense. Apart from nurturing one's bone structure and strengthening the body, both jade pendants possessed extraordinary Great Power.

They simply had limits on the number of times they could be used, so they could not be activated unless it was an absolute crisis.

While Gu Xiao and Gu Xun'er spoke in the rear, Gu Yuan had no attention to spare. His entire focus was on Soul Emperor.

Once he learned that Soul Emperor had come to seize Gu Xiao, his expression immediately darkened.

"Soul Emperor, that joke isn't funny at all."

Gu Yuan spoke coldly, already showing some displeasure. Gu Xiao was incomparably important to both him and the Gu Clan. Soul Emperor's attempt to take him had undoubtedly ignited Gu Yuan's fury.

"A joke? I never make jokes. Young friend, are you willing to accompany me to the Soul Clan?"

Soul Emperor smiled faintly, his voice calm and gentle, yet that placid voice carried an incomparably inexplicable oppressive force.

"Thank you for Clan Leader Soul's kindness, but this junior is young and ignorant, and my strength is shallow. I truly do not deserve such treatment from Clan Leader Soul, so I will not trouble you."

Under Soul Emperor's gaze, Gu Xiao felt his heart pounding wildly. It was merely a gaze, yet it filled him with bone-chilling terror.

If Gu Yuan had not stood before him, easing the pressure and protecting him, then under Soul Emperor's gaze, he might not even have been capable of speaking.

Yet even with Gu Yuan in front of him, Soul Emperor had merely glanced at him, but Gu Xiao still felt his limbs turn ice-cold and his entire body stiffen.

A Peak Nine-Star Dou Sheng and a Fourth Stage Dou Disciple were fundamentally beyond comparison. A single wisp of Dou Qi from Soul Emperor could easily crush him to death hundreds or thousands of times.

The fact that he could still give a complete reply without yielding or groveling was already proof of his exceptional mental fortitude.

After hearing Gu Xiao's words, a smile appeared on Gu Yuan's face. As expected, how could anyone from their Gu Clan possibly be willing to leave with Soul Emperor?

Though Gu Xiao had rejected his request, Soul Emperor was not angered. He sighed softly and said, "It seems this young friend has some misunderstandings about my Soul Clan. Gu Yuan must have instilled some poor notions in you, but it doesn't matter. Once you arrive at my Soul Clan, you will naturally understand how good the Soul Clan is."

Soul Emperor waved his hand, and the dozen or so Dou Saints behind him, including the Four Demonic Saints of the Soul Clan, all erupted with imposing auras. At once, the space within the Ancient Realm shook as winds and clouds churned.

Within the Space Gate, the densely packed Soul Clan army also began to move. A terrifying energy spread from the gate, slowly gathering high in the sky.

"Where are the members of the Gu Clan?" Gu Yuan spoke indifferently and flicked his sleeve robe. At once, more than ten members of the Gu Clan also erupted with powerful auras.

The Gu Clan's elite Black Smoke Army swiftly formed into formation as well, and streams of terrifying energy began to spread through the sky.

Gu Xiao pulled Gu Xun'er along and hid tightly behind Gu Yuan. In a battle between Dou Saints, the two of them were as insignificant as ants on the ground. A mere bump or collision could cost them their lives, so preserving themselves was the wisest course.

Yet amid his trembling, Gu Xiao also felt a few traces of curiosity. A battle between Dou Saints was not something just anyone could witness. It would greatly broaden his horizons and benefit his future cultivation.

The techniques Dou Saint experts used to manipulate energy and the ways they unleashed Dou Skills were precious treasures to a rookie like him, holding immense value for study. He could draw experience from them and improve his combat techniques.