A Warning from the Central Plains

Dawn had completely dispelled the night, bringing light to Wutan City and seemingly scattering the gloom that had long hung over the Xiao Family. The clan members began to bustle about, every face brimming with hope and determination. News of Xiao Chen's return was like a shot of adrenaline, injected into every corner of the family.

Yet within the Xiao Family's core grounds, in the courtyard where Xiao Chen resided, the atmosphere carried an imperceptible heaviness.

Xiao Chen had just finished his father's second treatment. Not only had Xiao Zhan's hidden injuries been completely healed, but with the aid of Xiao Chen's pure Dou Qi, he had broken through his bottleneck in one stroke and successfully advanced to the Dou Wang level! Feeling the surging power within him and the vitality that made him seem decades younger, Xiao Zhan wept with joy. His gaze upon his eldest son was filled with pride and emotion.

After seeing off his ecstatic father to consolidate his cultivation, Xiao Chen returned to his room, his brows drawing together slightly. He lightly tapped the air with a fingertip, and an invisible ripple of space spread outward, sealing off the room from within and without.

"Since you're here, why hide?" Xiao Chen spoke calmly toward an empty corner of the room.

The moment his words fell, the space there twisted slightly, and a blurry gray figure silently emerged like a ghost. The newcomer was shrouded from head to toe in a loose gray robe, their face obscured. Their aura was concealed to the extreme; if Xiao Chen's Soul Power had not already reached the Heavenly Realm, they would have been almost impossible to detect.

The gray-robed figure released no hostility. They merely bowed slightly and said in a somewhat hoarse voice, like metal scraping against metal, "Please do not take offense, Your Excellency. I mean no harm. I have merely come under orders to deliver a message."

Xiao Chen looked at him calmly, already having some guesses. To find him so quickly and send a master of the Power of Space skilled in concealment, the other party's origins could not be simple. They were most likely a force from the Central Plains.

"Whose orders?" Xiao Chen asked.

"You may call my master Tian Ji Zi," the gray-robed figure answered respectfully. Yet when mentioning that name, his tone carried heartfelt reverence.

"Tian Ji Zi?" A trace of surprise flashed through Xiao Chen's eyes. During his training in the Central Plains, he had heard this title before. It was said that this man was proficient in divination and deduction, knew countless secrets, and wandered without a trace. Even some top-tier factions treated him with considerable respect. Xiao Chen had not expected his return to draw the attention of such a figure so quickly.

"What guidance does Senior Tian Ji Zi have for me?" Xiao Chen's tone softened somewhat. It was only proper to maintain the necessary respect toward such a mysterious senior expert.

The gray-robed figure straightened. Though his face remained unseen, the solemnity in his gaze could be felt. "My master asked me to relay this to Your Excellency: A star falls in the northwest, a dragon rises from the shallows. Your Excellency's return has reversed fate itself. You are an anomaly—truly cause for celebration."

Xiao Chen's heart stirred. These cryptic words seemed to imply that his return had changed the fate of the Xiao Family and even the Jia Ma Empire.

The gray-robed figure continued, "However, when an anomaly arises, karma falls into disorder. Your Excellency suppressed Yunlan with thunderous force and purged the Soul Hall's lackeys. It was indeed satisfying, but you also became like a bright lamp in the night, drawing the attention of 'certain beings' too early. My master has calculated that the Soul Hall headquarters has learned of the changes in the Jia Ma Empire. In particular, they have developed a keen interest in Your Excellency, a young Dou Zun who appeared out of nowhere. Stronger experts may arrive before long. My master hopes Your Excellency will prepare in advance."

As expected! Xiao Chen's gaze sharpened. The Soul Hall's reaction had come even faster than he anticipated. This was partly because he had acted ruthlessly and without concealment, but it also showed that the Soul Hall placed extraordinary importance on the Jia Ma Empire—or rather, the Xiao Family.

"Please thank Senior Tian Ji Zi for the warning. Xiao Chen will remember this." Xiao Chen cupped his hands in gratitude. He accepted this favor of advance warning.

"You are too courteous, Your Excellency." The gray-robed figure dipped his head slightly. "My master also asked me to bring something that may be of help to Your Excellency and your younger brother."

With that, the gray-robed figure flicked his sleeve, and a streak of light flew toward Xiao Chen. Xiao Chen caught it and found an ancient token, neither metal nor jade. On its front was carved the profound character "Xu," while its reverse bore patterns resembling the paths of stars.

At the sight of the character "Xu," Xiao Chen's pupils suddenly contracted. He snapped his head up toward the gray-robed figure. "This is... my master's token?! Senior Tian Ji Zi and my master are..."

The gray-robed figure gently shook his head, cutting off Xiao Chen's question. "It is not convenient for me to speak of matters concerning my master and your teacher. My master only asked me to convey this: at a critical moment, this token may be used to seek protection or assistance once from the Tian Ji Pavilion in the Central Plains. I hope Your Excellency will use it wisely."

It was actually a token belonging to his master, Xu! And Tian Ji Zi knew his master! Turmoil surged through Xiao Chen's heart. There finally seemed to be a trace of a clue regarding his master's identity and whereabouts before his disappearance!

"Also," the gray-robed figure's voice pulled Xiao Chen from his thoughts, "my master's final words are these: In the northwest, storms are about to rise. The daughter of the Gu Clan is already deeply entangled in karma. The secrets of antiquity await their time. My master hopes Your Excellency will stabilize your foundation before making plans for the Central Plains."

The daughter of the Gu Clan? Did that mean Xun'er? The secrets of antiquity? Could they be related to Tou She Ancient God's Cave Mansion? Thoughts raced through Xiao Chen's mind. Tian Ji Zi's art of deduction truly lived up to its reputation; it seemed that very few things could be hidden from him.

"Xiao Chen will certainly bear Senior's words in mind." Xiao Chen solemnly put away the token. This was undoubtedly an important trump card.

"The message has been delivered, and the item has been given. My task is complete, so I shall take my leave." The gray-robed figure bowed again, his form slowly becoming illusory as though he were merging into space itself.

"Take care, Your Excellency." Xiao Chen cupped his hands in farewell.

Just as the gray-robed figure was about to vanish completely, he spoke one final sentence. "Your Excellency, the waters of the Central Plains run deeper than you imagine. The Soul Hall... is merely a piece on the board in plain sight. Take care."

As his words fell, the gray-robed figure disappeared completely. The Spatial Fluctuation in the room returned to calm, as though no one had ever been there.

Xiao Chen stood alone where he was, his fingertips brushing over the cool, smooth Xu token, his eyes as deep as the sea.

Tian Ji Zi's warning confirmed his judgment. The Soul Hall's threat was imminent, while the situation in the Central Plains appeared far more complicated than he had expected. A clue regarding his master Xu had appeared, yet it only made the mystery even more impenetrable.

"A piece on the board in plain sight..." Xiao Chen muttered. It seemed the shadow of the Soul Clan behind the Soul Hall had already begun to loom over him.

The pressure was greater than ever before.

Yet there was not the slightest trace of fear in Xiao Chen's eyes. Instead, an even fiercer fire burned within them.

He walked to the window and looked down at the young members of the Xiao Family diligently practicing their Dou Techniques in the courtyard below. He looked toward the distant secret chamber, where his father was consolidating his cultivation and his younger brother was training hard.

His gaze became incomparably resolute.

"No matter who comes, no matter how deep the waters run..."

"If anyone wants to touch my family, they'll have to step over my corpse first."

He slowly clenched his fist, and space twisted faintly within his palm.

The storm was approaching, and he was ready to become the strongest bulwark against it.