Gu Yuan's Move

The Gu Clan, publicly acknowledged as the foremost of the Ancient Eight Clans, had always been immensely proud, even arrogant and domineering. Precisely because of this, despite its tremendous strength and lofty standing among the Ancient Eight Clans, it did not have a single ally. However, the Gu Clan did not take this matter to heart. After all, there seemed to be nothing that absolutely required the Gu Clan to join forces with other clans to accomplish.

That was why Yao Dan was not overly surprised when he heard that Gu Lie wanted to spar with him. If he had received such treatment immediately upon visiting any other Ancient Race, he would have lodged a stern protest at once. But in the Gu Clan, where martial prowess was revered and arrogance ran deep, a fight was often the best form of diplomacy.

"Clan Leader Yao Dan, we have only been apart for a few decades, yet your strength has grown to such a level." Gu Lie praised him sincerely. To cross from the middle phase of Seven-star Dou Sheng to Eight-star Dou Sheng in merely a few decades was truly astonishing.

"After three days apart, one should look at an old friend with new eyes. We have been apart for far more than three days." Yao Dan smiled. "Then let us begin our spar. I am also quite curious how much your strength has improved over these past decades."

With a thought from each of them, several energy waves thousands of zhang high surged within the small space specially opened for duels. The waves intertwined, producing earth-shaking roars. In an instant, the plains within a thousand li cracked apart. A battle between two Eight-star Dou Shengs was terrifying indeed!

"Break!" Yao Dan silently commanded. The energy waves instantly exploded, and the massive shockwave forcefully sank the plains for ten thousand li by several zhang. Gu Lie frowned deeply at the sight. Not only had he failed to gain any advantage in this clash of Soul power, but even the initiative to end it was not in his hands.

"I have heard that alchemists in ancient times possessed exceptionally formidable combat strength because of their powerful Soul power. Today, I, Gu Lie, have truly witnessed it." Gu Lie smiled at Yao Dan, then flashed and vanished into the void.

"Mysterious Flower Medicine Saint Body!"

Yao Dan's Dou Qi and Soul power merged together, instantly transforming into crimson liquid that flooded every inch of his Meridians. His skin began to emit a sacred golden-red radiance, and his body swelled by a full size.

He raised his hand and struck a palm toward the seemingly empty void. That seemingly aimless strike directly forced Gu Lie to reveal himself from the void. When their palms collided, even the entire small space shook, as though it were on the verge of shattering beneath the impact!

The heated battle lasted for half an hour. The aftershocks spilling beyond the small space alarmed several of the Gu Clan's supreme elders, who joined forces to establish a protective barrier and prevent the shockwaves from spreading. Even in the Ancient Realm, a place filled with exceptional talents, the residual force produced by the collision of these two great experts was enough to leave ordinary powerful cultivators, who had not reached the absolute pinnacle of strength, either dead or crippled...

Accompanied by an extraordinarily fierce shockwave, the entire small space exploded. Two ragged figures immediately shot out, smashing two enormous pits dozens of zhang deep into the ground.

"King Black Nirvana, who won this battle?" Gu Dao was the first to ask. At a glance, he could tell that the fight within that small world had been a life-and-death struggle of utmost intensity. Such a battle must have decided who was superior.

"I suppose I won by a slight margin?"

Yao Dan took a deep breath and spoke slowly. His gaze shifted to Gu Lie, who slowly nodded as well. Yao Dan's Soul power truly surpassed his by a degree. Even if he risked his life and fought every move as though it were his last, he still had no certainty of taking Yao Dan down with him...

The moment those words were spoken, the entire place fell silent. Gu Lie was undeniably the Gu Clan's second strongest expert, as well as the true authority behind the Black Nirvana Army, the Gu Clan's largest regular military force. His admission of defeat meant that within the vast Gu Clan, only the Clan Leader could suppress Yao Dan. It also signified that Yao Dan had officially become the fifth strongest expert publicly known among the Ancient Eight Clans.

"Clan Leader Yao Dan, our Clan Leader is currently enjoying the scenery in Canglang Garden. If there is anything you need to discuss with him, you may go directly to Zhuozheng Garden to find him," Gu Dao said, breaking the silence first.

"Understood. There is no need for Elder Gu Dao to concern himself," Yao Dan replied.

Canglang Garden was a rather magnificent garden within the Gu Clan. Its layout was lofty and spacious, ancient and splendid. The lush, precious old trees constantly displayed the Gu Clan's profound heritage.

"Clan Leader Yao Dan, what matter has brought you here in person?" Gu Yuan casually asked as he played with several exquisite jade ornaments in his hand.

"First, our two clans have not kept in contact for many years. Second, I finally broke through to Eight-star Dou Sheng, so I wished to see an old friend." Yao Dan answered with a smile.

"Enough. Do not try to fool me with that glib nonsense." Gu Yuan chuckled. "I have already sealed off this space with my Soul power. No third person will know of our conversation today. Now, should you not tell me the real matter?"

"Gu Yuan, who do you think is behind the sealing of Ling Clan's Space?" Yao Dan probed the surroundings with his Soul power. Only after confirming that it could not reach outside did he speak. "I believe it was not the Gu Clan. Today, I have met all five of the Gu Clan's greatest experts."

"Thank you for your trust. But I only have some vague guesses and do not dare make a rash conclusion." Gu Yuan tossed away the jade ornament in his palm, his expression turning serious. "However, I can be certain that only a Nine-star Dou Sheng could possess the ability to seal a space in such a manner."

"Second on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, Nihility Devouring Flame, is it?" The moment Yao Dan spoke those words, Gu Yuan's expression suddenly changed, and a trace of vigilance appeared in his eyes.

"Your guess happens to be exactly the same as mine." Gu Yuan forced a smile. "Still, I am quite curious. How did you arrive at this conclusion?"

"I checked my clan's chronicles. Two thousand five hundred years ago, Nihility Devouring Flame had already reached the late phase of Eight-star Dou Sheng. Yet only a few years after reaching that stage, he mysteriously vanished from the continent. Brother Gu Yuan, you just said that only a Nine-star Dou Sheng could accomplish this. In that case, the mastermind behind it is quite obvious." Yao Dan spoke calmly and openly.

"A fine deduction!" Even Gu Yuan could not help but applaud such reasoning. "This matter must have been Nihility Devouring Flame's doing. The only question is whether he acted alone this time or joined forces with other Ancient Races."

"Still, could this not have been Hun Tiandi's doing? Why are you so certain it was Nihility Devouring Flame? What I said just now was merely speculation." Yao Dan asked curiously.

"Do you really think I have done nothing but sleep over these past several thousand years?" Gu Yuan said helplessly. "After Xiao Xuan died because of Hun Tiandi's sneak attack, I led Gu Lie and the Gu Clan Three Immortals to attack the Hun Clan, only to be stopped by the Hun Clan's clan-protecting formation. Of course, we did not come away empty-handed. During that fierce battle, I left a trace of my Soul power within the deepest part of Hun Tiandi's soul."

"Oh?" Yao Dan's curiosity was piqued. From the Yao Clan's perspective, Gu Yuan had indeed done nothing over the past several thousand years. He often complained to Elder Wan Huo that Gu Yuan possessed nothing but brute strength and not a shred of brains. Now, it seemed that was not the case.

"For the past several thousand years, I have been monitoring Hun Tiandi's movements. The moment he leaves the Soul Realm, I can immediately sense his whereabouts. You could say that Hun Tiandi and I have been constantly battling each other through that trace of Soul power all these years." Gu Yuan smiled, seemingly quite satisfied with what he had done.

"Yes, Brother Gu Yuan, I must trouble you to keep watching over this matter." Yao Dan was just about to continue when Gu Yuan interrupted him.

"Yao Dan, I also want to ask you something." Gu Yuan looked at Yao Dan with a smile that did not reach his eyes. "Why is your eye for investment so extraordinary? No one would have imagined that my son-in-law, whom everyone called trash, could defeat Gu Yao unscathed within ten moves. A few months ago, he was only a One-Star Dou Zun. At that level, if you threw a brick anywhere in my Gu Clan, it would hit several people stronger than him."

"Heh heh, is that not because he is your son-in-law? I believe Miss Xun'er naturally would not have made the wrong choice." Yao Dan replied with a dry laugh.

"Since you know he is my son-in-law, then stop trying to bring together that saintess of your clan and my son-in-law." Gu Yuan smiled bitterly. "I hope my daughter can be happy for the rest of her life. So it would be best if my son-in-law remained devoted to one wife."

"Brother Gu Yuan, do you not find it ridiculous for you to speak of 'one husband, one wife'?" Upon hearing this, Yao Dan struggled to suppress his smile. "You should know better than I where Xun'er's mother went, should you not?"