The Art of Hospitality

Before his words had even faded, an overwhelmingly powerful aura erupted from the gray-robed elder's body. Even the tiles within a hundred paces of where he stood shattered completely.

"Yao Ling, you came at just the right time. The Clan Leader needs to discuss some matters with Elder Wangui and cannot spare the time, so I'll trouble you to receive these two distinguished guests. As for the older gentleman, arrange for him to stay where Senior Yao Di once lived. For the younger one, receive him according to the proper etiquette for an Eight-star Dou Zun and have him stay temporarily at Tianya Garden." Yao Dan suppressed the fury in his heart as he spoke to Yao Ling in a deep voice.

"Mm, got it! You two distinguished guests must be exhausted from your journey, so follow me and find a place to rest first." Seeing the situation, Yao Ling said no more.

"What are you here for?" After the three vanished from sight, Yao Dan asked irritably.

"I came to welcome a peerless expert who has newly joined the clan. Since this peerless expert warranted the Clan Leader personally going to receive him, how could a lowly Four-star Dou Sheng like me dare neglect him?" A cold smile curled across Yao Wangui's lips.

"Enough. Don't think I don't know what you're plotting. Listen carefully: from today onward, Yao Chen is a member of the Yao Clan. As brothers, you should only swear fraternity and work together as one!" Yao Dan said sternly.

"Clan Leader, he is merely an outcast whose Dou Di Bloodline has been completely ruined! A Two-Star Dou Sheng may not be weak, but he hardly merits you personally leaving the clan to welcome him, much less slapping me in the face before everyone!" Yao Wangui said indignantly. As inheritors of the Dou Di Bloodline, the people of the Ancient Races were all exceedingly proud and regarded their dignity as more precious than life itself. Yao Dan had personally invited an outcast whom Yao Wangui had driven from the clan back into it as Clan Leader, which was no different from slapping him in the face before the entire Yao Clan. Had he not still had a younger brother to care for, he might have fought to the death today.

"It's a long story. Wangui, notify every member of the Elder Council that a full Elder Council meeting will be held tomorrow. In particular, make sure the Three Saints of the Yao Clan are informed. I estimate that they should be coming out of seclusion around now."

"Yes!"

A raging storm surged through Yao Wangui's heart. The last time the Yao Clan had held a full Elder Council meeting was three thousand five hundred years ago. That meeting had addressed the problem of the Dou Di Bloodline declining too rapidly, establishing the broad policy and many specific measures for transforming the Shennong Mountain Range. Generation after generation of Yao Clan members had benefited enormously from it over the past three thousand years. What major event had happened recently to force Clan Leader Yao Dan to convene a meeting of this level?

Within Tianya Garden, Xiao Yan looked over the luxurious furnishings and could not help giving a thumbs-up.

"As expected of an Ancient Race. Even a temporary residence within the clan is furnished with such care." Xiao Yan picked up an ordinary-looking teacup from the table, only to feel several dense streams of natural energy flowing into his palm. "Even the most ordinary cup has been designed so exquisitely."

"Mr. Xiao Yan, our Yao Clan has always been hospitable. Naturally, we would not neglect our guests." Yao Ling smiled. "Many of the items in this room were personally crafted by the Clan Leader after he had just advanced to a Five-Star Dou Sheng and comprehended the method of mobilizing large quantities of natural energy."

"Your clan's Clan Leader has such refined interests?" Xiao Yan asked curiously. In his mind, Clan Leader Yao Dan had always been an unsmiling, keen-eyed, decisive leader of iron. Hearing this today, Xiao Yan felt that Yao Dan possessed considerably more human warmth.

"Yes. The Clan Leader has always enjoyed doing this sort of handiwork since childhood. When he was still a Dou Zong, he once delayed his cultivation because of his crafting and was whipped fifty times by his father." Speaking of Yao Dan's unusual anecdotes, Yao Ling could not help covering her mouth as she laughed. "Mr. Xiao Yan, please rest here for now. If anything comes up, you may summon the two guards at the entrance. As for Elder Yao Lao, I will now take you to the residence the clan has prepared for you."

One was an outcast who had endured countless scornful looks from the clan, while the other was a dazzlingly brilliant young genius. The two walked side by side for a long while in silence before Yao Ling finally took the initiative to break it.

"Senior Yao Chen, you truly are remarkably resilient. To attain the Saint Stage despite such adversity, I truly admire you."

"Hehe, thank you for the praise. The Yao Clan's hopes still rest upon you young people. If not for the Clan Leader's kindness, this old man's strength would not be much greater than yours now." Upon hearing this, Yao Chen politely responded with a courteous remark.

The merciless expulsion from the clan and the cold looks and contempt he had suffered for a hundred years could not be dispelled in merely a few months. Even after returning to the clan, Yao Chen was loyal only to the Clan Leader. He still could not be said to hold much goodwill toward the Yao Clan.

"You are too modest. Even your disciple is not much inferior to me. I have a feeling that your disciple will one day become a towering giant who stands tall beneath the heavens."

The words were half deliberate praise meant to ease their relationship and half Yao Ling's sincere feelings. Although she had exchanged only a few words with Xiao Yan, Yao Ling had formed a very favorable impression of him. An alchemist who had reached the Peak Six-Star Dou Zun at such an age could be counted on one hand even among the Yao Clan's peers. Even she had only just advanced to Eight-star Dou Zun at that age.

"Mm, you little girl certainly know how to speak, and you have a good eye as well." Yao Chen stopped walking and, for the first time, carefully examined this genius girl of the Yao Clan. Noticing Yao Lao's gaze, a blush spread across Yao Ling's face.

"Senior Yao Chen, let's go. That small building I'm pointing at is the residence the clan has prepared for you."

Beneath the Elder Council's enormous dome, five elders were already seated in the great hall. Although the meeting had been scheduled for the following day, the elders who were not in seclusion had arrived early to prepare. The mighty experts of the Yao Clan qualified to enter the Elder Council were either Dou Shengs of Three Stars or above, or Ninth-grade Treasure Pill Grandmasters. They truly were not very sensitive to the passage of time.

"Clan Leader, what is this meeting generally about?" Supreme Elder Yao Wanhuo asked with curiosity and tension. Even given his seniority, he had not yet been born when the last full meeting was held. Having lived for more than two thousand years, this was still his first time attending such a meeting.

"To report the news that the Ling Clan's Space has suddenly closed, and compare the current situation with the Water Clan's sudden disappearance several hundred years ago!"