The Xiao Clan's Current Situation

It had to be said that the Misty Cloud Sect's disciples were indeed highly efficient when it came to getting things done. In just a few days, they had sent back information on the Xiao Clan.

After learning the details, Yun Yun immediately went to the rear mountain to inform Ao Qing of the Xiao Clan's current situation.

"Young Master, the information on the Xiao Clan that you requested has been gathered by my sect's disciples. Please review it."

Yun Yun spoke softly.

Her feelings toward Ao Qing were complicated. There was anger and unwillingness, but also a sense of submission after being conquered. Moreover, she had become even more curious about Ao Qing's mysterious nature. Perhaps she truly had been single for too long, despite being in her twenties.

Ao Qing said nothing more. He took the letter from Yun Yun's hand and read it carefully.

The letter described the Xiao Clan's circumstances over the past few years.

At present, the Xiao Clan was one of Wutan City's three great clans. Its Clan Leader, Xiao Zhan, possessed the strength of a four-star Da Dou Shi. There was not much difference between them and the other clans, but the letter did provide information about the Xiao Clan's members. Xiao Yan was currently not yet seven years old and had only just begun his path of cultivation.

However, the letter also mentioned that, a year ago, a mysterious man had sent his daughter to be fostered by the Xiao Clan. That mysterious man's daughter was named Xiao Xun'er!

Seeing this, Ao Qing could not help frowning. When he had heard Yun Yun say that Nalan Yanran was only seven, he had already guessed that the Gu Clan had extended its reach into the Xiao Clan. Yet now that he was truly faced with the matter, Ao Qing found it rather difficult to handle.

Ao Qing was determined to obtain the Xiao Clan's Ancient Jade. He could now choose to go directly to the Xiao Clan and seize the Ancient Jade through overwhelming strength, but doing so carried too much risk.

First, the Gu Clan might have left behind contingencies, and Ao Qing had no idea how strong they were. The Ancient Jade and Gu Xun'er, a possessor of a God Grade Bloodline, were simply too important to the Gu Clan. There was absolutely more than just a Dou Emperor guarding them. Even if Ao Qing could defeat the Gu Clan's backup and successfully take the Ancient Jade, it would be one thing if he did not make a move. But once he did, the dense dragon aura around him could not be concealed. At that point, it would no longer be merely a conflict with the Gu Clan.

To put it plainly, no matter how the eight great Emperor Clans of humanity fought over the Ancient Jade, it was an internal conflict among humans. But if they learned that the Ancient Void Dragon Clan had become involved and had taken the Ancient Jade, the Ancient Void Dragon Clan would likely face pressure from all of humanity. That would be difficult to resolve. Though the Ancient Void Dragon Clan was powerful, it did not have the strength to stand against all of humanity.

Therefore, if he wanted to plot for the Xiao Clan's Ancient Jade now, he could not seize it by force. He could only take it through strategy.

Yet Ao Qing was not disappointed. Everything was within his expectations, was it not?

There would be an opportunity. Xiao Yan was only seven now. When Xiao Yan's Dou Qi began to drain away, that would be Ao Qing's chance!

Setting down the letter, Ao Qing rubbed his fingers together and muttered, "The Xiao Clan is a piece of fat meat right in everyone's mouth. It truly is irresistible! Everyone wants a bite. But the Gu Clan really is disgusting."

On second thought, the Gu Clan's actions were truly laughable. Why go to such lengths for a declining Xiao Clan? They could simply have sent Ling Ying, a Dou Emperor, to take the Xiao Clan's Ancient Jade. Ao Qing was unwilling to seize it by force because it would trigger a series of chain reactions, while the Gu Clan was truly trying to have it both ways.

It was nothing more than hypocritical benevolence. When the Xiao Clan was exterminated back then, how many benefits had the Gu Clan gained from it? Their so-called care for the Xiao Clan amounted to nothing but Xiao Zhan, a four-star Da Dou Shi. Beneath that false facade lay a heart of boundless greed.

From this, it was clear that Gu Yuan truly could not compare to Hun Tiandi. No wonder Hun Tiandi looked down on Gu Yuan. The Soul Clan were genuine villains. Their methods might be sinister, but at least they dared to act and own up to it. That was a kind of forthrightness, was it not?

No longer dwelling on such matters, Ao Qing began planning what he should do over the next few years. For now, forcibly taking the Xiao Clan's Ancient Jade was impossible. The time was not right, and he would need to wait a few more years. But those years could not be wasted. Besides strengthening himself, he could also do something to make things less smooth for humanity.

Still deep in thought, Ao Qing quickly gave Yun Yun an order, telling her to send people into the Tagor Desert of the Jia Ma Empire to search for news of the Green Lotus Core Flame! Heavenly Flames were still somewhat useful for cultivating his innate accompanying talent. Besides, he could not simply let Xiao Yan benefit from it for free. If he could take it, then he would take it.

After Yun Yun left the rear mountain, she swiftly gathered people and sent them into the desert to seek news of the Heavenly Flame. She did not ask Ao Qing why he knew that Heavenly Flame would be in the desert, because whether she asked or not was irrelevant. Asking would not mean that the Misty Cloud Sect could avoid sending people there.

In recent days, Yun Shan had begun his closed-door cultivation. On the day he submitted to Ao Qing, Ao Qing had rewarded him with a Breakthrough Pill. It was merely one of the little trinkets the Eighth Elder had placed in his Cosmos Ring when he left the Ancient Void Dragon Clan. At the time, Yun Shan had been overjoyed, repeatedly crying out, "Great kindness from Senior! The Young Master is benevolent!"

After arranging everything, Ao Qing also began his cultivation. After all, his own strength was what mattered most.

The Xiao Clan of Wutan City.

Xiao Yan was still the Xiao Clan's genius. In less than a year of cultivation, he had already reached the second stage of Dou Qi, and for a time, his glory was boundless.

Yet Xiao Yan had no mind for cultivation these past few days. Instead, he ran to Xiao Xun'er's courtyard every day.

The two quickly became familiar during this time. Using the bizarre excuse that he was nourishing Xiao Xun'er's Meridians, Xiao Yan clung to her day and night. He truly was quite perverted.

"Brother Xiao Yan, why have you come again?"

Xiao Xun'er was at a loss for words, but she did not dislike Xiao Yan's behavior. For some reason, she felt especially comfortable whenever she was with him, because the fourth-ranked Heavenly Flame was sealed inside her body!

As the daughter of Gu Yuan, the Gu Clan's Clan Leader, Gu Xun'er had been born with a God Grade Bloodline. Her natal Heavenly Flame was the fourth-ranked Golden Emperor Sky Burning Flame. This Heavenly Flame was also the Gu Clan's inherited flame, and it was said that when unleashed, it could burn even Dou Qi.

If its wielder's cultivation reached the Dou Saint realm, the flame's power would become even greater. There had once been a powerful expert who possessed this flame and had burned a space created by a Dou Saint into nothingness.

Gu Xun'er's current strength was too low for her to subdue this Heavenly Flame at all. Thus, Gu Yuan and the Gu Clan's many experts had forcibly sealed it within her body. This caused Gu Xun'er to suffer the Heavenly Flame's backlash from time to time. Yet Xiao Yan's existence was strange. Whenever he used Dou Qi to nourish all the Meridians in her body, the Heavenly Flame within her became unusually quiet, losing its usual violence.

It was as though even the will of this world was helping Xiao Yan. Perhaps that was the influence of a protagonist's destiny!

"I just finished cultivating and had nothing to do, so I came to play with little sister Xun'er!"

Xiao Yan said shamelessly.

"But Brother Xiao Yan, if you want to remain by Xun'er's side in the future, then your current cultivation speed is far from enough. Xun'er's family is very powerful. If you cannot gain their approval, they will never allow us to be together."

Xiao Xun'er understood this very well. No matter how much she liked Xiao Yan, if his talent was insufficient and his strength was lacking, there could never be any outcome between them. The Gu Clan would never tolerate such a thing.

"Don't worry, little sister Xun'er. I'm the Xiao Clan's number one genius! I'm only seven, yet I already have the strength of the second stage of Dou Qi! Achieving Dou Wang or Dou Emperor in the future should be no problem at all! I believe little sister Xun'er's family will accept me!"

Looking at Xiao Yan's blindly confident expression, Xiao Xun'er did not know what she could say. The words that had reached her lips were all swallowed back down. She did not want to discourage Xiao Yan. She would take things one step at a time. There were some things she could do nothing about. As children of great clans, while they possessed cultivation resources beyond the imagination of others, they also lost their so-called freedom. They no longer belonged to themselves, but to their clans!

For now, Xiao Xun'er only wished to enjoy this relatively free life. Playing with Xiao Yan every day was already enough to satisfy her. The Gu Clan's hidden protectors also knew about Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Yan, but they understood that nothing was possible between the two, so they did not interfere too much. Xiao Xun'er was still young, after all. There was no need to place too much pressure on her.

Time slowly passed like this. The days of cultivation always went by swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, three months had passed.

Over those three months, the Xiao Clan did not undergo any major changes. Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er continued as usual, happily playing together every day. However, the Misty Cloud Sect's influence had expanded considerably throughout Wutan City during that time.

Its cooperation with Wutan City's three great clans had also increased, and their relationships had become increasingly subtle and close! Of course, all of that was merely superficial.