The Mystery of the Disappearance

After telling his father that he wanted to go to the continent, Gu Fang stared straight at Gu Yuan, waiting for his answer!

Gu Fang had mentioned going to the continent many times before, but Gu Yuan had stopped him every time because of the seal on his bloodline.

Gu Fang's Bloodline Power was immensely powerful. When it was unsealed, no one knew what might happen without the protection of a high-level expert.

And when it came to high-level experts, Gu Yuan trusted no one but himself.

"Going to the continent?"

Gu Yuan muttered softly, a look of hesitation appearing on his face for the first time in over a hundred years...

Too much had happened during the cultivation method testing ceremony. The Soul Clan had hidden far too much strength. Gu Yuan did not believe for a moment that they had no ulterior motives.

And if the Soul Clan intended to do something, the Ancient Clan would be the first to bear the brunt of it.

Gu Fang, who had tested as having a Divine Grade bloodline during the cultivation method inheritance ceremony, had already become a thorn in the Soul Clan's side. They would certainly spare no cost to eliminate him.

Moreover, Gu Fang was his child. Naturally, Gu Yuan wanted to keep him somewhere safe.

And nowhere was safer than by his own side.

"Father, this was something we agreed on from the very beginning. Are you going back on your word?" Seeing the hesitation on Gu Yuan's face, Gu Fang spoke seriously.

Hearing Gu Fang's question, Gu Yuan considered briefly. "Fang'er, you saw what happened during the cultivation method inheritance ceremony. Even within our Ancient Realm, they have infiltrated us to such an extent.

If you leave the Ancient Realm and the Soul Clan decides to make a move, even I cannot guarantee your safety."

There was a trace of helplessness in Gu Yuan's words. This was a conversation between father and son, not words spoken in the capacity of a clan leader!

If he were speaking as the clan leader, Gu Yuan would fear nothing. But as a father, he was deeply worried for Gu Fang's safety.

"Isn't my sister still over at the... Xiao Clan?"

Hearing Gu Yuan's words, Gu Fang immediately replied, but before he could finish, Gu Yuan cut him off.

"I have already made preparations. In a few days, I will personally bring Xun'er back and take the Ancient Emperor Jade from the Xiao Clan while I'm there."

As Gu Yuan spoke, he had already regained the majesty of a clan leader. "The Xiao Clan has declined. Leaving the Ancient Emperor Jade there will only invite disaster."

"This..."

Gu Fang froze after hearing Gu Yuan's words. He remembered that Xun'er had stayed with the Xiao Family for an extremely long time. Yet now Gu Yuan wanted to bring his sister back directly?

If that happened, the timeline of Battle Through the Heavens would become a complete mess.

And if Gu Yuan went personally, Gu Fang did not believe Old Yao could evade the scan of Gu Yuan's Emperor Realm soul. If Gu Yuan took Old Yao away while he was at it...

Then Xiao Yan, who should have been the protagonist, would inevitably fade into obscurity.

Even with Old Yao's guidance, devouring Heavenly Flames was a near-death ordeal. If Xiao Yan had to figure it out alone, who knew how things would turn out?

His Rule Bloodline supposedly gave him a chance to break through to the Dou Emperor realm, but who knew what the outcome would be?

What if he failed, and there was no Xiao Yan to serve as a fallback? Wouldn't everything be over?

No...

Gu Fang suddenly remembered something—the Ancient Emperor!

The Ancient Emperor from before had definitely not been a wisp of remnant soul, but a living projection. In other words, the Dou Emperors still existed. That was completely unimaginable in the original story of Battle Through the Heavens.

That was the case for the Ancient Clan, but what about the Soul Clan?

Did the Soul Emperor still exist? Had they been trapped somewhere, or gone somewhere they could not return from?

The Ancient Emperor's unfinished words about the far north... could they have been related to this as well?

Back then...

What exactly had happened?

Thinking of this, Gu Fang raised his head and looked at Gu Yuan. "Father, let's set aside whether I should go to the continent for now. I want to know...

Where did our ancestors...

actually go?

What exactly happened back then?"

"Hm...?"

Gu Yuan was startled, a flicker of confusion passing through his eyes. He seemed puzzled as to why Gu Fang had suddenly thought of this.

But after a brief moment of thought, he began to answer. "This matter...

It is useless whether you ask me, the clan leaders of the other ancient races, or their elders, because no one knows the answer!

To be precise...

Since our ancestors vanished along with the clan's strongest experts, this was the first—and only—message we have received from them!

You could even say...

I know even less than you do!"

"This..."

Gu Fang stood there in a daze, staring directly at his father. His dark eyes were filled with suspicion, but after a few moments, a trace of realization appeared in them!

If that was the case, then it matched the original storyline of Battle Through the Heavens.

"When the Ancient Emperor possessed you, did he say anything to you?" Gu Yuan asked.

"No. After the Ancient Emperor bestowed a cultivation method upon me, he did not say any more..." Anything.

But before Gu Fang could speak the last few words, he suddenly remembered the Ancient Emperor's unfinished statement and immediately changed his words. "Our ancestor said that after I break through to the Dou Saint realm, I should go to the far north... for something."

"The far north? The Far Northern Plains? The Far Northern Lands? The Fallen God Icefield? The Skyfall Mountains?"

Gu Yuan listed several names in succession. As he pondered them, he suddenly shuddered. "I remember that Hun Tian, the Soul Clan's clan leader, also went north on the continent before. Could it be..." For this matter as well?

Gu Yuan did not finish speaking and was about to turn and leave.

If the Soul Clan had also received news from the Soul Emperor, or learned something through other means and thus headed north on the continent, then the Ancient Clan absolutely could not fall behind.

After all...

The Soul Clan's current strength was already enough to suppress the Ancient Clan. If they obtained something else and broke through to the Dou Emperor realm...

Then even if the Ancient Clan joined forces with the other races, they would be powerless to resist the Soul Clan's iron hooves.

The Ancient Emperor's possession last time had been an accident. Gu Yuan had already had Gu Fang try, but they could not make the Ancient Emperor's projection appear a second time!

"Father, wait!"

Gu Fang grabbed Gu Yuan, who was about to leave. "Our previous discussion is not over yet. I want to go to the continent."

"Impossible. I will not allow it!" Gu Yuan answered decisively.

"Father, my sister's identity as a member of the Ancient Clan has not been exposed. If I go there with a hidden identity, there will be no problem!

And besides...

No matter how powerful one's bloodline is, how can they grow without experiencing trials?

Moreover, the cultivation method left behind by the Ancient Emperor has not yet reached its complete state. If I do not go to the continent, it may never reach its peak.

Most importantly...

Father, do you still believe...

That against the Soul Clan, against the Nihility Devouring Flame that can transform souls, our Ancient Realm remains an impregnable fortress that can never be infiltrated?

If I stay in the Ancient Realm and the Soul Clan continues to infiltrate us, they will eventually find an opportunity to capture me. By then, it will be too late!"

"This..."

Gu Yuan froze, his body coming to a halt!

Listening to Gu Fang's words, Gu Yuan wanted to refute him, but when he thought of Gu Yang and those Ancient Realm clansmen whose souls had been transformed by the Nihility Devouring Flame, he could not speak!

Because it was the truth. The Ancient Realm...

Was no longer that paradise beyond the world!

"Father..." Gu Fang stepped forward and met Gu Yuan's gaze directly.

After what seemed like a long time...

Gu Yuan nodded and smiled. "Very well. Go, then.

Your sister's false identity has connections with several powerful factions there. Even if the Soul Clan investigates, they will not be able to uncover the truth anytime soon. Taking you along should not be a major issue.

I will also spread some false information within the Ancient Realm to draw the Soul Clan's attention."

"Thank you, Father!" Gu Fang smiled and bowed.

Since Gu Yuan had said so, he would not go back on his word, nor would he go and forcibly take the Ancient Emperor Jade. That meant...

The surface storyline of Battle Through the Heavens had not collapsed!

"Don't be so happy. You may go,

But do not act too arrogantly, and do not reveal your identity!

The moment your identity is exposed, I will immediately send people to bring you and your sister back to the Ancient Realm!"