Reactions from All Sides, a Distinguished Guest of the Xiao Family?

Xiao Family.

Back Mountain.

Xiao Yan lay on the grass, raising a hand and letting the sunlight stream through his fingers onto his face.

Whenever he was in a bad mood, he would come to the Back Mountain. It was quiet here; no one would disturb him, and he would not have to see those cold stares and mocking smiles.

Things were different now.

Xiao Yan looked relaxed and happy.

Rustle!

The distant woods shook, their leaves rustling.

Then, a figure leaped out from within and headed straight for Xiao Yan.

"Father." Without turning around, Xiao Yan called out with certainty.

"Hehe, I had Steward Mo look for you, but he said he couldn't find you. I guessed you had run off to the Back Mountain again. What is it? Are you still troubled by the test?" Xiao Zhan asked with concern.

"Not anymore," Xiao Yan replied casually.

"Ah..."

Xiao Zhan sighed softly. He wanted to say, Do you think I don't know you? Yet he worried about upsetting his son, so he changed the subject. "A Dou Wang came to the city. I originally wanted to seek him out and see whether he could solve the problem of your Dou Qi disappearing, but unfortunately, your father is too incapable."

"There's no need, Father." Xiao Yan climbed to his feet and stood before Xiao Zhan with a radiant smile. "I've already resolved the hidden danger behind my disappearing Dou Qi."

"Really?" Xiao Zhan's eyes widened at once. "What was the cause? How did you do it?"

"Father, it's a secret. You'll find out in a couple of days anyway." Xiao Yan smiled mysteriously, wondering what expression his father would make if he learned that the Dou Wang was his elder brother.

Xiao Zhan looked deeply at him and sighed. "You've grown up... You even have secrets now."

Xiao Yan rubbed his nose, feeling somewhat awkward. What are you talking about? My age from both lives combined is greater than yours.

Not wanting to dwell on it, Xiao Yan proactively changed the subject. "Father, did you come looking for me because something happened?"

Xiao Zhan chuckled. "There will be a distinguished guest in the clan tomorrow. It concerns you, so prepare yourself. Don't lose your manners when the time comes."

"A distinguished guest? Who?" Xiao Yan asked curiously.

Xiao Zhan gave a mysterious smile. "You'll find out tomorrow."

With that, he prepared to leave.

So I didn't tell you how I solved the hidden danger of my disappearing Dou Qi... You're such a grown man, yet you're sulking with a child. Xiao Yan curled his lip.

Just then, a powerful fluctuation of Dou Qi suddenly erupted outside Wutan City. A massive vortex formed abruptly, as if it were about to drag the sky down.

"What terrifying pressure..." Xiao Zhan's expression turned grave.

What had been going on with Wutan City lately?

First, a Dou Wang had come looking for someone. Now, such a terrifying disturbance had appeared outside the city.

"Father, is someone fighting?" Xiao Yan's knowledge was limited, so he asked Xiao Zhan, who had cultivated for much longer.

Xiao Zhan stared into the distance. After several seconds, he said uncertainly, "It doesn't seem like it. It feels more like... a breakthrough."

"What level of strength would cause such a huge disturbance during a breakthrough?" Xiao Yan murmured in shock.

The next moment.

As if he had thought of something, Xiao Yan suddenly turned to look at his father, only to find Xiao Zhan looking back at him as well.

They spoke in unison, "A Dou Wang breaking through to Dou Huang?!"

It was not difficult to guess. After all, the only powerful expert who had recently arrived in Wutan City was the one calling himself King Cang.

"Yan'er, I'm going out for a while." Xiao Zhan drew a deep breath, made his decision, and leaped away from the Back Mountain.

At that moment, in a pavilion of the Xiao Family.

By the window, a beautiful young girl with an ethereal air held an ancient book in her hand. Sensing the disturbance, she turned to look at the massive vortex beyond the city.

"Elder Ling..." Xiao Xun'er murmured, seemingly to herself.

In the next instant, a figure emerged from the shadows and bowed respectfully. "Miss."

"What is that outside?" Xiao Xun'er raised a hand and pointed.

Ling Ying glanced over from the corner of his eye and said calmly, "That Dou Wang from two days ago is breaking through to Dou Huang. Miss need not worry. He is no match for this old servant."

"If you can investigate his purpose in coming to Wutan City without alerting him, do so," Xiao Xun'er ordered, her beautiful eyes narrowing slightly.

"Yes."

Ling Ying nodded in acknowledgment. After remaining silent for several seconds and seeing that Xiao Xun'er had no further orders, he swiftly vanished into the air like a shadow.

Xiao Xun'er rested one hand on the windowsill and frowned. "Could he also be here for that thing... But the information that the Xiao Family of Wutan City is one of the Ancient Eight Clans has long since become impossible to trace. Even our clan only found related clues in a damaged notebook."

Within Wutan City, as Xiao Zhan approached that area, he discovered that Jia Liebi, Guni, and others were also hurrying there.

None of them spoke, silently quickening their pace.

After a while, they were finally able to see the scene at the center of the vortex.

Hun Cang hovered in midair with his eyes closed. Dou Qi swirled around him, condensing into crystalline liquid that entered his body through the top of his head.

With every breath, mist sprayed from Hun Cang's nostrils.

"Even his unconscious breathing makes me feel as though I'm facing sharp arrows, impossible to resist. Is this the terror of a Dou Huang?" Jia Liebi's body trembled, and his face turned pale.

"What is so surprising about that? A Dou Huang is an existence capable of founding a sect. In my opinion, the most frightening thing is King Cang's age. He looks barely over twenty, yet he is already about to break through to Dou Huang. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I simply wouldn't be able to imagine it!"

Guni cast Jia Liebi a disdainful glance. He had once lived in the imperial capital of the Jia Ma Empire. Though Dou Huangs were powerful, he had been fortunate enough to see them before.

Thus, the shock he felt was somewhat less than Jia Liebi's.

However, among the Dou Huangs he had seen before, none had been as young as Hun Cang.

This man's future potential was boundless!

If I can establish a connection with him... Amid his shock, Xiao Zhan could not help but fantasize.

At such a young age, he could break through to Dou Huang. Aside from talent, the faction behind him could not be underestimated either. After all, the resources needed for cultivation were no small sum.

A mocking snort sounded from beside him. Xiao Zhan turned his head and saw Jia Liebi wearing a contemptuous expression. "Your Xiao Family wants to establish a connection with a Dou Huang? What a joke. You're daydreaming."

Xiao Zhan said coldly, "As though your Jia Lie Family is any better?"

"Shh, keep quiet! Do you want to die? If you disturb milord's breakthrough, none of us will be leaving!" Guni reprimanded in a low voice.

Reminded of this, Jia Liebi and Xiao Zhan suddenly came to their senses and quickly fell silent.

Others gradually arrived as well. As they watched Hun Cang break through, the envy in their eyes was nearly overflowing.

Among the crowd stood a beautiful woman with a voluptuous figure and mature temperament, exuding a unique charm. Even amid the crowd, she was someone one could spot at a glance.

"If only I could be with him..." Ya Fei murmured quietly. Her family had sent her to Wutan City to manage the auction house. In a sense, she had been abandoned.

After all, this place was far too backward. Without outstanding achievements, returning to the imperial capital of the Jia Ma Empire in the future would be absolutely impossible.

Ya Fei had originally resigned herself to her fate, but upon seeing Hun Cang, the unwillingness in her heart suddenly resurfaced.

"Whether it succeeds or not, there's no harm in trying!"