The Ancient Jade Is in Hand, Gu Yuan Is Dumbfounded!

"Elder Ling!"

Xiao Xun'er called softly toward the empty courtyard.

The moment her voice fell, Ling Ying's figure appeared silently before her.

"Miss, you've returned." Ling Ying bowed respectfully.

"Elder Ling, quickly! Seal off the entire courtyard. Don't let anyone approach, and don't allow any aura to leak out!"

Xiao Xun'er's tone was urgent and grave.

Although Ling Ying did not know what had happened, he could already sense the severity of the matter from Xiao Xun'er's unprecedentedly solemn expression.

Without another word, he immediately nodded.

"Yes, Miss!"

His hands formed a complex seal, and vast Dou Qi surged from his body, transforming into an invisible barrier that instantly enveloped the entire courtyard.

Space rippled slightly before returning to calm.

From the outside, the small courtyard appeared unchanged, but in truth, it had already been completely isolated from the outside world.

Only after finishing this did Ling Ying turn and ask, "Miss, has something major happened?"

Xiao Xun'er did not answer. Instead, she hurried into her room and carefully closed the door behind her.

She walked to the table and took the wooden box containing the Tou She Ancient God Jade from her Storage Ring.

She looked at the wooden box, her expression complicated.

Excitement, relief, lingering fear, guilt... these tangled emotions intertwined, making her little face alternately flush and pale.

Her greatest mission upon coming to the Xiao Family had been to find this Tou She Ancient God Jade.

For this reason, the Ancient Clan had even tacitly allowed her to remain in distant Wutan City for so long, and allowed her to grow so close to Xiao Yan, who had become "trash."

Over the years, she had endured immense pressure from the clan elders.

Many believed that she had neglected her duties, casting aside the clan's heavy responsibility for the useless young master of a declining family.

Only she herself knew how conflicted and miserable she had been.

On one hand, she did not want to use underhanded methods to seize this Ancient Jade from Brother Xiao Yan and the Xiao Family.

In her heart, Brother Xiao Yan's place was even more important than this Ancient Jade.

Yet on the other hand, she did not want to disobey the clan's orders.

Xiao Xun'er had always struggled within this dilemma.

She had even prepared for the worst. If the clan ever forcibly ordered her to act, she would rather face the clan's punishment than harm Xiao Yan.

But now!

Everything had changed.

This Ancient Jade, which had tormented her through countless days and nights, had actually fallen into her hands in such a dramatic way.

Not through trickery or force.

Rather, Xuan Jin had given it to her as though it were a small gift.

The entire process had gone so smoothly that it felt like a dream.

Clan Leader Xiao Zhan had traded it for Brother Xiao Yan's future.

Then Brother Xuan had given it to her.

After all those twists and turns, this jade had ultimately ended up in her hands.

Xiao Xun'er no longer had to bear the guilt of plotting against the Xiao Family, nor did she need to worry about how to explain herself to the clan.

Brother Xuan...

Thinking of that man who always wore a faintly lazy smile, Xiao Xun'er's emotions grew even more complicated.

Did he truly not know the value of this jade?

Or did he... actually know everything and merely pretend to be foolish?

If it was the former, then it could only be said that he had been unlucky, entering a treasure mountain yet returning empty-handed.

But if it was the latter...

Xiao Xun'er did not dare think any further.

A person who could see through the secret of the Tou She Ancient God Jade, yet calmly give it away as a gift without changing expression...

What kind of temperament and cunning would that require?

And what was his purpose?

Was he doing her a favor?

Or doing the Ancient Clan a favor?

But this favor was far too great!

So great that even she felt alarmed.

"Never mind..."

Xiao Xun'er shook her head, temporarily casting aside those chaotic thoughts.

No matter what Xuan Jin's purpose was, the most important thing now was to immediately inform her father!

The Tou She Ancient God Jade was of enormous importance. Every extra moment it remained in her hands meant another measure of danger.

Xiao Xun'er took a deep breath and removed a crystalline Jade Slip that emitted faint spatial fluctuations from her Storage Ring.

She looked at the Space Jade Slip in her hand, then at the wooden box on the table. There was no more hesitation in her eyes.

Her slender fingers suddenly tightened.

Crack!

A crisp shattering sound rang out in the silent room.

The translucent Jade Slip instantly turned into countless specks of light and scattered into the air.

An invisible spatial fluctuation instantly transmitted toward the distant Ancient Realm.

Only after doing this did Xiao Xun'er let out a breath of relief.

Next, all she had to do was wait.

Wait for the arrival of the Dou Qi Continent's most powerful expert—her father, the Ancient Clan's Clan Leader, Gu Yuan!

Ancient Realm.

This was a vast independent space beyond the Dou Qi Continent. Mountains rose and fell beneath swirling clouds and mist, while the energy between heaven and earth was so dense it nearly became tangible.

Countless spiritual mountains and floating islands stood amid rows of palaces, immortal cranes soaring through the skies. It was like the realm of immortals.

This was the homeland of one of the Eight Ancient Clans—the Ancient Clan.

Deep within the Ancient Realm, inside its most magnificent palace.

At the center of the great hall, a middle-aged man dressed in luxurious robes sat cross-legged.

He did not release the slightest aura, yet the space around him twisted subtly.

This man was the current Clan Leader of the Ancient Clan, a supreme Late Stage Nine Star Dou Saint expert—

Gu Yuan!

At that moment, he had his eyes closed in cultivation, seeking to take his strength one step further.

Suddenly, his tightly shut eyes snapped open!

Just a moment ago, an imprint he had left deep within his bloodline had been triggered.

It was the Space Jade Slip he had personally refined for his most beloved daughter, Gu Xun Er!

The Jade Slip had shattered!

Boom!

A terrifying aura beyond description erupted from Gu Yuan's body in an instant!

The entire grand palace shook violently beneath that aura. Fine cracks even appeared along the incomparably sturdy beams and pillars.

Outside the hall, the Ancient Clan Guards patrolling the area were crushed to their knees by the pressure, their bodies trembling like sieves as they did not dare raise their heads.

"What happened?!"

"It's the Clan Leader! The Clan Leader's aura!"

"Something big has happened! The Clan Leader is enraged!"

Throughout the Ancient Realm, countless powerful auras were alarmed, and their probing senses turned toward the central hall.

But Gu Yuan had no attention left for any of that.

There was only one thought in his mind.

Xun Er was in trouble!

That Space Jade Slip was the final life-saving measure he had left for his daughter.

He had repeatedly warned her that unless it was a life-or-death situation, she must never crush it.

Now that the Jade Slip had shattered, it meant Xun Er was facing an immense danger she could not resist!

"Who dares touch my daughter!"

Gu Yuan's fury surged to the heavens, his killing intent boiling over.

He did not even have time to consider who, in a remote place like the Jia Ma Empire, could threaten Xun Er when Ling Ying, a Dou Emperor, was protecting her.

All he knew was that his precious daughter was in danger!

"Xun Er, don't be afraid. Your father is coming!"

He roared inwardly and viciously tore at the empty space before him with one hand!

Riiip!

A piercing tearing sound rang out.

The space before him, like a fragile curtain, was effortlessly ripped open into a massive black fissure.

Within the fissure was an incomparably violent spatial current, enough to instantly grind an ordinary Dou Venerate expert into pieces.

But Gu Yuan did not even look at it before stepping inside.

The spatial fissure rapidly closed behind him as if it had never existed.

And the terrifying pressure that had made the entire Ancient Realm tremble vanished without a trace.

Outside the hall, the guards kneeling on the ground finally felt as though they had been pardoned. They collapsed weakly, gasping for breath.

They looked at one another, each seeing the shock on the others' faces.

They could not remember how many years it had been since they had seen the Clan Leader lose control like this.

Wutan City, Xiao Family.

Inside Xiao Xun'er's small courtyard.

After crushing the Jade Slip, Xiao Xun'er sat quietly in her room and waited.

She believed that with her father's strength, he could cross space and arrive here within an hour at most.

During that time, many thoughts passed through her mind.

She thought of Brother Xiao Yan.

Ever since Xuan Jin had sealed Brother Xiao Yan's ring, the strange illness that had plagued him for three years and caused his Dou Qi to drain away had truly disappeared.

Over the past few days, Brother Xiao Yan had seemed like a different person.

He was no longer depressed or dispirited. His entire being was filled with drive.

Other than eating and sleeping, he spent all his time cultivating, frantically absorbing the energy of heaven and earth, wanting to reclaim the three lost years as soon as possible.

He also came to see her less and less often.

Xiao Xun'er knew that he no longer wanted to be called "trash." He desperately wanted to amaze everyone at the next family test and prove himself.

She was happy for him, yet also felt an inexplicable sense of loss.

She knew that the genius Xiao Yan of the past was on his way back.

And perhaps it was time for her to prepare to walk her own path as well.

Time passed second by second.

About half an hour later.

The air in the center of the room suddenly twisted without warning.

A tiny spatial fissure quietly appeared, then rapidly expanded.

A familiar and powerful aura seeped out from the fissure.

Xiao Xun'er was instantly energized and rose to her feet.

He was here!

From the pitch-black spatial fissure, a tall figure stepped out.

It was Gu Yuan.

However, Gu Yuan looked somewhat disheveled at the moment.

There were several tears in his clothes, his aura was somewhat unstable, and his face was filled with anxiety and worry.

The instant he appeared, he did not even have time to steady himself before crying out anxiously,

"Xun Er!"

When he saw Xiao Xun'er standing there completely unharmed, he froze.

The scene he had imagined, of his daughter grievously injured or surrounded by powerful enemies, did not appear.

The room was calm. Aside from himself and his daughter, there was no third person.

His daughter's aura was stable, and she even appeared full of spirit. How did she look like someone who had encountered danger?

Gu Yuan's heart, which had been lodged in his throat, instantly dropped back into place.

Then immense confusion surged into his mind.

"Xun Er, you... you're all right?" he asked uncertainly.

"Father, I'm fine." Xiao Xun'er gave Gu Yuan a graceful bow.

"You're fine?"

Gu Yuan frowned tightly, his voice unconsciously rising several degrees.

"If you're fine, why did you crush the Space Jade Slip?! Do you know that your father thought something terrible had happened to you?!"

He was truly both furious and anxious.

"Father, please calm your anger."

Xiao Xun'er knew she had acted rashly this time and hurriedly lowered her head to admit her mistake.

"Your daughter knows this was reckless, but there was a reason for it. I had no choice."

"No choice?"

Gu Yuan snorted. He wanted to see what earth-shattering matter had made her use her final life-saving measure.

"Speak. What exactly was it for? If you cannot give me a reasonable explanation today, just wait and see how I punish you when we return!"

Xiao Xun'er said nothing.

She merely turned around silently, walked to the table, and lifted the ancient wooden box in her hands.

Then she turned back and slowly opened the lid before Gu Yuan.

The instant the wooden box opened, the anger on Gu Yuan's face had not yet fully faded.

He wanted to see what medicine his daughter was selling.

What could have made her go to such lengths, even crushing the Space Jade Slip to summon him here?

Yet when his gaze fell upon the Ancient Jade lying quietly atop the golden silk, every expression on his face froze.

The fury about to erupt was like a fire doused from head to toe with a basin of ice water, extinguished completely in an instant.

In its place was a shock beyond words!

"This... this is..."

Gu Yuan's pupils shrank to the size of needlepoints in that instant.

Even his breathing stopped.

As the Clan Leader of the Ancient Clan, and one of the strongest experts on the Dou Qi Continent, how could he fail to recognize this jade?

The Tou She Ancient God Jade!

The Xiao Family's Tou She Ancient God Jade!

The Ancient Clan had plotted for so long, even sending his most beloved daughter to this remote Xiao Family, all for this tiny jade pendant!

And now, this jade had appeared right before him!

Of course, Gu Yuan's original intention had merely been to give Xun Er an ordinary childhood. As for taking the Ancient Jade, that had been more of an assignment from the clan elders.

Gu Yuan did not even have time to ask how Xiao Xun'er had obtained it before instinctively making the most correct response.

With a wave of his hand, an invisible force of space instantly spread outward.

"Space Lockdown!"

Xiao Xun'er's entire small courtyard was instantly sealed off by him!

From the outside, nothing appeared unusual.

But within this sealed space, not even a mosquito could fly in, nor could a speck of dust drift out!

Only after doing all this did Gu Yuan feel slightly more at ease.

With a flash, he appeared directly before Xiao Xun'er, moving so fast he stirred up a gust of wind.

Gu Yuan did not take the jade. Instead, he asked excitedly:

"Xun Er, tell Father, where... where did you get this?"

A stormy sea had risen in his heart.

Could Xun Er have made a move?

Had she stolen the Xiao Family's Ancient Jade?

No!

With Xun Er's temperament, she would never do such a thing. Besides, if she had truly stolen it, she could not possibly be so calm.

Then what was going on?

"Father, please don't get worked up yet."

Xiao Xun'er was startled by her father's reaction, though she had expected it.

She steadied herself and began recounting the entire course of events exactly as they had happened.

"That's what happened..."

"Clan Leader Xiao Zhan gave this so-called 'ancestral Ancient Jade' to Brother Xuan Jin as payment for treating Brother Xiao Yan."

"And Brother Xuan Jin seemed unaware of this Ancient Jade's true origins and value. He only thought it was somewhat unusual.

"Today, he told me he was leaving Wutan City. Before departing, he took it out and asked whether I recognized it."

"I did not dare tell him the truth. I only said it might be the key to some ruins."

"Then, seeing that I seemed to like it, Brother Xuan Jin gave it to me as a parting gift."

By the end, Xiao Xun'er's voice had grown softer and softer, and her face had begun to burn.

Giving away the Tou She Ancient God Jade as a gift...

If word of such a thing got out, probably no one on the entire Dou Qi Continent would believe it.

The whole room fell into dead silence.

Gu Yuan listened quietly. The expression on his face shifted from shock, to confusion, to disbelief, and finally into an absurdly complicated look.

He stood there stunned for a full half minute before digesting everything his daughter had said.

There was too much information!

He needed to sort it out carefully.

The key was Xuan Jin!

Gu Yuan vaguely remembered that name.

"Xuan Jin... Are you referring to the alchemy prodigy from the Pill Tower, hailed as a genius unseen in a thousand years, the disciple of Xuan Yi of the Pill Tower?"

Gu Yuan asked in a deep voice.

"Yes, Father. It's him." Xiao Xun'er nodded.

Gu Yuan took a deep breath.

He knew of this Xuan Jin. Rumor had it that he was an eighteen-year-old Seventh-Rank Peak Alchemist with the cultivation of a Dou Zong!

Such talent would be among the absolute best even in the Ancient Clan!

And yet, after obtaining the Tou She Ancient God Jade, this peerless genius with limitless prospects had not kept it for himself. Because he "couldn't understand it," he had casually given it to his daughter?

Did that make sense?

It made no sense at all!

Gu Yuan had lived for over a thousand years. What kind of people had he not seen?

He did not believe there was such a foolish genius in this world!

How could someone who had reached the Dou Zong realm and become a Seventh-grade Alchemist at that age possibly be so simple-minded?

There had to be something fishy going on!

Countless possibilities flashed through Gu Yuan's mind.

The first possibility: Xuan Jin truly did not recognize the Tou She Ancient God Jade, since he was not from one of the Eight Ancient Clans.

That possibility existed, but it was not particularly likely—at least, not in Gu Yuan's view.

The second possibility: Xuan Jin knew this jade's value, but he also knew it was a hot potato. He could not hold onto it himself, so he simply went with the flow and gave it to my daughter, using it to win the Ancient Clan an enormous favor.

That possibility was highly likely!

If that were true, then this young man's scheming and depth were somewhat terrifying.

He was using a Dou Emperor Key that he could not possibly keep for himself to exchange for the Ancient Clan's future friendship and protection!

What a brilliant scheme of gaining everything without spending a thing!

No matter which possibility it was, it proved that this young man named Xuan Jin was anything but simple!

Gu Yuan looked at his daughter, his expression becoming incomparably serious.

"Xun Er, do you think this Xuan Jin truly does not know the value of this jade, or did he do it deliberately?"

Xiao Xun'er froze. The question had stumped her.