Soul Emperor Tiandi Really Came? Give the Ancient Clan's Young Lady a Shock!

Wutan City, Xiao Family.

The afternoon sunlight was warm and gentle as it spilled across the sprawling manor, making everything seem so peaceful and tranquil.

Yet unlike the usual calm, the Xiao Family residence was now filled with a faint excitement and pride. Whether they were patrolling guards or passing clansmen, everyone wore it on their faces. Their conversations invariably revolved around those few figures from several days ago, whose terrifying auras had torn through the skies above Wutan City and made the entire city tremble.

"Tell me, what were those experts, who looked like immortals, doing in Wutan City? Could some rare treasure have appeared?"

"Who knows? But I heard that even the city lord and the patriarchs of the other two great families were so scared that day they barely dared to breathe!"

"Hehe, who cares what they were doing? Our Xiao Family has produced an unparalleled genius like Brother Xiao Yao! A fifteen-year-old seven-star Dou Zhe who defeated the young sect master of the Misty Cloud Sect with one punch. Across the entire Jia Ma Empire, who could compare? In the future, our Xiao Family will surely become the foremost power in Wutan City—no, in the entire Jia Ma Empire!"

Their discussions were filled with hopes for the future and worship for Xiao Yao. The domineering sight of Xiao Yao utterly crushing Nalan Yanran in the main hall that day had already been deeply etched into the hearts of every Xiao Family member.

At that moment, a tall figure silently appeared at the Xiao Family gates.

The newcomer wore a fitted black outfit, his body upright as a pine. His black hair hung loosely behind his shoulders, and his eyes were as deep as the starry sky, as though they could see through people's hearts. He merely stood there casually, yet he naturally became the focus of everyone's attention. The transcendent aura surrounding him made people afraid to meet his gaze.

It was Xiao Yao, returning from the Monster Mountain Range.

"It... it's Brother Xiao Yao! Brother Xiao Yao is back!"

A sharp-eyed guard spotted Xiao Yao first. He froze for a moment, then let out a cry of surprise and delight.

A single stone stirred a thousand waves!

The entire front courtyard of the Xiao Family instantly erupted!

Countless clansmen surged forward, their faces filled with fervor and reverence as they respectfully bowed.

"Welcome home, Brother Xiao Yao!"

"Brother Xiao Yao, you're finally back!"

Xiao Yao smiled and nodded at them. His calm gaze swept over their excited faces, but his heart remained utterly unmoved. Xiao Yan had once enjoyed all this too, but later... clansmen were very realistic. On the Dou Qi Continent, strength was supreme.

However, there were several familiar faces among the crowd. Wasn't the one at the very front Xiao Yan's cousin, Xiao Mei? Back when Xiao Yan's strength had declined to merely the third stage of Dou Qi, Xiao Mei had bluntly demonstrated what it meant to change one's attitude at lightning speed. She had practically wanted to flaunt her sixth-stage Dou Qi cultivation in front of Xiao Yan every day. Even if she had been redeemed after growing up in the original story, she was still an irritating character.

"Brother Xiao Yao!"

At that moment, a seductive voice, sweet enough to make one's teeth ache, rang out. Xiao Mei, dressed in a red gown, hurried through the crowd to Xiao Yao. Her large, watery eyes did not conceal the worship in them in the slightest.

"Brother Xiao Yao, your feat of defeating the young sect master of the Misty Cloud Sect has spread throughout Wutan City." As Xiao Mei spoke, she moved to wrap her arms around Xiao Yao's arm. "Now even the three elders have said they want to recommend you as the next patriarch of our Xiao Family!"

Xiao Yao's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. His body swayed slightly, avoiding Xiao Mei's approach.

Xiao Yao walked straight past Xiao Mei. His gaze turned toward an elegant courtyard deep within the Xiao Family estate, and his steps did not pause in the slightest, as though he had completely ignored her.

Publicly slighted like this, Xiao Mei's face alternated between green and white as she stood there stiffly in embarrassment.

His gaze remained fixed on that elegant courtyard deep within the Xiao Family estate, and his steps did not pause in the slightest.

Come to think of it, she seemed to have stayed at Jia Nan Academy with Xiao Yu later on. Hmm, it was time to put the Falling Heart Flame on the agenda. Tempering oneself with Heart Fire brought tremendous benefits.

Xiao Yao pondered as he walked.

It seemed the phenomenon caused by my consuming that immortal pill had still alerted quite a few truly powerful experts. He recalled several fleeting auras he had sensed on the way back, auras so terrifying that even he had felt threatened. Grandpa Lu had needed to conceal his presence for him. They had undoubtedly been peak experts from the continent.

I just wonder who came. It couldn't possibly be that old fellow Hun Tiandi, could it? Did he really think an Emperor Grade Nascent Pill had appeared and personally come all the way to this tiny Wutan City?

He smiled and cast the absurd thought from his mind.

Meanwhile, in the skies ten thousand meters above Wutan City, space twisted strangely.

Two figures flickered in and out of view amidst the clouds.

One of them wore a luxurious black brocade robe. His face was refined and elegant, yet he carried an indelible chill about him. He was none other than the Soul Clan Chief, Hun Tiandi!

Beside him stood a figure shrouded entirely in black mist. His aura was equally unfathomable. He was the Soul Hall Master, Hun Miesheng.

"It seems that old Gu Yuan also came up empty-handed," Hun Miesheng said in a hoarse voice. "After searching for several days without finding anything, the treasure that triggered that phenomenon either merely revealed itself by accident, or it gained intelligence and fled long ago."

Hun Tiandi stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze piercing through the clouds as he looked down at the tiny city below. An unfathomable light flickered in his eyes.

"No matter. Treasures are things that can only be encountered by chance. I just met Gu Yuan and one of those old fellows from the Ancient Clan Three Immortals. As long as I can confirm they found nothing either, that is enough."

Just moments ago, Hun Tiandi had met Gu Yuan, the Ancient Clan Chief, and a Battle Saint expert here. The two sides had confronted each other in the void for a time. The two old foxes had tested one another, then withdrawn separately after confirming that neither had found the source of the phenomenon.

"Clan Chief, what do we do next?" Hun Miesheng asked.

"Hmph, that old fox Gu Yuan made it sound nice, but he is simply unwilling to accept it." Hun Tiandi sneered, his gaze finally settling on the Xiao Family residence. "Since we came, we cannot return empty-handed. My Soul Clan has planned for a thousand years. It is time to speed things up."

A chilling killing intent flashed through his eyes.

"Pass down the order. The pieces we have planted in the Jia Ma Empire may begin moving. I want the Xiao Family's Tou She Ancient God Jade! We only spared their descendants before so as not to provoke the other great families. Now, there is no longer any need for the Xiao Family to exist!"

Elsewhere, utterly unaware of this, Xiao Yan was following Old Man Yao in the ring with an excited expression through the markets around Wutan City, gathering all kinds of medicinal ingredients for refining Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid. He fantasized about recovering his strength and washing away his humiliation three years later.

He had no idea that a merciless hand, enough to overturn the entire Xiao Family, had already silently descended over them.

In the Xiao Family's rear courtyard stood a secluded yet elegant residence.

A young girl in a light green dress sat quietly on a stone bench. As she thought of Xiao Yan's transformation, a faint smile rested on her lips. She held an ancient book in her hands, and her tranquil, beautiful profile resembled an elegant ink painting.

"Cousin Xun'er."

A calm voice sounded from behind her.

Hearing it, the girl turned around. When she saw that the newcomer was Xiao Yao, a captivating smile immediately bloomed across her flawless, delicate face.

"Cousin Xiao Yao, you've come out of seclusion?" Her voice was crisp and pleasant, like a songbird leaving its nest. It carried a hint of warmth, yet still maintained a perfectly measured sense of distance.

Xiao Yao slowly walked before her. He paid no attention to her seemingly warm greeting and merely watched her quietly with a deep gaze that seemed capable of seeing through everything.

Only after a long while did he slowly speak, saying words that instantly stirred stormy waves in Xun'er's heart.

"Cousin Xun'er, I trust you have been well. Or perhaps... I should call you the Ancient Clan's... Young Lady Gu Xun'er?"