The Ancient Xiao Family's True Legacy? Exchanging for the Imperial Seal Art

Within the courtyard, the air seemed to be gripped by an invisible hand, frozen to the extreme.

Gu Yuan's eternally genial smile rarely stiffened. He had lived for thousands of years and stood at the very pinnacle of the Dou Qi Continent. When had anyone ever mocked him so mercilessly to his face?

Yet what the other party said was a fact he could not refute.

Back then, Xiao Xuan had been astonishingly gifted. Gathering the full strength of the Xiao Family bloodline, he had forcibly attempted to break through to Dou Di, only to fail and perish. Gu Yuan had indeed accepted his request to look after the Xiao Family.

But for the past thousand years, the open and covert struggle between the Ancient Clan and the Soul Clan had occupied most of his attention. Moreover, after Xiao Xuan's death, the Xiao Family's experts had gradually withered away, causing him to stop taking them seriously. By the time he came to his senses, the Xiao Family's bloodline had long dried up. They had declined beyond recognition, becoming a remote minor clan incapable of producing even a Dou Wang.

The strongest person in the current Xiao Family was merely a Da Dou Shi. Such strength was inferior even to pets within the Ancient Clan!

This "care" truly was the joke of the century.

At the side, Xun'er was so shocked that her expression changed completely. Covering her small mouth, she could not understand how Xiao Yao, no matter how unimaginably strong he was, dared speak to her father—the Ancient Clan Chief, a Dou Saint Peak expert—in such a tone!

This was no longer merely audacious. This was... courting death!

Yet amid the awkward, deathly silence, Xiao Yao's mind was bustling as he chatted fervently with Grandpa Lu.

Grandpa Lu, something unexpected happened. This guy's tough!

What are you panicking for? Grandpa Lu's voice was full of vigor, disdain, and pride. He is merely a peak life-form in this lower realm! Though I am only a fragment of a divided soul, my soul realm is no weaker than his!

Xiao Yao had expected it, but his heart still shook violently.

A soul power stronger than Gu Yuan's Dou Saint Peak soul could only mean, on the Dou Qi Continent—

"An Emperor Realm Soul! Strength comparable to a High-Rank Dou Saint!"

More importantly, Grandpa Lu said with boundless pride, do not forget the Samadhi True Fire seed bestowed upon you by the Ancestral Master! It is a Daoist Divine Flame, the progenitor of all flames! At a critical moment, if you activate it regardless of the cost, the power it erupts with in an instant will be enough to force back even a Nine-Star Dou Saint, the limit under this world's laws! If he dares attack, he will be the one who suffers!

With Grandpa Lu's words, the last trace of worry in Xiao Yao's heart vanished completely.

He straightened his back even further and stared directly at Gu Yuan without the slightest fear.

"Insolence!"

At that moment, an enraged roar containing boundless majesty rang out like thunder!

The elderly man standing beside Gu Yuan, who had been resting with his eyes closed and possessed an immortal bearing, suddenly opened his eyes! Two tangible beams of light shot forth, and the temperature throughout the courtyard seemed to plummet in an instant!

"Impudent brat, you do not know the immensity of heaven and earth!" Gu Dao, one of the Ancient Clan Three Immortals, stared coldly at Xiao Yao. "Even if you are exceptionally gifted and have already reached the Dou Zong realm at such a young age, that does not give you the right to disrespect the Ancient Clan Chief!"

Before his words had even faded, a terrifying aura as vast as the sea and as imposing as a prison erupted from his body, transforming into an invisible storm that crushed down toward Xiao Yao!

This was the pressure of a genuine Dou Saint expert!

Under this aura, even space let out a groan of unbearable strain. The ground cracked inch by inch, and even the golden barrier surrounding Xun'er began to ripple violently!

Yet in the face of pressure enough to make any Dou Zun expert lose all courage, Xiao Yao remained standing calmly in place. Even the corner of his robe did not flutter.

Just as that immense aura was about to descend upon him, Grandpa Lu's domineering voice rang out behind Xiao Yao.

"Showing off before an expert!"

"Buzz—!"

An ancient, vast, and unfathomable soul pressure even more terrifying than Gu Dao's Dou Saint pressure suddenly swept out from the void behind Xiao Yao!

This pressure carried no trace of worldly aggression, yet it seemed to contain the supreme intent of the universe's birth and the first emergence of the Great Dao! It did not destroy so much as a blade of grass, yet Gu Dao's Dou Saint pressure melted away instantly like snow under the blazing sun!

"Pfft!"

Gu Dao seemed to have suffered a heavy blow. His face instantly turned pale, and he staggered back a step uncontrollably, his eyes filled with utter horror!

"An... Emperor Realm Soul?!"

For the first time, Gu Yuan's face revealed genuine shock! He abruptly looked behind Xiao Yao, his eyes capable of piercing through illusion filled with astonishment and gravity!

"The Xiao Family... still has such a guardian alive?!"

"May I ask which old friend of the Xiao Family this is?" Gu Yuan clasped his hands solemnly, only to receive a cold snort in reply.

Xiao Yao laughed inwardly, though a naturally mocking expression appeared on his face.

"Does Chief Gu Yuan truly think that my ancestor, Xiao Xuan, would leave no backup whatsoever for the Xiao Family?"

Gu Yuan and the others suddenly understood. Xiao Xuan—the only man who had ever driven Hun Tiandi to the brink of death—leaving behind contingencies was indeed a reasonable possibility.

In reality, he really didn't leave anything behind... That old ancestor was a gambler. He went all in and nearly destroyed the Xiao Clan. Good thing I came along, Xiao Yao silently complained in his heart.

Xiao Yao's deliberately inscrutable manner seemed to have truly intimidated Gu Yuan.

"Cough..." Gu Yuan coughed dryly, restraining all his emotions as a gentle smile returned to his face. "This old man was shortsighted. May I ask, young friend Xiao Yao, what exactly is the transaction you invited my daughter and me here to discuss today?"

The main event had arrived!

Xiao Yao stopped wasting words. With a flip of his palm, the jade bottle containing the Human-Supplementing Immortal Pill appeared in his hand.

He slowly removed the stopper.

"Buzz!"

An extremely rich medicinal fragrance instantly filled the entire courtyard! Seven-colored medicinal vapors drifted out, the fragrance dense and profound, while pill patterns condensed in brilliance.

"Though it is only Seventh Grade, I have never seen a pill of such perfect quality! The Xiao Family truly still possesses its foundations!" Gu Yuan's pupils contracted sharply once more.

Xiao Yao ignored their inner shock. Looking directly at Xun'er, he said slowly, "This pill is called the 'Human-Supplementing Immortal Pill.' Its greatest effect is that it can gently replenish and elevate the origin of one's bloodline, allowing the bloodline inherited from a Dou Di to awaken perfectly to the Divine Bloodline level!"

"What?!"

This time, Xun'er was instantly overwhelmed with excitement, and even Gu Yuan could no longer remain calm! He took one step forward and instantly appeared before Xiao Yao, staring fixedly at the pill as his breathing became hurried!

Divine Bloodline, perfect awakening!

What these eight words meant to the Ancient Clan, which had endured for tens of thousands of years, Gu Yuan understood better than anyone!

"Is that true?!" Gu Yuan's voice carried an uncontrollable tremor.

"I have no reason to deceive you." Xiao Yao said calmly, "You can use this pill to let Xun'er's bloodline awaken perfectly right now. I need not explain the benefits of awakening earlier. In exchange, I want the Ancient Clan's Imperial Seal Art, as well as ten Eighth-Grade Medicinal Herbs."

What an outrageous demand!

The Imperial Seal Art was an Earth Tier High-Level Fighting Skill created by the Ancient Clan's ancestor. When all five seals were unleashed together, its power rivaled a Heaven Tier skill! It was one of the Gu Family's most closely guarded secrets! As for Eighth-Grade Medicinal Herbs, they were rare treasures of heaven and earth. Even ten plants were enough to give the Ancient Clan a headache!

Gu Yuan took a deep breath, his gaze moving back and forth between the pill and Xiao Yao's confident face.

After a long while, he slowly nodded.

"Fine! I agree!"

Compared to his daughter's future and the Ancient Clan's future, what were a Cultivation Method and a few medicinal herbs worth?

Xiao Yao laughed inwardly. The cost was no higher than Sixth Grade, yet it brought him so many resources. This was the overwhelming advantage of immortal Dao alchemy!

After a round of insincere conversation filled with probing, the transaction was soon completed.

Gu Yuan readily handed Xiao Yao an ancient jade recording the Imperial Seal Art and a storage ring containing the medicinal herbs.

"Young friend Xiao Yao, until we meet again. If you have time, you are welcome to visit my Ancient Realm anytime." Gu Yuan took Xun'er and Gu Dao with him, gave Xiao Yao a deep look, tore open space, and vanished.

Xun'er could only hurriedly leave Xiao Yan a brief message informing him of her temporary departure. After all, the Divine Bloodline was the priority.

Only Xiao Yao remained in the courtyard.

He weighed the ancient jade in his hand, a victorious smile curling across his lips.

The first step was perfectly accomplished!