On the Ancient Secrets: The Xiao Family Reveres Me!

Wutan City, Xiao Family Council Hall.

The seat of honor, which in the past only the patriarch and three elders were qualified to occupy, was now rightfully claimed by a young figure dressed in black.

Xiao Yao sat upright in the main seat, looking helpless as he idly played with a warm teacup in his hand. The elders had just insisted that he take the seat of honor before taking their own seats.

Below him, Patriarch Xiao Zhan and the Xiao Family's three elders sat stiffly. Shock and fervor still lingered on their faces, and even though they knew Xiao Yao was one of their own juniors, their gazes carried the reverence of mortals looking upon a god.

Outside the hall, countless excited and fervent Xiao Family members clung to the walls or crowded around the entrance. Though they did not dare barge into the hall, they all stared fanatically at Xiao Yao in the seat of honor.

Just moments ago, they had witnessed that earth-shaking battle—a Dou Emperor challenging a Dou Zun—which was worthy of being recorded in the history of the Dou Qi Continent!

That junior, who had once merely been regarded as exceptionally talented in their eyes, had now grown to a terrifying height beyond even their imagination, a height they would have to spend their entire lives looking up to!

The hall was so quiet that one could hear a falling leaf. Everyone waited for Xiao Yao to speak.

At last, Xiao Yao slowly set down his teacup. The crisp sound made Xiao Zhan and the others tremble involuntarily.

"Patriarch and three elders, I imagine your hearts are filled with questions right now." Xiao Yao's calm voice broke the silence. "Why did those men in black come here? And why do I... possess such strength now?"

Xiao Zhan and the others immediately straightened their backs. Like schoolchildren awaiting their teacher's lecture, they pricked up their ears.

"It is a long story." Xiao Yao's gaze deepened, as though it had pierced through endless time and space. "This Dou Qi Continent is not as simple as you imagine. Above the sects and powers scattered across the various regions, there are eight ancient families that have been passed down for tens of thousands of years. They inherited the remnants of ancient Dou God bloodlines, and even now, each possesses the foundations of several Battle Saints. They are known as the 'Eight Ancient Clans.'"

"And our Xiao Family was once the most dazzling and powerful among those eight clans!"

"What?!"

At those words, Xiao Zhan and the three elders cried out in unison, their faces filled with disbelief!

"H-How is that possible? Xiao Yao, you mean our family?!" The Second Elder's voice trembled.

Xiao Yao ignored their shock and continued, "A thousand years ago, our Xiao Family ancestor, Xiao Xuan, was the peak expert closest to becoming a Dou God on the continent! Unfortunately, he failed in his attempt to break through to the Dou God realm and perished. From then on, the Xiao Family's Dou God bloodline gradually dried up, and we slowly declined. Moreover, another of the eight clans, the Soul Clan, had long borne a grudge against us. They gradually attacked us from every side and divided our assets, reducing our family to this state."

"And those men in black are the lackeys of one of the Eight Ancient Clans, the Soul Clan. The force they have formed is called the Soul Hall. Their purpose in coming here was something passed down through generations of the Xiao Family—something... deeply connected to the legendary Dou God."

As Xiao Yao said this, his gaze slowly fell upon Patriarch Xiao Zhan.

Xiao Zhan's heart skipped a beat under that gaze. Then, as if he had recalled something, his expression changed drastically! Trembling, he took an ancient jade piece from his robes, its surface carved with mysterious patterns.

"Xiao Yao, this was passed down by our ancestors. Could what you mean... be... this?"

This jade pendant was the token of every Xiao Family patriarch. Xiao Zhan had always thought it was merely a symbol, a keepsake. He had never imagined that this tiny object would be tied to the legendary Dou God inheritance!

"That's right." Xiao Yao looked at the emerald jade piece. It was warm and smooth, no different from an ordinary jade pendant on the surface, save for a single spiritual point of light moving across it. He nodded and admitted, "Those Soul Clan and Soul Hall bastards came for this Tou She Ancient God Jade!"

He added another sentence. His voice was calm, yet it exploded through the hall like a bomb.

"Oh, and I forgot to tell you. My current strength is enough to crush a Dou Zong. Mm, that is the realm above Dou Emperor."

"D-Dou Zong?!"

Xiao Zhan and the three elders were completely dumbfounded. Their minds could no longer process this series of revelations that had overturned their understanding of the world!

"Heaven has eyes! Our ancestors have blessed us!"

After a long while, the Great Elder was the first to recover. Tears streamed down his aged face as his entire body shook with excitement. "Our Xiao Family... our Xiao Family has finally... finally produced a Qilin Child like you! A dragon among men! Heaven's favored son!"

He was so excited that he spoke incoherently. He actually slipped from his chair and was about to perform a grand salute to Xiao Yao.

Xiao Yao secretly laughed. This is the blessing of Patriarch Laojun. Yet he merely raised a hand, and a gentle force lifted the elder back up.

"What do we do... What do we do now?!" The Second Elder's face was filled with panic. The enormous existence known as the Soul Clan had frightened him out of his wits. "T-That is an ancient clan! How... how can we fight them?!"

"Shut up! You useless coward!" the Third Elder roared, cutting him off. "Can't you see Xiao Yao is still here?! Since he dared reveal this matter, he must already have a way to deal with it!"

"Right, right, right!" The elders hurriedly agreed.

Xiao Yao looked at them and did not deny it. He merely said indifferently, "My master is a supreme existence and fears no petty villains. I will deal with the Soul Hall myself. What you need to do is raise your strength as quickly as possible. I, Xiao Yao, will lead the Xiao Family back to its peak—and beyond it!"

With a wave of his hand, dozens of jade bottles and a pile of cultivation method and Dou Skill scrolls appeared, heaped like a small mountain in the center of the hall.

"Inside are Dou Spirit Pills, Imperial Pills, and a Sect-Breaking Pill that can help a peak Dou Emperor break through to Dou Zong!"

"Hiss—!"

Seeing the pills overflowing with fragrance and shimmering with spiritual light, Xiao Zhan and the others sucked in a sharp breath once more. Overwhelmed with gratitude and excitement, they handed the Tou She Ancient God Jade to Xiao Yao.

Then, the elders began clamoring again about having Xiao Yao become the family head.

"I can't be bothered." Xiao Yao waved a hand, directly cutting off their argument. "Family affairs will continue as usual. I prefer being free and unrestrained."

He then asked about Xiao Yan's whereabouts. After recovering his strength and seeing the family's power soar, his cousin had ignored all attempts to dissuade him and set off alone to gain experience, filled with lofty ambition.

Looks like that old fox Old Man Yao still took him away. Xiao Yao understood.

Finally, he reminded everyone once more, "That golden barrier is the protection my master left behind. It can keep the Xiao Family safe. But you must not grow complacent because of it! Any family disciple who should go out to train, go out and train! The Xiao Family must not lose its fighting spirit! If you truly encounter an enemy you cannot defeat, just turtle up and preserve your lives first. As for the rest..."

A domineering, icy glint flashed through Xiao Yao's eyes.

"I'll handle it myself!"