Arrival in Wutan City

Three months passed quietly amid the Ancient Clan's tense preparations and Gu Long's day-after-day check-ins.

Over those ninety days, the system's notification chimes in Gu Long's mind never ceased.

Besides large amounts of Gold Coins, ordinary medicinal pills, and other basic supplies, several rewards truly caught his attention:

[Mysterious Turtle Breath Concealment Art]: A Heaven Tier Low Rank concealment Cultivation Method. Not only could it perfectly suppress one's aura and alter the cultivation level one displayed outwardly, it could also conceal bloodline fluctuations to a certain extent.

This was undoubtedly the perfect means, tailor-made for him to hide his strength and the anomalies in his bloodline.

[Zhao Yun Summoning Card (Peak Nine-Star Dou Ancestor)]: A card glimmering with silver light, with the words "Zhao Yun" written in bold, soaring strokes on its back.

Once used, it could permanently summon the General Zhao Yun, who possessed Peak Nine-Star Dou Ancestor strength.

This was a powerful trump card and the foundation for building his own force.

[Master Chef Skill], [Compendium of Alchemy (Theory)], and all kinds of exceptionally comprehensive [Otherworldly Seasonings].

Though these things seemed rather out of place, Gu Long valued them greatly.

The former could satisfy Little Foodie Xun Er's appetite, while the latter would be one of his important sources of capital for settling down and establishing himself in the future.

As for that cluster of [Netherworld Poisonous Fire] burning faintly within the System Space, it was an unexpected delight.

Although he could not refine it yet, its potential was limitless.

With the support of his bloodline power and the pure energy occasionally rewarded by the system, his cultivation steadily rose to Eight-Star Dou Practitioner.

The seal on his "One-Star Dou Emperor cultivation," as the system had said, was also slowly loosening. It was expected to be completely lifted not long after he arrived at the Xiao Family.

Soon, the day of departure arrived.

At the entrance to the Ancient World, Gu Yuan personally came to see them off.

He looked at the young boy and girl before him, his gaze mainly falling on Gu Long.

"Long Er, Xun Er, be careful on this journey. Ling Ying," Gu Yuan called.

A black shadow appeared behind Gu Yuan like a ghost and dropped to one knee. "Clan Leader."

"Their safety rests upon you. Should anything happen, you are to protect them with your life." Gu Yuan's tone was calm, yet it carried unquestionable weight.

"Ling Ying swears to protect Miss and Young Master Gu Long to the death!" Ling Ying's voice was low and firm.

He was a Peak Dou Emperor expert and the Guard assigned to Xun Er by the Ancient Clan.

Gu Yuan nodded, then instructed Gu Long, "Long Er, you are steady and thoughtful. Think carefully when trouble arises. Take care of Xun Er, and take care of yourself as well."

"Rest assured, Clan Leader. Gu Long understands." Gu Long bowed.

Gu Xun Er also said obediently, "Father, Xun Er will behave."

There was no overly sentimental farewell. The Space Wormhole opened, and Ling Ying protected Gu Long and Gu Xun Er as they stepped inside.

After a bizarre journey through space, the scenery around them had changed completely when their feet once again touched solid ground.

The Heaven and Earth Energy in the air was thin and impure, far inferior to the pure energy of the Ancient World.

They appeared in a small forest outside Wutan City.

The city before them was not particularly large. Its walls were low and old, entirely different from the magnificence of the Ancient World.

Gu Xun Er curiously examined her surroundings. Her little face held a hint of novelty toward the unfamiliar environment, but little fear, because Gu Long stood beside her.

Ling Ying said in a low voice, "Miss, Young Master Gu Long, Wutan City lies ahead.

The identity arranged by the Clan Leader is that you are descendants of a family from a distant great city, here to reside with the Xiao Family while cultivating.

Xiao Family Leader Xiao Zhan has already been informed and will make proper arrangements."

"Thank you, Elder Ling." Gu Long nodded, his expression calm.

He took Gu Xun Er's small hand. "Xun Er, let's go."

The three entered the city on foot without attracting much attention.

Though Wutan City was small, outsiders often came and went.

As one of Wutan City's Three Great Families, the Xiao Family's residence stood in the eastern part of the city and was fairly imposing.

After they announced their arrival, Xiao Zhan personally came out with several Elders to receive them.

Xiao Zhan was broad and sturdy, with a bold-looking face, though there seemed to be a faint, imperceptible worry hidden between his brows.

He had received instructions from an unfathomably powerful senior to properly settle two young people from a distant great clan, so he did not dare show the slightest neglect.

"You must be Young Master Gu Long and Miss Gu Xun Er mentioned in Elder Gu's letter, correct? You must be tired from your journey. Please, come in."

Xiao Zhan smiled warmly, his gaze sweeping over Gu Long and Gu Xun Er as shock rose in his heart.

These two children possessed extraordinary temperaments, especially the boy. His eyes were too calm for a child.

Though he only gave off Dou Qi fluctuations, he somehow made others feel he was not to be underestimated.

"You are too courteous, Xiao Clan Leader. We will trouble you often in the future."

Gu Long returned the gesture with cupped fists, composed and neither servile nor overbearing.

Gu Xun Er also gave a slight curtsy, her bearing elegant.

After entering the main hall and exchanging a few pleasantries, Xiao Zhan arranged for someone to take them to the guest courtyard that had long been prepared for them.

The small courtyard stood in a relatively quiet part of the Xiao Family estate. It was simple, but clean and tidy.

Once the Servant leading them left, Ling Ying's figure vanished as though he had melted into the shadows, concealing himself in the dark to stand guard.

Only Gu Long and Gu Xun Er remained in the room.

Xun Er sat on the edge of the bed, gently swinging her little legs as she looked at Gu Long.

"Brother Gu Long, is this the place where we'll be living for a long time?"

"For now, yes."

Gu Long walked to the window and gazed at the unfamiliar courtyard outside, his eyes profound.

He knew that the boy named Xiao Yan was somewhere within this residence at this very moment.

"The energy here is so thin. Cultivating will definitely be very slow." Xun Er pouted slightly.

Gu Long turned around and smiled.

"Cultivation lies in the heart, not the environment. Besides, with Brother Gu Long here, I won't let you fall behind."

He had the system, so he was not worried about resources.

Moreover, his gradually unsealing Dou Emperor cultivation was itself the finest Spirit Gathering Array, more than enough to support Xun Er's cultivation.

He walked over to Xun Er, crouched before her, and looked into her eyes with a serious expression.

"Xun Er, remember this. Here, we are merely children from an ordinary family in a great city.

"Do not casually reveal our bloodline or our true strength, understand?"

Though Xun Er was young, she was clever. She nodded forcefully.

"Xun Er understands. We have to keep a low profile. Father and Grandpa Gu Lie both said so."

"Good girl." Gu Long ruffled her hair.

"You must be tired after traveling for so long. Rest for a while. Brother Gu Long will make you something delicious tonight."

"Something delicious?" Xun Er's eyes instantly lit up. "Brother Gu Long, can you cook too?"

"Of course." Gu Long's lips curled slightly. The [Master Chef Skill] and those Otherworldly Seasonings were finally about to come in handy.

The saying went that to win a woman's heart, one must first win her stomach. It applied equally well to a Little Loli.

That night, Gu Long borrowed the simple kitchen in the small courtyard and personally roasted some Beast Meat marinated with Otherworldly Seasonings.

The rich fragrance drifted through nearly half the courtyard, making even Ling Ying, hidden in the darkness, unable to stop himself from twitching his nose.

Xun Er ate until her mouth shone with grease, her large eyes curving into happy crescents. Her admiration for Brother Gu Long rose to another level.

After soothing Xun Er to sleep, Gu Long sat alone on the bed in his own room.

He felt the Dou Emperor power within him, which was nearly completely unsealed, then looked at the silver-glowing [Zhao Yun Summoning Card] and the darkly flickering [Netherworld Poisonous Fire] within his System Space.

"The Xiao Family... the Tou She Ancient God Jade..." he murmured.

For now, it was not yet time to approach Xiao Yan.

He first needed to fully adapt to his unsealed power and learn the basic situation of the Xiao Family and Wutan City.

His foremost objective was to ensure Xun Er's absolute safety and eliminate the possibility of her having too much contact with Xiao Yan.

Only after that would he consider how to obtain the Ancient God Jade and how to deal with the Soul Clan in the future.

With a thought, he began circulating the [Mysterious Turtle Breath Concealment Art], perfectly suppressing his aura to the Dou Qi stage.

Unless someone's Soul Realm vastly surpassed his own, it would be exceedingly difficult for them to see through him.

Only after finishing all this did he slowly lie down.

The unfamiliar environment, potential enemies, the threat of the Soul Clan... all of it made him feel pressure. Yet more than that, he felt the excitement of taking control of his own destiny.

"Check in."

He silently spoke the words in his heart, ending his first day at the Xiao Family.

[Ding! Check-in successful! Congratulations, Host, you have obtained: Breath Concealing Jade Pendant (can automatically coordinate with a Cultivation Method to perfectly conceal aura and resist detection).]

Gu Long smiled faintly as he looked at the warm jade pendant in his hand.

The system was quite considerate. Now he was even more confident in concealing his identity.

He hung the jade pendant at his waist and closed his eyes.

His first night in Wutan City passed peacefully.

But Gu Long knew that beneath this calm surface, undercurrents had already begun to surge.

And he would be the greatest variable within those undercurrents.