Under the control of the information gap, Gu Xun gradually fell into despair

After making those alchemists submit completely and ensuring they would no longer covet his Heavenly Flames, Hun Tianchen turned to Hun Miesheng.

"Hall Master, continue with the next report."

"Young Master." Hun Miesheng leaned closer and said, "The next matter concerns Gu Xun'er. Over the past year, her cultivation has risen directly from Dou Shi to Dou Emperor."

Hun Tianchen raised an eyebrow slightly.

"That exaggerated?"

"We thought so too at first, but later we made a major discovery." Hun Miesheng spoke mysteriously. "Gu Xun'er has the potential to become an Ancient Clan God-grade Bloodline, which is why her improvement has been so immense."

"Mm..." Hun Tianchen nodded slightly. He understood that much.

Sometimes, a God-grade Bloodline could be cultivated after birth. Other than himself, Hun Tianchen had basically never seen anyone born with a God-grade Bloodline.

Even Hun Yu and Hun Feng had not been born with God-grade Bloodlines. They merely possessed the potential to become God-grade Bloodlines, making them outstanding members of the Hun Clan's younger generation.

Of course, what concerned Hun Tianchen most was naturally Xiao Yan's growth.

On this continent, the only member of the younger generation capable of contending with him, Hun Tianchen, was Xiao Yan.

"How has Xiao Yan been doing this past year?"

"Young Master, Xiao Yan has had everything go smoothly at Jia Nan Academy this past year. His strength has also risen to the Dou Ling level, and he possesses two kinds of Heavenly Flames." Speaking of Xiao Yan's cultivation speed, Hun Miesheng could not help but feel some admiration. "Has he really lost the Xiao Clan's bloodline power? Otherwise, his strength has grown far too quickly. He even created a Dou Skill himself—something like a fire lotus. Even Dou Wangs are no match for him."

"Two kinds? Did he steal Jia Nan Academy's juvenile Fallen Heart Flame?"

"No. But Xiao Yan has repeatedly set his sights on the Fallen Heart Flame, and Jia Nan Academy's Grand Elder Su Qian has already noticed him. Before long, Xiao Yan will likely come into conflict with Jia Nan Academy."

"Mm." Hun Tianchen nodded slightly. "Take me to see Miss Gu Xun'er. By the way, what has the Ancient Clan been doing this past year?"

As Hun Miesheng led the way, he said, "Young Master, over the past year, the Ancient Clan has grown even more hostile toward our Hun Clan. Sometimes, they even attack without regard for the consequences. However, our Hun Clan members have followed your instructions and have not gone looking for trouble with the Ancient Clan. Only when the Ancient Clan goes too far do we act to deal with them."

"You've handled that well enough. Our Hun Clan is never afraid of trouble, but neither do we seek it out," Hun Tianchen said calmly. "What about Gu Yuan?"

"Speaking of Gu Yuan, according to unofficial reports, he has been at odds with the Ancient Clan's various elders this past year. Their relationship is not good." At the mention of this, Hun Miesheng's face was full of gloating. "Young Master, your scheme to drive a wedge between them was truly excellent. As a father, Gu Yuan could never simply ignore Gu Xun'er, so he would inevitably try to exchange for his daughter."

"Yet those Ancient Clan elders are each more stubborn than the last. They would never agree to hand the Tou She Ancient God Jade over to us, even in death. With such intense conflict, Gu Yuan and those elders will inevitably become divided and no longer remain completely united. If this continues, the conflict between Gu Yuan and the Ancient Clan elders will only deepen, benefiting our Hun Clan's future plans to attack the Ancient Clan."

"You're mistaken about that. No matter what, they are still of the same clan. No matter how fiercely they quarrel, when faced with a life-and-death crisis, they will always unite."

As the two chatted, they arrived at the place where Gu Xun'er was being held.

"Have you allowed Gu Yuan and Gu Xun'er to communicate during this time?"

"Everything has been carried out according to your orders. Every month, Gu Yuan is allowed to meet Gu Xun'er remotely, so he can see with his own eyes that she is safe and sound."

"Mm. That will prevent Gu Yuan from doing something desperate." Hun Tianchen slowly pushed open the door and saw a peerless beauty in a purple dress quietly cultivating.

The instant the door opened, she opened her beautiful eyes and looked coldly at Hun Tianchen.

"When will you let me go?"

"I told you already. Once your father hands over the Tou She Ancient God Jade, you can leave." Hun Tianchen gestured for Hun Miesheng to close the door, then remained alone in the room with her.

"Hun Tianchen, don't you think your idea is far too naive?" Gu Xun'er raised her exquisite face and said with some disgust, "You know perfectly well how valuable the Tou She Ancient God Jade is. Could it be that you naively believe my father will obediently hand it over just because you have imprisoned me?"

The corners of Hun Tianchen's lips lifted slightly. With a sweep of his sleeve, he sat calmly opposite Gu Xun'er, crossed one leg over the other, and leaned comfortably back in his chair as he looked down at her.

"It doesn't matter. To be honest, whether he hands over the Tou She Ancient God Jade or not makes no difference. I don't care about that. What I care about most is... how your Brother Xiao Yan is doing now."

Gu Xun'er froze, then shouted at him:

"What did you do to him?!"

"Miss Gu Xun'er, there is no need to be so agitated. I did nothing. You understand—over this past year, I have been preparing to break through to Dou Venerate. I had no interest in wasting my attention on little clowns like you," Hun Tianchen said blandly.

Dou Venerate?

An immeasurable shock surged through Gu Xun'er's heart.

She knew very well how quickly the younger generation of the Ancient Eight Clans could advance in cultivation, but most of the time, it was only because of the Dou Di bloodline.

At his age, even the most brilliant member of the Ancient Clan's younger generation would at most be a Dou Zong.

Yet he had already reached Dou Venerate...

Faced with such a gap, Gu Xun'er could not help but feel a trace of despair.

If Hun Tianchen successfully reached Dou Saint like this, what fate would await the Ancient Clan?

No matter how much she believed in Brother Xiao Yan's talent and potential, compared to Hun Tianchen, Brother Xiao Yan seemed to be far, far behind.

A seventeen-year-old Dou Venerate—the youngest Dou Venerate in history.

"Heh, I have a little thing I'd like to show you. Of course, you may choose not to look." Hun Tianchen tossed Gu Xun'er something resembling an energy sphere, which slowly floated before her.

"But I believe you'll look, because it contains news of your beloved Brother Xiao Yan."

"Don't ever suspect that what's inside has been fabricated, because I never do anything so pointless..."

Under Gu Xun'er's nearly vacant gaze, Hun Tianchen's white robes swept behind him as he departed with effortless grace.

After sitting there in silence for five minutes, Gu Xun'er stretched out a slightly trembling hand and gently touched the energy sphere.

She stared at the energy sphere with fear in her eyes.

She was terrified of seeing something bad happen to Xiao Yan.

But after reading the contents, Gu Xun'er's expression turned somewhat despairing.

Because she saw Hun Miesheng personally deliver a letter to Xiao Yan. That letter was the very one Hun Tianchen had produced in front of her, meant to tell Xiao Yan that she, Gu Xun'er, had been placed under house arrest by the Hun Clan.

Yet after reading the letter, Xiao Yan showed not the slightest bit of anger. He was even cheering himself on with excited gestures, as though celebrating something.

"Brother Xiao Yan...?" A trace of despair surfaced in Gu Xun'er's eyes.

At that moment, she recalled something Hun Tianchen had said.

"But once he learns that you have been captured by my Hun Clan, what will he do? Does he truly care about you in his heart?"