Destroy Xiao Yan, Seize His Ring

Ling Yuan was shocked because the Xiao Clan had so casually displayed the Tou She Ancient God Jade.

This was something the Soul Clan and Gu Clan had been watching all along!

But after steadying himself and giving it some thought, he found it perfectly reasonable.

If he were the Xiao Clan's patriarch, he would probably have done the same.

Within the Xiao Clan, the Tou She Ancient God Jade was merely an ancestral jade plaque with no practical use.

It could neither increase one's strength nor serve as a weapon. Compared to Xiao Yan, once a genius, it was utterly worthless.

Xiao Zhan had great faith in his son. As long as Xiao Yan could recover, with the talent he had displayed in childhood, reaching Dou Wang in the future would not be a problem.

And a Dou Wang was already a top-tier expert in the Jia Ma Empire, enough to support a clan and dominate an entire region.

Under such circumstances, even if Xiao Zhan had to squander the family fortune, he would find every possible way to treat Xiao Yan's illness. A useless jade plaque naturally meant nothing.

Just then, a handsome young man and a young girl in a long purple dress entered the hall.

That was right. They were Xiao Yan and Gu Xun'er.

Xiao Yan had been summoned, while Gu Xun'er was curious about the powerful expert who had suddenly appeared in the Xiao Clan.

After they entered, everyone's gaze turned toward them.

When they saw Xiao Yan, dissatisfaction filled many members of the Xiao Clan's eyes.

Not only was he useless, but the Xiao Clan also had to pay an enormous price to treat his hidden ailment...

The youth seemed long accustomed to such looks and headed straight for his father.

"Father, this is..."

Xiao Zhan was still kneeling on the ground.

Xiao Yan wanted to help him up, but Xiao Zhan instead introduced Ling Yuan to him.

"Yan'er, this is Lord Dou Zong. He is very interested in the sudden disappearance of your Dou Qi. Hurry and let him examine you."

Only then did Xiao Yan turn his attention to Ling Yuan, who sat in the seat of honor.

A Dou Zong! And so young...

He had initially been confused by his father kneeling, but once he learned that the other party was a Dou Zong and might be able to help him recover—

The flame of hope in Xiao Yan's eyes instantly surged to life.

"Can you really help me?" He had been a good-for-nothing for three years already, and Xiao Yan truly did not want to go on like this.

The chance to escape the misfortune of Dou Qi Stage Three was right before him. How could Xiao Yan possibly let it slip away?

"Yan'er, do not be rude!" Xiao Zhan rebuked him on the surface.

Xiao Zhan had noticed that Ling Yuan might be interested in his family heirloom. Rising to his feet, he took the box containing the Tou She Ancient God Jade from a servant and offered it up with both hands.

"My lord, this is the inherited jade plaque of my Xiao Clan. If you can help my son, the Xiao Clan is willing to give it to you! And my Xiao Clan will forever remember your great kindness!"

At this moment, Gu Xun'er also got a clear look at the person seated in the place of honor.

She did not recognize him, but a voice by her ear informed her of Ling Yuan's identity.

Ling Yuan, the Young Clan Leader of the Ling Clan?!

Why had he appeared in the Xiao Clan?

And Uncle Xiao actually wanted to trade the Tou She Ancient God Jade for Ling Yuan's help!

Gu Xun'er's mind was in turmoil. She truly did not know what to do.

On one side was the Ancient Jade, and on the other was her Brother Xiao Yan.

She thought, Could the Ling Clan really have come for the Tou She Ancient God Jade? If the Ancient Jade is truly taken away, what will happen? The Xiao Clan is giving it away directly, so even if the Ling Clan takes it, it would not count as breaking the rules.

Although Gu Xun'er had Gu Jiang, the guard Gu Yuan had sent to protect her, by her side, his duty was to protect her from the shadows.

Other than Gu Xun'er, he did not care about anything else.

He might have long noticed Yao Chen's presence inside Xiao Yan's ring, but he simply did not tell Gu Xun'er.

In his eyes, Gu Xun'er was a swan, while Xiao Yan was nothing more than a toad.

Gu Jiang looked down on the Xiao Clan, and he looked down on Xiao Yan even more.

Yet Gu Xun'er had remained devoted to Xiao Yan all this time.

Gu Jiang wished for Xiao Yan to remain useless for the rest of his life, so that Gu Xun'er would leave him.

Why would he ever remind Gu Xun'er that there was a remnant soul inside Xiao Yan's ring?

Just as Gu Xun'er and the others thought Ling Yuan was about to take the Ancient Jade, his reaction exceeded their expectations.

Ling Yuan wore a look of disdain. "This young master has no interest in your Xiao Clan's heirloom."

Damn it, the Soul Clan intended to wipe out the other Dou God Clans for this very thing.

The Xiao Clan's Ancient Jade was a hot potato. Ling Yuan would not be foolish enough to bring it back to the Ling Clan.

The Ling Clan was already so weak. What would happen if they held two pieces of Ancient Jade?

Would that not be inviting the Soul Clan to attack the Ling Clan?

He absolutely could not take this Ancient Jade. Not only could he not take it, he needed to stay as far away from it as possible.

Xiao Zhan's eyes immediately dimmed. He thought Ling Yuan's disdain for the Xiao Clan's possessions meant that he had refused.

However, when he heard Ling Yuan's next sentence, he was overjoyed once more.

"However, this young master has seen your sincerity. I will do my best to examine your son..."

The Xiao Clan's heirloom made Ling Yuan feel as though he were holding a hot potato.

He possessed Origin Qi. He was the only person on the entire continent capable of breaking through to Dou God.

Why would he need so many Tuoshe Ancient Jades?

He only needed to ensure that the jade in the Ling Clan's possession was not lost.

Before he broke through to Dou God, no one could open the Ancient Emperor's Cave Mansion!

Ling Yuan had come to cripple Xiao Yan in the first place. As for the Xiao Clan's worthless reward, he could forget about it.

Taking Yao Chen's ring and obtaining the eleventh-ranked Bone Chilling Flame and the Flame Mantra would already be an enormous profit.

Xiao Zhan was extremely excited. "Thank you, my lord! Thank you, my lord!"

Wonderful! His son had hope of recovering...

"My lord, please help me eliminate my hidden ailment!"

No matter how much Xiao Yan's character had been tempered, seeing how much his father had done for him, he would not choose to let him down.

Ling Yuan lowered his eyes to Xiao Yan before him and slowly said, "Step forward."

Xiao Yan did as instructed and walked a few steps closer.

A soft golden gleam suddenly lit up between Ling Yuan's brows. An incomparably dense soul fluctuation spread out in an instant, tightly enveloping Xiao Yan's entire body.

That fluctuation headed toward the ancient black ring on Xiao Yan's left hand and swiftly wrapped around it.

This was the ring. Yao Chen was inside it.

Ling Yuan could vaguely sense traces of soul fluctuations within the ring.

They were extremely weak. Without careful probing, they truly could not be detected.

Yao Chen had indeed been an eighth-tier alchemist with a powerful soul while alive, but now less than one percent of his strength remained.

Any random Dou Zong would be a life-or-death threat to Yao Chen.

Since he had already decided to cripple Xiao Yan, Ling Yuan did not hesitate any longer.

He reached out and curled his five fingers through the air. The black ring detached from Xiao Yan's palm, turning into a streak of light as it landed in his hand.

"The problem should lie with this ring!"

A faint layer of spiritual light appeared at Ling Yuan's fingertips as he lightly tapped the ring's surface.

A mysterious mark was instantly branded upon it, placing a sturdy lock upon the ring.

The moment the seal formed, the faint soul fluctuation inside the ring was completely suppressed. Not even the slightest trace of soul fluctuation leaked out anymore.

"That was a relic left behind by my mother. How could you..."

Xiao Yan had just wanted to question him, but Xiao Zhan frantically signaled with his eyes, forcing him to swallow his words.

How could he possibly doubt a Dou Zong expert?

Xiao Zhan said, "Yan'er, quickly thank my lord, then try cultivating!"

Xiao Yan looked somewhat unwillingly at the ring in Ling Yuan's hand.

Ling Yuan looked every bit the demeanor of an expert, but inwardly, he was laughing like mad.

He had stolen Yao Chen, Xiao Yan's greatest cheat, ruined his future, and the other party would still have to thank him shortly!

Not bad. Being a villain felt pretty great!

Come on, Xiao Yan. Thank me!