A Veiled Taunt at the Gu Clan

Ling Yuan halted, and his first thought was: This damned place actually has a Ban Sheng expert?

But he quickly guessed the other party's identity.

"I heard that the Gu Clan's young lady, Gu Xun'er, was sent to the Xiao Clan. Gu Yuan's daughter couldn't possibly be left unprotected, so that person must be a Gu Clan Ban Sheng."

When he had read the novel in his previous life, he had never understood why Gu Yuan's daughter had been assigned a Dou Emperor, Ling Ying, as her bodyguard.

That was far too shabby. Even if Gu Xun'er had been an illegitimate daughter, they shouldn't have treated her like that.

So there really had been a Ban Sheng protecting her, only hidden in the shadows.

That made much more sense.

The other party was merely a Ban Sheng, while Elder Yun was a High-Tier Ban Sheng. There was nothing to fear.

Once they entered the Xiao Clan's territory, the Ban Sheng who had been concealed in the darkness finally revealed himself slowly.

He was an ordinary-looking middle-aged man dressed in a gray cloth robe. His frame was somewhat thin, and his features carried the particular arrogance unique to a Dou God Clan.

Ling Yun recognized him at once. "Gu Jiang?"

So he really was from the Gu Clan. The Young Clan Leader had predicted it perfectly.

Gu Jiang's gaze fell upon the three of them. His previously calm expression instantly darkened, and his tone was clearly wary and interrogative. "Ling Yun! What exactly has brought your Ling Clan here this time?"

Clearly, as fellow Ban Shengs, the two knew each other and had dealt with one another before.

Ling Yuan had also learned from Elder Yun that the man was an Intermediate Ban Sheng.

Ling Yuan could not help sighing. The Gu Clan was so wealthy and powerful, yet they had sent only an Intermediate Ban Sheng to protect Gu Xun'er?

If it were him, and his own father were a Nine-Star Dou Sheng, the person protecting him would have to be at least a One-Star or Two-Star Dou Sheng. Who would send only an Intermediate Ban Sheng to guard Xun Er?

At that moment, Gu Jiang was full of vigilance. What is the Young Clan Leader of the Ling Clan doing here? Could he also be after the Xiao Clan's Tou She Ancient God Jade?

But that makes no sense. With the Ling Clan's strength, they would already be fortunate if they could keep their own jade from being stolen...

In terms of strength, the Gu Clan's strongest expert was a Nine-Star Dou Sheng, and it had more than five experts above the Seven-Star Dou Sheng level.

As for Dou Di Bloodlines, the Gu Clan could still produce a God-Grade Bloodline like Gu Xun'er's, and its eighth- and ninth-grade bloodlines had never died out.

Whether in bloodline purity or overall clan strength, the Gu Clan stood at the very peak.

The Gu Clan vaguely regarded itself as the foremost Dou God Clan.

As a result, every member of the Gu Clan carried a sense of superiority.

Sure enough, when Gu Jiang asked why Ling Yuan and the others had come here, his voice actually carried a trace of accusation.

That greatly displeased Ling Yuan. Even if the Gu Clan was stronger than the Ling Clan, how dared a mere Ban Sheng interrogate the Young Clan Leader of the Ling Clan?

He was taking the Ling Clan far too lightly.

Ling Yuan had never been someone who swallowed insults. Faced with Gu Jiang's questioning, he refused to yield an inch and immediately shot back.

"Where I am and where I go, is that something a Gu Clan Ban Sheng like you has the right to question? This is Xiao Clan territory, not Gu Clan land. Are members of the Gu Clan allowed to come while my Ling Clan cannot set foot here? Your Gu Clan is truly overbearing!"

Before long, he would be able to free Zhu Kun completely.

Then Ling Yuan would also have a Nine-Star Dou Sheng backing him.

With a Nine-Star Dou Sheng father-in-law, why the hell would he fear the Gu Clan?

He could not claim he could destroy the Gu Clan, but the Gu Clan definitely would not dare do anything to the Ling Clan.

If things continued like this, then once Ling Yuan broke through to become a Dou God...

What the hell was Gu Yuan? He could slap him to death with one hand!

Only then did Gu Jiang realize that he had misspoken. His expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly restrained his aura before clasping his hands and lowering his head in apology.

"Young Clan Leader Ling, you misunderstand. I meant no such thing. I simply did not expect the Young Clan Leader to personally visit such a remote place, and I lost my composure for a moment."

He secretly regretted it, cursing himself for speaking without thinking.

The Gu Clan might be powerful, but he was only a Ban Sheng. He did not dare openly clash with the Young Clan Leader of the Ling Clan.

If this matter reached the clan, the Gu Clan would be in the wrong. In the end, the Gu Clan would still have to offer compensation and apologies to the Ling Clan. He could not bear the consequences.

But Ling Yuan had no intention of letting him off so easily. There was no need to fight, but he at least wanted to disgust Gu Jiang a little.

Ling Yuan sneered. "Your Gu Clan is truly benevolent and righteous. You even sent the Gu Clan's young lady to look after and support the declining Xiao Tribe. Although the Ling Clan's relationship with the Xiao Tribe is merely ordinary, we too wish to contribute a small effort."

Ling Yuan heavily emphasized the word "support," openly mocking the Gu Clan.

Back when Xiao Xuan had been preparing to challenge the Dou God realm, he had personally entrusted Gu Yuan with the care of the Xiao Tribe. The two had been close friends.

But when Xiao Xuan failed and was hunted down by Hun Tiandi, what did his friend Gu Yuan do?

Not only did Gu Yuan refuse to save him, he secretly divided up all of the Xiao Tribe's resources, causing it to plummet into decline and fall to its current state.

The Xiao Tribe's clan leader, Xiao Zhan, was merely a Da Dou Shi. The mighty Gu Clan had supposedly helped look after them, yet this was what they had become?

It was truly laughable.

One had to know that even the dogs guarding the Gu Clan's outer gates were stronger than Da Dou Shi.

Even after the Soul Clan captured Xiao Zhan, they had fed him resources until he became a Dou Emperor.

There was no need to say more about what kind of people the Gu Clan were.

The Gu Clan's shameless conduct had long ceased to be a secret among the Dou God Clans.

Gu Jiang's face alternated between green and white, looking utterly awful.

Although everyone knew about this matter, the Gu Clan was powerful enough that the various clans had tacitly agreed not to speak of it.

Ling Yuan was simply too young and reckless. How could he dare... Was the Ling Clan truly unafraid of being targeted by the Gu Clan?

Because of the gap in their status, Gu Jiang did not dare retort. He could only force out a smile and remain silent.

He knew very well that if this argument continued, Ling Yuan would probably bring up the Tou She Ancient God Jade.

Gu Jiang no longer dared block their path and stepped aside.

He secretly hoped that the Ling Clan had not come for the Tou She Ancient God Jade.

Next, Ling Yuan arrived at the Xiao Tribe.

The three stood high in the sky, looking down at the terrified members of the Xiao Clan below.

Standing beside Ling Yuan, Ling Yun looked down and spoke, his voice reaching every member of the Xiao Clan. "Our Young Clan Leader is here. Summon your clan leader to meet him."

Walking through the Void—a Dou Zong expert!

When Xiao Zhan learned that a Dou Zong expert had come calling, he was so frightened that his mind was in turmoil. He hurriedly led several clan elders out to greet them, his attitude respectful to the extreme and even tinged with fear.

That was a Dou Zong expert! The strongest person publicly known in the Jia Ma Empire was only a Dou Emperor.

For an ordinary family, having a Dou Ling overseeing it was enough to make it a regional overlord.

To the Xiao Clan, such an existence was no different from a deity in the heavens.

Yet now, such a supreme expert had come to the Xiao Clan. What could he possibly want?

Xiao Zhan feared that these three might mean the Xiao Clan harm, but beneath that fear lay an indescribable trace of hope.

If such an expert had come with goodwill, could he ask him to examine the hidden condition causing Yan'er's Dou Qi to disappear?

For Xiao Yan's recovery, Xiao Zhan had spent no small amount of effort over the years.

He had sought out many famous physicians and even first-tier alchemists, but all of them could only shake their heads and sigh, unable to find even the slightest cause.

As for stronger experts and alchemists, the Xiao Clan could not afford to invite them.

Xiao Zhan thought: If they bear no ill will, I must ask them.

As long as I can persuade this expert to examine Yan'er, any price would be worth paying!