The Fostered Little Girl

But Xiao Yan had one good quality.

He was very easy to fool.

Xiao Ce merely went along with his words. "How could my talent possibly compare to Cousin Xiao Yan's? I've always believed that it was only a matter of time before Cousin Xiao Yan surpassed me. The future of the Xiao Clan will still rest on Cousin Xiao Yan's shoulders!"

Just those few ordinary sentences nearly had Xiao Yan hooked like a fish with its mouth wide open.

They were both compliments, but coming from different people, they naturally had different effects.

For example, Xiao Yan had already heard flattering words like that from Xiao Ning countless times.

But Xiao Ce was different. He was the Xiao Clan's most gifted talent after Xiao Yan himself.

Receiving Xiao Ce's recognition felt far more refreshing than receiving the flattery of a hundred Xiao Nings.

Thus, in that brief instant, Xiao Yan had already given Xiao Ce an entirely new position in his heart.

His future right-hand man!

"By the way, Xiao Ce, do you know who those people who arrived just now are?"

"Father and the others seemed extremely cautious around them."

Xiao Yan craned his neck and glanced toward the scene in the Guest Reception Hall from afar before asking curiously.

Xiao Ce spread his hands. "I'd like to know too."

Seeing this, Xiao Yan thought, That's true. Even I don't know, so how could Xiao Ce know?

Meanwhile, inside the Guest Reception Hall.

After a round of pleasantries, Gu Yuan revealed the purpose of his visit.

"Clan Leader Xiao, I have come this time mainly to ask you for a favor."

Xiao Zhan quickly replied, "Please speak, Mister Gu. If there is anything the Xiao Clan can do for you, please do not hesitate to ask."

The reason he attached such importance to Gu Yuan was naturally because Gu Yuan had displayed a small portion of his strength when he first arrived.

Although it had merely been the tip of the iceberg of Gu Yuan's true power, it had still left Xiao Zhan feeling that he was unfathomable.

The Xiao Clan had once been one of the Jia Ma Empire's top families, and Xiao Zhan's father, Xiao Lin, had even been a peak Dou Wang.

When he was younger, Xiao Zhan had been fortunate enough to witness a battle between Dou Emperors, yet those Dou Emperors had not felt nearly as terrifying as this Mister Gu before him.

Therefore, Xiao Zhan boldly guessed that this Mister Gu was likely a legendary Dou Zong expert.

Although he did not know how the Xiao Clan had become connected to such a powerful expert, forming ties with someone like him would naturally bring nothing but benefits.

After hearing Xiao Zhan's words, Gu Yuan smiled in satisfaction. He then glanced at Gu Xun'er beside him, his expression gentle.

"Clan Leader Xiao, this is my daughter, Xun'er. Due to certain reasons that are inconvenient to disclose, I wish to place her in the care of the Xiao Clan for a time."

Place her in their care?

As soon as those words were spoken, Xiao Zhan and the Xiao Clan's three elders in the Guest Reception Hall all turned their gazes toward the delicate, quiet little girl standing beside Gu Yuan, their minds immediately racing.

They did not know why Mister Gu wanted to leave his daughter with the Xiao Clan, but if they could use this little girl to form a connection with him, it would undoubtedly be a great opportunity for the Xiao Clan.

With Mister Gu's strength, even a few treasures slipping from between his fingernails would be enough to keep the Xiao Clan well-fed.

Xiao Zhan exchanged glances with the three elders and nodded slightly. With nothing more than that look, they had already settled the matter.

Finally, Xiao Zhan spoke. "Mister Gu, you are too polite. Though the Xiao Clan is no great and distinguished family, we can certainly care for a child. Your daughter may stay in the Xiao Clan without worry."

Gu Yuan nodded slightly. "Then I shall trouble Clan Leader Xiao!"

As he spoke, he flipped his right hand, and a pitch-black Storage Ring appeared in his palm.

With a casual sweep of Gu Yuan's hand, the Storage Ring was gently pushed by an invisible force toward Xiao Zhan.

Xiao Zhan's eyes lit up at once.

He had not expected Mister Gu to be so considerate!

The other three elders also stared fixedly at the Storage Ring in Xiao Zhan's hand.

Mister Gu's origins were so mysterious that the gift he offered could not possibly be ordinary.

Xiao Zhan coughed lightly. Though he dearly wanted to pocket the Storage Ring immediately, he still put on an affectedly restrained expression. "Mister Gu, what is the meaning of this?"

Gu Yuan chuckled. "Clan Leader Xiao, this Storage Ring is merely a token of my appreciation. Please be sure to accept it."

"Ah, how could I possibly accept this?" Xiao Zhan feigned hesitation, but his hands moved with astonishing speed, and he had already slipped the Storage Ring away without leaving a trace.

Seeing this, the corners of Gu Yuan's lips curled into a faint smile.

The conversation in the Guest Reception Hall continued for roughly another half hour.

Gu Yuan rose to his feet. "Clan Leader Xiao, Xun'er will be in your care!"

His tone was calm, but when his gaze fell upon Gu Xun'er, a trace of tenderness and reluctance still flashed deep within his eyes, so subtle it was almost impossible to notice.

Seeing this, Xiao Zhan likewise stood and solemnly cupped his hands. "Please rest assured, Mister Gu. I, Xiao Zhan, will treat Xun'er as my own child and never allow her to suffer the slightest grievance."

Gu Yuan nodded slightly. He then looked at his daughter, reached out to stroke her hair, gave her a few simple instructions, and headed out the door.

The three elders also rose one after another and personally escorted Gu Yuan out of the estate alongside Xiao Zhan.

Only after he had vanished from sight did the four men withdraw their gazes.

The Xiao Clan's First Elder asked with a grave expression, "Clan Leader, what exactly do you think Mister Gu's background is?"

Xiao Zhan spread his hands. "You're asking me? I'd like to know too."

Xiao Hai said thoughtfully, "Do you think what he said was true? Since when had our Xiao Clan been acquainted with an expert like him? Why had we never heard the old clan leader mention it before?"

The Second Elder rubbed his hands together, his tone eager. "Who cares? At any rate, such an expert bears no ill will toward our Xiao Clan. Clan Leader, didn't Mister Gu give you a Storage Ring just now? Let's see what good things are inside."

As soon as he said that, everyone's eyes lit up, and their attention instantly shifted.

Xiao Zhan did not keep anything hidden. He immediately took out the Storage Ring and sent his consciousness into it.

The next second, he sucked in a sharp breath, his face full of shock.

Seeing his expression, the three elders hurriedly urged, "Clan Leader, what treasures are in the Storage Ring? Look at how stunned you are."

"See for yourselves!"

With that, Xiao Zhan handed the Storage Ring to the nearest First Elder.

The First Elder took one look.

He too sucked in a sharp breath.

"Mister Gu is truly generous!"

"Quick, let me see too!"

Xiao Hai impatiently reached out and snatched the Storage Ring from the First Elder's hand.

The next second, after seeing the gifts inside, Xiao Hai could not help crying out in surprise. He then burst into unrestrained laughter, his face flushed with excitement.

"So many pills, and there are even three Juqi Powders!"

"And these gold coins—there must be one or two hundred thousand of them!"

"We're rich, we're rich! The Xiao Clan has truly struck it rich this time!"

Inside the Storage Ring were not only many first- and second-tier medicinal pills; what thrilled Xiao Zhan and the others most were the Juqi Powders.

After all, Juqi Powder was a fourth-tier medicinal pill. It could allow someone at the ninth stage of Dou Qi to form a Dou Qi Cyclone with absolute certainty, saving them a great deal of cultivation time. It was most suitable for the clan's talented youths.

And what geniuses lacked most was time.