Xiao Clan

Biodata

History

Ancient lineage and decline

The Xiao Clan descends from the ancient Xiao Tribe, once one of the continent's eight peak ancient clans. The Xiao Tribe was destroyed by the Soul Clan roughly a thousand years earlier, leaving the modern clan in decline 136 137.

The clan still retained some prominence in the Jia Ma Empire under former clan head Xiao Lin, a Dou King. Following his death, it declined into a Wutan City family whose publicly known strongest members were only Da Doushi-level cultivators 3 42 90.

Gu Xun'er's fostering

Gu Yuan brought his daughter, Gu Xun'er, to the Xiao Clan and asked Xiao Zhan to foster her. Xiao Zhan and the elders accepted, hoping to establish ties with the mysterious and overwhelmingly powerful visitor 3.

Gu Yuan left a Storage Ring containing first- and second-grade pills, three fourth-grade Juqi Powders, and roughly one to two hundred thousand gold coins. The resources were a major windfall for the financially strained clan 3.

Xun'er's placement was later revealed to be connected to a key held by the Xiao Clan. Xiao Ce identified both the Gu Clan and Soul Clan as interested parties, making the clan's inherited secret a continuing security concern 136 137.

Rise in Wutan City

Xiao Ce's alchemy became a major source of the clan's resurgence. The clan sold the first-grade pills he refined, taking fifty percent of the profits; these sales drew customers away from the other two great clans' markets 82.

After Xiao Ce returned with Hai Bodong, the Ice Emperor agreed to stay at the Xiao Clan under a deal with him. His presence gave the clan a powerful protector and strengthened its ties to the Mite'er Family 74.

The clan launched an extermination operation against the Jialie Clan, whose experts had murdered Xiao Ce's parents while they were transporting goods. The Jialie Clan was wiped out, and Xiao Zhan and the elders absorbed its wealth and businesses 1 86 88.

The Aoba Clan promptly submitted and offered half its wealth. From that point onward, the Xiao Clan became Wutan City's foremost clan 88 89.

Leadership and Members

Resources and Influence

• Medicinal-pills trade — Xiao Ce's first-grade pills expanded the clan marketplace's influence in Wutan City, while his later alchemical output was handled through the Mite'er Family's channels 82 81.
• Mite'er Family connection — Hai Bodong's association with the clan enabled closer cooperation with the Mite'er Family, including Ya Fei and Miteer Auction House 40 73 81.
• Wanyao Pavilion supply line — Wanyao Pavilion became one of the Xiao Clan's principal medicinal-herb suppliers after establishing contact with the clan 110.
• Jialie Clan assets — The Xiao Clan seized the Jialie Clan's wealth and businesses after its extermination 88.
• Aoba Clan tribute — The Aoba Clan submitted and surrendered half its wealth to avoid suffering the Jialie Clan's fate 89.

Security and Future Plans

The clan's public strength is deliberately understated. Even relatives and outside observers believed Xiao Ce to be only a low-ranking cultivator long after he had surpassed that level, limiting attention from hostile powers 41 107 152.

Before departing for Jia Nan Academy, Xiao Ce entrusted Hai Bodong with protecting the Xiao Clan and Ya Fei. Hai Bodong intended to use his connections to bring high-level alchemists into the clan's orbit during Xiao Ce's absence 109.

Xiao Ce later planned to relocate the Xiao Clan because a Soul Hall protector was active in the Jia Ma Empire and the Soul Clan posed a direct threat to the clan's inherited legacy 136 137.