Speculation

Speculation

The Xiao Clan, Xiao Xun Er's small courtyard.

At that moment, beside the desk inside the room, Xiao Xun Er was holding a brush and writing on a pristine white sheet of letter paper:

"Kindness and Affection for Me, Hand in Hand We Go"

The handwriting was delicate and neat; it was clear the owner had written it with great care.

Setting down the brush, Xiao Xun Er stared blankly at the eight words on the paper. A moving smile appeared at the corner of her lips, and tenderness welled in her eyes.

Standing to the side, Ling Ying looked at his young lady, wanting to speak but holding back.

"Old Ling, if you have something to say, say it!"

Xiao Xun Er looked at the paper without raising her head, yet it was as if she knew Ling Ying's expression.

Hearing this, Ling Ying bowed and cupped his hands.

"Miss, news has come from the clan."

After a pause, Ling Ying raised his head and glanced at his young lady before continuing.

"The Lei Clan's clan head, Lei Ying, personally went to the Ancient Realm to propose marriage to our clan on behalf of his son, Lei Dong!"

"Lei Dong? The one said to possess the Lei Clan God Grade Bloodline?"

Xiao Xun Er raised her head. Her tone was cool and clear, no longer carrying the innocence and gentleness she had when she was with Xiao Bai.

"Yes!"

"And the proposed match is who, me?"

"Yes!"

Xiao Xun Er understood. If it had not concerned her, the clan would not have sent her news about something like a marriage alliance.

But why had this information been sent? Had the clan not rejected it outright?

She frowned and pondered for a moment, then gave a mocking laugh.

"Heh, what fine calculations. Let me guess. Did Lei Ying say that the god grade bloodlines of the two clans should be joined, to see whether a descendant with a bloodline advanced by another step might be born in the future, and to test whether they could break through to that realm no one has reached in ten thousand years?"

Though Xiao Xun Er phrased it as a question, the certainty in her words was unmistakable.

"Miss is perceptive. The Lei Clan's clan head did indeed use this argument, and quite a few elders in the clan were very tempted. They intend to push this matter forward, first settling the status, then holding the wedding after Miss becomes a Saint in the future."

Ling Ying was not surprised by his young lady's intelligence. These years, the clan had always raised Miss as a candidate for the next clan head. Ever since she had become sensible, aside from cultivating and looking for that brat Xiao Bai, she had spent her time reading and studying.

If not for the great allure of the plan Lei Ying had proposed this time, the Ancient Clan would never have considered letting Miss marry out.

Among the remaining Ancient Eight Clans, only the Ancient Clan's bloodline had been preserved the most completely, but it was still in imminent danger. What every clan hoped for most was the emergence of another new Dou Di to carry on the bloodline.

Once the Lei Clan's proposal succeeded, both the Ancient and Lei Clans would benefit. The newly born Dou Di would possess the bloodlines of both families and could let both clans flourish for tens of thousands more years.

"What did my father say?" Thinking of Gu Yuan, a trace of warmth flashed through Xiao Xun Er's cool gaze.

"The Clan Head's meaning is that everything depends on Miss's wishes. If Miss is willing, he supports it. If Miss is unwilling, he will refuse."

"In addition, the Clan Head had me pass on a message to Miss: there's no need to go against your wishes to consider things like the clan's future. As long as Miss herself is happy, that's enough! And he also said..."

At this point, Ling Ying paused, somewhat unsure how to continue.

"What did he say? Just say the original words. No need to worry!" Xiao Xun Er said faintly.

"I've been at Nine Star Dou Sheng Peak for so many years. I've long had some guesses about how to reach that realm. That old brat Lei Ying definitely has no good intentions. What 'bloodline advanced by another step'? That old bastard is clearly trying to trick my precious daughter into becoming his idiot son's wife. Dream on!"

After hearing this, Xiao Xun Er smiled, and a warm current flowed through her heart.

"Old Ling, send a message back to the clan. Say that I'm still young now and temporarily don't want to consider these things. Everything can wait until after I become a Saint."

"Yes, Miss!"

"What, is there something else?" Seeing that Ling Ying had not left and was still standing there, Xiao Xun Er asked.

"Miss, please forgive me for speaking out of turn. Xiao Bai... Young Master Xiao Bai may be... may be unworthy of Miss!" Ling Ying cupped his hands and said with some hesitation.

In the past, Xiao Bai had always observed propriety and had no intimate actions with Miss, so he could turn a blind eye. But today, that brat had crossed the line a little.

Xiao Xun Er frowned upon hearing this. She had been in such a good mood today that she had overlooked some things.

Regarding the matter between herself and Xiao Bai, she had long since prepared herself to face pressure from the clan. She simply had not expected this day to come so quickly. And this was only Ling Ying. If those people in the clan found out, who knew what their reaction would be?

They might not be able to make things difficult for her, but they could make things difficult for Xiao Bai. That was something she would not allow.

"Ling Ying, how many years have you followed me?" After a moment of silence, Xiao Xun Er spoke in a faint, drawn-out tone.

"Replying to Miss, Ling Ying was chosen by the Clan Head when Miss was three. When Miss was four, I followed you here to the Xiao Clan. It has now been ten years!"

Ling Ying wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and replied in fear and trepidation.

Miss's tone was a little off. Usually, when someone in a superior position asked a subordinate such a question, it meant the subordinate was about to be made to sacrifice or contribute something. Surely his young lady would not replace him or finish him off for the sake of her lover, right?

"Then what do you think of Xiao Bai Gege?" Xiao Xun Er continued asking, expressionless.

"Uh... Young Master Xiao Bai is a dragon and phoenix among men, with peerless talent and brilliance that amazes the ages. In the future, he will surely become a Di!" Ling Ying gritted his teeth and said with a face full of solemn conviction, as if the person who had just said Xiao Bai was unworthy of his young lady was not him at all.

Xiao Xun Er paid no mind to Ling Ying's inconsistency and gave a cold laugh.

"Heh... I know that once you and the others in the clan find out, you'll definitely look down on him and think he can't compare to Gu Qingyang and the rest. But even if he remains a mere 9 Star Dou Zhi Qi for his entire life, he is still the person I, Gu Xun Er, have chosen. I won't let anyone bully him!"

For a moment, Xiao Xun Er seemed to remember when she had first arrived at the Xiao Clan not long ago, all alone, her body suffering the burning agony of the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame. It was that little boy in white who had silently kept her company and made her laugh, helping her through those difficult days.

"Besides, my Xiao Bai Gege isn't inferior to anyone!" Thinking of that figure in white, Xiao Xun Er's gaze softened, a trace of pride appearing on her face as she murmured inwardly, He isn't inferior to anyone at all.

She had seen Xiao Bai's performance over the years, especially today, when he had given her an even greater surprise.

For the past five years, Xiao Bai had not broken through, yet there had not been the slightest trace of anxiety on him. He had been extremely calm, as if he had deliberately wanted to remain at that realm. That had given the clever her some guesses, and afterward, she had not interfered further. She had only given him some resources for his breakthrough, though she inevitably still felt a little worried.

Who would have thought that today, he had finally broken through? It also let Xiao Xun Er breathe a sigh of relief. As long as nothing had gone wrong, that was good.

And then there was the story Xiao Bai had told her today. She did not think some of its details were completely just a story.

For example, the Supreme.

Over the years, in some incomplete handwritten notes she had taken from the clan, she had seen certain passages that faintly mentioned the idea of a Supreme. In the past, she had not known what this Supreme referred to.

But after hearing Xiao Bai's story today, she had formed a bold guess.

Could it be that above the Dou Qi Continent, there also existed a so-called Upper Realm? Was Supreme merely one realm of the Upper Realm?

According to Xiao Bai Gege, Dou Di was equal to Supreme. Did that mean one had to reach the Dou Di realm before one could go to that so-called Upper Realm?

Unfortunately, those handwritten notes were far too incomplete, and she could not glimpse the full picture.

That was why, when Xiao Bai mentioned Supreme today, she had been so interested that she could not wait to interrupt him.