Xun'er Becomes His Disciple

The Xiao Family had now gained complete dominance in the Jia Ma Empire.

Only the empire's border defenses remained under the garrison of the Imperial Family.

The Xiao Family had practically monopolized all domestic commerce!

The Mittel Family had even taken the initiative to invite members of the Xiao Family to oversee the auction houses in cities throughout the Jia Ma Empire and supervise their income and expenses.

Meanwhile, Yun Shan had assigned elders and deacons from the Misty Cloud Sect to accompany and protect the Xiao Family members.

This strange arrangement made some sharp-eyed people in other cities sense that something was amiss!

The Misty Cloud Sect held a position in the Jia Ma Empire equal to that of the Imperial Family!

And yet they had sent people to protect someone of extremely low strength.

Who exactly was that person?

What gave him the right to have powerful members of the Misty Cloud Sect protect him?!

People in cities everywhere discussed it.

They were desperate to know the answer.

Unfortunately, very few people knew the truth.

Meanwhile,

the Xiao Family members had been given the best cultivation environment and resources on Misty Cloud Mountain!

Yun Shan and Jia Xingtian personally instructed the younger generation of the clan in their cultivation!

With two Peak Dou Emperor experts guiding them,

and support from the Alchemy Hall's pills,

the Xiao Family members' cultivation had improved by more than double from where it had been!

Even Xiao Zhan had broken through to four-star Da Dou Shi in just half a month.

Xiao Yan had also reached Three-Stage Dou Qi.

Everything was developing for the better.

That day, Xiao Xuan stood on the raised platform overlooking the plaza, his hands behind his back, watching the Xiao Family disciples spar below.

He was quite pleased.

Just then, a girl's voice sounded beside him!

"Hello, Uncle."

Xiao Xuan turned his head and saw a little girl in a pale green dress, with fair skin and a lovely face.

The two shallow dimples at the corners of her mouth were especially charming when she smiled!

It was easy to imagine how breathtakingly beautiful she would be once she came of age.

[System notification! System notification! Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame Seed detected...]

[Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame Seed detected...]

Even without the system's notification,

Xiao Xuan had already guessed who she was.

But

he still pretended not to know.

"What's your name?"

"My name is Xiao Xun'er."

Xun'er put on an innocent, guileless expression,

as though she had no idea of Xiao Xuan's true identity.

Xiao Xuan played along:

"So you're Xun'er. What can I do for you?"

"I heard that you're the most powerful person in the Xiao Family, Uncle. Could I ask you for a favor?"

"Of course."

Xiao Xuan smiled.

Xun'er clapped her hands happily, her little face full of anticipation as she asked, "That's wonderful! Will you take me as your disciple?"

Xiao Xuan didn't believe that, from the moment he left the Ancient Clan, Gu Yuan hadn't told his own daughter—who was far away in the Xiao Family—about it.

And not only had she not gone back, she had come with the Xiao Family to Misty Cloud Mountain. Now, she was even asking Xiao Xuan to take her as his disciple!

There was...

surely a scheme behind this!

Xiao Xuan wanted to see whether this was Gu Yuan's idea, or the whim of a little girl only a few years old!

And what sort of trick she thought she could pull!

So he nodded and agreed. "No problem."

Xun'er immediately performed the disciple's formal bow.

"Teacher, please accept this disciple's bow."

"Heh, come here. This is a little gift from your teacher."

Xiao Xuan played his part to the end.

"Thank you, Teacher."

Xun'er accepted the gift as if it were a priceless treasure.

She was just about to speak

when Xiao Yan came running over.

"Xun'er, look! I've broken through to Three-Stage Dou Qi!"

"Oh."

Xun'er didn't want to humor him.

Though Xiao Yan had hit a wall, he had no intention of giving up.

He reached out, trying to take Xun'er's hand.

"Xun'er, come with me. Let's go cultivate together."

Xun'er dodged him and took half a step back.

"Thank you, Cousin Xiao Yan, but Xun'er still has something to do, so I'll be going. Goodbye, Teacher."

Xun'er had wanted to talk with Xiao Xuan a little longer.

But with clingy Xiao Yan showing up, she could only leave with regret.

Watching Xun'er flee as if escaping,

Xiao Yan felt unwilling to give up, but there was nothing he could do.

He could only return to the other members of the Xiao Family.

"Looks like the bond between Xiao Yan and Gu Xun'er was severed because of me!"

Xiao Xuan smiled wryly.

"My lord."

Yun Shan and Jia Xingtian walked over.

They looked as if they wanted to say something but couldn't bring themselves to.

"What is it?"

Jia Xingtian nudged Yun Shan,

signaling him to speak.

Yun Shan could only steel himself and say:

"My lord, it's like this. That young man named Xiao Yan has decent talent, but... but..."

"If you have something to say, just say it."

"It's just that he's a little too arrogant."

Jia Xingtian quickly corrected him. "No, he's more like a show-off."

"Right, right. He's a show-off."

Yun Shan wiped his sweat and gave Jia Xingtian a grateful glance.

Xiao Xuan looked toward Xiao Yan.

By now, he had already forgotten how Xun'er had snubbed him. He was enjoying Xiao Mei's flattery, looking utterly smug!

He even had his hands behind his back, putting on the air of a teacher as he began offering cultivation advice to the other young Xiao Family members!

Xiao Xuan said gravely:

"When it comes to cultivation, you must be strict when strictness is needed."

"Yes, my lord. We understand."

With Xiao Xuan's order, Yun Shan and Jia Xingtian breathed a sigh of relief.

Xiao Xuan left the plaza and called for Xiao Zhan and Yao Chen.

"I'm leaving. For a long time after this, the Xiao Family will be in your hands."

"Ancestor, are you going to look for a way to restore your physical body?"

"Yes. One day, we'll have to face the Hun Clan. When that time comes, a great battle will be unavoidable. I'll have better odds if I restore my physical body."

In the original story, Hun Tiandi had begun making plans a thousand years ago, even considering how he would defeat a Dou Di if someone broke through and challenged him.

Facing an enemy like that,

even with a system and knowledge of the story, Xiao Xuan couldn't afford to be careless.

"Rest assured, Ancestor. I'll make sure the Xiao Family disciples cultivate properly and don't hold you back!"

Xiao Xuan nodded.

He hadn't expected them to be of any help in that great battle.

He only hoped to preserve some of the Xiao Family's bloodline!

"Keep these few Red Crystal Soul-Nurturing Fruits safe. They can help you recover your strength to the Dou Venerable level. When I come back next time, it'll be time for you to restore your physical body."

"Thank you, my lord."

Yao Chen took them excitedly.

"By the way, my lord, will you be going to the Central Plains this time?"

"I can't say for sure."

If his physical body still took too long to restore, he wanted to visit the northern part of the continent. The Barbarian Tribe there was said to possess immense strength and the ability to merge with beast souls. Perhaps they had a powerful physical body that would suit him!

Yao Chen paused. "If you go to the Central Plains, could you do me a favor?"

"All right. If I go to the Central Plains, I'll visit Starfall Pavilion and tell Venerable Wind where you are!"

"Thank you, my lord."

"One more thing. While I'm away, keep an eye on a girl named Xun'er. Whatever happens, tell me when I get back."

Yao Chen seemed to have guessed what this was about.

He bowed and said:

"Rest assured, my lord. Yao Chen will not fail your trust."

Xiao Xuan swept his sleeve, and a fissure split open in the space before him. Then he stepped through.

Next, he would head to the Tagor Desert.

And devour the Green Lotus Core Flame!