The Clamshell War, the Fisherman Benefits?

"These items, shouldn't they all be in the Xiao Realm? Why would they appear here?!"

Xiao Xuan's brows were locked in a deep frown.

Back then, when he made the agreement with Gu Yuan to have them look after the Xiao Clan for a price, he had only provided Heaven-Grade Dou Techniques and cultivation methods.

After he emerged from the Heavenly Tomb, he had already reclaimed them from Gu Yuan.

Furthermore, during the great war between the Xiao Clan and the Hun Clan, Xiao Xuan had sealed the entrance to the Xiao Realm.

Even as he was now, he could not enter it for the time being!

So, why would the cultivation methods and Dou Techniques that should have been sealed away in the Xiao Realm appear in the Earth-Grade Warehouse of the Ancient Clan?

In the Heaven-Grade Warehouse of the Ancient Clan, were there perhaps even more precious items belonging to the Xiao Clan?

If the Ancient Clan had them, then what about the other ancient clans?

Did they have them as well?

In an instant, Xiao Xuan's mind was flooded with many doubts!

At the same time, he felt it was necessary to go and check the warehouses of the other ancient clans!

If they truly existed, then the situation might not be as simple as he had imagined!

Xiao Xuan waved his palm, sweeping all the items in the warehouse into the Heavenly Tomb!

He turned and left the warehouse.

"You few, stay alert and keep a close watch. Don't let even a fly inside!"

At the entrance, Xiao Xuan instructed the guards with a serious demeanor.

"Rest assured, Elder Gu Shan!"

Xiao Xuan nodded and drifted away.

After some maneuvering, he arrived directly at the Heaven-Grade Treasury!

This place had a soul imprint set by Gu Yuan.

Under normal circumstances, only elders at the Dou Saint level or above were permitted to come here!

The guards saw it was Gu Shan.

They stopped him immediately.

"Apologies, Elder Gu Shan, your clearance is insufficient; you cannot enter!"

Xiao Xuan did not speak, merely raising the Elder Token!

This token was the highest authority of the Ancient Clan's Elder Council; carrying it, one could go anywhere within the Ancient Clan.

Seeing this, the guards did not dare to block him further.

Just as Xiao Xuan was about to step inside, a low voice rang in his ears!

"Gu Shan! This place is guarded by me and is very secure; you... need not inspect it!"

Xiao Xuan turned his head to look.

Gu Shan's memories told him that the person before him was named Gu Ci, a one-star Dou Saint in the mid-stage.

His appearance matched his name; his hair stood straight up as if he had been struck by lightning.

It looked like sharp spikes!

If only his head were visible, one might mistake him for a hedgehog.

"The Mystic-Grade Warehouse of the clan has been robbed, and the Elder Council attaches great importance to it, ordering me to conduct irregular inspections of every warehouse in the clan."

Xiao Xuan remained neither servile nor overbearing.

With the strength of his Emperor-realm soul, a mere one-star mid-stage Dou Saint could not see through him.

Upon hearing this, Gu Ci's expression darkened: "Are you saying you don't trust me?!"

Xiao Xuan had intended to strike directly, kill Gu Ci, and force his way into the Heaven-Grade Warehouse!

To get to the bottom of it.

However, just as he was preparing to act, he sensed Gu Yuan's aura. To avoid exposing his other plans and having them cut short, he had no choice but to retreat for the time being.

Nevertheless, he was determined to enter this Heaven-Grade Warehouse and see the truth for himself!

Watching Xiao Xuan's departing back, Gu Ci snorted coldly:

"A mere Dou Venerable, daring to flash an Elder Token in front of me. If it weren't for the clan rules forbidding violence against fellow clansmen, I would have slapped you twice!"

Several days later.

Central Plains.

Several branch halls of the Soul Hall and several external contact points of the Ancient Clan.

Battles erupted at each of these locations!

Both sides suffered losses.

A battle between these two great clans was extremely rare, especially one involving the fall of Dou Venerable powerhouses!

This also piqued the curiosity of the other great clans.

Lei Realm, Lei Clan.

"Clan Leader, why do you think the Ancient Clan suddenly started fighting with the Soul Hall?"

Lei Dong, the Young Clan Leader of the Lei Clan, was somewhat puzzled.

This was a significant departure from the Ancient Clan they knew!

Clan Leader Lei Ying was skilled at fighting, but when it came to using his brain, he was somewhat helpless.

"You're asking me? I find it strange too. Given Gu Yuan's temperament, how could such a situation arise? It is truly baffling."

"Clan Leader, what is there to be baffled about? It's better that they are fighting! Ever since the fall of Xiao Xuan of the Xiao Clan, the Xiao Clan has been in a slump. From then on, only the Ancient Clan could put up any sort of fight against the Soul Clan."

Elder Lei Ba said with schadenfreude.

Nowadays, among the Eight Ancient Clans, besides the Soul Clan and the Ancient Clan, the Lei Clan was the strongest!

If these two great clans fought, given their respective strengths, the Soul Clan would most likely emerge victorious!

However, the Lei Clan might be able to profit from the situation once again, picking up some benefits and becoming the second most powerful existence among the Eight Ancient Clans after the Soul Clan!

For the Lei Clan, this was a massive stroke of luck!

Lei Yun, however, said: "There is something suspicious about this. I think we should send people to inquire more! It is imperative that we find out the truth."

"I leave this matter to you."

Lei Ying rubbed his hands together and laughed heartily: "Lei Dong, it's been a long time since we sparred. Come, come, all of you come at me together and keep me company for a workout!"

"Ah? Again?"

Yao Clan, Yao Realm.

Several elders of the clan gathered together.

Clan Leader Yao Dan spoke up.

"Everyone, what are your thoughts regarding the recent friction between the Ancient Clan and the Soul Clan?"

"The grievances between the Ancient Clan and the Soul Clan have existed for a long time. Small skirmishes have happened more than once or twice, so there is nothing to be surprised about."

Yao Wangui said dismissively.

Yao Wanhuo shook his head: "Clan Leader, I feel that this matter is somewhat strange."

Yao Dan was surprised: "Tell me more."

"In the past, the casualties from the friction between the two clans were mostly those below the Dou Ancestor level, people of little consequence."

As he spoke, Yao Wanhuo changed the subject.

"However, I heard that this time, quite a few Dou Venerables have fallen on both sides. Next time... it might even involve the Dou Saint level!"

In his view, these pieces of information must be hiding a larger, unknown signal!

Could this be the fuse for an all-out war between the two clans?

If so, given the strength of the Yao Clan, if they were caught in the crossfire, it could be troublesome!

Yao Dan remained silent for a long time before finally speaking: "Issue the order. For the sake of safety, temporarily close the Yao Realm and decline all visitors!"

"Understood."

On the other side.

Xiao Xuan had no chance to go to the Heaven-Grade Warehouse, so he could only look for an opportunity to attempt to enter the ancestral hall of the Ancient Clan.

He wanted to see if the Tou She Ancient God Jade of the Ancient Clan was still hidden there!

Arriving at the ancestral hall.

The guards at the entrance saw the Elder Token in his hand and did not stop him.

Xiao Xuan successfully entered!

Before he could even begin looking for the Tou She Ancient God Jade.

He discovered that a clone of Gu Yuan was sitting cross-legged right in front of the ancestral hall.

With things as they were, he could not continue his actions.

He had no choice but to wander around aimlessly for a bit before leaving!

Gu Yuan did not notice anything unusual, only feeling that this person was very reliable.

A few more days passed.

A nightmare reached the Ancient Clan!

The Dou Venerable experts sent out had all been slaughtered by the Grand Heavenly Venerable of the Soul Hall!

This caused a massive uproar within the Ancient Clan!

Especially among the younger generation.

They all gathered in the plaza, demanding that the Ancient Clan Council dispatch Dou Saint-level experts to leave the Ancient Realm and slay the Grand Heavenly Venerable of the Soul Hall at all costs.

They sought to avenge their fallen clansmen and wash away the shame!