Ten Years Earlier Than the Original Plot?

Faced with the questions thrown at him by Xiao Xuan, Gu Lie could not answer a single one.

His expression was as if he had swallowed a fly, stuck in his throat, unable to go up or down.

He was so stifled his face turned red!

He certainly could not say that under the Ancient Clan's "care," the Xiao Clan was filled with experts, where the peak strength of three Dou Grandmasters was not even as good as the gatekeepers of the Ancient Clan.

With the Ancient Clan ignoring them and focusing solely on seizing the Tou She Ancient God Jade, the Xiao Clan had been reduced to a third-rate, insignificant family.

Right now, in a remote little city in the Northwest Continent, they were being besieged by a family of Dou Grandmasters and could be wiped out at any moment!

Xiao Xuan stared at Gu Lie: "What? Are these questions that difficult to answer?"

"Clan Leader Xiao, this matter... is a long story. Why don't you rest in the clan for a while? When our Clan Leader returns, he can tell you personally!"

If Gu Lie told the truth, he would definitely enrage Xiao Xuan and trigger a great war.

At that point, given his own strength, if he couldn't win and the Clan Leader wasn't there, it would be a disaster.

Therefore, he decided to adopt a stalling tactic.

It would be safer to wait for Gu Yuan to return and let him explain the situation of the Xiao Clan to Xiao Xuan.

Xiao Xuan narrowed his eyes: "Trying to stall for time? It seems that because you thought I had completely perished, you have completely forgotten the agreement between us!"

BOOM!

A terrifying soul pressure instantly shattered the protective barrier Gu Lie had condensed!

At the same time, it pressed down on Gu Lie, making it impossible for him to straighten his back!

"Emperor... Emperor Realm Soul!"

Gu Lie gritted his teeth, a trickle of scarlet blood seeping from his mouth.

It was only then that he realized that perhaps Xiao Xuan had known about the Xiao Clan's situation all along.

Coming here now felt very much like he was here to settle accounts.

And yet, they had no words to defend themselves.

Gu Lie gritted his teeth: "Clan Leader Xiao, please show mercy. Your clansmen are currently very safe, truly."

He felt that his words were not entirely a lie.

In Wutan City of the Jia Ma Empire, a small city where three Dou Grandmasters were the peak of strength, the Xiao family could be considered a dominant force.

"Is that so? Then please answer my previous questions first!"

Not only did Xiao Xuan not withdraw his soul power, but he actually increased the soul pressure!

It forced Gu Lie, an eight-star Dou Saint, to bend his already hunched back even lower, his soul feeling as if something were desperately trying to rip it out.

The pain was unbearable.

At the same time, with a loud crash, several surrounding mountain peaks collapsed dozens of zhang into the ground, as if struck by some massive object!

Instantly, dust filled the air, blotting out the sky!

Since the Ancient Realm was first opened, this was the first time it had suffered such terrifying destruction!

It was a blatant slap to the face of their Ancient Clan!

Yet, they had no words to defend themselves!

After all, back then, in order to make the Ancient Clan agree and keep their promise, Xiao Xuan had brought out many high-level Dou Skills and cultivation methods from his clan as an exchange!

For the first hundred years, the Ancient Clan had indeed kept their promise.

As time passed, and no more brilliant talents appeared in the Xiao Clan, the Ancient Clan stopped caring about them.

They even expelled the Xiao Clan from the Ancient Realm.

From then on, the Xiao Clan began their history of wandering.

The Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan also went from being a Dou Saint, to a Dou Ancestor, to a Dou King, and finally to a Dou Grandmaster.

"Sigh..."

Gu Lie let out a sigh and had no choice but to tell Xiao Xuan the current state of the Xiao Clan without reservation!

Xiao Xuan pretended to listen intently.

In his heart, he was calculating what kind of additional compensation he should demand from the Ancient Clan.

"Clan Leader Xiao, although we indeed did not fully look after the Xiao Clan, perhaps the current situation is actually the most beneficial for them."

"So, I should thank you then?"

Xiao Xuan raised an eyebrow, his tone icy, and struck Gu Lie's chest with another soul skill.

Gu Lie spat out a mouthful of blood.

The remaining elders of the Ancient Clan did not dare to utter a single word upon seeing this!

Xiao Xuan let out a cold snort: "Since your Ancient Clan has failed to fulfill the promise made back then, shouldn't you return the contributions of the Xiao Clan twofold?"

"This..."

"So, does the Ancient Clan intend to default on the debt?"

"Clan Leader Xiao, this matter is of great importance. Please wait for our Clan Leader to return."

"Notify Gu Yuan to return immediately. My patience is limited!!" Xiao Xuan snorted coldly.

Gu Lie had no choice but to crush the Ancient Jade to send a message to Gu Yuan, stating only that there was an urgent matter in the clan and requesting his immediate return.

Afterward, he invited Xiao Xuan to the reception hall.

During the wait.

Xiao Xuan asked nonchalantly: "By the way, since Gu Yuan isn't here, where is his wife? Does she not know to come out and greet an old friend?!"

"Replying to Clan Leader Xiao, shortly after the Clan Leader's wife gave birth to the Young Miss, she unfortunately perished while attempting to break through to the six-star Dou Sheng realm."

Gu Lie sighed with emotion; the fall of the Clan Leader's wife had cost the Ancient Clan another top-tier combatant!

It was truly a pity.

Xiao Xuan took the opportunity to ask: "Gu Yuan has a daughter? What is her name? How old is she this year?"

Gu Lie hesitated for a moment before replying: "The Young Miss is named Xun Er, and she is four years old this year."

Only four years old?

Based on this information, Xiao Xuan roughly grasped the current timeline!

And the reason Gu Yuan was not present.

In all likelihood, he was personally taking Xun Er to the Xiao Clan, preparing for her to find an opportunity to take—or more accurately, to steal—the Xiao Clan's Tou She Ancient God Jade!

In other words!

The current time was nearly ten years before the original plot!

This meant.

His room for maneuver was vast!

Meanwhile.

Northwest Continent, Jia Ma Empire.

Wutan City.

The Xiao Clan welcomed several uninvited guests.

At this moment, Xiao Clan Leader Xiao Zhan and the three elders of the Xiao Clan were receiving them in the reception hall with extreme caution.

Xiao Zhan was deeply wary of these mysterious visitors who had arrived so suddenly!

However, what he found very strange was that the mysterious man had actually brought a three or four-year-old girl with him.

The girl had fair skin and a well-behaved, adorable appearance; in particular, the dimples at the corners of her mouth were even more intoxicating when she smiled.

With a pair of large eyes shimmering with a faint golden light, she curiously sized up the four strangers in the room, aside from her father.

There was not a hint of timidity in her eyes.

"You need not be nervous. Our two families had quite a deep connection many years ago."

The man in green robes sitting in the main seat said indifferently.

He did not explain the specific nature of the connection between the two families.

Xiao Zhan and the others did not dare to ask.

They could only force a rather strained smile.

The man in green robes went straight to the point: "I have come this time because I wish for Xun Er to spend a carefree childhood here. I hope you can help me take good care of her."

Although Xiao Zhan did not know why this mysterious man wanted to foster this porcelain doll of a little girl in the declining Xiao Clan.

Yet, at this moment, he had no room for choice and could only nod in assurance: "Rest assured, as long as our Xiao Clan still stands, we will not mistreat Miss Xun Er."

"Yes, yes, indeed."

The three elders also nodded repeatedly.

Gu Yuan pondered for a moment and said: "To avoid drawing attention and unnecessary trouble, from this day forward, Xun Er will temporarily take the surname Xiao. Only the four of you are to know of this matter; it must not be spread..."

Before Gu Yuan could finish his sentence, he suddenly sensed that the emergency communication jade tablet he had left with Gu Lie had been crushed!

Generally speaking, Gu Lie would never crush it unless it was a last resort!

Could there be an enemy attack?!

The Hun Clan!

Gu Yuan frowned, no longer hesitating. After giving a few brief instructions, he traced his finger across the space in front of him, causing a rift to appear.

Gu Yuan darted rapidly into the spatial rift, and both he and the fissure vanished from sight!

Watching Gu Yuan come and go in such a hurry.

Xiao Zhan and the three elders were greatly astonished!

Just what kind of formidable expert must one be to possess such heaven-defying means?