The two walked side by side toward the hall. The Seven-Colored Clan Mark glimmered faintly on Xun'er's forehead, mingling with the barely perceptible Dou Saint pressure around Xiao Ze. Wherever they passed, members of the Ancient Clan hurried out of their way, not even daring to breathe too loudly.
They had just reached the entrance when Elder Gu Shan's voice rang out from inside, firm and imperious. "The Xiao Tribe has long since fallen into decline. What right do they have to occupy a place among the Ancient Eight Clans? Those two places should rightfully belong to the Ancient Clan!"
"Oh? Then I'd like to hear who gave you the nerve to make decisions on behalf of the Xiao Tribe."
Xiao Ze's voice rang out coolly. The doors swung open by themselves under an unseen force, and the two walked in at an unhurried pace.
The elders in the hall turned to look. Elder Gu Shan shot to his feet, his expression darkening when he saw Xiao Ze.
"Xiao Ze! This is an internal meeting of the Ancient Clan. How dare an outsider butt in?"
"An outsider?"
Xiao Ze gave a cold laugh. The pressure of a Six-Star Dou Sheng erupted from him, and the tables and chairs in the hall creaked under its weight. Several weaker elders turned pale on the spot.
"The Xiao Tribe and the Ancient Clan are both among the Ancient Eight Clans. If our ancestor, Xiao Xuan, hadn't exhausted himself protecting the Central Plains, your clan wouldn't have enjoyed a peaceful inheritance to this day. Now that someone from the Xiao Tribe has returned, you want to seize our places. Is that what you call the Ancient Clan's 'foundation'?"
Forced back half a step by the pressure, Elder Gu Shan still stubbornly retorted, "That was