Gu Yuan Arrives

The next day, the Xiao Clan's little courtyard was unusually peaceful.

Lin Hai sat on a stone stool, his fingertips tapping the tabletop absentmindedly, as if resting.

Yao Chen had already urged Han Feng to resume his endless alchemy work. Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian were also hard at work cultivating, and the only sound in the courtyard was the soft rustle of leaves stirred by a breeze.

However, the peace did not last long.

Suddenly, without warning, faint ripples spread across the space above the courtyard, like drops of water falling into a still lake.

A vast, ancient, unfathomable presence quietly spread through the air. Though its owner was doing his utmost to restrain it, the pressure emanating from the depths of their souls and bloodlines still made everyone in the courtyard's heart sink!

"Who?!" Yao Chen's spiritual body tensed instantly as he stared at the sky in alarm. He had never encountered an aura this powerful.

Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian were even more thoroughly overwhelmed by the invisible pressure, unable to move, the color drained from their faces.

Only Lin Hai remained seated as before. He did not even lift his eyelids, merely speaking in a calm voice that pierced the ripples in space: "Since you're here, why hide yourself?"

His voice seemed to contain some peculiar law. In an instant, it dispelled the pervasive pressure, and Yao Chen and the others felt the weight lift from their shoulders.

At the center of the rippling space, a figure slowly took shape.

The newcomer wore a simple hemp robe. He looked to be middle-aged, his expression peaceful, yet his eyes were deep as the starry sky, as if they held boundless wisdom and the weight of ages.

He stood there as though merged with the world around him. Had they not seen him with their own eyes, they could scarcely have sensed his presence.

He was none other than the Ancient Clan Chief, one of the most powerful figures openly known on the continent today, the Peak Nine-Star Dou Saint—Gu Yuan!

Gu Yuan's gaze immediately fell on Lin Hai, and profound surprise and caution flickered in his eyes.

With his cultivation, he still could not see through this seemingly ordinary young man before him. The other man was like a bottomless abyss, beneath whose calm surface lay a power that made even Gu Yuan's heart tremble.

Ling Ying's report had indeed been true!

He slowly descended and came to stand before Lin Hai. He did not put on airs; instead, he regarded him with a measure of equality. "Are you Lin Hai? Xiao Yan's uncle?"

"That's me." Lin Hai finally looked up at him, his gaze calm and undisturbed. "Chief Gu Yuan, why leave the comforts of the Ancient Realm and deign to visit this little Wutan City?"

Gu Yuan's heart stirred faintly. The other man had identified him at a glance, making him seem all the more unfathomable.

He smiled slightly, the bearing of a clan chief on full display. "You're refreshingly direct. Then I'll get straight to the point. I've heard that your cultivation has reached the pinnacle. The continent is rife with undercurrents, and the Soul Clan is harboring great ambitions. I'm sure you know what they're after: the legendary Ancient Emperor's Abode."

He paused, carefully studying Lin Hai's reaction, but the other man remained expressionless, so he continued. "The Ancient Emperor's Abode is of the utmost importance. It must never fall into Hun Tiandi's hands. I've come to find out your intentions regarding this matter, and hope we can join forces to suppress the Soul Clan and protect the peace of the continent."

His words sounded noble, cloaking the Ancient Clan's self-interest in the language of the greater good.

After hearing him out, Lin Hai's lips seemed to curve in the faintest hint of a smile—mockery, perhaps, or amusement.

"Cooperation?" He tapped the tabletop lightly. "That's possible."

Gu Yuan's face brightened, and he was about to speak.

But Lin Hai changed tack. "Cooperation requires trust and sincerity. Empty promises are a little too childish."

Gu Yuan's expression turned solemn. "What must the Ancient Clan do to show its sincerity? Say the word. If the Ancient Clan can do it, we won't refuse."

Lin Hai leaned forward slightly. His gaze was calm, yet carried an unquestionable force as he looked straight at Gu Yuan. "It's simple. My nephew Xiao Yan and your daughter, Xun Er, are in love, and have been close since childhood. Since we both wish to cooperate, why not strengthen our ties through marriage?"

His tone was mild, but what he said made Gu Yuan's expression change drastically.

"If the Chief is willing to give his blessing and arrange for Xiao Yan and Xun Er to marry soon, then we'll become in-laws—a family. By then, never mind cooperating against the Soul Clan; even helping the Ancient Clan obtain the secrets of the Ancient Emperor's Abode may not be out of the question."

"That is my condition. And it is the greatest sincerity the Ancient Clan can offer."

The moment his words fell, a deathly silence settled over the courtyard.

Yao Chen sucked in a sharp breath, nearly losing control of his spiritual body.

Xiao Yan's eyes flew wide open. His face turned crimson as he stared at his uncle, shocked and flustered, then instinctively looked toward Gu Yuan.

Xiao Yixian also covered her mouth in surprise.

The peaceful look on Gu Yuan's face vanished completely, replaced by utter astonishment and grave concern, along with a trace of anger he could barely conceal!

He had never imagined that the other man's idea of "sincerity" would be this! It struck directly at the Ancient Clan's bloodline—and at the daughter he cherished most!

Xiao Yan? That boy was no more than a mere Spirit Disciple right now! Even if he had decent talent, Yao Chen to guide him, and a deeply unfathomable uncle, how could he possibly be worthy of the Ancient Clan's daughter? He had originally planned to wait until Xiao Yan had truly matured—at least until he reached the Dou Zun level, if not higher—before considering the marriage!

To have the other man invoke cooperation to practically force an early marriage upon him... This was simply...

Gu Yuan's expression shifted repeatedly as his thoughts raced.

Agree?

That would cost the Ancient Clan too much face, not to mention throw all his plans into disarray.

Refuse? The other man's strength was unfathomable. If he drove him into the arms of the Soul Clan, or made him stand aside, the consequences would be unthinkable!

What's more, the other man had promised to "help them obtain the Ancient Emperor's Abode"...

For a time, this top powerhouse of the continent found himself caught in an unprecedented dilemma.

He stared fixedly at Lin Hai's calm, unreadable face, trying to discern something, but all he saw was a bottomless abyss.

The air in the courtyard seemed to freeze completely.