Gu Yuan Arrives

The next day, the small courtyard of the Xiao Clan was uncharacteristically peaceful.

Lin Hai sat on a stone stool, his fingertips tapping rhythmically against the tabletop as if he were resting.

Yao Chen had already urged Han Feng to continue his endless alchemy work, while Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian were both deep in their own grueling cultivation; the only sound in the courtyard was the rustling of a gentle breeze through the leaves.

However, this tranquility did not last long.

Suddenly, the space above the courtyard rippled with subtle, concentric waves, as if a pebble had been dropped into a calm lake.

A vast, ancient, and unfathomable aura quietly permeated the area. Although its owner was restraining it with great effort, the pressure emanating from the depths of the soul and bloodline still caused everyone in the courtyard to feel a heavy weight in their chests!

"Who is it?!" Yao Chen's soul form tensed instantly, his eyes fixed on the sky in horror; the strength of this aura far exceeded anything he had ever encountered in his life.

Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian were even more stunned by this invisible pressure, rendered unable to move, the color draining from their faces.

Only Lin Hai remained seated as before, not even lifting his eyelids. He spoke softly, his voice calmly piercing through the ripples in space: "Since you have come, why hide your head and show your tail?"

His voice seemed to contain a peculiar law, instantly neutralizing the pervasive pressure and allowing the three of them to feel an immediate sense of relief.

At the center of the spatial ripples, a figure slowly solidified.

The visitor wore simple linen robes and appeared to be a middle-aged man. His expression was peaceful, yet his eyes were as deep as the starry sky, seemingly containing endless wisdom and the vicissitudes of time.

He stood there as if integrated with the very heavens and earth; had one not seen him with their own eyes, they would have barely sensed his existence.

It was none other than the patriarch of the Ancient Clan, one of the strongest beings currently known on the continent, a peak Nine-Star Dou Sheng—Gu Yuan!

Gu Yuan's gaze fell upon Lin Hai the moment he arrived, a flash of profound surprise and gravity crossing his eyes.

With his cultivation, he was completely unable to see through this seemingly ordinary young man. The other party was like a bottomless pool, hiding power beneath his calm surface that made even him feel a tremor of fear.

Ling Ying's report was indeed true!

He descended slowly and stood before Lin Hai, not assuming an arrogant posture, but rather observing him with a look of equal scrutiny: "Is Your Excellency Lin Hai? Xiao Yan's uncle?"

"It is I." Lin Hai finally lifted his eyes to look at him, his gaze calm and waveless. "Patriarch Gu Yuan, why have you deigned to leave the comfort of the Ancient Realm to visit this tiny Wutan City?"

Gu Yuan felt a slight chill; the fact that the other party had identified him so easily only made him seem more unfathomable.

He smiled slightly, displaying the bearing of a clan leader: "Your Excellency is direct, so I shall get straight to the point. I have heard that your cultivation is heaven-defying, reaching the peak. The continent is currently rife with undercurrents, and the Soul Clan is ambitious. Their goal, I believe you are aware, is none other than the legendary Ancient Emperor's Abode."

He paused, carefully observing Lin Hai's reaction, but finding the man remained expressionless, he had to continue: "The Ancient Emperor's Abode is of great importance and must never fall into the hands of Hun Tiandi. I have come to inquire about your intentions regarding this matter and hope to join hands with you to contain the Soul Clan and protect the peace of the continent."

He spoke with high-sounding words, wrapping the Ancient Clan's selfish motives in the guise of righteousness.

After listening, the corner of Lin Hai's mouth seemed to hook into an imperceptible arc, appearing both mocking and amused.

"Cooperation?" He tapped the table lightly. "That is possible."

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

However, Lin Hai changed the subject: "However, the foundation of cooperation is trust and sincerity. Empty words are far too childish."

Gu Yuan's expression turned solemn: "What does Your Excellency require from the Ancient Clan to demonstrate our sincerity? Speak freely; as long as the Ancient Clan can do it, we will not refuse."

Lin Hai leaned forward slightly, his gaze calm yet carrying an unquestionable power as he looked directly at Gu Yuan: "It is very simple. My nephew, Xiao Yan, and your daughter, Xun Er, are deeply in love and have been childhood sweethearts. Since we both have the intention to cooperate, why not strengthen our ties through marriage?"

His tone was flat, yet he threw out a statement that caused Gu Yuan's expression to change drastically.

"If Patriarch Gu is willing to nod and facilitate an early marriage between Xiao Yan and Xun Er, we will become in-laws and truly be one family. At that point, let alone cooperating to fight the Soul Clan, even assisting your Ancient Clan in obtaining the secrets of the Ancient Emperor's Abode would not be out of the question."

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

As his voice fell, the courtyard fell into a deathly silence.

Yao Chen gasped, his soul form nearly destabilizing.

Xiao Yan's eyes widened instantly, his face flushing red. He looked at his uncle in shock and confusion, then subconsciously glanced at Gu Yuan.

Xiao Yixian also covered her mouth in surprise.

The peace on Gu Yuan's face vanished completely, replaced by utter astonishment, gravity, and a trace of barely concealed anger!

He had never expected that the "sincerity" the other party proposed would be this! It touched upon the bloodline of his Ancient Clan and his most beloved daughter!

Xiao Yan? That boy who was currently nothing more than a lowly Spirit Disciple? Even if he had talent, was taught by Yao Chen, and had an unfathomable uncle, how could he be worthy of the daughter of the Ancient Clan? He had originally intended to consider this marriage only after Xiao Yan had truly grown, at least reaching the Dou Zun level or higher!

To be coerced into an early marriage under the guise of cooperation like this was simply...

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

Agree?

It would lose the Ancient Clan too much face and disrupt all his plans.

Refuse? The other party's strength was unfathomable; if he were pushed toward the Soul Clan, or if he chose to stand by and watch, the consequences would be unimaginable!

Furthermore, the other party had mentioned "assisting in taking the Ancient Emperor's Abode"...

For a moment, this top-tier powerhouse of the continent found himself in an unprecedented dilemma.

He stared fixedly at Lin Hai's calm, waveless face, trying to discern something, but he saw only a bottomless pool.

The air in the courtyard seemed to have completely frozen.