The Gu Clan's Marriage Contest: Fiancé Crisis and Brother's Divine Counter-Attack

The Heaven Burning Arena within the Gu Clan's sacred grounds was a cacophony of noise. Xiao Feng stared at the "Marriage Recruitment Ring" on the high platform, cursing the system bug caused by Hun Dan in his heart. He had merely accompanied Xun Er back to the Gu Clan for a visit, yet Gu Yuan had mistakenly identified him as the fiancé of his foster daughter, Gu Ling. Now, he was being shoved onto the stage to face challenges from the younger generation of the Gu Clan.

"Brother Xiao, do your best!" Xun Er waved from below the stage, her eyes dancing with mischief. "Sister Gu Ling is the Gu Clan's most talented woman; you two are a perfect match!"

Xiao Feng's mouth twitched. He turned to look at Xiao Yan, who was busy gnawing on a piece of "Dou Qi Roasted Meat" specially prepared by the Gu Clan, wearing an expression of pure amusement. "Third Brother, I heard Miss Gu Ling is proficient in everything from music and chess to calligraphy and painting, and she can even refine Grade Nine medicinal pills—isn't that the kind of 'virtuous helper' you've always wanted?"

"Xiao Yanzi, you know perfectly well this is a misunderstanding!" Xiao Feng sent a telepathic message. "Why aren't you helping me clarify this?"

Xiao Yan shrugged. "Nothing I can do; the system bug has scrambled Senior Gu Yuan's memories." He suddenly raised his voice. "Third Brother, go for it! If you win, you get to carry the beauty home!"

The crowd below erupted in jeers. The Gu Clan disciples had long heard of Xiao Feng's "heroic deeds" and were now clamoring to challenge this "prospective son-in-law." The first to leap onto the stage was Gu Tianyang, grandson of the Gu Clan's Third Elder, holding a long sword engraved with the clan's crest.

"Brother Xiao, forgive me." Gu Tianyang bowed with his sword. "Please, enlighten me!"

Xiao Feng had no choice but to employ the Green Mist Art to defend himself. As their sword lights crossed, Xiao Feng intentionally revealed three points of weakness, yet still managed to win by a narrow margin—he did not want to make enemies in the Gu Clan, nor did he wish to embarrass Gu Ling.

"I concede." Xiao Feng sheathed his sword and cast his gaze toward Gu Ling below the stage. The legendary talented woman of the Gu Clan wore a veil, her figure graceful as she whispered to Xun Er, occasionally letting out a soft laugh.

"Next!" the host bellowed.

To Xiao Feng's surprise, the second challenger was none other than Gu Ling herself! She flicked her sleeves and attacked with speed invisible to the naked eye, her palms glowing with the Gu Clan's secret Ancient Spirit Cold Flame—a technique identical to Xun Er's, yet imbued with a sharper, more agile spirit.

"Be careful!" Xun Er cried out. "Sister Gu Ling is practicing the Ancient Spirit Illusion Heart Art; it will confuse your mind!"

Xiao Feng channeled Soul Movement Three Thousand, his soul power forming a barrier to protect his consciousness. Sure enough, the scene before him shifted instantly, manifesting a vision of Medusa, Xun Er, Xiao Yi Xian, and Yun Yun all confessing their love to him at once. He sighed helplessly, raised his hand, and unleashed a streak of Emperor Flame, shattering the illusion into cracks.

"You can actually break my illusion?" Gu Ling removed her veil, a flash of astonishment in her eyes. "Interesting."

Only then did Xiao Feng see her face clearly—eyebrows like distant mountains, eyes like autumn waters. She bore a slight resemblance to Xun Er, but with a touch more cunning. She flicked her fingertip, and a jade slip flew toward Xiao Feng. "This is my insight into the Ancient Spirit Cold Flame. I hope you will accept it."

The crowd erupted once more. Xiao Yan nearly choked on his roasted meat. "Third Brother, you've basically triggered a 'Gu Clan hidden dungeon' and walked away with the rare reward!"

Xiao Feng clutched the jade slip, wanting to cry but having no tears. The system prompt chimed right on cue:

Ding! Host has obtained the Ancient Spirit Cold Flame cultivation insights, Charm +20, and triggered the "Gu Clan Scandal" event!

Xiao Yan has obtained the "Lone Wolf" debuff (Favorability of all female characters -10).

"System, you're playing with me!" Xiao Yan roared internally, only to see Sect Master Yun Yun passing by. She didn't even glance at him, walking straight to Xiao Feng and handing him a cup of herbal tea. "Young Master Xiao, you've worked hard."

Xiao Yan covered his face, feeling as though he had become invisible. Yao Lao's laughter echoed from the storage ring. "Kid, do you finally know what it feels like to have your protagonist status stolen?"

"Shut up!" Xiao Yan snapped back telepathically. "Once the system is fixed, I'll make sure Third Brother pays for this!"

By the time the marriage recruitment event ended, Xiao Feng had been "forced" to accept Gu Ling's jade slip, Yun Yun's tea, Xun Er's handkerchief, and even a bouquet of flowers from a Gu Clan maid. Xiao Yan watched his brother being surrounded and suddenly had a flash of inspiration. He jumped onto the stage. "Everyone! My brother is already betrothed, so you can all disperse!"

The arena fell silent. Xiao Feng looked at his brother in horror. "What did you say?!"

Xiao Yan grinned and pointed toward the distant desert. "Queen Medusa of the Snake-People Kingdom—didn't she just sign a 'Symbiotic Contract' with my brother?"

The crowd exploded. Gu Ling looked at Xiao Feng with a cryptic smile. "Young Master Xiao, you hide your secrets well."

A flicker of hurt crossed Xun Er's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a smile. "So that's how it is. Then I must congratulate you, Brother Xiao."

Yun Yun shook her head and sighed. "I didn't expect Young Master Xiao to be such a fickle man."

Xiao Feng felt like killing someone. He grabbed Xiao Yan by the scruff of his neck and growled in a low voice, "Did you forget that the contract was Hun Dan's doing?!"

Xiao Yan blinked innocently. "But you are contracted with Cai Lin, aren't you? I'm just helping you 'reject the peach blossoms'."

Just then, Gu Yuan's figure appeared in the center of the arena, his expression grave. "Young Master Xiao, Xun Er, come with me. The Soul Clan has invaded the Gu Clan's forbidden grounds and stolen the 'Burning Heaven Chapter' fragment of the Ancient Emperor Jade!"

Xiao Feng immediately straightened his expression. He and Xiao Yan exchanged a look and followed. Inside the forbidden grounds, the secret chamber housing the Ancient Emperor Jade had been destroyed, and the ground was littered with the remains of the Soul Clan's signature Soul-Devouring Insect. Xiao Feng activated his "Bloodline Resonance" and discovered the fragment's aura was heading toward the Soul Burial Abyss.

"It's Hun Dan!" Xiao Yan gritted his teeth. "He really intends to collect all seven fragments to summon King Nine-Nether!"

Gu Yuan nodded. "Young Master Xiao, Xun Er, I am willing to use the power of the Gu Clan to help you retrieve the fragment. But..." He looked at Xiao Feng. "Will your feud with Hun Dan implicate the Gu Clan?"

Before Xiao Feng could speak, Xiao Yan interjected, "Senior Gu Yuan, rest assured! My brother is the 'Destined Protagonist'; he has his own ways of dealing with Hun Dan—right, Third Brother?"

Xiao Feng glared at his brother, then bowed to Gu Yuan. "This junior will do his utmost and will never let the Gu Clan be dragged into a crisis." He turned to look toward the Soul Burial Abyss, the Emperor Scale patterns glowing with golden light. "Hun Dan, this time, I will not let you succeed."

The system prompt chimed:

Ding! Triggered the "Ancient Emperor Jade Battle" main quest. Obtained the "Gu Clan Support" buff (All attributes +15% for those below Dou Zong rank).

As they left the Gu Clan, Gu Ling suddenly caught up and shoved a small bottle into Xiao Feng's hand. "Inside is the 'Curse-Breaking Powder'; it can break the Soul Clan's contract arts." She winked. "I heard Queen Medusa's contract is quite troublesome?"

Xiao Feng accepted it with a wry smile, only to hear Xiao Yan's snarky comment from behind: "Third Brother, your 'peach blossom debts' are piling up! Be careful that one day Medusa and Miss Gu Ling don't come knocking on your door together!"

"Shut up!" Xiao Feng rubbed his temples, his head throbbing. "Let's deal with Hun Dan first, then handle these... misunderstandings." He gazed toward the Soul Burial Abyss with firm resolve. "When everything is over, I will explain it all to them—including you, Xiao Yanzi."

Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow. "Explain what?"

Xiao Feng looked at the mischief in his brother's eyes and suddenly reached out to ruffle his hair. "Explain... why your brother is so popular."

"Hey! You're messing up my hair!" Xiao Yan swatted his hand away, but as he turned, the corner of his mouth curled upward—having a brother like this wasn't actually so bad. Even if he stole his romantic interests, even if the plot was in chaos, as long as they could fight together and protect the Xiao family, those misunderstandings... there would always be a day to clear them up.