The "Heaven Burning Arena" in the Gu Clan's sacred grounds was packed with people. Xiao Feng stared at the "marriage selection ring" on the raised platform and cursed the damn system bug under his breath. He had only accompanied Xun'er back to the Gu Clan to visit her family, yet Gu Yuan had mistaken him for his adopted daughter Gu Ling's fiancé. Now he was being shoved onto the platform to face challenges from the younger generation of the Gu Clan.
"Big Brother Xiao, do your best!" Xun'er waved from below, mischief in her eyes. "Little Sister Gu Ling is the Gu Clan's most talented young lady. You two make a perfect couple!"
Xiao Feng's mouth twitched. He turned to look at Xiao Yan, who was chewing on some specially prepared "Dou Qi barbecue" with an expression that said he was thoroughly enjoying the show. "Third Brother, I heard Miss Gu Ling excels at music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and can even refine Ninth-grade Pills. Weren't you always looking for a 'good wife to support you'?"
"Little Yanzi, you know this is a misunderstanding!" Xiao Feng sent him a telepathic message. "Hurry up and clear things up!"
Xiao Yan shrugged. "Can't help it. That system bug scrambled Senior Gu Yuan's memories." Then he suddenly raised his voice. "Third Brother, do your best! Win, and the beauty is yours!"
The crowd below the ring immediately began to jeer. The Gu Clan disciples had long heard of Xiao Feng's "heroic exploits," and now they were all clamoring to challenge this "prospective son-in-law." The first to leap onto the platform was Gu Tianyang, grandson of the Gu Clan's Third Elder. He held a long sword engraved with the Gu Clan Emblem.
"Brother Xiao, forgive me." Gu Tianyang saluted with his sword. "Please enlighten me!"
Xiao Feng had no choice but to use the Green Mist Art to respond. As their sword lights crossed, he deliberately left three openings, yet still managed to win by a narrow margin. He didn't want to make enemies of the Gu Clan, much less embarrass Gu Ling.
"You were generous." Xiao Feng sheathed his sword and glanced toward Gu Ling below. The famed Gu Clan prodigy wore a veil, her figure graceful as she whispered with Xun'er, occasionally letting out a soft laugh.
"Next!" the host bellowed.
To Xiao Feng's surprise, the second challenger was Gu Ling herself! She flicked her sleeve, then attacked at a speed almost too fast for the eye to follow. The Gu Clan's secret Ancient Spirit Cold Flame flickered in her palm. Her moves were much like Xun'er's, but carried a touch more fluidity.
"Careful!" Xun'er cried. "Little Sister Gu Ling practices the Ancient Spirit Illusion Heart Art. It can confuse an opponent's mind!"
Xiao Feng circulated Soul Movement Three Thousand, using his soul power like a shield to protect his mind. Sure enough, the scene before him shifted in an instant. Queen Medusa, Xun'er, Xiao Yi Xian, and Yun Yun appeared before him, all confessing their love at once. He sighed helplessly and raised a hand, sending out a streak of Emperor Flame. The illusion cracked beneath the flames.
"You can actually break my illusion?" Gu Ling removed her veil, amazement flashing in her eyes. "Interesting."
Only then did Xiao Feng get a clear look at her. Her brows were distant hills, her eyes autumn waters. She looked somewhat like Xun'er, but with a little more mischief. She flicked a finger, sending a Gu Clan jade slip flying toward Xiao Feng. "These are my cultivation notes for the Ancient Spirit Cold Flame. I hope you'll accept them."
The crowd below erupted again. Xiao Yan nearly choked on his barbecue. "Third Brother, you've unlocked the Gu Clan side quest and gone straight for the hidden reward!"
Xiao Feng clutched the jade slip, close to tears. Right on cue, the system chimed:
Ding! The host has obtained cultivation notes for the Ancient Spirit Cold Flame. Charm +20. The "Gu Clan Scandal" event has been triggered! Xiao Yan has received the "Lone Wolf" debuff (all female characters' favorability toward him -10).
System, are you messing with me?! Xiao Yan roared inwardly. Then Sect Master Yun Yun passed by him, not even sparing him a glance as she went straight to Xiao Feng and handed him a pot of iced tea. "Young Master Xiao, thanks for your hard work."
Xiao Yan covered his face, feeling as if he'd turned invisible. Yao Lao's laughter came from his Storage Ring. "Brat, now you know what it feels like to have the protagonist role stolen from you?"
"Shut up!" Xiao Yan grumbled telepathically. "Once the system's fixed, I'll make Third Brother pay!"
By the time the marriage selection ended, Xiao Feng had been "forced" to accept Gu Ling's jade slip, Yun Yun's iced tea, Xun'er's handkerchief, and even a bouquet from a Gu Clan maid. Xiao Yan watched his brother get swarmed by admirers. Suddenly, inspiration struck, and he leapt onto the platform. "Everyone! My brother is already engaged. You can all go home!"
The entire arena fell silent. Xiao Feng stared at his younger brother in horror. "What did you say?!"
Xiao Yan grinned and pointed toward the distant desert. "Didn't Queen Medusa of the Snake-People Kingdom just form a Symbiotic Pact with my brother?"
The crowd erupted. Gu Ling gave Xiao Feng a knowing smile. "Young Master Xiao, you've been hiding a lot."
A trace of hurt flashed through Xun'er's eyes, but it was soon replaced by a smile. "I see. Then I must congratulate you, Big Brother Xiao."
Yun Yun shook her head with a sigh. "I never imagined Young Master Xiao was such a heartbreaker."
Xiao Feng wanted to kill someone. He grabbed Xiao Yan by the back of his neck and hissed, "Did you forget that Hun Dan was behind that pact?!"
Xiao Yan blinked innocently. "But you really did form a pact with Cai Lin. I'm just helping you 'turn down your admirers.'"
Just then, Gu Yuan suddenly appeared in the center of the arena, his expression grave. "Young Master Xiao, Xun'er, come with me. The Soul Clan has broken into the Gu Clan's forbidden grounds and stolen a fragment of the Ancient Emperor Jade containing the Burning Heaven Chapter!"
Xiao Feng immediately grew serious and exchanged a glance with Xiao Yan. The two of them followed Gu Yuan at once. In the Gu Clan's forbidden grounds, the chamber where the Ancient Emperor Jade had been kept lay in ruins. The distinctive traces of Soul-Devouring Insects were scattered across the floor. Xiao Feng activated his bloodline sense and discovered that the fragment's aura was heading toward the Soul Burial Abyss.
"It was Hun Dan!" Xiao Yan gritted his teeth. "He really does plan to gather all seven fragments and summon King Nine-Nether!"
Gu Yuan nodded. "Young Master Xiao, Xun'er, I'm willing to lend you the strength of the Gu Clan to reclaim the fragment. But..." He turned to Xiao Feng. "Will your feud with Hun Dan drag the Gu Clan into it?"
Before Xiao Feng could reply, Xiao Yan spoke up. "Rest assured, Senior Gu Yuan! My brother is the Destined Protagonist. He'll find a way to deal with Hun Dan. Isn't that right, Third Brother?"
Xiao Feng glared at his younger brother, then cupped his hands toward Gu Yuan. "I'll do everything in my power. I won't let the Gu Clan be dragged into this crisis." He turned toward the Soul Burial Abyss, the patterns of the Emperor Scale glowing gold. "Hun Dan, this time I won't let you get your way."
The system chimed:
Ding! Main quest "Battle for the Ancient Emperor Jade" triggered. Obtained "Gu Clan Support" buff (all attributes +15% for experts below Dou Zong).
As they left the Gu Clan, Gu Ling suddenly caught up and pressed a small bottle into Xiao Feng's hand. "This is Curse-Breaking Powder. It can break the Soul Clan's contract techniques." She winked. "I heard Queen Medusa's pact is a troublesome one?"
Xiao Feng gave a wry smile and accepted it, only to hear Xiao Yan grumbling behind him. "Third Brother, your romantic entanglements are piling up! Be careful, or Queen Medusa and Miss Gu Ling might come knocking together one day!"
"Shut up!" Xiao Feng rubbed his aching temples. "Let's deal with Hun Dan first, then sort out all these... misunderstandings." He gazed toward the Soul Burial Abyss, his eyes resolute. "When this is all over, I'll explain everything to them—including you, Little Yanzi."
Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow. "Explain what?"
Looking at the mischief in his younger brother's eyes, Xiao Feng suddenly reached out and ruffled his hair. "Explain... why your big brother is so popular."
"Hey! You messed up my hair!" Xiao Yan swatted his hand away, but as he turned, the corners of his mouth lifted. Having a brother like this wasn't so bad, really. Even if he stole Xiao Yan's love interests, even if the plot went haywire, as long as they could fight together and protect the Xiao Clan, all those misunderstandings... would be cleared up someday.
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