Ancient Clan

On the bed, Xiao Yan sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, his hands forming a strange seal before him. His chest rose and fell slightly, each breath forming a perfect cycle. As his breath circulated, faint white streams of air slipped in through his nose and mouth, nourishing his bones and flesh.

"Whew, I finally broke through to the fifth stage of Dou Power." Xiao Yan abruptly opened his eyes and slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, speaking to Yao Lao floating beside him in delight.

"Heh, if you hadn't broken through soon, you would have missed today's good show," Yao Lao said with a chuckle.

"Oh, Teacher, has a month already passed?" Xiao Yan asked in surprise.

"Stop talking nonsense. Put on this hooded robe. I'll possess you later. Once your father and the others set out, we'll secretly follow them." Yao Lao casually tossed a set of black hooded robes into Xiao Yan's arms.

A moment later, the window of Xiao Yan's room was pushed open, and a short black-robed figure shot out through it into the distance.

"They're over there." Possessing Xiao Yan, Yao Lao released his soul perception and instantly sensed Xiao Zhan's group. With a tap of his toes, he silently followed after them.

Xiao Zhan, the three elders, and three skilled members of the clan—a total of seven people—were heading toward the Xiao Clan's back mountain with grim expressions and brisk strides.

"So it's at the Xiao Clan's back mountain. Makes sense. People usually don't go there, so they won't be discovered. Teacher, hurry and follow them," Xiao Yan urged.

"Got it, brat," Yao Lao replied irritably.

At the Xiao Clan's back mountain, in a small forest, three men in tight-fitting outfits stood as straight as pines.

Seeing Xiao Zhan's group arrive, the taciturn-looking middle-aged man at the front stepped forward and cupped his hands toward Xiao Zhan. "Clan Leader Xiao Zhan, Lord Gu Hua and the others will arrive shortly. Please wait patiently."

"No matter." Xiao Zhan nodded at the man. Then, without another word, he stood with his hands behind his back and closed his eyes to rest.

Inside a mountain some distance away.

"Hehe, they sent one Dou Emperor and two Dou Kings just to scout the way. This is quite a lineup," Yao Lao said as he watched the three men in tight-fitting outfits.

"Teacher, what if a Dou Zun expert comes later? Will we be exposed?" Xiao Yan asked curiously.

"Heh, what does a Dou Zun count for? You should trust your teacher's strength. Back then, I—" Yao Lao was about to retort when his brows suddenly rose. "Quiet. Something's happening."

As he spoke, illusory and distorted white flames emerged from within the black robe, covering Xiao Yan's entire body in the blink of an eye.

The spatial energy atop the mountain suddenly became violently active. The three men in tight-fitting outfits seemed to sense something as well and stepped forward. Though Xiao Zhan's group did not know what had happened, they also moved closer.

The tranquil, picturesque space atop the mountain suddenly began to tremble violently. A tiny crack appeared, then gradually widened.

Bang! As though a mirror had been shattered, a broad opening suddenly unfolded. A group of people leaped out one after another, and the opening behind them quickly closed again, as if nothing had happened.

There were about a dozen people in the suddenly appearing group, all dressed in dark robes. The white-robed middle-aged man at the front, with his imposing aura, and the delicate little girl in his arms were especially eye-catching.

Xiao Zhan's group stared at them in shock, muttering inwardly, So these are the experts from the distant Central Plains? Is this the strength of the Ancient Clan?

"Tearing through space... that should require at least a Dou Zong expert, right?" Xiao Yan said as he looked at the white-robed middle-aged man.

"The middle-aged man at the front should be a Dou Zun expert, at least a Five-Star Dou Zun. Don't speak. Be careful not to let them discover us," Yao Lao said solemnly. The white flames shrouding the hooded robe also burned increasingly transparent.

"Lord Gu Hua." The three men in tight-fitting outfits hurried forward respectfully.

"Mm. You've worked hard." Gu Hua nodded casually, then set the pretty girl in his arms down on the ground.

Then he said with great respect, "Miss Xun'er, we've arrived. The month-long journey from the Central Plains must have been tiring for you."

"It's fine, Elder Gu Hua. Xun'er isn't tired," the girl called Xun'er replied obediently, without any airs.

Gu Hua merely smiled as if this were nothing unusual, then rose and looked toward Xiao Zhan's group.

"Which one is Clan Leader Xiao Zhan?" Gu Hua asked.

"I am Xiao Zhan." Xiao Zhan swiftly suppressed the shock in his heart, unwilling to lose face as Clan Leader, and cupped his hands toward Gu Hua.

"Clan Leader Xiao Zhan." Gu Hua smiled before speaking, his temperament extraordinarily approachable.

"Our Clan Leader, in accordance with the ancient alliance between our two clans and to strengthen our relationship, has specially sent his daughter, Miss Xun'er, to the Xiao Clan for Clan Leader Xiao Zhan to raise. We hope that before Miss Xun'er comes of age, Clan Leader Xiao Zhan will take good care of her."

"I will, Elder Gu Hua." Xiao Zhan nodded. As he spoke, he looked at Xun'er and gave her a kind smile.

Xun'er returned his smile sweetly and said in a clear voice, "Hello, Uncle Xiao. I'm Gu Xun'er. I'll be troubling you from now on."

Xiao Zhan secretly nodded. This little girl has quite a good temperament. She won't be much trouble.

Seeing that the two communicated smoothly, Gu Hua smiled in satisfaction, then said to the three men in tight-fitting outfits, "You three, come with me. We're returning."

Then Gu Hua turned to the people behind him. "You stay behind. Ling Ying, Miss's safety is entrusted to you."

"Yes, Lord Gu Hua." A Dou Emperor expert stepped out from the group.

"Clan Leader Xiao Zhan, Miss Xun'er, Gu Hua will take his leave now." Gu Hua casually cupped his hands toward them. Without waiting for a response, he tore through space again with the three men and departed.

"Whew, they've finally left. Damn it, if this old man weren't only in a soul state right now, why would I fear a mere Five-Star Dou Zun?" With Gu Hua's departure, Yao Lao's pressure seemed to lessen considerably as he relaxed.

"Hehe." Xiao Yan snickered at Yao Lao's slightly disheveled appearance.

"Hmph, what are you laughing at? That Dou Zun seemed to leave behind three Dou Emperors and twelve Dou Kings to protect that little girl. There'll be quite a show to watch in the future," Yao Lao mocked.

"And did you think Gu Hua's attitude was quite good just now? Hmph, he used a secret sound transmission technique to tell the person beside him: the current Xiao Tribe is so fallen that even its Clan Leader is merely a Dou Spirit, not even a Dou King. It seems the Xiao Tribe has truly declined. The legacy of their ancestor, Xiao Xuan, can no longer be seen."

"Hmph, Dou King? No, even Dou Zuns will one day emerge from my Xiao Tribe!" Xiao Yan said indignantly.

Just as master and disciple were bickering, Xiao Zhan's group seemed to be preparing to leave as well.

"Elder Ling, you all..." Xiao Zhan looked toward Elder Ling's group.

"Clan Leader Xiao Zhan, there's no need to arrange anything for us. We will protect Miss from the shadows." As he spoke, their bodies gradually faded, eventually turning into ripples and vanishing completely into the air.

"Then, Miss Xun'er, let's go." Xiao Zhan smiled helplessly at the girl beside him.

"Uncle Xiao should just call me 'Xun'er,'" the girl said, blinking her adorable eyes.

"Alright, Xun'er." As he spoke, Xiao Zhan took Xun'er's small hand and prepared to descend the mountain.

Xiao Zhan's instructions to the Great Elder drifted through the wind.

"Great Elder, from now on, Miss Xun'er will be called Xiao Xun'er. No one in the clan is allowed to ask about her origins."

"Yes, Clan Leader," the Great Elder replied.

"Hehe, the show's over. We should leave too." Yao Lao—or rather, Xiao Yan—stood up and smacked his lips, still wanting more. He then followed far behind Xiao Zhan's group as they departed.