Ancient Clan

On the bed, Xiao Yan sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, his hands forming strange seals before him. His chest rose and fell slightly, each breath forming a perfect cycle. As his aura circulated, faint white wisps of energy drifted through his nose and mouth, entering his body to nourish his bones and flesh.

"Phew, finally reached the fifth stage of Dou Power." Xiao Yan snapped his eyes open, exhaling a breath of stale air as he spoke in surprise to Yao Lao, who was floating beside him.

"Heh, if you hadn't broken through, you would have missed today's show, kid," Yao Lao chuckled.

"Oh, Teacher, has a month already passed?" Xiao Yan asked, somewhat surprised.

"Stop blathering. Put on this cloak; I'll possess you in a moment. Once your father and the others set out, we'll sneak along behind them," Yao Lao said, tossing a black cloak into Xiao Yan's arms.

A short while later, the window of Xiao Yan's room was pushed open, and a short, cloaked figure darted out toward the distance.

"Over there." With Yao Lao possessing him, he released his soul consciousness and instantly sensed the trail of Xiao Zhan and his group. With a light tap of his toes, Yao Lao followed silently.

Xiao Zhan, the three elders, and three other elite members of the clan—seven in total—were walking with grim expressions and steady strides toward the back mountain of the Xiao Clan.

"So it's at the back mountain of the Xiao Clan. That makes sense; no one usually goes there, so they won't be discovered. Teacher, hurry and follow them," Xiao Yan urged.

"I know, you brat," Yao Lao retorted irritably.

In the small woods at the back of the Xiao Clan's mountain, three men in tight-fitting outfits stood as straight as pines.

Seeing Xiao Zhan's group arrive, the silent, middle-aged man in the lead stepped forward and cupped his hands toward Xiao Zhan. "Clan Leader Xiao, Lord Gu Hua and his party will arrive shortly. Please be patient."

"No matter." Xiao Zhan nodded at the man, then stood with his hands behind his back, closing his eyes to conserve his energy without another word.

Hidden within the mountain rock some distance away:

"Heh, sending a Dou Emperor and two Dou Kings just to scout ahead? They're putting on quite a display," Yao Lao remarked, watching the three men in the clearing.

"Teacher, what if a Dou Zun powerhouse shows up later? Will we be exposed?" Xiao Yan asked curiously.

"Heh, what's a Dou Zun? You must trust in your teacher's strength. Back in my day, I..." Yao Lao was about to retort when his brows suddenly twitched. "Quiet. Something's happening."

As he spoke, a phantom, twisting white flame emerged from the black cloak and covered 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 and stepped forward. Although Xiao Zhan's group didn't know what was happening, they also moved closer.

The space above the mountain, previously calm as a painting, began to tremble violently. A tiny fissure appeared, then rapidly widened.

Bang! As if a mirror had been shattered, a wide portal suddenly opened. A group of people leaped out, and the portal behind them sealed instantly, as if nothing had ever happened.

The group that appeared consisted of about a dozen people, all dressed in dark robes. The middle-aged man in white at the lead, who possessed an imposing aura, and the delicate, doll-like little girl he held in his arms, were particularly eye-catching.

Xiao Zhan's group watched the newcomers in shock, murmuring to themselves, "Are these the powerhouses from the distant Central Plains? Is this the strength of the Ancient Clan?"

"Tearing through space... that must require at least the strength of a Dou Zun," Xiao Yan said, staring at the man in white.

"The man in the lead is likely a Dou Zun, at least a five-star Dou Zun. Don't speak; be careful not to be discovered," Yao Lao said in a grave tone, the white flames enveloping the cloak becoming even more transparent.

"Lord Gu Hua." The three men in tight-fitting outfits hurried forward, their attitudes respectful.

"Mm, you've worked hard." Gu Hua nodded casually and set the beautiful young girl down.

He then said with great respect, "Miss Xun'er, we have arrived. You have suffered during the month-long journey from the Central Plains."

"It is fine, Elder Gu Hua. Xun'er is not tired," the girl named Gu Xun'er replied, her demeanor sweet and devoid of arrogance.

Gu Hua smiled, unfazed by her attitude, and turned to look at Xiao Zhan's group.

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

"I am Xiao Zhan." Xiao Zhan quickly shook off his inner shock, unwilling to lose face for his clan, and cupped his hands toward Gu Hua.

"Clan Leader Xiao." Gu Hua smiled before speaking, his temperament making him seem remarkably approachable.

"In order to honor the ancient alliance between our two clans and to deepen our relationship, our clan leader has specially sent his daughter, Miss Xun'er, to the Xiao Clan to be raised by you. We hope that you will take good care of Miss Xun'er until she comes of age."

"I will, Elder Gu Hua." Xiao Zhan nodded, then looked at Xun'er and offered a kind smile.

Xun'er smiled sweetly back at Xiao Zhan and said in a crisp voice, "Hello, Uncle Xiao. I am Gu Xun'er. I will be troubling you from now on."

Xiao Zhan nodded inwardly, thinking, This little girl has a good temperament; she won't be much trouble.

Seeing that the two had communicated smoothly, Gu Hua smiled in satisfaction and turned to the three men in tight-fitting outfits. "You three, come here and return with me."

Gu Hua then turned to the others behind him. "You are to remain here. Ling Ying, I entrust the safety of the young lady to you."

"Yes, Lord Gu Hua." A Dou Emperor powerhouse stepped out from the crowd.

"Clan Leader Xiao, Miss Xun'er, Gu Hua shall take his leave." Gu Hua cupped his hands casually toward the group and, without waiting for a response, tore through space once more and departed with the three men.

"Phew, finally gone. Damn it, if I weren't currently in a soul state, why would I fear a mere five-star Dou Zun?" As Gu Hua left, the pressure on Yao Lao seemed to lift, and he relaxed.

"Heh heh," Xiao Yan chuckled, looking at Yao Lao's slightly disheveled appearance.

"Hmph, what are you laughing at? That Dou Zun left behind three Dou Emperors and twelve Dou Kings to guard that little girl. There will be a good show to watch in the future," Yao Lao mocked.

"And do you think that Gu Hua's attitude was genuine? Hmph, he used a secret sound-transmission technique to tell the person next to him: 'The current Xiao Tribe is so fallen that even their leader is only a Dou Ling, not even a Dou King. It seems they are truly in decline; the legacy of their ancestor Xiao Xuan is nowhere to be seen.'"

"Hmph, Dou King? No, even Dou Zun—my Xiao Tribe will have them sooner or later!" Xiao Yan said indignantly.

Just as the master and disciple were bickering, Xiao Zhan and his group seemed prepared to leave.

"Elder Ling, you all..." Xiao Zhan began, looking toward Ling Ying and his group.

"Clan Leader Xiao, there is no need to make arrangements for us. We will protect the young lady from the shadows." As he spoke, the figures of the group gradually faded, eventually turning into ripples and vanishing completely into the air.

"Then Miss Xiao Xun'er, let us be off," Xiao Zhan said with a helpless smile to the girl beside him.

"Uncle Xiao, it would be better if you just called me 'Xun'er'," the girl said, blinking her adorable eyes.

"Very well, Xun'er." With that, Xiao Zhan took Xun'er's small hand and prepared to head down the mountain to leave.

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

"Great Elder, from now on, Miss Xiao Xun'er shall be known as Xiao Xun'er. No one in the clan is to inquire about her origins."

"Understood, Clan Head," the Great Elder Kaidō replied.

"Hehe, the show is over. Let's go too." Yao Lao, or rather Xiao Yan, stood up and smacked his lips, still feeling unsatisfied. He then followed at a distance behind Xiao Zhan's party.