Battle Through the Heavens: I Can Solidify All Talents

Xiao Zhan's thoughts began to race.

Yan Qian had a gentle and considerate nature, but ever since her health had improved, she rarely took the initiative to receive outside visitors, especially mysterious figures of unknown identity.

Xiao Zhan's expression remained unchanged. He nodded to the old servant and said in a steady tone, "Madam has handled things thoughtfully. Very good. I'll go over at once."

Having said that, Xiao Zhan did not delay any further. His pace visibly quickened as he hurried toward the Council Hall.

At the same time, his heart was filled with doubt and vigilance, along with a growing urge to investigate.

He wanted to see just who this "Xiao Yuan," holding his father's token, really was.

Xiao Zhan vaguely sensed that this unexpected visitor might bring with him an unusual story...

Gu Yuan: The Xiao Family Had Come This Far Thanks to Me!

Xiao Qing arrived at the clan leader's residence and happened to encounter the maid An Ran tending to the flowers in the courtyard.

He stepped forward a few paces and asked politely, "Sister An Ran, is my aunt home today? I came to see her."

Seeing that it was Xiao Qing, An Ran hurriedly set down the watering can and smiled as she bowed. "Young Master Xiao Qing, please do not embarrass An Ran like this. Just call me An Ran."

She paused before continuing, "Madam was resting in the courtyard earlier, but an honored guest arrived outside the residence not long ago, holding the old clan leader's token. Madam has personally gone to the Council Hall to receive him. She is likely speaking with the guest inside right now."

An honored guest? And he has the old clan leader's token? Xiao Qing's doubts deepened.

Old Clan Leader Xiao Lin had been dead for many years, and his old relationships had long since faded. For such a guest to suddenly appear now was truly suspicious.

Seeing that Yan Qian was absent, Xiao Qing did not wish to linger. He nodded to An Ran. "I see. Then I won't disturb you. If Aunt returns, please tell her that I came by."

"Rest assured, Young Master." An Ran responded respectfully.

Xiao Qing left the residence with doubts in his heart, but his footsteps unconsciously turned toward the Council Hall.

He wanted to see what kind of "honored guest" had come to visit at this time.

Inside the Xiao Family's Council Hall, the atmosphere was rather "lively."

The Xiao Family's three elders were gathered around a middle-aged man of extraordinary bearing. Though his face bore traces of weathering, it could not conceal his faint yet imposing dignity. Their faces were piled with almost fawning smiles, and their words were brimming with enthusiasm.

This man was naturally Gu Yuan, using the alias "Xiao Yuan."

Yan Qian, the clan leader's wife, sat somewhat farther away with four-year-old Xiao Yan, quietly listening to their conversation with a proper yet slightly awkward smile on her face.

She did not know this Senior "Xiao Yuan" and could not join the conversation. Thus, she occasionally rose to refill everyone's tea, fulfilling her duties as the hostess.

The First Elder of the Xiao Family cast a fiery glance at the several jade bottles on the table. They appeared ordinary, yet contained subtle spatial fluctuations.

They were clearly gifts Gu Yuan had casually brought out. To the Ancient Clan, they were insignificant, but to the Xiao Family, they were priceless treasures.

The wrinkles on the First Elder's face deepened with his smile, and his tone overflowed with exaggerated gratitude:

"Senior Xiao, you may not know this! Many years ago, our old clan leader Xiao Lin often mentioned you before us juniors, saying that you were one of the people he respected most in his life!"

"If you had not acted righteously back then and turned the tide, our Xiao Family might have ceased to exist long ago! You are the great benefactor of our entire Xiao Family!"

He spoke with such apparent sincerity that it seemed he wished he could tear out his heart and show it to Gu Yuan.

Several decades ago, the Xiao Family had indeed suffered joint suppression from local forces due to conflicts of interest and had once stood on the verge of collapse.

At that time, Xiao Lin, who had only just succeeded the deceased old clan leader as clan leader, had been so anxious that he was at his wits' end.

Gu Yuan, far away in the Ancient Clan, had perhaps sensed a faint and subtle connection to the Xiao Clan's remaining bloodline, or perhaps he had merely placed a casual chess piece. He had indeed secretly lent aid, and while he was at it, offered Xiao Lin a few pointers, helping him break through to the Dou Wang realm.

Xiao Lin had always remembered this favor and had mentioned a mysterious "benefactor" to the clan elders, though he had been vague about the details.

If anyone else had been present and known the truth behind this "favor," as well as Gu Yuan's true identity, they would likely only have scoffed and sneered.

It practically carried the meaning of, "Gu Yuan of the Ancient Clan, in accordance with the dying wish of his old friend Xiao Xuan, saved the Xiao Family from peril! Preserved your Xiao Family bloodline!"

The Xiao Family had fallen from being the foremost of the Eight Ancient Clans, once home to countless powerful experts, to having only a single Da Dou Shi and several Dou Shi to uphold its name. Even its cultivation methods and Dou Skills consisted only of a few Yellow-tier techniques, with scarcely any at the Xuan tier...

Against the backdrop of a race's survival, this so-called favor seemed utterly insignificant and ironic.

Gu Yuan, under the alias "Xiao Yuan," calmly swept his gaze over the eager, even somewhat servile faces of the three elders. His heart remained unmoved as he merely said, "It has been a long time since I last came to the Xiao Family... I never expected that with the changes of the world, even that boy Xiao Lin... has been dead for many years."

His tone carried just the right trace of melancholy. He reached out and gently stroked the head of Xun'er, who sat quietly beside him, his gaze deep and unreadable.

Yan Qian felt as though she were sitting on pins and needles. The three elders' utterly shameless flattery made her toes curl in embarrassment, and she could only use the act of pouring tea to hide her awkwardness.

At this moment, the Third Elder of the Xiao Family seemed to feel that the First Elder's performance was not "sincere" enough. She shot the First Elder a slightly "dissatisfied" look, then instantly put on a grief-stricken expression. Her voice even carried a trace of choking emotion as she hurriedly interrupted:

"Senior Xiao, you do not know! The old clan leader... in his final moments, the person he thought of most was you! He kept muttering that not being able to see you one more time was his greatest regret! How he wished he could thank you in person once again!"

Seeing that the other two were about to steal all the attention, the Second Elder also hurriedly forced her way into the conversation, raising her voice several degrees. "Yes, yes! What the old clan leader spoke of most during his lifetime was your noble righteousness, Senior!"

"The person he was most grateful to and missed most was you! He said you were the Xiao Family's eternal benefactor!"

Gu Yuan looked at the three Xiao Family elders before him. Their cultivation was no higher than Dou Shi, yet they were performing with all their might. He found it somewhat ridiculous; their strength was likely not even comparable to Yan Qian's, who sat beside them.

Yet he maintained his indifferent expression, merely shaking his head lightly without saying anything more.

Yan Qian sat to one side, watching the three elders who were usually so imposing within the clan and looked down on everyone, now scrambling to flatter someone like petty streetfolk. Their blatant, even horrifying words made her cheeks burn with embarrassment.

She simply could not get a word in and could only lower her head, silently pouring tea for everyone to conceal her discomfort.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yan, seated beside his mother, had the body of a child but the soul of a mature transmigrator.

His clear black-and-white eyes blinked innocently, but inwardly, he was analyzing and mocking everything at high speed.

Are these three elders' acting skills not a little too exaggerated?

Xiao Yan looked at the First Elder's expression of gratitude, as though he were desperate to squeeze out tears; the Third Elder's feigned sorrowful choking; and the Second Elder's eagerness to forcibly interrupt. He felt a wave of nausea.

Their sycophancy is practically overflowing from the Council Hall. This Senior "Xiao Yuan" probably has quite the background. At the very least, the "sincerity" he brought out is enough to make these three greedy old fools toss aside every last shred of restraint.

Xiao Yan continued taking everything in, his heart churning wildly. Keep pretending, go on! These three are willing to throw away all dignity for a few benefits! But this Senior Xiao is quite composed. He clearly does not care about their flattery. Then again, what scenes has a true big shot not seen before?

And Mother... this really is hard on her, having to sit here through this awkward conversation.

Xiao Yan glanced at Yan Qian, who was trying hard to maintain her smile, and sighed inwardly.

His gaze then shifted to the middle-aged man called "Xiao Yuan."

This man concealed his aura and appeared gentle, yet the authority of someone long accustomed to high status inadvertently leaked from him.

He's hiding himself deeply... That kind of presence definitely does not belong to an ordinary person! And that little girl beside him...

Gu Yuan, Peak Nine-Star Dou Saint!

At this moment, Xiao Yan's gaze settled on the little girl quietly seated beside Gu Yuan.

The little girl appeared to be around three or four years old. She wore a pale purple dress, and her features were exquisite, like jade carvings.

Her large, clear, lively eyes held a calmness and faint coldness that did not belong to a child her age. She merely sat there quietly, as though everything around her had nothing to do with her.

Eh, this little girl is quite adorable. She looks just like a porcelain doll.

With the aesthetic eye of an adult, Xiao Yan began evaluating Gu Xun'er inwardly.

But she looks a little cold and not easy to approach. This little girl's name should be "Xun'er," right? What a lovely name! Is she this big shot's daughter? What exactly does it mean to send her to our Xiao Family? Boarding? Leaving her to fend for herself? Or does he have some special purpose?

While making wild guesses, he continued maintaining the bewildered expression expected of a four-year-old child. He even deliberately tilted his head, making himself appear even more "innocent."

This Xiao Family seems to have deeper waters than I imagined. This suddenly appearing "benefactor," bringing along such an absurdly adorable little girl... it doesn't feel simple at all!

Xiao Yan once again looked toward the little girl named Xun'er and happened to meet her occasionally lifted gaze, clear yet impossible to read.

Xiao Yan immediately revealed what he believed to be his most harmless and innocent smile.

If Xiao Qing had been here, he might have felt that it would not have been strange for Xiao Yan to suddenly blurt out: I've seen this little sister before.

At this moment, Xiao Zhan's figure appeared at the entrance of the Council Hall.

He walked in with steady steps, and his gaze immediately fell upon the extraordinary middle-aged man.

Seeing this, the First Elder hurriedly rose to his feet and introduced them with a smile plastered across his face. "Clan Leader, you have arrived! This is Senior Xiao Yuan, the great benefactor of our Xiao Family whom the old clan leader often mentioned during his lifetime!"

The First Elder then turned to Gu Yuan and said respectfully, "Senior Xiao, this is the current clan leader of our Xiao Family, Xiao Zhan."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhan suddenly understood.

So it was the benefactor whom his father had revered so greatly during his lifetime!

Xiao Zhan did not dare slight him. He immediately stepped forward and solemnly bowed to Gu Yuan. "This junior, Xiao Zhan, greets Senior Xiao! I often heard my late father speak of your kindness. To meet you today is truly this junior's fortune!"

Although Xiao Zhan had secretly advanced to Dou Ling, facing someone who had once helped his father break through to Dou Wang and who appeared to be from a generation older than his father, Xiao Zhan's heart was filled with reverence. He secretly guessed that the other party was at least a Dou Emperor expert, and he kept his posture extremely humble.

Gu Yuan nodded slightly in return, then looked calmly at Xiao Zhan and directly explained his purpose. "Clan Leader Xiao Zhan, there is no need for such courtesy. I have indeed come today to ask something of you."

"I wish for my daughter, Xun'er, to reside temporarily in the Xiao Family for a period of time. In the future, I will come and take her back."

Gu Yuan looked toward Gu Xun'er, who sat quietly beside him. Though his tone was calm, it carried an unquestionable meaning.

Though Xiao Zhan was somewhat surprised, he showed none of it on his face and immediately gave a solemn promise. "For Miss Xiao to reside in our Xiao Family is the Xiao Family's honor! Rest assured, Senior. Everyone in the Xiao Family will care for her attentively and never let Miss Xiao suffer the slightest grievance!"

Gu Yuan shook his head, sighed softly, and said in a calm yet meaningful tone, "There is no need for special care. Simply treat her as an ordinary child of the clan."

"Letting her experience an ordinary life will be best."

Two clan leaders—one the leader of an Ancient Emperor Clan standing at the very peak of the continent, and the other the leader of the fallen Ancient Emperor Clan, the Xiao Family—had once more completed a meaningful encounter spanning a thousand years through this brief exchange, though it also carried an unknown element.

--

At this time, Xiao Qing also arrived outside the Council Hall's entrance.

He did not hurry inside. Instead, he stood at the doorway and looked at the scene within.

Naturally, everyone inside the hall noticed the additional figure of a youth outside.

Is that Qing'er? Xiao Zhan's heart stirred slightly, and a flash of joy appeared in his eyes.

Gu Yuan's gaze, however, had already casually swept across the ancient black ring on Xiao Qing's finger the moment he appeared—the Bone Flame Ring!

That glance seemed casual, yet it was as though it could see through all falsehood. Everything appeared pale and powerless before his eyes.

Xiao Qing keenly caught Gu Yuan's fleeting yet probing gaze. His heart abruptly tightened, and his pupils contracted!

Oh no! It's that old bastard Gu Yuan?!

Only now did Xiao Qing realize that this middle-aged man in coarse hemp clothes was Gu Yuan!

At this point in time, a middle-aged man with unfathomable aura, dressed in simple ancient hemp clothing, bringing a three- or four-year-old girl to visit the Xiao Family?

Who else could it be but Gu Yuan, the Ancient Clan's leader?!

Seeing Xiao Qing's expression suddenly tense, the corners of Gu Yuan's lips lifted ever so slightly. In a low voice that only the few nearby could hear, he said, "What an interesting youth."

Gu Xun'er, beside Gu Yuan, heard her father—who stood at the peak of the continent—actually praise an unfamiliar youth as "interesting"!

She could not help raising her eyes slightly. For the first time, her clear and lively eyes truly focused on Xiao Qing, carrying a trace of faint curiosity as she remembered this youth whom her father had called "interesting."

At this moment, in the entire Xiao Family, Xiao Qing was likely the only one who could earn such a probing glance from her.

"Since that is so, I shall entrust my daughter to Clan Leader Xiao Zhan. Xiao has other matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave first," Gu Yuan said, no longer looking at Xiao Qing.

"Rest assured, Senior! Xiao Zhan will not fail your trust!" Xiao Zhan clasped his hands toward Gu Yuan and solemnly promised.

Gu Yuan nodded at those words, then looked one last time at his daughter. A hint of indescribable complexity flashed deep in his eyes. He gently stroked Xun'er's soft hair and said warmly, "Xun'er, stay in the Xiao Family peacefully for now. Father will come take you home in the future."

Gu Xun'er raised her head and looked at her father with eyes full of reluctance. Her little face was filled with disappointment.

Yet she seemed long accustomed to obeying her father's arrangements. In the end, she obediently nodded and softly said, "Yes, Father."

Just as Xiao Zhan and the three elders rose, intending to clasp their hands and see him off, an invisible yet mountain-like force quietly descended, firmly "pressing" all four of them back into their seats.

The force was gentle yet irresistible, as though the entire space had turned into solidified amber while they were tiny specks of dust sealed within it. They could not move even the tips of their fingers.

"Clan Leader Xiao Zhan, three elders, stay. There is no need to see me off." Gu Yuan swept his gaze over them, then rose and walked directly out of the hall.

As Gu Yuan passed Xiao Qing, who stood at the entrance, his steps seemed to pause almost imperceptibly. A meaningful sentence drifted into Xiao Qing's ears like a gentle breeze:

"Not bad."

As the words fell, space rippled faintly, and Gu Yuan's figure vanished completely, blending into the air as though he had never descended upon this remote city.

Meanwhile, Xiao Zhan and the other three could only maintain their stiff postures, watching helplessly as Gu Yuan's figure faded through the air like ink dissolving in water before disappearing completely.

Afterward, the force binding them silently dispersed as well, as though it had never existed.

The hall fell into dead silence.

The backs of the four Xiao Family higher-ups, each considered someone of standing in Wutan City, were soaked through with cold sweat.

They looked at one another, each seeing indescribable shock and lingering fear in the others' eyes.