Jia Ma Empire, Wutan City.
The Xiao Clan.
The council hall.
"What do you think of our Xiao Clan ancestor's return, esteemed elders?"
"Speak freely today. I'm all ears!"
Xiao Zhan, the Xiao Clan patriarch, sat at the head of the hall. Recalling everything that had happened that day, he could only find it utterly unbelievable.
It all went back to that morning.
He had been busy with the Xiao Clan's annual Testing Ceremony.
But who could have imagined that a young man who looked to be around twenty would suddenly knock on the Xiao Clan's door and claim to be their ancestor?
At first, Xiao Zhan hadn't believed him.
After all, how could the Xiao Clan have an ancestor so young?
Yet the young man had not only recounted the Xiao Clan's history in detail, but had also produced proof that only a Xiao Clan member could possess: a Clan Token representing his identity and a Life Jade symbolizing his status.
He had carefully inspected both treasures.
They were both Xiao Clan property.
Although the objects could prove the young man's identity, Xiao Zhan still couldn't bring himself to believe it.
After all, according to the young man, he was Xiao Ze, a direct descendant of the Imperial Capital Xiao Clan from one hundred and fifty years ago. His father had been the patriarch of the Imperial Capital Xiao Tribe back then!
Just listen to that!
What an unbelievable claim!
One hundred and fifty years ago!
Back then, the Xiao Tribe had been one of the Jia Ma Empire's four great clans, a force that commanded respect throughout the empire.
But now, the Xiao Clan had long since fallen into decline.
They had been forced to move to Wutan City just to scrape by.
And now he was supposed to believe the Xiao Clan had an ancestor who was over one hundred and fifty years old?
What a joke!
One hundred and fifty years ago, even an ordinary Dou Wang expert might not have lived that long!
Although Xiao Zhan doubted the young man's identity,
the other party had, after all, produced proof representing the Xiao Clan's identity and status.
As the Xiao Clan patriarch, he naturally couldn't simply drive him away.
So he had invited the other Xiao Clan elders to discuss how to handle the matter.
......
"Patriarch, this old man has heard about it."
"I heard that this young man called Xiao Ze was a direct descendant of the Imperial Capital Xiao Clan one hundred and fifty years ago. He later went on a journey and disappeared without a trace..."
"According to the clan genealogy, this did indeed happen."
"Judging by the evidence, this person does seem to be that Xiao Clan ancestor!"
The Great Elder, seated to Xiao Zhan's left, spoke in a low voice.
But as soon as he finished,
the Second Elder, seated on the other side, suddenly spoke up. "I object!"
He stood and protested loudly. "This person's origins are unknown. Although he has our Xiao Tribe's Clan Token and Life Jade, that still doesn't prove who he is!"
"What's more, he claims to be an ancestor of the Xiao Clan from one hundred and fifty years ago!"
"What kind of joke is that?"
"One hundred and fifty years ago!"
"Even a Dou Wang expert couldn't live for one hundred and fifty years!"
"Not to mention that this person looks so young..."
"Everything points to him being a fraud!"
"He absolutely cannot be our Xiao Clan ancestor!"
The Second Elder grew more and more agitated. At last, he addressed Xiao Zhan directly. "Patriarch, this man dares to impersonate our Xiao Clan ancestor. That is a grave insult to our clan!"
"I ask you to order his arrest and execute him on the spot!"
The Second Elder's words won the agreement of quite a few elders and senior clan members present.
Their objections all centered on one thing.
The man was too young.
Judging by appearances alone, the young man who called himself Xiao Ze, an ancestor of the Xiao Clan, looked to be around twenty—about the same age as Patriarch Xiao Zhan's son.
And they were supposed to believe that someone who looked so young was an ancestor from one hundred and fifty years ago?
It wasn't just them who wouldn't believe it.
No one else would, either!
This was one hundred and fifty years ago!
Not fifty years!
Even a Dou Wang expert might not live that long.
Much less while still looking so young.
"Second Elder, there's no need to get so worked up. Aren't we discussing the matter?" Xiao Zhan gestured for the Second Elder to sit down, then looked at the others. "Although this person looks extremely young, we can't completely rule out the possibility that his identity is genuine!"
"Remember, he has our Xiao Clan Token and Life Jade!"
At those words, the entire council hall fell silent.
The indignant Second Elder merely snorted and turned his head away, saying no more.
"This old man agrees with the patriarch," the Great Elder interjected.
"Though this person looks young, his identity is genuine."
"We cannot rule out the possibility that he is who he claims to be!"
"More importantly..."
"If we take action recklessly and he turns out to be a fraud, then it will be simple enough to arrest and execute him in secret."
"But if this person truly is our Xiao Clan ancestor, wouldn't that be a grave insult?"
The Great Elder's words made everyone present sink into thought.
Just then,
the Great Elder continued, "It would be bad enough if we committed such a grave offense against our own ancestor."
"But have you considered what level of strength he might have reached if he truly is our Xiao Clan ancestor and has lived for one hundred and fifty years?"
"If we provoke him, wouldn't that spell the destruction of our clan?"
The Great Elder's words made everyone even more wary.
That was right!
They had been so busy questioning the newcomer's identity
that they had completely forgotten: if the other party truly was their Xiao Clan ancestor, and he could live for one hundred and fifty years while keeping his appearance unchanged,
didn't that mean his strength had already surpassed the Dou Wang realm?
Hiss...
At that thought, every senior member of the Xiao Clan present drew in a sharp breath.
Strength beyond Dou Wang?
Wouldn't that make him a Dou Huang expert?
After the Great Elder said this, a chill rose in everyone's hearts.
They couldn't help but feel alarmed at their own recklessness.
Even the Second Elder, who had been furious earlier, had now calmed down. He furrowed his brow and began to ponder with a serious expression.
If everything was as the Great Elder said,
then perhaps the Xiao Clan really couldn't act rashly.
First, the other party's status was extraordinary, and he might indeed be their Xiao Clan ancestor. If they attacked without thinking, they could commit the grave offense of disrespecting him.
Second, his strength was unknown. If his identity was genuine, then the fact that he had lived for one hundred and fifty years without aging suggested that he might have reached the Dou Huang realm.
It had to be known that a Dou Huang expert was a peerless powerhouse who commanded awe throughout the entire Jia Ma Empire!
Even the Imperial Capital Xiao Clan, mighty as it had been, hadn't had a Dou Huang expert!
If they provoked a Dou Huang expert, it wouldn't matter how many generations separated them from him. Even blood relatives couldn't escape disaster.
After all, a Dou Huang expert could not be insulted!
The Xiao Clan as it stood could never withstand the majesty of a Dou Huang expert.
Xiao Zhan, seated in the patriarch's place, looked down at the silent crowd and raised a hand. "Since none of you can determine the newcomer's identity,"
"this patriarch has a proposal. What do you think?"
When all the Xiao Clan elders and senior members turned to look at him,
Xiao Zhan continued, "Since we can't confirm who he is, we could temporarily accommodate him in the Xiao Clan."
"If he's genuine, that would undoubtedly be wonderful news for our Xiao Clan."
"But if he's a fraud, then he must have gone to great lengths to infiltrate our clan for a reason. We need only keep an eye on him in secret, and we'll surely discover some flaw."
"Then we can arrest him. That way, we'll be prepared for every eventuality!"
"What do you think of this proposal, esteemed elders?"
The senior members of the Xiao Clan exchanged glances, then rose and cupped their hands in agreement. "We'll do as the patriarch says."
"We'll follow your lead."
Xiao Zhan rose with a hearty laugh, then gave the others his order. "In that case, it's settled!"
Before you continue