Gu Yuan's Decision...

"It's over..."

Gu Dao looked at the little one in his arms, whose eyes were already open. His chubby face was puffed up, practically screaming, "This baby is unhappy, and the consequences will be severe." Gu Qingyang's miserable fate was already plain for him to see...

Little Gu Xia climbed up, his tiny head searching for the source of the sound that had woken him from his sleep. Yet Gu Qingyang, with that booming voice of his, clearly had not realized the severity of the situation. As if courting death, he spoke again—and even walked over!

"Why isn't Elder Gu Cheng saying anything? Hm, why did you bring a little thing to the meeting? Still, this little fellow is pretty cute! Come, let Uncle hold you..."

As he spoke, Gu Qingyang reached out to pick up Little Gu Xia. Having heard Gu Qingyang's voice, Little Gu Xia had confirmed his target. He stretched out his plump little hand, looking as though he wanted Gu Qingyang to hold him.

But Gu Cheng and Gu Dao, who knew the truth, silently began praying for Gu Qingyang...

"Oh! This little fellow seems to like me. I wonder what his—Aah!!!!"

Seeing Little Gu Xia's gesture, Gu Qingyang thought the child liked him. Just as he was about to ask Little Gu Xia's name, his hand touched the little one's tiny hand.

Then, despite being a two-star Dou Saint, he felt an irresistible, overwhelming force surge through his right hand.

Before he could react, Little Gu Xia flung him straight out of the council hall, blasting a skylight through the heavily warded building...

Gu Qingyang's miserable scream still echoed through the hall...

"Eeya!"

Little Gu Xia planted his two chubby hands on his hips and gave a babyish cry, as though warning everyone not to disturb his sleep. After that, he lay back down in Gu Dao's arms...

"Uh..."

Everyone, including Gu Yuan, was utterly dumbfounded! That had been a two-star Dou Saint, and he had just been sent flying? Like a sandbag! He had even smashed through this repeatedly reinforced hall!

"Ahem. Clan Leader, don't mind it. Let's continue discussing important matters..."

Seeing that everyone remained unable to recover, Gu Dao helplessly sent Gu Yuan a voice transmission as a reminder. He knew he would have plenty to do after the meeting ended...

"Mhm... Let's continue the meeting! But keep your voices down!"

Gu Yuan also came back to his senses and continued discussing the matter that concerned the Gu Clan's very survival. Yet after what had happened to Gu Qingyang, everyone unconsciously lowered their voices to the bare minimum. Even though they knew Gu Cheng and the others had set up a soundproof barrier, for some reason they still wanted to speak quietly.

They acted like thieves. Anyone unaware of the situation might have thought a group of mighty Dou Saints were doing something unsuitable for children. In any case, the atmosphere was exceptionally strange...

"Fine. Since you still cannot reach a consensus, we shall observe for now. We'll wait until the other clans make a move before deciding. That is all. Meeting adjourned! Oh, and be careful not to make any noise on your way out!"

The meeting continued, but neither side managed to convince the other. Left with no choice, Gu Yuan decided to maintain a wait-and-see stance for now. After declaring the meeting over, he quietly stepped down from the head seat. Before leaving, he sent voice transmissions to Gu Cheng and Gu Dao, telling them to visit his home.

Gu Dao and Gu Cheng nodded slightly to indicate that they understood. Then Gu Dao carried Little Gu Xia and left the hall alongside Gu Cheng...

Seeing a certain Grand Commander still stuck headfirst in the ground in the distance, his fate unknown, the two said nothing and did nothing as they hurried away. If they stayed any longer, they feared they would not be able to stop themselves from laughing...

A short while later, Gu Cheng and Gu Dao arrived together at Gu Yuan's residence. The moment they stepped into the courtyard, Gu Yuan personally came out to receive them. That alone showed their status within the Gu Clan...

"Elder Gu Cheng, Elder Gu Dao, you've come? Please, come inside..."

Gu Yuan courteously invited the two into his home. He knew exactly how much the Three Immortals of the Gu Clan had contributed to the Gu Clan. They were worthy of the respect of the Gu Clan's clan leader, one of the Ancient Eight Clans...

"I never expected Little Yuan to have already become a nine-star Dou Saint..."

"Yes,

As expected of the genius of those days. You're far stronger than old fellows like us..." Gu Cheng and Gu Dao did not stand on ceremony. They deserved Gu Yuan's respect, after all. They were senior figures who had watched Gu Yuan grow up...

"You flatter me, Elders. I only reached where I am today because of your presence. Let's speak inside..."

"Mhm..."

Gu Cheng and Gu Dao responded, then followed Gu Yuan into the home of the Gu Clan's leader...

In just over ten minutes, Gu Yuan had learned of Little Gu Xia's origins. Though it was not quite right to say he understood them, because no one knew why this little fellow had happened to appear outside the Ancient Realm. Even the origin of his absurdly powerful strength remained completely unknown...

"It truly can't be examined..."

Gu Yuan withdrew his soul force. Just as Gu Dao had told him, his soul force was completely repelled outside the little one's body—or rather, it would be more accurate to say from the area around him. It could not approach his body at all, not even by the slightest bit!

One had to know that although Gu Yuan was not an alchemist, as a nine-star Dou Saint, his soul force was certainly not weak. Even he could not examine the little fellow's body. If there had not been no fluctuation of Dou Qi coming from the child, he might have suspected that this little thing was at the Dou Emperor level!

"Since even I cannot examine him, that proves he was probably not deliberately placed here by someone. Anyone capable of doing this is no longer in this world, and there would be no need for them to use such methods against our Gu Clan."

After withdrawing his soul force, Gu Yuan also relaxed. A being whom even he could do nothing about would not have nothing better to do than send a baby to scheme against the Gu Clan. There was simply no need!

"Mhm. As for Gu Xia, I hope you can give him proof of identity, Little Yuan..."

Gu Cheng stated the other reason for their visit. They could have handled it themselves, but as figures on the level of supreme elders, few people in the current Gu Clan still recognized them. It would be much easier to have Gu Yuan, the Gu Clan's leader, take care of it...

"No problem. Leave this matter to me. By the way, Elders, Gu Yuan has another request! This concerns the future of our Gu Clan, and it is also a small duty I must fulfill as a father..."

After agreeing, Gu Yuan hesitated slightly before deciding to tell these two highly respected elders...

"What? You're saying the Soul Clan may very well make a move against the other clans?"

"And if your guess is true, have you really decided to send that little girl there?"

"Yes. This is the only thing I, as both a father and a clan leader, can do for Xun'er..."

Although reluctance filled Gu Yuan's eyes, he still hardened his heart. He knew that the person who had been his rival in his youth was certainly no weaker than him, a nine-star Dou Saint, in terms of cultivation now! He might even be stronger!

For Xun'er's future, he had no choice but to steel himself!

"This..."

Just as Gu Cheng was unable to make up his mind, Gu Dao spoke...

"Little Yuan, you are now the Gu Clan's leader. We will not say much about the decisions you make. But regarding this little fellow... I can only say that it depends on them. I will not force him to do anything. However, I can promise you that he can live with your little girl for a while..."

Gu Dao sighed softly. Having been a grandfather for more than a year, he could somewhat understand Gu Yuan's feelings. But he was not Gu Xia's real grandfather, so he did not directly agree to Gu Yuan's request. Instead, he gave him an answer that held some hope...

As for what the final outcome would be, only those two little ones knew...