Xiao Yan's Father-in-Law

Boom! A thunderous roar and a howling wind erupted as a figure dressed in simple linen clothes silently appeared before them.

This man had the appearance of an ordinary middle-aged man, and apart from a hint of authority, he was unremarkable.

What alarmed Huo Yuhao was that this middle-aged man stood there without any aura emanating from him. However, the surrounding Heaven and Earth Origin Qi heaven and earth energy) that had been at his beck and call instantly abandoned him, freezing as if in a trance.

Even the once invincible mental power was completely unable to sense the other party's presence, and even showed signs of losing control when getting close to the other party.

"Your Soul Power is rather strange, little one." Gu Yuan had only released a trace of his aura when he spoke to stop Xiao Xun'er, but he had completely concealed it by now.

He didn't speak to his daughter first, but instead looked at Huo Yuhao with great interest, his eyes filled with surprise.

"Greetings, Senior." Huo Yuhao suppressed his unease and bowed respectfully.

"Father, I just wanted to give Brother Xiao Yan a Child Flame." Xiao Xun'er looked up at her father, her voice filled with admiration and fear.

"Nonsense." Gu Yuan's voice was unexpectedly calm, without the slightest hint of blame. "You have not yet fully integrated with the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame. Forcibly separating the Child Flame will inevitably damage your vital energy."

"Is that so?" Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan immediately looked at Xiao Xun'er, his voice tinged with worry. "Xun'er, listen to your father, your health is the most important thing. I don't need one or two more Heavenly Flames!"

Upon hearing this, Gu Yuan finally turned his gaze to Xiao Yan, sizing up the kid who had stolen his prize.

With Gu Yuan's abilities, he could clearly tell that Xiao Yan wasn't lying. Compared to the Heavenly Flames, he did indeed care more about Xun'er. Gu Yuan nodded slightly in agreement.

"I am Gu Yuan, the Ancient Clan Chief, and Xun'er's father," Gu Yuan introduced himself.

"Greetings, Father-in-law!" Xiao Yan blurted out in his nervousness.

Before the words were even finished, an unimaginable, immense pressure suddenly pressed down on Xiao Yan and Huo Yuhao, causing them to fall to the ground in an instant. At the same time, the sky was suddenly swallowed up by endless, rolling, heavy dark clouds, with blinding lightning crackling within the clouds and constant booming sounds, turning the night into day! It was as if the world itself was displaying Gu Yuan's wrath to the two of them.

"Father, please don't—" Upon seeing this, Xiao Xun'er's face turned deathly pale. Just as she was about to plead for mercy, her figure vanished without a trace.

Under this oppressive force, as if the heavens and earth were raging, Huo Yuhao struggled to resist, sweat dripping down his face. He caught a glimpse of Xiao Yan's pale face beside him, Huo Yuhao's heart clenched, as if a familiar sense of constraint enveloped his entire body. This suffocating feeling filled his heart, yet it also gave rise to a strange power.

Huo Yuhao's eyes flashed with seven-colored light as he struggled to his feet, standing in front of Xiao Yan, his fists clenched tightly, completely unaware that the broken corner of the Ancient Jade had pierced his palms.

"Clan Chief Gu Yuan, I am Huo Yuhao, the acting clan chief of the Xiao Clan!"

"Clan Chief Gu Yuan, I am Yao Chen, their master." Yao Chen's soul appeared beside the two, his expression more solemn than ever before.

Seeing Huo Yuhao and Yao Chen protecting him, Xiao Yan felt an indescribable sense of resentment. He wanted to stand up and face them together, but Gu Yuan's aura completely overwhelmed him. Even with Xiao Yan's strong willpower, he was completely unable to move at this moment. Maintaining his composure was already his limit.

"Gentlemen, there's no need to be so tense. I meant no harm." Gu Yuan withdrew his imposing aura, somewhat amused and exasperated, unsure whether to call Huo Yuhao brave or reckless. He simply wanted to test Xiao Yan, the boy who had kidnapped his daughter.

Gu Yuan was quite satisfied with Xiao Yan's performance. He was completely overwhelmed by Xiao Yan's aura. Ordinary Dou Zun would be so frightened that they would lose all dignity. Xiao Yan only turned a little pale, which was far beyond his expectations.

The fact that Huo Yuhao, this freak, was able to break through his oppressive aura and stand up was even more unbelievable to him.

These two little ones have limitless potential for future achievements, Gu Yuan thought to himself. As for their teacher, Yao Chen, he had heard of him. If he were still alive, he would be willing to recruit him, but now that only his soul remained, Gu Yuan naturally had no interest.

After withdrawing his aura, as compensation, Gu Yuan subtly manipulated the spiritual energy in this world, merging it into the bodies of the two of them.

For the two of them, this spiritual energy has no effect at the moment, but it will provide them with sufficient assistance when their soul realm breaks through to the Spiritual Realm.

"Heh! I can't give you the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame, nor can I give you the Child Flame." Gu Yuan smiled faintly, returning to the main topic. "If you need Heavenly Flames, I can find another one to exchange for it."

"I wonder which Heavenly Flames Chief Gu Yuan would be willing to exchange for?" Huo Yuhao secretly wiped the blood off the Ancient Jade with his right thumb.

"Didn't you agree to meet Xun'er at the Jia Nan Academy a year from now?" Gu Yuan stood with his hands behind his back and said calmly, "Then we'll see which one I can find this year."

"Are you willing to let Xun'er see Xiao Yan?" Huo Yuhao didn't focus on the key point, but rather on Gu Yuan's hint of "seeing each other again in a year."

"Father-in-law..." Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan was also pleasantly surprised and was about to follow up with the staff.

"Hold on, I haven't acknowledged you yet." Gu Yuan stared at Xiao Yan, his expression calm. "There are still fourteen years until the Gu Clan Coming-of-Age Ceremony. If you can become Dou Zun before then, I'll acknowledge you as my son-in-law."

At this point, a gentle look appeared on Gu Yuan's face. "As for what will happen a year from now, that's Xun'er's decision, and as her father, I will naturally support her."

Ignoring the overjoyed Xiao Yan, Huo Yuhao felt a surge of power upon hearing Gu Yuan's words, and his hostility towards Gu Yuan dissipated considerably.

"Clan Chief Gu Yuan, please announce to the public that the Ancient Jade of the Xiao Clan has been obtained by the Ancient Clan." Huo Yuhao put forward his most important condition.

"Okay," Gu Yuan replied.

"By the way, Clan Chief Gu Yuan, what if you don't find the Heavenly Flames this year?" Huo Yuhao asked as a final question.

"Since I've agreed, you don't need to worry." Before he finished speaking, Gu Yuan's figure vanished, leaving only those words behind.

"Keep it up, you two little ones."

After Gu Yuan left, the three of them all breathed a sigh of relief. Xiao Yan gave a wry smile, "This is... Dou Sheng!"

Huo Yuhao gazed at Xiao Yan, his eyes filled with a mixture of envy and sorrow, but these emotions vanished in an instant. Huo Yuhao hooked his arm around Xiao Yan's neck, his voice laced with laughter. "Not bad, you won over your father-in-law so easily."

"Haha, don't you even know who I am!" Xiao Yan laughed loudly, throwing his head back.

Before the laughter had even subsided, Ling Ying appeared, her expression not very pleasant. She said to Huo Yuhao and the other man, "If you have any other requests, you can tell me."

"Senior Ling Ying? You haven't gone back yet?" Huo Yuhao was somewhat surprised.

"Miss Xun'er requested that I come to protect you." Mentioning this, Ling Ying's expression darkened further. "The clan leader also ordered me to come and ask what else you want besides the Heavenly Flames."

"Thank you, Senior Ling Ying. I hope the Ancient Clan can help the Xiao Clan..."

"Elder Ling, do you have any metals?"

"Senior Ling Ying..."

"Elder Ling..."

"You two brats..."