Gu Yuan Arrives

On the day of the Full Moon Banquet, Xiao Zhan was receiving the many guests who had come to offer their congratulations with a broad smile on his face.

However, at that moment, an unexpected honored guest arrived in the skies above Wutan City.

This person was a steady middle-aged man dressed plainly. His brows were furrowed, and he was still muttering to himself, "The Xiao Clan... According to my clan's Secret Method, it should be here."

This ordinary-looking middle-aged man was none other than the Gu Clan Leader, Gu Yuan.

His tone was somewhat hesitant. After all, this was merely an extremely ordinary city in a remote Small Country on the Northwest Continent.

Thinking back to those years, the Xiao Clan had also been one of the Ancient Eight Tribes, and the clan leader, Xiao Xuan, had even ranked among the "Peak Five Saints" on the continent, possessing immense strength.

Even though over a thousand years had already passed, and the Xiao Clan's strength would inevitably have fallen uncontrollably because their bloodline had been abandoned, Surely it could not have declined this badly, right? To think they could only cower in a remote country where even a Dou Zong could reign supreme.

Then, just like that, he appeared directly on the street in full view of everyone. What inspired fear was that everyone seemed to notice nothing at all and continued as usual.

The middle-aged man was just about to ask about news of the Xiao Clan when he suddenly heard a passerby beside him say, "I heard the Xiao Clan Patriarch is holding a Full Moon Banquet for his son this time. Many clan leaders have gone to offer congratulations."

"That's right. And the two clan leaders of the Gale Family and the Oba Family have both gone too. Looks like the Xiao Clan is still pretty impressive. Even they have to go curry favor with them," one person said.

"Are you stupid?" At that moment, the person beside him looked at him with disdain.

"It's not like you don't know the relationship between those two families and the Xiao Clan. If those two went over, they're definitely weasels going to wish the chickens a happy New Year."

"Exactly." Many people began chiming in one after another.

"..."

The speakers had no intention, but the listener took it to heart.

"The Xiao Family? Are they the descendants of the former Xiao Clan?" The middle-aged man's brows knitted tightly.

Then they relaxed again. "Forget it. I'll know once I go take a look."

With the Emperor Realm Soul upon him, he did not even need to pay deliberate attention. He easily found the direction leading to the Xiao Family.

At the entrance of the Xiao Residence, Xiao Zhan was smiling as he sent a guest into the Xiao Residence.

At that moment, he suddenly sensed a naked gaze. Being stared at so undisguisedly made Xiao Zhan instinctively reveal a displeased expression.

Looking in the direction of that gaze, an unfamiliar middle-aged man appeared in his field of vision. The two looked at each other.

"His strength is very great!" Xiao Zhan's heart sank. From that clash of gazes just now, he detected a powerful pressure.

The current him was no weakling. Last year, he had broken through to Dou Zong, and his cultivation had already reached two-star Dou Zun. Even if placed in the Central Plains, he would be a powerful expert qualified to serve as an elder of a first-rate sect.

Yet this person had actually been able to let him experience such suffocating pressure through a mere clash of gazes. He even had a feeling that this person had not exerted himself on purpose, so his strength was absolutely absurdly powerful.

Could he be a Half-Saint? Or perhaps a Dou Sheng?

A bad feeling rose in Xiao Zhan's heart. It seemed the Xiao Family had still been found in the end! It should not be the Soul Clan. Otherwise, he would not have been this friendly and would have attacked directly.

It seemed someone from that former ally had probably been sent over. He did not know what this person's purpose was.

"He is actually a Dou Zun?"

While countless thoughts churned through Xiao Zhan's mind, Gu Yuan also felt quite a bit of emotion, and he was somewhat surprised by Xiao Zhan's strength.

This probing had allowed him to sense Xiao Zhan's cultivation extremely easily. The result gave him a small shock.

Although it was not considered high compared to him, in the outside world, he was no weakling. Then why hide in such a small city?

However, before Gu Yuan could think further, Xiao Zhan came forward with a beaming smile.

"This friend looks a little unfamiliar. May I know how I should address you? And what brings you to my Xiao Family?"

Xiao Zhan said with a chuckle.

"Xiao Clan Leader may simply call me Gu Yuan.

My ancestors had some ties with the Xiao Family, so I came to pay a visit. I unexpectedly learned that today was actually a joyous occasion for the Xiao Family, so I have somewhat imposed on you," Gu Yuan said with a trace of apology.

"Oh." Xiao Zhan laughed heartily. "It doesn't matter. A guest is a guest. In that case, Brother Gu, please come inside."

"Then many thanks, Xiao Clan Leader."

"Please enter."

The members of the other families outside were seeing such a hospitable Xiao Clan Leader for the first time, and they looked at him in considerable surprise.

"Everyone, please continue." Xiao Zhan did not pay attention to the crowd's gazes. He merely secretly summoned a Xiao Family member and told them to keep a close eye on Gu Yuan, as well as to serve him properly.

"Yes." The Xiao Clan member left soundlessly and passed down the clan leader's instructions.

Leaving aside Xiao Zhan's side for now, because of Xiao Zhan's unusual attitude toward him, quite a few people went forward to strike up a conversation with Gu Yuan.

Relying on the Gu Clan Leader's many years of experience, Gu Yuan deflected all of these people.

Afterward, he began walking around the Xiao Family's courtyard. Others only took it as him casually looking around and did not pay particular attention.

However, in the shadows, Gu Yuan's Soul Strength had already probed the entire Xiao Family clearly.

Over thirty Dou Wangs, twenty Dou Emperors, three Dou Zongs, and one place that ought to belong to an alchemist, though the specific strength there was unclear.

Even the Xiao Clan Members responsible for receiving guests had reached the Dou Shi level. Looking at it overall, their strength was not weak.

At this point, he did somewhat believe this place was the former Xiao Clan.

Only, were their numbers not a little too small?

And the distribution of cultivation levels was not quite right either. The number of Dou Wangs was not even twice that of Dou Emperors.

Even more suspiciously, there was actually a gap in the Dou Ling tier.

Where had they gone? Could they have gone out of town on business or something?

Besides, with such powerful strength, this Xiao Clan was still staying here peacefully and lawfully. Should they not have directly seized power and usurped the throne, becoming a local emperor?

It truly was baffling.

He also wondered where they had placed the Tou She Ancient God Jade.

How should he get his hands on the Tou She Ancient God Jade?

As for simply using violence to snatch it by force, that was completely outside his consideration.

He had come out in private this time precisely because he was unwilling to use such a heartless method. After all, back then, he had still had some ties of friendship with Xiao Xuan.

If he truly wanted to do that, why would he need to come personally? There were plenty of elders in the Gu Clan who wanted to do exactly that.

As long as he revealed the tiniest hint of intention, many people would handle this matter thoroughly and completely.

Was it not just capturing people and stealing jade? Leave it to us... Gu Yuan had already imagined in his mind how the group of elders would react after learning of the Xiao Clan's existence.

And just as Gu Yuan was pondering life, Xiao Zhan's arrival interrupted his thoughts.

"Hahaha~ Brother Gu, sorry to keep you waiting!" Xiao Zhan's wild, uninhibited laughter could be heard from far away.

Because of this, everyone else's gazes gathered on this ordinary-looking middle-aged man.

They began making their own calculations inwardly: "Xiao Clan Leader actually cares so much about this person. Looks like we can build a good relationship with him and save the country by a roundabout route!"

"Why has Xiao Clan Leader come here?" Gu Yuan asked, somewhat puzzled. "Could it be that you no longer need to receive the guests?"

"The guests can be received by others now, but Brother Gu has only just arrived. It is still better for me to accompany you personally."

Xiao Zhan had no other choice either. Though arrangements had been made, he was also worried that leaving a peak expert like Gu Yuan alone here might lead to some accident.

If someone truly angered him by accident, all of them tied together right now would not be enough for Gu Yuan to swat to death with one slap.

Dropping dead halfway through—what a wronged way to die that would be!

At that time, it really would be "the late emperor's great cause was not even half accomplished when he died midway."