Mo Clan's Mo Cheng

The spacious hall was packed with people. Under normal circumstances, such an occasion would have been filled with celebration, laughter, and cheerful chatter.

Seated on both sides of the hall were the leaders of the Mo Clan's various branches and its major elders, more than thirty people in total. Every one of them had at least the cultivation of a Dou Master, and the vast majority had reached the level of Da Dou Shi!

At this moment, they were all whispering among themselves. Some looked worried, some wore mocking expressions, and others acted as though it had nothing to do with them. Yet no matter who they were, their gazes kept drifting toward the two people seated on the raised platform in the center of the hall.

At the head of the platform stood a seat on either side. On the left sat an elderly man with graying hair, dressed in luxurious robes. His face was dark, and his left hand repeatedly stroked his beard as though he were pondering something.

"Great Elder, judging by the time, that person should be arriving soon. We must not neglect him this time," said the middle-aged man in lavish robes seated on the right.

The elderly man in ornate robes—Mo Cheng, the Mo Clan's current Great Elder—looked even gloomier upon hearing this. "Rest assured, Clan Head. This old man knows what to do."

The middle-aged man, Mo Lan, the Mo Clan's clan head, nodded and did not provoke Mo Cheng further. Though he had long been dissatisfied with this old fossil who seriously threatened his position within the clan and had always hoped to see him fall from power, the deaths of twelve Dou Masters were no small loss even for the wealthy and powerful Mo Clan.

More importantly, they still did not know where their opponent came from. All they knew was that he was a young man likely under twenty years old, with cultivation at the Peak Great Dou Master level.

When he had first received that report, he had even wondered if something was wrong with his ears. Although he had already reached the Dou Ling realm, theoretically, even losing his ears would not have affected his hearing, but this time, he would rather his ears had malfunctioned—or that he had never cultivated to the Dou Ling realm at all. A Peak Great Dou Master under twenty! How could a genius of that caliber appear in Yan City and just so happen to become enemies with the Mo Clan?

Even more terrifying was the question of what kind of force stood behind such a genius. The mere thought of it sent chills down his spine!

Mo Cheng, seated on the left, was also deep in thought. His current cultivation had not yet reached the point where he could overpower Clan Head Mo Lan and take sole control of the Mo Clan. When he had first heard that the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils had appeared, he had intended to seize them through the clan's secret technique. By then, not to mention the insignificant Mo Clan, even the Misty Cloud Sect would one day be beneath his heel.

Unfortunately, the trash he had sent out had not only failed to bring back the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, but had also suffered casualties and brought back such a powerful enemy. Now he even had to provide compensation. What Xiao Yan demanded was no small sum; even he would suffer heavily from it. Yet he could not refuse, or the hearts of those below him would scatter. Who would still be willing to risk their lives for him afterward?

"Young Master Xiao, Lord Xiao has arrived!"

Since Xiao Yan had only revealed his surname in advance, the announcer reported him that way.

A loud announcement rang out from the entrance, instantly quieting the hall, which had been somewhat noisy from everyone's whispers. The two men on the platform also put aside their private calculations, exchanged a glance, and then looked together at the three figures slowly entering through the doors. No matter how much they opposed each other in private, as the two highest-ranking figures in the Mo Clan, they were still firm allies in resolving this crisis facing the clan.

Xiao Yan wore a white brocade robe today, his hair bound beneath a crown, with a folding fan in hand. Paired with the faint smile on his face, he looked every bit the part of a wealthy young master. Since Xiao Yan had said they needed to look like people from a powerful faction, Xiao Yi Xian had also carefully dressed up. Standing together, the two looked like a perfect golden couple, drawing gasps of admiration from the people in the hall. Even Mo Lan, the Mo Clan's clan head, became more convinced that the pair must have extraordinary origins.

Only Mo Cheng, the Mo Clan's Great Elder, felt a trace of doubt rise in his heart. As a former outer elder of the Misty Cloud Sect, Mo Cheng still regularly sent offerings to the sect even now. Naturally, he had seen the true offspring of great families before, but their bearing differed somewhat from Xiao Yan's.

Could this man actually have no background at all? Mo Cheng suddenly thought.

Mo Cheng then looked toward the petite figure behind Xiao Yan. Qinglian had not dressed up in any special way today, so those around her all assumed she was a maid who had accompanied them. Yet at first sight, Mo Cheng noticed the three faint green dots in Qinglian's eyes.

Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils! Mo Cheng's eyes narrowed as certainty filled his heart.

Suppressing his excitement, Mo Cheng revealed nothing on his face. He was the first to rise and greet them, smiling as he said to Xiao Yan, "You must be Young Master Xiao. What an elegant and extraordinary young man you are!"

"Haha, you're too kind, you're too kind. Old man, no need to flatter me. I... I came here this time to collect that compensation. Hurry up and give it to me!" Xiao Yan said bluntly. The moment he opened his mouth, the refined young master image he had painstakingly created was ruined by more than half. Even Xiao Yi Xian cast him a strange look.

The surrounding members of the Mo Clan found it odd that Xiao Yan spoke so crudely. Mo Lan, the Mo Clan's clan head, took the thought a step further, guessing that Xiao Yan had spent a long time training outside and mingling with mercenaries or similar people, which had shaped his manner of speaking.

Only Mo Cheng was delighted inside. He felt that Xiao Yan was exactly as he had suspected—not some young master from a major power, but merely someone born to an ordinary family. As for why he possessed such cultivation, he had likely stumbled upon some fortunate opportunity somewhere. That also explained why a genius like Xiao Yan had appeared in a relatively small place like Yan City: he had simply been born here!

It had to be said that while Mo Cheng's guess was not entirely correct, it was not far off. Xiao Yan had indeed been born in Wutan City, also in the northeastern region of the Jia Ma Empire, and he had indeed not come from any particularly powerful faction. His current cultivation was also truly thanks to the opportunities he had obtained.

"Hahaha, Young Master truly is forthright! However, there is no need to rush over the matter of compensation. This old man has another fine proposal to discuss with you. If we can reach an agreement, this old man is willing to offer double the compensation." Mo Cheng smiled as he began discussing this so-called deal with Xiao Yan amid the astonished gazes of the other Mo Clan members. Greed flickered in his eyes!

Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes and sneered inwardly. "Oh? There is such a good thing? Elder Mo Cheng, let's hear it."

"Ah, it is like this. As the saying goes, it is better to resolve enmity than deepen it. Although our Mo Clan and Young Master Xiao have had a slight misunderstanding this time, Young Master Xiao has a boundless future ahead of him, and the Mo Clan hopes to befriend you. This old man happens to have an unmarried grandson. I think the green-eyed little girl behind you is quite suitable for him. How about we arrange their marriage, turn hostility into friendship, and become relatives by marriage?" Mo Cheng said with a smile. Although he believed there was a high chance that no great force stood behind Xiao Yan, it was best not to gamble when it could be avoided. Moreover, Xiao Yan's displayed strength alone was already formidable. Naturally, it would be best if he could peacefully obtain the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. If not...

A cold glint flashed through Mo Cheng's eyes.