While Xiao Xuan was in seclusion, making his final push toward Dou Di, elsewhere, at the Xiao Clan...
With Ancestor Xiao Xuan's help, Xiao Yan had resolved the loss of his talent and his inability to retain Dou Qi. As he and his father, Xiao Zhan, withdrew from their ancestor's presence, both father and son shed tears of joy.
Xiao Zhan said, "Yan'er, this is wonderful! Your talent is back. From now on, let's see who dares call my son Xiao Yan a good-for-nothing again."
Over the past three years, Xiao Yan had fallen from the clouds, where he had been a young genius praised by everyone, straight into hell, facing countless people on all sides calling him the Xiao Clan's good-for-nothing.
Xiao Yan had spent those three years at the lowest point of his life, yet his father, Xiao Zhan, had never once neglected or disdained him. Instead, he had kept encouraging him.
Xiao Zhan's encouragement was part of what had helped Xiao Yan endure.
Now that Xiao Yan's talent had returned, his father was even happier than he was.
Xiao Yan said, "Father, don't worry. This time, I'll prove to everyone that your son isn't a good-for-nothing. Everything I lost three years ago, I, Xiao Yan, will reclaim with my own hands."
Xiao Zhan patted his shoulder and praised him. "Good! That's the spirit. I'll be waiting."
Then, as though he had suddenly remembered something, Xiao Yan said, "Oh no, Father! I nearly forgot. Xun'er is still waiting outside. I have to tell her the good news."
Xiao Yan had been so caught up in returning to his ancestral roots, paying his respects to Ancestor Xiao Xuan, and basking in the joy of his restored talent.
Only now did he remember that Xun'er had been waiting outside the Xiao Residence since before he brought Xiao Xuan back to the clan.
Half the day had already passed. If he didn't go find her soon, she would get angry.
Besides, Xiao Yan wanted to tell Xun'er the good news as soon as possible.
Naturally, Xiao Zhan knew how his son and Xun'er felt about each other. The two had been childhood sweethearts, and feelings beyond friendship had already begun to blossom between them. Xiao Zhan knew all of this.
Most precious of all was that during the three years Xiao Yan had been considered a good-for-nothing, even many of his fellow clansmen had belittled him. Xun'er alone had never abandoned him, encouraging him instead. A childhood sweetheart willing to share his hardships was all the more rare.
In the past, Xiao Zhan had actually been quite worried about Xiao Yan.
He knew that Xun'er was the daughter of Lord Gu Yuan. Lord Gu Yuan was immensely powerful, and his identity and background were even more formidable and mysterious. He was far beyond anyone their Xiao Clan could hope to attach themselves to.
Before, although Xiao Zhan had hoped Xiao Yan and Xun'er would grow close, he had also feared they might grow too close, because he knew their Xiao Clan could hardly be a worthy match for the family behind her.
But things were different now. Xiao Zhan had learned of the Xiao Clan's former glory from their ancestor Xiao Xuan, and now Ancestor Xiao Xuan had returned.
The Xiao Clan was bound to soar in the future. No matter how powerful the family behind Xun'er was, the Xiao Clan would surely catch up someday.
Thus, Xiao Zhan no longer worried. Seeing Xiao Yan's frantic haste, he smiled and said, "Go on, then."
Xiao Yan hurried off.
Xun'er was still waiting outside the Xiao Residence. The girl didn't seem bored, sitting on the stone lion by the entrance and swinging her legs.
After waiting half the day, she finally saw Xiao Yan return, rushing out in a flurry.
Xun'er said, "Brother Xiao Yan, what took you so long? You kept me waiting."
Xiao Yan immediately apologized. "Sorry, sorry, Xun'er. Something important happened in the residence, and I really couldn't get away. The moment I came out, I came straight to you. You're not angry, are you?"
Xun'er smiled and said, "I knew something must have held you up, Brother Xiao Yan. How could I be angry with you?"
Seeing that Xun'er wasn't angry, Xiao Yan relaxed.
This girl rarely lost her temper, but once she did, she was harder to coax than anyone.
Unable to contain himself, Xiao Yan said, "Xun'er, I have some good news for you."
Xiao Xun'er froze for a moment. This was the first time in years she had seen Xiao Yan so excited.
"Good news? What good news?" Xiao Xun'er asked curiously.
Xiao Yan said, "My talent is back. My dantian can hold Dou Qi again. From today onward, I'm no longer Xiao Yan the good-for-nothing."
After recovering his talent, Xiao Yan immediately shared the news with Xun'er.
Xiao Xun'er was stunned when she heard it, then she too was swept up in joy.
"Really? Brother Xiao Yan, your talent really has returned?"
Xiao Yan nodded. "That's right. It's back, and I'm in exceptionally good shape."
Xiao Yan had already tested it himself on the way over. After Ancestor Xiao Xuan removed that "parasite," Yao Lao, his dantian could indeed store Dou Qi again, and his Dou Qi no longer vanished without explanation.
He could cultivate normally again. The genius Xiao Yan of three years ago had returned.
Naturally, Xiao Xun'er was happy for him.
Still, she had her doubts.
"But... Brother Xiao Yan, how did you recover?"
Xiao Xun'er was puzzled.
Over the past three years, Xiao Xun'er had actually tried to discover what was wrong with Xiao Yan. She had even secretly asked her guard, Ling Ying, a Dou Emperor from the Gu Clan, to examine his body.
Yet even Ling Ying, with his Dou Emperor strength, had been unable to identify the cause of Xiao Yan's lost talent.
How had Xiao Yan resolved something even a Dou Emperor couldn't fix in such a short time today?
Xiao Xun'er remembered the mysterious Xiao Xuan whom Xiao Yan had just brought into the Xiao Clan, the man even Elder Ling Ying deeply feared.
Could it have been because of that Xiao Xuan?
Naturally, Xiao Yan would hide nothing from Xun'er.
He said, "Ancestor Xiao Xuan resolved it for me. Actually, I hadn't lost my talent. A Dou Zun-level soul was living as a parasite inside my body. The reason my body couldn't retain Dou Qi these past three years was that this Dou Zun had been siphoning it away."
Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Xiao Xun'er froze.
"A hidden Dou Zun expert? And... Ancestor... Xiao Xuan?"
Xiao Xun'er could understand a Dou Zun soul absorbing Dou Qi.
But Ancestor Xiao Xuan... what did that mean?
Xun'er had lived with the Xiao Clan for over a decade, yet she had never heard of them having an ancestor like that.
Where had this Ancestor Xiao Xuan that Xiao Yan mentioned come from?
And at the mention of a Xiao Clan ancestor, Xiao Xun'er suddenly felt as though something had jolted her memory.
She suddenly remembered exactly where she had seen the name Xiao Xuan.
She had spent quite some time thinking about it earlier. The name Xiao Xuan had sounded familiar, but she simply couldn't remember where she had seen it.
Only when Xiao Yan said "Xiao Clan ancestor" did Xun'er suddenly recall it.
That's right!
Xiao Xuan. She had seen that name in the Gu Family's historical records back then, and had also heard it from her father, Gu Yuan.
Xiao Xuan had lived in the same era as Xun'er's father, Gu Yuan.
However, he had fallen a thousand years ago. She had heard that the Xiao Clan had still been immensely powerful then. Like their Gu Clan, it had been one of the eight great Dou God Clans of the Central Plains. At its peak, the Xiao Clan had even been somewhat stronger than their Gu Clan.
And the reason the Xiao Clan had surpassed the Gu Clan was one man: Xiao Xuan.
Xiao Xuan had been the strongest Nine-Star Dou Sheng on the Dou Qi Continent a thousand years ago.
Her father, Gu Yuan, had personally admitted that in terms of talent, both he and Hun Tiandi, the patriarch of the Hun Clan, had been far inferior to Xiao Xuan.
Now, hearing Xiao Yan speak of Ancestor Xiao Xuan and remembering who Xiao Xuan was, Xiao Xun'er felt her mind go blank.
The Ancestor Xiao Xuan Brother Xiao Yan mentioned...
Could it be... that Xiao Xuan?
Before you continue