Gu Xun'er pays her respects to Uncle Xiao Xuan

Ling Ying was so overwhelmed by Xiao Xuan's aura that he could not lift his head. Even though Xiao Xuan had not targeted him, he had nearly dropped to his knees.

With the Dou Di Bloodline in her body, Xun'er fared somewhat better.

Even so, her expression had changed drastically.

Xun'er said, "Could it really be Xiao Xuan? Has he broken through?"

Though she did not want to admit it, that terrifying aura was undeniable.

Ling Ying said, "With an aura this terrifying, I'd say it's all but certain."

After all, Ling Ying was no ordinary Dou Emperor. He also came from the Gu Clan. Though his cultivation was not high, he had seen plenty within the clan.

He had seen Dou Zongs, Dou Zuns, and even Dou Shengs.

But no cultivator below Dou Sheng could have produced that aura just now. It had to be Xiao Xuan.

Xiao Xuan had truly returned, and he had made another breakthrough.

This had become a major affair.

Ling Ying said, "Miss, I must return to the Gu Clan immediately and inform Clan Chief Gu Yuan."

This matter was too important for Ling Ying to delay. Taking advantage of the moment just after Xiao Xuan's breakthrough, he prepared to leave the Xiao Clan.

However, when Ling Ying stepped out of Xun'er's room, he had only just prepared to form wings from Dou Qi and leave the Xiao Residence.

The Shadow Wings on his back had barely unfurled, and he was about to shoot into the sky, when he discovered to his horror that the space all around him seemed to have been instantly locked down by an outside force.

Within that sealed space, Ling Ying could not move an inch.

"How could this happen? Which esteemed expert is here?" Ling Ying's expression darkened. In truth, the moment the space was sealed, the worst possibility had already occurred to him.

Someone who could instantly seal the space around an Eight-Star Dou Emperor and hold him in their grasp without a sound-how could an ordinary person possess such means?

Even in the Central Plains, few possessed such abilities, let alone in tiny Wutan City in the Jia Ma Empire.

That person had probably made his move.

Dou Sheng Xiao Xuan?

Hearing him, Xun'er hurried outside as well and saw Ling Ying locked in midair.

Xun'er cried anxiously, "Elder Ling!"

"Miss, don't come any closer!" Ling Ying warned Xun'er not to move recklessly. Nothing could be allowed to happen to her.

Ling Ying's face was deathly pale. He had never expected Xiao Xuan to discover him so quickly. This was bad-now he could not escape even if he wanted to.

The next moment, Xiao Xuan's voice rang out from the air, just as he had feared.

"A mere Dou Emperor dares come and go freely within my Xiao Clan? Do you think you can enter and leave my clan's territory whenever you please?"

Ling Ying said, "Lord Xiao Xuan, I meant no offense. I am merely acting under orders to protect my young miss. I bear the Xiao Clan no ill will."

Who would want to die if they could live?

Ling Ying began to explain.

Xiao Xuan said, "Under orders? Gu Yuan's orders?"

Xiao Xuan named Gu Yuan outright.

You would have been better off not mentioning it. Now you've made me even angrier.

My Xiao Clan has fallen this far, and Gu Yuan still remembered to plant a Dou Emperor spy here?

Well done, Gu Yuan!

Ling Ying's expression turned grim.

How had he forgotten that? Their Gu Clan's chief had indeed wronged the Xiao Clan. Bringing up Gu Yuan in front of Xiao Xuan now-wasn't that deliberately provoking him?

Xiao Xuan gave two cold chuckles, but did not wipe Ling Ying out on the spot. Instead, he said flatly, "You, bring that little girl from your Gu Clan and come to the Xiao Clan Hall to see me."

Xiao Xuan specifically demanded to see Gu Yuan's daughter.

Then he released the spatial seal around Ling Ying.

He was only a mere Dou Emperor. Xiao Xuan was not worried about him escaping.

Once released, Ling Ying landed on the ground, his face ashen.

Xun'er asked, "Elder Ling, are you all right?"

Ling Ying said, "Rest assured, miss. I'm fine. That person from the Xiao Clan didn't attack me."

If he truly was Xiao Xuan, an existence at that level could erase Ling Ying with a single thought if he wished to attack him.

Xiao Xuan had no intention of killing him.

However, what truly troubled Ling Ying now was not whether Xiao Xuan wanted to kill him, but that Xiao Xuan had discovered both him and his young miss. That was the real danger.

Ling Ying was a hidden guard of the Gu Clan, one of those prepared to die in service.

His own death did not matter, but Xun'er was the daughter of the Ancient Clan Chief. Nothing could happen to her.

Yet Ling Ying also knew full well just how terrifying Xiao Xuan's strength was.

If Xiao Xuan had truly returned to life, then even if Gu Yuan, the Ancient Clan Chief who was likewise a nine-star Dou Sheng, stood here now, he would not dare claim he could take Xun'er away from Xiao Xuan unscathed.

Xiao Xuan already had his eyes on them. For someone with Ling Ying's mere Dou Emperor strength, escaping was a joke.

Even if he squeezed every last drop from his Dou Emperor abilities and burned through all his cultivation, he could not withstand a single finger from a Dou Sheng.

Ling Ying gave Xun'er a bitter smile. "Miss, it seems we have no choice but to meet this ancestor of the Xiao Clan."

Escape was impossible. They could only take things one step at a time.

Now, he could only hope that Lord Xiao Xuan, this ancestor of the Xiao Clan, would show them mercy as members of the Gu Clan, for the sake of the old ties between the Xiao and Gu Clans, both once Dou God Clans.

Having just broken through to Half-Emperor and emerged from seclusion, Xiao Xuan had instantly pinpointed Ling Ying and Xun'er.

Xiao Xuan had long known that Xun'er belonged to the Gu Clan. He had also discovered Ling Ying lurking in the shadows long ago.

He had simply been too busy to deal with them before. Now that he had his hands free, he naturally wanted to meet the daughter of that former "old friend."

When he saw Ling Ying trying to flee just now, Xiao Xuan naturally had to stop him.

If a Dou Emperor could leave whenever he pleased right before his eyes, that would truly be a joke.

Before long, Ling Ying and Xun'er arrived.

Upon arriving, Xun'er discovered that Xiao Xuan was not the only person in the Xiao Clan Hall.

Xiao Zhan and the Xiao Clan elders were there, as was Xiao Yan. They were all waiting.

Seeing Xun'er arrive, Xiao Yan felt somewhat worried for her.

"Xun'er..."

Xun'er glanced at Xiao Yan and said, "Brother Xiao Yan, don't worry."

Then Xun'er walked over with Ling Ying.

"Xiao Xun'er pays her respects to Uncle Xiao Xuan. Your return to the Xiao Clan is truly a joyous occasion worthy of celebration."

Xiao Xuan sneered. "What a silver-tongued little girl. Xiao Xun'er? Is your surname Xiao?"

Xun'er froze at his words. She had spent so many years in the Xiao Clan that she had failed to adjust out of habit.

Faced with Xiao Xuan's mockery, Xun'er's expression remained unchanged as she spoke again. "Please don't be angry, Uncle. Xun'er knows she was wrong. Gu Xun'er of the Gu Clan pays her respects to Uncle Xiao Xuan."

At Xun'er's words, Xiao Yan stood stunned in the hall.

What does that mean? Xun'er's surname is Gu? Isn't she a member of our Xiao Clan?

Xiao Yan had always assumed that Xun'er was a disciple from some branch of the Xiao Clan. It had never occurred to him that she did not belong to the clan at all.

Xiao Yan looked at his father.

Father, you kept something this big from me?

Xiao Zhan also felt innocent. When Mr. Gu Yuan had brought Xun'er over all those years ago, he had specifically instructed them not to reveal her identity.

Mr. Gu Yuan was an important figure who had given the Xiao Clan so much help. They could not afford to offend him. Over all these years, no one in the entire Xiao Clan knew Xun'er's identity except Xiao Zhan and the clan's core elders.

Even if Xiao Yan was his son, he could not tell him.

Xiao Zhan said, "Didn't I drop hints to you ages ago? You couldn't figure it out yourself, and now you're blaming me?"

Xiao Yan: "..."

For a moment, Xiao Yan did not know what to say. Yet this was also the first time he had truly seen Xun'er anew.

Xun'er's surname was actually Gu?

The Gu Clan? Could Xun'er also come from one of the Eight Ancient Clans that Ancestor Xiao Xuan had mentioned?