The Scripture Hall

Of these ten, even the weakest had already reached the late stage of eight-star Dou Sheng. The claim that a Seven-Star Dou Saint could establish an Emperor Lineage was merely a saying.

"Ancestor, are we truly entrusting our clan's future to this child?" Some elders were doubtful, while others could not accept it.

A divine-grade bloodline was indeed a rarity seen only once in a century, but who among those present did not possess one? Why did this brat deserve such favor from the ancestor?

After all, the leaders of the two Emperor Lineages had only received the title of Emperor's Son after becoming Dou Sheng. What did a mere Dou Emperor amount to, even if his talent defied the heavens?

With its Dou Di bloodline, the Xiao Clan had no shortage of geniuses.

"Indeed." Xiao Xuan's gaze was profound as he said calmly, "Not long ago, I expended my vital essence on a divination. The conclusion was that this child has the potential to become a Dou Di."

He sighed after speaking. "As you all know, I have remained in the Emperor Realm for a thousand years.

"Both the secrets of ancient times and a Dou Di's perception of this world tell me that above the Dou Qi Continent lies an even vaster world, and above Dou Di lie still higher realms."

"I could have departed for that wider world long ago. But for the sake of my clansmen, I could not leave. If I left, our clan would once again face the danger of its bloodline power running dry.

"So I have been waiting, waiting for a new Dou Di to emerge from our clan."

"Now, that opportunity has arrived." He let out a long sigh, and a rare trace of weariness appeared on a face that had remained serene for a thousand years.

A moment later, that weariness vanished, leaving only a calm yet commanding voice. "I personally settled the matter of Xiao Yan. Before he becomes a Dou Sheng, none of you may act against him.

"If I discover any of you playing tricks behind the scenes... you will die!"

As his words fell, the ten lineage heads trembled.

Nine-star Dou Sheng were indeed powerful, standing at the pinnacle of the Dou Qi Continent, but more than one had already died at Xiao Xuan's hands.

Even Hun Tiandi, a man of immense talent and grand ambition a thousand years ago, had ultimately fallen to Xiao Xuan. The Hun Clan, which had once rivaled the Xiao Clan, had been all but annihilated.

With a single declaration from Xiao Xuan, Xiao Yan's standing underwent a heaven-and-earth transformation. Two days later, the guards outside his home were replaced, going from Dou Zong to Half-Saints.

"Commander, Deputy Commander, what brings you to my doorstep?" Xiao Zhan looked at his two superiors with a cheerful smile.

"Please don't call us that. We hardly deserve it." At the sight of Xiao Zhan, the two Half-Saints hurriedly cupped their hands. "Congratulations, little brother! You've truly fathered a qilin among men."

"From today onward, the two of us will serve as the Emperor's Son's guards."

When Xiao Wu and Xiao Wen first heard that they would be guarding some Dou Emperor brat, they had been thoroughly unwilling. So what if he possessed a divine-grade bloodline?

I'm a Half-Saint, not a watchdog!

But when that Dou Sheng elder told them Xiao Yan was the third Emperor's Son personally appointed by the ancestor, the two Half-Saints promptly scampered off to take up their posts.

Could guarding an Emperor's Son be called being a watchdog? That was being a guardian of his path!

Experts thronged the Xiao Clan like clouds. In the outside world, Half-Saints were mighty figures who could overturn clouds and summon rain, but within the Xiao Clan, they were not even qualified to meet the ancestor.

Being named an Emperor's Son by the ancestor while still a Dou Emperor made it abundantly clear how much importance the ancestor placed on this boy.

Just like that, Xiao Yan became the Xiao Clan's third Emperor's Son, one of the most privileged heirs on the entire Dou Qi Continent.

The moon was dark and the stars sparse. Inside Xiao Lin's room.

"Yan'er! According to the ancestor, you can leave the Xiao Realm and venture into the world starting tomorrow. From what you've said, you intend to go to the Northwest Continent?"

Xiao Yan nodded. His destination was indeed the Northwest Continent, specifically the Jia Ma Empire. He wanted to see whether there really was a place called Wutan City, and whether there was a brat named Hun Yan.

If there was, he would strike first and kill him!

Of course, he also wanted to see whether Wutan City had a sultry, enchanting auctioneer, whether Qingshan Town had a pure and gentle Xiao Yi Xian, whether the Snake-People Tribe had a noble, alluring queen, and whether the Misty Cloud Sect had a graceful, beautiful female sect leader.

As for Xun'er of the Gu Clan, from what Xiao Xuan had said, he seemed to have already discussed matters with Gu Yuan, the Gu Clan's leader. They intended to send Xun'er to the Xiao Clan for a marriage alliance, and her intended husband was naturally Xiao Yan, the Emperor's Son.

Xiao Yan was secretly pleased, marveling at how well the ancestor understood what he wanted.

"Ah." Xiao Lin, who had remained silent all this time, suddenly sighed.

"Grandfather, what's wrong?" Looking at Xiao Lin's expression, Xiao Yan had the nagging feeling that he had forgotten some part of the plot.

Xiao Lin glanced at his grandson and said, "When I was young, I once traveled through the Northwest Continent. Remnants of the Hun Clan ambushed me, leaving me severely injured.

"Fortunately, a man named Nalan Jie saved me in the Jia Ma Empire. To express my gratitude, I promised to arrange a childhood betrothal between you and his granddaughter."

Just as I thought. Xiao Yan's heart stirred. Only then did he remember the missing "thirty years east of the river" episode. That was a crucial step.

"But... now that the ancestor wishes to arrange your marriage alliance with the Gu Clan, that little girl from the Nalan Family... we had best let it go. When two ancient clans form a marriage alliance, even the smallest ripple of their interests could be enough to wipe out the Nalan Family.

"On this trip, take some generous gifts and break off the engagement."

Xiao Lin sighed. Seeing Xiao Yan's peculiar expression, he could not help asking, "What is it? Do you think your grandfather is doing the wrong thing?"

"No, Grandfather. I think you're absolutely right."

Xiao Yan reined in his emotions and said earnestly, "Caught between two ancient clans in a marriage alliance, a small family like theirs could only end up destroyed. Breaking off the engagement is the better way to protect them."

"Ah." Xiao Lin sighed again.

"Give them some extra compensation. Tell Nalan Jie that this old man has let him down."

"I understand." Xiao Yan nodded slightly, though an indescribably strange feeling stirred within him.

The next day, deep within the Xiao Realm, Xiao Yan changed into a more finely crafted black robe and headed for the realm's very heart, with the two Half-Saints following behind him.

The two Half-Saints were named Xiao Wen and Xiao Wu. Like Xiao Niu and Xiao Ma, they were brothers, but the two pairs' status and standing were as far apart as clouds and mud.

"Young master, this is the Scripture Hall," said Xiao Wen, whose expression was the more amiable of the two.

Before them stood a nine-story hall nearly ten thousand zhang in both length and width, towering as high as a small mountain.

"Truly worthy of being the repository of our clan's ten-thousand-year legacy." Looking at the lofty, magnificent hall before him, Xiao Yan could not help voicing his admiration.

Even Earth in his previous life had possessed no building as magnificent as this.

At the hall's entrance, an old man in hemp robes sat on a meditation cushion, his eyes heavy with sleep, as though he were dozing.

"Young master, this is Elder Qing, who guards the Scripture Hall. Elder Qing is a Seven-Star Dou Saint. Although he is not an Emperor Lineage head, he is still one of our clan's grand elders," Xiao Wen introduced.

It seems even a Seven-Star Dou Saint isn't necessarily able to establish an Emperor Lineage. The Xiao Clan truly is a den of crouching tigers and hidden dragons, Xiao Yan thought, inwardly startled.

The Xiao Clan's experts were also divided into ranks, apart from the Dou Di ancestor, Xiao Xuan.

Broadly speaking, the clan leader and the Emperor's Sons occupied one tier-all were nine-star Dou Sheng except Xiao Yan.

The Emperor Lineage heads occupied another tier-at least seven-star Dou Sheng or above.

The grand elders-five-star Dou Sheng and above.

The elders and lineage heads occupied another tier-ordinary Dou Sheng.

The household elders or venerables occupied another tier-Dou Zun.

The protectors or stewards occupied another tier-Dou Zong.

As for Dou Emperors and Dou Wang, they were merely ordinary clansmen who had just risen above the Descendants. Below them were the ordinary Descendants, who were not qualified to have their names entered in the clan genealogy.

With no time to dwell on the Xiao Clan's strength, Xiao Yan slowly stepped forward and addressed the drowsy old man. "Elder Qing, this junior would like to enter and select a few cultivation methods and combat skills."

At the sound of Xiao Yan's voice, Elder Qing, who had remained drowsy on his meditation cushion, finally opened his eyes fully.

Looking at the flame on Xiao Yan's forehead, he slowly said, "You must be the newly appointed Emperor's Son..."