"Yao Chen, I'll be entrusting Yan'er's instruction to you from now on. Sorry for the trouble."
Seeing how quickly Xiao Yan and Yao Chen had settled into their roles as master and disciple, and how harmoniously they got along, Xiao Zhan couldn't help nodding.
These two were indeed destined to be master and disciple.
"Senior Immortal Emperor, since you trust me enough to let Xiao Yan become my disciple, I will spare no effort in teaching him. I will never squander his peerless talent," Yao Chen solemnly promised.
After witnessing the power of Xiao Yan's fire spirit bloodline, Yao Chen was overjoyed.
With such a peerless genius as his disciple, his name as Venerable Yao would surely resound across the entire Dou Qi Continent once more.
Hearing Yao Chen's words, Xiao Zhan nodded with a smile, then turned to Xiao Yan. "All right, Yan'er, head back for today. You've made two consecutive breakthroughs, so you must properly consolidate your cultivation once you return!"
"Yes!"
Xiao Yan nodded respectfully at his words. "Father, I'll take my leave, then."
At that moment, the doors to the chamber in Xun'er's fragrant courtyard were tightly shut.
"Master Ling, who injured you so badly?"
Looking at the pale, severely wounded Ling Ying before her, Xun'er's beautiful eyes held a trace of worry.
At the same time, she was shocked.
With Master Ling's strength as a Nine-Star Dou Emperor, who in this tiny Wutan City could have injured him so badly?
Hearing her question, a bitter smile appeared on Ling Ying's pale face. "Miss, I was blasted away before I even saw that person's face."
At this point, Ling Ying recalled what had just happened, and horror filled his eyes. "That person's strength was terrifying. I'm afraid even an ordinary Dou Zong couldn't have severely wounded me without a sound."
"Fortunately, he had no intention of killing me. Otherwise, I'd probably be a corpse by now," Ling Ying said, still shaken.
Could the Xiao Clan be hiding an expert above the Dou Zong level?
Xiao Xun'er found his words hard to believe.
Hadn't the Xiao Clan already fallen into decline?
Why would they still have such an expert hidden away?
Could one of the Xiao Clan's ancestors have survived back then by sheer luck and been secretly protecting the clan all this time?
At that thought, Xiao Xun'er's expression changed.
Her reasons for staying in the Xiao Clan were far from innocent. Had this Xiao Clan expert already set his sights on her?
But remembering that he had spared Master Ling's life, Xiao Xun'er felt a wave of relief.
At least this Xiao Clan expert probably had no intention of killing her.
"No wonder Uncle Xiao dared to fall out with the Misty Cloud Sect so brazenly today. It seems he already knew that such an expert still remained in the Xiao Clan."
Xiao Xun'er suddenly thought of today's broken engagement, and a flash of understanding crossed her eyes.
It seems the Xiao Clan still has plenty of secrets.
"Miss, with such a terrifying expert hidden in the Xiao Clan, it is no longer safe for us to remain here. Why don't we return straight to our clan?"
Ling Ying sounded worried.
In Ling Ying's view, being lucky enough to escape with his life today had been this Xiao Clan expert's warning to him.
He had only been spared out of consideration for the Gu Clan backing him.
If they continued staying in the Xiao Clan, they might thoroughly enrage this expert, and their lives could be in danger.
"Leave the Xiao Clan..."
Hearing Ling Ying's words, Xiao Xun'er fell silent. Xiao Yan's figure flashed through her mind, and she felt reluctant to leave.
Although she didn't want to leave Xiao Yan, Xiao Xun'er knew that Ling Ying had a point.
As the daughter of the Ancient Clan Chief, she had infiltrated the Xiao Clan with ulterior motives to begin with. If she kept lingering here, they really would end up tearing away all pretense of civility.
Because of Xiao Yan, Xiao Xun'er didn't want to fall out with the Xiao Clan either.
Otherwise, she truly wouldn't know how to face Brother Xiao Yan.
"All right."
After pondering for a long time, Xiao Xun'er nodded to Ling Ying.
"But before I leave, I want to say goodbye to Brother Xiao Yan and Uncle Xiao."
"Master Ling, give me one more day."
"They're preparing to leave the Xiao Clan... It seems my attack tonight really did frighten Ling Ying."
In his room, Xiao Zhan withdrew his consciousness, a thoughtful look in his eyes.
Ling Ying's appearance had reminded Xiao Zhan that there was still a Dou Huang expert lurking in the Xiao Clan.
If he made proper use of him, he might be able to raise his cultivation straight to the dou huang realm.
Thus, after Xiao Yan left, Xiao Zhan activated his domain power and split off a strand of his awareness to monitor Ling Ying and Xiao Xun'er, overhearing their conversation.
His attack had actually prompted Xiao Xun'er to prepare to leave the Xiao Clan.
Xiao Zhan had never anticipated that.
Having read the original story, he naturally knew how Xiao Xun'er felt about Xiao Yan.
That was why he had never considered driving Xiao Xun'er away. After all, she was his future daughter-in-law.
Moreover, Xiao Zhan had been planning to use Xiao Xun'er's status as the Gu Clan's young lady to get Xiao Yan into a clash with its members, thereby triggering the father-backing effect.
Reminder to the host: The "Fatherly Love Like a Mountain" function can only be activated when the host's son naturally provokes enemies on his own. Any deliberate instigation by the host is invalid!
Just as this thought surfaced in Xiao Zhan's mind, the system's warning voice suddenly rang out.
Xiao Zhan froze. He had nearly forgotten that the system had this restriction.
He frowned, then seemed to think of something, and a sly smile appeared on his lips.
"Who said I was going to instigate my son to stir up trouble?"
"Arranging my son's marriage can't count as breaking the rules, can it?"
Thinking of his plan, Xiao Zhan couldn't help lifting the corners of his mouth.
Late at night, in the Xiao Clan's rear courtyard.
In the Great Elder's room, the Xiao Clan's Three Great Elders sat facing one another.
"Great Elder, Xiao Zhan provoked the Misty Cloud Sect so brazenly today that they'll likely retaliate. When that happens, how can our Xiao Clan possibly resist with our strength?"
"Exactly. Who knows what madness came over that fellow Xiao Zhan? Does he think a little improvement in his strength means he can stand against the Misty Cloud Sect?"
"Xiao Zhan disregarded the clan's very survival just to preserve his son's dignity. He isn't fit to be clan chief."
"..."
The Three Great Elders sat together, recalling what had happened during the day, their faces clouded with worry as they cursed and complained.
"No, we must find a way to beg the Misty Cloud Sect's forgiveness. Otherwise, our Xiao Clan will truly be destroyed in a single stroke."
"In my opinion, Xiao Zhan and his son are the chief culprits. How about this? We have the two of them go to the Misty Cloud Sect in person to offer an apology. Perhaps then the Misty Cloud Sect won't pursue the matter..."
"That's a good suggestion. It's settled, then. First thing tomorrow morning, I will rally all the clansmen and force Xiao Zhan to act."
Hearing this, the Great Elder's eyes lit up, and he slapped the table, finalizing their plan.
"But what if Xiao Zhan and his son go to the Misty Cloud Sect to apologize and never come back?"
The Second Elder asked with some uncertainty.
"Then we'll consider it their atonement for the mistakes they've made."
The Great Elder spoke coldly.
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