The Xiao Clan's Ancestor? How Insolent!

The Dou Qi Continent.

Wutan City.

The Xiao Clan's main hall.

"Ahem..."

Ge Ye looked awkward. Gritting his teeth, he smiled. "Clan Leader Xiao, as you know, the Misty Cloud Sect has strict rules, and the sect master has very high expectations for Yanran. She is essentially already training her as the next sect master... and because of certain special rules, the successor cannot become involved with a man before formally becoming sect master..."

"After asking Yanran, the sect master learned that she still had a marriage arrangement with the Xiao Clan, so... so the sect master would like to ask Clan Leader Xiao to... dissolve this engagement."

Crack! The jade cup in Xiao Zhan's hand shattered into powder.

Silence settled over the hall.

The three elders seated above looked at Xiao Zhan with an added trace of derision and mockery.

Some of the younger boys and girls had not known about Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran's engagement, but after asking their parents beside them, their expressions immediately became quite colorful.

Mocking, scornful gazes turned toward Xiao Yan in the corner.

"Clan Leader Xiao, I know this request puts you in a difficult position, but please dissolve the engagement out of consideration for the sect master..." Ge Ye sighed helplessly and spoke flatly.

Xiao Zhan clenched his fists, faint green Dou Qi gradually covering his body.

The Xiao Clan's top cultivation technique: Furious Lion Vajra!

Rank: intermediate Xuan class!

Seeing Xiao Zhan's reaction, Ge Ye stepped in front of Nalan Yanran. His hands abruptly curled like eagle claws, green Dou Qi gathering within them.

Just as Xiao Zhan was ready to strike, the three elders' stern shouts thundered through the hall. "Xiao Zhan, stop! Do not forget that you are the Xiao Clan's leader!"

His body abruptly stiffened. The Dou Qi around Xiao Zhan slowly receded until it vanished completely.

He looked impassively at Nalan Yanran, who stood with her head lowered in silence, and said somewhat hoarsely, "Niece Nalan, such boldness. Nalan Su truly has an enviable daughter!"

Nalan Yanran's delicate body trembled slightly. "Uncle Xiao..."

"Heh, just call me Clan Leader Xiao. I cannot bear the title of uncle. You are the future sect master of the Misty Cloud Sect, and one day you will be an influential figure on the Dou Qi Continent. My Yan'er is merely someone of mediocre talent. He is indeed unworthy of you..." Xiao Zhan waved a hand dismissively and spoke coldly.

"Thank you for your understanding, Clan Leader Xiao." Hearing this, Ge Ye beside her was overjoyed.

"Clan Leader Xiao, the sect master knows today's request is rather discourteous, so she specifically asked me to bring something as an apology!"

As he spoke, Ge Ye took out an ancient jade box, green all over.

An unusual fragrance immediately spread through the air.

The three elders craned their heads curiously, then abruptly shuddered and exclaimed, "Qi Gathering Powder?"

On the Dou Qi Continent, becoming a true Dou Zhe required first forming a Dou Qi Vortex within one's body.

Yet forming a Dou Qi Vortex carried a considerable chance of failure.

After a failure, ninth stage Dou Qi would fall back to the eighth stage.

Some unlucky people might need more than a dozen attempts before they could succeed.

These repeated attempts, however, cost them their best years for cultivation, severely damaging their prospects.

Qi Gathering Powder's function was to guarantee a one hundred percent chance of successfully forming a Dou Qi Vortex!

Within the hall, burning gazes fixed intently on the jade box in Ge Ye's hands.

"Hehe, Lord Gu He, our sect's honorary elder, personally refined this. I imagine you have all heard his esteemed name?" Seeing the three elders lose their composure, Ge Ye could not help feeling rather pleased as he spoke with a smile.

"This medicine was actually made by Pill King Gu He himself?!"

The three elders beamed at the Qi Gathering Powder inside the jade box. If the clan had this dose of Qi Gathering Powder, they could probably produce another young Dou Zhe.

Just as the three elders were considering how to secure the medicine for their own grandsons, Xiao Yan's quiet voice, heavy with suppressed anger, suddenly rang through the hall.

"Elder Ge Ye, you should put that medicine away. We may not agree to today's matter!"

Every gaze instantly shifted to Xiao Yan in the corner, who had raised his delicate face.

"Xiao Yan, what right do you have to speak here? Shut your mouth!" One elder's expression darkened as he shouted angrily.

"Xiao Yan, stand down. I know you feel upset, but we will make the decisions here!" another, older elder said flatly.

"Elders, if the person whose engagement they were breaking today were your son or grandson, would you still say that?" Xiao Yan slowly rose, a mocking smile on his lips as he asked.

"You..." The three elders faltered at his words.

Xiao Yan strode forward, first bowing respectfully to Xiao Zhan, then turning to face Nalan Yanran. He asked calmly, "Miss Nalan, may I ask whether Old Master Nalan has agreed to you breaking this engagement today?"

Nalan Yanran felt a little displeased. Why was this man another pest who refused to let go?

Did he not know the gap between them?

Standing up, Nalan Yanran gazed at the youth before her, who should have become her husband. Her voice was gentle and even. "Grandfather has not agreed, but this is my business. It has nothing to do with him."

"Since the old master has not spoken, please forgive us, but my father will not agree to your request either. This marriage was arranged personally by the old masters of our two families. Since they have not called it off, no one dares dissolve it. Otherwise, that would be desecrating a deceased elder! I imagine no one in our clan would commit such an act of defiance?" Xiao Yan tilted his head slightly, staring at the three elders with a cold smile.

With such a weighty accusation pressed upon them by Xiao Yan, the three elders immediately lowered their heads.

Such a charge was enough to cost them their positions as elders.

"You..."

Nalan Yanran froze, unable to find a rebuttal. Her small face turned livid with anger, and she stamped her foot hard, staring at the youth before her with some disgust. "What will it take for you to dissolve the engagement? Is the compensation not enough? Fine, I can have my teacher give you three more doses of Qi Gathering Powder. Also, if you wish, I can have you enter the Misty Cloud Sect to study advanced Dou Qi cultivation techniques. Is that enough?"

After stating these terms, Nalan Yanran slightly lifted her snow-white chin, waiting proudly for Xiao Yan's answer like a princess.

As far as she knew, such terms were enough to drive any youth wild.

Yet after she spoke, the youth before her began trembling violently. He slowly raised his head, his delicate, youthful face now somewhat savage.

Though he had endured mockery throughout the past three years, Xiao Yan still had a line that could not be crossed.

Nalan Yanran's lofty, charity-like gesture had trampled viciously on the last shred of dignity hidden in Xiao Yan's heart.

"Ah!"

Startled by Xiao Yan's savage expression, Nalan Yanran hurriedly stepped back.

"I... really want to slaughter you!" His words brimmed with killing intent. Xiao Yan clenched his fists, flames of fury burning in his black eyes.

"Yan'er, do not be rude!" From the seat of honor, Xiao Zhan was also startled by Xiao Yan's actions and hurriedly shouted.

The Xiao Clan as it stood could not afford to offend the Misty Cloud Sect.

Clenching his fists tightly, Xiao Yan lowered his head slightly. After a moment, he gently raised it again.

Only now, that savage, terrifying expression had already turned calm.

Looking at the youth before them, who had reined in his emotions almost instantly, Ge Ye and Nalan Yanran suddenly felt a little chilled...

If this brat remains a useless wretch forever, that is one thing. But if he truly gains power, he will certainly be dangerous... Ge Ye thought.

"Xiao Yan, although I don't know why my actions have made you so angry, you... should still dissolve the engagement!"

"Remember, my teacher, the Misty Cloud Sect Master, personally approved my visit to the Xiao Clan!"

"You can consider this coercion, but you should understand that this is reality. Nothing is absolutely fair. Although I don't mean to imply anything, you understand the gap between us. We..."

"Have essentially no hope."

Listening to the girl's judgment, delivered like a deity's, Xiao Yan gave a cold smile. "Miss Nalan... you should know how humiliating it is for the other party when a woman breaks an engagement on the Dou Qi Continent, shouldn't you?"

"Heh, I'm thick-skinned, so it doesn't matter to me."

"But my father!"

"He is the leader of a clan. If he truly agrees to your demand today, how is he supposed to lead the Xiao Clan afterward?"

"How is he supposed to maintain his standing in Wutan City?"

Looking at the youth whose face was filled with fury, Nalan Yanran frowned slightly. After pondering for a moment, her eyes shifted, and she suddenly said softly, "I was indeed somewhat rash today. For now, I can withdraw my demand to dissolve the engagement, but I need you to agree to a condition!"

"What condition?" Xiao Yan asked with a frown.

"I can postpone today's demand for three years. Three years from now, you will come to the Misty Cloud Sect and challenge me. If you lose, I will publicly dissolve the engagement. By then, you will presumably have undergone your clan's coming-of-age ceremony, so even if you lose, it will not embarrass Uncle Xiao too badly. Do you dare accept?" Nalan Yanran said evenly.

"Miss Nalan, you know perfectly well what Yan'er's condition is. What is he supposed to challenge you with? Is there any point in humiliating him like this?" Xiao Zhan slammed his palm onto the table and rose in anger.

"Uncle Xiao, someone must bear responsibility for breaking an engagement. If not for preserving your dignity, I would forcibly dissolve it right now! Then announce it to everyone!"

Thwarted several times, Nalan Yanran was also growing somewhat impatient.

She turned to the silent Xiao Yan and snapped coldly, "Since you don't want Uncle Xiao's reputation damaged, accept the condition! Three years from now or right now-which do you choose?"

"Nalan Yanran, you don't need to put on such an overbearing front. You want to break off the engagement simply because you think a useless wretch like me, Xiao Yan, is unworthy of a favored daughter of heaven like you."

"To put it harshly, apart from your beauty, there is nothing about you that this young master thinks anything of!"

"The Misty Cloud Sect is indeed strong, but I am still young. I have plenty of time. I became a Dou Zhe at twelve. And you, Nalan Yanran, what stage of Dou Qi did you have when you were twelve?"

"Yes, I am indeed useless now. But since I could create a miracle three years ago, what makes you think I cannot turn my fortunes around again in the years to come?"

Faced with the girl's aggressive attitude, the silent Xiao Yan finally erupted like a volcano.

What Xiao Yan said was indeed true. However useless he might be now, he had undeniably become a Dou Zhe at twelve.

At that time, Nalan Yanran had only possessed eighth stage Dou Qi...

"Miss Nalan, out of consideration for Old Master Nalan, allow me, Xiao Yan, to offer you a few words of advice."

"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west. Do not scorn a youth for his poverty!"

At Xiao Yan's words, Nalan Yanran's delicate body trembled slightly.

Killing intent, however, rose in Ge Ye's heart.

This boy has a tenacious nature and an astonishing will!

If he is allowed to grow in the future, he might become a threat!

No, this boy cannot be allowed to live!

Yet just as killing intent surged within Ge Ye's heart-

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Applause suddenly rang out.

"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west. Do not scorn a youth for his poverty!"

"Well said."

"Worthy of a member of my Xiao Clan."

"This Misty Cloud Sect really has gone too far!"

Everyone looked toward the voice, only to discover that a young man had appeared at the entrance to the Xiao Clan's hall at some unknown point.

A small golden snake lay coiled on the young man's shoulder.

Only, the little golden snake's eyes seemed filled with resentment.

Hearing Xiao Chen's words, Ge Ye and Nalan Yanran were somewhat surprised and puzzled.

So were the members of the Xiao Clan.

None of them recognized this young man.

"Who are you?" Ge Ye asked with a frown.

"Me?"

"Xiao Chen... of the Xiao Clan!"

A member of the Xiao Clan?

At these words, everyone in the Xiao Clan looked utterly bewildered.

He belongs to our Xiao Clan?

Why have we never seen him?

Everyone exchanged glances.

Only to find that everyone else looked equally lost.

Could he be an illegitimate child left outside the clan?

At that moment, only Xiao Zhan's eyes widened, as though he had thought of something but did not dare be certain.

"I truly never expected the Xiao Clan's juniors to be more arrogant than the last."

"Boy, did you just say that our Misty Cloud Sect has gone too far?"

"So young, yet you dare spout such wild words?"

"Aren't you afraid that our Misty Cloud Sect will wipe out your Xiao Clan?"

Ge Ye glanced at Xiao Chen and spoke flatly.

Xiao Chen's thoughts stirred. Ge Ye's personality seems a little different from what was written in the book.

"Kill me?"

"You are welcome to try!"

Xiao Chen said disdainfully.

"Insolent!"

Ge Ye did not attack. Instead, he once again released his aura, sending it crushing toward Xiao Chen.

In his view, with his cultivation, dealing with a Xiao Clan junior would be effortless.

Yet faced with Ge Ye's aura, Xiao Chen remained entirely unaffected. He even found the act childish.

That's it?

Xiao Chen had spent thirty thousand years at Su Qingxue's side, and she was an expert far beyond a Dou Di.

A mere Da Dou Shi's aura wasn't worth a damn!

"Little Gold."

Xiao Chen ignored Ge Ye and instead glanced at the small golden snake on his shoulder.

The little golden snake looked very reluctant, but still moved aside, curled its tail around a chair, and placed it beside Xiao Chen.

Watching Xiao Chen yawn and sit down in the chair, everyone present was dumbfounded.

He wasn't affected at all?!

And how could that little golden snake move freely too?

"Impossible!"

"This is absolutely impossible!"

"You... who exactly are you?"

Ge Ye could not believe what he was seeing.

Could this Xiao Chen be hiding his cultivation?

Was he also a Da Dou Shi?

But how old was he?

How could the Xiao Clan possibly have an expert like this?

Ge Ye could not make sense of it.

Nalan Yanran was also staring at Xiao Chen.

The situation now seemed to have slipped somewhat out of control.

Xiao Yan looked utterly bewildered as well.

Gu Xun'er was likewise staring at Xiao Chen, golden flames seemingly dancing in her eyes.

"Xiao Chen? Xiao Chen!"

Suddenly, Xiao Zhan sprang to his feet, his gaze filled with shock as he looked at Xiao Chen!

His excitement left everyone rather puzzled.

Could it be... that Xiao Chen had some connection to Xiao Zhan?

Surely not. Was he Xiao Zhan's illegitimate son?!

"Y-you... are you truly Xiao Chen, sir?"

"Chen as in morning, or Chen as in mortal dust?" Xiao Zhan trembled all over with excitement.

Sir?

Xiao Zhan had actually addressed him as "sir"?

What did that mean?

Could this man's seniority actually be above Xiao Zhan's?

"It seems someone in the Xiao Clan still knows my name. That saves me some breath." Xiao Chen smiled faintly as he spoke.

After a pause, he said with a smile, "Chen as in mortal dust."

At these words, Xiao Zhan shuddered and hurried to Xiao Chen's side.

Under everyone's shocked gazes, he dropped straight to his knees and kowtowed, his forehead striking the ground with a thud.

"Xiao Zhan, the Xiao Clan's 1,539th-generation clan leader, pays his respects to the ancestor!"

Ancestor?

The Xiao Clan's ancestor?

This young man was actually the Xiao Clan's forefather?

"What are you all standing there for? Come and pay your respects to the ancestor!"

Seeing that the other Xiao Clan members had not moved, Xiao Zhan immediately bellowed in a deep, angry voice.

Although the Xiao Clan members were all rather bewildered, their clan leader Xiao Zhan had said as much and had even knelt himself, so they dared not delay.

"Xiao Quan, the Xiao Clan's 1,539th-generation first elder, pays his respects to the ancestor."

"Xiao Cheng, the Xiao Clan's 1,539th-generation second elder, pays his respects to the ancestor."

"Xiao Xuan, the Xiao Clan's 1,539th-generation third elder, pays his respects to the ancestor."

"Xiao Ning of the Xiao Clan pays his respects to the ancestor."

"The Xiao Clan..."

The Xiao Clan members knelt all across the floor, leaving Nalan Yanran and the others somewhat at a loss.

"If the Xiao Clan had an ancestor, how could they have fallen to their current state?"

"If they had an ancestor, they certainly wouldn't be competing with those weak little clans in this tiny Wutan City!"

"Could it be? Is this a show they've deliberately staged?"

"Impossible. Xiao Zhan and all three Xiao Clan elders have knelt. This..."

Nalan Yanran could not quite make sense of it, and Ge Ye beside her also had his brows tightly furrowed.

"Yanran, before coming here, I asked around about the Xiao Clan."

"They apparently didn't originate in Wutan City. Rather, their entire clan migrated to the Jia Ma Empire several hundred years ago, and only settled in Wutan City afterward..."

"Elder Ge, do you mean the Xiao Clan might really have an ancestor?"

"Several hundred years?"

Nalan Yanran looked at Xiao Chen, who appeared to be only around twenty, her heart filled with astonishment.

"If that's true, and he hasn't died in several hundred years, could his cultivation be even greater than Teacher's?" Nalan Yanran said rather nervously.

"Hmph, several hundred years?" With Xiao Chen's appearance, Xiao Zhan seemed to have found his backbone.

"Our ancestor Xiao Chen left our Xiao Clan thirty thousand years ago!"

Thirty thousand years ago?

"What!"

"He... he's already lived for thirty thousand years?!"