Then I'll Take Your Heavenly Flame Origin

"Xiao... Xiao Xuan?"

Gu Xun'er had not lived through the days of the Xiao Clan's predecessors, so she naturally knew little of their deeds. The name merely sounded somewhat familiar to her.

"I was also the Xiao Clan's patriarch a thousand years ago!"

Xiao Xuan naturally could not let go of the Xiao Clan.

Had he died a thousand years ago, that would have been the end of it, and failing his breakthrough would not have mattered. But things were different now, and Xiao Xuan naturally had to restore the Xiao Clan to glory.

Even if its members were no longer the same people, the bloodline had to be carried on.

In the end, he had fallen into the same old rut of the Emperor Clan bloodlines.

Xiao Xuan let out a long sigh, but he did not resist it.

Gu Xun'er's face was now filled with shock. While she was still in the clan, she had heard her father mention this name several times, mostly with admiration and regret in his voice.

A thousand years ago, he had been the supreme expert who truly stood at the pinnacle of the Dou Qi Continent. It would not have been an exaggeration to call him the number one under heaven.

"Senior! You were already unrivaled in your day. Why make things difficult for a junior?"

Her face was full of bitterness. Gu Xun'er truly no longer thought herself so remarkable. If word got back to her clan, it might even cause a great deal of controversy over its attitude toward the Xiao Clan.

Of course, the most important thing was that she absolutely could not offend the man before her.

Such was the deterrent power of the number one under heaven.

Even though the Gu Clan now had talent in abundance and Dou Sheng Experts emerged one after another, most had risen to prominence around Xiao Xuan's era.

The clan elders must have felt an even deeper awe toward him.

"Haha! You believe whatever I say?"

A hint of amusement on his face, Xiao Xuan did not believe this little princess of the Gu Clan would submit so easily.

"You jest, Senior."

She was exceedingly respectful. Although Xiao Xuan had released only the slightest trace of his presence just now, the keen Gu Xun'er had still sensed it.

The clearest indication, however, was that Gu Xun'er had only ever felt such a majestic soul presence from her father.

Emperor Realm Soul!

That could not be faked.

Let alone a thousand years-even over ten thousand, those who could reach such a terrifying soul realm were few and far between!

"It seems you know a thing or two. You have some discernment."

Xiao Xuan needed only a glance at her reaction to grasp the situation.

"So, the wedding is tonight. It doesn't matter who comes."

"I, Xiao Xuan, have spoken."

With the faintest hint of a smile, he did nothing to stop Gu Xun'er from making any attempt to call for help.

What a joke. If he let a little fellow who was only a Dou Zhe break through the Xiao Clan restriction he had set up, even if he had only put it in place on a whim, he might as well wipe his neck clean and go back to sleep for another thousand years.

"Ancestor, I won't agree to it. Please reconsider. In any case, I won't force Xun'er."

Just as everything seemed about to be set in stone, Xiao Yan stepped forward and voiced his objections.

He pushed straight back. He had to stand firm.

Without a trace of fear, Xiao Yan looked Xiao Xuan straight in the eye.

His horizons had yet to broaden, and he did not know the bearing of the truly powerful experts in the world, so Xiao Yan did not think much in terms of the strong preying on the weak.

Since Xun'er was unwilling and had misgivings, Xiao Yan felt she should not be forced, even if his ancestor said it would benefit him.

But truth be told, Xiao Yan really did not see any benefit in marrying so early.

Wouldn't that make me a complete pervert?! I can't be like the natives.

"Are you saying bad things about me?"

Xiao Xuan suddenly spoke, making cold sweat stream down Xiao Yan's face.

"No, I'm not. You definitely misheard."

"I didn't even say anything!"

Three denials in a row-Xiao Yan knew when to back down.

"Hah, you'll regret this someday. Think carefully. If you don't agree this time, I won't speak up for the two of you again. If you want to marry that girl later, you'll have to work for it yourself!"

Xiao Xuan closed his eyes slightly. Youngsters were still green, impulsive and reckless.

Without him to back Xiao Yan up, did the boy really think he could tie the knot with a princess of an Emperor Clan?

Even if Xiao Xuan looked down on them, their strength was there for all to see. Even he could not deny it.

"Ancestor, I believe in myself, and I believe I can make Xun'er happy in the future."

Xiao Yan's expression was solemn, without the slightest fear.

"Your courage is commendable, but don't come crying to me when you hit a setback. I'll tell Gu Yuan that his daughter's marriage has nothing to do with me from now on. Even if he wants to curry favor with me, he won't get the chance."

Xiao Xuan stretched. His opinion of Gu Yuan was no higher.

If that fellow really had what it took, he would not have remained confined to the Dou Sheng realm for a thousand years, even if, on the surface, he was still one of the most powerful people around.

But he had more or less reached his limit.

If he truly had ambition and resolve, he would not have been so timid about taking the Tou She Ancient God Jade from the fallen Xiao Clan, even sending out his own underage daughter.

Useless!

Beside them, Gu Xun'er finally breathed a sigh of relief. She was immensely grateful to Xiao Yan, and a little affection rose in her heart. She had not been mistaken about him.

She had been somewhat worried about her Brother Xiao Yan's future. After all, the Gu Clan truly stood at the continent's pinnacle, and the hope that her Brother Xiao Yan could reach that level was indeed slim.

But now that the Xiao Clan's great figure was still alive and seemed to place great importance on her Brother Xiao Yan, Gu Xun'er could not have felt more reassured.

If this man truly wanted to nurture someone, no matter how poor that person was, even Gu Yuan would not dare underestimate them.

"However, Gu Xun'er, since you've come to my Xiao Clan, this matter can't be brushed aside so easily."

"I want a trace of your Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame Origin."

Xiao Xuan spoke again. He was not one to let an advantage before him slip away for nothing. Besides, the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame was indeed precious; even with his breadth of experience, he considered it so.

Little Yanzi did not know what mattered most, but as his elder, Xiao Xuan had to make a preparation or two.

He might not need it, but it would take little effort to make the arrangement.

"If you insist on doing this, Senior, the elders of my clan will find out as well."

Having just breathed a sigh of relief, she grew tense again in the blink of an eye. Although he was not directly taking her clan's inherited Heavenly Flame, removing its Origin would still cause tremendous harm.

The Heavenly Flame could run out of control.

Was he trying to kill her with a borrowed knife?

Gu Xun'er felt a chill run through her.

"I'm better at playing with fire than you are. Even the Gu Clan expert who subdued the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame back then means nothing to me."

It was a bold claim, but it was also the truth. Xiao Xuan knew that it was a legendary patriarch of a previous generation who had made the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame the Gu Clan's inherited Heavenly Flame.

But who did not have a powerful background of their own?

"Come here!"

With just a move or two, Xiao Xuan effortlessly pulled the Heavenly Flame Origin sealed within Gu Xun'er's body out of her.

It seemed Gu Yuan had put considerable effort into her.

Although it was indeed the Gu Clan's inherited Heavenly Flame, who among its possessors had not reached the height of their strength-at least Dou Sheng, or Dou Zun at the very least-before they could barely attempt to subdue it?

But Gu Xun'er had it easy. Her good father had personally fed it straight to her.

The fact that she was a Gu Clan prospect with a Divine Grade Bloodline was one reason, but the greater reason was that a Peak Dou Sheng was willing to expend the effort for her sake.

Before Xiao Xuan, however, it was nothing more than a mere layer of sealing.

Xiao Xuan's soul had undergone another transformation.

That old fellow Gu Yuan was far from his equal.