Chapter 291: Xiao Yan Travels to the Ancient Clan
Seeing Shi Hao, who looked like he was about to launch into a lecture, Shi Jian quickly acted.
Shi Hao's expression was a mixture of relief and stern accusation. "You... that was too reckless. You're enjoying this chaos, aren't you?"
Shi Jian quickly took out a Jade Slip, masterfully changing the topic. "Look at this. This is a Jade Slip given to me by the Stone King."
His voice turned serious, commanding Shi Hao's attention.
"It contains all the Divine Abilities and secret techniques of the Seven Kings of the Desolate Border, as well as their complete cultivation insights!"
[Inorin's Note: The 'Seven Kings of the Desolate Border' were the supreme guardians of the Original Emperor City, including the Stone King. They were the ancestors of the so-called 'Sinful Blood' clans.]
"In a sense," Shi Jian continued, his gaze intense, "this is the complete Legacy of the seven great clans. You should study it carefully."
Shi Hao knew Shi Jian was deflecting, but the weight of the Jade Slip in his hand was undeniable. He took it, his fingers tracing the ancient, powerful runes.
He asked doubtfully, "The entire Legacy of the Seven Kings? All of it... is in here?"
Shi Jian nodded, his expression firm. "The seven clans are one. They came this far by supporting each other, bleeding and dying together. I hope our clans can continue to do so in the future!"
"Indeed. It should be so," Shi Hao nodded, his previous complaints forgotten, replaced by a sense of duty.
Now that the Stone Clan had risen and their name was cleared, it was only right to support the other 'Sinful Blood' races and restore their ancestral glory.
Shi Jian lightly coughed twice, his expression turning grave once more.
"Now that the Stone King has returned, coupled with Liu Shen, we already have two Immortal King-level combatants on our side..."
"But this is still not enough. Not even close."
"There are far more than two Immortal Kings in the Alien Realm. We still need to seize every second to cultivate. We must strive to break through to the True Immortal realm, and then to the Immortal King realm, as soon as possible."
Shi Jian's voice was low and serious. "Once the great war truly breaks out, anyone below True Immortal is just an ant. We will be meaningless."
"The protection of others, even from our ancestors, is only temporary. One's own strength is the only thing that lasts for a lifetime."
He patted Shi Hao's shoulder, the weight of his words hanging in the air. "I'm counting on you."
Shi Hao gripped the Jade Slip and nodded, his eyes filled with determination. He understood.
"Oh, and one more thing," Shi Jian added. "Grand Elder Meng Tianzheng in the Imperial Pass... he still has some tricks up his sleeve. He's been in contact with the Original Emperor City recently, studying its formations."
"Don't you want to forge your own path? The 'Body as a Seed' technique?"
[Inorin's Note: The 'Body as a Seed' (以身为种) is Shi Hao's unique and incredibly difficult cultivation path, where he uses his own body as a 'Dao seed' to achieve immortality, rather than relying on an external 'seed' or the world's laws.]
"He is attempting something similar, trying to use the Imperial Pass itself to refine a new body or Dao. You should get in touch with Meng Tianzheng. You two might learn a lot from each other."
Shi Jian continued to instruct him on a few more matters before finally departing.
...
After Shi Hao arrived at the Original Emperor City, a tense, strange calm fell over the entire region.
With the Stone King, a living Immortal King, personally standing guard over the Original Emperor City, those ambitious factions in the new Imperial Pass couldn't stir up any trouble. They were, in fact, terrified.
They hid in their sect headquarters, praying the Stone King wouldn't settle accounts with them just yet.
After the scouts from the Alien Realm learned what had happened here—that the long-lost Original Emperor City had returned, and two Immortal Kings now guarded the pass—they were forced to halt their plans.
Even if they wanted to attack the pass, they would have to reassess the situation and gather more intelligence.
Therefore, under the restraint of these various factors, both the Imperial Pass and the Original Emperor City ushered in a rare, fragile period of peace.
This peace was exactly what Shi Jian and Shi Hao needed most.
The later the enemy attacked the pass, the more time they had to prepare, and the more advantageous it was for them.
Therefore, both of them used this precious time to diligently explore the dungeons provided by the system, pushing to improve their cultivation at all costs!
Because of the terrifying, ever-present threat of the Alien Realm, they still felt an immense amount of pressure.
In stark contrast, the other members of the chat group were quite leisurely.
...
"A 5-Star Dou Sheng..."
Within the Starfall Pavilion, Xiao Yan let out a long breath, a wisp of pale white flame vanishing from his fingertip.
The most leisurely person in the group was, without a doubt, him.
His cultivation had now smoothly reached the realm of a 5-Star Dou Sheng.
[Inorin's Note: A Dou Sheng (Dou Saint) is one of the highest cultivation realms on the Dou Qi Continent. A 5-Star Dou Sheng is an existence capable of shattering mountains and changing the landscape with a single thought.]
The power thrumming in his veins was terrifyingly strong. He felt as if he could control all the natural energy between heaven and earth with a single gesture.
Coupled with the many powerful Divine Abilities and cultivation techniques he had obtained from the chat group, it was not an exaggeration to say he already possessed the combat power of a legendary Dou Di.
With his current strength, on the entire Dou Qi Continent, he could almost be called invincible.
The Hall of Souls had been utterly crushed. The other ancient clans were wary of him.
This kind of overwhelming strength meant he had no real rivals left.
Who could possibly give him pressure?
Who would dare to give him pressure?
With this profound lack of external threats, his mind naturally drifted to personal matters he had set aside for too long.
"It's time to visit the Ancient Realm... I wonder how Xun'er is doing now."
A peerless, gentle beauty appeared in Xiao Yan's mind. Her bright, golden eyes, her soft smile...
Gu Xun'er.
Gu Xun'er had always been by his side, from the dark days in Wu Tan City until he began his journey in the Central Plains.
But as he came to the Central Plains and his strength began to skyrocket, Gu Xun'er felt a lot of pressure.
Young men and women in love are often like this.
When Xiao Yan easily broke through to Dou Zong, and then Dou Zun, Gu Xun'er was genuinely happy for him.
She believed that the stronger the talent Xiao Yan showed, the less the arrogant Ancient Clan would be able to hinder them from being together.
However, the chat group's influence was too strong.
As Xiao Yan's cultivation continued to rise in the Dou Zun realm at an unnatural pace...
He broke through to Half-Saint, and then to Dou Sheng, in less than one or two years. A feat that was unheard of in tens of thousands of years.
Gu Xun'er, a proud prodigy herself, suddenly felt the pressure reverse.
Before, the world believed Xiao Yan was not worthy of her, the pearl of the Gu Clan.
Now, she began to fear... that she was not worthy of him. He was shining too brightly, moving too fast, leaving everyone—including her—in his dust.
So, one day, Gu Xun'er left.
She told him she wanted to return to the Ancient Clan, to enter her people's deepest training grounds, to become stronger.
Perhaps she believed that only by becoming stronger, by closing the gap, could she stand by Xiao Yan's side without feeling like a burden.
Xiao Yan understood Gu Xun'er's thoughts. He knew her pride as a top-tier genius. Although he didn't care about these gaps in strength, he respected her decision and didn't stop her.
The two had been separated for some time now.
Xiao Yan had even mentioned this problem in the group chat before, seeking advice.
The people in the group, naturally, told him...
Fang Han: "This is simple. Just find her, knock her out, and take her back. If she's still upset, just capture her. Love is a waste of time, just ensure the bloodline continues."
Meng Qi: "Ahem! As an 'expert,' I suggest you sneak into her chambers at night and have a heart-to-heart talk. It always works in stories... just make sure her father isn't a peerless expert waiting outside."
Shi Jian: "Just go to her clan, beat up anyone who objects, and announce she's your woman. Strength solves all problems."
Yang Qi: "Friends, you are all wrong. What she lacks is a sense of security. Love is the divine harmony of souls. You must give her an ultimate promise, a gesture that shows your devotion. Allow me to gift you a statue of myself for you to present to her; basking in my divine light will surely secure her heart!"
A bunch of people gave him a bunch of terrible ideas.
Even Yang Qi, with his insufferable god-complex, acted like a Great Master of emotions, trying to guide him.
Xiao Yan had naturally ignored most of the bad ideas from the group members.
However, some of their words—namely Yang Qi's, beneath all the narcissism—were not wrong.
Xun'er was indeed a bit lacking in security. She left because she feared being left behind.
If that was the case, couldn't he just give her the ultimate security?
And how do you give a woman ultimate security?
That must be marriage. A promise for life.
So, when Xiao Yan came out of seclusion this time, he had a clear goal. He wanted to go to the Ancient Clan, not just to visit, but to get engaged.
Moreover, his timing was perfect. He had received news that it was just in time for Gu Xun'er's grand coming-of-age ceremony.
He was done waiting. He missed her scent, her gentle teasing, and the way she looked at him. He was going to bring her back.
"Xun'er!"
"Yao Lao, old geezer! I'm leaving!"
[Inorin's Note: 'Old geezer' (老家伙) is Xiao Yan's affectionate, if disrespectful, nickname for his teacher, Yao Lao (Yao Chen).]
"I'm here to take back my wife!"
...
The Ancient Realm is located in the Eastern Region of the Central Plains.
All the forces in this vast territory are subordinate to the Ancient Clan. The Ancient Clan has extremely terrifying and absolute control here, acting as the undisputed overlord.
The Ancient Clan, one of the Eight Ancient Clans, is a very powerful and mysterious race that has been passed down from ancient times. They possess talents that ordinary people envy immensely.
The extremely arduous path of cultivation, which takes ordinary people a lifetime of struggle, is just a smooth, wide road for the Ancient Clan.
Any core Ancient Clan member, with only a small amount of cultivation, can easily become a peerless expert respected by the outside world.
Because they possess the one thing that sets them above all others:
The Bloodline of a Dou Di.
[Inorin's Note: A Dou Di (Dou Emperor) is the legendary peak of cultivation. The Ancient Clans are descendants of these legendary beings, and their bloodline grants them immense talent and power.]
Gu Xun'er is the "little princess" of the Ancient Clan, with the purest bloodline in a thousand years. A proper, super-invincible rich young lady.
Under normal circumstances, a boy from a declined, trash-tier clan like Xiao Yan being together with Gu Xun'er would be the ultimate joke. A toad wanting to eat swan meat.
It would be considered a blessing if Xiao Yan wasn't ambushed, beaten, and thrown into a river.
But the past is the past.
Now is now.
The Xiao Yan who was once crippled in Wu Tan City was a memory. The one who fled the Jia Ma Empire was ancient history.
The one going to the Ancient Clan now is the Pro Max, fully-upgraded version of Xiao Yan.
Dou Sheng Xiao Yan.
Hmph, Xiao Yan thought, a confident smirk playing on his lips.
It is your Ancient Clan's good fortune that this Old Master Xiao has taken a liking to your family's young lady.
Any objections? We'll see if their old ancestors dare to object.
Hmph hmph!
...
The Starfall Pavilion is located in the southern region, a very long distance from the Eastern Region.
Even with Xiao Yan's 5-Star Dou Sheng cultivation, using the spatial wormholes for cross-continental travel still took him several days of boring, turbulent jumps to reach the Eastern Region.
Finally, a vast, faintly discernible city outline came into his view.
The city was built from massive, light-green giant stones. After countless years of wind and erosion, the city looked somewhat ancient and decayed.
But the people coming and going around its gates, all of them powerful cultivators, dared not show the slightest disrespect.
This city is the Ancient Saint City. It was left over from ancient times, and it is rumored that the city itself contains a trace of the Ancient Clan's Dou Di power.
At the same time, this city is also the only entrance to the true Ancient Realm.
Inside that Ancient Realm, besides the people of the Ancient Clan, there is also the tomb of Xiao Yan's own ancestor, the peerless genius Xiao Xuan.
Whether for his future (Gu Xun'er) or for his past (Xiao Xuan), Xiao Yan had to enter the Ancient Realm.
At the towering city gate, several figures stood tall and motionless as statues. Their black armor was cold and imprinted with ancient runes.
These were the Black Annihilation Army of the Ancient Clan.
[Inorin's Note: The Black Annihilation Army (Hei Ya Jun) is the elite military force of the Gu Clan, composed of the clan's most talented younger generation members. They are famously disciplined and arrogant.]
The Black Annihilation Army is a special army formed by the Ancient Clan; all who can enter it are the cream of the crop among the younger generation!
Their leader, a cold-faced man standing at the very front, even possessed the cultivation of a peak Dou Zun.
Xiao Yan landed, walking calmly to the gate. He presented his invitation, which Yao Lao had arranged, wishing to enter the city.
However.
When the Black Annihilation Army guards at the city gate saw the name on his invitation, their cold expressions immediately turned gloomy and hostile.
The leader's eyes narrowed with contempt.
"Xiao Yan? The trash from the defunct Xiao Clan?"
One of the guards sneered, his voice loud enough for the surrounding crowd to hear.
"Who allowed this to come here?"
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