Chapter 294: Didn't anyone teach you Ancient Clan members to be humble when facing a powerful expert?
"Old Man Gu Yuan?"
Gu Xun'er repeated the name, her beautiful brows furrowing slightly in confusion.
She immediately understood Xiao Yan's intention. He wanted to establish his authority in the most direct and unassailable way possible: by challenging her father.
If he could defeat or subdue Gu Yuan, the Chief of the Ancient Clan, then naturally, no one else in the clan would dare to oppose their relationship. It was a classic "defeat the boss" strategy, brutally effective.
It was just…
What did 'Old Man' mean? The term sounded so disrespectful, almost casual, as if her father was just some random elder and not a peak 9-Star Dou Saint.
Though her curiosity was piqued, Gu Xun'er didn't ask. She had a feeling it wasn't a complimentary term at all.
"Father's strength is very formidable. He's a 9-Star Dou Saint at the late stage," Gu Xun'er began softly, her brows knitted in genuine thought.
[Inorin's Note: A "Dou Saint" (Dòu Shèng) is one of the highest cultivation realms on the Dou Qi Continent. A 9-Star Dou Saint is a peak expert, just one step away from the legendary Dou Di (Emperor) realm.]
"And as the Ancient Clan Chief, his sense of responsibility towards the clan is incredibly strong…"
Xiao Yan listened, and a hint of guilt surfaced. He thought she was about to plead for her father, reluctant to see him beaten up.
He supposed it was rather inappropriate to openly discuss beating up her father right in front of her. It felt a bit classless.
Just as Xiao Yan was about to clear his throat and suggest a different target—perhaps one of the more annoying elders who had been giving her trouble—Gu Xun'er's tone suddenly shifted. It became serious and conspiratorial.
"Within the Ancient Clan's domain, Father can utilize the clan's protective great array. It can condense an enormous, colorful ancient mirror called the Ancient Emperor Realm. Its defensive and offensive power is immense, so you must be careful."
[Inorin's Note: The "Ancient Emperor Realm" (Gǔ Dì Jìng) is the Ancient Clan's ultimate defensive formation, drawing on the power of the entire realm space. It is not to be confused with the "Ancient Emperor's Cave Mansion".]
Xiao Yan blinked, surprised by the sudden turn.
Gu Xun'er wasn't finished. "And Father's greatest specialty is the Ancient Clan's Legacy Dou Technique, the Ancient Emperor Shattered Nirvana Finger. It's a terrifying technique that condenses all his Dou Qi into a giant finger covered in strange, ancient patterns. Its destructive power is extremely formidable…"
One by one, Gu Xun'er calmly revealed Gu Yuan's various trump cards and hidden techniques, holding absolutely nothing back.
Listening to this stream of highly classified information, a genuine look of surprise appeared on Xiao Yan's face. Gu Yuan's every secret was being laid bare by his own daughter.
Ling Ying, who was standing watch nearby, was even more dumbfounded. His jaw practically hit the floor.
'Is this... Is this right?' he thought, his mind reeling in pure shock.
'Xiao Yan wants to challenge the Clan Chief... and the Young Miss is not only agreeing but actively handing him the weapon to do it?!'
'Young Miss, you're confused! That's your father! Your actual, biological father!'
Ling Ying was trapped in a whirlwind of absolute conflict. Should he tell the Clan Chief about this?
But what would he even say? 'Sir, your daughter is helping her boyfriend prepare to beat you up, and here are the counter-strategies she devised'?
Should he warn the Clan Chief about Xiao Yan? Or warn him about the Young Miss?
Ling Ying let out a silent groan. If the Clan Chief knew about this... he'd probably be heartbroken. This was a level of betrayal far beyond simple teenage rebellion.
Xiao Yan couldn't help but reach out and affectionately ruffle Gu Xun'er's hair, a wry smile on his face.
"No need to worry, Xun'er. With your father's 9-Star Dou Saint Late Stage cultivation... no matter how many methods he has, he still won't be my opponent. The gap is bigger than you think."
His confidence was absolute, forged in battles and worlds her father couldn't even imagine.
Gu Xun'er reached out, not to fix her hair, but to gently smooth the wrinkles on the front of Xiao Yan's clothes. Her movements were tender, like those of a docile young wife attending to her husband.
She hummed softly in affirmation. "I believe you, Brother Xiao Yan."
When she said this, she looked up, her bright, beautiful eyes meeting his. They sparkled with complete trust and a deep-seated adoration that made his heart beat faster.
Xiao Yan's heart stirred. He gently took her hand. "Your father isn't the only one with a powerful bloodline. You need to fully awaken the Emperor Blood within you. I have a Cultivation Technique from... an external source, to pass on to you. It's called the Great Bloodline Art…"
[Inorin's Note: The Great Bloodline Art is a crossover technique from Eternal Life (Fang Han's world), not native to the BTTH universe. It is one of the Three Thousand Great Daos.]
He pulled her closer, his other hand moving to her waist, drawing her flush against him. The atmosphere in the quiet courtyard grew charged.
"Let's go inside," he murmured, his voice low. "I can... 'pass it on' to you now. It's a very 'hands-on' technique."
Gu Xun'er's face flushed a delicate pink, but she didn't resist, leaning into his embrace and allowing him to lead her into the bamboo house.
...
After a long period of "cultivation" and deep intimacy within the bamboo house, the two finally parted. Xiao Yan had a satisfied smile, while Gu Xun'er's cheeks were still rosy, her eyes looking even more radiant and watery.
Gu Xun'er watched Xiao Yan's departing back, a soft, lingering smile on her face. She stood silent and unmoving for a long time.
"Young Miss... isn't this a bit... inappropriate? The Clan Chief, he actually…"
After much internal debate, Ling Ying finally spoke, his voice laced with difficulty.
Gu Xun'er waved her hand, interrupting him, her tone calm.
"Brother Xiao Yan has a great deal of resentment in his heart," she said. "It's good to let him vent it on someone who can actually take the beating."
"Ah?!" Ling Ying was completely lost now.
Gu Xun'er, however, turned and walked back towards her bamboo house, offering no further explanation.
She had her own plans and motivations.
If this were merely about the clan elders opposing her and Xiao Yan being together, she would never have betrayed her father like this.
The main reason... was the dark, shameful history between the Xiao Clan and the Ancient Clan.
[Inorin's Note: In ancient times, the Xiao Clan was the strongest, led by a Dou Di. They had an agreement with the Gu Clan. After the Xiao Clan declined, the Gu Clan (and others) coveted their legacy, the Tou She Ancient God's Jade. The Gu Clan's treatment of the fallen Xiao Clan is a source of deep shame for Xun'er and rage for Xiao Yan.]
Gu Xun'er had heard more than just rumors. She knew the truth about what had happened.
This matter…
It was their Ancient Clan that had acted dishonorably first. It was her father, as the Clan Chief, who had allowed this dishonorable conduct and quiet persecution to persist for generations.
It was only because some of the oldest elders still had a final semblance of shame that they didn't just dig up the Xiao Clan ancestors' graves to find what they were looking for.
Under such circumstances, the sole descendant of that betrayed clan, Xiao Yan, had risen from the dust.
And he had risen to a terrifyingly, incomprehensibly strong level.
He knew the truth about the relationship between the two clans, so it would be stranger if he didn't harbor any resentment.
She was caught in the middle. It was difficult for her, and she knew it was also very difficult for Xiao Yan to hold back his anger for her sake.
So... it was better to just sacrifice Gu Yuan for a bit.
Let Brother Xiao Yan vent his completely justified anger on her father. A good, sound beating would clear the air and settle old debts.
Gu Xun'er admitted to herself, she also had her own little calculations. A "beaten" and humbled father would be much more agreeable to their marriage.
Several days passed quickly. Soon, it was time for the Ancient Clan's grand Coming-of-Age Ceremony.
When the first ray of morning sunlight streamed down from the sky, the entire pocket dimension known as the Ancient Realm became lively. The festive, powerful thrum of drumbeats echoed from all corners.
The tightly shut door to Xiao Yan's guest quarters opened, and he walked out, stretching in the morning light.
As expected, Gu Xun'er was already waiting for him, dressed in elegant ceremonial robes that highlighted her ethereal beauty.
The two naturally held hands, a simple gesture that spoke volumes to anyone watching. They then transformed into a streak of light, swiftly flying towards the distant central palace.
A few minutes later, the two arrived at the heart of the palace complex.
An ancient, massive plaza was already filled. Countless armored warriors stood ramrod straight, their gazes as sharp as eagles' eyes. Their combined aura was formidable.
Every single one of these elite guards had a cultivation in the Dou Zong Realm.
[Inorin's Note: A "Dou Zong" (Dòu Zōng) is a high-level expert, capable of ruling a small empire like Jia Ma. Here, in the Ancient Clan, they are just elite guards.]
There were also many figures seated in designated areas around the plaza—representatives from various allied factions and the clan's own upper echelons.
Gu Xun'er didn't lead Xiao Yan to a guest area. She led him directly towards the most prominent seats in the very center of the plaza, reserved for the clan's most honored members and the Clan Chief himself.
Some of the elders' expressions changed when they saw this blatant display. It was a severe breach of protocol.
However, thinking of the terrifying, unfathomable strength Xiao Yan had displayed upon his arrival, no one dared to speak up in the end. Strength earned status, and his was overwhelming.
After everyone was seated, the ceremony officially began.
Three Ancient Clan Elders, their auras vast and ancient, appeared on the plaza's central platform.
The Ancient Clan's Coming-of-Age Ceremony was a very special and solemn affair. Only after experiencing it could the younger generation truly be considered core members of the clan.
Even so-called marriages with high-status members...
Could only take place after completing this ceremony.
During the ceremony, Ancient Clan members would be tested and then granted clan tattoos based on their bloodline purity and their performance.
These clan tattoos were a legacy from the Ancient Clan in ancient times. They were not just decorative; they were capable of causing the Bloodline Power within a clan member to surge in times of emergency.
These clan tattoos were also divided into Ranks. The higher the Rank, the better the effect.
Xiao Yan watched the spectacle from the side with mild interest. The Ancient Clan's heritage was indeed deep.
He was somewhat looking forward to Gu Xun'er's performance later…
However, as he watched the proceedings, his expression gradually darkened.
He saw a person radiating a sharp, undisguised killing intent walk onto the stage.
This man's hair was a stark mix of black and white, and his entire aura was as cold as ten-thousand-year-old profound ice, making one shiver just by looking at him.
This person exuded a palpable killing intent.
And that killing intent was directed at him.
"Gu Yao. 8-Grade Bloodline. Ancient Clan Asura Commander. 8-Star Dou Zun. Granted the Violet Gold Clan Tattoo!"
[Inorin's Note: "Gu Yao" is a top-tier genius of the Gu Clan, known for his ruthless nature and absolute devotion to the clan's "purity." The "Violet Gold Clan Tattoo" is the highest possible rank, signifying immense potential.]
An Elder announced the honor, granting this person the clan tattoo. After receiving it, Gu Yao did not step down. He turned and looked directly at Xiao Yan, his gaze blatant and challenging.
His killing intent was shockingly strong, undisguised for all to see.
Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed. If he remembered the "original work"—the destiny he had long since shattered—this Gu Yao was one of the people who would try to kill him.
He hadn't expected it to happen so brazenly.
He had already displayed his Dou Saint cultivation upon arrival. He had made his power clear to everyone. And this guy, a mere 8-Star Dou Zun, still dared to show killing intent towards him?
'...It seems I was still too merciful,' Xiao Yan reflected, his gaze turning cold.
Honestly speaking, he had held back tremendously.
Because of Gu Xun'er, he had truly been incredibly merciful to the Ancient Clan.
Although he planned to beat up the "Old Man" Gu Yuan, it was just that—a beating. A way to vent his and his ancestors' grievances.
After the beating, the past would be over.
For Gu Xun'er's sake, Xiao Yan had already made a great concession.
Otherwise, for the Ancient Clan's historical act of betrayal... for how they watched the Xiao Clan fall and even tried to profit from it...
Exterminating the entire clan wouldn't be excessive.
That was not an exaggeration. Having spent so much time with the other protagonists in the chat group, having seen the scale of other worlds and the ruthlessness of figures like Luo Feng or Fang Han...
Xiao Yan's heart was much, much more ruthless than his "original" counterpart. He was no longer just a hot-blooded young man from a small empire. He was a powerhouse who understood that weakness and mercy are often invitations for disaster.
It was precisely because of his lingering affection for Gu Xun'er that Xiao Yan chose the "softest" path.
He directly displayed his Dou Saint cultivation upon arriving at the Ancient Clan.
The purpose was simple: to display overwhelming, indisputable strength and make the Ancient Clan members retreat in the face of difficulty.
He was telling them to know their place, to quit while they were ahead, and not cause any more trouble.
However...
The Ancient Clan members, starting with this Gu Yao, didn't seem to appreciate his mercy.
Xiao Yan stood up. The festive, bustling atmosphere of the plaza instantly froze.
His gaze, now devoid of any warmth, fixed coldly on Gu Yao.
"An 8-Star Dou Zun?" Xiao Yan's voice was calm, but it echoed across the silent plaza. "Has no one in your clan taught you that when facing a powerful expert, you must remain humble?"
The instant he spoke, a powerful, invisible aura swept out from him.
It wasn't aimed at anyone else. It focused entirely on Gu Yao.
Gu Yao's arrogant, icy expression shattered. He felt as if a primordial mountain had slammed into him. His body was instantly pressed to the ground, his knees buckling and slamming into the hard stone.
Crack... crackle!
The sound of his bones cracking was horrifyingly clear. Blood instantly stained the ground beneath him as he was forced into a humiliating, broken kowtow.
"Stop it, Xiao Yan!" A furious roar erupted from the sky. "Do you intend to ruin my Ancient Clan's Coming-of-Age Ceremony and declare yourself an enemy of my Ancient Clan?"
Space tore open, and an Ancient Clan expert appeared in the Void Realm above the plaza.
This expert exuded a terrifying aura. His cultivation had clearly reached the Dou Saint Realm.
He appeared beside Gu Yao, placing a hand on the younger man's shoulder, attempting to channel his own Dou Qi to help Gu Yao resist Xiao Yan's crushing aura.
Seeing this, Xiao Yan sneered. "An enemy of the Ancient Clan? What is the Ancient Clan? Do you even qualify to be my enemy?"
"Your junior shows killing intent towards me, a Dou Saint, and you, an elder, protect him?"
"Do you really think I have no temper?"
As soon as his voice fell, Xiao Yan's aura, which had just been a focused pressure, exploded violently.
Vast, terrifying Dou Qi, as boundless as an ocean, surged out from his body. It roared and surged, pressing down on the entire world.
His 5-Star Dou Saint cultivation was no longer concealed in the slightest.
A terrifying, suffocating aura permeated the entire Ancient Realm.
The surrounding spectators, the proud Ancient Clan members, even the elite Dou Zong guards—all were suppressed to their knees by this terrifying pressure.
Even the new Dou Saint elder who had just appeared found his legs buckle, and he was forced down onto one knee.
"5-Star Dou Saint?!"
"How is this possible?! He's so young!"
Countless people uttered sounds of extreme shock and disbelief.
"I emerged from the tiny Jia Ma Empire," Xiao Yan's voice boomed, overriding all other sounds. "I roamed the continent, encountered countless enemies, and wandered between life and death more times than I can count to cultivate to my current Realm!"
He clenched his palms, and the vast Dou Qi around him ignited. A scorching, fiery wind swept across the plaza, rapidly raising the temperature between heaven and earth.
The entire Ancient Realm felt like it was being baked.
"I am a 5-Star Dou Saint. I cultivate supreme secret Divine Abilities. In my eyes, killing ordinary Dou Saints is no different from slaughtering dogs."
"With such cultivation, with such strength... you dare to ask me if I want to be an enemy of your Ancient Clan?"
Xiao Yan's figure flickered. In an instant, he appeared on the plaza, standing directly in front of Gu Yao and the kneeling Dou Saint elder.
That Dou Saint's face turned beet red under the terrifying, direct pressure, and his entire body trembled uncontrollably.
"What if I am an enemy of your Ancient Clan?"
Xiao Yan looked down at the kneeling Dou Saint, then shook his head in disappointment.
"What can you do to me? You?"
His gaze turned cold. With an arrogant grasp of his large hand, terrifying Dou Qi permeated the air, bypassed the kneeling elder, and instantly rushed into the Void Realm.
He was targeting the other Dou Saints who had not shown themselves, those observing the situation from the shadows.
Rip!
Space tore open, and a 2-Star Dou Saint was dragged out by an invisible force. This elder had no power to resist and was slammed onto the plaza, instantly kneeling, his aura dispirited.
"You?"
Xiao Yan looked at this 2-Star Dou Saint, and again shook his head. The disdain in his eyes was obvious.
That 2-Star Dou Saint's face flushed with anger and humiliation.
While humiliated, the shock in his heart was indescribable.
He, a 2-Star Dou Saint, had no power to fight back in Xiao Yan's hands?
Like a child's toy...
To be manipulated at will?
Xiao Yan didn't pause. He reached out and grabbed again.
Another tear in space, and a 3-Star Dou Saint was likewise pulled out, then forcibly suppressed to kneel beside the others.
This Dou Saint was also full of humiliation, and he had a million curses in his heart.
'Damn it, I'm one of the good ones! I'm one of the few in the Ancient Clan who still cares about the Xiao Clan's friendship...!'
However, it was clear that...
He had no chance to speak in front of the enraged Xiao Yan.
Those guests invited by the Ancient Clan to observe the ceremony were all completely stunned after seeing this scene.
Damn it.
Dou Saints!
These were the legendary, high-and-mighty Dou Saint experts!
And just like that, they were being pulled from the void like chickens and forced to kneel obediently before Xiao Yan?
No one had told them that Xiao Yan's strength was this terrifying.
Among the crowd, a figure completely wrapped in a black robe trembled violently from head to toe.
He was from the Soul Hall.
His name was Hun Ya.
He had investigated some information, not only learning that Xiao Yan was from the declined Xiao Clan but also that the coveted soul body of the Medicine Venerable, Yao Chen, was on Xiao Yan's person.
To be honest...
He was preparing to make a move on Xiao Yan soon, to capture both him and Yao Chen's soul.
But the result was… this. He was watching a 5-Star Dou Saint who treated other Saints like toys.
Hun Ya felt a cold sweat break out, drenching his robes. He slowly, very slowly, began to back away, hoping to vanish.
"What a joke! How could that outcast, Yao Chen, have such a terrifying Disciple?"
In another corner, several men with fiery tempers and gourd patterns on their foreheads were also pale with fright.
[Inorin's Note: These men are from the "Pill Tower" (Dān Tǎ), one of the major factions. The "gourd pattern" signifies them as high-level alchemists, who often had friction with Yao Chen.]
They had also heard the news and learned that Xiao Yan was Yao Chen's new prized disciple.
They were even preparing to cause trouble for the Starfall Pavilion, to "teach" Yao Chen's faction a lesson.
But…
No one told them…
Xiao Yan was a Dou Saint!
And such a terrifying, monstrous Dou Saint at that?
Back on the plaza, Xiao Yan's actions hadn't stopped.
Without any surprise, his hand grabbed again. A 4-Star Dou Saint was dragged out and humiliatingly knelt on the ground.
Then, a 5-Star Dou Saint.
These were all famous, pillar-like figures within the Ancient Clan.
Gu Yang…
Gu Nanhai…
Each of them possessed heaven-reaching cultivation and terrifying strength, legends on the continent.
Yet now, they were captured by Xiao Yan like common criminals and forced to kneel before him, completely devoid of any expert demeanor.
They were utterly pathetic.
While humiliated, the many Ancient Clan Dou Saints were even more incredibly shocked.
You, Xiao Yan, have the cultivation of a 5-Star Dou Saint. We can accept that.
To be able to capture 1-Star and 2-Star Dou Saints... fine, that's considered Heaven-Defying combat power.
But you, a 5-Star Dou Saint, can just reach out and casually grab another 5-Star Dou Saint like Gu Nanhai?
This is a bit too much, isn't it?!
He's not even pretending to try! The power gap is absurd!
Everyone in the Ancient Clan could only place their final hopes on their hidden trump cards.
"The Three Immortals of the Ancient Clan will surely be able to suppress this child!"
Countless people roared this in their hearts.
The Three Immortals of the Ancient Clan were peerless experts, all at the 7-Star Dou Saint Rank. When the three of them combined their efforts, with their minds perfectly connected, they could unleash extraordinary combat power, enough to fight a 9-Star Saint.
Xiao Yan was, in their minds, merely a 5-Star Dou Saint…
Just as this hopeful thought crossed everyone's minds...
Swish! Rip!
They saw three bruised and swollen old men also get dragged from the void and forced to kneel on the plaza, forming a neat, pathetic line with the other Saints.
Xiao Yan looked at the row of kneeling Saints, then at the three most pathetic-looking old men. "Are you relying on them?"
He posed this soul-searching question to the trembling crowd.
The Ancient Clan had no 6-Star Dou Saints he could find, so he couldn't make an example of one.
He simply skipped over the 6-Star rank entirely...
And captured the 7-Star Dou Saint Three Immortals.
Because he was merely capturing them casually, he didn't use his full strength, which inadvertently gave these three old fellows a slight chance to struggle.
They had resisted.
Then…
Xiao Yan taught them a slight lesson for their resistance.
This was precisely why the three of them were bruised and swollen, while the others were "only" humiliated.
The Three Immortals knelt on the ground, their ancient faces a mask of purple and blue. They wished they could curse at this moment.
Damn it all!
They, as 7-Star Dou Saints, held the highest status and position in the Ancient Clan, second only to the Clan Chief.
Even Gu Yuan didn't dare to speak loudly to them!
Now they were being bullied like this, beaten and forced to kneel, by a junior like Xiao Yan…
The humiliation in their hearts was beyond words.
However, despite the burning humiliation, they dared not harbor the slightest hint of resentment.
As 7-Star Dou Saints, they understood Xiao Yan's terror even more clearly than the others.
To casually capture the three of them while they were combined in their battle formation... such combat power...
Even the Clan Chief couldn't do that!
If they were given a chance to get up right now, they would definitely march over and slap those idiotic clan management elders who had caused this mess.
Why in the world are you making things difficult for such an amazing, monstrous, heaven-defying son-in-law?!
If he wants something, can't you just give it to him? If he wants the clan, give him the clan!
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