Wutan City, the Xiao Family.
Since Gale Bi's death, all the market districts belonging to their Family fell into the hands of the Xiao Family and the Ao Ba Family. From then on, there were only two major families left in Wutan City.
The Xiao Family was thriving, though they were occasionally threatened by members of the Ao Ba Family. However, Xiao Zhan, as the Clan Chief of the Xiao Family, would always step forward to deter them.
"Hehe, Xun'er, how long do you plan on staying this time now that you're back?"
The speaker was a middle-aged man dressed in luxurious gray robes. His powerful strides carried a certain dignity, and the pair of thick eyebrows on his face added a touch of boldness.
This person was none other than the Clan Chief of the Xiao Family, Xiao Yan's biological father, Xiao Zhan!
Standing before him was a girl dressed in a purple skirt, whose temperament was cool and indifferent, like a green lotus in the mortal world.
Her slender waist was like a willow leaf, barely enough to grasp, and her long black hair was casually tied with a light purple ribbon, smoothly cascading down her alluring curves to her waist.
Two tiny green bells hung from her fair wrists, making her look like a character from a painting.
"Uncle Xiao, why are you here?" Xiao Xun Er asked gently. "I originally planned to come back to see if Brother Xiao Yan had returned."
Mentioning Xiao Yan, Xiao Zhan shook his head helplessly and said, "Yan'er hasn't sent any news for a year. It's said he went to the Magical Beast Mountain Range... but I don't know his exact situation."
Speaking of this, Xiao Zhan sighed. Among all his sons, Xiao Yan was the one he worried about the most. He had experienced great ups and downs at a young age, and then Nalan Yanran came to dissolve the engagement, setting the Three-Year Agreement.
Yan'er has borne too much.
And I, as his father, can't help him at all... Xiao Xun Er comforted him, "Uncle Xiao, please don't worry. Brother Xiao Yan will be fine. I believe in him."
"I hope so."
Xiao Zhan replied with a strange look. Just as he was about to say something more, he saw a Family Disciple rush in anxiously.
"Clan Chief! This is bad! People from the Cloud Mist Sect are here again!"
As soon as these words were spoken, Xiao Zhan couldn't help but gasp. These people never stop! They just finalized the Three-Year Agreement not long ago, and now they've come knocking on the door again. Do they really think the Xiao Family is a pushover?!
Xiao Xun Er's delicate brows furrowed slightly, and she subconsciously asked, "Who are the people who came?"
"A man and a woman. The man is handsome, and the woman is beautiful. Moreover, the woman introduced herself as Yun Yun, the Sect Master of the Cloud Mist Sect."
Upon hearing the name 'Yun Yun,' Xiao Zhan's body trembled. He never expected that Yun Yun, who held the esteemed position of Sect Master of the Cloud Mist Sect and was one of the Ten Great Experts of the Jia Ma Empire, would actually come to the Xiao Family.
Could it be that they want to unilaterally tear up the agreement?
While Xiao Zhan was at a loss, Xiao Xun Er offered comfort: "It's alright, Uncle Xiao. Let's go take a look. Xun'er is here."
Xiao Zhan also nodded. Indeed, with this girl present, even Sect Master of the Yunlan Sect Yun Yun would not dare to underestimate them.
Inside the main hall of the Xiao Family.
Yun Yun was seated elegantly on a chair, while Jiang Cheng was still drinking tea and reading a book. Overall, he looked a bit like a bookworm, but for Jiang Cheng, this was a way to improve his strength.
Before long, Xiao Zhan, Xiao Xun Er, and several Elders of the Xiao Family rushed over. Seeing Sect Master of the Yunlan Sect Yun Yun, they cupped their hands in salute: "Greetings, Sect Leader Yun. May we ask the purpose of Sect Leader Yun's visit to the Xiao Family?"
Yun Yun slightly moved her delicate eyebrows, stood up, made a gesture with her left hand, and said gracefully, "It is this gentleman who wishes to find your Xiao Family. I am merely here to accompany him."
"Oh?" Xiao Zhan looked composed. As long as the Cloud Mist Sect wasn't causing trouble, everything else was minor.
"May I ask what this Young Brother is here for?"
"I want an item belonging to the Xiao Family," Jiang Cheng replied softly.
"An item?"
The Elders exchanged glances, their eyes thoughtful. Their Xiao Family was just a declining Family; the only things they could offer were Profound Rank Dou Techniques, and those were passed down through generations. Such items probably wouldn't catch his eye.
Xiao Zhan was also a little bewildered and subconsciously asked, "Young Brother, what is this item you speak of?"
"A jade pendant."
As soon as this was said, Xiao Xun Er's expression, standing behind Xiao Zhan, clearly changed. She suddenly turned around, staring at Jiang Cheng, who was sitting nonchalantly in his chair.
"A jade pendant..."
"May I ask..."
"The jade pendant of the Xiao Family—the jade piece that only the Clan Chief is qualified to possess."
Jiang Cheng gently put down the book in his hand, turned his face to look at Xiao Xun Er's nervous appearance. Observing this girl up close, she truly was beautiful. No wonder Xiao Yan cared for her so much.
Xiao Zhan swallowed hard, pretending to be ignorant: "Young Brother, what do you mean by that? We don't have that jade pendant. Are you mistaken?"
Seeing that the other party denied it, Jiang Cheng quickly walked up to Xiao Zhan and gently placed his right hand on his forehead.
At that moment, chaotic memories surged into the System like a tide. Everything Xiao Zhan had experienced over the decades continuously surfaced like a movie.
In the face of absolute strength, hiding was useless. After a simple probe, the location of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade was found.
Thump, thump, thump... Xiao Zhan staggered back several steps, his eyes filled with panic. Just now, he felt as if his Soul had been controlled, and he was completely unable to resist.
Jiang Cheng waved his right hand, and a special box embedded in the stone quickly flew out. The box was exquisite, carved with Dragon and Phoenix totems around it, and faintly emitted an ancient Qi.
Xiao Zhan could no longer remain seated. He reached out and snatched the box containing the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade, hugging it tightly to his chest, and whispered, "Senior, absolutely not!"
Maintaining his principle of not creating killing karma, Jiang Cheng did not attack Xiao Zhan. Instead, he said in a gentle tone, "Clan Chief Xiao, keeping this item will ultimately be a disaster for you. Keeping it on you will lead to the downfall of the Xiao Family."
"Ridiculous." Xiao Xun Er stepped forward and asked three questions in a row: "How could the Xiao Family perish? Who exactly are Your Excellency, what is your relationship with those various powers, and how do you know about the Xiao Family's jade piece?"
"You are not yet qualified to know my identity. Perhaps if your father or your Clan's Elders came, they might know. You are not qualified."
Jiang Cheng took out two volumes of Dou Technique Cultivation Technique and placed them steadily on the table. "Clan Chief Xiao, I, Jiang Cheng, don't like fighting; I prefer doing business. I like the Xiao Family's jade piece very much. Here are two Earth Tier Low-Grade Dou Technique Cultivation Techniques, which are very suitable for your Xiao Family."
Upon seeing the two Earth Tier Low-Grade Dou Techniques, the eyes of the Xiao Family Elders widened. They never expected the young man before them to be so generous; to be able to offer Di-rank Dou Techniques—what extravagance!
"Uncle Xiao, you must not. This jade piece is of extraordinary significance and is far from comparable to a Dou Technique Cultivation Technique. If Uncle Xiao trusts me, it can be kept with me."
Xiao Zhan fell into a dilemma, unsure of how to resolve the situation.