At this moment, Xiao Yan’s gaze began to shift toward the little girl sitting quietly beside Gu Yuan.
The little girl looked to be about three or four years old, wearing a light purple dress, her features as exquisite as a jade carving.
In those clear and agile large eyes was a calm and slight coldness that shouldn’t belong to this age.
She just sat there quietly, as if everything around her had nothing to do with her.
‘Oh, this little girl is quite cute, like a porcelain doll.’ Xiao Yan, with the aesthetic sense of an adult, began to evaluate Xun’er in his mind.
‘However, she looks a bit cold and not very easy to approach.
This little girl’s name should be “Xun’er”?
What a nice name!
Is she this big shot’s daughter?
What exactly does it mean to send her to our Xiao Family?
Boarding?
Fostering?
Or is there some special purpose?’ While making aimless guesses, he continued to maintain the ignorant expression a four-year-old should have, even deliberately tilting his head to appear more “innocent.” He thought, ‘The waters in this Xiao Family seem to be deeper than I imagined.
This benefactor who suddenly popped up, bringing along an excessively cute little girl, always feels like it’s not that simple!’ Xiao Yan cast his gaze toward the little girl named Xun’er again, just in time to meet her occasionally raised, clear yet emotionless gaze.
Xiao Yan immediately revealed what he considered his most harmless and innocent smile.
If Xiao Qing were here, he would probably think Xiao Yan was about to blurt out: I have seen this sister before!
And it wouldn’t be an exaggeration!
Just then, Xiao Zhan’s figure appeared at the entrance of the Council Hall.
He walked in with steady steps, his gaze immediately falling upon the middle-aged man of extraordinary temperament.
Seeing this, the Grand Elder quickly stood up, his face covered in smiles as he introduced the two parties.
“Clan Chief, you’ve come!
This is the Senior Xiao Yuan whom the Old Clan Chief often mentioned before his passing, who has done great kindness for our Xiao Family!” The Grand Elder then turned to Gu Yuan and said respectfully, “Senior Xiao, this is the current Clan Chief of our Xiao Family, Xiao Zhan.” Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhan suddenly realized.
So it was that benefactor whom his father had held in such high esteem during his life!
Xiao Zhan did not dare to be negligent and immediately stepped forward, giving Gu Yuan a solemn bow and saying in a sincere tone, “Junior Xiao Zhan greets Senior Xiao!
I often heard my late father mention Senior’s kindness.
To meet you today is truly my good fortune!” Although Xiao Zhan had secretly advanced to Dou Ling, facing this person who had once helped his father Breakthrough to Dou Wang and who seemed to be of an even older generation than his father, Xiao Zhan’s heart was full of awe.
He secretly guessed the other party was at least a Dou Huang level expert, so he kept his posture very humble.
Gu Yuan nodded slightly as a return of the greeting, then looked at Xiao Zhan calmly and stated his purpose directly.
“Clan Chief Xiao Zhan, there is no need for such formality!
My coming here this time is indeed to entrust you with a matter.” “I want my daughter Xun’er to reside in the Xiao Family for a period of time.
In the future, I will come back to take her.” Gu Yuan’s gaze looked toward the quietly sitting Xun’er.
Although his tone was flat, it carried an unquestionable meaning.
Although Xiao Zhan was somewhat surprised, he didn’t show it at all.
He immediately gave a solemn promise, “It is the Xiao Family’s honor for Young Miss Xiao to reside with us!
Senior, rest assured, the entire Xiao Family will take meticulous care of her and will never let Young Miss Xiao suffer the slightest grievance!” Gu Yuan, however, shook his head.
After a light sigh, he said in a flat yet meaningful tone, “There is no need for special care.
Just treat her like any other ordinary child of the clan.” “Letting her experience ordinary life is for the best.” Two Clan Chiefs—one standing at the very Peak of the continent as the head of an Ancient Emperor Clan, and the other the head of the fallen Ancient Emperor Clan, the Xiao Family—in this brief conversation, once again completed an intersection that spanned a thousand years of time and space, highly significant yet carrying a certain unknown quality!
—— At this time, Xiao Qing’s figure also arrived outside the main gates of the Council Hall.
He was in no hurry to walk in, but instead stood at the door, looking at the scene inside the hall.
At this moment, everyone in the hall naturally noticed that the figure of a youth had appeared outside the door.
‘Is it Qing’er?’ Xiao Zhan’s heart moved slightly, a flash of joy appearing in his eyes.
But Gu Yuan’s gaze, from the moment Xiao Qing appeared, had already seemingly casually swept over the ancient black ring on Xiao Qing’s finger, the bone flame ring!
This gaze seemed very casual, yet it felt as if it could see through all illusions; anything in his eyes appeared pale and weak.
Xiao Qing keenly captured Gu Yuan’s fleeting yet searching look.
His heart suddenly tightened, and his pupils began to contract!
‘Oh no!
Is it that old fogey Gu Yuan?!’ Only now did Xiao Qing realize that this middle-aged man in hemp clothes was Gu Yuan!
At this point in time, a middle-aged man with an unfathomable aura, wearing simple hemp clothes, visiting the Xiao Family with a three or four-year-old girl?
Besides the Gu Clan Chief, Gu Yuan, who else could it be?!
Seeing Xiao Qing’s expression suddenly become somewhat tense, the corners of Gu Yuan’s mouth curled up almost imperceptibly as he whispered in a low voice that only those nearby could hear, “Truly an interesting youth.” Beside Gu Yuan, Xun’er heard her father, who stood at the Peak of the continent, actually speak to praise a strange youth as “interesting”!
She couldn’t help but raise her eyes slightly.
Those clear and agile large eyes focused their gaze on Xiao Qing for the first time, carrying a trace of faint curiosity, and she etched this youth whom her father evaluated as “interesting” into her heart.
At this moment, in the entire Xiao Family, Xiao Qing was likely the only one who could make her cast such a searching glance.
“Since that’s the case, I entrust my daughter to Clan Chief Xiao Zhan.
I still have important matters, so I shall take my leave first,” Gu Yuan said to Xiao Zhan, no longer looking further.
“Senior, rest assured!
Xiao Zhan will not fail your trust!” Xiao Zhan cupped his fists toward Gu Yuan and gave a solemn promise.
Hearing this, Gu Yuan nodded.
Finally, he looked at his daughter, an indescribable complexity flashing deep in his eyes.
He gently patted the hair on top of Xun’er’s head and said warmly, “Xun’er, you stay here in the Xiao Family with peace of mind for now.
Father will come back for you in the future!” Gu Xun’er raised her head and looked at her father with her large, reluctant eyes, her small face filled with a sense of loss.
But she seemed long accustomed to obeying her father’s arrangements; in the end, she nodded obediently and said softly, “Yes, father.” Just as Xiao Zhan and the three Elders rose to see them off with cupped hands, an invisible yet mountain-like power quietly descended, firmly “pressing” the four of them back into their seats.
This power was gentle yet irresistible, as if the entire space had turned into solidified amber, and they were the dust particles sealed within, unable to move even a fingertip.
“Clan Chief Xiao Zhan, three Elders, stay your steps.
There is no need to see me off.” Gu Yuan swept a glance over them, and after speaking, he stood up and walked straight out of the hall.
As Gu Yuan passed by Xiao Qing, who was standing at the door, his steps seemed to pause imperceptibly, and a meaningful sentence drifted into Xiao Qing’s ears like a light breeze: “Not bad.” As the words fell, space fluctuated slightly, and Gu Yuan’s figure completely vanished, merging into the air as if he had never descended upon this remote city.
At this moment, the four, including Xiao Zhan, could only maintain their stiff postures, watching helplessly as Gu Yuan’s figure, like ink blending into water, slowly faded into the air and finally disappeared completely.
Subsequently, the power that had restrained them also dissipated silently, as if it had never appeared.
Inside the hall, a deathly silence fell.
The four high-ranking members of the Xiao Family, who were considered figures of importance in Wutan City, were all drenched in cold sweat.
They looked at each other, seeing unspeakable shock and lingering fear in each other’s eyes.
This was not only a gesture of polite refusal but also a warning!
The Grand Elder’s throat felt dry as he slowly sat up straight, his voice carrying a trace of imperceptible trembling as he said, “The cultivation of this Senior Xiao is truly unfathomable!” No one could answer this question.
An emotion mixed with fear, doubt, and immense pressure weighed heavily on everyone’s hearts.
They vaguely felt that the Xiao Family might have been drawn into the edge of a storm far beyond their level, one they couldn’t possibly understand.
It wasn’t until that invisible, Soul-shuddering pressure had completely receded that Xiao Qing slowly came back to his senses, his back unknowingly covered in a thin layer of cold sweat.
‘Gu Yuan…
Peak Nine-Star Dou Sheng!’ This was the peerless powerhouse standing at the very Peak of this Dou Qi Continent whom Xiao Qing had come into contact with!
Just a brief encounter and a vague evaluation had made Xiao Qing deeply realize the heaven-and-earth difference, while also strengthening his resolve to increase his strength as quickly as possible!
Fortunately, the mysterious book in his Sea of Consciousness had not been discovered!
The road ahead was still very long and very dangerous!