Chapter 233: The Ancient Clan's Decision

Xiao Yan looked at the figure gradually moving away with a dazed expression, a Storage Ring still held in his palm, the corners of his mouth slightly agape; after a long while, he could only let out an exclamation: "Holy crap!"

At this moment, Yao Lao emerged from the ring in Xiao Yan's hand, his eyes also looking at the departing Xiao Lin with complex emotions; this Xiao Clan had truly given an old man like him quite a few surprises!

Throughout Xiao Yan's journey, he had almost never escaped the Xiao Clan's line of sight.

"Little Yan-zi, why don't you hurry up and see what's inside here," Yao Lao said urgently. He was already impatient to see that Bone-Generating Melting-Blood Pill.

"Oh, right!" Xiao Yan suddenly snapped back to reality, hurriedly probing his Soul Power into it, then took a deep breath, his eyes sharp.

"Teacher, let's go somewhere else to talk!"

Yao Lao did not speak, silently agreeing.

Returning to the room, Xiao Yan took the lead and sat on a chair, taking out the few items from the Storage Ring; yet, this seemingly sparse number of items could cause an earthquake in the Central Plains if any one of them appeared.

After seeing the things taken out of the Storage Ring, Yao Lao's pupils constricted; he first took the jade box and slightly opened a crack.

Xiao Shu Ting

In an instant, a rich medicinal fragrance surged out, making both Xiao Yan and Yao Lao feel invigorated, and even the withering plants in the room instantly regained their vitality; Yao Lao tremblingly closed the jade box.

"Hahaha... haha... hahaha!" Yao Lao laughed intermittently. His voice revealed intense excitement, but he was also constantly suppressing his emotions.

Xiao Yan watched from the side, terrified; what was going on, had Teacher lost his mind?

Finally, Yao Lao let Xiao Yan know the truth, "A Ninth Grade Pill, a Bone-Generating Melting-Blood Pill of the Precious Pill level, hahaha..."

Xiao Yan was overjoyed upon hearing this, "Teacher, is it really a Ninth Grade Bone-Generating Melting-Blood Pill?"

After a long while, Yao Lao finally calmed his thoughts and returned to that appearance of an otherworldly expert with a celestial air.

He nodded faintly, his tone calm, yet still containing a slight tremor, "That's right, it is indeed a Ninth Grade Bone-Generating Melting-Blood Pill!"

However, excitement aside, Xiao Yan and Yao Lao still continued to cast their gaze toward the other two items.

The first thing that caught their eyes was naturally that ancient-looking Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame Residual Map, as well as the letter upon it.

"This is the Residual Map of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame?!" Xiao Yan took the map, saying with a mix of surprise and joy.

Xiao Yan no longer hoped to hide any secrets from his clan; this Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame Residual Map was indeed a target he had been collecting all along.

"Look at this letter first!" Compared to Xiao Yan, Yao Lao was much more steady; in his view, since this letter could be placed together with the Demonic Flame Residual Map, it must contain some secrets.

Xiao Yan immediately browsed through the contents, slowly putting down the letter, his expression complex, "Teacher, take a look!"

"What is it?" Yao Lao took it in confusion, and afterward, he revealed the same expression as Xiao Yan.

It detailed the strange phenomena when the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame would appear: "Twin moons appear together, nine stars as one, the heaven and earth tide, the demonic flame descends to the world!"

With such a huge commotion, did they still need to go looking for it?

Moreover, Yao Lao was clear that although the heaven and earth tide was said to occur once every thousand years, more than nine hundred years had passed since the last one, and there was less than twenty years left this time.

By then, whether it was competing for or refining the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame, it would require terrifying strength; look at Xiao Yan's current cultivation—Dou Ling Peak!

Yao Lao really didn't know if he could cultivate the other party to Dou Zun Peak in over ten years.

But there was some news that Xiao Zhan had not written, for example, that every time the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame was contested, Dou Sheng experts from the Ancient Race would participate.

This was out of fear of crushing Xiao Yan all at once; pressure could promote progress, but if the pressure was too great, a person would be ruined.

However, although Xiao Yan and Yao Lao felt like they had been played and were fuming inside, they did not give up the idea of collecting the Residual Maps; since this thing existed, it must have its rationality, so they would collect them first and see—what if there was an unexpected surprise!

Most importantly, counting this one, Xiao Yan had already collected three pieces of the Residual Map; three out of four, his obsessive-compulsive disorder was acting up.

"Little Yan-zi, we must hurry to the Central Plains..." Yao Lao said solemnly.

Originally, Yao Lao thought things were not that urgent, but now with only ten-plus years left, if Xiao Yan continued to wander around the Northwest Continent, the already slim hope would likely become negligible.

Only by reaching the Central Plains, or returning to the Starfall Pavilion and utilizing the numerous cultivation resources there, would there be a tiny chance.

"Yes! Teacher!" Xiao Yan said firmly. The Heart Fire Body Tempering in two days would be the best opportunity.

And as for that wicked disciple's Sea Heart Flame, this teacher will take it! Yao Lao's heart was filled with killing intent; since they were leaving, they might as well pull off a job before they go.

As for that "plain-looking" Jade Pendant on the table, the letter naturally gave instructions, "Protect it at all costs!"

Xiao Yan only thought this Jade Pendant was extremely precious, while Yao Lao had vaguely guessed something from Xiao Zhan's attitude, only feeling some doubt as to why the Xiao Clan would entrust this Jade Pendant to the extremely weak Xiao Yan for safekeeping.

Putting aside the affairs of Xiao Yan and the others for now, the Ancient Clan was currently holding an extremely important meeting.

"Everyone, how do you view the content of this transaction?" A plain-looking middle-aged man sitting at the head said calmly.

Although he had no movements or momentum, just by sitting there, an extremely terrifying pressure rose, all because his name was Gu Yuan, one of the experts standing at the pinnacle of the Dou Qi Continent!

As early as two days ago, Xun'er had already transmitted the content of her conversation with Xiao Lin back to the clan, requesting the clan to make a decision.

Thus, there was today's meeting.

Because it concerned the Ancient Clan's Dou Sheng experts and the Tuoshe Ancient God Jade, this meeting was personally presided over by the Ancient Clan's strongest, Gu Yuan; at the same time, the participants were basically all Supreme Elders with Dou Sheng strength.

After Gu Yuan's voice fell, there was a silence in the hall for a while, and everyone's expressions were different.

Many Elders believed that there was no need to discuss such matters with the other party at all; wouldn't it be over if they just snatched it!

They, as Dou Shens, also cherished their lives; if they could be safe and sound, who would want to risk falling to fight with the Soul Clan's Dou Shens.

However, they all knew the Clan Leader's thoughts, so at this time, they still had to respect the Clan Leader's opinion and could not be too blatant.

Finally, an Elder stood up, his reflective bald head indicating his wisdom: "Clan Leader, this subordinate believes that this matter needs long-term consideration; could we change the conditions..."

After saying a lot, the implication was: no!

Gu Yuan did not react, his expression as usual, and he continued: "Does anyone else have other opinions?"

At this moment, a voice came, "I think this condition can be agreed to!"

The voice was somewhat calm and arrogant, but no one dared to feel the slightest dissatisfaction toward the owner of this voice; for no other reason than that this person was the second person in the Ancient Clan only after Gu Yuan, the Eight-Star Dou Sheng expert, the Black Annihilation King, Gu Lie!

Just as others were waiting for Gu Lie to clarify his reasons, the latter continued to close his eyes to rest, not saying a word, leaving the others speechless.

Next was everyone expressing their own opinions; however, with Gu Lie's stance beforehand, the attitudes of many Elders were much milder, and even if they disagreed, they did not use harsh words.

Added to this were the Elders who already had some good feelings toward the Xiao Clan.

The pro-faction and the opposition actually formed a strange balance.

Finally... Gu Yuan stated his decision: "For this transaction, our Ancient Clan..."

"Catch!"

The others looked at each other; this should be within reason, for if it were not for the Clan Leader's order, the current Xiao Clan would likely have already been brought back by them in its entirety.

Yet no one opposed this decision; if Gu Yuan were the only Clan Leader, the other Elders could have completely united to directly veto his policy.

But now that the two factions were equal in strength, Gu Yuan was the only overwhelming advantage.

"Yes!"

After the other Elders had left one after another, only Gu Yuan and Gu Lie remained in the great hall.

"Lord Clan Leader, is it necessary for our Ancient Clan to go to such lengths for the Xiao Clan?" Gu Lie asked with a frown.

Clearly, the scene just now was merely a play Gu Lie had colluded with Gu Yuan to perform; with the support of the Ancient Clan's two strongest individuals, the result of this meeting had already been predetermined!

However, although Gu Lie had helped Gu Yuan say those words, in truth, he did not actually believe the Ancient Clan needed to go to such lengths for the Xiao Clan; a death struggle with the Soul Clan did not align with the interests of their Ancient Clan.

"Sigh!" Gu Yuan let out a long sigh, "Just consider it compensation for the relationship between our two clans back then! From now on, keep a close eye on those Fighting Saints of the Soul Clan."

"Yes!" Since the decision had been made, Gu Lie was not a man of fickle mind; the order still had to be carried out.