Chapter 3: Secrets of the Xiao Clan

"Great-uncle, the current state of our Xiao Clan is truly not good," Xiao Zhan could only speak bitterly in response to Xiao Han's inquiry.

Thinking of how the Xiao Clan's influence had recently diminished greatly, his own strength was insufficient, and he was struggling to handle affairs, he felt even more ashamed.

Then, Xiao Zhan gave a detailed introduction to the current situation of the Xiao Clan.

As Xiao Zhan's words continued to fall, Xiao Han's expression grew increasingly gloomy.

The Xiao Clan of the past, although it had no Dou Wang experts, at least had no fewer than five at the Dou Ling level.

But the current Xiao Clan was entirely relying on Xiao Lin, a single Dou Wang, to forcibly hold things up.

After something happened to Xiao Lin, they immediately could not hold on any longer.

And Xiao Lin was only able to step into the realm of Dou Wang because Xiao Han had provided a large amount of resources in the past, laying a good foundation; otherwise, he would have been at most a Dou Ling.

"It seems the influence of bloodline is still quite significant," Xiao Han said with a serious face.

The others were all bewildered; bloodline, what does that mean?

"We will mention this later, continue," Xiao Han waved his hand.

"This is the entire situation of our Xiao Clan now," Xiao Zhan concluded, "but since you, Great-uncle, have returned, we naturally do not need to leave the Imperial Capital."

Speaking of this, the members of the Xiao Clan all wore expressions of joy.

Just at this moment, Xiao Han suddenly spoke, "No, we must leave and find a remote small city to settle down."

"Why is that, Great-uncle?" Xiao Zhan looked confused; after all, abandoning one's own base and running to a remote corner was something no normal person would agree to.

"To avoid the disaster that is about to befall our Xiao Clan," Xiao Han slowly gave his answer.

Seeing the hesitant looks of the few, Xiao Han added, "It is not for now; the difficulties you face right now can be wiped away with a wave of the hand, but the Xiao Clan has a hidden enemy, and that is the great enemy that concerns the survival of the Xiao Clan."

"Could Great-uncle explain in detail?" Hearing these words from Xiao Han, Xiao Zhan did not doubt him, but asked solemnly.

He had heard of his Great-uncle's character, and he was definitely not the type to alarm people with exaggerations. Clearly, this was a powerful enemy that even Xiao Han could not handle.

Xiao Han struggled for a moment and spat out two words: "Imperial Clan."

At this, everyone became uneasy again. Even the members of the Xiao Clan, who were in a small country in the Northwest, had heard of the Imperial Clans.

Xiao Zhan said in surprise: "Is it that Imperial Clan where even Dou Sheng almighty beings exist?"

"Yes."

An Imperial Clan is a clan that has produced a Dou Di in the past. They have countless Dou Wang and Dou Huang experts, quite a few Dou Zong and Dou Zun, and even the Dou Sheng experts, who are hard to find in the outside world, exist within the Imperial Clans.

This news filled the Xiao Clan members with terror.

"How could we have an enemy like an Imperial Clan?"

"That's right, we are truly finished now."

...... The hall with only a few people was noisily filled as if there were dozens.

At this time, it was still Xiao Zhan who was relatively calm, "May I ask Great-uncle, why do you say we have an enemy like an Imperial Clan?

To them, our Xiao Clan is nothing but ants; what intersection could we have with them?"

Xiao Han looked at Xiao Zhan with appreciation, "Not bad, you are very suitable to serve as Clan Leader."

Facing an Imperial Clan, Xiao Zhan's reaction could already be called quite calm, and he was even able to grasp the key point in time.

Even some first-rate forces in the Central Plains might not be able to compare to him upon hearing of an Imperial Clan.

"Hehe~ Great-uncle, you overpraise me." Xiao Zhan smiled modestly.

Then Xiao Han began to explain: "From now on, I speak, you listen."

"Understood."

Under Xiao Han's narration, a scroll was unfolded.

"You all know that my talent is just okay...", hearing this, the others silently wiped their sweat; if you are just okay, then are we trash? But no one interrupted.

"Back then, after I cultivated to the Dou Ling level, I accidentally discovered that our Xiao Clan is not a native force of the Jia Ma Empire, and then I began to be curious about our origins."

At this point, Xiao Han smiled helplessly, "I didn't expect that just by investigating this, we would embark on a path of no return."

"I traveled while investigating, and finally... I traced it to the Central Plains."

At this moment, the Xiao Clan members were shocked; they did not expect their origins to be so significant.

"In the end, I discovered that our Xiao Clan was also once an Imperial Clan."

Words as earth-shattering as a thunderclap exploded the silence of the Xiao Clan hall.

"What?", the Elders felt that all the shocks of the past few decades were not as much as today.

"Our Xiao Clan was once the Xiao Clan, one of the Ancient Eight Clans, and our ancestor Xiao Xuan was also a peak expert of the continent. However, what follows is the potential enemy I mentioned."

At this, the people in the hall subconsciously tensed their bodies.

"A thousand years ago, our Xiao Clan once broke out into a great war with the Soul Clan, also one of the eight clans. In the end, our ancestor was besieged and fell after being heavily injured. The Xiao Clan was defeated, and the remaining clansmen scattered and fled.

In these thousand years, the Soul Clan has never given up on hunting us down. Today, we are perhaps the only remaining descendants of the Xiao Clan."

"Why do they want to exterminate us?", Xiao Zhan raised his question again, "If it is hatred, it shouldn't be worth going to such lengths, right? Is there something about us that attracts them?"

"Not bad," Xiao Han said with great gratification, "Their goal is the Tuoshe Ancient God Jade—the clan jade of our Xiao Clan."

Xiao Zhan hurriedly took out the Clan Leader's Jade Pendant, "Is this the Ancient Emperor Jade?"

It was no wonder he was like this; since ancient times, anything related to 'Imperial' was never a simple thing, let alone the fact that the life-and-death enemy of the Xiao Clan was targeting this. This jade was likely more important than his own life.

"Correct, this is one of the eight fragments of the Ancient Emperor Jade. By gathering all the fragments, one can open the Ancient Emperor Cave Mansion and obtain the secret to becoming an Emperor.

In fact, it was precisely the existence of this Ancient Emperor Jade that allowed me to confirm that the Xiao Clan was the former Xiao Clan."

At this point, the Xiao Clan members completely understood that even if the Xiao Clan did nothing, they would still have to face the Soul Clan.

The secret to becoming an Emperor is worth going crazy for, for anyone.

No one suggested handing over the jade to ensure peace; having reached this point, it was a matter of life and death. To continue retreating would inevitably lead to having no place to be buried.

"Then why must we stay away from the Imperial Capital? Isn't the Imperial Capital more suitable for our development?", at this time, the Great Elder raised a question.

"Because, in the Imperial Capital, we are easily noticed, and the possibility of exposure increases significantly." Xiao Zhan answered this question directly on behalf of Xiao Han.

"Correct. If I were to make a move at this time, the Xiao Clan would surely be in its prime in the Jia Ma Empire, which would easily attract the attention of the Soul Hall, the lackeys of the Soul Clan.

Yet the current Xiao Clan is as fragile as a reed; even with me, it is no match for the Soul Hall. One could even say that if the Soul Hall were to learn of my existence...

It would only strengthen their power and resolve to destroy the Xiao Clan."

"May I ask, what is Great-Uncle's current strength...?"

"Dou Sheng."

Hiss~

The members of the Xiao Clan made an outstanding contribution to global warming.

"Dou... Dou Sheng!"

At this moment, Xiao Han dealt a blow, "So what if I am a Dou Sheng? I still have no way to deal with the Soul Hall right now.

Once they take action, I cannot protect you at all. Moreover, they have the Soul Clan behind them."

At this, everyone suddenly snapped back to their senses; indeed, the news of Xiao Han becoming a Saint had made them subconsciously overlook the Soul Clan, that formidable enemy.

"Then Great-Uncle, what should we do next?"