Chapter 305: Interception Halfway

Since the Ancient Clan has accepted the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade of the Xiao Clan, then everything has followed a logical course.

With such a grand gift presented first, what is the harm in satisfying the small request proposed by the Xiao Clan? Minor matters like quotas for the Heavenly Tomb are just a drop in the bucket!

As for the other factions, having witnessed this explosive scene, they all prepared to return immediately once the Adult Ceremony concluded; such a major event must be reported back at once.

In contrast, the Xiao Clan side, as the parties involved, showed no signs of anything unusual, as if they had merely given away a few stones.

"Yan'er, Yao Lao and I will head back first. You and your elder brother can just wait quietly in the Ancient Realm for the Heavenly Tomb to open."

Atop a mountain peak somewhere in the Ancient Realm, Xiao Zhan was saying his goodbyes to Xiao Yan.

Sending the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade away this time, while it did put an end to the Soul Clan's designs, did not rule out the possibility of the other party becoming angry from shame and attacking the Xiao Clan directly to vent their frustration.

As the master of the Heavenly Mansion, Yao Lao had come at the invitation of Xiao Zhan and could not stay long in the Ancient Realm either; the Heavenly Mansion could not do without him for the time being.

Therefore, as soon as the Adult Ceremony ended, Xiao Zhan and Yao Lao prepared to return immediately.

Xiao Yan also understood the gravity of the situation, nodding and saying in a deep voice, "Father, Teacher, rest assured, we will not run into trouble in the Ancient Realm."

He then looked at Xun'er tenderly, "Even if you don't trust me, you must trust Xun'er, who possesses the Divine Grade Bloodline!"

Xiao Zhan and Yao Lao chuckled, "That's true, it is us old fellows who were overthinking."

"Niece Xun'er, I leave Xiao Yan and his brother in your care while they are in the Ancient Clan!" Xiao Zhan said to Xun'er, who was standing right by Xiao Yan's side.

The latter promised, "Please rest assured, Uncle Xiao, Brother Xiao Yan and Brother Xiao Ding will not come to any harm."

"Mm." Xiao Zhan looked at Xiao Ding again, his gaze unreadable, "Do not let any mishaps occur during this trip to the Heavenly Tomb."

Xiao Ding naturally understood what Xiao Zhan meant and nodded firmly.

Watching the backs of Xiao Zhan and the others as they departed, Xiao Ding gently turned the emerald-colored Storage Ring on his hand.

………

After leaving the Ancient Realm by ten thousand miles, Xiao Zhan cupped his hands toward Yao Lao and said, "Mr. Yao Lao, let us part ways here."

Yao Lao also cupped his hands and said, "Then I wish Clan Leader Xiao a smooth journey!"

"A smooth journey to you too!"

Following this, Xiao Zhan's figure suddenly vanished into the void; the space rippled slightly before disappearing into nothingness.

Yao Lao also left his position and streaked toward the direction of the Starfall Pavilion, carving a white stream of light across the sky.

………

Three days later.

"Hum—"

The space suddenly emitted a sound, and Xiao Zhan stepped out from a vortex. Not far ahead lay the territory of the Northwest Continent; from here, it would only take half a day for him to return to the Xiao Clan.

The reason Xiao Zhan stopped was very simple, "Is it interesting for people of the Soul Clan to hide and skulk like you?" Xiao Zhan shouted aloud.

The space in front remained unchanged, and Xiao Zhan made no other moves, simply waiting quietly.

After a while, the space suddenly rippled, and an old man dressed in grey robes with a sinister gaze slowly stepped out. The surging aura on his body was suffocatingly powerful; he was clearly an old monster who had stepped into the Dou Sheng realm for who knows how many years.

His voice was cold and hoarse as he said, "I truly did not expect that the remnants of the Xiao Clan, whom my Soul Clan luckily let go back then, could actually grow to this level."

"It is truly surprising!"

Hun Ya had not been idle in the Ancient Realm; although he could not help the Soul Clan forcibly seize the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade of the Xiao Clan, he was still capable of sending a message.

Upon receiving word that the Xiao Clan had handed the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade to the Ancient Clan and that their Clan Leader, Xiao Zhan, was likely a Dou Sheng expert, the Soul Clan attached extreme importance to it. They ultimately decided to dispatch a Soul Clan expert to bypass the Ancient Clan's eyes and ears to kill him, so as to manifest the might of the Soul Clan!

Especially when the old man saw Xiao Zhan, the urge to kill him became even more urgent; the other party's age was not right.

With his discernment, it was not hard to see that Xiao Zhan was only forty or fifty years old now. Even for ordinary experts like Dou Zong or Dou Zun, this was extremely young, let alone the chasm-like Dou Sheng realm.

Even in the Soul Clan, reaching such an achievement at this age would make one the most outstanding genius. Yet now, he had appeared in the Xiao Clan, which had even abandoned its Dou Di Bloodline—truly terrifying!

Xiao Zhan easily sensed the old man's murderous intent. He even knew clearly that he was absolutely no match for this old man, but Xiao Zhan's expression never changed.

"Old thing, did your Soul Clan only send you alone this time?" Xiao Zhan said casually.

The old man snorted coldly; the contempt in the other party's words made him quite displeased. Did he really think he could defeat him?

"What a sharp-tongued brat. Once I capture you and take you back to the clan, I will surely deal with you properly!"

As he spoke, the old man extended his withered palm, circulating the Dou Qi in his body, which transformed into a giant hand a thousand feet wide that reached out to grab Xiao Zhan.

A mere One-Star Dou Sheng should be easy to capture!

However, Xiao Zhan did not make the slightest movement. The old man was puzzled; could this brat be scared silly? At least struggle a little to give me some sense of accomplishment!

However, despite thinking this, the old man did not stop his actions. Before he could show joy at having caught Xiao Zhan, a hair-raising voice sounded beside him:

"You are not worthy of capturing someone from my Xiao Clan!"

As the words fell, the Soul Clan old man only felt the surrounding space instantly solidify. His entire body was unable to move, and he could not even take out the Space Scroll he carried with him.

The old man was terrified; this method was very familiar. It was usually used by him to deal with people of lower rank than himself, yet now it was being used on him.

He only felt that this space had become his enemy. Pressure like a tidal wave surged toward him from all directions, and the immense pressure caused his meridians to burst suddenly, instantly turning him into a bloody mess.

"Puff—"

A mouthful of blood sprayed out, and the previously arrogant Soul Clan Dou Sheng instantly lost consciousness.

From beginning to end, he did not even know who had attacked him. The last thing he saw was Xiao Zhan's mocking gaze.

After the Soul Clan old man fainted, the space beside him suddenly opened, and a young man in white robes stepped out, a look of disappointment on his face.

"You brat, this old thing is only at the Two-Star Peak Dou Sheng level. You didn't even fight and just waited for me to save you?" Xiao Han said irritably.

Xiao Zhan said ingratiatingly, "Isn't it because I didn't want to waste your time, Great-Uncle? Thinking that you are busy with ten thousand..."

"Eh!" Xiao Han interrupted, "Don't butter me up. Your Great-Uncle has nothing else right now, but I have plenty of time. Even if you fought this old thing for ten days or half a month, I could afford to wait."

He then added, "If you could really do that, your Great-Uncle would be very happy!"

For a One-Star early-stage Dou Sheng to fight a Two-Star Peak for ten days or half a month would be almost evenly matched; Xiao Han would probably be laughing his head off if that happened.

Xiao Zhan shrank his head and said nothing; if he really had that strength, he would have done it himself long ago.

"This old thing's strength has already been sealed by me; deal with him however you like," Xiao Han said casually.

"But we cannot rule out that the Soul Clan left a contingency on them; be careful yourself, and if you dig up any intelligence, give me a copy."

"Just like that..." Before the words had even faded, Xiao Han had already left rapidly, leaving only Xiao Zhan standing there at a loss.

"Why did Great-Uncle dump this trouble on me!" Xiao Zhan shook his head, then immediately revealed a wicked smile; a Saint-level expert, there should be some harvest, right!