Chapter 48: The Arrival of Gu Yuan

On the day of the full moon banquet, Xiao Zhan was receiving the many guests who had come to offer their congratulations with a face full of smiles.

However, at this moment, the sky above Wutan City welcomed an unexpected distinguished guest.

This person was a composed middle-aged man in plain clothing, frowning as he muttered to himself: "The Xiao Clan, according to my clan's secret technique... it should be here, right?"

This ordinary-looking middle-aged man was none other than the Ancient Clan Leader, Gu Yuan.

His tone was somewhat hesitant; after all, this was merely an extremely ordinary city in a remote, small country within the Northwest Continent.

Thinking back to those years, the Xiao Clan was also one of the Ancient Eight Clans, and the Clan Leader Xiao Xuan was even ranked among the "Peak Five Saints" of the continent, possessing formidable strength.

Even though over a thousand years had passed, the Xiao Clan's strength would inevitably have suffered an irrepressible decline due to their abandoned bloodline.

But it shouldn't be this miserable, to the point of having to hole up in this remote country where even a Dou Zong could call themselves king and hegemon.

Then, just like that, in full public view, he appeared directly on the street. What was terrifying was that everyone seemed to notice nothing, continuing as usual.

The middle-aged man was just preparing to inquire about news regarding the Xiao Clan when he suddenly heard a passerby nearby say: "It is said that the Xiao Clan Leader is holding a full moon banquet for his son this time, and many clan leaders have gone to offer their congratulations."

"That's right, and the two clan leaders from the Jialie Clan and the Aoba Clan have also gone. It seems the Xiao Clan is still quite impressive, as even they have to go and curry favor with the Xiao Clan," one of them said.

"Are you stupid?" At this, the person next to him cast a look of disdain at him.

"It's not like you don't know the relationship between those two clans and the Xiao Clan; those two going there is definitely a weasel paying respects to a chicken."

"That's true," many people began to chime in one after another.

"..."

The speaker had no intention, but the listener took it to heart.

"Xiao Clan? Are they the descendants of the original Xiao Clan?" The middle-aged man's brows furrowed tightly.

Afterward, they relaxed again, "Forget it, I'll know once I go and see for myself."

With his Emperor Realm Soul, he did not even need to pay special attention, and he easily found the direction toward the Xiao Clan.

At the entrance of the Xiao residence, Xiao Zhan was sending a guest into the Xiao residence with a face full of smiles.

At this moment, he suddenly felt a naked gaze, staring at him so unreservedly that Xiao Zhan instinctively revealed a look of displeasure.

Looking in the direction of the gaze, a strange middle-aged man appeared in his field of vision, and the two locked eyes.

"His strength is very strong!" Xiao Zhan's heart sank; from the collision of gazes just now, he sensed a powerful pressure.

He was no weakling now; last year he had broken through to Dou Zong, and his cultivation had reached Two-Star Dou Zun. Even if placed in the Central Plains, he was a powerhouse capable of serving as an Elder of a first-rate sect.

Yet this person was able to make him experience such suffocating pressure just through a clash of gazes, and he even had a feeling that this person had not specifically exerted any force, so his strength was absolutely outrageously high.

Could it be a Half-Saint? Or perhaps a Dou Sheng?

A hint of unease rose in Xiao Zhan's heart; it seemed the Xiao Clan had been found after all! It shouldn't be the Soul Clan, otherwise, he wouldn't be so friendly but would have attacked directly.

It seems it must be that former ally who sent someone over; I wonder what this person's purpose is?

"To think he is a Dou Zun?"

While Xiao Zhan's mind was filled with thousands of thoughts, Gu Yuan also had many feelings, and he was even surprised by Xiao Zhan's strength.

This probe allowed him to perceive Xiao Zhan's cultivation very easily. The result gave him a small surprise.

Although it was not considered high relative to him, it was not weak in the outside world, so why hide in such a small city?

However, before Gu Yuan could think too much, Xiao Zhan smiled and walked up to greet him.

"This friend looks a bit unfamiliar. May I ask how to address you? And what brings you to my Xiao Clan?"

Xiao Zhan said with a chuckle.

"Clan Leader Xiao can just call me Gu Yuan.

My ancestors had some connection with the Xiao Clan, so I came to pay a visit. I accidentally learned that there is a joyous occasion in the Xiao Clan today, so I am somewhat intruding," Gu Yuan said with a hint of apology.

"Oh," Xiao Zhan laughed heartily, "It doesn't matter, guests are guests, so please come inside, Brother Gu."

"Then many thanks, Clan Leader Xiao."

"Please enter."

The other clan members outside were encountering such a hospitable Clan Leader Xiao for the first time and looked at him with great surprise.

"Everyone, please continue." Not caring about the gazes of the crowd, Xiao Zhan only secretly summoned a Xiao Clan Member, telling them to pay close attention to Gu Yuan and to serve him well.

"Yes." The Xiao Clan Member left silently and passed on the Clan Leader's instructions.

Leaving Xiao Zhan aside for the moment, Gu Yuan, due to Xiao Zhan's unusual attitude toward him, had many people coming up to strike up a conversation with him.

Relying on his many years of experience as the Ancient Clan Leader, Gu Yuan blocked all these people away.

Afterward, he began to walk around the courtyards of the Xiao Clan, and others just assumed he was looking around casually, not paying him any special attention.

However, in secret, Gu Yuan's Soul Power had already probed the entire Xiao Clan clearly.

Over thirty Dou Wangs, twenty Dou Huangs, and three Dou Zongs, plus a place that should be for Alchemists, though the specific strength was unclear.

Even these Xiao Clan Members responsible for receiving guests had reached the Dou Shi level; overall, their strength was not weak.

At this moment, he somewhat believed that this was indeed the former Xiao Clan.

It was just that the number of people seemed a bit small.

And the distribution of cultivation levels was also not quite right. The number of Dou Wangs was not even twice the number of Dou Huangs.

What was even more suspicious was that there was a gap in the Dou Ling level.

Where did they go? Could it be that they had to go to other places to run business?

Moreover, possessing such powerful strength, this Xiao Clan actually stayed here so peacefully; shouldn't they have directly usurped power and become a local emperor?

It was truly baffling.

And he didn't know where they had put the Tuoshe Ancient God Jade.

How should he get his hands on the Tuoshe Ancient God Jade?

As for using violence to seize it directly, that was completely out of his consideration.

He had come out privately this time precisely because he was unwilling to resort to such heartless methods; after all, there was still some sentiment between him and Xiao Xuan from back in the day.

If he really wanted to do such a thing, why would he need to come in person? There are plenty of Elders in the Ancient Clan who would want to do it.

As long as he showed even the slightest intention, many people would carry this matter out thoroughly.

Isn't it just capturing people and seizing the jade? Leave it to us... Gu Yuan had already imagined in his mind the reaction of the Elders upon learning of the Xiao Clan's existence.

And just as Gu Yuan was contemplating life, the arrival of Xiao Zhan disrupted his train of thought.

"Hahaha~ Brother Gu, sorry to keep you waiting!" From far away, one could hear Xiao Zhan's wild and uninhibited laughter.

The gazes of others were thus gathered upon this ordinary-looking middle-aged man.

They began to calculate in their hearts: "The Clan Leader actually cares so much about this person; it seems I can build a good relationship with him and save the nation through a roundabout way!"

"Why has the Clan Leader come here?" Gu Yuan asked with some confusion, "Could it be that there is no need to receive guests anymore?"

"Guests can be received by others for now, but since Brother Gu is a newcomer, it is better for me to accompany you personally."

Xiao Zhan had no choice; although he had made arrangements, he was still worried that leaving a peak powerhouse like Gu Yuan alone here might lead to some accident.

If someone were to accidentally provoke him, all of them tied together would not be enough for Gu Yuan to slap to death.

To kick the bucket halfway through—how unjust would such a death be!

At that time, it would truly be "the Imperial founder's enterprise half-finished, yet he passed away midway."