As the flames danced before him, Huo Xuan bid Xiao Yan farewell and left. Xiao Yan watched his retreating figure with a pensive expression; it was clear that Huo Xuan had come to make amends. Perhaps this was partly due to Xiao Yan’s current strength, but there might be other reasons as well. After all, Huo Xuan belonged to the illustrious Flame Clan, which was in much better condition than Xiao Yan’s Xiao Clan. “This person is quite extraordinary, I couldn’t even see through his strength. He truly lives up to being from one of the Ancient Eight Clans, how mysterious and unfathomable…” said the Heavenly Fire Venerable, who had been standing by, with a look of wonder.
Xiao Yan nodded slightly. If his guess was correct, Huo Xuan’s strength should be at the level of a Seven-Star Douzong or even stronger. Otherwise, he would not have been able to hide his strength from the Heavenly Fire Venerable, who was at the Sixth Star level. However, if they were speaking of mystery, Xiao Yan still felt that the red-clad woman he had seen that day was even more unfathomable. These ancient clans were indeed no ordinary entities. Yet, based on Huo Xuan’s actions, at least the Flame Clan seemed to be relatively friendly towards him.
“To get to the Ancient Holy Mountains in the Ancient World, it will take us half a day. During this time, we will rest on this ship. Let’s go.” Xiao Yan smiled lightly and led the group towards the other end of the warship. This warship was quite large, and its defenses were exceptionally stringent. Every few steps, they could see fully-armed soldiers of the Black Extinction Army, which made Xiao Yan somewhat surprised. Such a display didn’t seem necessary just for transportation.
“Seems like the Ancient Clan is still not completely at ease with these people entering the Ancient World. It’s understandable, though. The energy in the Ancient World is so rich that staying here for cultivation would yield far better results than outside. Some people with malicious intent might secretly stay here to practice.” Xiao Yan thoughtfully noted. The actions of the Ancient Clan were indeed meticulous.
As they advanced, Xiao Yan and the others gradually reached the bow of the warship. There were fewer people here, but the defenses showed no signs of weakening. Seeing this, Xiao Yan grew excited and was about to turn away when his eyes suddenly fixated on the bow. There, a long-haired man dressed in a tight-fitting outfit sat cross-legged. In front of him was a small wooden table with two cups of green tea.
Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes, staring at the figure. Then, without saying a word, he turned to leave. He could sense the vast aura emanating from the man, and he did not appreciate such tricks.
“Friend from the Xiao Clan, since you are here, please sit down.” Just as Xiao Yan was about to turn away, a gentle laugh rang in his ears, causing him to pause.
Xiao Yan’s face remained calm as he exchanged glances with Little Healer Immortal and the others. He did not leave but instead turned back and sat down opposite the man. Lifting his gaze, he asked, “Are you from the Ancient Clan?”
The long-haired man was not handsome, perhaps even ordinary-looking, but he exuded a strange, convincing aura.
“Heh, my name is Gu Zhen,” the long-haired man smiled.
Xiao Yan nodded silently, his eyes sweeping over the Black Extinction Army soldiers around them. He noticed that they all looked at Gu Zhen with a hint of respect in their eyes, a respect that they had not shown even to Second Commander Lin Xiuyi.
“Are you the Great Commander of the Black Extinction Army?” Xiao Yan asked quietly.
Hearing this, Gu Zhen’s hand, holding the teacup, paused, and ripples appeared on the surface of the tea. “Indeed, worthy of being from the Xiao Clan,” he smiled.
“Did you wait here specifically for me, to restore some face for Ling Quan and the others?” Xiao Yan said impassively.
“Heh, those young men are rather impulsive and lack discipline. Meeting you will show them the meaning of ‘the sky above the sky,’ and they may become more humble. As for restoring face, they wouldn’t dare to ask me to intervene,” Gu Zhen said with a smile.
Xiao Yan fixed his eyes on Gu Zhen. This man was very calm, and this kind of composure was rare among the younger generation.
“Do you know why there are so many Black Extinction Army soldiers guarding the warship?”
“One reason is to prevent these people from staying in the Ancient World.”
“There’s more to it. In the Ancient World, there are a large number of descendants. They are the foundation of the Ancient Clan, and the most important tier. Though their bloodline is thin, it can occasionally mutate. They can then become fresh blood for the Ancient Clan. Of course, this is because of the Emperor’s bloodline within them,” Gu Zhen said softly. “But this bloodline is not thick, and it can easily be covered. One way to cover it is to mix with outsiders…”
“The Ancient Clan values the Emperor’s bloodline. Therefore, we are concerned that outsiders will cause the loss of this bloodline, so we must be cautious of anyone staying in the Ancient World…”
Pausing, Gu Zhen looked at Xiao Yan. “Even among the ordinary descendants, and more so among the core members of the Ancient Clan, there is a strict rule: no intermarriage with outsiders! You should now understand what I’m trying to say?”
Xiao Yan’s expression remained calm. “I understand, but it means little to me.”
“A few words from me won’t change your mind, but you should understand how important the Emperor’s bloodline is to the Ancient Clan. To ensure its continuation, it will be difficult for you and Miss to have a future,” Gu Zhen put down the teacup slowly. “When you know something is difficult, you should step back. Otherwise, it will be bad for both of you. This is not a threat; it is a reminder. If you truly care for her, don’t drag her down. The Xiao Clan is already in ruins.”
Xiao Yan twirled the ring on his finger. A moment later, he smiled, “Is the Emperor’s bloodline really so powerful?”
Gu Zhen was taken aback but then smiled. “Do you need to ask? The Ancient Clans remain strong, and that is the best proof.”
Xiao Yan smiled indifferently and continued, “What level must one reach for the Ancient Clan to ignore the bloodline?”
“Emperor Saint.”
“Hmm, I will reach that level…” Xiao Yan smiled.
“That’s not something you can just say. Remember, I mean true Emperor Saint, not half an Emperor Saint. My clan never lacks peak Douzong, but even if they spend their entire lives, they cannot reach that level. I know you have good talent, but inside my clan, there are those with even greater talent. Even they have no confidence in ascending to Emperor Saint. How can you be so sure you can do it?”
“Because you are from the Ancient Clan, and I am not. Because you rely on the Emperor’s bloodline, and I do not.”
“As for whether I can reach Emperor Saint, time will tell.”
The smile on Gu Zhen’s face faded, and he stared intently at the confident face across from him. After a moment, he sighed, “If you are truly confident, I will be satisfied. But if you later realize the difficulty, I hope you will leave the Miss alone. It’s not good for either of you.”
“Thank you for the reminder. I have gone from being a waste of the Xiao Clan to this point because I never gave up. I am not afraid of the Soul Clan, nor the Ancient Clan.”
Hearing the laughter, a complex expression crossed Gu Zhen’s face. Never giving up, simple words, but few could do it.
“Bang!” As Gu Zhen sighed inwardly, the warship trembled violently. The surrounding space fluctuations gradually dissipated, and the ship slowed down. In the distance, the lush mountains came into view.
“Have we reached the Ancient Holy Mountains…?” As the warship drew closer to the misty mountains, Xiao Yan’s heart pounded. His body paused, and he turned abruptly, his gaze locking onto a faint, ethereal green figure in the mist. Despite the distance, he felt a deep, familiar yearning. Their gazes locked, seemingly frozen in time.
Gu Zhen slowly stood up, looking at the noble figure on the mountain. A complex smile appeared on his face. For so many years, she had only ever come to greet one person: the man before him.
“Xiao Yan, there is a great deal of disagreement about you in the Ancient Clan. If you can reach Emperor Saint, all will be well. If not, you will face many difficulties. So, I hope you can do as you say. Miss’s judgment should be right.”
Xiao Yan nodded, understanding the pressure that Huner faced within the Ancient Clan.
“Nothing can stop me and Huner from being together, not even the Ancient Clan!”
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