Xiao Yan’s face was filled with joy and surprise as he raised his head. Not far away, the space was rippling intensely. Gradually, several figures appeared. The first person wore a light green robe, her delicate face blossoming like a flower, a gentle smile adorning her extraordinarily beautiful countenance. Her long, black hair was casually tied with a pale green ribbon, cascading down like a waterfall, flowing past her slender waist. A gentle breeze lifted her hair, her ethereal beauty akin to an immortal fallen from heaven. Such breathtaking beauty, aside from the long-lost Xuner, could belong to no one else. Beside Xuner, two others followed. One was a familiar face, Gu Qingyang, a genius within the ancient Gu Clan, whose talent and bloodline were second only to Xuner. The other was a completely unfamiliar figure, an old man in a blue robe with a head of silver hair. His face always bore a warm and amiable smile, but only those with keen eyes could sense the sharpness beneath that smile. Their sudden appearance drew many curious gazes. Eyes swept over the trio, and murmurs of excitement and recognition spread through the crowd. Those present were not ordinary people; they knew the immense power of the seemingly unassuming yet formidable Gu Clan.
“The Gu Clan has indeed arrived…” The Soul Temple’s deputy temple master furrowed his brows, muttering softly as Xuner and her companions appeared.
“The Mysterious Lotus Devil Flame is no ordinary Flame of the Heavens. Even our Soul Clan craves it, and the Gu Clan would naturally be no different.” The Soul Temple master’s gaze wandered over the three, finally settling on the blue-robed elder. A hint of surprise flickered in his eyes as he said, “Ancient Nanhai, I didn’t expect the Gu Clan to send him.”
“Ancient Nanhai may be strong, but with the Temple Master’s abilities, stopping him shouldn’t be difficult,” the black-clad young master of the ancient Soul Clan remarked, lifting his eyes slightly. “There is an agreement among the ancient races: those who reach the five-star Dou Sheng level are restricted from using their full strength. The Temple Master is at this limit, and few can match him at the same level.”
“Though they are not physically here, they must still be watching closely…” The Temple Master smiled faintly, raising his gaze to the empty air as if someone was lurking there.
“Brother Xiao Yan, you’ve finally become a Dou Sheng…” The elegant girl stood before Xiao Yan, her face glowing with a warm smile. Looking at her beautiful smile, Gu Qingyang and the blue-robed elder couldn’t help but shake their heads lightly. In the Gu Clan, they had never seen Xuner so happy.
Seeing the ethereal girl before him, a tender spot in Xiao Yan’s heart was touched. The suppressed yearning welled up from deep within him. Ignoring the many eyes upon them, he reached out, grabbing Xuner’s soft, slender hand, and pulled her into a tight embrace.
Now, he had truly grown. Whether in age or strength, Xiao Yan was fully deserving of Xuner, even with her divine bloodline. Though she was now a two-star Dou Sheng, her strength was no less than his. For such a young, two-star Dou Sheng, even the ancient Gu Clan could not afford to underestimate him. This meant that if Xiao Yan were to propose to the Gu Clan, no one could doubt his qualifications!
Embraced tightly by Xiao Yan, a gentle curve appeared on Xuner’s exquisite face. She leaned her cheek against his shoulder, savoring the familiar scent she had missed for so long. Since their last separation, a full three years had passed. Because of her divine bloodline, she could not leave the Gu Clan until she reached Dou Sheng, enduring the torment of longing and striving to regain her freedom.
“Brother Xiao Yan, I missed you so much…” Xuner turned her head slightly, her lips curving into a smile. Her face, exuding a faint coquettish charm, whispered into Xiao Yan’s ear, “From now on, I will be free and always by your side.”
For the Gu Clan, she grew up in the Xiao family. For the Gu Clan, she separated from Xiao Yan early. For the Gu Clan, every meeting with Xiao Yan was brief and rushed. But finally, she had endured those years of waiting, and she would now be free to control her own time, unfettered by the strict rules of the Gu Clan.
Hearing her words, Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned, then smiled and nodded.
“I say, you two can at least pretend others exist, right?” Gu Qingyang, who had been standing by, finally spoke with a wry smile.
At his words, Xuner blushed slightly, quickly regaining her composure. She gently pulled away from Xiao Yan’s embrace, turning her eyes to the Pharmacist Elder behind Xiao Yan. She respectfully bowed, “You must be Elder Yao Chen?”
“Hehe, little girl, we’ve known each other for some time, though we’ve never met face-to-face,” the Pharmacist Elder chuckled. Long ago, Xuner had sensed him hidden in Xiao Yan’s body. Though she had warned him, suspecting his intentions, this was their first formal meeting.
“Ancestor Yao Chen, please do not hold my past suspicions against me,” Xuner said apologetically. She had once doubted Yao Chen’s intentions towards Xiao Yan, but later events proved that without his assistance, Xiao Yan’s journey would have been much more arduous.
“Ha ha, it’s nothing serious. I’m Xiao Yan’s teacher, and for my future daughter-in-law, I should have enough grace to overlook it,” the Pharmacist Elder laughed, stroking his beard. Seeing Xuner’s blush, he felt a sense of satisfaction, knowing the status she held in the Gu Clan.
Xiao Yan smiled and introduced Zi Yan, who had known Xuner since their days at the Gan Nan Academy. Despite their long separation, they were now reunited, each having reached the pinnacle of their powers.
“Brother Xiao Yan, this is Elder Ancient Nanhai from our Gu Clan. He is here with me to scout the Mysterious Lotus Devil Flame,” Xuner introduced the blue-robed elder, pointing to him.
“The Gu Clan is also interested in the Mysterious Lotus Devil Flame?” Xiao Yan’s gaze shifted to the elder, feeling a slight chill. Though the elder’s aura was not as profound as the Temple Master’s, it was still formidable, underscoring the Gu Clan’s deep strength.
“It’s not so much interest. That flame is hard to tame. It’s best it doesn’t fall into the hands of the Soul Clan,” the blue-robed elder replied calmly, speaking as if to a peer.
“In the past, the Mysterious Lotus Devil Flame has appeared, but it was never tamed. The spatial seal here was set by the Mysterious Lotus Sage, very powerful. Though the flame can temporarily break it, it will automatically regenerate once the seal recovers, sealing it again,” Xuner explained, “The Soul Clan is always covetous of the Mysterious Lotus Devil Flame, always prepared. This time, it’s unclear what they plan.”
“Are they not making a move yet?” Xiao Yan glanced at the three from the Soul Temple.
“They are waiting for the Mysterious Lotus Devil Flame to deplete its energy breaking the seal,” Xuner said, her eyes narrowing at the black-eyed man among the Soul Temple group. “Brother Xiao Yan, be careful of this man. His name is Huan Feng, known as a madman within the Soul Clan. He has incredible talent and possesses the divine bloodline. Compared to the Huan Yu you encountered, he is far stronger. According to our information, he is likely the next Soul Clan leader.”
“Additionally, he excels in battling beyond his level. Since he began training, he rarely fights those weaker than him and is ruthless, even in sparring. Over time, none in his generation dare to challenge him, and even the elders of the Soul Clan are wary of him. If you must fight him, be extremely cautious.”
Xiao Yan’s brows twitched, scanning the man named Huan Feng. He slowly nodded, realizing the immense threat the next Soul Clan leader posed. Would he stand a chance if they fought?
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