Chapter 842
The Day of Fruition Finally Arrives
Xiao Xun'er paused abruptly. Although she didn't finish her sentence, Xiao Ling and Gu Yuan, both of whom were exceptionally intelligent, understood her unspoken meaning with just a moment's thought.
In the eyes of outsiders in Zhongzhou and even the entire Dou Qi Continent, the only races with the strength and motive to carry out such a world-shaking event are the two ancient and supreme races, the Ancient Race and the Soul Race.
Gu Yuan's expression darkened slightly. He nodded gently and said in a deep voice, "This matter has nothing to do with my Gu clan. If my clan had taken action, how could I, as the clan leader, have been completely unaware of it?"
He paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, and continued...
"As for why the Soul Clan would resort to such ruthless methods, the reason is not hard to guess. What they have been scheming and coveting for a long time is the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade that the Spirit Clan guards its inheritance. It seems that the Soul Clan's ruthless action has already achieved its goal, and the Spirit Clan's ancient emperor jade has most likely fallen into their hands."
Xun'er frowned slightly, a hint of seriousness flashing in her clear eyes. She stepped forward and whispered to Gu Yuan,
“Father, since the Soul Clan dared to annihilate the Spirit Clan, it is enough to prove that their ambition has already swelled to the extreme, and they must be hiding a terrifying combat power far beyond our expectations. Just like the Void Devouring Flame, whose strength has reached the level of a nine-star Dou Sheng, in our ancient clan, apart from you, Father, there is no one else who can contend with it. The Soul Clan’s conspiracy and foundation are probably deeper and more terrifying than we all imagine.”
She paused, her tone becoming increasingly earnest: "In my opinion, Father should immediately step forward and contact the Medicine Clan, Flame Clan, Thunder Clan, and other ancient races to quickly establish a temporary alliance among them. Even if we cannot truly join forces to fight the great enemy, we should at least maintain good relations with each race and eliminate any barriers, so as to avoid being defeated one by one by the Soul Clan."
Upon hearing this, Gu Yuan gently shook his head, a soft sigh escaping his throat, his expression showing a hint of helplessness.
“I have already considered this matter. However, we have no proof whatsoever. There is no evidence to prove that the destruction of the Spirit Race is unrelated to my Ancient Race. In the eyes of the other ancient races, the greatest suspicion still falls on my Ancient Race and the Soul Race. Although my Ancient Race is innocent, we are now unable to defend ourselves. No matter how we explain, they will not believe us.”
"However, according to our clan's spies, the Medicine, Flame, and Thunder clans have been in close contact lately, which means they must be wary of both our Ancient Clan and Soul Clan and are secretly siding with each other."
Gu Yuan's eyes flashed with a cold light as he continued, "As for the Soul Clan, they neither express their opinions nor admit to any actions. They are secretive and unfathomable. Their true intentions and next move are simply impossible to guess."
“Father-in-law, there is no need to worry too much. We both know the secrets of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade. Only by collecting all eight pieces of the ancient jade can they be combined into one and truly unleash its power. Even if the Soul Clan is ambitious and determined to collect all the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade, as long as the Xiao Clan and the Gu Clan still firmly control these two pieces of the ancient jade, their schemes will never succeed.”
Seeing the deep worry etched on Gu Yuan's brow and the sorrow in his expression, Xiao Ling immediately stepped forward and, in a calm and resolute tone, offered words of comfort.
"When the Soul Clan's ambitions are fully exposed and its ferocious claws are revealed, the other ancient races, in order to preserve their own survival, will naturally see the situation clearly and take the initiative to align themselves with our ancient race. At that time, even if the Soul Clan secretly hides some of its strength, it will be impossible for it to withstand the combined power of the major ancient races and will not be able to stir up any huge waves."
Xiao Ling's calm and confident words undoubtedly eased the tension between Xun'er and Gu Yuan, and the worry between their brows also dissipated somewhat. They both felt that what he said made a lot of sense, and the heavy unease they had felt earlier was greatly reduced.
Little did they know that these words were merely casual words of comfort to Xiao Ling.
Deep down, he had already seen through it all. The other ancient races, though seemingly powerful, could not withstand the Soul Clan's scheming for countless years.
But all of this had nothing to do with Xiao Ling. He had no relation to the other ancient races, and no matter what fate befell them in the future, he never intended to interfere. He only needed to protect himself and those around him.
After all, as long as he goes to the Heavenly Curtain again and successfully resurrects his ancestor Xiao Xuan with the Soul Returning Pill, he will have no fear even when facing a formidable enemy like the Soul Emperor.
Now he only needs to focus on his cultivation and steadily break through his realm. When his cultivation is sufficient, he can then take action to collect the scattered fragments of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade. Once he has gathered the complete ancient jade, he can naturally inherit the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's legacy and step into that supreme realm. Everything will fall into place naturally.
As for how to collect the complete Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade, Xiao Ling had already figured it out clearly in his mind.
He planned to find an opportunity in the future to personally ask his father-in-law, Gu Yuan, for the two tokens in the hands of the Xiao and Gu clans.
With Xun'er pleading softly by his side, and with the resurrected ancestor Xiao Xuan backing him up, Gu Yuan, even if he had his own considerations, would certainly not make things too difficult for his son-in-law.
Aside from the Spirit Clan Ancient Emperor Jade, which had already fallen into Xiao Ling's hands, how could he obtain the remaining five fragments? Xiao Ling would certainly not be foolish enough to personally go to the other major ancient races to forcibly seize them, thus needlessly making enemies with them.
Since the Soul Clan has already laid out a shocking conspiracy and has been planning to take all the ancient jades for themselves, they might as well let them take the lead and collect the remaining five ancient jades for them.
When the time is right, he will seize all the fruits of the Soul Clan's laborious collection and reap the benefits.
This approach is not only convenient and labor-saving, but it also avoids direct conflict with other ancient races, saving countless unnecessary troubles. After much thought, proceeding step by step according to the established plan is the safest, most convenient, and wisest choice at present.
Gu Yuan gazed at the somber sky outside the courtyard, a deep worry flashing across his eyes, and said in a low voice,
"I have a premonition that after the Ling Clan incident, other ancient races will likely take action, and the entire Dou Qi Continent will be plunged into an unprecedented upheaval. There will probably be no peace in the future. You two have just completed your seclusion and need to seize every opportunity to improve your cultivation as soon as possible. Only by being strong enough can you stand firm and protect yourself in the chaos of the future."
Hearing Gu Yuan's solemn instructions, Xiao Ling and Xun'er exchanged a glance, nodded solemnly, and replied in unison, "We will obey Father and Father-in-law's orders."
Seeing this, Gu Yuan's solemn expression slowly faded, replaced by a gentle smile. He shook his head slightly, his tone carrying the relief of an elder.
"Alright, I won't waste any more words here. You two young people, just go and do what you need to do next."
Having said that, he gently placed his kind gaze on Xun'er, his eyes filled with deep affection and relief.
"Xun'er, time flies so fast. In the blink of an eye, you have grown into such a graceful young woman, and your cultivation has successfully entered the ranks of Dou Sheng. You have truly grown up. As your father, I am very proud and gratified to have such an outstanding daughter as you."
Xun'er's nose tingled slightly, and a thin layer of mist rose in her clear eyes. Her usually cool and gentle demeanor revealed a rare tenderness and affection unique to father and daughter.
She and Gu Yuan had spent little time together since childhood, their father-daughter relationship not particularly long, yet the deep-seated blood ties had never faded; instead, they had grown stronger and more profound. She stepped forward gently, taking Gu Yuan's sleeve, her voice soft yet utterly sincere.
"Father, Xun'er's current cultivation and achievements are inseparable from your years of secret care and the meticulous cultivation of the ancient clan. I will always remember this in my heart."
Looking at the rare tenderness in his daughter's eyes, Gu Yuan's smile deepened, and he sighed softly.
"It's rare to see you, my little girl, showing such emotions in front of your father. Now that you have broken through to the Dou Sheng realm, there is nothing left for me to restrict you. From now on, I will not impose any restrictions on your relationship with Xiao Ling."
Hearing Gu Yuan's blunt words, even Xun'er, with her gentle and calm nature, couldn't help but blush slightly, her heart filled with both shyness and warmth. She gave Gu Yuan a light glare, then moved slightly, like a gentle breeze, back to Xiao Ling's side, and lightly took his arm.
Seeing this, Gu Yuan turned his gaze to Xiao Ling, his expression becoming more solemn and authoritative, and said in a deep voice, "Xiao Ling, since you have chosen Xun'er, you must shoulder the responsibility of being a man. If my daughter suffers even the slightest grievance, no matter how talented or promising you are, I will never forgive you easily."
Xiao Ling's expression turned serious. He gently hugged Xun'er, his tone firm and solemn, each word ringing with conviction.
"Father-in-law, please rest assured. With me here, Xun'er will surely become the happiest woman in the world. I swear on my life that I will cherish and protect her for the rest of my life, and never let her suffer the slightest grievance or harm."
"Haha, good! With your words, I am relieved." Gu Yuan laughed heartily, his brows furrowed with relief.
As soon as he finished speaking, subtle ripples appeared in the space around him, and a faint spatial power slowly enveloped his body.
Gu Yuan's figure gradually became illusory and thin in the halo of light, and finally completely disappeared into the air above the courtyard without leaving a trace.
On the other side of the spatial rift, Gu Yuan gazed at the vast, distant horizon and sighed softly, his tone tinged with both helplessness and relief.
"Xiao Xuan, Xiao Xuan, when you think about it this way, I've still lost to you by one move..."
……
The night was as dark as ink, silently spreading across every inch of the ancient realm, gently enveloping this sacred land of ancient races in a profound tranquility.
But the darkness did not engulf this place; instead, it made the pavilions and towers floating in the sea of clouds even more dazzling. Above the jade palaces, the spirit lamps burned eternally, their light shimmering and colorful, like countless stars falling into a fairyland on earth.
Above the sky, streaks of light from battle formations occasionally pierce the night, some blue, some gold, some bright, some pale, like rainbows piercing the sun, drawing magnificent trails on the dark sky and adding a touch of vibrancy and dynamism to the silent night.
As night deepened, atop the pavilion, the wind was gentle and the clouds were light, and two figures sat side by side in quiet contemplation.
Xun'er gently turned her head and nestled into Xiao Ling's arms, resting her head on his strong shoulder.
Xiao Ling lowered his head slightly, gently embracing the girl's slender and supple waist with one hand, while his other hand lightly brushed through her cascading black hair, his fingertips slowly entwining a few strands of soft black hair, his movements full of tenderness and affection.
A gentle night breeze caressed the rooftop of the pavilion. Xun'er softly pressed her cheek against Xiao Ling's shoulder and whispered...
“Brother Xiao Ling, don’t you feel that the scene right now is exactly the same as when we were in the Jia Ma Empire, in the Xiao family courtyard… Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, more than twenty years have passed quietly.”
"Yes, time is the most mysterious and ruthless thing. Even if one's cultivation is unparalleled, one cannot reverse it, much less hold it back."
Xiao Ling smiled gently, his fingertips lightly stroking the hair behind Xun'er's ear, his voice deep and warm.
"But as long as we can firmly remember those precious and beautiful moments in our hearts, the passage of time will have true meaning."
"Just like every memory I have with Xun'er, they are the most precious treasures in the world. I will never forget a single second of them."
Hearing such tender and affectionate words, Xun'er's heart swelled with sweetness, as if soaked in honey. She buried her face deeper into Xiao Ling's embrace, nestling tightly against him, her voice soft as a whisper in a dream.
"Xun'er will also remember... Xun'er will always remember every moment spent with Brother Xiao Ling, and will never forget it for the rest of her life."
As the night deepened, the evening breeze carried the faint fragrance of medicinal herbs across the top of the pavilion, and the two figures embracing became even closer.
The moonlight bathed them in a soft, silvery glow, and the tenderness and longing in their eyes surpassed all the beautiful scenery in the world.
As night deepened and the world was completely enveloped, the figure on the rooftop slowly disappeared, leaving only the gentle evening breeze and the warmth that filled the courtyard.
In the blink of an eye, they were in a bedroom where a faint lamp was quietly flickering.
The soft, moonlight-like lamplight diffused through the sheer bed curtains, bathing the room in a warm and inviting atmosphere, devoid of any darkness, only a blend of tranquility and gentleness.
Xiao Ling gently embraced Xun'er as they slowly approached, his fingertips brushing against the soft strands of hair at her temples, his movements as light as if touching a fragile treasure.
Xun'er's cheeks flushed slightly as she nestled obediently in his arms. Her eyes, gentle as autumn water, reflected the faint light and were filled with joy and trust.
The sheer curtains hung down slowly, blocking out the darkness of the night, leaving only soft breaths and warm atmosphere in the room.
Without noise or disturbance, only the peace of relying on each other and the gentle tenderness of time, quietly brewing a long and pure sweet growth that belongs only to the two of them in the dim light.
The seed of affection, planted deep in my heart since our first meeting in childhood, has been nurtured and weathered by more than twenty years of trials and tribulations. It has taken root, sprouted, and blossomed on the long path of cultivation, and finally, in this gentle and deep night, it has reached its full bloom and achieved a perfect fruition... (End of this chapter)