Chapter 855
Xiao Yan's Perfect Prediction
With a casual reach, Xiao Chen lifted the unconscious Xiao Yan into the air, his rough hands firmly gripping his shoulders as he carefully examined the young junior before him.
His gaze swept over, and the muscles on his face twitched slightly, clearly sensing Xiao Yan's Dou Qi cultivation and powerful mental strength. After a moment, a slow smile appeared on his lips, and he commented in a deep voice:
"Tsk tsk, is this the Xiao Yan that Big Brother mentioned before? Interesting. Although he can't compare to that monstrous talent Xiao Ling, his foundation is still quite promising. He has a lot of potential to achieve in the future, even if he doesn't reach the level of Dou Sheng."
After praising him, Xiao Chen casually placed the unconscious Xiao Yan aside, and with a sudden flash, he appeared in the void, standing steadily beside Xiao Xuan.
Xiao Xuan naturally recognized Xiao Yan. Seeing Xiao Chen carrying the unconscious Xiao Yan over like a sack, he raised an eyebrow and said indifferently, "I didn't expect this kid to come to the Demon Flame Space to join in the fun."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the unconscious Xiao Yan, his tone calm and even: "However, the situation is now settled, and there's nothing more for him to do here, so there's no need to worry about him. Find a place with stable energy, settle him properly, and don't let the outside conflicts disturb him."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Chen immediately nodded in agreement and said no more. He simply raised his palm, and a gentle, refined spatial fluctuation quietly spread out, softly enveloping Xiao Yan's body. Then, with a slight push, he steadily sent him into a relatively open area within the Demon Flame Space, and activated the power of space to completely protect him, ensuring that he would not be disturbed by any battles or changes.
After settling Xiao Yan in, Xiao Chen glanced down and when his gaze fell on the group of powerful members of the Soul Clan, a chilling killing intent flashed in his eyes, and his aura turned colder.
His voice was somewhat suppressed and muffled as he looked at Xiao Xuan and asked in a deep voice, "Clan leader, what should we do with these people?"
Xiao Xuan naturally sensed the deep-seated hatred for the Soul Clan in his words. If it weren't for the Soul Clan's ambush back then, the Xiao Clan wouldn't have ended up in such a state. This grudge was just as deep as a sea of blood in his heart.
But with the bigger picture in mind, he forcibly suppressed his surging emotions and said in a calm tone,
"We should suppress and imprison them all for now, without rushing into action. We should wait until Xiao Ling has completely refined the essence of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame before deciding how to deal with them. Our situation is very different now than it was back then, and we should focus all our attention on Xiao Ling."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Chen's anger towards the Soul Clan was still hard to quell, but he also knew the priorities. In the end, he suppressed his killing intent and nodded heavily: "The clan leader is right. We will follow the clan leader's arrangements."
After that, Xiao Xuan said no more. His vast and unparalleled pressure and pure spatial power spread out at the same time, like an invisible net, which firmly imprisoned the group of powerful people below in place, making them unable to move at all.
Xiao Chen leaped down, his powerful fighting spirit surging around him.
With a wave of his hand, he unleashed the ancient sealing technique of the Xiao Clan. His finger strikes were sharp and precise, landing precisely on the vital points around everyone's bodies, sealing off their fighting spirit one by one. Then, with a casual strike, he knocked out all the cultivators who had not yet reached the Dou Sheng level.
These people were no different from ordinary ants in front of Xiao Chen, and had no power to resist at all.
Although the Soul Demon Elder, Soul Extinction Life, and other mid-level Dou Sheng powerhouses struggled desperately to break free of their restraints, all their resistance was futile under the suppression of Xiao Xuan and other peak nine-star Dou Sheng powerhouses.
Their bodies were stiff as iron, their fighting spirit completely locked, and they couldn't even open their mouths to make a sound. They could only watch helplessly as their own power was sealed layer by layer, and in the end, they were swiftly and decisively knocked unconscious by Xiao Chen.
The entire suppression was swift and efficient, yet utterly frustrating. From beginning to end, the crowd didn't even get a clear look at the faces of those who made the move before they completely lost consciousness and collapsed to the ground.
After doing all this, Xiao Xuan flicked his finger and used his powerful battle qi to lift up all the unconscious experts and slowly fly down into the depths of the lava lake.
After traversing the sweltering heat, they finally found a relatively safe place a hundred feet away from where Xiao Ling was in seclusion, where they gently laid everyone down and made proper arrangements.
After doing all that, Xiao Xuan and Xiao Chen stood quietly to the side and chatted casually.
Xiao Chen had only recently broken free from the control of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame, and his mind had not yet fully recovered. He knew very little about the outside world, and was completely ignorant of the changes that had taken place on the Dou Qi Continent over the past thousand years.
Although Xiao Xuan has not been resurrected for long, during his stay with the ancient clan, he had several in-depth conversations with Xiao Ling and Gu Yuan, and had already gained a thorough understanding of the situation and current state of the Dou Qi Continent over the past thousand years.
Taking advantage of this quiet moment, he slowly recounted the various changes in the outside world to Xiao Chen.
Listening to Xiao Xuan's narration, Xiao Chen finally gained a general understanding of the changes in the Dou Qi Continent over the past thousand years, and his heart was filled with emotion.
After he had listened to enough, Xiao Xuan casually waved his hand, and a gentle spatial force swept over, directly pulling Xiao Yan, who had been placed earlier, over. At the same time, he gently brushed away Xiao Yan's unconscious state.
Xiao Yan's eyelashes trembled, and he slowly opened his eyes. His mind was still hazy, and he had no idea where he was. But when he saw the two figures in front of him with auras as deep as the sea, his heart tightened, and he instinctively wanted to activate his Dou Qi and retreat violently.
But as soon as he had the thought, he was horrified to find that his body seemed to be firmly locked by an invisible force. He couldn't even lift a finger, let alone get away.
Having been forcibly suppressed and knocked unconscious by an unknown powerful figure upon entering the Demon Flame Space, and now, having just awakened, he is unable to move again. Xiao Yan's heart is already extremely tense, with panic and tension surging within him, as if he has encountered a catastrophic disaster.
Before he could even process what was happening, a gentle yet profound voice slowly entered his ears.
Xiao Xuan looked calmly at the junior before him, his tone gentle yet carrying an undeniable authority, and spoke softly.
“Little one, this should be the first time we’ve met. In terms of seniority within the Xiao clan, you should call me ancestor.”
Seeing this, Xiao Chen also laughed loudly, clapped his hands, and chimed in with a hint of approval in his voice.
"Your alertness and reaction time are quite good. You prioritize self-preservation and try to extricate yourself when you sense something is wrong. You're not the reckless and impulsive type. It seems you have a wealth of experience. This kind of keenness and caution is a good habit, quite reminiscent of my own spirit when I was adventuring across the continent!"
"Ancestor?"
Upon hearing their words, Xiao Yan was instantly filled with deep doubt and astonishment, and his brows furrowed tightly.
Ancestors? The ancestors of the Xiao clan?
Wasn't the Xiao clan completely wiped out by the Soul Clan a thousand years ago, with their bloodline dwindling? How could there still be Xiao clan ancestors alive in this world?
He suppressed the turmoil in his heart and subconsciously examined the auras of the two people in front of him. The next moment, a sense of familiarity and closeness, originating from the depths of his soul and engraved in his blood, suddenly swept over his body, causing his body to tremble slightly uncontrollably.
This innate bloodline resonance made him believe it somewhat, and the wariness in his eyes quietly faded a little.
He looked up at Xiao Xuan and Xiao Chen, his voice filled with barely concealed confusion and hesitation, and spoke softly:
“You…are you really the ancestors of my Xiao clan? But my Xiao clan was completely wiped out by the Soul Clan a thousand years ago…”
“You’re right. The Xiao clan was indeed wiped out by the Soul clan a thousand years ago.”
Xiao Xuan looked at Xiao Yan, his tone calm but tinged with a hint of vicissitude, "Xiao Chen and I only survived to this day because of a few lucky encounters. My name is Xiao Xuan, and I was once the patriarch of the Xiao clan. The man beside me is Xiao Chen, who was also among the top in the clan back then."
He paused, his gaze softening slightly, then spoke softly:
"Speaking of which, you received a favor from me back in the Heavenly Canopy. I had that brat Xiao Ling prepare the Xiao Clan bloodline inheritance for you, and it seems you've integrated it quite well." Hearing Xiao Xuan reveal this secret, the last trace of doubt in Xiao Yan's heart completely vanished.
He never mentioned to outsiders that his cousin had passed on the Xiao clan bloodline to him in the sky, and given Xiao Ling's personality, it was even less likely that he would reveal it casually.
The person before me must be none other than Xiao Xuan, the legendary strongest member of the Xiao clan.
But his heart was still in turmoil.
As far as he knew, Xiao Xuan's ancestor had perished in a great war with the Soul Clan a thousand years ago, leaving only his energy body within the sky. Why was he now standing alive in front of him?
Xiao Yan's thoughts raced, but his intuition remained crystal clear.
The fact that these two ancestors were able to reappear in the world must be inseparable from his cousin Xiao Ling.
That person is the true chosen one of destiny in this Dou Qi Continent. No matter how great the opportunities or strange events, they will eventually fall on him.
Even now, with the appearance of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame and the influx of powerful figures from all sides, his previously vague premonition of unease has become completely clear.
The person who stepped into the Demon Flame Space first, broke through all the barriers, and made the entire area eerily quiet was most likely his cousin, Xiao Ling.
Before Xiao Yan could voice his myriad questions, his body suddenly sank, disregarding the spatial force that still lightly bound him. He knelt respectfully in mid-air, bowing deeply to Xiao Xuan and Xiao Chen, his voice sincere yet choked with emotion:
"This unfilial descendant Xiao Yan pays respects to Ancestor Xiao Xuan! Pays respects to Ancestor Xiao Chen!"
This unexpected gift startled both Xiao Xuan and Xiao Chen slightly, and then a gentle smile appeared on their aged faces at the same time.
This child is exceptionally polite and knows how to behave appropriately.
Unlike Xiao Ling, who is a prodigy with unparalleled talent and luck, and whose arrogance is innate, even though he is respectful and courteous to their two ancestors, he would never perform such a solemn ceremony, unlike Xiao Yan who is so respectful and sincere.
At this moment, being bowed to by him in such a way, the two felt a genuine warmth and comfort as ancestors and elders.
Xiao Xuan chuckled softly, flicked his finger, and a wisp of gentle battle qi steadily lifted Xiao Yan up. He said in a gentle voice,
"Alright, no need for formalities. I know you must be full of questions right now. Please feel free to ask. I will answer any questions you may have."
After that, Xiao Yan was no longer reserved and asked Xiao Xuan and Xiao Chen about the many questions that had been accumulating in his mind.
With the two explaining things to him slowly, he finally understood the cause and effect, and learned that Xiao Chen was trapped in the Demon Flame Space back then, which unexpectedly saved him from the cataclysmic destruction of the Soul Clan.
He also learned that Xiao Xuan's ancestor was able to be resurrected and regain his physical body entirely thanks to his cousin Xiao Ling.
The reason why this demonic fire space was calm and unobstructed was because Xiao Ling had already gone deep into it and was now not far away, focusing on refining the essence of the Pure Lotus Demonic Fire.
When all the clues were put together, everything became clear.
Xiao Yan murmured to himself, "Just as I predicted, from the resurrection of the Xiao clan's ancestor to the strange phenomena in the demonic fire space, and then to the ownership of the Pure Lotus Demonic Fire..."
All of this is ultimately related to his incredibly powerful cousin; the chosen one is indeed extraordinary.
Even the legendary strongest ancestor of the Xiao clan has been resurrected. The current situation is heading in the best direction with an unstoppable momentum. Xiao Yan even secretly felt that the final outcome of the Dou Qi Continent would probably be settled soon.
From now on, all I need to do is wait patiently and follow my cousin Xiao Ling.
It seems that it won't be long before my cousin is able to defeat the villainous Soul Emperor in one fell swoop, and finally break through to the legendary Dou Di realm, bringing the story to its most perfect ending.
At that time, he only needs to follow his cousin and ride the wind to success, and all the worldly riches and unparalleled opportunities will be as he wishes.
Thinking of this, Xiao Yan's mind drifted away, filled with images of a smooth, carefree, and spirited future, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up slightly.
"What are you thinking about, you look like you're lost in thought?"
Seeing Xiao Yan grinning foolishly with a wandering gaze, Xiao Chen couldn't help but call out, his tone tinged with a hint of teasing.
Xiao Yan snapped out of his reverie, quickly scratched his head, and blushed slightly with embarrassment. He gave the two of them an awkward smile: "It's nothing, I just thought of some happy things..."
Xiao Xuan found it amusing and shook his head slightly. Then he said seriously, "Alright, that kid Xiao Ling is still in seclusion refining the essence of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame. We won't be leaving anytime soon. We have nothing to do during this time, so Xiao Chen and I will personally guide your cultivation."
He paused, his tone becoming somewhat solemn.
"I will also teach you the lost Heaven-Rank Battle Techniques of the Xiao Clan, giving you more trump cards and killing moves. The situation on the Dou Qi Continent is about to undergo a major change, and you will have more power to protect yourself in the future."
Seeing that two top experts, Xiao Xuan and Xiao Chen, were going to personally instruct him, Xiao Yan's spirits instantly lifted, and his expression became extremely respectful. He immediately cupped his hands and said:
"Then we will have to trouble our two ancestors to give us their guidance!"
Xiao Chen laughed heartily.
"Good lad, let me tell you this first: our methods of guidance won't be gentle, so you'd better hold on!"
From then on, a strange tranquility descended upon the Demon Flame Space.
Deep within the sea of fire, Xiao Ling sat cross-legged, flames surging around him, completely immersed in devouring and refining the essence of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame, his aura rising steadily.
A hundred feet away from him, Xiao Xuan and Xiao Chen were taking turns guiding Xiao Yan in his cultivation and teaching him the supreme fighting techniques of the Xiao clan, combining rigorous training with meticulous instruction.
Time flowed slowly by amidst these moments of stillness and movement, of training and discipline. (End of Chapter)