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Amon's gaze remained on Xiao Zhan, as if he was looking through him at something else: "For some reason, I need to return to my homeland to advance further and break through to a higher level, so I can only support others.
The Xiao Family, possessing Dou Emperor bloodline and a key, is a very good choice."
"Key?" Xiao Zhan's brow furrowed.
Wu Meng, in the guise of Xiao Yuanshan, provided the answer: "Yes, during the ancient war, the Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade was divided into eight parts. Each of the eight Dou Emperor families managed a fragment, and collecting all eight fragments would allow one to open the Ancient Emperor Cave and obtain the Dou Emperor inheritance within.
The Soul Clan's relentless pursuit of the Xiao Clan, in addition to the lingering hatred from that time, was also due to the key, or rather, that was the main reason."
Xiao Zhan took out the Xiao Clan's ancient jade from his space ring, and sighed, "This is it, isn't it… It is the heirloom passed down by the Xiao Family's patriarchs through generations. I also speculated that it might be involved in something else, but I never expected it to have such a grand origin.
A man is innocent, but his possession of a treasure makes him guilty. The current Xiao Family is not qualified to hold it. Please accept it, Old Ancestor. It's not safe on me. Your strength, Old Ancestor, makes you more suitable to guard it."
Wu Meng did not stand on ceremony, nodding, "I just happen to need it for some arrangements."
Xiao Zhan thought for a while and asked, "Since the ancient jade needs all eight pieces to open the Ancient Emperor Cave, then it's useless for the Soul Clan to take our Xiao Family's piece, isn't it?"
Wu Meng replied, "Heh, their ambition is quite grand. I told you before, the Soul Clan has recovered its vitality after a thousand years of recuperation, and they are already stirring.
I estimate that the Soul Clan will gradually target other ancient clans, from weakest to strongest, slowly collecting the ancient jade. We don't have much time left."
"Attacking the other Dou Emperor families?" Xiao Zhan felt a shock. "Is the Soul Clan so powerful? Don't they worry about other Dou Emperor families uniting against them?"
Wu Meng said with a heavy tone, "They do worry, which is why they will only proceed in secret, from weakest to strongest, gradually eliminating the other Dou Emperor families…
With the Soul Clan's strength, they can probably eliminate the weaker ones among the eight clans without a sound.
Because ancient clans are mostly very reclusive, after such a long time, they only have a general idea of each other's strength, and whether there is more terrifying hidden strength behind them is an unknown.
They cannot immediately determine that the Soul Clan is behind it; the Gu Clan, Yan Clan, Lei Clan, and other powerful clans are also suspects.
The eight clans cannot trust each other, and this is the Soul Clan's opportunity. After eliminating two or three weaker clans, they will then destroy one of the Lei Clan or Yan Clan. By then, even if exposed, the remaining clans united would probably not be their match.
At that time, the Soul Clan will be able to sweep across the entire Dou Qi Continent, with no one left to stop them.
Furthermore, unfortunately, our Xiao Clan is the weakest among the eight clans. Once the Soul Clan's plan unfolds, we will be the first to bear the brunt."
Listening to Wu Meng's description, Xiao Zhan was so horrified that he couldn't speak. Sweeping across the entire Dou Qi Continent, what kind of ambition was this?
After a long while, he slowly calmed the turmoil in his heart, looked at Wu Meng, and a look of doubt appeared in his eyes.
"You want to ask me why I know so much, right?"
Xiao Zhan nodded.
Wu Meng explained: "Because I have been paying attention to the movements of the Soul Clan and Soul Hall. I also have an insider within the Soul Clan.
I knew that with Soul Emperor's ambition, he would never be so peaceful, so from the beginning, I assumed they would make a move against the other seven clans.
Then, following this conclusion, I looked for evidence, and a large number of scattered traces all pointed to my conjecture."
Xiao Zhan worriedly said, "Old Ancestor, what should we do then?"
"There's no need to worry about the Soul Clan's initial actions against us. The Amon Clan's substitute can deceive them for a period. Additionally, we must become stronger, even if it means relying on external forces," Wu Meng said.
At this moment, Amon, wearing a pointed soft hat and a monocle, said, "Don't worry, ally, you still have me. I will help you."
Amon extended his right hand, palm down, back of hand up. Under Xiao Zhan's astonished gaze, a slit opened on the back of Amon's hand, and a translucent worm with twelve segments and a starlike glow crawled out.
Amon's gentle, yet emotionless voice sounded:
"This is the Worm of Spirit, and also an Amon. Integrate it into your clan members' bodies, and your clan members will be able to possess corresponding power.
"If a Dou King-level Worm of Spirit is integrated, that clan member can immediately become a Dou King. If a Dou Emperor-level Worm of Spirit is integrated, then that clan member will become a Dou Emperor.
"However, it needs to be noted that after deep integration with the Worm of Spirit, this clan member will be unable to improve their strength through normal means and cannot cultivate normally.
"But it doesn't matter. Deep integration can be done only during combat; normally, maintaining preliminary integration is fine… That will not affect cultivation speed."
Upon hearing this, even with Xiao Zhan's composure, he couldn't help but breathe rapidly. Although he felt a slight resistance to integrating such a seemingly strange thing, who could refuse the temptation of becoming a Dou King or Dou Emperor?
"Are there any side effects?" Xiao Zhan calmed down and asked.
Amon gently replied, "No… Perhaps there are. The power gained from integrating the Worm of Spirit is not ultimately one's own, and requires more time to adapt. Most people will feel awkward when using it.
"Additionally, it can be disengaged, which means this power can be recalled. Accepting this power also signifies a deep binding between your Xiao Clan and my Amon Clan.
"I chose to cooperate with your Xiao Clan, besides Yuanshan's life-saving grace to me, also because you are weak enough.
"If it were other ancient clans, they probably wouldn't need such power, and they would likely try to control me, this patriarch, to Exploit the Amon Clan.
But your Xiao Clan needs this power. If you try to control my Amon Clan by force, many abilities cannot be fully exploited.
I need you, and you need me. By helping each other, we can achieve our respective goals.
Moreover, there are means of mutual restraint between us. My strength is not as good as Yuanshan's; he can kill me… And the strength of your Xiao Clan members is not as good as that of my Amon Clan members; they can kill you… This is a good foundation for cooperation."
Xiao Zhan smiled, "You speak too directly, don't you?"
Amon looked at him with pure eyes and retorted, "Isn't it better to make clear what is already known?"
Xiao Zhan looked at Wu Meng, who had his arms crossed and eyes closed in contemplation, and spoke indifferently:
"You are the patriarch of the Xiao Family. Whatever you do, I will respect your choice… Furthermore, even if you refuse this cooperation, it doesn't matter. The Xiao Family can still survive in this valley.
The Amon Clan will also continue to stay in Wu Tan City to attract the Soul Clan's attention on your behalf… Consider it repayment for my help to him back then. However, after this, the Xiao Family will have to rely on yourselves."
Xiao Zhan smiled bitterly and shook his head.
Old Ancestor Xiao Yuanshan bringing him here to meet Amon already represented his will, and the Amon Clan had also sacrificed so much for the Xiao Family, sending so many members to their deaths for the Xiao Family.
The crisis brought by the Soul Clan had not ended. Although the ancient jade was given to Old Ancestor Xiao Yuanshan, the Soul Clan wanted to destroy the Xiao Clan not only for the ancient jade but also for the hatred from back then.
In the Xiao Family's current state, any random Dou King could wipe them out. Could they hide for a while, and then hide for a lifetime?
Furthermore, after cooperation, the Xiao Family also had the opportunity to rise again and reclaim the glory of the ancient era.
Thinking of this, Xiao Zhan barely hesitated, responding without thinking:
"My Xiao Clan will forever be the Amon Clan's most loyal ally, advancing and retreating together. If any of my Xiao Clan members become an Emperor, they will certainly fulfill the current promise. If we break the agreement, may the bloodline of my Xiao Clan be cut off!"
Amon smiled, "The Amon Clan will also be your Xiao Clan's most steadfast ally."
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