. Time flashes back to half a quarter of an hour ago.
As they
had done over a month earlier, a group of young people from the Ancient Clan once again arrived at the mountain behind where Xiao Yan, his disciples, and Xiao Chen
were staying, inviting Xiao Yan to a small gathering. After spending over a month together, they had already established a certain familiarity. Seeing Xiao
Yan readily agree and standing to go, Xiao Chen finally couldn't help but frown and offer a warning. "Xiao Yan, don't get too close to them. Don't forget that the Xiao Clan's current situation is largely due to the Ancient Clan. Yesterday, when you sparred with Gu Sheng, did his Great Burning Heaven Finger dazzle you? You know, this fighting technique originally belonged to my Xiao Clan!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan froze.
The Xiao Clan, having never experienced its peak, believed the Soul Clan was responsible for their demise. While the Ancient Clan's inaction was disheartening, he held little resentment.
Furthermore, over the past month of pleasant interactions, any remaining resentment had gradually dissipated, almost completely dissipating.
Xiao Yan was momentarily unsure of Xiao Chen's continued prejudice against the Ancient Clan, realizing at that moment that Xiao Chen still held a deep prejudice against them.
While the voices within the clan were muted, cultivators were all perceptive, and Xiao Chen's words reached the group of young Ancient Clan members outside.
This wasn't just sarcastic, it was outright resentment!
Immediately, a young and energetic Ancient Clan prodigy stepped forward, loudly expressing his dissatisfaction within the room.
"Xiao Chen, we respect you as a senior and treat you with courtesy. Isn't your words insulting? The Great Burning Sky Finger is a powerful fighting skill inherited from our clan for a long time. When did it become yours?"
"What has the Xiao Clan's demise got to do with our Ancient Clan?"
"Senior Xiao Chen is probably just feeling aggrieved by our Ancient Clan's continued prosperity. You all should keep your words to yourself and stay out of trouble!"
A wise member of the clan, seeing through the situation, offered counsel, but these words of comfort undoubtedly rubbed salt into Xiao Chen's wounds.
Boom!
The door shattered, and Xiao Chen emerged with a cold expression, his aura unparalleled.
Seeing him like this, the young Ancient Clan members, feeling immense pressure, became wary and secretly contacted the Black Oblivion Army as a precaution.
"Great! Great Ancient Clan! They've picked up a bargain and now they think they can just take it all! How can that be so easy!"
The Xiao Clan's fighting skills had become part of the Ancient Clan's heritage, and judging by the expressions of these young people, they seemed convinced of this fact.
Xiao Chen would never believe that such a thing could have happened without the guidance of the Ancient Clan's leaders.
Perhaps the Ancient Clan's leaders were deliberately erasing any trace of the Xiao Clan.
The more Xiao Chen thought about it, the rage grew, his fury nearly uncontrollable.
Soon, several Black Oblivion Army commanders, having received the summons, arrived.
However, their presence didn't quell the argument, as both sides continued to cling to their respective views.
Furthermore, due to their higher status, they were less humble in front of Xiao Chen than the ordinary members of the clan, and instead displayed a certain arrogance.
Xiao Chen was dissatisfied with the Ancient Clan's actions, and they were equally dissatisfied with his disrespect!
They knew little of the truth of the past, but at least now, as the host, our clan was being polite enough. They had reason to suspect Xiao Chen of deliberately provoking them!
The more they argued, the more tense the atmosphere grew.
Naturally, Xiao Chen, driven mad by anger, took the initiative.
A five-star Dou Sheng gone mad was no match for the young people of the Ancient Clan. Even with the presence of top talents like Gu Qingyang, the casualties were still heavy.
When Gu Yuan, Chen Guan, and their companions arrived at the scene, they saw only devastation. The once-mighty Black Annihilation Army had lost hundreds of men, including two Black Annihilation commanders, and the rest were injured.
Even the Ancient Clan was deeply distressed by the loss of two such talented individuals.
Therefore, watching Xiao Chen's devastating destruction from the sky, the elders of the Ancient Clan, including Gu Yuan, were all furious.
"Xiao Chen! How dare you!"
he shouted, and with a furious move, Gu Yuan condensed a massive hand and fiercely grabbed Xiao Chen.
If this move were to succeed, Xiao Chen's over a month of training would likely be wasted.
Finally, under the tense gaze of Xiao Yan and his disciple, a figure appeared before Xiao Chen. With a flick of his sleeve, he shattered the attacking hand.
"Chen Guan! What do you mean?"
Seeing the young man standing opposite him, Gu Yuan suddenly calmed down and demanded with a stern face.
The elders of the Ancient Clan behind him also began to tense, their surging Dou Qi silently coursing through their bodies, as if facing a formidable enemy.
This was a being even more terrifying than the Soul Emperor!
Did his actions indicate he was planning to attack the Ancient Clan?
Whether or not, facing such a powerful being, there was no room for complacency.
Chen Guan, observing the tense faces, shrugged and said, "Don't misunderstand me. I know Xiao Chen well. I don't think he's someone who would kill innocent people. If he's taken action, he must have a reason. Besides, Xun'er and I once owed Xiao Xuan a favor in the Heavenly Tomb. We simply cannot watch Xiao Chen perish like this."
His reasoning was impeccable.
Seeing Gu Yuan and the clan elders' expressions, Gu Xun'er nodded slightly, confirming the incident.
Gu Yuan breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a sense of relief.
It seemed Chen Guan had stepped forward simply to protect Xiao Chen, not to attack the Gu clan.
While their inability to touch Xiao Chen felt somewhat aggrieved, this outcome was undoubtedly far superior to the latter.
Gradually calming down, Gu Yuan looked at Xiao Chen.
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Without needing to question him, Xiao Chen had already stepped forward.
"Gu Yuan, although I wasn't present when the Xiao Clan was exterminated, I know my cousin. Given his character, he would have left the Xiao Clan a glimmer of hope. Within your Gu Clan, I've seen some things that originally belonged to my clan. I'd like to know if my cousin has entrusted you with the care of the surviving Xiao Clan members. I hope you'll tell me the truth. I'll personally verify this with you soon!"
Xiao Chen's voice was hoarse and low, his gaze piercing.
He inexplicably felt that the Gu Clan and Gu Yuan were the ones in the wrong, the ones being questioned.
Gu Yuan fell silent.
Regarding the Xiao Clan, a significant number of Gu Clan elders indeed had unseemly attitudes and practices. Even when Gu Yuan and another group of elders objected, they still received much criticism.
The fighting skills Xiao Chen mentioned earlier were an example.
And it wasn't an isolated case!
Too many Xiao Clan-related things existed within the clan. To save face, those elders, manipulated by them, erased the Xiao Clan label, and Gu Yuan simply acquiesced.
This was all normal behavior, nothing serious.
The problem was that they hadn't diligently completed Xiao Xuan's commission, so bringing it up now was clearly a mistake.
For the sake of saving face, they'd lost even more…
"Xiao Xuan did come to see me once before the battle." Unable to conceal it, Gu Yuan nodded in acknowledgment.
"Then how did you do it?"
Xiao Chen's words silenced Gu Yuan again.
Some elders wanted to argue, but a glance at Chen Guan, who stood beside Xiao Chen with an ambiguous attitude, kept them silent.
Seeing the situation deadlocked, Chen Guan stepped in to play the good guy, avoiding any awkwardness.
"I didn't expect there were such hidden secrets. I knew it, although Xiao Chen was under the influence of the Pure Lotus Demonic Fire and easily lost control of his emotions, he certainly had a reason. In my opinion, this matter should end here. As the strongest race on the continent today, the Ancient Clan must be brave enough to take responsibility. Xiao Chen's actions must have vented his resentment. We can settle our grievances from now on. What do you think?"
Gu Yuan glanced at him and acquiesced.
This loss was inevitable.
Xiao Chen became more polite, bowing to Chen Guan to express his acceptance of the arrangement.
He knew that at this point, he had already reached the limit of what he could do.
If the situation continued, it was uncertain whether Chen Guan would continue to protect him, and the Ancient Clan would certainly not back down.
Being able to vent his anger was enough.
At the very least, he felt relieved, no longer sulking at the thought of the Ancient Clan.
Proof that good deeds are rewarded. Having mediated a dispute, Chen Guan also felt his thoughts flow more freely. The sky seemed bluer, the land seemed wider, and even the Ancient Clan seemed more approachable than before.
"Since both of you have no objections, then this matter ends here. Next, I must escort Xiao Chen and Xiao Yan into the Heavenly Tomb, fulfilling my agreement with Xiao Xuan. I will not discuss matters with you further. After I escort them inside, I will take Yao Chen and depart."
Without allowing any room for objection, Chen Guan waved his sleeves, gathered the three of them, and headed towards the Heavenly Tomb, disappearing from everyone's sight in the blink of an eye.
Looking at the devastation, then at the empty sky, many elders had yet to adjust to the disparity. When did the Ancient Realm become a place where one could come and go as they pleased?
"Chief, Xiao Chen's matter is fine, but that Tomb..." an elder asked tentatively.
"You're going to stop him?"
Gu Yuan turned, only to find the elder, choked by his words, shut up.
Those with the bigger fists can do whatever they want!
After some arrangements were made, the crowd gradually dispersed, those who needed to practice did so, those who needed to clean up the mess did so.
Gu Yuan and Gu Xun'er remained behind.
"Father, was Xiao Chen sent by Chen Guan? Among the Black Annihilation Army, only Gu Yao and Lingquan suffered heavy losses, while the others suffered relatively little."
"Who else could it be but him? If it weren't for the spatial blockade, we would have sensed the fluctuations of the battle long ago. Why would Qingyang have needed to report it?"
Gu Yuan replied with a sigh, feeling a deeper understanding of Chen Guan.
This man...
can remember good things, but he can also hold grudges!
Gu Yuan couldn't help but think carefully about whether he had offended anyone in the past.
"That Ancient Dragon Clan elder?"
"Yes, Xun'er, go back and check. He went to your residence."
Upon hearing this, Gu Xun'er's face changed. She realized Gu Yuan's intention, but she didn't bother to express her dissatisfaction and immediately hurried back.
(End of this chapter)