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Gu Yuan looked at Xiao Yan, his Emperor Realm soul making him exceptionally surprised: "What did Xiao Xuan leave behind? How could it allow your soul realm to break through to the Emperor Realm?"
There was no need to hide this, so Xiao Yan answered without hesitation: "There is a unique creature in the Heavenly Tomb, formed from the soul imprints of countless powerful individuals. It contains a large amount of soul origin. The ancestor hunted it and gave the soul origin to me."
"There's actually such a thing?" Gu Yuan felt a slight regret. The power of soul origin, capable of allowing one's soul to break through to the Emperor Realm, would even tempt him.
However, he didn't dwell on it too much. After all, giving it to Xiao Yan, his future son-in-law, wasn't like giving it to an outsider.
"Uncle Gu Yuan, what new developments has the Soul Clan had recently?" Xiao Yan asked.
Gu Yuan said with a hint of annoyance: "Because of the coming-of-age ceremony, we relaxed our monitoring of the Soul Clan a bit.
"We didn't expect them to decisively gather their forces and attack the Shi Clan. When I led people there, the entire Stone Realm was empty, not a single person in sight.
"The Hun Tiandi is truly ruthless, completely severing the bloodline of the Shi Clan... They probably have ambitions to dominate the entire continent."
"Not a single person? Were there no corpses left behind?" Xiao Yan keenly noticed the strangeness and couldn't help but ask.
"No, I don't know why the Soul Clan took all their corpses back... This clan has always been known for its Weird and mystery. I don't know much about their internal situation," Gu Yuan said, shaking his head.
After a slight pause, he continued: "What do you plan to do next? Although I don't know what the Hun Tiandi came to you for last time, or what he said, there's one thing you must remember.
"The Hun Tiandi is ambitious. Don't expect any peaceful coexistence he might have promised. Now that the Soul Clan has begun its actions, they will eventually move against the Xiao Clan for the ancient jade. As an obvious target, you definitely can't avoid it."
Xiao Yan said with a solemn expression: "It's just a matter of dealing with whatever comes. I'll return to Starfall Pavilion first and try to break through to Dou Saint.
"Also, does Uncle Gu already know about the attack on the Yao Clan? After the Yao Ceremony, the Yao Clan was infiltrated, and the patriarch and many high-ranking members were killed. Now, the Yao Clan's patriarch is my teacher.
"If possible, I'd like Starfall Pavilion to also join the alliance against the Soul Clan. Of course, I have this intention, but I still need to go back and ask for my teacher's opinion. I believe he won't object."
Gu Yuan frowned and sighed: "Indeed, the Yao Clan couldn't escape either... After realizing the Soul Clan's move against the Shi Clan, and considering that the Ling Clan and Yao Clan didn't send anyone for this Heavenly Tomb opening, I knew something was wrong.
"It's just that the people who went to the Ling Clan returned a few days ago with news, while those sent to investigate the Yao Clan's situation haven't returned yet.
"I naturally welcome Starfall Pavilion to join the alliance. At a time like this, every additional person means an additional strength.
"The Soul Clan is powerful, with Void Swallowing Flame, a Nine-Star Dou Saint. No single force is their match... not even my Gu Clan."
Xiao Yan planned to leave the Gu Clan immediately. Xun'er wanted to return with him, but Gu Yuan stopped her.
...
Night fell, and darkness, like a heavy curtain, enveloped the earth. In the sky, there was no bright moon, nor any stars. Only the wind whimpered, and thick dark clouds rolled with the wind.
Just in this endless darkness, in the northeast direction of the Central Plains, a strong emerald green light suddenly tore through the silence of the night. The light, like a sharp sword, pierced the horizon, briefly shining for an instant before shooting straight into the sky.
The intense pillar of light ripped through the thick clouds, illuminating half of the Central Plains's sky. Closer to the light pillar, people could still feel the immense vitality contained within it, as if all the life force of heaven and earth had gathered there.
This sudden anomaly attracted the attention and speculation of countless people. Some paid no mind to it, simply viewing it as a strange phenomenon of nature; others grew curious and inquired about its cause.
"What is that?"
"Such an anomaly must mean a great treasure has appeared!" Some people were excited, their eyes gleaming with greed.
And those great forces with deep foundations, however, discerned clues from this anomaly.
"This kind of commotion... Could it be the Bodhi Ancient Tree?" An old man narrowed his eyes, muttering to himself, not quite certain.
"How lucky! The Bodhi Ancient Tree, a rare sight in a thousand years, actually appears at this time."
"That direction... seems to be the Barren Ancient Domain."
"Damn it, why would it appear in such a dangerous place? We'll probably face a near-death situation before even getting close to the Bodhi Ancient Tree."
For a time, some were uncontrollably excited, some hesitated, some embarked alone resolutely, and some called friends and companions to go together.
Hun Zhang gazed towards the northeast, a wooden sword suspended beside him.
The wooden sword trembled slightly, as if resonating with something.
"Bodhi Ancient Tree..." he murmured softly, his figure vanishing into the dense black mist.
...
Upon a majestic mountain peak, a woman with a gentle face and luxurious clothes stood quietly. Her gaze was fixed on the distance, a hint of hesitation and thought in her eyes. The gentle breeze rustled her garments, adding to her graceful demeanor.
"Master, you're not thinking of going there, are you?"
A clear yet slightly aloof voice broke the silence. A young girl slowly walked to her side, a faint smile on her face.
Yun Yun gently shook her head, her voice soft: "No, Nalan Yanran, I know my own strength. The Barren Ancient Domain is already extremely dangerous, and the Bodhi Ancient Tree, capable of causing such a massive stir, is probably an even more unfathomable divine object... We cannot act rashly. That is not something we can covet."
Nalan Yanran was slightly behind Yun Yun, out of her line of sight. She raised her right hand, rubbed her right eye socket, and a smile played on her lips:
"Why don't we go take a look? Yanran will go with you... Maybe we'll run into Xiao Yan..."
Hearing that name, a complex emotion appeared in Yun Yun's eyes: "Alas, a karmic entanglement... It's better to forget him early."
"Then forget him. Having me with you is enough, Master."
"Daddy... Mommy..." A clean and fair little boy wobbled over from behind.
"Little Bao, it's so late, why aren't you sleeping?" Yun Yun looked at the boy, her expression gentle.
The boy glanced at Nalan Yanran, asking with some hesitation:
"Why is my daddy different from other people's daddies... Everyone says, daddy can't be my daddy."
Nalan Yanran raised an eyebrow, the smile on her face taking on a more dangerous meaning:
"Who said that? I am your daddy! The real deal, no fakes!"
She took a step forward and rubbed the boy's head.
Yun Yun let out a helpless laugh: "Yanran, stop messing around."
Nalan Yanran said with a slightly teasing tone: "Should we tell him the truth now?"
Yun Yun hesitated, then shook her head: "Never mind."
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