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The two of them went to the adjacent room. Yun Meng waved his hand, and an invisible layer of power enveloped the entire room, isolating it from the outside.
He took out a scroll and said, "This is from your Senior Sister."
Xiao Yan took the scroll and glanced at its name. The four large characters "Three Thousand Lightning Movement" came into view.
"Oh?" Yao Chen let out a soft murmur.
"What's wrong, Teacher?" Xiao Yan asked in his mind.
"Nothing, this Dou Technique is a bit interesting, but... it might have some problems," Yao Chen replied.
"What problems?"
Before Yao Chen could answer, Yun Meng had already said, "This movement Dou Technique comes from an irregular source, so be careful when you use it and don't let others know. Also, this is something my Teacher gave you..."
He then handed Xiao Yan a jade box.
"Something from Yun Shan?" Xiao Yan was extremely puzzled. Yun Yun sending him something wasn't surprising, but Yun Shan... that was a bit strange.
Xiao Yan opened the box and saw a golden-yellow pill quietly lying inside, faintly emitting dragon roars.
His expression changed slightly, and he looked at Yun Meng with confusion. With his knowledge, he could naturally tell that this was a high-grade pill, far exceeding anything he had seen before. It was at least high-grade sixth-rank, or even seventh-rank.
"This is a seventh-rank pill called the 'Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill.' Its effect is to allow one to break through after destruction. If someone takes this pill when severely injured or on the verge of death, with good luck, it can help them break through after destruction, allowing them to be reborn, with their body, Dou Qi, and even soul reaching a higher level."
Listening to Yun Meng's explanation, the confusion on Xiao Yan's face grew even stronger.
"Why wouldn't he keep such a good thing for himself? Or give it to Yun Yun? A seventh-rank pill, even for Yun Shan, must be extremely precious, right?"
Yun Meng smiled and said, "I can't guess Teacher's thoughts. This was a congratulatory gift given by a certain force when Teacher broke through to the Dou Ancestor realm."
Dou Ancestor? Xiao Yan's pupils contracted.
Although, according to Yun Shan's previous state, a breakthrough could happen at any time, and Xiao Yan had long prepared himself to face a Dou Ancestor in the future, when he truly received this news, he still felt an unspeakable heaviness.
"Teacher asked me to remind you not to return until you are confident you can defeat him. And don't worry about the three-year agreement or anything like that.
"Alright, I've delivered everything I needed to. My mission is complete, and it's time for me to go."
Yun Meng said, pushing open the door and walking out.
"Wait, what does that mean?" Xiao Yan quickly asked.
"I'm only responsible for doing what I was told. The rest is for you to understand yourself." Yun Meng did not give an answer.
"Then please thank your Senior Sister and Teacher for me."
Xiao Yan didn't press further, speaking loudly.
After Yun Meng left, he fell silent, pondering Yun Shan's intentions.
Yao Chen's illusory soul body slowly emerged. His face showed solemnity, and he said in a slightly heavy voice, "This pill... it was probably refined by me."
"What? Teacher, you refined it?" Xiao Yan was a bit startled. "Does that mean the force that gave Yun Shan the gift has some connection to you, Teacher?"
Yao Chen gave a cold laugh, "I told you before, the one who plotted against me was that scoundrel Han Feng, and the one who instigated him to act against me was a force called the Soul Hall."
"Soul Hall..." Xiao Yan softly repeated the name.
Yao Chen continued, "After I died, most of my belongings fell into Han Feng's hands. This Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill was probably one of them..."
"And Han Feng has already died at the hands of that mysterious person, and even his soul was traded to us. So, the one who gave this pill to Yun Shan, is it the Soul Hall, or that mysterious person who killed Han Feng?" Xiao Yan analyzed.
Yao Chen took over, "The Soul Hall, needless to say, is absolutely not benevolent. As for that mysterious person who killed Han Feng, judging by his act of erasing the spiritual wisdom of magical beasts and using them as puppets, he is probably also a ruthless individual... Is Yun Shan reminding you because of one of these forces?"
Xiao Yan took a deep breath, slowly calming his mind.
He returned to the room where Xiao Li was recovering from his injuries and asked:
"Big Brother, Second Brother, how did Yun Meng come with you?"
"That day, he found us and said that Sect Master Yun wanted to give you something, hiring us to escort it... It's embarrassing to say, but along the way, he was probably protecting us," Xiao Ding forced a smile.
Xiao Yan was thoughtful: So Yun Meng's mission wasn't just to deliver the items to me and remind me... bringing Big Brother and Second Brother here, away from the Jia Ma Empire, was also one of his goals?
Regarding the destruction of the Xiao Family, were the Jia Lie Family and Ao Ba Clan just the obvious tools, and the real mastermind was someone else?
Did Yun Shan know something? But he didn't dare, or didn't want to interfere openly? Was there anything special about the Xiao Family that warranted such treatment?
He couldn't help but look at Xiao Meng and Xun Er. This was the only special aspect of the Xiao Family he could think of.
Both Xiao Meng and Xun Er had extraordinary backgrounds. Xiao Meng was picked up by him when she was wandering the streets, but Xun Er's arrival at the Xiao Family was a bit intriguing.
He didn't ask immediately, planning to wait until they returned to the Inner Courtyard and were alone before asking them his questions.
"Big Brother, Second Brother, what are your plans next? I don't recommend you return to the Jia Ma Empire; there are undercurrents there now," Xiao Yan said seriously.
Xiao Li and Xiao Ding exchanged glances, and the latter said, "We feel the same. Yun Meng subtly hinted at this when we were on the road. We plan to develop in the Black-Corner Region... and return to the Jia Ma Empire to investigate the truth behind the Xiao Family's destruction once we are strong enough."
Xiao Yan emphasized, "The Black-Corner Region is very dangerous."
"We know, but danger can temper us more and help us improve our strength," Xiao Ding replied.
Seeing their resolute expressions, Xiao Yan no longer tried to persuade them. Instead, he took out some pills he had that they might need.
Most were for healing and restoring Dou Qi, and there were also a few "Purple Heart Breaking Barrier Pills" and "Three-Pattern Azure Spirit Pills" that could directly increase strength.
Xiao Ding and Xiao Li did not decline, but their sense of responsibility grew a few points heavier.
After leaving some cultivation resources for Xiao Ning, Xiao Yu, and Xiao Mei, Xiao Yan, Xiao Meng, and Xun Er returned to the Inner Courtyard.
Late at night, Wu Hao was still fighting in the arena, and Hu Jia was cultivating in seclusion in the Heavenly Burning Training Qi Tower. In the vast pavilion, only Xiao Yan and the other two remained.
At this moment, he finally couldn't help but ask his doubts:
"Xiao Meng, Xun Er, I know your backgrounds are not simple. Do you know if there's anything special about the Xiao Family?"
Xiao Yan focused his gaze on Xun Er. Xiao Meng's arrival at the Xiao Family might have been an accident, but Xun Er's wasn't. If there truly was something special about the Xiao Family, he didn't believe Xun Er wouldn't know.
Xun Er's expression became serious, and she asked in a solemn tone:
"Brother Xiao Yan, the Xiao Family indeed has a special place, but are you truly mentally prepared to face this truth?
"It's a history spanning a thousand years, the rise and fall of an Ancient force... You will find that standing before you is an almost unbeatable opponent."
In contrast to Xun Er's seriousness, Xiao Meng said with a smile:
"This isn't 'harmful knowledge'; at most, it will make those with weak wills feel dejected, but I believe in Young Master Xiao Yan...
"My clan members have also told me some things, though perhaps not as clearly as Miss Xun Er knows. If you don't speak, I will."
Xun Er glanced at Xiao Meng and said softly, "Then you speak... If anything is incorrect, I will correct and supplement it."
Even some first-rate forces in the Central Continent were unaware of the Ancient Eight Clans, especially the fact that the Xiao Family was once the Xiao Clan. Apart from the Gu Clan, it was basically impossible for anyone else to know.
She wanted to see what Xiao Meng could say, which would allow her to determine some details about the force behind her.
Xiao Meng curled her lips into a smile and recounted, one by one, the grievances between the Soul Clan and the Xiao Clan, including Xiao Xuan, the most outstanding ancestor of the Xiao Family, and Soul Emperor, the Xiao Family's greatest enemy.
Xiao Yan was stunned by the information she revealed, especially knowing that his family had a powerful enemy standing at the peak of the entire continent. At first, it felt somewhat unreal, and then, a heavy, almost suffocating pressure surged into his heart, nearly crushing him.
Xun Er was also stunned. After listening, her face changed dramatically, and she sharply asked:
"Who exactly are you?"
Besides the Gu Clan, those who might know about the Xiao Clan, were interested in the Xiao Clan's movements, and whose interest remained unchanged even after a thousand years, were probably only the Xiao Clan's great enemy, the Soul Clan!
Xiao Meng shrugged, "The matters of the Ancient Eight Clans, for some major forces, aren't difficult to find out, are they? Miss Xun Er, there's no need for such a strong reaction, is there?"
"But as far as I know, only our Gu Clan knows that the Xiao Family was once the Xiao Clan! It was our Gu Clan that constantly covered for the Xiao Clan back then, erasing their migration traces." Xun Er stared at Xiao Meng with a solemn expression, golden flames flickering in her eyes.
Xiao Meng's lips curved into an arc: "Exposing this point, wasn't it you, Miss Xun Er?"
"Ah? Me?" A hint of confusion flashed in Xun Er's eyes.
Xiao Meng, with a smile, said softly:
"I accidentally overheard Old Master Xiao Zhan mention that your father seems to be named Gu Yuan...
"This name might not be well-known, but in my family, there are also old fellows who have lived for a very long time. To them, this name is like thunder in their ears!
"Also, I've seen the Xiao Family's family tree, and there is indeed a person named 'Xiao Xuan' on it. Gu Yuan, Xiao Family, Xiao Xuan... connecting these together, the final answer isn't hard to guess, is it?"
"Ah... this..." Xun Er was speechless, not expecting that she was the one who ultimately exposed the Xiao Family.
She parted her red lips slightly and said softly, "Xiao Meng, I misunderstood... But I hope you can keep these things confidential and not let your clan members spread them, otherwise it might put Brother Xiao Yan in danger."
"Of course, I won't spread it. But if the changes in the Jia Ma Empire's Xiao Family were indeed because the Xiao Family's true background was discovered, and the one who destroyed the Xiao Family was targeting the 'Xiao Clan,' then Young Master Xiao Yan is not safe now," Xiao Meng said in a low voice.
Xun Er pursed her lips. She looked at Xiao Yan:
"Brother Xiao Yan, do you want to return to my Gu Clan with me? If the true mastermind is the Soul Clan, then Jia Nan Academy isn't safe either."
Xiao Yan hesitated for a second, but ultimately shook his head firmly:
"I appreciate your kindness, but fleeing isn't the solution... I'll be more careful."
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