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In the void outside the Xiao World, two clusters of silver flames burned fiercely.
The flames were oval-shaped, like two giant eggs. These 'giant eggs' in the void were even larger than the entire Xiao World, and through the thin silver flames, one could vaguely see huge creatures flying within them.
In one 'giant egg', the shadows of the creatures projected onto the flames were dragon-shaped, while in the other, they were phoenix-shaped.
Xiao Zhan stood in the void, various energies surging around him. His aura was profound and terrifying, no less than that of the Four Demon Saints of the Soul Clan.
Late-stage Seven Star Dou Saint!
He had attained this level of cultivation because he was Parasite by a clone that had reached its limit.
Xiao Zhan looked at the silver-white flames, a trace of unwillingness flashing in his expression.
Although these Higher Void Ancient Dragons and Heavenly Demon Phoenixes were captured by him personally, the thought of committing such a great slaughter still weighed on his mind.
Wu Meng, whose face was eighty percent similar to Xiao Chen's, looked aged and haggard, and exuded a sense of decline, came to his side:
"Very good… you already have the mindset of a Xiao Clan Patriarch. At certain times, we must let go of some principles."
"But Old Ancestor, is it really necessary to go to such an extent? To completely exterminate two races…" Xiao Zhan asked with a hint of doubt.
Wu Meng said, "It is very necessary… The gap between us and the Soul Clan is too great; we can only rely on Amon's power… Perhaps to you, a Seven Star Dou Saint is already very strong, but it is far from enough.
"We need Amon to break through to Nine-Star Dou Saint, and then let him merge with you to give you the power of a Nine-Star Dou Saint. Only then can we contend with the Soul Emperor.
"Time waits for no one; we must refine the ninth grade golden pill… to accelerate his growth.
"The Taixu Ancient Dragon and Heavenly Demon Phoenix are the materials for this ninth grade golden pill… Just think of this as normal hunting of magical beasts. Didn't the Xiao Family also engage in such business in Wu Tan City before?"
But ordinary magical beasts are not the same as those with sentience, capable of transforming into human form and almost indistinguishable from humans after transformation. Moreover, hunting one or two is not the same as such large-scale, extermination-level hunting… Xiao Zhan thought silently in his heart, not speaking these words aloud.
"Cough cough…" Wu Meng suddenly coughed violently… He bent over, covering his mouth, the powerful Dou Saint now seemingly like an ordinary old man.
"Old Ancestor." Xiao Zhan's expression changed, and he quickly stepped forward to support him.
Wu Meng waved his hand, and his bent body straightened again: "It's nothing… My days are numbered; I've known this for a long time. To have lasted until now is somewhat beyond my expectation.
"A thousand years ago, I was already severely injured, and since then, I've merely been clinging to life. This body has long been depleted, and this soul has long been riddled with holes."
Xiao Zhan said with concern, "Old Ancestor, with the power of a Dou Saint, even the dead can be reborn. What kind of injury cannot be recovered from? It's merely a matter of more resources. Amon has already recovered his power, and the Xiao Family, by borrowing his power, is more than capable of supporting you, Old Ancestor."
The current Xiao Zhan was no longer the Dou Grandmaster with limited knowledge from Wu Tan City, but a genuine Dou Saint.
Under Amon's guidance, he had caught up in all aspects; apart from his cultivation being bestowed by the Worm of Spirit, and his combat methods still lacking, his spirit, insight, strategy, courage, and so on, all matched the identity of a Dou Saint and the identity of the Xiao Clan Patriarch.
Wu Meng looked at Xiao Zhan, a relieved smile appearing on his face:
"Yes, it only requires enough resources… But, the Xiao Clan cannot waste so many resources on an old man like me who is on his last legs.
"Time is running out. In a few decades at the least, or a century at most, the Soul Clan will take action. The top priority is to quickly let Amon break through to a higher realm and gain enough power to contend with the Soul Emperor before the Soul Clan acts.
"To have Xiao Yan contend for the position of Dou Emperor, we need to have enough power to protect him before he fully matures.
"My deficits are too severe; to compensate for them would require too much consumption, even far exceeding the cost of cultivating another Seven Star Dou Saint…"
Xiao Zhan still wanted to persuade him, but Wu Meng waved his hand, interrupting him.
"Now is your era. This new era doesn't need an old man like me who should be eliminated.
"Even if I recover, what use would it be? I can no longer restrain Amon. Having lost that one purpose, everything else I can do, you can do.
"Remember, Amon is a bit strange; he cannot be fully trusted. But if the Xiao Family cannot stand on its own, cannot restrain him, then you might as well trust him more. Before you have enough power, unnecessary suspicion will only alienate allies.
"Of two evils, choose the lesser. Only after Xiao Yan grows up can our Xiao Clan consider gradually breaking free from our reliance on him.
"In my room, there are jade slips recording what I have done in the past. You can take a look later. Some things you know, some you don't.
"Xiao Zhan, you are now a qualified Xiao Clan Patriarch, but you are not ruthless enough. I hope that in the future, when you consider issues, you can think more from the perspective of family interests. Some morals, conscience, and principles can be conceded in the face of family interests."
Wu Meng rambled on and on, his manner of settling his affairs giving Xiao Zhan an ominous premonition.
He tried to speak several times, but seeing Wu Meng's eyes, he closed his mouth again.
"Listen to me quietly…" This was the meaning conveyed in Wu Meng's eyes.
"…I've said quite a bit. When one gets old, one talks a lot… One last thing: you don't need to harbor too much hatred for the Soul Clan. Cooperate when necessary, exploit when necessary. Everything is for the continuation and glory of the family… I hope that under your leadership, the Xiao Clan can regain its ancient glory."
Wu Meng coughed violently again, and he slowly walked away into the distance.
"Old Ancestor, where are you going?" Xiao Zhan's voice was a little choked.
"To fulfill my last wish. You can choose not to be hostile to the Soul Clan, but I cannot… This hatred has already affected the Xiao Clan's future and hindered its development…
"Although I know this is wrong, that this hatred is merely an obstacle, a useless emotion that will affect my decisions… I just can't do it!
"Since I have become an obstacle to the family's development, then I should no longer exist within the family…"
Xiao Zhan opened his mouth, looking at Xiao Yuanshan's desolate, lonely, yet resolute back, unable to utter the words of persuasion.
He merely knelt down respectfully and kowtowed heavily: "Unworthy descendant Xiao Zhan, respectfully bids farewell to Old Ancestor!"
"Unworthy descendants… respectfully bid farewell to Old Ancestor!" Some other people appeared beside Xiao Zhan at some point.
First Elder, Second Elder, Third Elder, Xiao Ding, Xiao Li, Xiao Yu, Xiao Ning, Xiao Mei, Klein… all were the core members of the Xiao Family.
"Wahhh… Old Ancestor…" Once Wu Meng's aura completely vanished from their senses, Xiao Yu couldn't help but burst into tears.
"Sister…" Xiao Ning bit his lip, trying his best to control his emotions.
Xiao Zhan's body trembled, his heart unable to calm. His interactions with Xiao Yuanshan were the most frequent, and he knew best how much that respectable old man had sacrificed for this family…
The thought that the other party felt he had become an obstacle to the family's development and then resolutely departed, leaving behind the Xiao Family he cared for most, filled Xiao Zhan with deep shame and admiration… Honestly, he knew he couldn't do the same.
Wiping away a trace of moisture from the corner of his eyes with the back of his hand, Xiao Zhan closed his eyes, and after a long while, opened them again. A few more traces of coldness and determination appeared in his eyes.
"Old Ancestor Xiao Yuanshan, rest assured, I will inherit your will; everything is for the rise of the Xiao Clan…" Xiao Zhan thought silently in his heart.
The departing Wu Meng plucked a crystal-textured monocle from the void and embedded it into his right eye socket, a smile curving his lips.
"Hmm… What kind of death should I choose? Something grand, preferably visible to the Xiao Clan, especially Xiao Zhan…
"I've got it. I'll go to the Soul Realm and fight an old Soul Clan fellow to settle the 'thousand-year-old grudge'…"
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