"Although Ancestor Xiao Xuan ultimately failed and died under the siege of the Soul Clan, he also inflicted heavy damage on the Soul Clan.
"However, the Gu Clan, as allies, stood by and watched all of this happen. Even when Hun Tiandi was severely injured and most of their experts were almost dead, they still dared not attack them.
"Instead, they watched them recover and grow to their current strength… What right do they have to cooperate with us again?
"I had proposed this plan before, but it was rejected by Ancestor Xiao Yuanshan. The outcome a thousand years ago is the best warning."
Xiao Zhan's words plunged Xiao Yan into silence. Emotionally, he naturally leaned more towards the Gu Clan, but reason told him that cooperating with the Gu Clan truly seemed like a bad choice.
"Where is Ancestor Xiao Yuanshan? I want to see him and ask him some things," Xiao Yan asked.
Xiao Zhan shook his head, "The Ancestor has already passed away…"
Xiao Yan's pupils contracted, and a look of surprise appeared on his face. How could a Dou Saint suddenly fall?
Xiao Zhan gave him the answer, "It's unbelievable, isn't it? The Ancestor, who lived from a thousand years ago to this era, actually fell?
"That was his own choice! Between cooperating with the Gu Clan and cooperating with the Soul Clan, the Ancestor chose the latter.
"This was a choice that aligned with the family's interests… But the Ancestor couldn't accept it emotionally. He felt ashamed to face his companions who died in battle.
"So, after entrusting the Xiao Clan to me, he went alone to the Soul Clan and challenged Soul Mirror, one of the Four Demon Saints, and both fell.
"Although this would weaken the combined strength of our two clans, he believed that even so, our two clans working together could sweep aside all other clans. What the Xiao Clan needed to consider was how to seize this benefit from the Soul Clan.
"The Ancestor made his decision with his life. You tell me, can I change our allegiance? Can I go and cooperate with the Gu Clan?"
Xiao Yan couldn't answer. In the face of familial righteousness, personal feelings sometimes needed to be set aside.
First, Ancestor Xiao Xuan left hope through a thousand years of steadfast guarding, and then Ancestor Xiao Yuanshan made his decision with his own life. In front of the sacrifices of these predecessors, his affection for the Gu Clan, born of romantic feelings, seemed so pale.
He had sworn before Ancestor Xiao Xuan's tombstone to make the revitalization of the Xiao Clan his lifelong responsibility. From that moment on, he was no longer just Xiao Yan himself, but Xiao Yan of the Xiao Clan.
Xiao Yan opened his mouth, but no words came out. He could only tacitly accept the cooperation with the Soul Clan.
"But Xun'er's revenge…" Xiao Yan still couldn't help but say.
Xiao Zhan answered decisively, "Although the Gu Clan is not a qualified ally, in these past thousand years, the Gu Clan has indeed shown kindness to the Xiao Clan. However, this kindness is not so great that we need to disregard the family's interests.
"If our clan can win this battle, I will help the Gu Clan preserve a trace of their bloodline, just as the Gu Clan helped us a thousand years ago.
"I also watched that girl Xun'er grow up. I consider her half my daughter. Her revenge naturally cannot be dismissed so easily.
"Our cooperation with the Soul Clan will only last until we open the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's Cave together. After that, there will certainly be a battle between the two clans.
"At that time, Hun Feng and Hun Yu, the murderers of Xun'er, will be dealt with by you. Do you have any objections?"
Xiao Yan said with a serious expression, "That would be for the best."
After listening to Xiao Zhan's explanations, Xiao Yan clarified most of his doubts and gained a clearer understanding of the situation ahead:
First, he would work with Hun Tiandi to eliminate the Gu Clan, Lei Clan, and Yan Clan, their three competitors. Then, the two clans would determine who was superior, with the victor becoming king… The loser, he feared, would have no chance of recovery.
"But can we truly defeat Hun Tiandi?" Xiao Yan couldn't help but ask.
He had witnessed Gu Yuan and Hun Tiandi fighting, and that display of power could be described as World-destroying. Even he, as he was now, felt he had no chance of winning against those two.
Xiao Zhan said with a solemn expression, "This is indeed the biggest challenge, but we need to first make the other clans incapable of interfering before the two clans go to war.
"So, we must first kill the Lei Clan Leader, the Yan Clan Leader, and… Gu Yuan."
When mentioning that name, Xiao Zhan's tone was slightly complex, but he didn't show too much emotional fluctuation.
"Among them, Gu Yuan is very tricky and may not be killed, but at least he must be severely wounded to the point where he cannot affect the subsequent actions.
"He is the responsibility of Hun Tiandi. To severely wound him, Hun Tiandi should also have to pay a certain price. When the two clans go to war, I will hold him back with the three Elders.
"Void Swallowing Flame will be stopped by Ding Er and Li Er. The Soul Clan's Three Sword Saints will be handed over to Xiao Yu, Xiao Ning, Xiao Mei… Xiao Qing, Xiao Ke, and the rest of the Xiao Clan will obstruct the other experts of the Soul Clan.
"You just go and accept the inheritance of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor. I heard your master say you can open the Heavenly Tomb… At that time, once you get the inheritance, run to the Heavenly Tomb. You don't need to worry about anything else.
"Even if all the other members of the Xiao Clan perish, as long as you can break through to Dou Emperor, it will be worth it!"
Yan'er fell silent again. The entire family had placed their hopes on him, even willing to die for it. How could he betray such intentions?
He took a deep breath and said solemnly, "I will definitely not fail your trust!"
Xiao Zhan burst into laughter, "Good, good, good! Xiao Yan, it's all up to you!"
Xiao Yan suddenly asked, "What about the Four Demon Saints? Since Ancestor Xiao Yuanshan took one, Soul Mirror, are they now called the Three Sword Saints?"
Xiao Zhan shook his head, "No, the Soul Clan's Three Sword Saints are others… The Four Demon Saints are all dead. Soul Mirror and Ancestor Xiao Yuanshan perished together, and the reason for the death of the other three you've also seen… that ninth grade golden pill."
"What? A ninth grade golden pill?" Xiao Yan was dumbfounded.
"Yes, at that time, to capture him, Void Swallowing Flame, along with the remaining Hun Tu, Hun Sha, and Hun Yan of the Four Demon Saints, pursued him together. As a result, after the great battle, the three of them fell, and Void Swallowing Flame also lost a large amount of its origin, its realm dropping from early Nine-Star Dou Saint to Eight-Star Dou Saint."
Xiao Yan's mouth twitched, and he muttered to himself, "The pill Master refined is too fierce… It might even be able to contend with Gu Yuan and Hun Tiandi."
At the same time, he also felt the terror of Ape Lord Amon more deeply, as he was able to obtain such a terrifying ninth grade golden pill…
But it's good that his attitude is more inclined towards me, at least he won't be an enemy… Xiao Yan mused inwardly.
"Wait, why didn't Amon break through to Dou Emperor himself?" Xiao Yan had a new question.
"Because the inheritance of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor does not fit their path. He needs to return to the Great Thousand World to find something and then use it to initiate a perfect evolution… He doesn't want to give up his future potential," Xiao Zhan said.
"Is that so…"
Xiao Zhan suddenly said, "In the battle with the Soul Clan, if possible, try not to harm Hun Zhang, one of the Three Sword Saints."
"Why?"
"He's Hun Xiao's brother. I even discussed with him back then about arranging a marriage between you and Hun Xiao… but considering Nalan Yanran's precedent, we gave up," Xiao Zhan said, stroking his chin.
Ah? Xiao Yan's face flushed with embarrassment… No wonder Hun Xiao's attitude towards him was so strange; she would leave in a huff when asked to help find Xiao Meng's whereabouts.
Xiao Yan said awkwardly, "We're not suitable…"
Xiao Zhan shook his head slightly, "It really doesn't seem suitable…"
After discussing matters of the greater good, Xiao Yan's expression returned to the coldness he had at their first meeting. He took a deep breath, calmed himself, and asked, "Father, you've always been watching me, haven't you?"
Xiao Zhan's heart sank, and he nodded.
"Then do you know about Little Fairy Doctor? The family attacked the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan and the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan, which caused me to not get the Heavenly Poison Scorpion Dragon Beast's demon core in time… indirectly causing Little Fairy Doctor's death…" Xiao Yan's tone carried dissatisfaction and accusation.
A Heavenly Poison Scorpion Dragon Beast's demon core was not a valuable item to the Xiao Clan, who at that time had the ability to capture the entire Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan and Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan for alchemy… Was it just to temper me, deliberately letting Little Fairy Doctor die? Xiao Yan didn't understand.
Xiao Zhan looked at Xiao Yan, whose face held a hint of coldness, and sighed inwardly…
He said with a hint of apology in his voice:
"I apologize, Yan'er… At that time, we had already reached a cooperation with the Soul Clan. The Soul Clan wouldn't attack you, and Yao Chen had revived and become a Dou Saint, famous throughout the Central Plains…
"I thought you would be very safe then, so I overlooked your side and focused more attention on the family's plans. By the time I realized it, it was already too late…"
Xiao Yan reluctantly accepted this explanation, but there was one more thing that became even harder to accept after knowing that the Xiao Clan had cooperated with the Soul Clan and Xiao Zhan had become the Soul Hall Master…
This even caused him to feel a trace of resentment towards his father, whom he had always respected…
Since the Xiao Clan had reached a cooperation with the Soul Clan, since his father had become the Soul Hall Master…
Then why was Xiao Meng still imprisoned and tortured in the Soul Hall?
Why did she still die?
Because she was a traitor to the Amon Clan?
Was it the Amon Clan Leader who was causing trouble?
But Ape Lord Amon clearly said that the Amon Clan Leader didn't necessarily want Xiao Meng dead?
Could it be that his father voluntarily sacrificed Xiao Meng to curry favor with the Amon Clan Leader?
In the original work, the bond between Xiao Yan and Xun'er was a deep affection cultivated since childhood, while for Medusa, it was a man's responsibility.
In this World line, due to Amon's arrangements, Xiao Yan mistook Medusa for Xiao Meng, and her child for Xiao Meng's child. He had both affection and responsibility for Xiao Meng, and had also been influenced by a hundred reincarnations…
Xiao Meng's importance in his heart far surpassed his other confidantes… Even Xun'er was inferior.
If saving Xiao Meng would completely disrupt the overall situation, then he might still understand the family's decision to let Xiao Meng die… But that clearly wasn't the case!
Since it wouldn't have a major impact on the situation, then why sacrifice Xiao Meng?
Xiao Yan's eyes were already bloodshot, and his expression became somewhat distorted.