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**
"This."
Zhu Kun flicked his wrist, and a jade token shot through the air toward Wei Yang.
"Someone threw this in from the outside not long ago. It should be for you."
"Oh?" Wei Yang reached out and caught the jade token. The moment it touched his hand, he felt a trace of familiar energy on it — Xiao Yan's.
"So that brat's here, huh?"
His spiritual sense swept into the jade token. As if sensing his soul's touch, a faint seal within the token broke with a soft pop. Instantly, a message flowed into Wei Yang's mind.
"Brother Wei, I took a short trip back to the Jia Ma Empire to deal with a few things. Everything's fine with the Yang Yan Alliance, so you don't have to worry.
You're probably in seclusion inside there, working on your Nine-Change breakthrough, right? I wanted to come in and see you guys, but unfortunately, there are two Ban Sheng lizard guarding the outside.
I couldn't beat them, so… I had to retreat~ I'm heading to Central Plains now with the others, and before long, I'll need to visit the Gu Clan. Oh, and you really screwed me over this time.
If I'd known, I never would've listened to your nonsense and agreed to that marriage arrangement for the kids! When I got back, Medusa almost killed me! You… cough, you'd better watch your back too."
The final lines were dripping with resentment, making Wei Yang burst into silent laughter. It seemed Xiao Yan had actually told Medusa about the engagement. And then…
Ha!
Wei Yang couldn't help but chuckle. After reading the entire message, he closed his fingers and crushed the jade token into powder, indicating he had received it. Xiao Yan would sense the acknowledgment on his end.
Raising his gaze, Wei Yang looked out toward the endless darkness beyond the void. Sure enough, two Ban Sheng lizard were stationed outside at this very moment. Under such circumstances, it was perfectly reasonable that Xiao Yan couldn't force his way in.
After all, his strength probably hadn't even reached high-level Dou Zun yet — how could he possibly break through the blockade of two Ban Shengs?
He'd be lucky just to escape from the depths of that magma cavern alive, and even that would probably cost him dearly. Still, with those two Ban Shengs guarding the gate so tightly, Xiao Yan shouldn't be in any real danger. At worst, he'd have to pay a price to get away.
"So… he's heading to the Gu Clan," Wei Yang muttered under his breath.
That piece of Tuo She Ancient Jade — it seemed Xiao Yan was about to hand it over to them.
Originally, Wei Yang had considered taking that piece of ancient jade from him for safekeeping. But after hesitating for a long time, he ultimately gave up on the idea — deciding to pretend he knew nothing. He couldn't afford to gamble on something like that. The stakes were too high.
That piece of jade was impossible to conceal for long. The Hall of Souls already suspected it was in Xiao Yan's hands and had never given up searching. The fact that they'd captured Xiao Zhan and taken him straight to the Hun Clan's territory for imprisonment said it all.
The Hun Clan valued Xiao Zhan — a mere Da Dou Shi — far more than they did Yao Chen. The Gu Clan, of course, knew perfectly well that the jade was with Xiao Yan. Even if Gu Xun'er didn't tell them, wasn't there still Ling Ying, who had been secretly following Xiao Yan all this time?
Many of the Hun Clan's seemingly brainless moves toward Xiao Yan over the years might not have been foolishness at all — but careful probes, influenced by the Gu Clan's unseen hand from the shadows.
The Hun Clan held Xiao Zhan hostage. The Gu Clan, on the other hand, held Xiao Yan himself. Perhaps this was the "unspoken balance" — or mutual understanding — between two great Ancient Clans.
Otherwise, why would the exalted Gu Clan turn a blind eye to their young miss's willful antics? Even indulging her behavior? Just because Gu Xun'er had high status and a Divine-Grade Bloodline? That was the Gu Clan — an Ancient Clan!
Even standing where Wei Yang was now, the thought still seemed laughable. If Gu Xun'er were truly a problem, could the Gu Clan not simply remove the root of it?
If they truly wanted Xiao Yan dead, there were countless ways to make him disappear without lifting a finger — erased quietly, without a trace. At the very least, if Wei Yang himself were ever in that position…
If his own daughter, Wei Shuo, one day fell in love with some nobody from a backwater region a poor kid with no talent, no background, and no future — and if he couldn't control her… He'd still have plenty of ways to make that boy vanish silently, cleanly, without ever dirtying his own hands.
Cruel? Maybe. But that's reality. Was the dragon-slaying youth destined to become the dragon himself? Perhaps.
Yes, Wei Yang himself had once been just a boy from a small, forgotten corner of the world. But after achieving everything he had… did that mean he should now willingly let his beloved daughter marry a poor, talentless commoner?
What for? For his "hard work"?
Sorry — hard work means nothing when faced with absolute talent and lineage.
If effort alone could bridge that gap, there would be no poor and no weak in this world. When my daughter has countless better choices… why should she pick you? Wouldn't that be the same as pushing her into a pit of fire?
"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west — don't bully the young and poor?"
Heh… don't make me laugh. That line might sound inspiring, but it's just something nice to hear. There's only one Xiao Yan in this world.
He succeeded in defying fate, and that's why his story became a legend — a miracle worth remembering. Otherwise, he'd just be another nameless grave overrun with weeds. No one would even know he existed.
The reason why a miracle is called a miracle… is because it's rare. From ancient times until now, there have been very few who could achieve it. That's what makes it a miracle. If everyone could do it, then it wouldn't be called a miracle.
Similarly, the reason Wei Yang could rise above countless others—from a small, unknown place all the way to where he stood today—was also a miracle in itself. Both he and Xiao Yan were people whose success could never be replicated.
There were none like them before, and perhaps for many years to come, there wouldn't be another. That's why the two of them were well-matched in every way, and why their families could become in-laws.
Otherwise, did you really think Xiao Yan was a fool? Would he really marry off his daughter, Xiao Xiao, just to repay some so-called favor?
If anyone else dared to suggest such a thing, Xiao Yan would probably beat the crap out of them. After all, he himself was once the victim of a broken engagement. It had taken him untold effort and hardship to wash away that shame—no one understood that pain better than he did.
Back then, how did he end up with Nalan Yanran's childhood betrothal? Wasn't it because his grandfather once saved Nalan Jie's life?
A marriage formed just to repay a favor, between two families of vastly different status—those are the worst kinds of arrangements.
After all, how could a pheasant ever be worthy of a phoenix?
If I've fought my entire life, struggled through blood and sweat to finally stand at the top, and then my daughter ends up marrying some useless pauper—what was the point of all my effort?
When it comes to the idea of being well-matched, no one understands it better than Xiao Yan. He knows better than anyone how hard it was to climb to where he is now.
As for childhood engagements—he despises them. There's no way he would ever let his daughter walk the same painful road he once did.
Let's not forget—even though the Xiao Clan fell from grace, their ancestors were once glorious. They were of Dou Di bloodline, one of the Eight Ancient Clans. Even if that bloodline is now thin and nearly dormant, it's still the bloodline of an emperor. You think he wouldn't have pride?
The reason he so readily agreed to this engagement wasn't just because Wei Ye's talent was monstrous or because he possessed the Pure Yang Body. The real reason—was because his father was Wei Yang.
Likewise, Wei Yang had made this arrangement for his son early on, not because Xiao Xiao was some heaven-defying genius, but because her father was Xiao Yan. That's all there was to it. Ahem, enough idle talk—back to the main point.
The Gu Clan and the Hun Clan, two Ancient Clans, secretly restricted and sabotaged each other. Neither dared to act rashly, afraid of giving the other an easy advantage.
That uneasy balance was the very thing that allowed Xiao Yan to survive between the cracks—to seize time, to grow, and to rise rapidly. If it had been Wei Yang in his place, he wasn't confident he'd have Xiao Yan's kind of luck.
In short, that piece of Ancient Jade was far too dangerous. Rather than take it and become the target of both the Hun and Gu Clans, it was better to let Xiao Yan hand it over to the Gu Clan himself.
So after much thought, Wei Yang decided not to get involved. He didn't even dare consider hiding it away—not even if he became a Dou Sheng.
Something that dangerous? Best not to touch it at all.
Just let things play out naturally. Hands clasped behind his back, Wei Yang slowly paced through the dark void, his face thoughtful as his mind drifted far and wide. Time was running closer and closer. Unknowingly, the "Dou Qi Continent" instance was already entering its late stage.
Xiao Yan's journey to the Gu Clan this time—he would hand over the Ancient Jade in exchange for the Gu Clan opening the Heavenly Tomb, allowing him to enter and meet Xiao Xuan's lingering soul.
With Xiao Xuan's help, Xiao Yan's Dou Di Bloodline would awaken and become pure. In the end, Xiao Xuan would even burn his own soul to help Xiao Yan ascend to a higher realm of soul power.
A massive power boost in one go!
"As expected, no matter how far ahead I get, that brat always manages to catch up so quickly." Wei Yang smiled faintly.
That cheat of his was just too outrageous. Interesting indeed.
He exhaled softly.
"Six more changes to go. Work harder—reach the peak of the Nine-Change stage soon."
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