In the most core area of the Heavenly Tomb, Gu Tongxuan saw Xiao Xuan, dressed in green robes, with disheveled hair and exceptionally deep eyes.
"Junior Gu Tongxuan greets Clan Leader Xiao," the white-haired, elderly-looking Gu Tongxuan respectfully bowed.
"Gu Tongxuan, heh, your name is quite interesting," Xiao Xuan said with a faint smile. "How are things outside? Is the Xiao Clan still there?"
Gu Tongxuan's face stiffened slightly as he replied, "It's still there, but the situation is a bit strange, and we can't be sure."
Xiao Xuan raised an eyebrow. "Tell me about it."
Gu Tongxuan organized his thoughts and slowly began:
"For the first two hundred years after your demise, the Clan Leader always fulfilled the agreement well, spending a lot of resources to support the Xiao Clan.
"However, due to the depletion of their bloodline power, the Xiao Clan was never able to rise, and the talent of each new generation was worse than the last.
"The Elders in the clan became divided on whether to continue funding the Xiao Clan, and the Clan Leader gradually lost confidence.
"After that... our attention to the Xiao Clan gradually lessened. We only ensured their bloodline wouldn't be severed, ignoring everything else.
"As a result, the Xiao Clan rapidly declined, becoming a small family in the Northwest region, the Xiao Family. At its weakest, the strongest person in the family was merely a Dou Grandmaster..."
Hearing this, Xiao Xuan sighed slightly. "Declined? As expected. As long as it hasn't been completely severed, there's still hope."
Gu Tongxuan continued, "However, we later discovered that this Xiao Family seemed to be just a facade.
"Someone from the Xiao Clan from a thousand years ago survived and had been hiding, secretly observing the development of the Xiao Clan.
"The Clan Leader also discovered, during a previous encounter with the Soul Emperor, that the other party was actually investigating the Xiao Clan, and even seemed quite wary.
"Only then did we realize that the Xiao Clan was not as simple as we saw it. Perhaps that surviving Xiao Clan member had been secretly taking away the promising young talents of the Xiao Clan.
"Besides the Xiao Family on the surface, there is also a hidden, powerful Xiao Clan. We are completely in the dark about the specific situation, but judging from the Soul Emperor's concerned demeanor, the current Xiao Clan is definitely not weak."
"Hmm?" Xiao Xuan's deep gaze fixed on Gu Tongxuan, as if he could see directly into his heart. Seeing that the other party didn't seem to be lying, he couldn't help but feel a hint of surprise.
There was such a talent in the Xiao Clan? To develop that weakened Xiao Clan into this? Who was it?
"Do you know who it is?"
Gu Tongxuan shook his head. "The current Xiao Clan is too mysterious, even more so than the Soul Clan. We discussed who was most likely, and ultimately guessed that Xiao Chen has the highest probability."
"Xiao Chen..." Repeating the name, Xiao Xuan's eyes showed a hint of nostalgia. His impression of his cousin in the past was that he was a reckless brute who only knew how to chop people with a large axe.
"He was indeed not present in that battle back then. If it's him, it makes sense," Xiao Xuan nodded, his tone lightening considerably.
"You came to talk to me about that Taixu Ancient Dragon, didn't you?" After understanding the situation of the Xiao Clan, he finally felt like discussing other matters.
"Yes, the Clan Leader wants me to ask, what exactly is going on with this Taixu Ancient Dragon? How did it escape from the Heavenly Tomb? Is it a creature from the Heavenly Tomb, or did it enter previously?" Gu Tongxuan asked.
Xiao Xuan's expression was strange. "Shouldn't you be asking yourselves? That Taixu Ancient Dragon came in twenty years ago. At that time, I even thought something had happened to your Gu Clan."
Twenty years ago in the Heavenly Tomb, which means four years ago in the outside world. It was indeed at that time that it intruded... Gu Tongxuan was not surprised at all.
He replied, "At that time, the Clan Leader was out and not in the clan, so he managed to sneak in. The Heavenly Tomb had an anomaly, the clan knew about this, but because there were no further changes, they didn't make a big fuss."
You Gu Clan... really haven't changed at all.
Xiao Xuan couldn't help but inwardly complain about the Gu Clan's complacent style.
"Oh, right, Clan Leader Xiao, I still have a question. Where did all the energy bodies in the first and second layers of the Heavenly Tomb go? Were they eaten by that Taixu Ancient Dragon?" Gu Tongxuan asked.
"Sort of," Xiao Xuan didn't explain much.
Amon accounted for a small part of the disappearance of the energy bodies; he only hunted what was necessary for Cai Lin's four daughters to cultivate. Most of it was done by the crazed Soul of the Heavenly Tomb.
Xiao Xuan pondered for a moment and asked, "When will someone from the Xiao Clan arrive? If you see them, please help me convey that since they've already been exposed, there's no need to keep hiding. Let the most outstanding person among the younger generation in the clan come over; I have something to tell them."
After speaking, Xiao Xuan disappeared. Gu Tongxuan knew that the other party didn't wish to converse further, so he didn't insist. He very tactfully bowed again and then turned to leave.
Returning to the outside world, he reported everything he had seen and heard in the Heavenly Tomb to Gu Yuan.
The latter nodded slightly, then smiled and said:
"Isn't that girl Xun Er always wanting to see Xiao Yan? To be able to win the Alchemist Grand Meeting at such a young age, it's not an exaggeration to say he's the most talented in the Xiao Clan, is it...
"You accompany Xun Er to see him, but be careful and ensure they maintain an appropriate distance, don't ruin Xun Er's bloodline."
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Gu Tongxuan respectfully said, "Yes."
...
Starfall City, this is a small city within the sphere of influence of Starcloud Pavilion.
Although it was just an obscure small city, it was much more prosperous than the Imperial Capital of the Jia Ma Empire.
Inside a magnificent restaurant, Hun Xiao was engrossed in eating braised pork hock. Beside her was Xiao Yan, completely drunk.
Xiao Yan's hair was disheveled, he was unkempt, and reeked of strong alcohol, appearing utterly dejected.
He lay sprawled on the table, continuously repeating a name: "Little Fairy Doctor... Little Fairy Doctor... Wine, give me more wine."
Hun Xiao didn't try to dissuade him. She cooperatively took a large jar of wine, broke the seal, and heavily placed it beside him: "Here! Drink as much as you want, it's on me."
Xiao Yan reached for the wine, but lost his balance and fell to the ground with a clang. He wriggled like a caterpillar for a long time but couldn't get up.
"By the way, how many women do you actually have?" Hun Xiao mumbled softly.
"Friend, she's my friend, my best friend, I'm her only friend," Xiao Yan said, his consciousness blurry.
"Oh... just a friend, huh," Hun Xiao drawled. She suddenly curled her lips into a smile:
"It's not good for you to be so decadent... I'll give you some news you might be interested in..."
Xiao Yan was still lying on the ground, unable to open his eyes. He shifted his body but didn't respond to Hun Xiao.
"Hey, I know the whereabouts of that woman named Xiao Meng!"