As Xiao Yan thought, he couldn't suppress the excitement in his heart and asked in a hoarse voice: "Why did Xiao Meng die? Since you, Father, are the Soul Hall Master, why didn't you save her?"
At the mention of this, Xiao Zhan also showed a hint of anger.
He clenched his fists, then released them.
With a gloomy face, he spoke in a low voice: "Because of you... As the Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan, I cannot let personal feelings affect the overall situation of the Xiao Clan... There are many things to consider.
"But Xiao Meng has always been in my heart... For her, I could even slightly deviate from the plan.
"Why do you think I took over the position of Soul Hall Master? This was something I exchanged for the Xiao Clan's ancient jade...
"But this identity is just a trouble, not a good thing for the entire clan. You should know how infamous the Soul Hall Master is throughout the Central Plains...
"I became the Soul Hall Master, firstly, to make Hun Tiandi believe in my determination to cooperate with him.
Secondly, to rescue the souls of the Amon Clan people who were captured.
"At the same time, I can also use this as a reason to demand the soul origins collected in the Soul Hall that have not yet been transferred to the Soul Clan as an extra... This is to arrange an opportunity for you when you attack the Soul Hall someday...
"Additionally, and most importantly, Xiao Meng is also in the Soul Hall.
She will be transferred to my Xiao Clan as part of the Soul Hall's property.
"I have always regarded her as my own daughter.
How could I not want to save her?"
Xiao Zhan's voice contained unconcealed sorrow.
Xiao Yan's expression froze, and he said blankly: "Then... then why..."
Xiao Zhan glanced at him and said in a low tone: "Because of you...
"The transfer takes time.
The Soul Clan cannot truly hand over the Soul Hall completely to us.
"I have urged them to hurry, but it was still a step too late... If only you had been a little more patient, less impetuous, and made a little more preparation... Xiao Meng wouldn't have died!
"Originally, she could have been safely transferred from the Soul Clan, but because you acted before the transfer was complete, this tragedy occurred!
"At that time, the Vice Hall Master of the Soul Hall told me that when Soul Yi used that mutual destruction move, he originally wanted to come down and save you, but Medicine Saint misunderstood him and stopped him."
Xiao Yan's eyes widened, and he said in disbelief:
"Because... me?
"Did I kill Xiao Meng?
If I had thought more before acting, and not made such a rash decision, Xiao Meng wouldn't have died?
"It was me, I killed Xiao Meng?
"...Hahahahaha..."
Xiao Yan's eyes were vacant, and then he laughed like a madman, his laughter filled with indescribable sorrow and regret.
"It was me... I killed Xiao Meng..." He clutched his head and painfully knelt on the ground.
Even though he was already an Eight-star Dou Saint, one of the strongest people in this World, at this moment, he was as helpless as a child.
Tears streamed down uncontrollably.
He forcefully slammed his head against the ground, using physical pain to distract from the emotional pain, but the inner suffering did not lessen in the slightest; instead, it grew more intense.
"Why... why is this happening?"
The Parasite in Xiao Zhan's body grinned, letting out a silent sneer.
The Amons, dispersed across the World, appearing in different guises, adjusted the crystal monocle on their right eyes in various postures, and curled their lips into a smile.
"Wahahaha..." Little Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, with a white circle on its right eye, rolled on the ground laughing.
"Little Lion, what's wrong?" Xiao Qing, who was grooming its fur, showed a puzzled expression.
"Nothing, I just suddenly remembered something very funny."
Xiao Qing drooped her eyelids, accustomed to Little Purple Crystal Winged Lion King's occasional erratic behavior.
Looking at Xiao Yan's distorted face, as if he had gone mad, a hint of heartache flashed through Xiao Zhan's heart, but he suppressed it.
Everything he said was true...
If Xiao Yan only hated himself, Xiao Zhan would probably bear all of it to prevent Xiao Yan's mindset from being affected, which would impact his breakthrough to Dou Emperor.
But Xiao Yan would also hate the Xiao Clan at the same time.
The clan had sacrificed so much; the Dou Emperor they cultivated could not hate the clan... So Xiao Zhan had no choice but to tell Yan'er the truth.
Although it was somewhat cruel to him...
"Alas, Yan'er, calm down.
The Amon Clan Leader told me that Xiao Meng might still be saved... This requires you to break through to Dou Emperor and go to the Great Thousand World..."
After saying a comforting word, Xiao Zhan slowly left the room, leaving Xiao Yan alone.
For a long time, Xiao Yan knelt in place like a statue...
After an unknown amount of time, a faint sound suddenly came from nearby.
Xiao Yan seemed to have lost his self-awareness, and his vacant eyes instinctively looked to the side.
"Hehehe, Cousin Xiao Yan." Xiao Qing's head peeked out from behind a massive stone pillar.
"Cousin Xiao Yan..." Xiao Mei's head appeared above Xiao Qing.
Then came Xiao Ning, Xiao Ke...
Bang!
A fist suddenly landed on Xiao Yan's face, knocking him to the ground.
Xiao Yu straddled Xiao Yan and punched him in the face again and again.
"Uh... Sister..." Xiao Ning scratched the back of his head, somewhat at a loss.
"Little Scoundrel, look at what you've become?
Yes, you do bear the greatest pressure and the hopes of the entire clan, but do you think the pressure on others is any less?"
Xiao Yu grabbed his collar and said fiercely.
"Don't you consider Uncle Clan Leader?
To give you a chance to assault Dou Emperor, he has even prepared to lead the entire clan to block the Soul Clan with their lives!
"Do you think the pressure on him, making such a decision, would be any less than yours?
"My grandfather, Second Elder, Third Elder... are willing to follow the Clan Leader and die for you, Little Scoundrel.
What do you think they are doing it for?
"Are you just going to respond to the clan's expectations of you with this half-dead attitude?
"Xiao Meng is gone, so go find her and bring her back!
Are you really that desperate for women?
"What, you're not reacting at all even when I hit you like this?
Where's your spirit?
Didn't you used to say you'd rape me, you little brat?
Come on!"
Xiao Yu's downward-swinging fist was suddenly caught by a hand.
Looking at Xiao Yan, who was staring at her expressionlessly from beneath her, her heart suddenly panicked.
What does this Little Scoundrel want to do?
Why did he only react when I said that?
Xiao Yan forced a smile at her:
"I understand... I won't give up.
I will use my own hands to bring Xiao Meng back... I know where she is; I just need to pay a sufficient price.
"Sorry... for making you worry.
And... thank you."
Xiao Yan looked directly at Xiao Yu and said seriously.
"I just wanted to take the opportunity to beat you up." Xiao Yu snorted twice.
She released Xiao Yan, stood up, clapped her hands, and said:
"Anyway, good luck, we will also try our best to help you... Young Clan Leader!"
"Cousin Xiao Yan, good luck, I still want to drink your and Sister Xiao Meng's wedding wine!" Xiao Qing clenched a fist at him, cheering him on.
"Cousin, good luck!" Xiao Mei's eyes were bright.
"Good luck, go bring Boss Xiao Meng back!" Xiao Ning said with a smile.
"Good luck, I won't admit that I'll lose to a self-abandoning good-for-nothing!" Xiao Ke said in a low voice, crossing his arms over his chest.
Xiao Yan stood up, tidied his clothes, brushed the flame-formed hair from his forehead aside, and smiled at them:
"I will win; Xiao Meng is still waiting for me."
"Meng ya!" Qing Meng jumped off his shoulder, seemingly happy about Xiao Yan's recovery.
From an angle no one could see, a deep glint flashed in the depths of its eyes.
...
Deep within the Soul Realm, in a massive square, a shadowy figure sat in the center, surrounded by hundreds of bright light clusters of various sizes.
These light clusters were all pure soul origins!
They were the Soul Hall's accumulation over a millennium!
Black flames surged out from Void Swallowing Flame, and wisps of flame, like raindrops, fell upon the light clusters.
Tiny flames converged into black vortices, like miniature black holes.
Terrifying suction erupted from the black vortices, devouring all the soul origins.
This process lasted for quite some time.
Hun Xunzi, the elder of the Soul Clan closest to Void Swallowing Flame, respectfully stood by.
After an unknown period, a vast soul fluctuation spread throughout the entire Soul Realm.
Surging soul power, like a vast ocean, majestically covered the entire sky.
Hun Tiandi, who was sitting at a stone table in a bamboo forest, sipping tea, paused.
He put down his teacup, tilted his head slightly towards the direction of Void Swallowing Flame, and said with a smile: "Not bad!"
The Three Clan Allied Army was not a cause for concern, but the Xiao Clan did put some pressure on him.
Especially since he had lost the Four Demon Saints earlier...
Void Swallowing Flame being able to break through to Emperor Realm soul at this time was also good news for him.
...
In the ancient clan, Gu Tongxuan knelt on one knee before Gu Yuan, his expression respectful.
A hint of helplessness flashed in his heart.
The former Clan Leader was so gentle, treating his clansmen with courtesy, even the most ordinary members only needed to respectfully greet him.
But ever since Miss Xun'er passed away, the Clan Leader had become increasingly cold, and his prestige grew day by day.
He whispered: "The latest news is that terrifying Dou Qi fluctuations erupted near the Soul Hall Heaven Hall, seemingly Xiao Yan fighting the Soul Hall Master.
"However, because the battle at that level was too terrifying, those who went to investigate did not dare to get too close and were not clear about the outcome of the battle."
Gu Yuan nodded, saying without joy or sorrow: "I understand, you may leave."
"Yes." Gu Tongxuan stood up and slowly left.
Gu Yuan's emotionless pupils held a bone-chilling coldness as he murmured: "Hun Tiandi..."
By now, he also knew that the ancient clan and the Soul Clan were destined to fight to the death, so he could no longer consider the casualties of his clansmen; he had to harden his heart...
Even with great sacrifices, he could not retreat!