Chapter 702 Goodbye Xun'er

"The ancient clans regard the bloodline of the Dou Di as their foundation and lifeline, and dare not lose it in the slightest. What we are truly worried about is that the intervention of outsiders will completely annihilate the already diluted bloodline power in the descendants. Once the bloodline is severed, the future power inheritance of the ancient clans will be cut off. This is the real reason why we have deployed the Black Annihilation Army to be on high alert and will not allow outsiders to stay in the Ancient Realm without authorization."

At this point, Gu Zhen paused slightly, his gaze falling heavily on Xiao Ling, and his tone becoming more solemn:
"If this is the case for ordinary descendants, then the core members of the ancient clan are even more strictly bound by clan rules. The clan has long had clear instructions that core members must not intermarry with outsiders, and even less can they allow outsiders' bloodlines to mix into the clan. Lord Xiao Ling, now that you have this opportunity, you should understand what I wanted to say by inviting the two of you here today, right?"

As Gu Zhen finished speaking, the wind at the bow of the boat seemed to slow down a bit, and the faint tea fragrance that had just lingered around the nose was now as if it were wrapped in an invisible layer of melancholy, and even the surrounding air suddenly seemed to freeze.

He didn't speak again, but kept his gaze fixed on Xiao Ling. The gentleness in his eyes was gone, replaced by a deep and unfathomable calm, as if he was silently waiting for an answer.

The deck was so quiet that the occasional soft clanging of the Black Annihilation Army's armor could be heard, each sound like a blow to the heart, further deepening the somber atmosphere.

Xiao Ling's fingers, holding the teacup, paused slightly. A knowing glint flashed in his eyes. How could he not understand the deeper meaning in Gu Zhen's words? He was clearly using the pretext of the bloodline of the descendants to subtly point out the boundary between the core of the ancient clan and the outsiders, and even more subtly pointing out the inescapable connection between him and Xun'er.

Although neither of them said it outright, they already understood each other implicitly; hidden in this silence was a subtle clash of their auras.

Only Xiao Yan, standing beside him, still had a hint of confusion in his eyes. Although he understood the contents of the clan rules, he couldn't figure out why Gu Zhen had brought it up, nor could he understand the silent confrontation between Xiao Ling and Gu Zhen.

He couldn't help but turn his head, his curious yet inquisitive gaze falling on Xiao Ling's face. His fingertips unconsciously gripped the corner of his sleeve, quietly waiting for Xiao Ling to speak and break the silence.

Faced with Gu Zhen's deep gaze, Xiao Ling merely paused slightly before picking up the celadon teacup again, gently swirling it around with his fingertips, causing the green tea to ripple in the cup.

When he looked up, his gaze swept sideways at Gu Zhen, his eyebrows still bearing a somewhat nonchalant curve. His calm and casual demeanor made it seem as if the words that had just carried a veiled warning had not stirred the slightest ripple in his heart.

"Commander Gu, you don't need to use veiled attacks against me, nor do you need to try to intimidate me with these bloodline rules." He brought the teacup to his lips, took a small sip, and then spoke slowly, his tone revealing no trace of unease.
"If you say that you deployed the Black Annihilation Army to defend yourselves so strictly, just to prevent foreign bloodlines from 'tainting' the members of the ancient race, then that reason is rather illogical."

He paused slightly, put down his teacup, and tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, his gaze now sharp and clear.

"If someone truly harbors malicious intentions towards the ancient races, they would likely infiltrate the ancient realm and secretly plot against you. Why would they choose the most foolish path, personally entering the game and gradually impure their so-called bloodline by marrying into the ancient races? Achieving this goal would take countless years. If someone were to do this, they would be far too patient."

Startled by Xiao Ling's direct rebuttal, Gu Zhen was slightly taken aback. His fingers tightened unconsciously around the teacup. He knew that his previous allegory was far-fetched, and now that it had been exposed, a barely perceptible hint of unease flashed across his eyes.

But his momentary lapse was fleeting. He quickly regained his composure and continued on the topic: “What Lord Xiao Ling said is true. I was just casually mentioning a possible scenario. Even if the scenario is very unlikely, for the ancient clans, any hidden danger involving the bloodline of the Dou Di cannot be taken lightly. What needs to be guarded against must be guarded against.”

He changed the subject slightly, his gaze returning to Xiao Ling, his tone now more earnest:

"However, it's good that you understand the deeper meaning of my words. Speaking of which, Lord Xiao Ling, your reputation has always been renowned among our ancient clans over the years. Those two you met earlier are probably eager to take this opportunity to see just how strong you really are now."

"Hehe, is Commander Gu planning to use his power to intimidate others?" Xiao Ling raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes, his tone carrying a casual teasing tone. He lightly tapped the side of the teacup with his fingertips, the crisp sound particularly clear in the stagnant atmosphere, "However, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed, your plan is likely to fail."

He paused, a hint of amusement in his eyes, and a faint smile curved his lips: "Speaking of which, I'm also quite curious about the current strength of those two I met earlier. If they really faced off, it's still hard to say who would have the upper hand and who would be at a disadvantage."

As he finished speaking, he chuckled softly, his calm and confident tone showing that he didn't take the so-called "pressure" to heart at all.

"I am not trying to threaten your mind, but simply to mention the pros and cons and the clan's concerns to you."

Gu Zhen put down his teacup, his fingertips lightly tracing the edge of the table. His tone lacked some of its previous solemnity, but possessed a more intriguing frankness.
"Although I don't agree with the path you've chosen, it's ultimately a matter between you and Miss. All I can do is offer a few words of advice; the final decision rests with you two."

He looked up at the empty space passing by outside the ship, his voice deepening: "However, you should know that this path is inherently difficult, and there will certainly be many more who disagree. Their methods will probably be far more extreme than what I am saying today."

At this point, his tone softened slightly, and his gaze returned to Xiao Ling, carrying a hint of expectation: "But in any case, I still hope for a good outcome in the end, an outcome that will satisfy everyone..."

"I don't need Commander Gu to worry about this. I have my own plans." Xiao Ling said calmly, his fingertips lightly stroking the rim of the cup, his expression showing no sign of wavering.

"I rose from humble beginnings to where I am today, and it wasn't just through empty talk." He looked up at Gu Zhen, his eyes showing no fear, but rather a resolute determination honed by hardship.

"In your eyes, the ancient race may be an unshakeable behemoth, and you can rely on the protection of this powerful force to develop steadily and enjoy the most convenient platform. But these inherent preferential treatments are never worth mentioning to me."

He paused slightly, a sharp glint of strength flashing in his eyes, and his tone gained a resounding authority:
“I know my future will never be limited to this. I will not be trapped at this so-called height, nor will I be bound by this world. I, Xiao Ling, will walk my path step by step, and I will surpass everything you are so proud of, little by little, with my own hands…”

Gu Zhen listened quietly to Xiao Ling's words, her gaze fixed on his face—at this moment, Xiao Ling had shed his previous indifference and casualness, his brows revealing a sharp edge, every word he spoke carrying an unquestionable confidence, that aura seemed to penetrate the surrounding stagnation and strike straight into people's hearts.

Those words sounded ordinary, but the soaring will they contained was unmistakable. The certainty in their words didn't seem to be about a distant goal, but rather a statement of something that would happen sooner or later. This confidence from within made Gu Zhen feel a sense of conviction, and even his chest trembled with an indescribable tremor.

What alarmed him even more was the arrogance in those words. Xiao Ling actually said he wanted to surpass everything that the ancient clans were proud of. Didn't that mean he didn't even care about the ancient clans?
Even... Gu Zhen's heart suddenly jumped, and a bold idea popped up uncontrollably. Could it be that he wanted to become the next person to prove the Dao and become an emperor on this Dou Qi Continent, which had not produced a Dou Di for ten thousand years?

Such an almost fantastical idea would have been met with immediate rebuttal from anyone else, but at this moment, facing Xiao Ling's incredibly bright eyes, he forgot to speak for a moment, staring blankly at the other, not even noticing the teacup spilling from his fingertips.

"Oh!"

A dull thud suddenly rang out, jolting Gu Zhen, who was lost in thought, back to reality, causing most of the tea in his teacup to spill out.

The warship shuddered violently, and the surrounding spatial fluctuations gradually dissipated like a tide. The ship's speed also slowed down abruptly, and even the shouts on the deck weakened.

The three people at the tea table subconsciously looked up and saw a lush mountain range slowly coming into view on the distant horizon. Clouds and mist swirled around the mountains like a light veil, and the vast forest on the mountain peaks could be vaguely seen.

"Have we arrived at the Ancient Sacred Mountains..." Xiao Ling murmured softly, his gaze fixed on the misty mountain range.

As the warship drew closer, a strange tremor suddenly rose in his heart. He paused involuntarily, then abruptly turned his head, his gaze like a sharp sword shooting straight at a distant mountain peak shrouded in thick fog.

On the mountaintop, a graceful figure in cyan was faintly visible. Although the distance was vast and even the face could not be clearly seen, a deep-seated sense of familiarity and intimacy had already quietly seeped into his heart on the wind.

The slender figure in cyan seemed to have also noticed the gaze that pierced through the void. Her originally still posture paused slightly, and she slowly turned her body towards the warship.

The clouds and mist continued to swirl around her, blurring her features and making even the movement of her hair seem ethereal. Yet, Xiao Ling could clearly feel a gaze, carrying the same familiar warmth, piercing through the vast distance and layers of mist, settling steadily upon him.

Without needing to see faces clearly or say anything, two gazes seemed to meet and intertwine in the void, like a reunion that had transcended a long period of time.

The roar of warships, the footsteps of the Black Annihilation Army, and the howling wind in the mountains all seemed to be shut out at this moment. It was as if only this silent gaze remained between heaven and earth, and even the air was filled with an indescribable tenderness of a long-awaited reunion.

Gu Zhen slowly rose, his gaze fixed on the ethereal, goddess-like figure atop the mountain peak, a complex and enigmatic smile playing on his lips. He sighed softly, his voice tinged with melancholy:

"Over the years, the only person in the entire Dou Qi Continent who has been personally greeted by Miss is probably you, Xiao Ling."

Having said that, he turned to look at Xiao Ling, his expression becoming serious again:
“There are already great differences of opinion about you within the ancient clan. While your ambition is admirable, it seems somewhat unrealistic to me. However, given the talent you have shown so far, it is not impossible for you to break through to the Dou Sheng realm and become a ninth-grade alchemy grandmaster in the future.”

He paused, then added a touch of earnestness to his reminder:

"You must remember, once you reach that level, you will be qualified, and all the previous disagreements and obstacles will naturally be resolved. But if you don't reach it... the difficulties you will face in the ancient clan in the future will probably far exceed your imagination. Therefore, I sincerely hope that you can continue to grow. I believe that Miss's judgment has never been wrong..."

"It seems that Commander Gu is not only good at speaking high-sounding words, but can also occasionally say a few pleasant things."

Xiao Ling chuckled lightly, raised his hand and drank the remaining tea in the cup in one gulp, the porcelain cup making a crisp sound when it hit the table.

"Whether I can achieve my goal is not for you to judge." He looked up at Gu Zhen, a faint smile on his face, but his tone was unwavering and resolute.
"And your talk of a Battle Saint and a Ninth-Rank Alchemist really underestimates me. But right now, I have no interest in getting entangled in this topic with you. One day, when you truly see just a small part of me, you will find what I said today utterly ridiculous."

"The tea is alright, but the flavor is a bit weak," Xiao Ling said, then stood up and left his seat. "Farewell."

As soon as he finished speaking, he strode toward the bow of the ship, his clothes fluttering gently in the wind. His back remained calm, as if the conversation he had just had had no effect on him.

Seeing Xiao Ling rise to bid farewell to Gu Zhen, Xiao Yan immediately stood up as well, giving Gu Zhen a slight nod in greeting. Then, he quickly followed Xiao Ling, catching up with him.

A crowd had already gathered on the bow deck, their noise carried gently by the wind. Xiao Ling and Xiao Yan stood side by side by the railing, gazing at the ancient Sacred Mountain Range drawing ever closer in the distance.

Xiao Yan could no longer suppress his curiosity. Taking advantage of the brief respite before arriving at their destination, he nudged Xiao Ling with his elbow and teased in a low voice:

"Cousin, who exactly is this 'young lady' that Commander Gu Zhen mentioned earlier? You wouldn't have secretly hooked up with one of the young ladies of the Gu clan, would you? Otherwise, why would someone specifically seek you out for so many questions, even bringing up clan rules?" (End of Chapter)