People in Doupo: The beginning of the game intercepts the rich woman Xun'er

Gu Xun'er's fingertips were still on Xiao Yanji's soft cheeks. Seeing the little one being teased and rubbing against her palm, her smile deepened. She deliberately bent her knuckles and gently scratched the chubby nose: "Ling'er is so lively. When she sees her father, she'll probably pester him to play with her first."

As soon as he finished speaking, a faint ripple appeared in the air beside him, and a dark shadow slowly condensed into shape from the void, like ink dissolving into clear water.

As soon as the person appeared, he knelt down on one knee without hesitation, his hands hanging at his sides, his head slightly lowered, and the clan crest under his clothes was faintly visible in the halo. His tone was respectful without the slightest error: "Greetings, Miss."

Hearing that familiar deep voice, Gu Xun'er knew it was Ling Ying without even turning around.

She simply shifted her gaze from Xiao Yanji's fluttering figure and gently stroked the jade pendant hanging around her neck with her fingertips.

Her body heat still lingered on the jade face. Her fingertips caressed the faint lotus patterns on it. Her gaze unconsciously turned to the misty sky outside the courtyard, as if her eyes could penetrate the spatial barrier of the ancient world, cross thousands of miles of mountains and rivers, and land directly on the figure in the southern region of the Central Plains that she longed for day and night.

Ling Ying did not stand up, but remained bowed, and reported in a low voice: "The ancient clan has sent invitations to the other seven ancient clans to open the sky curtain. As for the Xiao clan's invitation, it has been sent by a special person to the Starfall Pavilion in the Southern Region of Central State. It should be delivered to Young Master Xiao Ling soon."

“Starfall Pavilion…” Gu Xun’er murmured the name, a slight tremor hidden in the end of her voice.

Her gaze softened as she looked into the distance, a faint yet genuine smile playing on her lips, as if she were conversing with the air, or whispering to the one in her heart.

"Brother Xiao Ling, the day the Heavenly Canopy opens is approaching, and we... will finally meet again. I wonder how you have changed over the years, and whether you are still as surprising as you were back then?"

Little Flame Princess beside her seemed to understand something. She stopped flapping her wings, her round eyes followed her gaze to the sky, and her little mouth made a soft "ee-ya" sound, as if echoing this expectation.

……

Two months passed in the blink of an eye, like sand slipping through one's fingers. The energy of heaven and earth outside Lingyue Peak's training room grew increasingly rich, and even the vegetation in the surrounding mountains and forests seemed to be nourished by this energy, growing more luxuriantly than ever before.

Inside the training room, the scene was even more astonishing. The energy-gathering patterns embedded in the walls had been activated to their fullest extent. Streams of visible energy, like rushing rivers, surged from all directions toward the center. The whistling sound of the air replaced the previous tranquility and echoed continuously in the space.

The torrents of pure energy from heaven and earth seemed to find their home the moment they touched Xiao Ling's body. They surged wildly into his body through his pores and breath, and even the clear light flowing from the lotus pedestal beneath him was made even more dazzling by the power of this energy.

This surging infusion of energy continued for several days until, at a certain moment, when the last powerful torrent of energy crashed into Xiao Ling's body like a thunderbolt, the surrounding reversed energy of heaven and earth suddenly stopped, and then quickly dissipated like the receding tide. Even the spiritual mist floating in the air gradually settled, and the entire cultivation room returned to silence.

Xiao Ling, who had been sitting cross-legged in the same posture for more than two months, finally moved slowly.

His eyelashes trembled slightly, and his eyes, which had been closed for a long time, slowly opened. First, a blazing, deep red light flashed in his eyes, as if the afterglow of the Red Lotus Karmic Fire had not yet dissipated. Then, it quickly faded away, returning to a clear, deep blue, as profound as if it contained the entire starry sky.

Xiao Ling tilted his head back slightly and exhaled a long breath. The breath carried the lingering heat of the fire and even contained a few faint reddish sparks. When it landed on the smooth jade bricks on the ground, it made a soft "sizzle" sound, and the hard surface of the jade bricks was immediately scorched with fine scorch marks. Even a faint smell of burning rose in the air.

He immediately calmed his mind and examined his own condition. The origin of the Red Lotus Karmic Fire had been completely integrated into his meridians and dantian. The violent fire attribute energy had been completely tamed by the "Burning Technique" and transformed into nourishment for himself.

This refinement not only advanced his cultivation further, but although he still hadn't reached the barrier of the Dou Sheng realm, he also steadily stepped into the advanced half-saint realm. When the Dou Qi in his body circulated, it had more of the weight and scorching pressure after being tempered by the strange fire than before.

What delighted Xiao Ling even more was that the grade of "Burning Technique" also broke through with the integration of the Red Lotus Karmic Fire.

The foundation of his previous cultivation technique was fully activated after absorbing a top-tier strange fire, and it has now been promoted to a mid-level Heaven-rank cultivation technique. The speed at which he absorbs the energy of heaven and earth and the efficiency of fusing with strange fires have been qualitatively improved compared to the past. Even the purity of his fighting spirit has been raised to a higher level.

Withdrawing his mind from his body, Xiao Ling slowly extended his palm. In a flash, a deep red flame leaped from his hand, condensing into a layered lotus shape. The edges of the petals shimmered with delicate crimson light. Though the flame was scorching, it possessed a captivating, eerie quality—it was none other than the completely refined Crimson Lotus Karmic Fire. Now, it was devoid of any of its previous frenzy, gently rising and falling in Xiao Ling's palm. Even the slightest struggle had vanished, becoming a power he could control at will.

With a flick of his fingertips, Xiao Ling's powerful soul force instantly enveloped the Crimson Lotus Karmic Flame. Under his control, the lotus-shaped flame sometimes transformed into agile fire butterflies fluttering about, sometimes condensed into sharp fire blades flashing with cold light, and sometimes shrank into a spark at his fingertip. Each transformation was smooth and effortless, demonstrating his complete mastery.

After becoming somewhat familiar with the newly subdued strange fire, Xiao Ling didn't linger any longer. With a flick of his finger, the Crimson Lotus Karmic Fire transformed into a streak of crimson light, flowing back into his body through his palm, where it coexisted peacefully with the fused strange fire in his dantian.

He slowly stood up, stretched, and his joints immediately made a "crackling" sound. The stiffness from sitting for a long time instantly disappeared, and his whole body felt comfortable and refreshed.

Then, Xiao Ling strode towards the stone door of the cultivation room. His footsteps echoed softly in the quiet space, carrying a sense of ease and anticipation after refining the strange fire.

Xiao Ling stepped into the courtyard, his gaze sweeping over the empty Lingyue Peak. He then released his soul power to scan the area, but did not sense any familiar presence. It seemed that Little Fairy Doctor and the others were still on Ancient Dragon Island and had not yet returned, leaving him alone on the peak.

After a moment's thought, he stopped lingering and flew off towards the direction where Yao Chen lived.

His fighting spirit surged slightly, transforming into a pale blue streak of light that instantly swept across the summit of Lingyue Peak and sped toward the distant mountains.

In no time, Xiao Ling had traversed layers upon layers of verdant mountains, the forest below rushing past beneath his feet. Finally, he stopped before a secluded bamboo grove and slowly descended into the forest.

As you walk deeper into the winding bamboo path, the outline of a pavilion gradually comes into view.

Inside the pavilion, Yao Chen sat by the railing, a pot of hot tea and a celadon cup on the stone table before him. He held an ancient book in his hands, his gaze fixed on the pages, occasionally flicking the teacup lid to skim off any foam. Sunlight filtered through the bamboo leaves, casting dappled shadows around him, creating an image of leisurely contentment. "Old Yao is still so carefree," Xiao Ling remarked with a smile, watching the figure leisurely sipping tea in the pavilion. He took a few light steps closer and greeted him.

Hearing the familiar voice, Yao Chen slowly turned his head. When his gaze fell on Xiao Ling, a gentle smile immediately appeared on his lips: "Hehe, I have nothing to do but read books and drink tea to pass the time. But you, kid, have finally come out of seclusion—it's quite a coincidence, isn't it?"

"A coincidence?" Xiao Ling paused, raised an eyebrow slightly, and showed a hint of curiosity in his eyes, clearly not understanding what Yao Chen meant by "a coincidence".

Yao Chen didn't keep them in suspense. He lightly tapped the celadon cup on the stone table with his fingertips, then chuckled and explained:
“A few days ago, the ancient clan sent an envoy to the Starfall Pavilion with an invitation to their coming-of-age ceremony. Those who receive this invitation are all top-tier, well-known forces in the Central Plains, and are not ordinary people. Now that you are the core representative of the Starfall Pavilion, it is only proper for you to attend this coming-of-age ceremony in person.”

After a slight pause, Yao Chen picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and changed the subject: "However, for ordinary forces in the Central Plains, being able to attend the banquet of the Ancient Clan is already a great honor, but that is not the real purpose of the Ancient Clan's invitation. For you, the most crucial thing is the matter of 'the Ancient Clan's Heavenly Curtain opening,' and entering the Heavenly Curtain Trial is the core."

He put down his teacup, a knowing smile in his eyes: "You are a direct descendant of the Xiao clan, one of the eight ancient clans. According to the rules, you should have the qualification for this trial. Besides, your little girlfriend is in the ancient clan to support you and help you maintain your status. Even though the Xiao clan has long since declined, I don't think anyone would dare to cause you too much trouble in this matter."

After hearing Yao Chen's explanation, Xiao Ling suddenly understood, and all the doubts in his eyes disappeared.

Although he had roughly calculated that the day when the ancient clan's Heavenly Eye would open was not far off, he had never had a definite answer. Now, after hearing what Yao Chen said, he realized that the day was already approaching.

Yao Chen put down his teacup, then reached into his sleeve and, with a flick of his fingertips, took out a palm-sized black jade tablet.

The jade sticker was carved with intricate ancient tribal patterns along its edges, exuding a profound sense of antiquity. He handed the jade sticker to Xiao Ling and instructed him:

"This is the invitation sent by the ancient clan, and it is also the token for entering the ancient realm. Without it, you cannot even enter the territory of the ancient clan. You should keep it with you carefully."

Xiao Ling reached out and took the jade tablet. He felt a warm, cool sensation as he touched it, and faint spatial energy fluctuations remained on its surface. He ran his fingertips along the patterns on it and nodded gently: "Elder Yao, I understand. I will set off for the Ancient Realm immediately once I have prepared."

At this point, he looked up at Yao Chen, a sharp smile playing on his lips: "By the way, if I encounter the Yao Clan in the Ancient Clan, I will definitely help you deal with them and get back some of the interest from back then."

Hearing this, Yao Chen's lips curled into a slight smile, a hint of warmth flashing in his eyes. But he still waved his hand with a smile, his tone carrying a touch of steady admonition.
"You are thoughtful, but there's no need for that. The Medicine Clan is one of the eight ancient clans, with a profound foundation and many hidden talents within. Your priority now is to enter the Heavenly Eye Trial and consolidate your cultivation. There's no need to provoke them because of my past, lest you bring unnecessary trouble upon yourself."

He gently stroked the rim of the cup with his fingertips and continued, "Besides, the people who have grudges against me are only certain individuals within the Medicine Clan, not the entire clan. There's no need to drag the grudges into a wider circle. You should focus on handling your own affairs. As for the justice I served back then, it's not too late to settle accounts with them when the time is right."

Although Yao Chen spoke calmly, Xiao Ling could still clearly sense the hint of relief hidden in his tone.

Xiao Ling smiled and nodded, his tone full of youthful confidence and arrogance: "Alright, Elder Yao, I understand. We'll let them off this time. Once I cultivate to the point of being invincible in this world, won't the Yao Clan be at our mercy? It's only a matter of time."

Seeing his confident and self-assured demeanor, Yao Chen couldn't help but shake his head helplessly, but the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up. He was amused by his straightforward confidence and laughed out loud: "Good, good, then I will wait for that day, wait to see the day when you help me get justice."

The two chatted casually for a few more minutes, from cultivation experiences to the current situation of the Starfall Pavilion, before Xiao Ling got up and bid farewell to Yao Chen.

He turned and left the bamboo forest, his steps light and quick, his fighting spirit surging slightly. He then transformed into a streak of azure light and flew towards the mountain where Xiao Yan lived. He planned to tell Xiao Yan about his trip to the ancient clan so that the other party could be prepared.

Xiao Ling arrived at the mountain where Xiao Yan lived. His gaze fell on the light purple barrier that covered the mountain. He gathered a wisp of fighting spirit at his fingertips and gently tapped the barrier, while sending a short message into it.

Within moments, Xiao Yan's familiar voice came from behind the barrier, indicating that he was free at the moment.

As the barrier cracked open, Xiao Yan's figure appeared. Upon seeing that it was Xiao Ling, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and he blurted out, "Cousin, have you finished your cultivation?"

Xiao Ling nodded slightly in response, then asked, "Are you free now? Would it be convenient for me to come in and sit down, and I need to talk to you about something?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan scratched his head, smiled, and waved his hand, "Cousin, what are you saying? If you want to find me, just come in. There's no need for such a trouble to notify me."

After saying that, he raised his hand and waved it lightly at the barrier. The barrier, which was originally closed, immediately opened a passage, and he even turned to the side and made a "please" gesture.

Seeing this, Xiao Ling no longer stood on ceremony, stepped through the barrier, and landed steadily in the courtyard.

Several tall pine trees stood in the courtyard, and a half-cup of tea remained on the stone table, indicating that Xiao Yan had been there just moments before.

Xiao Ling didn't keep Xiao Yan in suspense. After sitting down on the stone bench, he got straight to the point and told Xiao Yan about the origins of the Xiao clan as one of the eight ancient clans, their rise and fall in the past, and how the ancient clan had sent him an invitation to participate in the coming-of-age ceremony and enter the Heavenly Trial.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan was so shocked by the sudden news that he froze on the spot, forgetting to even bring the teacup he had just picked up to his lips.

During his years traveling through the Central Plains, he had heard of the "Eight Ancient Clans" from various rumors and knew they were ancient forces standing at the pinnacle of the Dou Qi Continent. He never imagined that he himself was a descendant of the Xiao Clan, one of these eight clans. (End of Chapter)