Battle Through the Heavens: I can solidify the talents of all things

Xiao Qing arrived at the clan chief's residence and happened to meet An Ran, a maid who was tending to the flowers and plants in the courtyard.

He stepped forward and politely asked, "Sister Xiaoran, is my aunt home today? I'd like to come and see her."

Upon seeing that it was Xiao Qing, the maid An Ran quickly put down the water jug ​​in her hand, smiled, and bowed, saying, "Young Master Xiao Qing, please don't be so polite. Just call me An Ran."

She paused for a moment, then continued, "Madam was resting in the courtyard just now, but not long ago, distinguished guests arrived outside the manor, carrying the old clan chief's token. Madam personally went to the council hall to receive them, and she is probably talking with the guests there now."

"A distinguished guest? And he's carrying the old clan chief's token?" Xiao Qing's doubts deepened.

The old clan chief Xiao Lin has been gone for many years, and the old relationships between people have long since faded. It is quite strange that such a guest suddenly appears at this time.

Seeing that Yan Qian wasn't there, Xiao Qing didn't want to linger, so she nodded to An Ran and said, "I see. Then I won't bother you any longer. If your aunt comes back, please let her know I was here."

"Don't worry, young master," An Ran replied respectfully.

Xiao Qing left the residence with doubts, but her steps unconsciously turned towards the council hall.

He was curious to see what kind of "distinguished guest" would be visiting at this time.

……

The atmosphere inside the Xiao family council hall was quite "lively".

The three elders of the Xiao family were sitting around a middle-aged man with an extraordinary demeanor. His face was etched with the marks of time, yet his inherent authority was still undeniable. Their faces were plastered with almost obsequious smiles, and their words were full of enthusiasm.

This man was none other than Gu Yuan, who used the alias "Xiao Yuan".

The clan chief's wife, Yan Qian, sat a little further away with four-year-old Xiao Yan, listening quietly to their conversation with a polite but slightly awkward smile on her face.

She didn't know this "Xiao Yuan" senior and couldn't join the conversation, so she occasionally got up to pour tea and water for everyone, fulfilling her duties as the hostess.

The eldest elder of the Xiao family glanced with burning eyes at the several seemingly ordinary jade bottles on the table that actually contained subtle spatial fluctuations.

It was clearly a casual gift from Gu Yuan, insignificant to the Gu clan, but a priceless treasure to the Xiao family.

The elder's wrinkles deepened with his smile, his tone filled with exaggerated gratitude:

"Senior Xiao, you may not know this, but many years ago, our old clan chief Xiao Lin often mentioned you to us younger generation, saying that you were one of the people he respected most in his life!"

"If it weren't for your righteous intervention and miraculous intervention back then, our Xiao family would probably have ceased to exist long ago! You are a great benefactor to our entire Xiao family!"

He spoke with such sincerity that it was as if he wanted to tear his heart out and show it to the other person.

Decades ago, the Xiao family was indeed suppressed by local forces due to conflicts of interest, and was once in a precarious situation.

Xiao Lin, who had just taken over the position of clan leader from the deceased old clan leader, was extremely anxious.

Meanwhile, Gu Yuan, who was far away in the ancient clan, perhaps because of a subtle feeling of the remaining bloodline of the Xiao clan, or perhaps just by casually placing a move, did indeed secretly lend a helping hand and casually gave Xiao Lin a few pointers, helping him break through to the Dou Wang realm.

Xiao Lin always kept this kindness in his heart and had mentioned a mysterious "benefactor" to the clan elders, but he was vague about the specific details.

If someone else were here and knew the truth behind this "favor" and Gu Yuan's true identity, they would probably just scoff and laugh coldly.

This strongly suggests that "Ancient clan, Gu Yuan, now carries out the dying wish of our late friend Xiao Xuan to save the Xiao family from peril! To ensure the continuation of your Xiao family bloodline!"

The Xiao family, once the head of the eight ancient clans and a family with an endless supply of powerful figures, has fallen to the point where the entire family only has one Great Dou Master and a few Dou Masters to maintain its reputation. Their cultivation techniques and fighting skills are reduced to a few Yellow-rank techniques and fighting skills, and even those at the Profound rank are few and far between...

In the grand context of the survival of the race, the so-called gratitude seems so insignificant and ironic.

Gu Yuan, using the pseudonym "Xiao Yuan," glanced calmly at the eager, even somewhat humble, faces of the three elders. His heart remained unmoved, and he simply said, "It has been a long time since I last visited the Xiao family... I never imagined that things would change so much, and even that kid Xiao Lin... has been gone for many years."

His tone carried a perfectly timed sigh as he gently patted the head of Xun'er, who was sitting quietly beside him, his eyes deep and lost in thought.

Yan Qian listened from the side, feeling extremely uncomfortable. The three elders' shameless flattery made her feel so uncomfortable that she could barely stand it. She could only cover her embarrassment by pouring tea.

At this moment, the Third Elder of the Xiao family seemed to feel that the First Elder's performance was not "sincere" enough. He glanced at the First Elder with slight "dissatisfaction," and then his face instantly filled with sorrow, his voice choked with emotion, and he hurriedly interjected:

"Senior Xiao, you don't know! The old clan chief... on his deathbed, the person he thought of most was you! He kept saying that not being able to see you one last time was his greatest regret! He so wanted to thank you in person!"

Seeing that the two of them were about to steal the spotlight, the Second Elder hurriedly interjected, raising his voice several decibels: "Yes, yes! What the old patriarch spoke of most to us before his death was your noble character, Senior!"

"He was most grateful to you and missed you the most! He said you are the Xiao family's eternal benefactor!"

Looking at the three Xiao family elders in front of him, whose highest cultivation level was only Dou Shi, yet they were putting on such a show, Gu Yuan felt that they were somewhat ridiculous and laughable. Their strength was probably not even as good as Yan Qian sitting to the side.

But he remained calm on the surface, simply shaking his head slightly without saying anything more.

Yan Qian sat to the side, watching the three elders who were usually so dignified and arrogant in the clan now fawning over each other like petty people in the marketplace, putting on such blatant and even somewhat frightening rhetoric. She felt her cheeks burning slightly and was extremely embarrassed.

She couldn't get a word in edgewise, so she could only lower her head and silently pour tea for everyone, trying to hide her discomfort.

Sitting beside his mother at this moment, Xiao Yan, though physically a child, possessed the soul of a mature transmigrator.

His clear black and white eyes blinked innocently, but in reality, he was rapidly analyzing and criticizing things inside.

"These three elders' acting is way too over-the-top!"

Looking at the First Elder's grateful expression, which seemed to be trying to squeeze out tears, the Third Elder's feigned sorrowful sobs, and the Second Elder's eagerness to interrupt, Xiao Yan felt a pang of stomach pain.

"This fawning is practically overflowing the council chamber. It seems this so-called 'Senior Xiao Yuan' is quite someone important; at least the 'sincerity' he's shown is enough to make these three money-grubbing old fogies abandon all their reserve."

Xiao Yan continued to observe everything, his mind churning: 'Keep pretending! These three are shameless enough to do anything for a little benefit! But this senior surnamed Xiao is quite composed; he doesn't seem to care about this flattery at all. Well, what hasn't a true big shot seen?'

"And then there's my mother... I really feel bad for her, having to keep up with this awkward small talk."

Xiao Yan glanced at Yan Qian, who was trying hard to keep smiling, and sighed inwardly.

His gaze then turned to the middle-aged man known as "Xiao Yuan".

This person exudes a restrained aura and appears calm, but the authority of someone who has long held a high position is revealed unintentionally.

"He's really hiding his true abilities... That aura is definitely not that of an ordinary person! And that little girl next to him..."