Chapter 195: Gu Yuan (Please subscribe, please vote)

Xiao Xie used the Earth Spirit Pearl, and with a single thought, he appeared in the estate at the heart of Maple City, now the Xiao Residence.

“Young Master, you’re back! That’s wonderful!” Qing Lin threw herself into Xiao Xie’s arms, her face alight with excitement. Facing a battle with a Battle Saint, even though she had complete faith in Xiao Xie, she still could not help worrying: what if the Young Master were injured?

Xiao Xie gently rubbed Qing Lin’s little head and smiled with warmth. “I’ve made you worry. The fight just now took a lot out of me. I’m hungry.”

Qing Lin lifted her small face and said happily, “Qing Lin will go make dinner for the Young Master.”

“Go on.”

“Mm.”

Watching Qing Lin skip away, Xiao Xie’s eyes softened with tenderness. It was truly wonderful to have someone who cared.

“Anuo, send word to all of our people. Have the leaders of every force under Dragon Gate gather in Maple City.” Xiao Xie instructed the man at his side.

“Yes, Young Master!” Anuo replied at once and relayed the order. Fan Lao and the others, who led the subordinate forces of Dragon Gate, all carried long-range communicators made by Anuo. In the world of modern cities, Anuo had stored plenty of technical knowledge, so making such a device was no difficult matter.

Beep.

Still reeling from that earth-shaking battle, Fan Lao’s black bracelet lit up. A somewhat mechanical voice sounded in his ear: “Young Master Xiao Xie has issued an order. Proceed to the Xiao Residence at once.”

Fan Lao froze for a moment, then his face flushed with excitement. With a sweep of the battle qi wings on his back, he flew straight toward the Xiao Residence.

At the same time, the other leaders who had received the news also rushed there with eager faces. They had a feeling that Xiao Xie had summoned them to the Xiao Residence because he was preparing to unify the Black-Corner Region. If Dragon Gate truly succeeded in doing that, then their own power would naturally grow as well. And after that battle just now, no one would dare doubt whether Xiao Xie could unite the entire region.

Very soon, Fan Lao and the others arrived at the hall of the Xiao Residence, only to be greeted by Qing Lin.

“The Young Master is eating. Once he’s finished, he’ll come out to see you. Please wait here for now,” Qing Lin said to the somewhat excited group.

Hearing her words, Fan Lao and the others quickly put away their excitement and took seats quietly. Although Qing Lin called herself a maid, none of them dared truly regard her as one. They could all see clearly that Xiao Xie treated her like a younger sister. If any of them dared be rude to her, the consequences would be dire.

Su Mei walked up to Qing Lin and asked in a familiar tone, “Little Qing Lin, do you know why the Gate Master summoned us here?”

At the last auction in Heavenly Shade City, Su Mei had gone out of her way to curry favor with Qing Lin, and Qing Lin had therefore taken a decent liking to her. Qing Lin shook her head. “The Young Master didn’t say. Qing Lin doesn’t know either.”

“I see. Then it looks like we’ll just have to wait for the Gate Master to come out and tell us himself.” Su Mei smiled softly, then returned to her seat. Since even Qing Lin did not know, trying to learn Xiao Xie’s plans in advance was clearly hopeless. Still, it was no matter. Xiao Xie would tell them soon enough.

A quarter of an hour later, after eating his fill, Xiao Xie strolled into the hall and sat in the main seat under the reverent gazes of Su Mei and the others.

“Everyone’s here, so I’ll keep it brief. In the name of Dragon Gate, go out and recruit every force in the Black-Corner Region that is first-rate or above. If anyone refuses, then they have no reason to exist. I will personally erase them from the Black-Corner Region.” Xiao Xie said indifferently.

In the Black-Corner Region, any force with a Battle Emperor in its ranks could be considered first-rate. As for second-rate forces, they did not even have a Battle Emperor. Xiao Xie had no interest in them.

Second-rate forces that joined Dragon Gate would at most become affiliated powers under its rule, much like the Blood Sect had subordinate factions of its own. The leaders of such factions would not even be qualified to seek an audience with Xiao Xie.

“We will obey the Gate Master’s command!” Fan Lao and the others hastily answered with respectful bows, their faces brimming with barely contained excitement. The Black-Corner Region was about to be unified. To witness that and take part in it was a matter of great significance to them all. To put their feelings in one sentence: this was the kind of boast they could make for an entire year.

“All right, you may go. The one who performs best will receive a Bone Knight at the Battle Sect level as a reward.” Xiao Xie looked at them and said. With such an incentive, they would surely be even more motivated.

“We will not fail the Gate Master’s trust!”

The moment Xiao Xie finished speaking, Fan Lao and the others erupted with excitement. If they had merely been thrilled before, they were now fired with boundless drive. Su Mei and the others had long been envious that Fan Lao possessed a Bone Knight at the Battle Sect level. Now, hearing Xiao Xie’s promise, all of them hoped they could do the best and earn one for themselves.

Fan Lao was equally stirred. His fighting spirit surged, and he was eager to act. The reason he stood out among the leaders was precisely because Xiao Xie had once bestowed upon him a Bone Knight at the Battle Sect level. If he could obtain another one, then even an ordinary Battle Sect would be no match for him. He was determined to win it.

After saluting Xiao Xie, Fan Lao and the others hurried off to recruit the surrounding forces into Dragon Gate. Each of them hoped to perform the best and earn Xiao Xie’s gift of a Battle Sect-level Bone Knight.

...

“Xiao Xie, I will grind you to dust!” In a great black palace, a voice filled with venomous hatred rang out, echoing through the entire hall and frightening the servants into trembling.

Soul Moyan’s eyes seethed with murderous intent. Having been so gravely wounded by Xiao Xie, his strength had fallen sharply. His right arm and right leg were gone, his soul was damaged, and he would need ten years to recover. If he did not stabilize his injuries soon, his cultivation might even regress. Right now, the person he most wanted to kill was Xiao Xie.

Originally, when Xiao Xie had been completely defenseless, he could have wiped out both Xiao Xie and Xun’er at once. But Gu Wuxin had stepped in and blocked him, causing him to miss the perfect opportunity.

Given Soul Moyan’s current condition, if he were to go after Xiao Xie now and Xiao Xie still managed to unleash that Four Symbols Flame Array formed from the fire of the Four Symbols, then Soul Moyan might truly be slain.

Moreover, as a Battle Saint, Soul Moyan had his own pride. He could not bring himself to ask another Battle Saint of the Soul Clan to avenge him. He simply could not bear that humiliation.

So he decided to stabilize his injuries first. If he could absorb enough souls, the time needed for his soul to recover would be greatly shortened. Once his condition improved somewhat, he would make Xiao Xie regret ever being born into this world.

At the same time, the clan leader of the Ancient Clan, Gu Yuan, was also listening to Ling Ying’s report. As Xun’er’s guardian, he knew better than anyone what had happened to her.

“A seventeen-year-old four-star Battle Sect, a seventh-grade alchemist, and after using a secret skill he could even fight a Battle Saint, going so far as to leave the Ghost Sword Saint Soul Moyan missing an arm and a leg. Interesting. It seems the Xiao family has produced an extraordinary genius. I would truly like to meet this little fellow myself,” Gu Yuan said with thoughtful amusement after hearing Ling Ying’s report.

“What is it?” Gu Yuan asked when he noticed Ling Ying’s hesitation.

Ling Ying considered it for a moment before replying, “Clan Leader, Miss seems to have developed unusual feelings toward Young Master Xiao Xie. Before leaving, she gave him her personal sachet.”

“Oh? If Xun’er truly likes this little fellow Xiao Xie, then that would not be impossible. With Xiao Xie’s strength and potential, the elders of the clan should not object, and those youngsters likely won’t cause much trouble either.” Gu Yuan was slightly surprised, but he did not oppose the idea. If Xiao Xie was truly as outstanding as Ling Ying described, then he would indeed be a fitting match.

“If Xun’er has feelings for Xiao Xie, then what about Xiao Xie?” Gu Yuan asked.

“This...” Ling Ying hesitated.

“What is it? Does he think Xun’er is not worthy of him?” Gu Yuan said with some displeasure. Xun’er was the most perfect inheritor of the Ancient Emperor bloodline the Ancient Clan had produced in a thousand years. Even if Xiao Xie was gifted, he would still be more than a match for her.

Sensing Gu Yuan’s displeasure, Ling Ying wiped the cold sweat from his brow and replied respectfully, “Before leaving, Young Master Xiao Xie gave Miss Xun’er a miraculous bean comparable to a ninth-grade pill. Miss Xun’er should still hold a very important place in Young Master Xiao Xie’s heart. However, Young Master Xiao Xie’s feelings toward Miss Xun’er seem more like those of siblings, and he has quite a few female confidantes.”