Doupo: Marry a Young Doctor and Be Rewarded with Douhuang Cultivation

157: Meet father-in-law, Gu Yuan, the patriarch of the ancient clan!The two walked side by side towards the main hall, the faint glow of the seven-colored Clan 紋 circulated between Xun’er’s brows, interweaving with the faint Dou Sheng pressure around Xiao Ze’s body. Wherever they passed, the Ancient Clan disciples retreated, not even daring to breathe.

Just as they reached the hall entrance, Elder Gu Shan’s voice came from within, carrying an unchallengeable firmness: ”The Xiao Clan has long since declined, how can it still be qualified to occupy the spots of the Eight Ancient Clans? These two spots rightfully belong to my Ancient Clan!”

”Oh? Then I’d like to hear, who gave you the guts to make decisions for the Xiao Clan?”

Xiao Ze’s voice sounded faintly, and the hall door automatically opened under an invisible force as the two slowly walked in.

The Elders inside the hall looked over, and Elder Gu Shan suddenly stood up, his face sinking when he saw Xiao Ze.

”Xiao Ze! This is an internal discussion of my Ancient Clan, how can an outsider like you interrupt?”

”Outsider?”

Xiao Ze sneered, and the pressure of a Six-Star Dou Sheng was suddenly released. The tables and chairs in the hall instantly creaked under the pressure, and several weaker Elders’ faces changed on the spot.

”The Xiao Clan and the Ancient Clan are both among the Eight Ancient Clans. If it weren’t for my Xiao Clan’s ancestor, Xiao Xuan, who exhausted his heart and Soul to protect the Central Plains, how could your Ancient Clan have peacefully inherited to this day? Now that someone from my Xiao Clan has returned, you want to monopolize the spots. Is this the ’foundation’ of the Ancient Clan?”

Elder Gu Shan was forced back half a step by the pressure, but he still stubbornly retorted: ”That’s old news! The current Xiao Clan...”

”The current Xiao Clan has me!” Xiao Ze interrupted him, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall, ”Is the strength of a Six-Star Dou Sheng enough for the Xiao Clan to reclaim its rightful spots?”

”If not, I don’t mind letting you experience what the wrath of a Dou Sheng tastes like!”

At these words, the hall instantly fell silent. The Elders looked at each other, no one daring to speak.

They all knew that the gap between a Dou Sheng and a Dou Zun was like a chasm. If Xiao Ze truly made a move, the entire Ancient Clan hall might not be able to withstand it.

Elder Tongxuan stepped forward at the right time, bowing slightly to Xiao Ze: ”Your Excellency Xiao Ze, please calm your anger. Elder Gu Shan was just momentarily confused. The Xiao Clan’s spots should indeed be returned. I will have someone re-draft the list and reserve positions for Your Excellency and Young Miss Xun’er.”

Elder Gu Shan’s face was ashen, but he dared not retort further.

No matter how stubborn he was, he wouldn’t risk the safety of the Ancient Clan.

Xun’er then took a step forward, the seven-colored Clan 紋 on her forehead flashing with a faint glow: ”After the Heavenly Tomb opens, I want to enter with Brother Xiao Ze!”

”Furthermore, anyone who dares to covet the Xiao Clan’s spots again will be an enemy of me, Xun’er!”

With Elder Tongxuan’s statement and Young Miss Xun’er’s Divine Grade Bloodline deterrence, there was no longer any opposing voice in the hall.

Seeing that the matter was settled, Xiao Ze took Xun’er’s hand and turned to leave, leaving behind a group of Elders with complex expressions.

When they returned to the bamboo house, the setting sun was hanging obliquely in the sky, dyeing the mountains and forests a warm red.

Ling Ying had already set out the tea set in the courtyard. Seeing the two return, he bowed and offered hot tea: ”Your Excellency Xiao Ze, Young Miss Xun’er, the matter of the Heavenly Tomb spots must have been settled?”

Xiao Ze took the teacup, his fingertips touching the warm cup wall, and nodded: ”With Xun’er’s Divine Grade Bloodline to stabilize the situation, plus the deterrence of my Dou Sheng cultivation, those Elders didn’t dare to obstruct further. It’s just that Elder Gu Shan’s attitude was firm; there might be small actions from him in the future.”

Xun’er sat on a stone stool nearby, the seven-colored Clan 紋 on her forehead already hidden, but her brows still carried a hint of coolness.

”If he dares to cause trouble in the Heavenly Tomb, I’ll let him taste the power of a Divine Grade Bloodline and Dou Sheng strength!”

Ling Ying stood to the side, his eyes sharp: ”If needed, I am willing to clear obstacles for Your Excellency and Young Miss.”

Xiao Ze waved his hand: ”Within the Heavenly Tomb, we’ll first see if they behave. If it truly comes to a fight, Xun’er and I are enough.”

As night deepened, the area around the bamboo house became quiet, with only the sound of insects chirping.

Xiao Ze walked out of the courtyard alone, planning to absorb the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi under the cover of night to stabilize his Six-Star Dou Sheng cultivation.

Just as he reached the bend in the mountain path, his steps suddenly stopped.

At the end of the mountain path ahead, a figure stood with hands behind his back, his aura faint, as if he had merged with the mountains and forests, yet his Soul perception sounded a loud alarm.

This person’s strength far surpassed Elder Tongxuan, even giving him a sense of overwhelming pressure that was difficult to contend with!

”Junior Xiao Ze, passing through this place. If I have caused any disturbance, I hope Senior will forgive me.”

Xiao Ze bowed, his posture respectful but steady.

He knew very well that someone capable of such hidden aura and spatial control was no ordinary Dou Sheng.

”No need for formalities. I am here specifically to wait for you.”

The person turned around, revealing a middle-aged man dressed in simple linen clothes, with an ordinary face but eyes as deep as an abyss.

Before he finished speaking, Xiao Ze felt a flash of light and shadow before his eyes, and the next second, he was standing at the peak of a green mountain. Amidst the swirling clouds and mist, the middle-aged man stood a few steps in front of him.

Xiao Ze’s eyebrows twitched slightly, and he vaguely guessed his identity, ”May I ask who Senior is?”

The middle-aged man smiled slightly, his gaze falling on him with a hint of scrutiny but no malice: ”I am Xun’er’s father, the current Clan Chief of the Ancient Clan, Gu Yuan.”

”As expected...”

Xiao Ze remained calm. Given his relationship with Xun’er, coming to the Ancient Clan would inevitably attract that person’s attention.

What surprised him, however, was that Xun’er’s father would appear in such a simple guise, and he hadn’t expected the other party to specifically seek him out.

”For the Xiao Clan, after a thousand years of decline, to still produce a Six-Star Dou Sheng like you, Xiao Xuan would be pleased to know this from the Yellow Springs.”

Gu Yuan’s tone was calm, yet carried a hint of approval, ”I know you came to the Ancient World this time, first for Xiao Xuan’s tomb in the Heavenly Tomb, and second to protect Xun’er.”

Xiao Ze nodded slightly; this trip was indeed for Xun’er.

He was about to speak, but then heard Gu Yuan’s tone shift: ”Xun’er possesses a Divine Grade Bloodline, a rare occurrence in the Ancient Clan for a thousand years. Many Elders in the Clan hope she can Cultivate without distractions and lead the Ancient Clan to a higher level in the future. Therefore, they inevitably hold grudges against you, an ’outsider’.”

This was within Xiao Ze’s expectations. After all, his Xiao Clan was just a fallen Family, so encountering obstacles was to be expected.

However, he was no longer the pushover he once was; he would fight for his own happiness.

But before he could respond, Gu Yuan smiled again: ”But I, as a father, am more open-minded than them. Xun’er has been stubborn since she was little. The person she sets her mind on, even if I try to stop her, it’s useless. Moreover, you, by your own efforts, cultivated a discarded Xiao Clan Bloodline to Six-Star Dou Sheng. This perseverance and talent are worthy of her.”

A hint of surprise flashed in Xiao Ze’s eyes, then he bowed and said: ”Thank you, Clan Chief, for your recognition. I will definitely protect Xun’er and never let her suffer any grievance.”

”It’s good that you have this intention.” Gu Yuan looked at the darkening sky in the distance, his tone softening.

”Within the Heavenly Tomb, there is not only Xiao Xuan’s tomb but also many ancient dangers. When you and Xun’er travel together, you must be extra careful.”

”Those Elders in the Clan who have grudges against you might secretly send disciples to trip you up, but as long as you don’t actively cause trouble, they won’t dare to truly harm Xun’er’s reputation.”

These words seemed like a reminder, but in reality, they subtly revealed the internal attitude of the Ancient Clan.

As long as Xiao Ze did not overstep, this Clan Chief would implicitly acknowledge their relationship and secretly balance out those opposing voices.