Battle Through the Heavens: Marry Cao Ying, Reward is Devouring Ancestral Symbol

Chapter 299 The Pressure of the Ancient ClanXiao Xun Er departed.

Shen Wen sat in the Flower Hall, the teacup in his hand having long since grown cold, yet he seemed completely unaware.

The message Xiao Xun Er brought was both complex and simple.

Someone in the Ancient Clan had their eyes on him.

The cause, naturally, was that zong ji pill.

A Medicinal Pill capable of raising a Dou Zong’s level by one star—it was only a matter of time before such an effect caught the attention of those reclusive Ancient Clans.

Xiao Xun Er said that an Elder in the clan proposed recruiting him as an external member of the Ancient Clan. They used high-sounding phrases like ”recruiting the world’s talents” and ”joining a grand undertaking,” but to put it bluntly, they wanted his Alchemy and aimed to tie him to the Ancient Clan’s war chariot.

As for the matter of a marriage alliance... Xiao Xun Er paused and didn’t elaborate, only saying she had already suppressed it.

Shen Wen glanced at her at the time but didn’t press for details.

In exchange, Shen Wen told her the intelligence regarding Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan had already arrived in the Central Plains and was currently active within the territory of the Wind and Thunder Pavilion.

After hearing this, a complex look flashed through Xiao Xun Er’s eyes. She offered her thanks and then rose to take her leave.

Shen Wen did not try to make her stay.

He simply sat there, watching that slender and elegant figure disappear out the door, and then let out a soft sigh.

This Young Miss of the Ancient Clan was truly devoted to a fault.

Even after being apart for so long, she still couldn’t let go of that youth.

Xiao Yan’s growth trajectory in this life was much smoother than in the original timeline.

Without as many life-and-death crises, he naturally lacked those Opportunities gained through risking his life.

However, with the kid’s talent, he still ended up clashing with the Wind and Thunder Pavilion.

Shen Wen leaned back against his chair, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrest.

He didn’t have any grand schemes for Xiao Yan.

Leaving that bit of goodwill back then was just a casual gesture. After all, he was the child of Luck from the original story; being on good terms was better than being enemies.

But what he hadn’t expected was that, after all the twists and turns, he would still fall into the sights of the Ancient Clan.

The zong ji pill.

Ultimately, this thing was the source of the trouble.

Shen Wen shook his head, feeling somewhat helpless.

He knew the zong ji pill would attract attention, but he hadn’t expected it to alarm even those reclusive Ancient Clans.

The Ancient Clan, Hun Clan, Medicine Clan, Lei Clan, Yan Clan, Ling Clan, Shi Clan... these seven Ancient Clans were the true Dominators of this continent.

No matter how strong the Pill Tower was or how prosperous the Cao Family became, they were merely slightly larger ants before these behemoths that had endured for tens of thousands of years.

Shen Wen picked up his teacup and took a sip, his brow furrowing slightly.

To be honest, he didn’t have a good impression of the Ancient Clan.

Sending their most talented Young Miss to the Xiao Family just to keep an eye on the whereabouts of the ancient emperor tuoshe jade.

For a dignified Ancient Clan to act so petty was truly beneath contempt.

But it couldn’t be denied that the Ancient Clan was indeed powerful.

So powerful that even though he could now fight a Dou Sheng, he didn’t dare to provoke them lightly.

Just as Shen Wen was thinking, a soft voice suddenly reached his ears.

”Who was that?”

Tang Huo’er had approached at some unknown point, her bright eyes fixed on him, filled with curiosity.

Shen Wen snapped back to reality and said casually, ”The Young Miss of the Ancient Clan, Xiao Xun Er.”

Tang Huo’er was slightly stunned.

The Ancient Clan?

She naturally knew what kind of existence the Ancient Clan was.

One of the seven Ancient Clans, a behemoth with a Legacy of tens of thousands of years. Dou Zongs were mere gatekeepers, Dou Zuns were as common as rain, and even Dou Shengs were numerous.

Cao Ying raised an eyebrow from the side and said indifferently, ”The Ancient Clan previously intended for her to enter a marriage alliance with my husband.”

Tang Huo’er’s eyes widened instantly.

She looked at Cao Ying, then at Shen Wen, her face full of disbelief.

”A marriage alliance? The Young Miss of the Ancient Clan?”

Shen Wen nodded, not saying much.

Tang Huo’er opened her mouth, wanting to ask something, but didn’t know where to start.

After a long while, she managed to squeeze out a sentence: ”Then you... didn’t agree?”

Shen Wen glanced at her and suddenly smiled.

”If I had agreed, the one sitting here now wouldn’t be you, but that Young Miss of the Ancient Clan.”

Tang Huo’er was stunned, then her cheeks turned slightly red, and she spat at him playfully, ”Smooth talker.”

However, a clear hint of a smile appeared in her eyes.

Cao Ying watched from the side, the corners of her lips curling up slightly, without interjecting.

Tang Huo’er quickly recovered and followed up with another question: ”Then what did she come for this time?”

Shen Wen pondered for a moment before explaining simply.

Naturally, he omitted the part about Xiao Yan and only mentioned that the Ancient Clan had their eyes on him.

After hearing this, Tang Huo’er’s brow also furrowed.

”The Ancient Clan wants to recruit you as an external member?”

Shen Wen nodded.

Tang Huo’er fell silent.

Cao Ying spoke from the side, her voice steady: ”The Ancient Clan has always acted with pride. For them to proactively extend an olive branch means that Husband’s Alchemy has indeed caught their eye.”

She paused and looked at Shen Wen: ”However, Husband needn’t worry too much.

The status of an external member in the Ancient Clan is neither high nor low.

They want to recruit you simply because they want your Alchemy to serve the Ancient Clan.”

”Whether you agree or not, they won’t go as far as to move against you over such a small matter.”

Shen Wen nodded; he knew Cao Ying’s words made sense.

But the problem was, if the Ancient Clan had their eyes on him, what about the Hun Clan?

The matter of the zong ji pill had spread so widely that it was impossible for the Hun Clan not to know.

If they also became interested...

Shen Wen’s mood, which had relaxed slightly because he could fight a Dou Sheng, tightened once again.

He sat in the Flower Hall, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest, his brow locked in a frown.

The Ancient Clan.

This behemoth with a ten-thousand-year Legacy was like a sword hanging over his head.

Although this visit was just a probe, who knew what the next one would be?

After thinking for a moment, he rose and left the residence.

This matter required consulting with his backer.

At the highest level of the Pill Tower, in the residence of the Xuan Danzi.

When Shen Wen knocked and entered, the Xuan Danzi was sitting by the window, flipping through an ancient scroll.

Seeing him enter, he glanced up and set down the items in his hand.

”Something the matter?”

Shen Wen sat down opposite him and didn’t beat around the bush, recounting the visit from Xiao Xun Er.

After hearing it, the Xuan Danzi’s brow also furrowed.

He didn’t speak immediately, but leaned back in his chair, his gaze drifting out the window as if in deep thought.

Shen Wen didn’t rush him and waited quietly.

After a long while, the Xuan Danzi finally spoke, his voice a few shades deeper than usual: ”The Ancient Clans have their eyes on you.”

Shen Wen nodded.

The Xuan Danzi looked at him, his gaze containing a hint of complexity: ”Do you know what the concept of an Ancient Clan is?”

Shen Wen said: ”The seven Ancient Clans, inheriting for ten thousand years, with Dou Shengs presiding over them.”

The Xuan Danzi nodded and added: ”And more than one.”

He paused and continued: ”I am a Six-Star Dou Sheng; on this Central Plains continent, I am revered wherever I go. But before those Ancient Clans, at most, it is an equal dialogue.”

Shen Wen remained silent.

He knew the strength of the Ancient Clan even better than the Xuan Danzi did.

The Xuan Danzi tapped the armrest and suddenly spoke: ”I will handle this matter.”

Shen Wen looked at him.

The Xuan Danzi continued: ”Though the Ancient Clans are strong, they also have rules. They’ve taken an interest in your Alchemy and want to pull you in; this is normal. But as long as you don’t proactively provoke them, they won’t move against you for this.”

”But then again, relying solely on my old face might not keep things suppressed for long.”

He paused, his gaze deep: ”It seems I need to find you some more backers.”

Shen Wen raised an eyebrow: ”What does the Old Ancestor mean?”

The Xuan Danzi waved his hand: ”Don’t you worry about it. I’ve lived for so many years; I have my ways. You do what you need to do out there; don’t fret over this.”

Shen Wen nodded and didn’t ask for details.

He knew that since the Xuan Danzi had said so, he naturally had his reasons.

But then again, relying on others for support was ultimately not a long-term solution.

After Shen Wen returned to the Shen Residence, the tension in his heart never truly eased.