"Hm?"
Upon hearing the words, Hun Shou immediately caught the implication behind Hun Xiu's tone. He said, "As the elder, I'm busy too, and I don't want to disturb the clan leader lightly."
Hun Xiu quickly expressed some relief, "That's good."
But as soon as he finished speaking, Hun Shou suddenly changed his tone, speaking seriously in a low voice:"However, Hun Xiu, you should understand that the reason I went to see the clan leader was for your own good. You have activated a super divine-grade bloodline, and your talent is astonishing. These Yellow-grade and Mystic-grade battle techniques are just trash. For you, training in them would only bury your potential."
"You are destined to soar across the Nine Heavens Continent like a divine dragon. I won't stand by and watch you be ruined by inferior battle techniques."
"Because that would be a loss for you, Hun Xiu, and also a loss for our entire Hun clan."
"Hun Xiu, I think you understand. You are the son of the clan leader, Hun Tiandi. Your birth destined you for greatness."
"So, you should choose carefully and pick powerful battle techniques. After all, battle techniques are crucial for cultivators. I hope you won't ruin yourself or gamble with your future. This is no joke to be taken lightly."
Hun Xiu picked up the "Soul Slaying Palm" technique that Hun Shou had placed on the table. With a serious expression, he said, "Elder, I won't gamble with my future either. I have my own plans for choosing a Mystic-grade battle technique. It's not that I refuse to choose a Heavenly-grade technique; I just want to start from the basics."
With that, Hun Xiu left.
Hun Shou watched Hun Xiu's departing figure, the words lingering in his mind. He murmured, "Start from the basics? Have I misunderstood him?"
...
Gu Realm.
In a bamboo forest.
There was a small courtyard where a middle-aged man stood with his hands behind his back.
He wore a dark robe, exuding a faint but terrifying aura that kept others from daring to approach.
The man was not particularly handsome, but not ordinary either. His invisible presence gave him a mysterious air.
Weaker people could not even clearly see his face.
This man was none other than Gu Yuan, the current leader of the Ancient Clan and rival to Hun Tiandi.
He, like Hun Tiandi, was a pinnacle Nine-Star Dou Sheng—a martial saint—and one of the two strongest men on the continent today.
Whoosh!A gentle breeze passed through.
The bamboo swayed, producing a soothing sound, but as the wind approached within a meter of Gu Yuan, it vanished completely.
Suddenly, a figure in white appeared quietly behind Gu Yuan.
This white-clad person had white hair and delicate, refined features, exuding a celestial aura.
He was none other than Gu Dao, one of the three immortals of the Ancient Clan.
Gu Dao respectfully cupped his hands and said, "Clan Leader."
Given Gu Dao's status in the Ancient Clan as one of the peak warriors and a senior elder, he did not have to kneel to Gu Yuan.
"Gu Dao, why have you come?" Gu Yuan turned to ask.
Gu Dao's presence here signified something important.
"It concerns the Hun Clan," Gu Dao replied.
"The Hun Clan?"
Hearing this, Gu Yuan furrowed his brows. "Has the Hun Clan made any moves?"
Although the Ancient and Hun clans were both among the ancient eight clans, currently there was little friction between them.
But Gu Yuan was well aware that Hun Tiandi was no ordinary man; he had grand ambitions.
Gu Yuan clearly remembered how the strongest among the ancient eight—the Xiao Clan's leader, Xiao Xuan—met his end.
With Hun Tiandi's ambitions, the Ancient Clan could not afford to be careless.
One should have no intention to harm but must remain vigilant.
...
Therefore, the Ancient Clan also had spies within the Hun Clan. Of course, the Hun Clan could never know who they were.
Even if they suspected, they could never confirm the spies' identities.
Among the ancient eight clans, except for the already eliminated Xiao Clan, everyone feared each other.
All clans had spies, an unspoken understanding without explicit naming.
Whether they get discovered depended on each clan's skills.
The Hun Clan's overall strength, beyond its ambitions, was unquestionably formidable—on par with the Ancient Clan.
So the Ancient Clan paid far more attention to the Hun Clan than to the other five clans.
Gu Dao shook his head and said, "The Hun Clan hasn't made any big moves. It's just that a few terrifying young talents have appeared among them."
"Hm?"
"Terrifying?"
Gu Yuan looked at Gu Dao meaningfully. "If you use the word 'terrifying,' then the Hun Clan's younger generation must have produced some outstanding figures."
"Tell me."
Gu Yuan's face showed no emotion. Young talents are nothing until they fully mature.
Even geniuses sometimes die young, right?
Gu Dao said, "Among the Hun Clan's younger generation, two have divine-grade bloodlines, and one has a super divine-grade bloodline."
"Super divine-grade bloodline?"
Gu Yuan looked puzzled.
He was naturally familiar with divine-grade bloodlines. The tenth-grade bloodline was divine-grade, something only a Dou Di could have in legend.
Coincidentally, Gu Yuan himself had such a bloodline—a divine-grade bloodline of the Ancient Emperor.
But a super divine-grade bloodline?
That was new to Gu Yuan; he had never heard of such a thing.
Regaining his composure, Gu Yuan asked, "Does 'super divine-grade bloodline' mean it surpasses the divine-grade bloodline?"
Gu Dao nodded, "Yes."
"Our spies in the Hun Clan reported that during the bloodline activation ritual, Hun Tiandi's son, Hun Xiu, activated an eleventh-grade bloodline, called a super divine-grade bloodline."
"Eleventh-grade bloodline?"
Gu Yuan murmured upon hearing this report, saying nothing more.
Gu Dao hurried to add, "When I first heard this news, I was very surprised. After multiple confirmations, I am sure the information is accurate."
"This news is true. The Hun Clan has indeed produced one super divine-grade bloodline and two divine-grade bloodlines."
"I suppose the other clans will soon receive the news as well."
...
Gu Yuan sneered, "The Hun Clan truly has great luck—one super divine-grade bloodline, two divine-grade bloodlines."
His tone was unreadable, neither clearly happy nor sad. This news was certainly not good for him.
After all, the Hun Clan's young generation was far stronger than theirs.
This was disadvantageous for the Ancient Clan.
At this moment, Gu Yuan casually said, "Gu Dao, do you think there's a way to make the Hun Clan's super divine-grade bloodline heir die young?"