Chapter 380 The Stone Clan is Annihilated

The news of the Bodhi Ancient Tree's disappearance did not cause much of a stir in the Central Plains.

That thing was too mysterious, appearing only a handful of times in a thousand years, and the duration of its stay varied, so no one could grasp its patterns.

Some said it had fallen asleep, some said it had gone traveling, and others said it was merely an illusion that didn't exist at all.

In any case, one just had to wait for the next millennium.

Shen Wen was happy to enjoy the peace and quiet.

He placed the Bodhi Ancient Tree in the Small World he had refined earlier and named it the "Dragon Phoenix Realm".

Given Shen Wen's current mastery over Space Power, maintaining such a Small World was not difficult, let alone the fact that the Bodhi Ancient Tree itself could nourish the space.

The thousand-foot giant tree stood in the center of the Dragon Phoenix Realm, its colorful canopy spread out, and its roots dug deep into the earth; the entire space became vibrant because of it.

The once gray sky was now tinged with a faint colorful glow, and the air was filled with a crisp, refreshing scent.

Shen Wen stood in the Dragon Phoenix Realm, looking up at the magnificent canopy, and nodded slightly.

The Bodhi Ancient Tree's aura had stabilized at the Dou Sheng level; although it could not move, just standing there made it an existence capable of guarding a territory.

He turned and left.

In the following days, Shen Wen stayed in the Shen Residence with peace of mind, digesting the gains from that battle.

The power of a Five-Star Dou Sheng was gradually consolidated and settled by him bit by bit. He also flipped through the Dou Techniques he had stripped from the black-robed Dou Di's negative emotions one by one.

Finger techniques, palm techniques, movement techniques, Soul attacks—five or six types of Heaven Rank Dou Skills, each of which would be enough to make any Dou Sheng fight tooth and nail if they were out in the world.

But after reading them, Shen Wen only had one feeling.

Just so-so.

It wasn't that he was arrogant, it was just that he really didn't think much of these things.

Which of the Heavenly Emperor Fist or Great Desolation Heaven Imprisoning Hand wasn't stronger than these? Not to mention the Nine Secrets and Ten Great Fierce Beast Arts.

He casually sealed those Dou Techniques and threw them into a corner of his storage ring, leaving them for his subordinates to use.

However, the remnant power of the Dou Di that he had refined benefited him greatly.

His cultivation at the mid-stage of Five-Star Dou Sheng was completely stabilized, and his Foundation was even more solid than before.

One day, while Shen Wen was drinking tea in the Flower Hall, the doorman reported: Xiao Xun Er requested an audience.

"Please."

A moment later, Xiao Xun Er stepped into the Flower Hall.

She wore a light green dress, her dark hair cascaded like a waterfall, and her appearance was elegant and beautiful.

However, her complexion was not very good, with faint dark circles under her eyes, obviously having not slept well these past few days.

Shen Wen raised his hand to signal her to sit and had a maid serve tea.

Xiao Xun Er sat down opposite him, picked up the teacup, took a sip, and set it down. Her fingers traced the rim of the cup twice, as if she were deliberating how to speak.

Shen Wen did not urge her, leaning back in his chair to wait.

"The Shi Clan has been destroyed."

Xiao Xun Er finally spoke, her voice low.

The hand Shen Wen was using to hold his teacup paused slightly.

He looked up at Xiao Xun Er, his brows slightly furrowed.

"When?"

"Three days ago." Xiao Xun Er's voice was a bit hoarse, "The Elder my father sent to contact the Shi Clan saw it with his own eyes. The Small World shattered, the clan grounds turned into ruins, and not a single person was left alive."

The Flower Hall went quiet for a moment.

Shen Wen put down the teacup, leaned back in his chair, and tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest.

The Shi Clan.

One of the Emperor Clans, with a heritage of over ten thousand years, and Dou Sheng guarding the clan.

Just like that, they were gone.

He recalled what Gu Yuan had said that day.

"If the Hun Clan makes a move against you, the Gu Clan will not sit idly by."

The corners of Shen Wen's mouth curled up slightly, carrying a hint of mockery.

"Didn't your father say he wanted to protect everyone before? What kind of protection is this?"

Xiao Xun Er's expression worsened.

She lowered her head, her fingers gripping the teacup.

She had been present at the time, so she naturally knew that Shen Wen was not mocking her.

"At that time, my father was held back by a mysterious expert." Her voice was very low, "Also a Nine-Star Dou Sheng, with a very strange aura, it seemed... related to a Dou Di."

Shen Wen raised an eyebrow.

Void Swallowing Flame.

That thing was enlightened by the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor back in the day, transforming from a cluster of Heavenly Flame into human form, and it indeed carried the brand of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor.

However, that brand should only be a Seal, suppressing Void Swallowing Flame's partial memories regarding the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's Cave Abode.

Otherwise, given that thing's nature, it would have run off to snatch the emperor's origin long ago; why would it still be hanging around with Hun Tiandi?

Shen Wen picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said in a flat tone: "Understood, understood. After all, Xiao Xuan was the same back then."

Xiao Xun Er's expression became even more awkward.

She bit her lip, wanting to say something, but found her throat felt blocked by something.

Back when Xiao Xuan was breaking through in the Heavenly Tomb, the Gu Clan Elders secretly tampered with things, leading Hun Clan experts into the Heavenly Tomb.

Causing Xiao Xuan's Breakthrough to fail and leading to his death. Her father, Gu Yuan, knew about this, but did nothing.

Now that the Shi Clan had been destroyed, Gu Yuan had been held back again and achieved nothing.

Seeing Xiao Xun Er's expression, Shen Wen did not continue this topic.

"What does your father plan to do next?"

Xiao Xun Er took a deep breath, suppressing the emotions in her heart, and her voice returned to a calm state: "My father said that the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade from the Shi Clan has already fallen into the hands of the Hun Clan."

"Added to the one from the Ling Clan, the Hun Clan has at least three in their hands now."

She paused and continued: "The Medicine Clan and Yan Clan are already alert, and the two Clan Chiefs are discussing joining forces. The Lei Clan is also watching from the sidelines."

Shen Wen nodded without speaking.

Xiao Xun Er looked at him, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke: "Shen Wen, my father said... he would like to ask your father-in-law to intervene."

Shen Wen put down the teacup and leaned back in his chair.

"Your father said that last time too." He said in a flat tone, "And then? The Shi Clan is gone."

Xiao Xun Er bit her lip.

Seeing her expression, Shen Wen softened his tone: "It's not that I won't help you, it's that I really can't convince my father-in-law."

"He is the Dragon Emperor of the Void Ancient Dragon, not my subordinate."

He paused and continued: "Besides, your father doesn't even know who the opponent is, how can I talk to my father-in-law about it?"

Xiao Xun Er fell silent.

She knew that what Shen Wen said was the truth.

Zhu Kun is a Peak Nine-Star Dou Sheng existence; an expert of this level cannot be moved by just anyone's words.

"I will convey your words." Xiao Xun Er stood up and bowed slightly to Shen Wen, "Thank you."

Shen Wen waved his hand.

Xiao Xun Er turned and walked towards the door. When she reached the doorway, she suddenly stopped and said without looking back: "Shen Wen, be careful. The Hun Clan has never given up on you."

As her words fell, that light green figure had already disappeared outside the door.

Shen Wen sat in the Flower Hall, picked up the tea that had gone cold, took a sip, and his gaze fell on the darkening sky outside.

The Hun Clan.

Void Swallowing Flame.

He tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest, his mind racing.

Void Swallowing Flame making a move to hold back Gu Yuan showed that the Hun Clan had already begun to accelerate.

The Ling Clan, the Shi Clan, who is next?

The Medicine Clan? The Yan Clan? Or the Lei Clan?

No matter who is next, the more Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade the Hun Clan has, the closer they are to opening the Ancient Emperor Cave.

Shen Wen put down the teacup, stood up, and walked towards the backyard.

Halfway there, he suddenly stopped.

How much does that Void Swallowing Flame actually remember?

It was enlightened by the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor and carries the brand of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor.

That brand should have sealed some of its memories regarding the Ancient Emperor Cave, otherwise it wouldn't be obediently hanging around with Hun Tiandi.

But it remembers Zhu Kun.

Shen Wen's brows furrowed slightly.

After Zhu Kun appeared, Void Swallowing Flame immediately took action.

This showed that it remembered that Zhu Kun was trapped in the Ancient Emperor Cave and also knew what level of existence Zhu Kun was.

So it started to accelerate, personally moving to hold back Gu Yuan, allowing the Hun Clan to take the opportunity to destroy the Shi Clan and seize the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade.

Shen Wen leaned back against the backrest, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest.

That old guy Gu Yuan has a different way of thinking.

He has high talent and strong cultivation, but he is indecisive and overly cautious in his actions.

He sat by and watched Xiao Xuan fall back then, and now he has been held back by Void Swallowing Flame, achieving nothing.

A person like this is too unreliable to cooperate with.

Who knows if Hun Tiandi might say something like "Once a Demonic Beast, always a Demonic Beast" and convince Gu Yuan?

It might not happen with others, but Gu Yuan... it's hard to say.

Shen Wen shook his head.

Fortunately, he didn't cooperate with that old scammer.

He turned and continued walking towards the backyard, his steps a bit lighter.

In the Flower Hall, Cao Ying was holding Shen Yunlong on a soft couch, Xiao Yi Xian was peeling an orange on the side, and Dan Chen was engrossed in a scroll of Pill Formula.

Seeing Shen Wen enter, Cao Ying looked up: "Has Xiao Xun Er left?"

Shen Wen sat down beside her and reached out to take Shen Yunlong. The little guy could already call people; his dark eyes stared at him as he called out "Daddy" in a milky voice.

Shen Wen pinched his little face, and the little guy grinned, revealing a few small baby teeth.

"She left." Shen Wen held Shen Yunlong in his arms and leaned back on the soft couch, "The Shi Clan has been destroyed."

The Flower Hall went quiet for a moment.

Xiao Yi Xian's hand peeling the orange paused, and Dan Chen looked up from the Pill Formula, eyes wide.

"The Shi Clan?" Dan Chen's voice was tight, "The Emperor Clan Shi Clan?"

Shen Wen nodded.

"How can that be..." Dan Chen murmured, "That is an Emperor Clan."

Shen Wen did not explain, just lowered his head to tease Shen Yunlong in his arms. The little guy was being pinched on the face, giggling, his little hands gripping his lapel tightly.

Cao Ying looked at Shen Wen, was silent for a moment, and asked softly: "What do you plan to do?"

Shen Wen looked up, leaning on the soft couch, his gaze falling outside the window.

"Wait."

He paused, his tone calm: "The Hun Clan needs to collect the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade, and they are still missing quite a few pieces. For a short time, they won't make a move against me."

"Besides," the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, "my father-in-law is still here."

Cao Ying nodded and did not ask any more questions.

Xiao Yi Xian handed over the peeled orange. Shen Wen took it, took a bite, and leaned back on the soft couch, his gaze falling into the twilight outside the window.

That old guy Gu Yuan is unreliable, but he still has his own trump cards.

Zhu Kun, the Bodhi Ancient Tree, the eight ancestral talismans, the Emperor Realm Soul...

Once he digests all of these things, even if Hun Tiandi comes in person, he won't be afraid.

Shen Wen tossed the last segment of the orange into his mouth, stood up, and handed Shen Yunlong to Cao Ying.

"I'm going to the Pill Tower for a meeting."