137: Chapter 137: The Four Great Families

A piece of Sword Intent from a Void Refining expert, a Dao Enlightenment Fruit, and a Heart Protection Mirror.

Any one of these three Magic Treasures would be qualified to enter the auction house of the Wanbao Pavilion.

Even ordinary Soul Transformation Stage experts might not possess Magic Treasures of this level.

Let alone those at the Nascent Soul Stage.

White Emperor brought out these three treasures specifically to sway Xiao Ran.

But Xiao Ran was not just at the Nascent Soul Stage!

He had looted several ruins, so he was not particularly interested in Magic Treasures of this level.

Xiao Ran looked at these three items and sneered inwardly.

"Payment? I'm afraid it's more like a sugar-coated bullet."

However, on the surface, he wore an expression of gratitude.

"Many thanks, City Lord."

White Emperor nodded with satisfaction.

"Then it is settled."

"Go to the Dongfang Family immediately and tell them that I allow them to leave the city for the rescue, but you must accompany them."

"I will hand over the method to activate the City Protection Array to you later."

Xiao Ran nodded. "Understood."

He stood up and was about to leave when White Emperor suddenly called him back. "Xiao Ran."

Xiao Ran turned back. White Emperor looked at him, his eyes filled with affection.

"Be careful, it is... not peaceful outside."

Xiao Ran lowered his head. "Thank you for your concern, City Lord."

He turned and left. Walking out of the bedchamber, the smile on Xiao Ran's face vanished instantly.

"Old thing, what exactly are you planning?" he cursed inwardly.

Letting him leave the city? Isn't that equivalent to letting a tiger return to the mountains? White Emperor couldn't be that stupid.

Unless... he never intended for him to return alive.

Xiao Ran narrowed his eyes. Would there be an ambush after leaving the city? Or perhaps, among the four great families, there were people working for White Emperor?

He touched the pouch in his embrace. There was still the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox. And Elder Ying. White Emperor's sudden change of plan had disrupted his own.

"Respond to the ever-changing situation with constancy; I will go to the Dongfang Family first to see."

... An hour ago. East of White Emperor City, Dongfang Family.

In a secret chamber, four figures sat in a circle.

Ancestor Dongfang, with white hair and beard, a refined face, his entire Aura restrained.

Ancestor Nangong, looking like a middle-aged man, with a gloomy complexion and sharp light flashing in his eyes.

Ancestor Ximen, dressed in black, with a thin build, his whole person exuding a cold and gloomy Aura.

Ancestor Beiming, a white-haired old woman, leaning on a cane, resting with her eyes closed.

Four Void Refinement Stage experts. "Is the news confirmed?" Ancestor Nangong asked.

Ancestor Dongfang nodded. "Confirmed. White Emperor is indeed seriously injured and has not appeared in the past few days."

Ancestor Nangong sneered. "Has not appeared? I'm afraid it's an act, right? Have you forgotten that the old fox is most skilled at acting?"

Ancestor Ximen said leisurely, "Whether it is an act or not, we will know if we test it."

Ancestor Beiming opened her eyes. "How to test it?"

Ancestor Ximen looked at Ancestor Dongfang. "Brother Dongfang, isn't your direct grandson... currently outside?"

Ancestor Dongfang narrowed his eyes. "You mean..."

Ancestor Ximen laughed. "Just say he is being hunted, in imminent danger, and request to leave the city for a rescue. See how White Emperor responds."

Ancestor Nangong's eyes lit up. "Good idea!"

"If he approves, it means he is truly unable to control the situation. If he does not approve..."

Ancestor Beiming continued, "If he does not approve, we will have a reason to cause trouble."

The four Old Ancestors looked at each other and laughed. Ancestor Dongfang stood up. "I will send someone to report this immediately."

... Dongfang Family, Council Hall. As Xiao Ran stepped into the hall, he immediately felt several scrutinizing gazes.

Four people were sitting in the hall. The Head of Dongfang Clan sat in the center, with three old men on his left and right.

All four were at the Soul Transformation Stage. These few were the descendants of the Old Ancestors, and also the current managers of the Family.

Xiao Ran felt a shiver in his heart, but his face remained calm. He cupped his hands and said, "Junior Xiao Ran, I have come under the orders of City Lord Bai."

The Head of Dongfang Clan raised an eyebrow. "City Lord Bai? He sent you?"

Xiao Ran nodded. "The City Lord is indisposed and cannot come in person, so he specifically ordered this Junior to accompany the Dongfang Family to leave the city for the rescue."

Upon hearing this, a strange look flashed in the eyes of the Head of Dongfang Clan. "Accompany?"

Xiao Ran smiled and said, "Yes, accompany. The City Lord said that the Head of Dongfang Clan is anxious to save his son and cannot be stopped, but it is dangerous outside the city, so someone is needed to look after things."

As soon as he finished speaking, another old man sneered. "Look after things? Just by relying on you, a Late Nascent Soul Stage cultivator?"

Xiao Ran looked at him. "And who is this?"

The Head of Dongfang Clan introduced him upon hearing this. "This is a consultant of our Dongfang Family, with a status equivalent to an Elder."

Hearing this, the old man lifted his head slightly, as if showing off.

Xiao Ran certainly would not indulge his bad habits. "Oh, so it's just an Elder!"

"If this were in my Eternal Night Demon Sect, an Elder like you would not have the qualifications to speak to me like this."

Xiao Ran's Aura was overbearing. Just kidding, if it came to comparing backgrounds, the Demon Lord of the Eternal Night Demon Sect could kick the Dongfang Family around like a ball.

After all, the last Sect that the Eternal Night Demon Sect had casually wiped out had more than one Void Refining Stage monster within its ranks.

But so what? The Eternal Night Demon Sect only sent a few Hall Masters, and they scattered the ashes of that Sect's high-level members.

"You..." The rebuked Elder was furious and immediately wanted to lash out.

But after seeing that Xiao Ran was not afraid in the slightest, he backed down. He could not afford to provoke the Demonic Path.

At this moment, Ancestor Dongfang stood out to smooth things over. "Young Master Xiao, please don't take it to heart."

"Since that is the case, I will have to trouble Young Master Xiao to accompany this old man on a trip."

Xiao Ran then nodded. "It is only right. However, this Junior has an impertinent request."

Ancestor Dongfang was stunned and immediately asked, "Speak."

"After leaving the city, you Seniors must take me with you in all your actions, otherwise it will be difficult for me to report back!"

Ancestor Dongfang frowned. "We are going to look for someone..."

He had originally intended to use his speed to shake off Xiao Ran after leaving, and then fool around outside for two days before returning. After all, he didn't need to actually save anyone.

But bringing Xiao Ran along would be troublesome.

Xiao Ran immediately replied upon hearing this, "This is what White Emperor requested."

Ancestor Dongfang thought for a moment and could only agree. "Very well."

Xiao Ran cupped his hands. "Thank you, Senior." He turned and left.

The four old men watched his back, each with their own thoughts. "This kid is not simple."

The old man who had not spoken until now said leisurely. The rebuked Elder immediately snorted coldly. "A mere Nascent Soul, what kind of waves can he stir up?"

The last old man shook his head. "He has White Emperor's Sword Intent in his hand. The fact that White Emperor could hand such a thing to him means..."

He did not finish. But the other three all understood. It meant White Emperor trusted him. Or rather, White Emperor was using him.

The Head of Dongfang Clan spoke up. "Regardless, let's first see what White Emperor is really planning." The four nodded.

... Walking out of the Dongfang Family, Xiao Ran exhaled a long breath.

Through the conversation just now, he discovered that the Dongfang Family's rescue seemed to be fake, merely a pretext to test White Emperor.

What Xiao Ran didn't understand was that if he could see it, White Emperor had no reason not to see it. So what exactly did White Emperor want to do? There must be something going on here.