266: Ancient tribes visit

The Ruins Hall used thunderous methods to annihilate the first wave of enemies from the Hall of Souls, like dropping a giant boulder into the deep waters of the Central Plains, sending ripples rapidly spreading to every corner of the Fighting Qi Continent.

For a time, the names "Ruins Hall" and "Li Ao" became the focus of discussion among all factions in the Central Plains. An emerging power, possessing a Dou Sheng to hold the fort, controlling the Purification Lotus Demon Flame ranked third on the strange fire ranking list, and daring to draw its sword against the Hall of Souls immediately after establishing its prestige—this strength and boldness made countless people look on with side-eyed attention.

Some factions that had originally taken a wait-and-see attitude, or had grudges with the Hall of Souls, began to secretly extend olive branches to the Ruins Hall, or provided conveniences in resource trading. Meanwhile, the Hall of Souls and its affiliated forces temporarily retracted their claws and became silent, as if it were the calm before the storm, but everyone knew they would definitely not let it go at that.

Ruins Hall headquarters, inside the main hall.

Li Ao sat at the head, listening to the various Elders below report on the reactions of the various factions in recent days and the affairs within the hall. After the battle to establish his prestige, his prestige in the Ruins Hall had reached its Peak, and no one dared to question any of his decisions anymore.

"Hall Master, we have recently received many letters of allegiance from small and medium-sized factions, hoping to attach themselves to our Ruins Hall. Among them are quite a few Sects that have a Dou Zun holding the fort," the External Affairs Elder reported respectfully.

"Screen them carefully; better to have nothing than to have substandard ones. Our Ruins Hall does not raise idlers, and we certainly do not accept fence-sitters," Li Ao said indifferently. "For core members, quality is more important than quantity."

"Yes!" The External Affairs Elder responded solemnly.

"Any movement from the Hall of Souls?" Li Ao looked at the Shadow Elder, who was in charge of intelligence.

The Shadow Elder said in a deep voice, "Reporting to the Hall Master, the Hall of Souls' overt forces have indeed contracted in the Western Region, but according to reports from our planted deep-cover agents, the frequency of their activities has increased rather than decreased. They seem to be mobilizing forces, and... there is more than one exceptionally powerful aura that has appeared in the border areas of the Western Region recently, suspected to be... Dou Sheng."

Dou Sheng! The atmosphere in the hall condensed slightly. Was the Hall of Souls finally going to use Saint-Grade power?

Li Ao's expression did not change; instead, the corners of his mouth hooked into a faint arc. "Finally willing to send out decent opponents? No matter, just let them come."

His current strength needed powerful opponents to temper himself and verify the power of the Guixu Great Dao.

Just at this moment, a clear reporting voice suddenly came from outside the hall:

"Report—Hall Master! An envoy from the Ancient Clan has arrived, already at the mountain gate!"

An envoy from the Ancient Clan?

Everyone in the hall was startled, and then their faces showed shock. The Ancient Clan, one of the Ancient Eight Clans, was a behemoth that truly stood at the Peak of the Fighting Qi Continent. Its transcendent status was far from what ordinary first-rate factions could compare to. They actually took the initiative to send an envoy to the Ruins Hall?

A flash of realization crossed Li Ao's eyes. He exchanged a glance with the Medicine Elder beside him, and both saw the answer in the other's eyes.

It seemed the time had come.

"Invite the envoy from the Ancient Clan in," Li Ao said calmly, his voice spreading throughout the main hall.

Not long after, led by an Elder of the Ruins Hall, three figures stepped into the main hall.

The leader was a woman dressed in green clothing. She had a slender figure, a stunningly beautiful face, and an ethereal and refined temperament, like a Fairy who had walked out of a painting. She did not deliberately radiate any aura, but where her clear, glass-like eyes swept, it seemed as if she could see through people's hearts, carrying an innate nobility and indifference. Her cultivation had clearly reached the Peak Dou Zun level, and the thickness of her Foundation was far beyond what an ordinary Peak Dou Zun could compare to.

Behind her followed two old men dressed in simple grey robes. Their auras were deep and restrained, and brilliant light flashed between their opening and closing eyes. They were actually both Half-Saint level powerhouses! At this moment, however, they stood quietly behind the woman in the green dress like guards.

This lineup made the senior members of the Ruins Hall inwardly tremble. The heritage of the Ancient Clan was truly unfathomable.

The woman in the green dress let her gaze fall directly on Li Ao at the head of the hall, her lips curving slightly to reveal a faint smile that could make a hundred flowers lose their color, her voice crisp and pleasant:

"Ancient Clan, Gu Xun'er, greets Hall Master Li Ao."

Gu Xun'er!

Once this name was spoken, many people in the hall felt their hearts shake. This was the legendary Young Miss of the Ancient Clan, with an extremely noble status! She had actually come in person?

Li Ao stood up and returned the salute, his expression calm. "So it is Miss Xuner who has come in person. I apologize for the lack of a proper welcome; please take a seat."

Gu Xun'er performed a graceful salute and sat down to the side with the two grey-robed old men. Her gaze swept seemingly casually over Medusa and Xiao Yi Xian beside Li Ao, lingering for a moment on the coldly elegant and stunningly beautiful Medusa, a trace of hard-to-detect strangeness flashing in her eyes, but she quickly returned to normal.

"Hall Master Li has shaken the Central Plains recently, founding the Ruins Hall with thunderous momentum, and even facing the Hall of Souls head-on; it is truly admirable," Gu Xun'er began, her voice flowing like a clear spring, carrying sincere admiration.

"Miss Xuner is too kind. It was merely a necessity for self-preservation," Li Ao responded indifferently.

Gu Xun'er smiled slightly, stopped beating around the bush, and directly stated her purpose: "I have come presumptuously this time, firstly to represent the Ancient Clan and congratulate the Ruins Hall on its establishment. Secondly, there is a matter I wish to discuss with Hall Master Li."

"Oh? What matter?" Li Ao already understood in his heart.

"I believe Hall Master Li is also aware that our Ancient Clan's Heavenly Tomb is about to open," Gu Xun'er's expression became a bit more serious. "The Heavenly Tomb is the resting place of our clan's ancestors and also a supreme treasure land for tempering the younger generation. With this opening, our clan wishes to invite some talented young heroes from the continent to enter together and seek Opportunity."

She looked directly at Li Ao with her beautiful eyes, her tone carrying a hint of solemnity: "Hall Master Li is young yet has already reached the Saint-Grade, controlling the Purification Lotus Demon Flame; it is something I have only seen in my life. Our Ancient Clan sincerely invite Hall Master Li to participate in this trip to the Heavenly Tomb."

A low uproar immediately erupted in the hall. The Heavenly Tomb of the Ancient Clan! That was a legendary land of Opportunity. It was said that cultivating in it for one day was comparable to a year in the outside world! There was even a chance to obtain the Legacy of ancient powerhouses! This kind of Opportunity was enough to make any faction green with envy!

However, Li Ao did not agree immediately. He pondered for a moment and looked at Gu Xun'er: "I am grateful for the Ancient Clan's regard. However, I have a presumptuous request."

"Please speak, Hall Master Li."

"I have a Junior Brother named Xiao Yan, currently a Five-Star Dou Zun, with a resilient Heart-Nature and outstanding talent. I wonder if the Ancient Clan could grant one more spot?" Li Ao said calmly.

As soon as he said this, the two Half-Saint old men behind Gu Xun'er frowned imperceptibly. How precious was a spot in the Heavenly Tomb of the Ancient Clan? Could it be increased so casually?

However, when Gu Xun'er heard the words "Xiao Yan", her clear eyes lit up slightly, as if stars were twinkling. She almost did not hesitate, smiling brightly, that smile even more radiant and moving than before:

"So it is Brother Xiao Yan... I can make the decision on this matter. The Ancient Clan welcomes Brother Xiao Yan to come."

She agreed so readily, without even asking for the reason, which made both Li Ao and the Medicine Elder somewhat surprised. It seemed that the relationship between Xiao Yan and this Young Miss of the Ancient Clan was far deeper than they had imagined.

"In that case, I will thank Miss Xuner on behalf of Junior Brother Xiao Yan," Li Ao said, cupping his hands.

"Hall Master Li is too polite," Gu Xun'er smiled faintly, her gaze falling on Li Ao again, carrying a hint of curiosity and inquiry, "I wonder when Hall Master Li intends to set off for the Ancient World?"

Li Ao thought for a moment, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes: "Once I finish dealing with this little trouble from the Hall of Souls, I will set off immediately."

He needed a victory of sufficient weight to completely establish the status of the Ruins Hall in the Central Plains, and also to let the Ancient Clan see the value of cooperating with him. And the upcoming counterattack from the Hall of Souls was the best whetstone and target for establishing his prestige!

Hearing this, Gu Xun'er's beautiful eyes sparkled, and she nodded gently: "Then I will wait in the Ancient World for Hall Master Li and Brother Xiao Yan's arrival."

A meeting concerning the future landscape ended in a calm yet undercurrent-filled atmosphere. And everyone sensed that a Saint-Grade storm that would sweep across the world was about to arrive in the Western Region of the Central Plains.