293: Chapter 293 The Fox Clan Chief's Decision: From Now On, I Will Be Your Protector

The Clan Chief then spoke slowly, her cold, clear voice infused with spiritual energy, clearly reaching every corner of the square:

"Fellow clansmen, the light screen shows nothing but the facts of what recently occurred in our clan's Holy Land.

The protagonist is the one standing beside me—Sect Master Xu, Xu Ruyu."

Everyone's gaze focused instantly on Xu Ruyu.

There was curiosity, reverence, worship, and scrutiny; there was confusion, and even... a trace of deeply hidden jealousy and unease.

"Sect Master Xu, while still in the Qi Refinement Stage, successfully breached all nine levels of our clan's 'Nine-Aperture Exquisite Array'.

You have all witnessed a glimpse of that process." The Clan Chief's voice was steady but carried an unquestionable power, "The spirit testing stone was destroyed not because of his poor Aptitude, but because his 'Dao' is brand new—a standard of the past cannot measure it!

The Illusory Moon Well changed due to his breath, allowing the artifact spirit to break its shackles and bless the entire clan!

Within the War Soul Tower, he defied and attacked a Nascent Soul mark (albeit a mark) while in the Qi Refinement Stage; his courage was unparalleled!

In the Ancient Inheritance Ground, he completed and optimized a hundred of our clan's incomplete saint tablet; his contribution will last for generations, his grace akin to a rebirth!

In the Thousand-Illusion Lost Track Cave, he seized control of the Taihu Forbidden Array, optimized its operation, and strengthened our clan's defensive foundation!

Inside the battle soul blood crystal, he faced death without hesitation for our ancient comrades; the purity of his Heart-Nature is something heaven and earth can testify to!

On the Heaven-Climbing Ladder, he ascended step by step, finally reaching the summit and summoning celestial light; his perseverance is rarely seen throughout the ages!

In the Taihu Divine Temple, he received recognition from the ancestors mark, was chosen by a holy artifact, and under the witness of Ancestor Tianhu, he saw through illusions, held fast to his own Dao, and passed the final 'Heart of Dao-Seeking' trial!"

As the Clan Chief listed each achievement, the silence in the square deepened, and the shock of the crowd accumulated layer by layer.

When these eight earth-shattering deeds (counting the Taihu Divine Temple and Heart of Dao-Seeking) were connected and converged upon a single person, the impact was incomparable!

Many Elders and Disciples who had harbored doubts about Xu Ruyu's rapid rise or had only heard rumors now truly realized what kind of inconceivable feats this seemingly ordinary youth had accomplished!

This could no longer be described by the word "Genius"; he was a "Prodigy" born in response to the times, a walking legend!

"Such achievements, such Heart-Nature, such potential," the Clan Chief's voice suddenly rose, carrying a decisive finality, "to our Taihu Clan, this is an unprecedented kindness, a once-in-a-thousand-years Opportunity, and the possibility of a turning point for our clan's destiny!"

She turned to face Xu Ruyu and bowed slightly under the gaze of thousands of clansmen.

This action caused another wave of gasps.

"Sect Master Xu," the Clan Chief's gaze was solemn, "you perfected our clan's Legacy, helped our artifact spirit break through, offered the method to optimize the Forbidden Array, and even bled and faced death for our ancient clansmen in the illusion; finally, you voluntarily returned the Taihu Sacred Tripod, which was bestowed by the ancestor and symbolizes supreme authority... For such great kindness and virtue, our Taihu Clan has no way to repay you!"

Xu Ruyu quickly stepped aside to return the gesture: "Clan Chief, you speak too seriously. This Junior..."

The Clan Chief raised her hand to stop him, her gaze sweeping back to the crowd below, her voice clear and firm, ringing out like the clashing of gold and iron:

"Therefore, after discussion with the Supreme Mage and the core Elders, and with the grace and approval of Ancestor Tianhu's decree—"

She paused, every word seemingly carrying the weight of thousands of pounds:

"From this day forth, I, the current Clan Chief of the Taihu Clan, Yuehua!"

"Will personally serve as the Dao Protector for Sect Master Xu, Xu Ruyu!"

"Dao Protector?!"

These three words struck like three heavy hammers, smashing into the hearts of every Taihu clansman, as well as the hearts of everyone from the Hehuan Sect, and even Xu Ruyu himself!

The square instantly plunged into absolute silence, where a pin drop could be heard.

Everyone's expressions were frozen in extreme astonishment, shock, and bewilderment.

A Dao Protector... In the Cultivation World, this was an extremely heavy, extremely intimate, and extremely rare status.

It usually only existed between Master and Disciple (often the Master protecting the path of a brilliant Disciple), close blood relatives, or intimate friends with life-and-death bonds.

A Dao Protector meant that on the path of cultivation, one would guard the other's Dao path, ward off external demons, resolve disasters, and even, when necessary, not hesitate to use one's own cultivation and life as the price to safeguard their growth!

This was not just a verbal promise, but a vow and responsibility that delved deep into Karma and involved the Dao path itself!

Generally speaking, only those peerless Prodigies who were confirmed to possess supreme potential and were worth exhausting all resources to cultivate would have great experts willing to lower themselves to serve as their Dao Protector.

And now, the Taihu Clan's Clan Chief, an expert at the Soul Transformation Stage, the supreme existence wielding the power of an ancient clan, actually publicly announced that she would serve as the Dao Protector for an outsider, a youth in the Qi Refinement Stage?!

This had already exceeded the category of "courtesy"; this was nearly elevating Xu Ruyu's status to be on par with the Clan Chief's own successor, or even, in a certain sense, to an even more special position!

This meant that from now on, in the Tianyin Mountains, whoever made an enemy of Xu Ruyu would be making an enemy of the Taihu Clan Chief! An enemy of the will of the entire Taihu Clan!

This was simply... unimaginable! Earth-shattering!

After a brief silence, like a volcanic eruption, a massive roar of voices exploded!

"Clan Chief?! You... please reconsider!"

"Dao Protector? This... how can this be?!"

"Sect Master Xu has great kindness, but our clan has treated him with the highest courtesy, opening resources and allocating territory; we have already done all we could! Why must you, Clan Chief, personally..."

"Yes! The Clan Chief is the head of the clan, shouldering the rise and fall of the entire clan; how can you easily protect the Dao for an outsider? Once this precedent is set, there will be endless future troubles!"

"Please, Clan Chief, retract your command!"