Xiao Clan, Xiao Xun'er's courtyard.
At this moment, inside the room, Xiao Xun'er was sitting at her desk, carefully writing on a pristine white letter:
"If you cherish me, let us walk hand in hand."
Her handwriting was delicate and neat, showing how much effort she had put into it.
Setting the brush down, she gazed at the words in a daze. A gentle smile graced her lips, and a soft tenderness welled up in her eyes.
Standing beside her, Ling Ying hesitated, as if he had something to say.
"Ling Lao, if you have something to say, just say it."
Xiao Xun'er continued looking at the letter, not raising her head, yet as if she already knew his expression.
Hearing this, Ling Ying bowed and clasped his hands. "Miss, news has arrived from the clan."
He paused, glanced at his lady, then continued, "Lei Clan's patriarch, Lei Ying, has personally gone to the Gu Clan to propose a marriage for his son, Lei Dong, to our clan."
"Lei Dong? The one said to possess the divine-grade bloodline of the Lei Clan?"
Xiao Xun'er lifted her head, her voice turning cold, losing the innocence and warmth she showed when she was with Xiao Bai.
"Yes."
"The proposal is for me, isn't it?"
"Yes."
Xiao Xun'er understood. If it weren't about her, the clan wouldn't have sent her this message regarding a political marriage.
But why send her this information? Had the clan not outright rejected the proposal?
Frowning, she pondered for a moment before letting out a mocking laugh.
"Heh, quite the calculation. Let me guess—Lei Ying must have said that uniting two divine-grade bloodlines could potentially produce a descendant whose bloodline would reach an even higher level, perhaps even breaking through that realm no one has achieved in ten thousand years?"
Though phrased as a question, her tone carried a clear certainty.
"Miss is insightful. The Lei Clan's patriarch indeed used this reasoning. Many elders in our clan are very tempted and are considering pushing the matter forward, intending to set the engagement first and hold the wedding after Miss reaches the Dou Saint Realm."
Ling Ying wasn't surprised by his lady's intelligence. For years, the clan had raised her as a candidate for the next clan leader. Ever since she was a child, aside from cultivating and seeking out Xiao Bai, she had spent most of her time reading and learning.
Had it not been for the immense temptation of Lei Ying's proposal, the Ancient Clan would never have considered marrying their lady off.
Among the remaining Ancient Eight Clans, only the Ancient Clan had preserved their bloodline the most completely, but even they were on the verge of decline. What they desired most was the emergence of another Dou Di to extend their lineage.
If the Lei Clan's proposal succeeded, both the Ancient Clan and the Lei Clan would benefit. A new Dou Di carrying both bloodlines could grant them another tens of thousands of years of prosperity.
"What did my father say?" Upon mentioning Gu Yuan, a trace of warmth flickered through Xiao Xun'er's otherwise cold gaze.
"The patriarch said everything is up to Miss's wishes. If Miss agrees, he supports it. If Miss refuses, he will reject it."
"Additionally, the patriarch asked me to relay a message: Miss does not need to sacrifice her will for the sake of the clan's future—she only needs to follow her heart. Also, he said…"
Ling Ying hesitated at this point, unsure how to continue.
"What did he say? Just tell me his exact words. No need to hold back," Xiao Xun'er said calmly.
"The old man has been stuck at Nine-Star Dou Saint peak for so many years. I already had an idea of how to break through. Lei Ying is definitely up to no good. What 'furthering the bloodline'? That old bastard just wants to trick my precious daughter into marrying his dim-witted son. Wishful thinking!"
Hearing this, Xiao Xun'er couldn't help but chuckle, a warm feeling spreading through her heart.
"Ling Lao, send a message back to the clan. Tell them I am still young and not ready to consider such matters for now. I will decide after I reach the Saint Realm."
"¡Yes, Miss!"
"…Is there something else?" Xiao Xun'er noticed Ling Ying was still standing there and asked.
"Miss, please forgive me for speaking out of turn, but… I fear that Xiao Bai may not be worthy of you."
Ling Ying clasped his hands, his tone hesitant.
In the past, Xiao Bai had always been respectful and had never made any intimate gestures toward the young lady, so Ling Ying could turn a blind eye. But today, that boy had crossed the line a little.
Hearing this, Xiao Xun'er frowned. She had been in a good mood today and had overlooked some things.
She had long been mentally prepared to face pressure from the clan regarding her relationship with Xiao Bai, but she hadn't expected this day to come so soon. And this was just Ling Ying—if the clan found out, how would they react?
They might not be able to trouble her, but they could certainly trouble Xiao Bai, and that was something she would not allow.
"Ling Ying, how many years have you been following me?" Xiao Xun'er asked after a brief silence, her tone carrying a hint of depth.
"Miss, I was chosen by the patriarch when you were three years old. I followed you to the Xiao Clan when you were four. It has been ten years now," Ling Ying replied, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, his heart pounding.
The young lady's tone felt off. When someone in power asked a subordinate such a question, it often meant they were about to be sacrificed for the greater good. Would his lady really replace or get rid of him just for her beloved?
"What do you think of Xiao Bai?" Xiao Xun'er continued expressionlessly.
"Uh… Xiao Bai is a dragon among men, a peerless talent with extraordinary brilliance. He is destined to become an Emperor in the future!" Ling Ying gritted his teeth and declared with conviction, as if he hadn't just said earlier that Xiao Bai was unworthy of his lady.
Xiao Xun'er ignored his blatant inconsistency and let out a cold laugh.
"Heh, I know that you and the others in the clan will look down on him once you find out, thinking he is inferior to Gu Qingyang and the others. But even if he remains at Dou Zhi Qi Nine Stage for his entire life, he is still the one I, Gu Xun'er, have chosen. I won't let anyone bully him!"
For a moment, she seemed to recall her early days in the Xiao Clan—alone, suffering from the searing pain of the Gold Emperor Incinerating Heavenly Flame
within her body. It was that little boy in white who had silently stayed by her side, making her smile and helping her endure those difficult times.
"Besides, my Xiao Bai is not inferior to anyone!"
Thinking of that white-clad figure, Xiao Xun'er's gaze softened, and a trace of pride appeared on her face as she murmured in her heart.
She had observed Xiao Bai's progress over the years, and today, he had surprised her more than ever.
For five years, he hadn't broken through, yet he never showed the slightest impatience—he remained calm, as if he was deliberately staying at that level. This had led her to suspect something, so she hadn't interfered, merely providing him with resources to aid his breakthrough. Still, she couldn't help but worry.
Who would have thought that today, he had finally broken through? That alone was enough to make her sigh in relief—at least nothing had gone wrong.
Then there was the story Xiao Bai had told her today. Some of the details… she didn't believe they were just fiction.
For example, the term Supreme (Sovereign Realm).
Over the years, she had come across some incomplete manuscripts in the clan, where there were vague mentions of this term. She hadn't known what it referred to before.
But after hearing Xiao Bai's story today, she had a bold guess.
Could it be that the Dou Qi Continent also had an Upper Realm? Was the Sovereign (Supreme) Realm merely a stage of cultivation in that realm?
If, as Xiao Bai had said, a Dou Di was equivalent to a Sovereign(Supreme), did that mean one had to reach the Dou Di level to ascend to that so-called Upper Realm?
Unfortunately, those manuscripts were too fragmented to reveal the full picture.
That was why, when Xiao Bai mentioned the Supreme (Sovereign) Realm today, she had been so intrigued—so eager that she couldn't help but interrupt him.