10: Chapter 10: The Xiao family even brought out the ancient jade?

Xiao Zhan didn't even have time to straighten his clothes. With a smile so humble it bordered on servility and steps that felt a bit light, he came out to welcome them in fear and trepidation.

Having led the Xiao Family for years, he had seen his share of grand scenes. However, when his gaze fell upon the three figures standing in the Void Realm above, his heart suddenly constricted, and he subconsciously lightened his breathing.

Ling Yuan stood at the very front, his posture upright. His green robes fluttered without wind, and his right hand gently held Zi Yan's.

Ling Yun stood half a step behind Ling Yuan, eyes downcast. Though his aura was restrained, he exuded a pressure that could not be underestimated, like an accompanying bodyguard.

Without needing to think, Xiao Zhan determined at a glance that this seemingly young youth was the true person in charge.

Suppressing the shock in his heart, he subconsciously scanned Ling Yuan, feeling secretly stunned.

A Dou Zong! In the entire Jia Ma Empire, a Dou Zong was a non-existent entity! This youth before him looked no more than twenty years old, yet he had actually reached such a Realm!

Unless it was some hidden old monster who had practiced a disguise technique and was intentionally posing as a youth, he was definitely a Genius from some top-tier faction out for experience.

Regardless of which it was, he wasn't someone the Wutan City Xiao Family could afford to offend.

Seeing Ling Yuan's trio descend, Xiao Zhan hurriedly stepped forward, bowing his waist nearly ninety degrees with an extremely respectful tone:

"Lord Dou Zong! Your presence at our Xiao Family is a great honor. I apologize for the lack of a proper welcome! Please come in, please come in!"

As he spoke, he carefully moved aside to lead the way, only daring to steal a glance at Ling Yuan with his peripheral vision.

Upon entering the main hall, Xiao Zhan personally stepped forward to brush the dust off the seat of honor, his tone becoming even more humble: "My Lord, please, have a seat."

Ling Yuan gave a faint nod, led Zi Yan to the seat of honor and sat down. Zi Yan sat obediently beside him, still curiously observing everything in the hall.

She didn't understand why Ling Yuan had come to such a small Family, but she didn't ask questions, quietly eating her Medicinal Pills.

To help Zi Yan grow up faster, Ling Yuan was not stingy with Medicinal Pills at all.

And Zi Yan also thought about growing up quickly to repay Ling Yuan...

Ling Yun never took a seat from start to finish, silently standing behind Ling Yuan. His posture was as straight as a pine, and his sharp gaze swept across the hall.

This immediately made everyone in the Xiao Family nervous.

Xiao Zhan and several Elders did not dare to sit.

Xiao Zhan ordered the servants to bring the best tea while he stood to the side with his hands down. The smile on his face never faded, but a hint of imperceptible anxiety was hidden in the depths of his eyes.

Only after the servants served the tea and withdrew did Xiao Zhan tentatively speak, his tone still respectful and even carrying a bit of caution:

"My Lord, your visit is an honor for my Xiao Family. If there is any neglect or poor hospitality, please forgive us, my Lord. I will certainly do my best to make amends."

Seeing no reaction from Ling Yuan, he paused, took a deep breath, and bolstered his courage to continue:

"I wonder if your Lordship has any instructions for your visit to our Xiao Family? My Xiao Family has some Foundation in Wutan City. Whether it is searching for an item, a person, or any other matter within our power, as long as your Lordship speaks, my Xiao Family will certainly go all out without hesitation!"

As he said this, his palms broke into a sweat.

A powerhouse of the Dou Zong level would likely not come to a tiny Wutan City Xiao Family for no reason; there must be a purpose.

If the Xiao Family could help this Lord and establish some initial goodwill, then he could later ask the other party to help treat Xiao Yan.

Ling Yuan didn't look at the teacup on the table.

"I am passing through this place during my travels. I happened to hear that Clan Leader Xiao has a son who has been stuck at the third stage of Dou Zhi Qi for several years and cannot achieve a Breakthrough no matter what. I felt a bit of interest, so I came to take a look."

As the words fell, Xiao Zhan froze, his humility instantly replaced by pleasant surprise.

He never imagined that this Lord Dou Zong had actually come for Xiao Yan!

And he even took the initiative to offer to check on Xiao Yan's condition!

Just now on the way, he was still secretly anxious, wondering how to summon the courage to ask this powerhouse to help look into Xiao Yan's hidden affliction.

Over the years, for Xiao Yan's sake, he had sought out famous doctors across the Jia Ma Empire and exhausted many of the Xiao Family's resources, yet he still had no clue.

As a father, others simply could not experience the urgency and pain in his heart.

Now, this Lord Dou Zong had actually mentioned it himself and even said he was 'quite interested'—this was simply a godsend!

Xiao Zhan's eyes turned slightly red, with only one thought in his mind: Yan'er is saved! Yan'er is finally saved!

He could no longer suppress the excitement in his heart and hurriedly ordered a maid: "Someone! Quick! Go call the young master! Hurry!"

At the same time, he began to recount his son's situation to Ling Yuan.

"My Lord, you don't know, my son Xiao Yan was once a child of extraordinary talent!"

Xiao Zhan's voice carried a hint of reminiscence and bitterness. "At only eleven years old, he broke through to the Dou Practitioner Realm. He was a Genius rarely seen in a century in our Wutan City. But who would have thought that shortly after his Breakthrough to Dou Practitioner, the Dou Qi in his body would mysteriously begin to dissipate? His Realm dropped again and again, until finally, it stopped at the third stage of Dou Zhi Qi, unable to advance even half a step."

Ling Yuan nodded from time to time, making Xiao Zhan believe he was listening.

Xiao Zhan: "Over the years, I have taken him everywhere to seek medical help and tried countless methods. We even tried Medicinal Pills, but it was all useless. Every time he Cultivates, the Dou Zhi Qi he manages to gather with great difficulty mysteriously disappears, as if it were being sucked away by something."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Zhan waved his hand behind him and said in a deep voice: "Bring everything up!"

Soon, several Xiao Family servants carried in many wooden chests and carefully placed them on the ground.

Opening the chests—they were filled with Cultivation Technique and Dou Technique scrolls, a pile of glittering gold coins, and even a few Medicinal Pills. These were the assets the Xiao Family had accumulated over the years, practically all of the Family's valuables.

Looking at these things, Xiao Zhan took a deep breath, a look of resolve appearing on his face, and with a 'thud,' he knelt down before Ling Yuan.

His forehead pressed tightly against the ground, his voice carrying a hint of pleading: "My Lord, I beg you to save my son! As long as you can cure his hidden affliction and allow him to Cultivate again, all these things are yours! My Xiao Family's Cultivation Techniques, Dou Techniques, gold coins, and even my own life, Xiao Zhan—as long as you speak, I am willing to give anything!"

This kneel not only stunned the servants present, but even the Xiao Family Elders standing to the side had their expressions change drastically.

They had no idea beforehand that Xiao Zhan would do this.

These things were the blood and sweat of several generations of the Xiao Family, the very Foundation of the Xiao Family's standing in Wutan City. How could they all be given away for the sake of Xiao Yan alone?

But now that Xiao Zhan had already spoken, they didn't dare stand up to object, fearing they would be swatted to death by Ling Yuan.

Xiao Zhan didn't care what these Elders thought; he had only one thought in his heart: as long as Yan'er could recover his Dou Qi, what did it matter if he gave away the Family's Cultivation Techniques, Dou Techniques, or anything else?

Ling Yuan scanned those Cultivation Techniques and Dou Techniques; he only gave them a faint glance, his eyes showing no interest whatsoever.

Ling Yuan would even find such things to be a waste of space in his storage ring.

But just as he was about to look away, an unremarkable wooden box containing an ancient jade plaque suddenly caught his attention.

The jade plaque was green throughout, its surface carved with several blurry patterns. It had no Dou Qi fluctuations and looked completely ordinary, yet it caused Ling Yuan's pupils to contract suddenly.

Holy crap, isn't this the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade?