Chapter 12: The Spirit Emerges, the Emperor Displays His Might!

“Who’s speaking?”

“My goodness, could Xiao Yan really be serious?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. If he were truly a Dou Huang, would he bother with a worthless nobody?”

Whispers spread through the Xiao family’s main hall, the younger generation casting complicated glances toward Xiao Yan in the center.

Surprise, envy, doubt, disbelief.

Xiao Zhan turned to Xiao Yan beside him. “Yan’er, have you really accepted a Dou Huang as your sworn big brother?”

“Yes, Father.” A faint, bitter smile flickered at the corner of Xiao Yan’s lips as he nodded. “I told you several times, but you didn’t believe me. Seriously… do I have any reason to lie about something like this?”

“…”

Xiao Zhan lowered his head, feeling somewhat ashamed.

“Young clan leader, when did you become acquainted with a Dou Huang?” The elder patriarch hurried over, warmly clasping Xiao Yan’s hand.

The second elder also smiled. “You’re growing up, child. If you’ve accepted a big brother, invite him over to our home. Though the Xiao family isn’t the largest or most prestigious, in Wutan City, we are at least one of the top three families.”

Xiao Yan glanced at him. “Second elder, that wasn’t quite the tone you used earlier.”

“Ah, I’m just old and a bit hard of hearing. Sometimes my voice gets a little loud. Young clan leader, don’t take it to heart,” the second elder chuckled.

The third elder reminded, “Why are you all standing there dumbfounded? The young clan leader’s big brother is here; let’s hurry out to welcome him.”

This was a Dou Huang, after all; they could not afford to be disrespectful.

“Yes, yes…”

“Let’s go, quickly.”

The elder patriarch and Xiao Zhan snapped back to reality and turned to head outside.

“No need.”

At that moment, a voice came from the entrance, and a young man stepped inside. He wore dark clothing with no embellishments. His cold, stern face bore no expression, and his jet-black eyes radiated an icy chill that repelled all.

“Wow, so young.”

“Looks not even twenty.”

“Could he really be a Dou Huang? Even if he’d been cultivating since birth, that seems impossible.”

When Hun Cang appeared, most of the Xiao family couldn’t help but exclaim in astonishment.

Especially the younger generation. Previously, Hun Cang had only briefly shown his face before heading to the Mittel Auction House, so they had never truly seen him.

They only knew that Wutan City had welcomed a Dou Wang-level powerhouse.

Thus, seeing the real Hun Cang in person, it was hard not to be deceived by his youthful appearance.

“Silence! Such noisy chatter is unbecoming!”

Hearing the clan members’ murmurs, the elder patriarch’s back was suddenly drenched in cold sweat as his sharp gaze swept over the young disciples.

They might not recognize him, but that didn’t mean the elders didn’t.

Daring to openly discuss a Dou Huang like that—did they want to get themselves killed?

The elder patriarch’s heart was filled with dread.

It turned out to be him… A flash of realization crossed Xiao Zhan’s eyes as he glanced at Xiao Yan.

Just yesterday, he had told Xiao Yan that he, as a father, was useless; even with a Dou Huang at their doorstep, they couldn’t establish any relation.

Yet in the blink of an eye, his son had somehow secretly accepted that man as his big brother.

Xiao Yan seemed to read the meaning in his father’s eyes, rubbed his nose awkwardly, smiled, then stepped forward. “Big brother, didn’t you say you’d only be free in a couple of days?”

Hun Cang hooked a hand over Xiao Yan’s shoulder, paying no mind to Xiao Yan’s surprise and joy. “What, you don’t welcome me coming early?”

Xiao Yan hurriedly replied, “Of course not! Whenever big brother wants to come, the Xiao family is more than honored to welcome you.”

“Yes, yes. King Cang, you’re always welcome,” Xiao Zhan said with a bright smile, approaching.

Watching Hun Cang and Xiao Yan’s friendly camaraderie, he had countless questions burning in his mind, but the occasion was not suitable.

“King Cang, please have a seat,” the elder patriarch eagerly fetched a chair and carefully wiped it with his sleeve.

The third elder brought a cup of tea, bowing almost parallel to the floor as he handed it over. “King Cang, please drink.”

The two rascals… The second elder shot them a fierce glare, then hurried off to bring a chair of his own, placing it beside Xiao Yan. “Young clan leader, please sit.”

Xiao Yan blinked in disbelief. Where was the arrogant demeanor he had shown before?

“Don’t be like this, second elder, I’m not used to it.”

“Sit. Such a grand occasion today—did you guess I’d be coming?” Hun Cang took a sip of tea, a faint smile flickering across his cold features.

Xiao Yan sat beside him and shook his head at Hun Cang’s words. “There were other guests.”

“Them?” Hun Cang’s gaze swept toward Nalan Yanran and the others, receiving Xiao Yan’s nod of affirmation.

As Hun Cang looked at them, Nalan Yanran, Ge Ye, and the others studied him in return.

The first thought to cross their minds: young!

Ge Ye narrowed his eyes, seeming to search for any flaws in Hun Cang.

Indeed, he found it hard to believe that Hun Cang was truly a Dou Huang.

Instead, he suspected this was a scheme concocted by the Xiao family, perhaps to pressure them into backing down and not breaking off the engagement.

Whether the Yun Lan Sect or the Gamma Empire, young talents were plentiful, as were those with strong potential.

But to reach the Dou Huang level before twenty was exceedingly rare—almost unheard of.

At least, Ge Ye had never seen or heard of such a thing.

“Second brother, I overheard outside just now. It seems you were bullied. Who was it? Them?” Hun Cang tilted his head toward Xiao Yan, asking knowingly.

Ge Ye and Nalan Yanran tensed.

The young man stood and coldly retorted, “Who the hell are you? This is a matter between the Yun Lan Sect and the Xiao family; it doesn’t concern you. I advise you to mind your own business.”

“Who do you think you’re talking to, my big brother?!” Xiao Yan stood up as well. With Hun Cang present, his confidence surged, and his aura turned fierce.

The young man glanced at Hun Cang and said to Xiao Yan, “Don’t think having a Dou Huang backing you means you can be arrogant. The Yun Lan Sect has no shortage of Dou Huangs. Besides…”

His gaze turned icy as he looked at Hun Cang.

“Whether you’re really a Dou Huang or not is another matter. Anyone can say anything—they say I’m a Dou Sheng.”

Within the Yun Lan Sect, this young man was considered talented enough to rank in the top ten. With sect resources and diligent effort, at eighteen years old, he was only a five-star Dou Zhe.

Hun Cang looked barely a few years older than himself—could he truly be a Dou Huang?

The young man would rather risk offending a Dou Huang than believe it.

A flicker of admiration passed through Ge Ye’s eyes. He glanced at the young man with satisfaction.

Was it real, or just a performance…?

Nalan Yanran’s heart tightened.

If Xiao Yan dared to rely on such tricks repeatedly to deceive her, she would definitely tell her master and senior brothers to teach the Xiao family a lesson!

“Ignorant!” Hun Cang’s voice was cold and detached. Suddenly, a pair of black wings unfurled from his back, and a mountainous pressure burst forth from his body.

Thud!

The overwhelming aura of a Dou Huang was instantaneous.

The young man couldn’t withstand it for even a moment and knelt on the ground, his face pale.

Impossible!!

He was so young and yet already a Dou Huang!