"Your soul does not fully belong to this world."
The words exploded like a thunderclap, leaving Xiao Zhan, Gu Xun'er, and Ya Fei utterly stunned. Their faces were blank, filled with confusion and disbelief.
Not entirely of this world?
What in the heavens did that mean?
Xiao Yan's expression, however, was one of sheer terror.
His deepest secret had been revealed!
"Master, what do you mean by saying his soul doesn't belong to this world?" Xiao Zhan hurriedly asked.
"I'm about to reveal a monumental secret of the Dou Qi Continent," Zhou Yi said gravely. "Once you hear this, it's best you never let a word slip out. Otherwise, it could bring death upon you."
Hearing this, Xiao Zhan's expression turned grave, sensing the gravity of the matter.
Gu Xun'er's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly.
As the young mistress of the Gu Clan, what secrets of this world could exist that she did not already know?
There might be some, of course, but she doubted Zhou Yi's knowledge could surpass hers.
"The legends of Dou God—you've all heard them. Where do you think those once-invincible Dou Gods have gone?" Zhou Yi asked with a faint smile.
"Didn't they die? Could that even be possible?" Xiao Zhan shook his head. To him, a Dou God was a god-like existence, far beyond the reach of mortality.
"Did they ascend to another world?" Ya Fei asked, astonished.
"Precisely!" Zhou Yi nodded. "And the reason I bring this up is to tell you: there is more than one world in existence."
"And Xiao Yan's soul originates from another world."
"That's impossible!" Xiao Zhan exclaimed, struggling to accept the revelation. The notion was simply too shocking.
"It's not so strange," Zhou Yi said nonchalantly. "A powerful soul can seize a body and reincarnate. Souls originating from other worlds, while far more difficult to achieve than a simple possession, are not inconceivable in the vast multiverse. By sheer chance and coincidence, it can happen."
Gu Xun'er's expression turned ice-cold as she stared at Zhou Yi.
"Are you saying Xiao Yan's soul is a reincarnated expert from another world?"
As the young mistress of the Gu Clan, Gu Xun'er was no stranger to the concept of soul possession.
"Xiao Yan's case is more unique," Zhou Yi replied calmly. "In his previous life, he wasn't some great expert. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been a 'good-for-nothing' for three years."
"No! I don't believe it!" Xiao Zhan roared, unable to accept the cruel truth of possession.
"Patriarch Xiao, there's no need to be so agitated," Zhou Yi said. "Xiao Yan can still be considered your son, though a somewhat... unique one."
His words caused Xiao Zhan to pause. The invisible force emanating from Zhou Yi quelled his outburst, making him calm down.
"Xiao Yan's case isn't one of killing your son and stealing his body. It's closer to a reincarnation that retained memories of his past life. So, he is still your son in every meaningful way."
"Think back to Xiao Yan's diligent cultivation and unwavering discipline. That's because his soul is essentially that of an adult. If you reflect on it, you might notice all the little peculiarities that suddenly make sense."
Xiao Zhan thought back to the details of Xiao Yan's childhood—those odd moments he'd dismissed now seemed to align with Zhou Yi's explanation.
After all, Xiao Yan's pale face and silence only confirmed Zhou Yi's words.
Even though Xiao Yan retained memories of his past life, he was still Xiao Zhan's son.
For Xiao Zhan, that was the only solace.
"Yan'er, no matter your past, you are my son, and you always will be," Xiao Zhan said firmly, placing a reassuring hand on Xiao Yan's shoulder.
"Father!" Xiao Yan embraced Xiao Zhan, unable to hold back his sobs. "I will always be your son!"
Gu Xun'er, however, looked utterly mortified.
Xiao Yan's soul came from another world? He'd had the mind of an adult since childhood?
She felt deeply betrayed. Her gaze shifted away from Xiao Yan, locking onto Zhou Yi with hostility.
"Who are you, really?"
Zhou Yi knew far too much.
"Curiosity is a dangerous habit," Zhou Yi remarked, studying Gu Xun'er.
Clad in a violet dress, she exuded a cold, ethereal beauty, like a lotus untouched by the world. Her slender waist seemed delicate enough to break with a breath, while her long, black hair flowed gracefully, bound only by a simple lavender ribbon that trailed down to her waist. Her jade-like wrists bore two tiny green bells, lending her an air of elegance like a figure from a painting.
She was truly a beauty. A rare one.
As these thoughts flickered through Zhou Yi's mind, his gaze met hers.
"Surely you know that curiosity about a man is often the first step toward falling for him?"
"Hmph!" Gu Xun'er snorted coldly, averting her gaze, suddenly finding it hard to meet Zhou Yi's intense eyes.
They were far too invasive, too overwhelming, making her feel defenseless.
"Master, does Yan'er's inability to progress in cultivation have something to do with his soul?" Xiao Zhan asked, steering the conversation back.
"It does. But not because of his soul."
"What do you mean?"
Xiao Zhan was even more confused, as was Xiao Yan. Although his secret as a transmigrator had been exposed, it seemed to carry no adverse consequences so far.
"Are you going to show yourself, or not?" Zhou Yi said, his eyes fixed on the ring on Xiao Yan's finger.
The next moment, amidst Xiao Zhan and the others' bafflement, the translucent shadow of an elderly man emerged from the ring.
The old man bowed respectfully toward Zhou Yi.
"Greetings, sir. Your insights just now were truly enlightening!"
"What?"
"Who is this?"
Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan were both taken aback by the apparition.
In that moment, everything became clear.
It was this old man's doing all along.
"You old bastard!" Xiao Yan roared, his face twisted with rage.
"My missing Dou Qi—it was your doing!"
His fury erupted, far exceeding his reaction to Zhou Yi revealing his otherworldly origins.
Three years!
Do you have any idea what those three years were like?
"You little brat, I had no choice! Please, don't be mad!" the old man, Yao Chen, said sheepishly, like a thief caught red-handed.
"Don't be mad, my ass! Give me back my Dou Qi!" Xiao Yan bellowed, seething with anger.
Xiao Zhan's face darkened. If not for the overwhelming aura of danger emanating from the old man, he would've already attacked him.
No—attacked the ghost.
Before anyone could act, Zhou Yi raised his hand and reached out toward Yao Chen with a gripping motion.
"Sir, surely we can talk this through!" Yao Chen pleaded in alarm.
Blazing white flames erupted from Yao Chen's entire body, radiating an overwhelming aura of a Dou Emperor. The oppressive force turned Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan's faces pale, and an uncontrollable wave of fear surged in their hearts, nearly causing them to collapse to the ground.
Boom!
Zhou Yi closed his five fingers, and the surrounding space solidified.
In an instant, Yao Chen was trapped within the palm of his hand.
Divine Technique—World in the Palm.
Having subdued Yao Chen, Zhou Yi turned his gaze to Xiao Yan.
"The reason your Dou Qi has been mysteriously disappearing is because this old man has been secretly devouring it. Now that I've dealt with him, you can resume your cultivation as normal."
"Thank you, Master! Your kindness in saving us is a debt Xiao Zhan will never forget. Should you ever require assistance, I am prepared to repay with my life!" Xiao Zhan hastily bowed in gratitude.
The sheer power Yao Chen had unleashed moments ago had frightened him to his core, leaving him trembling in the aftermath. He now realized the immense threat the old man had posed. Hidden within Xiao Yan's ring, Yao Chen had been covertly consuming Xiao Yan's Dou Qi to restore himself. Once fully recovered, he would undoubtedly have seized Xiao Yan's body, putting their entire Xiao Clan in grave danger.
"My deepest thanks, Master. Words cannot express my gratitude. I will repay this favor in the future," Xiao Yan added, though a hint of unease lingered in his voice.
Although he was displeased that Zhou Yi had exposed his secret, he couldn't deny that the man had resolved both the mystery of his vanishing Dou Qi and eliminated the threat of a powerful soul that had been lurking with the intent to take over his body.
Given the old man's strength, neither he nor the Xiao Clan had stood any chance of resisting. Zhou Yi was simply too powerful.
"No need," Zhou Yi said with a dismissive wave. "That old man has considerable value. Let's consider him my payment."
"Master has removed such a grave threat for us. That old soul was already your rightful spoils of battle. It would be unjust to consider it payment," Xiao Zhan responded earnestly, his gratitude growing. "Your kindness will forever be remembered by the Xiao Clan, and we will repay it in due time."
At that moment, Zhou Yi noticed a fiery gaze locked onto him. Turning to meet it, he saw Gu Xun'er staring at him intently.
"Miss Gu, why do you keep staring at me? Have you perhaps fallen for me?" Zhou Yi teased with a smirk.
Startled, Gu Xun'er's expression shifted, and her guard immediately went up.
"Relax. I'm not from the Soul Clan," Zhou Yi said, effortlessly seeing through her thoughts. "And I know why you've come to the Xiao Clan—it's for the Tuo She Ancient Emperor's Jade, isn't it? The key."
"How do you know that?" Gu Xun'er's hair stood on end as a chill coursed through her. She clenched the trump card given to her by Gu Yuan, her father, in her hand.
"I know far more than you imagine," Zhou Yi said calmly. "The Tuo She Ancient Emperor's Jade is none other than the Xiao Clan leader's token of authority."
"But rest assured," he continued with a faint smile, "I have no interest in the jade." His eyes sharpened. "I'm far more interested in you."
"But heed my warning—don't share what you've learned about me with anyone. I despise being investigated." Zhou Yi's voice turned cold. "Even your Nine-Star Dou Saint father may be powerful, but if you provoke me, your Gu Clan will not withstand my wrath."
"You..." Gu Xun'er's face turned pale, her eyes wide with disbelief as she stared at Zhou Yi.
Who was he? How did he know so much?
Even information about the Tuo She Ancient Emperor's Jade—a secret she had failed to uncover while in the Xiao Clan—was clear to him. Her mind was spinning, overwhelmed by his revelations.
Boom!
Without giving her further time to process, Zhou Yi activated a trace of the power from his Universe Ring.
Gu Xun'er felt as though she had been plunged into an icy abyss. The overwhelming force was like the collapse of the heavens and earth, flipping her world upside down. She collapsed to the ground, trembling uncontrollably.
Her slender, graceful figure shook like a frightened kitten.
Weak. Helpless. Trembling.
Gu Xun'er's proud heart shattered in that moment, leaving her as vulnerable as a defenseless girl.
The devastating power of the Universe Ring vanished as quickly as it appeared, but the lingering terror remained.
Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhan, already paralyzed on the ground, stared at Zhou Yi with horror and awe.
Too terrifying.
Unimaginable.
It was an experience that shook them to their core.
After a long while, Gu Xun'er finally regained her composure. She shot Zhou Yi a deep, complicated look—equal parts reverence, fear, and curiosity—before staggering away.
Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan bowed respectfully to Zhou Yi before following her.
At that moment, their hearts were filled with countless questions, especially Xiao Yan's.
What exactly was the Tuo She Ancient Emperor's Jade?
Who was Gu Xun'er, truly?
Now that he knew the jade was the Xiao Clan leader's token of authority, what would Gu Xun'er do?
Seize it? Or...
"Zhou Yi... Who exactly is he?"
"He knew my uncle's token was the Tuo She Ancient Emperor's Jade, yet he didn't take it. Does he truly not care, or is there another motive?"
Gu Xun'er's thoughts were a chaotic mess.
"That kind of oppressive force—it's far beyond what a Dou Saint could wield!"
She had seen her father, the Nine-Star Dou Saint Gu Yuan, in action. But compared to Zhou Yi, her father's strength seemed like a mere flicker before a radiant moon.
Terrifying.
"Could he be a Dou God?"
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