"Reporting to the Clan Leader, the martial arena has been prepared," Xiao Qing announced as he stepped into the banquet hall at Jishan Pavilion.
His arrival imdiately caused a stir among the Gu Clan maidens, who whispered among themselves. Everyone knew that the highlight of this marriage alliance was the man before them.
Xiao Qing's striking features, tall and refined figure, and black attire accentuated his noble temperant. Aside from Xiao Tiance, who sat at the head of the table, Xiao Qing was undoubtedly the most captivating man in the room.
Many of the Gu Clan girls couldn't help but cast hopeful glances at him.
From the main seat, Xiao Tiance nodded and smiled. "Good work, Qing'er. But there's no rush. Let our guests finish their al first, and then we'll proceed."
"Understood, Clan Leader," Xiao Qing replied with a polite smile before taking a seat nearby.
With the "main character" of the matchmaking event present, the atmosphere in the room grew livelier.
A Different Kind of Matchmaking
Unlike matchmaking events in modern societies, where won might hold the upper hand, questioning a man about his assets and achievents, this was entirely different.
The Gu Clan maidens had been thoroughly briefed by their elders before coming here. They were told they represented the best of the Gu Clan and were sent to forge a strong alliance with the mighty Xiao Clan. Their elders warned them repeatedly to avoid offending anyone.
Even if they weren't chosen by Xiao Qing, they would likely be paired with another talented young mber of the Xiao Clan a favorable outco nonetheless.
But the most coveted prospect was naturally Xiao Qing: the next Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan, a nine star Dou Sheng, and a man of exceptional charm.
Observations and Conversations
"Grandfather, is that Xiao Qing?" Gu Yue whispered to Gu Dao, her grandfather, seated beside her.
"Yes, that's him. So, what do you think? Does he catch your eye?" Gu Dao asked with a soft chuckle.
Gu Yue smiled calmly. "Grandfather, I may like him, but that doesn't an he'll like ."
Her straightforward and confident response earned an approving smile from Gu Dao.
"Fair enough. Still, I believe with your qualities, you'll make an impression."
At that mont, Xiao Qing began openly observing the Gu Clan maidens. His deanor was neither shy nor reserved; he approached the event with calm composure. For him, this was an ordinary, practical process.
The Gu Clan had sent its most outstanding won, both in appearance and talent. It would be difficult to assemble such a remarkable group again.
When Xiao Qing's gaze t Gu Yue's, they both nodded politely. Their smiles were equally composed, showing neither awkwardness nor hesitation.
"Interesting," Xiao Qing thought, before continuing to assess the others.
Moving to the Martial Arena
Once Xiao Qing had completed his observations and the al was nearing its end, Xiao Tiance turned to Gu Yuan. "Brother Gu, now that we've eaten our fill, shall we move to the martial arena? The young n from our clan are already there."
"Of course. Lead the way," Gu Yuan replied with a smile.
The two leaders rose, and the rest of the group followed. Xiao Qing led the Xiao and Gu Clan elders, along with the Gu Clan maidens, to the martial arena.
A Display of Talent
The path to the martial arena was lined with scenic beauty. The guests admired the ticulously designed landscapes as they walked.
Soon, the sound of drums echoed, signaling their arrival.
In the arena, the young n of the Xiao Clan stood in formation. Upon seeing their Clan Leader and Xiao Qing, they respectfully bowed. "Greetings to the Clan Leader, Young Master, and esteed elders!"
Xiao Tiance responded with a commanding voice, "At ease. This is the Gu Clan Leader, accompanied by their elders."
The Xiao Clan youths imdiately bowed again. "Greetings to the Gu Clan Leader and elders!"
After the formalities, everyone took their seats.
The drums resud, and the Xiao Clan youths began their demonstrations. Each participant introduced themselves, stating their na, age, and cultivation level, before bowing toward the section where the Gu Clan maidens were seated.
This format was straightforward but effective. The purpose was to give the Gu Clan maidens a clear impression of the Xiao Clan's eligible bachelors.
When the demonstrations concluded, the Gu Clan maidens each received a list containing the nas and details of the Xiao Clan youths. Similarly, the Xiao Clan youths received a list of the Gu Clan maidens.
Let the Mingling Begin
The martial arena event was followed by a social banquet, where the two groups could interact freely. Neither Xiao Tiance nor Gu Yuan attended this portion, leaving the young people to form their own connections.
Tea and Conversations
Back at Tiance's pavilion, Xiao Tiance and Gu Yuan sat together, sipping tea.
"Brother Xiao," Gu Yuan said with a smile, "how many matches do you think we'll see by the end of tonight's banquet?"
Xiao Tiance laughed heartily. "Hard to say, Brother Gu. But rest assured, the young won you've brought are exceptional. I'm not worried about my clan's youths rejecting them my only concern is whether your young ladies will fancy our boys."
He chuckled and added, "Regardless of the number of matches, this marriage alliance will undoubtedly strengthen the bond between our clans."
Gu Yuan smiled in agreent.
"Brother Gu, leave the matchmaking to the youngsters. Let's not trouble ourselves with it. More tea?" Xiao Tiance offered, raising the teapot with a grin.
"Haha, have so tea!"
After so casual conversation, Gu Yuan noticed that Xiao Tiance had not yet brought up the topic of exchanging the Gu Clan's Tuo She Ancient Emperor's Jade for a Nine Star Spirit Gathering Array. Deciding to address the matter, Gu Yuan smiled and asked, "Tiance, regarding your previous proposal to exchange the Ancient Emperor's Jade our clan protects for a Nine Star Spirit Gathering Array does the offer still stand?"
"Of course, it still stands. Have you made a decision?" Xiao Tiance replied with a calm smile.
"Yes, after much deliberation among the elders of our clan, we've decided to accept the exchange. However, we didn't bring the Ancient Emperor's Jade with us this ti. We hope that after you help us establish the Nine Star Spirit Gathering Array, we can hand over the jade in return," Gu Yuan explained.
Worried that Xiao Tiance might take issue with this, Gu Yuan sighed and added, "I apologize it's not that we don't trust you, but the Ancient Emperor's Jade is of great importance and cannot be casually revealed."
Xiao Tiance pondered for a mont before nodding with a smile. "You're being too polite, Brother Gu. There's no need to apologize."
He retrieved a scroll from his storage ring and handed it to Gu Yuan. "This scroll contains the list of materials needed to construct the Nine Star Spirit Gathering Array. Please prepare them. Once everything is ready, let know."
Gu Yuan opened the scroll, and his expression quickly changed to one of astonishnt. The list was packed with materials, including so extrely rare items. At the top of the list were three magic cores from Tier 9 magical beasts, with an emphasis on their quality.
"So many materials?" Gu Yuan exclaid.
Xiao Tiance chuckled. **"There's no helping it. A Nine Star Spirit Gathering Array can enhance the cultivation speed of even Dou Sheng level practitioners. Naturally, it requires the best materials. And materials are just the beginning the process of building such an array is incredibly complex.
"To put it into perspective, when our clan first attempted to create one, we failed twice. While most materials could be reused, we lost six Tier 9 magic cores in the process. Only after two failures did we finally succeed. I'm confident we can succeed on the first try this ti, but if I wasn't certain, I wouldn't dare make such an offer.
"So, Brother Gu, there's no need to feel shortchanged by trading the Ancient Emperor's Jade for this array."**
Although Xiao Tiance wasn't entirely truthful about the failures, his words effectively dispelled Gu Yuan's concerns.
"Tiance, you're a master negotiator. Here's the Emperor Seal Art for you to examine," Gu Yuan said with a chuckle, handing over the Emperor Seal Art.
Xiao Tiance took the scroll, opened it, and began studying the technique. While it was impressive and comparable to a Heaven tier Dou Technique, he found it slightly underwhelming compared to his expectations. Still, he carefully put it away before raising his teacup.
"Here's to a successful partnership."
"To a successful partnership," Gu Yuan replied, clinking his cup against Xiao Tiance's.
A Subtle Warning
After concluding the deal, Gu Yuan recalled what Gu Lie had told him about Xiao Tiance's recent visit to Wu Tan City. Smiling, he raised his cup again. "I must thank you, Tiance, for showing rcy and sparing Gu Lie during your recent visit to Wu Tan City."
Xiao Tiance's lips curled into a subtle smirk, a glimr of surprise in his eyes. He knew Gu Yuan was referring to the incident where he had refrained from punishing Gu Lie.
"You're being too polite, Brother Gu. I had no intention of harming Gu Lie. However, his thods were less than honorable. Sending soone to search Xiao Zhan's room? That was crossing a line. I had no choice but to issue a warning," Xiao Tiance said openly, catching Gu Yuan off guard with his straightforwardness.
Before Gu Yuan could respond, Xiao Tiance continued, his tone firm. "Brother Gu, I hope the Gu Clan will refrain from interfering in matters concerning the Xiao Clan in Wu Tan City. If it happens again, I cannot guarantee there won't be... misunderstandings that could harm the relationship between our clans."
Gu Yuan pondered for a mont, interpreting Xiao Tiance's warning as a subtle reference to the Tuo She Ancient Emperor's Jade. While Xiao Tiance hadn't ntioned it directly, Gu Yuan decided it was best not to press the issue.
"You have my word, Tiance. I've already instructed my clan that no one is to interfere in Wu Tan City's affairs," Gu Yuan said with a respectful bow.
Xiao Tiance smiled. "Good. That's all in the past now. Let's not dwell on it. More tea?"
"Please," Gu Yuan replied.
anwhile, at the Banquet
The banquet in the hall grew more lively as Xiao Clan youths and Gu Clan maidens mingled.
Through their conversations, the Gu Clan girls began to understand why the Xiao Clan had grown so strong over the past thousand years. They were impressed by the Xiao Clan's discipline and vision.
A Notable Exchange
In one corner of the hall, Gu Yue raised her cup to Xiao Qing. "Thank you, Brother Xiao Qing, for explaining so much about the Xiao Clan. But are you not worried that I might share these secrets?"
Xiao Qing took a sip of wine and smiled. "These aren't secrets. They're just things most people don't know because our clan has kept a low profile for a millennium. However, we've never intentionally hidden them. It's simply that few people have had the opportunity to learn about us."
Gu Yue chuckled. "Your clan's growth over the centuries is remarkable. My grandfather often spoke of how your ancestor, Xiao Xuan, was a peerless genius the greatest of the Dou Qi Continent. When he fell, many believed the Xiao Clan had perished. Even my grandfather felt it was a tragedy."
Xiao Qing nodded, a bittersweet expression crossing his face. The plan to retreat into secrecy had been ant to preserve the Xiao Clan, but it had co at a great cost.
"If only Xiao Xuan had waited a little longer, he might have avoided his downfall," Xiao Qing said with a sigh.
Gu Yue offered a reassuring smile. "Perhaps it was fate. My grandfather said that Xiao Xuan's soul still resides in our clan's Heavenly Tomb, and he has complete control over its third level."
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