Chapter Eighteen: The Xiao Family in Crisis, the Imperial Clan Watches On Without Offering Aid

In the Eastern Wilderness, above the Xiao family estate, the imperial decree left behind by Emperor Xiao Xuan hung like a guardian spirit. Streams of imperial aura descended, radiating supreme power, shielding the Xiao family from harm.

Though the old man in the purple robe remained suppressed by the imperial decree, kneeling before the Xiao estate like a defeated dog, his face bore no trace of despair—only excitement.

Shortly after his humiliation, the Cangyan Martial Emperor dispatched a vast force that carefully avoided the imperial decree’s influence, encircling the Xiao family day and night with relentless clamoring.

Their intent was clear: once the power of the decree waned and the Xiao family lost its protection, the Cangyan Martial Emperor would make the Xiao family pay a blood-soaked price.

As the situation escalated, more and more forces across the Eastern Wilderness turned their attention to the Xiao family. Numerous great clans focused their gaze here, closely monitoring the family's every move.

“The Xiao family’s actions are utterly unwise this time. The Cangyan Martial Emperor is in his prime, destined to become an emperor and a significant figure on the Tianxuan Continent. How could he forgive the Xiao family for humiliating his men so openly?” some whispered.

“It's the Cangyan Martial Emperor who is being overbearing! His bastard son even dared to take the Xiao family’s imperial daughter as a concubine—who could stand for that?” others retorted.

“Hmph, so what if they can't bear it? In the Tianxuan Continent, strength is the only truth; everything else is hollow!” a cold voice sneered.

Nearby, experts from various Eastern Wilderness factions discussed quietly.

“After all, the Xiao family is one of the imperial clans. Although the Cangyan Martial Emperor has the potential to ascend to emperor, he is still only a quasi-emperor. To so openly humiliate the Xiao family—does he not fear the consequences?” an elder of a sect pondered.

“Fear? What’s there to fear? The Xiao family has the name of an imperial clan but none of the substance. Compared to other imperial clans, they fall far short. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been bullied all the way to their doorstep, forced to rely solely on this imperial decree for protection,” a withered old man scoffed.

“But the Xiao family is still considered an imperial clan. Why such a disparity with the others?” a young cultivator asked curiously.

“That’s a long story. I only know bits and pieces from ancient texts,” the old man said gravely. “It is said that the Xiao family’s ancestor was Emperor Xiao Xuan from a hundred thousand years ago. To resist the alien realm, he ventured alone into the Abyss, guarding against the alien clans. In doing so, he took nearly all of the Xiao family’s imperial resources—extreme imperial weapons, elixirs of immortality, and so forth—leaving nothing valuable behind.”

Upon hearing Emperor Xiao Xuan’s name, expressions varied among the listeners. Most were cultivators born in the last ten thousand years and had only read about him in ancient records.

The alien invasion from a hundred thousand years ago was long forgotten, reduced to a few sparse lines in history books.

Therefore, the tales of Emperor Xiao Xuan were mostly dismissed or even ridiculed by these cultivators.

What alien invasion? They had never witnessed it. The records claiming Emperor Xiao Xuan saved the Tianxuan Continent were greatly exaggerated.

A hundred thousand years had passed without any sign of alien incursions.

Perhaps the invasion was merely a fabricated tale to glorify Emperor Xiao Xuan’s deeds. Even if it did occur, it was hardly as severe as recorded—merely a trifle to those at the imperial realm.

Thus, Emperor Xiao Xuan from a hundred thousand years ago was no different from other emperors, maybe even weaker. After all, other emperors left behind abundant imperial legacies, while Xiao Xuan left none. Today’s Xiao family had only one ancient saint, whose foundation was nowhere near that of a true sacred ground.

Hence, even as the Xiao family faced crisis, these sects and great schools merely looked on coldly, feeling no remorse and certainly offering no help.

Some sects were already plotting how to divide the “inheritance” of the Xiao family once it fell into decline or perished.

Though the Xiao family had waned, a dying camel is still bigger than a horse, and a leaky boat still has three thousand nails. This fallen imperial clan might yet possess valuable assets, and rebuilding a sacred ground would not be impossible.

“Time flows, and human hearts are hard to fathom; this is no falsehood,” Xiao Qingtian muttered within the main hall of the Xiao estate, his heart swelling with a chill he could scarcely express.

Though he knew that Emperor Xiao Xuan would soon return to the Tianxuan Continent to restore the family’s honor, Xiao Qingtian felt only sorrow.

Before praying for his ancestor’s protection at the ancestral shrine, he had sent envoys to other imperial clans in the Eastern Wilderness, as well as some ancient sects that had close ties and owed gratitude to the Xiao family.

While these sects lacked imperial-grade resources, if a few stood up to support the Xiao family, they might curb the arrogance of the Cangyan Martial Emperor.

After all, the Cangyan Martial Emperor had yet to become a true emperor and could not yet act with impunity.

Yet, to Xiao Qingtian’s despair, not only did the imperial clans of the Eastern Wilderness remain indifferent, but even these great sects closed their doors and refused to meet.

He could somewhat understand the indifference of the imperial clans—after all, a hundred thousand years was a long time, and their failure to uphold pledges was expected. But the coldness of these great sects was unbearable.

The Xiao family had treated them well and bestowed favors upon them. Now that the Xiao family was in trouble, no one spoke a word of support.

“Master, the world is fickle, and people seek only profit and safety,” an elder of the Xiao family comforted the sorrowful head of the family. “Fortunately, the return of Emperor Xiao Xuan is imminent. Even if no one comes to aid us, the Xiao family will remain safe.”

Xiao Qingtian waved his hand, dispirited. “I have lost all faith in this world. If Emperor Xiao Xuan returns, it is best for the Xiao family to retreat from the world and no longer deal with these sycophants.”

He foresaw that upon Emperor Xiao Xuan’s return, the Xiao family would briefly shine and become a target for many factions.

But so what? When Emperor Xiao Xuan left again, the Xiao family would continue to decline, and those factions would mercilessly abandon them. Such hollow prosperity sickened Xiao Qingtian.

He would rather see the Xiao family live in seclusion, free from worldly affairs, than entangle with such hypocrisy.

“Master, do not despair so,” a voice echoed in the hall, drawing all eyes. It was Xiao Jinyu. “This is both a crisis and an opportunity for the Xiao family.”

Her beautiful eyes lowered as she spoke softly, “This is the perfect chance to sift through the human world and see who truly stands as the Xiao family’s ally. Even if only one person comes to aid us now, it would outweigh the several sects and great clans we usually associate with.”

Outside the Xiao estate, countless eyes gathered, the family’s plight known throughout the Eastern Wilderness.

No one was unaware of their call for help.

Everyone lamented that the Xiao family was at its end, grasping at straws in desperation.

Who would dare to risk offending a quasi-emperor to support the Xiao family?

After all, the Xiao family seemed hopeless, while the Cangyan Martial Emperor was in his prime, with the potential to become emperor. Given the choice between offending a rising quasi-emperor and a fading family, the answer was clear.

Those watching the empty grounds outside the Xiao estate sighed deeply; the Xiao family was likely doomed.

Now, it was only a matter of how long the Xiao family could hold on.