Stalemate!

Central Plains, Falling Star Pavilion.

A towering pavilion stood atop a mist-shrouded mountain peak, surrounded by countless exotic flowers and plants, their fragrance permeating the air. In the distance, a waterfall cascaded down the edge of a cliff like a white ribbon, creating a roaring sound.

Inside the highest chamber of the pavilion, a young man dressed in a black robe sat quietly by the window. His handsome face and starry eyes were filled with determination. This young man was none other than Xiao Yan!

At this moment, he was holding a jade token, his gaze fixated on a faintly flickering light within it. Though weak, the light contained a vibrant life force- his father's soul imprint.

"How could this be...?" He muttered to himself, his eyes filled with longing. "Father's life force is still present, but there's been no news... just where are you?"

For more than ten years, his father's soul imprint had remained, indicating he was still alive. But why had he been missing for so long? This question had troubled him for years.

Although Xiao Yan had the soul of an adult from another world, his respect and gratitude toward his father in this life were profound. In his memories, when everyone else mocked him as useless, only his father never gave up on him, always providing support and encouragement. That bond had left a deep imprint on his heart.

As he lost himself in his thoughts, soft footsteps echoed through the room.

"Are you daydreaming again?" A kind voice interrupted his reverie. An elderly man with white hair and beard slowly approached- it was his teacher, Yao Chen.

Yao Chen glanced at the jade token in his hand, understanding dawning in his eyes.

"Perhaps you could return to your home. It is said that your ancestor, Xiao Chen, returned from the Demonic Flame Space… Given his character, even if he remains unseen, he would still watch over the Xiao family."

His voice was calm, but it sparked a glimmer of hope in Xiao Yan's eyes.

"That's right! How could I have forgotten about ancestor Xiao Chen? If he's willing to help, my chances of finding father will increase significantly!"

He jumped to his feet, hurrying to the desk to gather his belongings. "I'll leave for the North-Western Region right away."

Yao Chen smiled warmly as he watched him bustling about. He understood his disciple well. For so long, he had been weighed down by his concerns. Now, it seemed he had finally found a direction.

"With your current strength as a one-star Dou Venerate, it will take about two months to reach there," he reminded him.

Xiao Yan nodded, his resolve hardening. No matter how far the journey, as long as there was hope of finding his father, he would go without hesitation.

---

Meanwhile, in the heart of the Central Plains…

Tents stood in rows as far as the eye could see, flags fluttering in the wind. Countless warriors clad in different types of armor moved about, and the entire camp was well-organized.

This was the headquarters of the Six-Clan Alliance.

Ever since their battle with the Hun Clan two months ago, they had stationed themselves here, ready at any moment to confront the Hun Clan once more.

Yet, despite the passing of two months, the Hun Clan had remained silent. Even Gu Yuan had been unable to locate the Hun Clan's space, causing unease to spread among some of the alliance members.

In the center of the camp, inside a towering tent, the leaders of the six ancient clans were gathered, discussing their next move.

"For the past two months, we've searched for any sign of the Hun Clan but found nothing. It's as if they've vanished," Gu Yuan said, his expression grave as he looked around at the other clan leaders.

Hearing this, the others frowned, particularly Lei Ying, whose rugged face showed his growing impatience. "Are we just supposed to sit here and wait? My clan's warriors are getting restless."

Yan Jin nodded in agreement. Indeed, if they continued waiting like this without any progress, the army's morale would eventually crumble under the pressure.

Just as the atmosphere in the tent became tense, a disturbance was heard outside.

"Report!" A member of the Gu Clan hurried into the tent and respectfully saluted them.

"What is it?" Gu Yuan asked calmly.

"The Young Clan Leader has returned. He says he has important news to report."

He raised an eyebrow and exchanged a smile with the other clan leaders. Gu Fei had unknowingly become the backbone of the entire army. While he had been absent, the elders, despite their strength, had failed to come up with a good plan. Now that he had returned, the others felt like they had found a lifeline.

"Let him in," he said.

The other clan leaders nodded, all turning their attention toward the entrance.

Moments later, Gu Fei strode in with steady steps.

"Clan leaders, there was a spy within the Gu Clan, one who had been hidden for a hundred years…"

He wasted no time and began recounting the events that had transpired in the Gu Realm.

As he spoke, the atmosphere in the tent grew even more somber.

"A Hun Clan spy within the Gu Clan? Their infiltration capabilities are truly beyond imagination!" Yan Jin remarked, his crimson eyes filled with surprise.

"If that's the case, it's highly likely that our clans, too, have spies in high positions!" Lei Ying stood abruptly, his strong frame trembling slightly at the thought.

Gu Fei nodded, his gaze sweeping over the gathered leaders. "Indeed, that's what I wanted to warn you all about. Their infiltration abilities are far greater than we expected. It's possible that every clan has their spies."

Hearing his words, the clan leaders' faces darkened. He couldn't reveal too much, as in the original story, even though the traitors of the Lei Clan and Yan Clan had stolen ancient jade pieces, their identities were never fully explained.

"Then how should we deal with this?" Yao Dan asked, frowning.

"I suggest that the clan leaders remain discreet for now," Gu Fei said after a moment's thought.

"Especially since the army has been stuck in place for so long, we can't afford to lose morale. It would be best to secretly investigate for any spies."

The clan leaders nodded in agreement.

"Well thought out," Gu Yuan said approvingly.

(TL/n: Last chapter for today.

I've been adding various references lately. Lmk if you guys prefer more xD.

Thanks a lot for your support and don't forget to leave a review.

I'll see you all in the next episode~)