Chapter 417: The Dominant Xiao Yuan
Under the gaze of the entire crowd, Gu Yao stepped into the arena with a cold expression. He bowed slightly to the three elders, but unlike Ling Quan, Gu Zhen, and the others, he didn't kneel. Instead, he stood tall—like a sharp, frost-covered spear.
The three elders showed no displeasure. Though Gu Yao wasn't as senior in age, his reputation within the Gu Clan was immense, and his strength extraordinary. His refusal to kneel was, in their eyes, within reason. They exchanged glances, and one of them flicked his sleeve, causing the star disk to float lightly before Gu Yao, its surface glowing with scattered starlight.
"It's your turn, Gu Yao."
Gu Yao nodded calmly. With all eyes on him, he extended his hand and placed it gently on the star disk.
At first, nothing happened.
Then the disk suddenly trembled, erupting with brilliant radiance. One by one, stars appeared—eight in total!
Gasps of shock spread across the plaza, and even a few elders nodded in amazement.
"An eight-grade bloodline... As expected of one of the four Commanders."
"Wasn't the young lady's bloodline also eight-star back then? Looks like Gu Yao is catching up."
"But that was long ago. Who knows how much stronger she is now?"
The murmuring among the Gu Clan members continued to grow.
"As expected, eight-grade bloodline..." Xun'er sighed softly as she watched.
Xiao Yan's face remained calm, though his heart stirred. Compared to Gu Yao, people like Ling Quan and Lin Xiu weren't even worth mentioning. Gu Yao truly deserved his fearsome reputation.
The three elders were briefly stunned, then smiled approvingly.
"Gu Yao—Fourth Commander of the Black Abyss Army. Eight-Star Dou Zun. Eight-grade bloodline. Awarded: Purple-Gold Clan Mark!"
With a shout, a purple-gold dragon brush in one elder's hand burst into dazzling light. Dense energy gathered at its tip as he painted an arcane sigil on Gu Yao's forehead.
Huff...
The elder was sweating by the time he finished. Drawing a Purple-Gold Mark consumed a great deal of Dou Qi.
As he lowered his hand, a vivid, glowing purple-gold mark shimmered on Gu Yao's brow.
"The mark is complete. Gu Yao, you may step down. Next—"
"Wait."
Before the elder could finish, Gu Yao spoke coldly.
The three elders blinked, then frowned slightly. "Yes?"
"Do I have the right to issue a challenge during my coming-of-age ceremony?"
His voice was calm, but it carried clearly across the entire plaza.
The moment he spoke, Xiao Yan's fist clenched.
It was coming.
The crowd stirred. Ling Quan, Lin Xiu, and the others glanced at Xiao Yan with barely concealed schadenfreude. They'd long predicted this moment but hadn't dared make a move due to Xiao Yuan's presence.
The elders hesitated, then nodded. "According to the rules, you may challenge anyone within the clan. For outsiders, however, you require their consent."
Gu Yao nodded, turned, and locked his gaze onto a lean, black-robed youth.
"You know I came for you," he said coolly. "If you wish to be taken seriously in the Gu Clan, then prove yourself. Otherwise, you'll always be seen with ridicule and pity. I'm giving you the chance—challenge me. If not, you should leave the Gu Realm today."
Although the rules allowed Gu Yao to challenge anyone, what he said was different—he wanted Xiao Yan to challenge him.
Challenges typically went upward. Gu Yao clearly didn't consider Xiao Yan his equal.
Shhh!
All eyes snapped to Xiao Yan. The crowd fell silent, expectant.
Xiao Yan opened his mouth to respond—only to see Xiao Yuan suddenly disappear.
"Third Brother?"
He blinked in confusion.
Meanwhile, in a high spot above the square, several lazily reclining figures watched the events unfold.
"So that's Yao Chen's discarded disciple?" sneered a young man with a medicine-gourd sigil on his forehead. "Looks like he's earned quite a few enemies. I meant to deal with him myself and teach him that the so-called Alchemy Champion title isn't worth flaunting—just a child's game."
But before he could finish, a terrifying pressure descended upon them.
"Medicine Clan? Looks like someone's in a hurry to die."
Xiao Yuan appeared overhead, gazing coldly at the man—Yao Xingji, who had just mocked Yao Lao.
"My teacher is Yao Chen, rank-nine alchemist, Pavilion Master of Starfall Pavilion. As the Xiao Clan's Young Leader, I don't recall giving you permission to gossip about him."
Without another word, Xiao Yuan slapped him.
CRACK!
The horrifying force embedded Yao Xingji into the floor.
"I'm the next Pill Tower leader. And you question the credibility of our Alchemy Champion?"
With a sweep of his sleeve, Xiao Yuan released his Heavenly Realm soul pressure, forcing the rest of the stunned Medicine Clan members to their knees.
Heavenly Realm Soul!
From above, some hidden elders gasped.
Xiao Yuan's Dou Qi prowess was impressive. But this soul strength? It forced many to reevaluate their view of the Xiao Clan.
Even the Eight Ancient Clans didn't want to provoke a hostile Dou Sheng-level soul cultivator for no reason.
"Gu Yao—did that slap yesterday not wake you up? Either you challenge Xiao Yan directly, or sit down. Who do you think you are, speaking to my brother like that? Keep pushing, and I'll make sure you never enter the Heaven Tomb."
Floating cross-legged in the sky, Xiao Yuan scolded Gu Yao harshly.
Below him, the Medicine Clan elites trembled under the dual suppression of Dou Qi and soul power.
"Tch. Guy's got some fire," Huo Xuan muttered from the special guest area.
"Still, this behavior is a bit much—even for the Gu Clan's turf," another commented.
"He's not being arrogant. Power rules the Dou Qi Continent. He's one of our generation—perhaps even younger. If his peers can't match him, that's their weakness. And as the Young Leader of the Xiao Clan, if he backed down now, how could the other seven clans ever respect the Xiao Clan's return?"
Huo Zhi shook her head calmly.
"You really admire him, don't you?" Huo Xuan teased.
Huo Zhi said nothing, falling silent once more.
"Gu Yao! Xiao Yan is our guest—your challenge is too much!" Xun'er shouted, standing abruptly. Her gaze was icy, and her hands were clenched.
She knew full well—if Xiao Yan declined, he would be scorned by all. In the Gu Clan, refusing a fight was a disgrace.
"Why should I fight someone who couldn't even take a slap from my brother? Beating you means nothing," Xiao Yan said gently, giving Xun'er a reassuring smile before facing Gu Yao.
He had learned from Xiao Yuan how best to provoke people—and this single line made Gu Yao's face darken with rage.
The Xiao brothers—truly intolerable!
"But if you insist, I don't mind teaching you a thing or two," Xiao Yan added, his tone utterly condescending.
"Well then, I—Gu Yao, Commander of the Black Abyss Army—challenge Xiao Yan of the Xiao Clan!"
"At least you know some manners," came Xiao Yuan's approving voice from afar.
"Very well. I, Xiao Yan, accept this challenge on behalf of the Xiao Clan."
With a calm smile, he vanished and reappeared in the center of the square.
"Come. Don't waste my time."
Mang Tianchi, watching from the sidelines, grinned.
These two boys—he liked them a lot.
On the field, Gu Yao's expression turned frigid.
"You're confident. I want to see how your brother stays smug when you're dead!"
As he spoke, the temperature dropped sharply. His black-and-white hair whipped wildly, and his body vanished like a ghost.
Xiao Yan's expression turned serious. This fight wasn't just for pride—it was about his future with Xun'er, the Xiao Clan's honor, and his brother's reputation.
He could not lose.
"You don't have what it takes to kill me!"
With a shout, Dou Qi erupted from Xiao Yan's body. Bones crackled as power surged. The cold vanished as heat reclaimed the air.
"Three Flames Godly Transformation—First Phase! Second Phase! Third Phase!"
The power-up launched his strength to peak Seven-Star Dou Zun.
BOOM!
His fist surged with compressed Dou Qi. As he struck forward, a hand suddenly emerged from the void—Gu Yao's. It was lightning-fast, slicing like a blade as it clashed with Xiao Yan's punch.
A shockwave exploded outward. Cracks spiderwebbed across the ground, and fragments of stone shattered into dust.
The three elders in charge reacted instantly, soaring into the air and isolating the entire arena with protective Dou Qi.
HMPH!
Xiao Yan let out a grunt and slid back a few steps.
Gu Yao also retreated slightly, his face grim. He hadn't expected Xiao Yan—still technically weaker—to hold his ground.
Of course, he didn't know Xiao Yan had reinforced his hand with Golden Spirit Marrow.
"Mountain-Breaking Seal!"
Gu Yao's fingers formed a new seal, launching a brutal palm technique.
Xiao Yan met it with the same move.
"Mountain-Breaking Seal!"
The two forces collided and neutralized each other.
"Mountain-Breaking Seal! Ocean-Flipping Seal!"
Gu Yao's seals flew faster. His energy surged, forming a barrage of deadly palm imprints. His mastery of the Emperor's Seal Technique was undeniable.
"Six Movement Ruler Technique!"
Xiao Yan summoned his black ruler, flooding the space with overlapping afterimages, creating a dense defensive web.
BOOM BOOM BOOM!
Explosions rocked the arena. Energy waves crashed like floods, shaking the ground beneath them.
All around the plaza, spectators watched in awe. The speed and intensity of the battle had escalated instantly.
Many wondered—how would this fight end? Could the famed young genius of Central Plains stand his ground against one of the Gu Clan's most powerful talents?
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Albino1