Chapter 1033

A night passed in haste, and when the first ray of morning light poured down from the horizon, the Ancient Sacred Mountain Range at the heart of the Ancient Realm almost instantly became bustling.

Above this sky, figures flashed past one after another, and various celebratory drum and gong sounds began to echo through the air above the mountain range.

After all, today is their Ancient Clan's once-in-twenty-years grand event, and it concerns the younger generation of their family, so no one dares to be careless.

"Creak."

At the same time, a tightly closed door in the resting area prepared by the Ancient Clan for the guests suddenly opened slowly.

Lin Feng, having already changed into clean clothes, quickly stepped out from within.

At the same time, people kept appearing one after another in the surrounding countless rooms, then flying toward the towering Ancient Sacred Mountain Range in the distance.

Since Lin Feng did not see any experts from the Ancient Dragon Clan emerge, he shot straight up into the sky, following the crowd, and rushed wildly toward the distant perilous peaks.

Since their dwelling was not far from that mountain range, Lin Feng reached the many halls perched on the mountain peak in just a few minutes.

Finally, under the guidance of rows of Black Nirvana Army soldiers all around, he slowly descended in the central area of the hall complex.

Gazing down at the vast square below, completely entwined with ancient aura, Lin Feng immediately darted downward again.

He passed through the corridors lined on both sides with Black Nirvana Army soldiers standing ramrod straight, then flew toward the seats at the center of the square.

When he arrived at the seating area, his gaze swept forward and he discovered that the seats were divided into two parts, with a blank space about a hundred meters wide separating them in the middle.

Those seats inside were not only more luxuriously decorated, but also made of far better materials than the outer seats.

If he guessed correctly, they were likely reserved for the clan's high-ranking members or extremely honored guests.

As for those guests, they were probably people from other ancient races.

Thinking this through, Lin Feng, after a brief consideration, lifted his steps and walked toward the outer seats.

"Mr. Lin Feng, we have prepared your seat in the front VIP section; you may go there to sit. Moreover, Lord Hao Yan is also waiting for you there."

However, just as Lin Feng was preparing to go to the side seats, a maid suddenly stepped forward, pointing to the front seats and said.

"Huh?"

Hearing the maid's words, Lin Feng raised his eyebrows and looked toward those front seats.

Soon after, he figured it out: they must have seen the Ancient Dragon Clan experts also coming with him, so they swapped their seats to those front VIP seats.

Having thought this through, he nodded and then walked forward.

As for the Black Nirvana Army soldiers along the way, they also seemed to have received the news.

Therefore, none of them tried to stop Lin Feng from entering.

"Lin Feng, you've come—quick, watch the show!"

Just as he entered the vicinity of the VIP seats, Hao Yan immediately stood up and waved at him.

At the same time, Lin Feng realized that the people in the VIP seats were mostly gathered at the very front of the seats, not knowing what they were doing.

However, as soon as Hao Yan's voice rang out, the people around him twitched the corners of their mouths slightly.

As for Lin Feng, upon hearing that there was a good show to watch, his eyes lit up instantly, and he then tapped the ground lightly with his foot.

In a few flashes, he arrived beside Hao Yan.

When he arrived here, he then discovered that the people surrounded in the center of the crowd were his familiar Xiao Yan and Gu Xun'er, as well as Mang Tian Chi of the Thunder Clan.

At this moment, Mang Tian Chi's face was filled with anger, his eyes flashing with killing intent as he stared at Xiao Yan opposite him.

Although he always greeted people with a smile, that does not mean Mang Tian Chi is weak and incapable.

On the contrary, he is able to steadily hold the position of Thunder Clan Elder and has long been laying plans abroad for the future of the Thunder Clan.

This is enough to prove that his vision is far-reaching and that he himself is not ordinary.

Now encountering Xiao Yan, the "culprit" who stole his strange fire, he could never let him off!

However, as Lin Feng observed, he indeed saw Gu Xun'er mediating on the side, trying to appease Mang Tian Chi's anger.

"Hehe, just as I expected, Mang Tian Chi and Xiao Yan have met at the Ancient Clan's coming-of-age ceremony."

Gazing at that chaotic scene, Lin Feng curled the corner of his mouth and silently chuckled.

"Seeing Xiao Yan suffer a loss, Mr. Lin Feng is in a good mood."

While he was gloating, a soft laugh sounded right next to his ear.

As he turned his head, the fiery-haired, strikingly poised Huo Zhi came into his view.

"So it's Miss Huo Zhi—I didn't expect you all to arrive this early."

Looking at Huo Zhi whose face was covered by a veil, and the several Flame Clan members behind her, Lin Feng lightly laughed and clasped his hands.

Hearing this, Huo Zhi said somewhat helplessly: "After parting with you earlier, I went to discuss some matters with the Thunder Clan people. Today we came together, but I never expected that just as we arrived, we would run into Xiao Yan. Immediately after, Elder Mang flew into a rage and led the Thunder Clan members charging up."

While speaking, she also glanced helplessly at Xiao Yan and Mang Tian Chi in the crowd.

After hearing her words, Lin Feng finally understood: the reason Huo Zhi left so quickly yesterday was that she had gone to find the Thunder Clan.

Before Lin Feng could respond, a faint voice suddenly came from the horizon.

"Old Mang, the auspicious time has arrived; our Ancient Clan's coming-of-age ceremony is about to begin. Please grant this old man a favor. We can discuss this matter after the ceremony."

Hearing the voice, Mang Tian Chi furrowed his brows, wondering what to think.

"Hmph!"

But not long after, he flicked his sleeve and snorted coldly: "This matter, I will settle accounts with you after the coming-of-age ceremony. Dare to snatch our Thunder Clan's things—this affair is far from over!"

As soon as his words fell, Mang Tian Chi waved his hand and led the two Thunder Clan members to the VIP seats to sit down.

As for Xiao Yan, seeing that figure's retreating back, he frowned tightly, wondering what to think.

"Honored guests, the coming-of-age ceremony is about to begin; please hurry and take your seats so as not to disrupt the proceedings."

After Mang Tian Chi left, that voice sounded again from the horizon, entering the ears of everyone present.

"Alas, what a pity—I had thought I could watch a good show."

Hearing the voice, Lin Feng involuntarily shook his head in disappointment; seeing there was no time to catch up with Mang Tian Chi, he greeted Huo Zhi and then followed Hao Yan toward the VIP seats.

"Boom!"

When Lin Feng and the others had just taken their seats, an ancient bell chime suddenly rang out across heaven and earth.

Afterwards, the mighty bell sound slowly spread out, and finally, in this vast mountain range, it kept echoing.

"The time has come, the coming-of-age ceremony, let's begin."

Right after the bell chime echoed, a plain yet distant voice suddenly transmitted from the void.

And the terrifying aura contained in that voice caused many people on the square to simultaneously draw in a cool breath.

"Dou Saint. A true Dou Saint!"

Feeling this aura that sprang from the depths of the soul, some of the guest Flame Clan also showed a hint of shock.

And looking at his appearance, it was obvious that this was his first time feeling the true Dou Saint's aura.

"Whoosh!"

Just as that distant voice slowly fell, three ancient clan elders with very solemn attire rose sternly from the front seats of the honored guests and then entered the center of the square.

At the same time, many implements were already hovering in the center of the square.

And the purpose of these implements goes without saying; they are prepared for the coming-of-age ceremony.

"The coming-of-age ceremony of the Dou Emperor family is extremely elaborate; among these families, only after undergoing the ceremony can one be considered truly adult. At the same time, after the ceremony, these young-generation talents can then become the true core of the clan."

"Even marriage must wait until after the coming-of-age ceremony is completed before it can proceed."

At the moment those ancient clan elders rose, Hao Yan also seized the opportunity to speak, answering for Lin Feng.

Although he had never participated in the Dou Emperor family's coming-of-age ceremony before, many records, the Tai Xu Ancient Dragon Clan still preserved.

Therefore, he also knew some.

After Lin Feng heard this, he also lightly nodded, then turned his gaze toward the front center of the square.

At the same time, the three ancient clan elders at the center of the square had already made their preparations.

Next, their rather imposing gazes swept over a group of young juniors of the ancient clan in the distance.

"The ceremony begins, first: Ling Quan!"

Afterwards, the three ancient clan elders on the square exchanged a glance, then, following the list, called out the first name that was extremely familiar to Xiao Yan below the stage.

"Whoosh~"

Hearing the elders' call, Ling Quan in the distance did not dare delay; he immediately stepped forward, his body slightly moved, and he energetically rushed into the arena, then respectfully bowed to the three elders.

"Alright, let's begin."

Regarding his attitude, the three ancient clan elders also nodded in satisfaction; then a stern-faced elder clenched his hand and said to him.

With that elder's motion, a round star disk nearly a zhang in size suddenly appeared before him.

And if one's gaze carefully scans this star disk, one can find that its rim is engraved with a circle of ten stars.

However, at this moment the star patterns on the disk are a very dim gray.

"Yes."

Hearing his clan elder's order, Ling Quan immediately bent slightly, then hurried forward, lightly placing his palm on the star disk, eyes slightly closed.

"Hum!"

Accompanying the closing of Ling Quan's eyes, the star disk suddenly burst forth a strong radiance.

In an instant, six of the ten dim star patterns on the disk quickly became bright and glaring.

Then the ancient clan elder, seeing those six stars, lightly nodded and loudly proclaimed: "Ling Quan, Seventh Commander of the Black Abyss Army, one-star Dou Zun strength, sixth-grade bloodline level, after deliberation by the Elder Council, I bestow upon you the golden clan mark!"

"It's actually a sixth-grade bloodline and a golden clan mark—no wonder he's the seventh commander."

Hearing the elder's shout, some of the ancient clan natives on the square immediately let out voices tinged with envy.

As for some other outside-world young talents brought by the clan elders to broaden their horizons, upon seeing that Ling Quan's strength was only one-star Dou Zun, a hint of confidence immediately flashed across their faces.

Their age was also roughly around thirty.

Yet, despite lacking Dou Emperor bloodline, they too had advanced to the Dou Zun Realm.

Compared to Ling Quan, their aura was only stronger, not weaker.

Therefore, facing him, they also regained their confidence!

And Ling Quan on the stage, naturally, was unaware of others' thoughts.

Upon seeing the six stars on the star disk, his eyes immediately flashed with joy.

Afterwards, remembering that he was currently at the coming-of-age ceremony, he quickly knelt on one knee and lifted his head.

The other ancient clan elder in charge of the star disk, seeing this, promptly picked up a floating golden‑glimmering brush before him, placed the tip more than ten centimeters above Ling Quan's forehead, and began to wave it.

And as that elder's arm moved, it left trails of afterimages too fast for ordinary eyes to follow.

A mysterious rune then appeared out of thin air on Ling Quan's forehead.

It was as if the brush, dipped in golden ink, were writing characters on his forehead.

And at the instant that ancient clan elder finished writing and lifted the brush, the rune on Ling Quan's forehead instantly burst with golden light, suffusing a special energy fluctuation.

"This is the Dou Emperor family's clan mark, how interesting."

Gazing at the rune on his forehead, Lin Feng immediately rested his hand on his chin, lightly rubbing it, and looked ahead at the square with keen interest.

Then his mind shifted slightly, and information about the ancient clan's coming-of-age ceremony surfaced in his thoughts.

He recalled that the ancient clan's bloodline grade is divided into ten levels, with first being the lowest and tenth the highest.

And those whose bloodline grade reaches fourth level or above are eligible to participate in this coming-of-age ceremony.

As for that clan mark, it is divided into four grades: silver, gold, purple gold, and seven‑color gold.

At the same time, this clan mark of the ancient tribe can be activated in a critical moment, causing the mark bearer's strength to surge temporarily, turning danger into safety.

Importantly, the side effect of boosting strength by activating this clan mark is extremely low.

Even after the effect fades, there is no feeling of weakness.

Only at such times does the clan mark enter a recovery period, during which it cannot be activated; its owner needs to rest afterward before it can be restored.

Of course, if you're too lazy to spend time restoring it, you can also wait for the clan mark to recover on its own; it just means the time taken will be greatly increased.

Considering all of the above, in a sense, the amplification effect and side effects of this clan mark even surpass many Heaven‑stage amplification techniques!

"Hehe, this kid's bloodline level is weak, even worse than mine."

And Hao Yan, seated to Lin Feng's right, let out a wicked laugh as soon as he saw the bloodline level of Lingquan below.

Hearing that, Lin Feng immediately asked curiously, "Senior, does your Tai Xu Ancient Dragon Clan also have bloodline levels? What is yours?"

"Of course we do!"

As soon as the former finished speaking, Hao Yan naturally nodded.

Then he explained, "My bloodline level is eighth rank, two stars higher than that kid. Generally, once the bloodline reaches eighth rank, if the opportunity is right or cultivation resources are abundant, one can hope to become a Dou Saint. If someone awakens a ninth‑rank bloodline, that person has the potential to go straight to Dou Saint. Of course, how many stars of Dou Saint they ultimately achieve depends on their fate."

"As for divine‑grade bloodlines, that terrifying potential, if the person works hard and has sufficient cultivation resources, is enough for her to reach the peak of Dou Saint and even, in ancient times, many divine‑grade bloodlines eventually broke through to Dou Emperor!"

While speaking, the former's tone was also full of envy.

He, an eighth‑rank bloodline Tai Xu Ancient Dragon, being able to cultivate to the early three‑star Dou Saint stage, is already an extremely defiant existence.

Moreover, if it weren't for their Old Dragon Emperor couple disappearing, and he happened to be assigned a perilous mission to the deepest void to search for the Old Dragon Emperor.

This caused him to struggle on the brink of life and death for thousands of years, allowing him to repeatedly break through his shackles.

With his eighth‑rank bloodline, reaching Dou Saint before his natural death is all thanks to his ancestors' manifestation.

As for reaching two‑star and above Dou Saint, if you don't light a fire at the ancestral tomb to celebrate, you can't even sleep well.

Moreover, ordinary flame points aren't satisfying; you have to use exotic flame points.

"Next, Lin Xiu!"

While Hao Yan was explaining to Lin Feng, another shout rang out across the plaza.

As soon as the words fell, at the spot where the younger generation of the ancient clan stood, one of them immediately sprang up, then rushed down with an excited grin.

After reaching the three Elders, they followed Lingquan's previous procedure once more.

However, the stars emitting light on the star chart were still only six.

"Lin Xiu, Third Commander of the Black Yin Army, Five‑star Dou Zun, Six‑rank bloodline level, awarded a golden clan mark!"

After speaking, the Elder holding the brush immediately etched a golden clan mark on Lin Xiu's forehead.

However, although both Lingquan and Lin Xiu have golden clan marks, the latter's mark on his forehead shines noticeably brighter than the former's.

Perhaps this reflects some of the differences brought by their disparity in strength.

"Next."

After Lingquan and Lin Xiu, the shouting Elder continued to call up dozens of fairly strong young men and women one after another.

However, Lin Feng never saw anyone whose bloodline level exceeded the previous six‑rank.

Only, as these ancient clan prodigies grew stronger.

Those non‑bloodline prodigies who had just regained confidence became somewhat decadent again.

They then realized that the guy named Lingquan at the start was, in every aspect, merely the lowest‑rank participant in this coming‑of‑age ceremony.

The other ancient clan prodigies were far stronger than them and Lingquan!

"Gu Zhen, Grand Commander of the Black Yin Army, Seven‑star Dou Zun, Seven‑rank bloodline power, awarded."

And after the ancient clan's coming‑of‑age ceremony had proceeded for a while, the voice in the hall suddenly paused.

"Gu Zhen?"

Hearing the name, Lin Feng and Xiao Yan both felt a stir in their hearts, looked up, and gazed toward the hall.

There, Gu Zhen knelt on one knee, his gaze calmly fixed on the three Elders whispering among themselves.

As for the situation in the hall, the guests below exchanged glances before their eyes converged on Gu Zhen.

From this starkly different situation, this guy is somewhat different from those before!

Meanwhile, after the three ancient clan Elders conversed for a moment, they finally fell silent.

Then the Elder holding the brush clenched his hand, grasping the floating purple‑gold brush before him.

"It's a purple‑gold dragon brush!"

Seeing the Elder ahead pick up the purple‑gold brush, the ancient clan members and people from the other five great Dou Emperor families immediately let out exclamations.

"After deliberation by the Elder Council, Gu Zhen's battle merits are extraordinary, his temperament steady, both wise and brave; therefore, he is specially awarded a purple‑gold clan mark!"

With the Elder's stern, deep shout, the energy in his palm surged suddenly, driving the purple‑gold brush to swiftly glide across Gu Zhen's forehead, leaving a purple‑gold clan mark.

However, perhaps due to Gu Zhen's insufficient strength, the glow of that purple‑gold clan mark appeared somewhat dim.

Yet even so, it could not stop the envious gazes of the younger and even older generations of the ancient clan in the hall.