Chapter 200: The Function of the Soul Token

The black-robed man on the right also removed his hood—it was Yun Shan!

Yun Shan's eyes held surprise and doubt as he scanned Xiao Yan up and down, for he could sense that Xiao Yan's Soul Robe was of extremely high quality, meaning Xiao Yan's Rank could not be low!

"Are you a Human Rank Guardian?" Yun Shan frowned, staring at Xiao Yan. What he most wanted to know was why the Earth Rank Guardian Wu had not attacked Xiao Yan.

The Soul Sovereign is not like the Alchemists, who foolishly display their Ranks on their robes; unless you know someone, you have no idea what Rank they are.

Xiao Yan pondered inwardly: "Human Rank Guardian? Could Guardians be divided into Heaven-Earth-Man Ranks, while Soul Envoys, due to their numbers, are split into Heaven-Earth-Abyss-Yellow Ranks?"

Xiao Yan shrugged his shoulders and muttered, "Wrong guess—I'm just an Earth Rank Soul Envoy, not a Guardian."

"Earth Rank Soul Envoy?!" Yun Shan's expression turned shocked as he turned to look at the Wu Guardian, shrouded in a mass of black mist.

Yun Shan had joined the Soul Sovereign only recently, yet he became a Tian Rank Soul Envoy thanks to his Dou Huang Peak strength, and after using an Elixir to break through to Dou Zong, he became a Human Rank Guardian. How could Xiao Yan, an Earth Rank Soul Envoy, possibly deserve this!

He simply couldn't understand!

At that moment, a hoarse voice emerged from the other black mist: "When I learned the Wutan City Xiao Clan had not been wiped out by that Great One, I sensed something was off—but I never imagined you had joined the Soul Sovereign."

His eyes flashed—so it was this old bastard behind it all!

"Defeating the Yun Lan Sect was the Trial assigned to you by that Great One," the Wu Guardian said slowly.

Xiao Yan's heart sank—he thought: "Huh? This guy doesn't know about the Soul Token? He thinks my rampage at the Yun Lan Sect was part of Hun Xu Zi's Trial, so he didn't show up—and he fears Hun Xu Zi?"

"He can't see the Soul Token's spiritual glow, but Hun Lao Gui can sense it."

At this moment, Xiao Yan's mind raced with a thousand thoughts; he smirked, his eyes flickered—actions speak louder than words, why not test it?

With a flick of his finger, an ancient token appeared in Xiao Yan's palm.

"Soul Token!!" The Wu Guardian, an Earth Rank Guardian, turned pale, even stepping back a pace, his eyes wide open as he stared at Xiao Yan, utterly stunned!

Yun Shan, by contrast, froze—he had no idea what a Soul Token was.

For a moment, the Wu Guardian's black mist even scattered from sheer fright; he stood there dumbfounded, then muttered softly: "That Great One actually bestowed the Soul Token upon you."

Xiao Yan idly toyed with the token in his hand and said, "Looks like this thing is pretty valuable—I thought it was just a piece of rotten wood."

"Rotten… rotten wood…? This is something countless Guardians—even Tian Rank Guardians—desperately want. Only those who possess it may enter the Soul Sovereign's Holy Land in Zhong Zhou, and only then are they truly considered part of the clan." The Wu Guardian gazed longingly at the Soul Token in Xiao Yan's hand, his eyes openly filled with greed—this item was beyond even a Tian Rank Guardian's reach; only higher-ranking Elder Lords were worthy of possessing it.

And all Elder Lords were Dou Zong, governing the Earthly Demon Hall!!

Xiao Yan furrowed his brow inwardly: "This Soul Token is indeed the Clan Token. If it's like the Xiao Clan, only Core Disciples possess the Clan Token—so this token is indeed important."

"Even Dou Zong don't have Clan Tokens—so only Dou Zong qualify as Core Disciples? Just how powerful is this Soul Sovereign?!"

Xiao Yan himself possessed a Clan Token—a Young Clan Leader's token, given to him by his father Xiao Zhan on his sixteenth birthday during the Adult Ceremony. Only with the Clan Token could he freely enter the Dou Technique Pavilion, the Treasury, and other restricted areas.

And different Clan Tokens carried different powers: for instance, Xiao Yan, as holder of the Young Clan Leader's token, had the right to read every Cultivation Method and Dou Technique in the clan, and could withdraw up to three thousand Gold Coins from the Treasury each month.

Xiao Yan recalled how, back at the Soul Sacrifice Old Shop, he had used the Soul Token to open the Soul Path for the Trial. Combined with the Wu Guardian's words, that meant this Soul Token could open the Soul Path in Zhong Zhou and enter the so-called Holy Land.

"But your Clan Token doesn't seem activated," the Wu Guardian said dubiously, for he himself had never possessed a Soul Token—he had once seen a Tian Rank Guardian who, by sheer luck, captured a Dou Zong's Spiritual Soul and was rewarded with one.

That Soul Token was identical to Xiao Yan's—but it was activated, bearing the Guardian's name, while Xiao Yan's bore none.

Xiao Yan's heart trembled, but he kept his expression calm and said, "Isn't that normal? My Trial isn't over yet—my rampage at the Yun Lan Sect was just one part of it."

"I still need to enter the Life and Death Gate to complete the remaining Trials."

The Wu Guardian had no doubt about Xiao Yan's words and slowly nodded.

"You said the Xiao Clan wasn't wiped out—what do you mean?" Xiao Yan's gaze turned serious as he stared at the Wu Guardian. His family meant everything to him—he needed to know why Hun Xu Zi had come to the Xiao Clan all those years ago, and what he was seeking!

To Xiao Yan's surprise, the Wu Guardian turned to look at Yun Shan!

After a long explanation, Xiao Yan was utterly speechless—speechless to the point of being speechless.

Originally, when Nalan Yanran sought to break off her engagement, she obtained Yun Yun's approval, then came to the Xiao Clan to do so—only to be utterly crushed by Xiao Yan's overwhelming strength.

Although Nalan Yanran tried to conceal it, the fact that the next Young Sect Master had been defeated by a member of a remote village clan was no secret to the Yun Lan Sect's high ranks.

Naturally, Yun Shan learned of a prodigious teenager named Xiao Yan who had knocked out Nalan Yanran with a single punch—and this aroused his suspicion.

The Soul Sovereign had long maintained a top-priority mission: to locate a hidden super-clan—the Xiao Clan.

Normally, a tiny clan like Wutan City's would never draw Yun Shan's attention—but Xiao Yan's instant defeat of Nalan Yanran made him notice!

Later, upon hearing of Xiao Yan's deeds, the Wu Guardian came to Wutan City to capture Family Head Xiao Zhan for credit—but he discovered that the small Wutan City Xiao Clan was guarded by a Peak Dou Huang!

So the Wu Guardian did not alert them; instead, he reported the matter to the Soul Sovereign's highest authority, the Tian Gang Hall.

That's how the chain of events unfolded.

Because of the Xiao Clan matter, the Wu Guardian was promoted from Human Rank Guardian to Earth Rank, and even granted permission to build a new branch hall within the Yun Lan Sect, which he now commanded.

Xiao Yan noticed the place was empty upon entering because this branch hall had only been built in recent years.

After hearing this, Xiao Yan wished he could go back three years and brutally beat his younger self. Why couldn't you just let the engagement be broken off peacefully?! Why did you have to show off?! The engagement was going to be broken anyway!

"Hun Xu Zi got the wrong place—I'm not the person the Soul Sovereign is looking for. After passing his Trial, I received this Soul Token," Xiao Yan said, forcing calm.

Of course, the first half was a lie—he had known from the start that Hun Xu Zi was seeking the Wutan City Xiao Clan. What he hadn't expected was that his own family had once been immensely powerful, possessing something the Soul Sovereign would go to any lengths to obtain.

(End of Chapter)