Chapter 264

Xiao Yan held the Xuan Heavy Ruler in one hand, his gaze seemingly still as a deep well, but within it, hidden currents surged.

Xiao Yan's words were serious!

He knew the strength of these ten so-called Black Smoke Army members was formidable—nine Doubwang and one Douhuang—and they were from a Dou Emperor Family; their power was by no means ordinary for Doubwang or Douhuang, likely having cultivated Earth-Rank Cultivation Methods and Dou Techniques since childhood.

This force alone could sweep away every Faction in the Black Horn Region.

"Brother Xiao Yan," hearing Xiao Yan's words, Xun Er's eyes betrayed reluctance and sorrow, yet more than anything, a sense of happiness from being protected.

"Xiao Yan? Oh, so you're the one speaking so boastfully—you're that so-called 'genius' young master of the fallen clan, eh? Hehe, if your Xiao Clan hadn't been destroyed, you might indeed have the nerve to say such things. But now, the Xiao Clan is merely a fallen, destitute family from the lower realms."

Hearing Ling Quan's cold mockery of the former Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan's expression gradually turned icy, his hand slowly closing around the handle of the Xuan Heavy Ruler.

The Xiao Clan was indeed destroyed—now, it had no connection whatsoever to its former self—but that did not give others the right to speak ill of it.

"Ling Quan, shut up! The Xiao Family has a covenant with our clan—how dare you insult them?" Sensing Xiao Yan's increasingly icy expression, Xun Er grew anxious and snapped at Ling Quan.

"Hehe, Miss, don't be angered—I merely spoke too bluntly." Ling Quan smiled, then suddenly shifted tone: "However, the Elders instructed me that if we encounter Young Master Yan, we may 'appropriately' inquire about the whereabouts of the Xiao Family's share of the key."

Xun Er cut in before Xiao Yan could speak, retorting: "I've spent years in the Xiao Clan and never heard a word of this 'key.' Are you implying I deliberately concealed it, deceived my own family?"

Ling Quan's eyelid twitched; he immediately bowed his head in apology: "I did not mean that—I was foolish. Miss, please return; the clan has summoned you repeatedly."

Watching Ling Quan speak as if he were invisible, Xiao Yan sighed: "Ah, you really do seem nonexistent."

Xiao Yan slowly shook his head, revealing a faint smile—but it was as cold as the Nine Underworld. The next second, ten thousand beast spiritual flames surged within him, and a staggering dragon might erupted from his body.

"Dragon Might?!" The Black Smoke Army surrounding Xiao Yan all changed expression, staring at him in shock.

They never imagined a Doubwang from a fallen clan could possess Dragon Might—and this Dragon Might was no weakling's.

Under such terrifying Dragon Might, even their legs trembled. It felt as if they faced not a man, but a True Dragon!

Xiao Yan gave them no chance to react; the Burnt Decree roared like a jet engine, its speed now subtly surpassing its usual pace, already on the verge of Earth-Class Mid-Level.

"Ancient Dragon Roar!" Xiao Yan roared inwardly.

The sound shook space, trembled the earth, and even the clouds and winds above surged like wild waves in all directions. The sonic wave erupted from Xiao Yan's body, like a flood capable of destroying heaven and earth.

Upon hearing the dragon's roar, a soul-piercing sonic attack struck the nine Black Smoke Army members.

"Aaaah!!"

The nine Doubwang of the Black Smoke Army clutched their ears, faces twisted in agony, eyes tightly shut. They felt only a dragon's roar piercing their minds, shaking their Spiritual Souls—their Dou Qi defenses could not block it.

Thin streams of blood trickled from their ears; Xiao Yan's Ancient Dragon Roar was worlds apart from a year ago.

Recall: back then, Xiao Yan was only a Three-Star Dou Ling, and the Ancient Dragon Roar hadn't even reached the threshold. Now, he was a Doubwang, had cultivated for a full year, and most importantly, his Spiritual Soul was no longer comparable.

"Aaaah!! What is this?!"

"My ears!!"

Crack, crack, crack—the armor of the Black Smoke Army began to crack.

The Dragon Roar echoed throughout the Inner Court, even audible in the Outer Court.

"Hm? Is that Xiao Yan's sonic Dou Technique?" Lin Yan, far away, turned toward the sound's source.

"Xiao Yan? Is he fighting Zi Yan again?" Lin Xiuya, mid-cultivation, slowly opened his eyes and gazed into the distance.

Zi Yan, searching for Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures in the forest beyond the Inner Court, heard the Ancient Dragon Roar; a flash of purple passed through her eyes as she murmured: "This voice is furious… He's in battle? No—I must go see."

Zi Yan spread her wings and flew urgently toward Xiao Yan.

The Ancient Dragon Roar was an Earth-Class Mid-Level sonic Dou Technique; its terrifying destructive force cracked the entire hillside with countless fissures. Xiao Yan's eyes hardened; he unleashed ten thousand beast spiritual flames to enhance his physical strength and activated the Roaring Lion Technique.

In a flash of Three Thousand Thunder, while the Black Smoke Army was still dazed, the Xuan Heavy Ruler came down—BOOM! One man, armor and all, instantly shattered, blood spurted, bones cracked.

The Xuan Heavy Ruler already weighed a thousand jin; combined with Xiao Yan's absurdly immense physical strength, this strike was unimaginably devastating.

Even if the Doubwang of the Black Smoke Army hadn't been stunned by the Ancient Dragon Roar, they still could not have blocked it—bones shattered, bodies slammed into the earth, flung far beyond sight.

Xiao Yan swung the Xuan Heavy Ruler in several horizontal sweeps; blood stained the ground. Several Black Smoke Army members lay distant, barely able to move—even if alive, they were mortally wounded.

Ling Ying stared, dumbfounded: Xiao Yan was only a One-Star Doubwang, while the Black Smoke Army were at least Fifth-Star Doubwang—yet four of them were instantly neutralized, struck down without even a chance to retaliate.

One high-level Doubwang, enduring the agony in his Spiritual Soul, gritted his teeth and pulled out a Heaven-Devouring Halberd. Just as he prepared to activate a Dou Technique, he realized the Dragon Roar's roar carried Dragon Qi—his Spiritual Soul trembled, rendering him unable to use any technique!

"Eight Extremes Collapse!"

As the man froze in shock, unable to use his technique, Xiao Yan spun, his left fist gathering ten thousand beast spiritual flames, and slammed it directly into the incoming halberd.

Boom! Boom! Boom!! The Five-Grade Magic Core weapon shattered under Xiao Yan's fist; terrifying ten thousand beast spiritual flames, combined with hidden force, instantly engulfed the Doubwang.

His chest caved inward; blood spewed from his mouth as he flew backward like a kite.

"Form the Four-Sided Array!"

The remaining four men shook off their daze, eyes blazing with malice, attacking Xiao Yan from all four sides.

Xiao Yan's Soul Force instantly spotted their weakness; with a hiss, he hurled the Xuan Heavy Ruler into the air—next second, the four men's weapons pierced through Xiao Yan's body.

Zizizi—lightning flickered; Xiao Yan's body turned into a lightning afterimage.

"Thunder Flash!"

A streak of lightning shot through the center of the four men—speed like thunder, swift as lightning.

In the next instant, a figure appeared behind one of the Black Smoke Army members; Xiao Yan caught the falling Heavy Ruler, his eyes as cold as a death god harvesting lives.

"Flame Division: Devouring Wave Ruler!!"

Boom! The Flame Division: Devouring Wave Ruler, a perfected Earth-Rank Low-Level Dou Technique, struck at point-blank range. Even these Black Smoke Army members of the Gu Clan, mere Doubwang, found it difficult to obtain Earth-Rank Dou Techniques, let alone perfect them.

The four Black Smoke Army members, engulfed in ten thousand beast spiritual flames, could not fathom how a young outsider from a fallen clan could not only reach Doubwang so young, but also master so many Earth-Rank Dou Techniques!

And possess a Spiritual Flame!

The terrifying explosion blasted the small hill into a massive crater; the final four Black Smoke Army members were flung like charred logs, their black armor barely holding together enough to preserve their lives.

Pah, pah—in the blood-red Sea of Fire, a man strode upward, gripping a black heavy ruler.

Like an Asura from hell, Xiao Yan's expression remained calm, his gaze still as a deep well—but anyone knew what he felt now.

The Burnt Decree exploded with unprecedented intensity, drawing in the energy of heaven and earth at high speed to rapidly replenish his depleted Dou Qi.

Even Ling Ying held his breath—now, everyone had to weigh whether they could withstand Xiao Yan at this moment.

At this moment, Xiao Yan held the Xuan Heavy Ruler, his aura brimming with killing intent, majestic and formidable. He had pushed himself to cultivate relentlessly for this very day—to use his fists to tell those who sought to take what he cherished that they would pay.

I am here today—let anyone who dares take her step forward!

Ling Ying fell silent. Those Black Smoke Army names sounded impressive, but in truth, they were merely the clan's guard corps—all Gu Clan disciples who joined the Black Smoke Army had Dou Di Bloodline below Four Grade but had reached Dou Wang strength.

Yet even bloodline below Four Grade still meant possessing Dou Di Bloodline; their cultivation speed and battle qi were stronger than ordinary Dou Wangs, not to mention the resources the Gu Clan possessed.

It was hard to imagine they had been instantly defeated by a One Star Dou Wang!

"Hah, interesting. Though those men were merely newcomers of the Black Smoke Army with lowly bloodline, the fact that you defeated them so easily—I suspect you've inherited the Xiao Clan's legacy," Ling Quan sneered coldly, watching Xiao Yan approach step by step, still utterly dismissive.

Hearing Ling Quan's words, Ling Ying's heart jolted—his pupils widened in shock. For the first time, he understood why Xiao Yan had done this, why he had left Jia Nan Academy four years ago to roam the world, why he had pursued power with such reckless determination.

For this day!

"He foresaw this day long ago! He foresaw the Gu Clan would send someone to take Miss Xun Er!"

Ling Ying, who had been secretly tracking Xiao Yan, had always harbored one question: what was Xiao Yan's reason for growing stronger?

Now he knew—Xiao Yan had risked his life to obtain the Strange Fire and seek power solely for this moment!

It was not to forcibly keep Xun Er—but to tell the Gu Clan Elders behind her: he, Xiao Yan, could defeat the Gu Clan's warriors, that his potential was limitless, that he was worthy of Xun Er.

To tell the Gu Clan: the Xiao Clan is not extinct!

One day, Xiao Yan would lead the Xiao Clan back to its former glory!

This battle was a signal—to the Gu Clan: even a lowly Black Smoke Army Deputy Commander, Xiao Yan of the Xiao Clan could still crush you beyond his level!

(End of Chapter)