Chapter 507: I Will Prove It

"The space gate to the Ancient Realm has opened; everyone, please enter!"

The instant the Ancient Realm passage fully opened, Xiao Yan, with a faint smile barely visible, led the way, thunder forming beneath his feet, and in a single leap, dashed straight into the space channel—the first to enter.

Seeing Xiao Yan rush ahead so eagerly, Elder Gu Xun could only sigh helplessly; this kid was too impatient.

As Xiao Yan moved, countless others around him activated their body techniques to follow, but most factions that came to observe the Adult Ceremony had brought their young generation to watch the battle, so their speed couldn't match Xiao Yan's.

Seeing Xiao Yan move so fast, Second Commander Lin Xiu's eyes narrowed slightly; he unleashed all his Dou Qi, executing a bizarre and unparalleled body technique that pierced through Space, appearing beside Xiao Yan as if teleporting.

"A Quasi Heavenly Rank body technique?" Xiao Yan glanced at him, unable to help but marvel—Gu Clan truly was Gu Clan; even a Six-Star Dou Zun like this Second Commander possessed a Quasi Heavenly Rank body technique.

Xiao Yan wasn't slower than Lin Xiu—he simply hadn't used the Ancient Phoenix Wings.

Lin Xiu's eyes also narrowed slightly; he glanced at Elder Gu Xun, who was busy, then took a light step to the left, deliberately blocking Xiao Yan's path, his shoulder brushing ever so slightly against Xiao Yan's body.

Xiao Yan smiled faintly, as if unaware, letting Lin Xiu collide into him.

Peng! Xiao Yan's body exploded outward, then dissolved into countless lightning arcs formed from silver thunder, striking Lin Xiu from all directions like swords.

"A clone!" Lin Xiu's eyes widened—this clone was so real it had deceived even him!

Ziziziii!!! Honghonghong!!! Instantly, the Three Thousand Thunder Illusion Body, infused with Nine Dragon Thunder-Flame, erupted violently, unleashing a torrent of thunder and fire energy in massive explosions.

Terrifying lightning and exotic fire exploded, forming a colossal thunderstorm; the trap of the Three Thousand Thunder Illusion Body detonated too swiftly—Lin Xiu didn't even have time to activate a Defensive Dou Technique, and could only hastily summon Dou Qi for defense.

"You're just like the Third Commander—all of you are one-trick ponies."

Xiao Yan's calm voice came from above Lin Xiu's head; within the thunderstorm, he was completely unaffected. Hearing Xiao Yan suddenly appear, Lin Xiu snapped his head up—only to meet the sole of Xiao Yan's shoe.

"Eight Extremes Crush!"

Hong!! Xiao Yan showed no mercy—he stomped down with full force onto Lin Xiu's nasal bone!

Though Eight Extremes Crush was only Arcane-Rank High-Level, Xiao Yan's physical strength was far beyond that of a Dou Shi! That single stomp shattered Lin Xiu's nose, knocking out several front teeth mixed with blood as they were forced inward.

He felt as if a mountain had crashed down—this single step had crushed through his Dou Qi defense.

Xiu!! Blood gushed from Lin Xiu's nose and mouth as he shot downward like a dark shadow, crashing with a loud thud into the lake below.

Xiao Yan made no further move; for such a petty fool, he had no intention of killing him—wouldn't want to ruin the elegance of his reunion with Xun Er.

The commotion from Xiao Yan's battle with Lin Xiu naturally drew many eyes.

"Even the Second Commander isn't his match!"

"This isn't just not a match—it's practically instant defeat! Even Brother Gu Zhen probably—"

"Whoa! Does that mean Xiao Yan has reached the level of the Four Commanders?"

Instantly, many who knew the Gu Clan exchanged glances—the Eight Commanders weren't the strongest members of the Gu Clan; they were more like honorary positions meant to encourage the descendants.

Aside from the First Commander, Gu Zhen, none of the others bore the Gu surname; all Eight Commanders had once been descendants, and the title was essentially a promotion given by the Gu Clan to encourage young, powerful descendants.

But the Four Commanders were different—their evaluation criteria were only two: youth and strength. They were the elite reserve army.

The Four Commanders of the Black Smoke Army—Gu Qingyang, Gu Hua, Gu Xing, and Gu Yao—were not only the young generation with the highest Dou Di Bloodline, but also the most talented and powerful.

And now, Xiao Yan's strength and cultivation realm had reached the level of the Four Commanders!

Splash! Lin Xiu burst out of the lake, touched his nose, his face twisted in fury, and growled: "Xiao Yan, don't get too cocky—within the Ancient Realm, someone will deal with you! I'll wait for you to crawl out like a dead dog!"

Xiao Yan, who had already entered the space channel, merely smiled faintly, then snapped his fingers with a sharp pop.

!!!?

"Aaaah!!" A scream rang out.

Ziziziii!! Instantly, a gray Heavenly Thunder surged from Lin Xiu's body, suppressing his Dou Qi and Soul Force, and Lin Xiu plummeted again from the sky into the lake.

Not long after entering the space channel, Xiao Yan emerged from a glowing ring; the instant he stepped into the Ancient Realm, he felt an astonishing amount of Heavenly Energy surrounding him.

Xiao Yan took a deep breath—this Heavenly Energy was slightly stronger than that of the Soul Realm.

As Xiao Yan activated his Soul Force to sense Xun Er's location, a rumbling echoed from the sky—he saw a vast, dense mass of dark clouds surging toward them from all directions.

"Is that... the legendary Kong Kong Boat unique to the Gu Clan?" Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes, watching the clouds; over the past few days, he'd gathered some information about the Gu Clan.

The Kong Kong Boat moved at the speed of a Peak Dou Zun, capable of traversing Space and cruising through Xu Kong Zhi Di—it was an exceedingly rare treasure. Legends said that in ancient times, the Gu Clan used these Kong Kong Boats to wage wars across the land, securing their current status.

Every Dou Emperor Family had been passed down since ancient times—just as the Soul Sovereign possessed Soul Robes and Soul Tokens, only the Soul Sovereign could produce such items.

As Xiao Yan spotted the Kong Kong Boat, more and more people began emerging from the space channel.

"So many Kong Kong Boats!"

"Our family owns one—we heard it cost a tremendous price to buy from the Gu Clan, and we've treasured it ever since!"

"No wonder the Gu Clan—such grandeur! On Zhong Zhou, no other faction except the few Dou Emperor Families can match them—not even Dan Tower comes close."

Watching the warship speed toward them, countless families who had come to observe the Adult Ceremony sighed—Gu Clan's power remained as unfathomable as ever!

Gonglonglong!

The dark clouds, carrying torrents of thunder, arrived, and finally, a dozen Kong Kong Boats slowly halted in the sky. An ancient voice descended from the boats.

"Hehe, esteemed guests, please board the Kong Kong Boats."

Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly—the Ancient Realm was vast beyond his imagination; even with Kong Kong Boats, reaching the central region would still take time.

"Using Kong Kong Boats as buses?" Xiao Yan grimaced—Xun Er wasn't just rich—she was a super-rich heiress!

"Am I not the ultimate sugar daddy?" Xiao Yan rubbed his nose, secretly pleased—being able to live off soft food was also a sign of one's own ability.

As the Xiao Clan's Young Clan Leader, Xiao Yan naturally boarded the lead Kong Kong Boat, just like the others from Dou Emperor Families; for the first time, he saw all the representatives from the Dou Emperor Families.

Besides the Yan Clan and Soul Sovereign he'd already seen, the Lei Clan, Stone Clan, and Yao Clan were also aboard the Kong Kong Boat.

"No Ling Clan?" Xiao Yan glanced around, noticing the Ling Clan was absent—but he didn't care much; after all, they were a Dou Emperor Family too—entering the Ancient Realm early wasn't surprising.

As the Kong Kong Boat began traversing Space, Xiao Yan turned his gaze toward the Yao Clan. He had a strange connection with them—not only had Yao Zun once been an outcast of the Yao Clan, but his first Soul Body had also originated from them.

The Yao Clan's delegation was small; at their head stood a man and a woman. The man wore a white robe embroidered with a medicinal gourd, while the woman dressed in a revealing, sensual outfit—both were at the Star Seven Dou Zun level.

"The man at the front is Yao Xing Ji, known as Ren Yaozi." Suddenly, a voice came from behind Xiao Yan.

He turned his head—standing behind him was a white-robed man, smiling calmly; it was one of the Yan Clan members Xiao Yan had met in the tavern tower.

"Eight-Star Dou Zun... his strength must place him among the top of the Yan Clan's young generation." Xiao Yan assessed the white-robed man inwardly.

"Hello, I'm Huo Xuan, from the Yan Clan." The white-robed man smiled and bowed slightly.

Xiao Yan smiled, returned the bow, and said: "Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan."

Huo Xuan glanced toward the Yao Clan and said: "That Ren Yaozi may have a strange title, but his Pill Alchemy skill is no weakling—he's rumored to already be able to successfully refine an Eight Grade Pill that draws Six-Colored Pill Lightning, not far from becoming an Eight-pin Advanced Alchemist."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan merely smiled faintly. Even Six-Colored Pill Lightning meant little—he could now refine the Nine Revolution Heaven Changing Pill, which summoned Nine Color Pill Thunder.

Still, Xiao Yan didn't believe he was stronger than every young member of the Yao Clan. Those who came to the Heavenly Tomb were certainly not the Yao Clan's strongest young Alchemists. Even if the Xiao Clan had declined, Xiao Yan knew well: the Hun Ya sent by the Soul Sovereign probably couldn't even rank among the top ten of their young generation.

Seeing Xiao Yan's casual smile, with a glimmer of confidence in his eyes, Huo Xuan paused slightly, then chuckled: "It seems Brother Xiao Yan is very confident."

"Confidence or not—it doesn't matter. Pill Alchemy is also a way to cultivate one's nature. There's no reason to feel inferior to others."

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Yao Xing Ji and the other Yao Clan members all glanced at him. Though silent, their eyes carried clear disdain and coldness. To them, winning the Pill Gathering meant nothing—they possessed Dou Di Bloodline, and their Pill Alchemy and Fire Control Power were innate strengths.

They had always looked down on Alchemists from the Dou Qi Continent.

"This guy has a Strange Fire inside him. I just don't know which one." Xiao Yan had also sensed a potent Strange Fire within Yao Xing Ji.

Thinking of Strange Fires, Xiao Yan glanced at Huo Zhi of the Yan Clan, his eyes narrowing slightly. Of the dozen or so members from this Dou Emperor Family, two different Strange Fires had already appeared! And neither was low-ranked! It was clear how many resource-rich lands the Dou Emperor Families controlled.

Seeing Xiao Yan studying Huo Zhi, Huo Xuan blinked and whispered: "Brother Xiao Yan is interested in my younger sister? Shall I introduce you?"

Hearing Huo Xuan, Xiao Yan shook his head, his gaze clear: "I'm interested in her Strange Fire."

Huo Xuan was stunned. Good heavens—you two said the exact same thing!

But Huo Xuan didn't know: being targeted by Xiao Yan was an extremely dangerous thing.

After a few polite exchanges, Xiao Yan turned and walked to the bow deck, where a small wooden table stood in an open space. A long-haired man in tight-fitting attire sat cross-legged before it, two cups of green tea already poured.

Seeing this, Xiao Yan smiled, walked over uninvited, sat down opposite, and picked up the tea, inhaling its aroma. The fragrance drifted gently—just one sniff made him feel as if he stood in a fairyland, utterly comfortable.

He drained the cup, savored it, then said: "This tea… is good tea."

The long-haired man lifted the teapot and refilled Xiao Yan's cup, looking at him: "I'm Gu Zhen, Commander of the Black Smoke Army."

Even without introducing himself, Xiao Yan had guessed his identity. The reason was simple: of the eight Commanders of the Black Smoke Army, Xiao Yan had met seven and fought three—only the top Commander remained.

"You set out tea—is this a challenge, or are you using tea instead of wine to apologize for those three fools?" Xiao Yan smiled at Gu Zhen.

A Peak Dou Zun of Nine-Star Rank—by this standard, the Four Grand Commanders like Gu Yao must be no weaker than Nine-Star Peak, and their Bloodline was surely even higher.

Gu Zhen didn't answer directly. After sipping tea, he asked: "Young Master Xiao, do you know why every guest entering the Ancient Realm must be escorted by the Black Smoke Army, and never allowed out of our sight?"

Xiao Yan shrugged casually: "How would I know?"

Gu Zhen said: "Within the Ancient Realm dwell countless descendants—these are the foundation of the Gu Clan, its most vital layer. Their bodies also carry Dou Di Bloodline, though so diluted it's negligible. Yet occasionally, mutations occur, and they become fresh blood for the Gu Clan. Of course, they gain this chance for evolution solely because their bodies contain Dou Di Bloodline."

"But this Bloodline is weak—it's easily overwritten. And the method to overwrite it is simple: intermarry with an outside clan."

"The Gu Clan values Dou Di Bloodline. Thus, we fear outsiders will cause this Bloodline to vanish. That's why we strictly prevent outsiders from lingering in the Ancient Realm."

Xiao Yan sipped his tea calmly, offering no reaction. He understood perfectly what Gu Zhen meant.

Here, Gu Zhen paused, fixing Xiao Yan with a serious gaze: "This applies not just to ordinary descendants, but to core members of the Gu Clan. Our clan laws explicitly forbid: marriage with outsiders!"

"Now you know what I'm getting at, don't you?"

Hearing Gu Zhen, Xiao Yan laughed as if hearing a joke. He looked at the empty teacup and said: "This tea is good—but not the best I've ever drunk."

Gu Zhen blinked, confused by Xiao Yan's meaning.

"I once drank a flower-medicinal tea, brewed from multiple herbs and petals. Its scent lingered mysteriously at the nostrils; drinking it felt dreamlike, the herbs seeping straight into the heart, making one feel ethereal, as if one's spirit were purified."

"Do you understand what I mean?" Xiao Yan asked calmly.

Gu Zhen was utterly baffled—he truly didn't get it.

Seeing Gu Zhen still confused, Xiao Yan smiled and pointed to the teapot: "Dou Di Bloodline is valuable—it lets you reach high realms faster and grants innate talent. But it's not the best."

!?

"Didn't your ancestor, the Ancient Emperor, begin with Dou Di Bloodline?"

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Gu Zhen frowned. The logic was sound—but in reality, it wasn't that simple!

"The Dou Qi Continent has no Dou Emperor now. Are you saying you'll become one?" Gu Zhen stared at Xiao Yan. If Xiao Yan truly meant that, he was naïve.

To Gu Zhen's surprise, Xiao Yan shook his head.

"No. I have no great interest in becoming a Dou Emperor. If I can, fine. If not, so be it. But if I can prove that Dou Di Bloodline is nothing special..."

As Xiao Yan finished speaking, Gu Zhen's eyes narrowed. He stared at the man before him—and for some reason, he felt a terrifying premonition: this Adult Ceremony would bring disaster!

Xiao Yan stretched, then slowly stood. Facing the Void Space beyond the ship, he spoke to Gu Zhen's back: "One more thing. Your Black Smoke Army can only keep guests within sight if you have the strength to do so."

!!!?

"Xiao Yan!"

Boom—the space beside him shattered. Xiao Yan leapt from the ship, then stepped on Void Space, racing toward a distant direction with lightning speed!

"Hmph! This is the Gu Clan's territory—how dare you act recklessly!" A cold snarl came from the ship. Instantly, the space around Xiao Yan was sealed.

Facing this Nine-Star Peak Dou Zun's spatial lockdown, Xiao Yan ignored it. A thread of Fused Strange Fire flashed across his body. The moment this super Strange Fire—formed from eleven Strange Fires—appeared, space twisted and melted instantly. Nothing could block Xiao Yan.

"What power is that!"

"Is that a Strange Fire?" Ren Yaozi's eyes widened in shock—he didn't recognize this Strange Fire!

Huo Zhi, veiled, widened her eyes in surprise—this Xiao Yan had hidden such power?!

"Tch!" Two aged figures broke through the air, rushing to seize Xiao Yan.

"Gu Qian, Gu Xu—you two old shameless bastards! You bully others, I won't interfere—but now you're directly targeting Jia Nan Academy? Do you think I'm made of mud?"

Suddenly, the space before the two aged figures vanished. A familiar figure blocked their path.

"Mang Tianchi?"

Xiao Yan didn't turn his head, but his Soul Force Perception knew—the old man named Mang Tianchi was the unreliable elder he'd met in the Void Thunder Pool.

"Dean Mang Tianchi?" Xiao Yan's heart jolted—this name matched the long-missing Dean of Jia Nan Academy!