Chapter 540: The Return of the Xiao Clan

"Kuang! What is that light!" A seven-colored radiance blazed forth, as if illuminating all eight directions and the six realms, and a force that induced trembling suddenly spread through the entire space.

"Xiao Yan! It's Xiao Yan!" Everyone had been focused on the power of Xiao Yixian and the other two, but this sudden surge of strength shocked them all.

They had initially thought Xiao Yan was merely skilled in pill alchemy; now they suddenly remembered the incident half a year ago—a detail easily overlooked: Xiao Yan had first defeated Gu Qingyang, the Grand Commander of the Gu Clan, before presenting the elixir as a marriage proposal.

In other words, what made him feared wasn't just his pill alchemy—his actual cultivation was astonishingly formidable!

"This... is Tribe Pattern Power!! It's the Dou Emperor Family's clan mark!!"

An ancient white-haired Peak Dou Zun, who had lived for countless eons, cried out in alarm—he, as an elder who had endured countless years, naturally knew of Dou Emperor Families and understood that their dominance over the Dou Qi Continent stemmed from Dou Di Bloodline and the clan mark.

"Clan mark? Is that the Gu Clan's clan mark?"

"No! The Gu Clan's clan mark doesn't look like that!"

After the clan mark appeared, all eyes fixed on Xiao Yan and Sky Scorpion Elder; though the light was blinding, for Dou Zun-level cultivators, light posed no obstacle.

In the blink of an eye, a massive fist appeared before Sky Scorpion Elder's face—its speed and force twisted even space, bending the light crookedly.

Boom!! The force of a single punch shook heaven and earth; it was merely an ordinary punch, yet it sent the nine-turn veteran Dou Zun sprawling, blood gushing from his nose.

"Five-Turn Dou Zun?!" Sky Scorpion Elder had no time to wipe the blood from his nose—he stared in utter terror at Xiao Yan, whose entire body was wrapped in a colorful strange fire, clan marks covering every inch, flames rising like a Fire Emperor.

Not just Sky Scorpion Elder—even the watching Dou Zuns were stunned. From Two-Turn to Five-Turn?! Even Dou Emperor Bloodline couldn't be this extreme!

A typical Heaven Tier Low Grade secret technique might grant a two-turn boost—that's already incredible and demands heavy sacrifice; you leap three turns outright—this surge left Sky Scorpion Elder utterly bewildered.

Are you sacrificing yourself?!

"Do you remember a Dou Emperor Family's clan mark from a thousand years ago that temporarily boosted cultivation by a great deal?" Baoshan Elder's gaze grew grave as he asked the Earth Walking Sect Sect Master, Earth Walking Master.

Earth Walking Master looked helplessly at Baoshan Elder—wasn't this a question he already knew the answer to?

Anyone who had lived a thousand years and cultivated during Xiao Xuan's era knew of the once-mighty Xiao Clan!

During the century when Xiao Xuan was alive, the Xiao Clan was unquestionably among the top three Dou Emperor Families; many knew of the Xiao Clan's clan mark ability.

"I forgot—he's the Xiao Clan's Young Clan Leader!"

Xiao Yan had too many accolades; countless people had forgotten he was the Xiao Clan's Young Clan Leader!

That once-dominant Dou Emperor Family—the Xiao Clan!

It's returning!

Having been knocked back by a single punch, Sky Scorpion Elder had lost all face—he wanted to peel Xiao Yan's skin off! He roared, then unhesitatingly pulled out a massive Wolf Fangs Club and swung it forward.

"The Xiao Clan has declined! What's a mere Five-Turn Dou Zun?!"

"Get lost!" Before Sky Scorpion Elder's weapon could strike, Xiao Yan instantly unfurled the Ancient Phoenix Wings, and the Dragon Phoenix Ancient Armor instantly clung to his body—a roar of Dragon Phoenix echoed through the air.

Boom! Eight Extreme Shatter was unleashed again—fist energy like a storm, a thunderous crash as fist met club; Xiao Yan merely used his physical body to send Sky Scorpion Elder flying backward.

"No wonder he bought the Diamond Glazed Body!"

Many realized: although the Dragon Phoenix Ancient Armor was formidable, Xiao Yan's body techniques were frankly pitiful—barely better than a child's brawl; Eight Extreme Shatter was too weak for a Dou Zun.

Dong dong dong—after the collision, Xiao Yan also staggered back several steps, shaking his hand. Even with the Dragon Phoenix Ancient Armor, the Nine-Turn Dou Zun still towered far above him.

"Brat, die!" Seeing Xiao Yan could match him blow for blow was unbearable to Sky Scorpion Elder—he roared, unleashed a Dou Technique: Hand Transforms Demon, Dragon-Subduing Hand, crushing down upon Xiao Yan.

Gu Huang Bell Shield activated—Dong! The giant hand struck the bell shield, instantly unleashing a powerful reverberating wave that sparked a storm; the sound wave rebounded toward Sky Scorpion Elder. Though Xiao Yan was pushed back, the dual protection left him unscathed.

"Your Nine-Turn doesn't seem so strong!" Xiao Yan smiled, flapping his Ancient Phoenix Wings, fighting barehanded—like a rampaging tyrannosaurus.

The Ancient Phoenix Wings flashed—Boom! Boom! Boom! —he launched himself forward, turning his entire body into the ultimate weapon.

Bang! Xiao Yan's shoulder slammed into Sky Scorpion Elder's chest—CRACK! A chorus of bone-shattering sounds erupted; Sky Scorpion Elder was blasted away, spewing a mouthful of blood.

"Xiao Yan's physique is astonishing, and the cultivation method he practices far surpasses Sky Scorpion Elder's."

"Yes—he can fight four levels above because of the method's enhancement; his cultivation technique is likely at least Heaven Tier Mid Grade."

Xiao Yan pressed his advantage, activating the Instant Shift Strange Fire Dou Technique—he sucked in a deep breath, his chest swelling.

Xiao Yan roared inwardly: "Strange Fire Dou Technique—Three Thousand Dragon Flame!"

Roar! Boom! Xiao Yan violently exhaled—a thick line of Purple-Black Flame surged forth, its destructive power shocking even Baoshan Elder and others, straight toward Sky Scorpion Elder, who had been blasted skyward.

The terrifying flame was compressed to its limit; Xiao Yan, whose cultivation had temporarily reached Five-Turn, poured all his immense Dou Qi into the Three Thousand Yan Flame—imagine the devastation of such an attack.

All heard only a deafening boom—the earth collapsed. From Xiao Yan's mouth erupted a beam of flame that shot straight into the sky, like a True Dragon exhaling—its power was absolute, instantly burning space into nothingness, capable of shattering all things; the ground beneath Xiao Yan melted into a massive crater, a terrifying heatwave sweeping outward.

Such a spectacular sight left everyone gaping—no one had expected Xiao Yan to possess such a technique.

How can your strange fire do all this?! It's too damn awesome!

"Cloud Rain Sky Shield!" At the brink of death, Sky Scorpion Elder roared—and as his cry fell, a massive barrier appeared before him.

The moment the barrier appeared, Xiao Yan's strange fire Dou Technique weakened slightly; upon impact, it was absorbed and blocked.

Seeing this, Xiao Yan and the onlookers all frowned.

"This is a special Dou Technique Sky Scorpion Elder cultivated by absorbing the essence, spirit, and Dou Qi of countless cauldrons—it's among the top-tier defenses in Heaven Tier Low Grade Dou Techniques."

Seeing this, even Xiao Yan felt displeased—the Soul Hall hunted Soul Bodies everywhere, but they followed the law of the jungle where the strong are revered: I kill you, you can kill me.

But Yunyu Sect deceived young girls, forcing them to cultivate a sinister method from childhood, only revealing the truth when their cultivation neared completion—then draining all their power as they aged and died in despair.

Xiao Yan's eyes darkened, his hand seals formed—and behind him, a wisp of Black Flame ignited.

"Strange Fire Dou Technique—Void Flash."

Shh! The black flame instantly swallowed Xiao Yan—and the next second, he appeared behind Sky Scorpion Elder.

"Xiao Yan, don't think your Gu Clan connections make me afraid to kill you!" Sky Scorpion Elder roared mid-combat, forgetting he was the one who struck first.

Xiao Yan merely smiled faintly, lightning flashing beneath his feet, his leg lashing out like a whip—but Sky Scorpion Elder blocked it.

"Huh? Why has Xiao Yan's power weakened?"

"Yes—he's reverted to Two-Turn Dou Zun. Did the clan mark vanish?"

Baoshan Elder and others frowned—but the next instant, before they could react, the "Xiao Yan" grinned, his entire body erupting in terrifying Silver Lightning, then exploding outward.

"Clone?!"

"This looks like Three Thousand Thunder Illusion Body—but such a lifelike clone!"

"That's not right—where's the real Xiao Yan?!"

"At that moment, he switched his physical body the instant he entered Space!"

The very next second after the Lightning Illusion Body exploded, everyone felt the entire space twist—where Xiao Yan had just vanished, the space itself had melted!

Hummm!! A delicate Fire Lotus of eleven colors rested in Xiao Yan's palm; the Buddha Fury Lotus, fused from eleven Strange Fires, stunned everyone present!

Seeing the Buddha Fury Lotus melt even Space, the Sky Scorpion Elder hadn't even time to scream before Xiao Yan flicked his finger—the Fire Lotus shot forward at high speed, spewing streams of flame.

The terrifying power of the Strange Fires spread across heaven and earth; even the Dou Zuns watching nearby sweated profusely, while the targeted Sky Scorpion Elder felt ice-cold all over, his face pale as death, a scent of death enveloping his entire body.

"Someone like you deserves to be cleansed by Strange Fires."

"Cloud Rain Sky Shield!" The Sky Scorpion Elder frantically changed his hand seals, unleashing his Dou Qi in a torrent that filled the sky and earth, once again manifesting the Cloud Rain Sky Shield.

Xiao Yan gazed coldly at the Defensive Dou Technique that had absorbed countless Cauldrons, his eyes flickering with faint alarm at the Sky Scorpion Elder.

A cold smirk curled on Xiao Yan's lips as he murmured: "Void Flash."

Shhh! The Black Flame within the eleven-color Buddha Fury Lotus suddenly flashed—next instant, it pierced through Space and appeared behind the Sky Scorpion Elder.

From his unprotected back, searing flames surged upward, illuminating the Sky Scorpion Elder's ashen face as he turned around.

Under his desperate gaze, the Fire Lotus's light exploded instantly—a force like a celestial disaster erupted violently.

Boom! The entire golden desert realm trembled in that instant; within a thousand zhang around, every peak exploded with a bang, reduced instantly to powder—within moments, an entire mountain range became a desert, sand and stones swirling, smoke filling heaven and earth.

The Dou Zuns nearby were also startled, hastily activating Dou Techniques for defense, terrified of being caught in the blast.

The power of the eleven-color Fire Lotus stunned everyone present.

"Heavenly Rank Intermediate—definitely top-tier Heavenly Rank Intermediate Dou Technique."

"If he has a technique like this, why buy so many Heavenly Rank Low Grade ones?! Just to collect them?!"

Everyone was dumbfounded—why buy so many Dou Technique Scrolls if you already have this?! But they weren't wrong—he really did collect them.

Xiao Yan's eyes grew serious as he stared at the blooming Fire Lotus above, his terrifying Soul Force monitoring the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, sealing off Space. The Chi Snake Demon Sovereign had escaped thanks to a Treasure—otherwise, Qing Lin would now have at least one more Five-Turn Snake Slave.

As the saying goes, one learns from misfortune—Xiao Yan had grown smarter.

But unfortunately, such life-saving Treasures aren't common—though perhaps the Sky Scorpion Elder had traded all his wealth for Elixirs.

Meow! A cat's cry echoed from Space—a black cat tore open a rift and gently placed a Storage Ring into Xiao Yan's palm.

"Sigh… this Buddha Fury Lotus tends to vaporize even Soul Bodies. A Nine-Turn Dou Zun's Soul Body!" Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly—what a waste!

But controlling its power to merely injure someone risks letting them escape like the Chi Snake Demon Sovereign. Unleash it fully, and if they lack a life-saving Treasure, they'll end up like the Sky Scorpion Elder—no Soul Body left.

After all, a Heavenly Rank Intermediate Dou Technique is a trump card—even for a Sage Emperor.

Poor Ten Heavenly Lords have had no achievements lately.

"How are you? Are you alright?" Xiao Yan flew to another Battlefield—undoubtedly, after Xiao Yan unleashed the eleven-color Fire Lotus and obliterated the Sky Scorpion Elder's Soul Body, the Human Scorpion Elder and Earth Scorpion Elder had long since fled.

Xiao Yixian shook her head, her face grim: "That scumbag got away."

Hearing this, even Cai Lin's expression darkened—they couldn't stop two who were determined to flee. Even if their Cultivation Methods were poor, their Dou Qi, bolstered by absorbed Cauldrons, wasn't weak—they were Eight-Turn Dou Zuns, and if they ran, nothing could stop them.

Only the Sky Scorpion Elder had been caught off-guard, hadn't even had time to flee before Xiao Yan's stealthily gathered Buddha Fury Lotus blew him to pieces.

Hearing this, Xiao Yan smiled: "Don't worry—they won't get far."

Xiao Yan had already prepared a backup—he'd left Asura Soul-Chasing Marks on both of them. Even if they hid in Space, the Marks would still lead him to them.

"Anyone else want to act?" Xiao Yan did not remove his Clan Mark; his Heavenly Realm Initial Stage Soul Force instantly locked onto those around him who pretended to watch but were ready to strike.

In the Dou Qi Continent, such opportunistic jackals are countless—if Xiao Yan showed even a hint of exhaustion or weakness, his background might not save him.

Sensing Xiao Yan's Soul Force locking onto them, many felt their hearts tighten—his Heavenly Soul Initial Stage Soul Force surpassed everyone present; even a hidden mysterious Semi-Sage could not escape its grasp.

"Another Xiao Xuan."

"It seems the Xiao Clan has truly returned."

(End of Chapter)