Chapter 658: Kicked a Piece of Iron

Xiao Yan casually waved his hand, unleashing a stream of Dou Qi from a Six-Star Dou Saint, and moreover, one forged by an Emperor Rank Cultivation Method—yet even this casual strike carried the power to shake mountain ranges and oceans.

Puff! Puff! Puff!! A group of Yao Clan disciples spat blood and were flung backward; had Yao Wan Gui not been a Four-Star Dou Saint and activated a Defensive Dou Technique to absorb most of the impact, those disciples would have been reduced to blood mist.

Of course, the more important reason was that Xiao Yan wasn't even angry—if he had been, not even the Yao Clan Clan Leader could have saved them.

"Six-Star Dou Saint! Have you refined the Pure Lotus Demon Fire?!" Yao Wan Gui clutched his chest, sat on the ground, and looked up at Xiao Yan with utter terror. He didn't even bother wiping the blood from his lips—his expression revealed his state of mind.

Six-Star Dou Saint!! Two years ago in the Demon Fire Space, Xiao Yan was strong—but only at Three-Star Saint Initial Stage. Back then, Yao Wan Gui truly couldn't match Xiao Yan, but now he wasn't afraid of him, since this was Yao Clan territory.

Yet Xiao Yan had just unleashed a Six-Star Saint Initial Stage level of Dou Qi cultivation.

In less than three years, he'd advanced three stars! And these were Three-Star Dou Saint levels! The gap was so vast, Yao Wan Gui could never reach it in a lifetime.

A normal Three-Star Dou Saint would need a thousand years of accumulation and cultivation to reach Six-Star Saint, since most Three-Star Saints only possess Heaven Tier Low Grade cultivation methods—having a Heaven Tier Mid Grade is already great fortune.

Xiao Yan advances one star per year—that's impossible! Even consuming Golden Pills couldn't achieve this—the only possibility is that Xiao Yan refined the Pure Lotus Demon Fire!

Xiao Yan possessing a miraculous cultivation method to fuse Strange Fires was no secret among Dou Emperor Families; back then, the Pure Lotus Demon Fire in the Demon Fire Space was at Five-Star Dou Saint Peak. If Xiao Yan fully refined it and absorbed all its Strange Fire energy, reaching Six-Star was indeed possible.

"Six-Star Dou Saint?!!" The passengers riding the giant bird with Xiao Yan all cried out in shock.

The terrifying aura surging from the Guang Chang instantly stirred awe in many powerful experts' eyes; their gazes toward that young figure now carried subtle reverence—such power, even among ancient clans like the Yao Clan, ranked among the pinnacle.

"Elder Yao Wan Gui says Xiao Yan refined the Pure Lotus Demon Fire? But wasn't he just fleeing from the Demon Fire Space?!"

"Heavens! A Dou Emperor! Xiao Yan didn't escape—he refined the Pure Lotus Demon Fire and returned victorious!!"

"Xiao Clan Clan Leader Xiao Yan—he's the leader of a Dou Emperor Family."

Everyone knew Xiao Yan had emerged from the Demon Fire Space, but no one believed he had refined the Pure Lotus Demon Fire—its power was undeniable; not only was it impossible to swallow and refine, even defeating it was hard.

So everyone assumed Xiao Yan had merely escaped.

Xiao Yan brushed the dust off his robe, gazed coldly at Yao Wan Gui, who had been flung away, and said calmly: "Did pill alchemy rot your brain? I am now the Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan, a Dou Emperor Family recognized by all Dou Emperor Families. What are you, a mere Yao Clan Elder?"

Hearing this, Yao Wan Gui's blood surged to his head—but he had no retort. He had assumed the Xiao Clan regained its Dou Emperor Family status only because Xiao Yan married Xun Er and gained the Gu Clan's backing.

In Yao Wan Gui's mind, the Xiao Clan was strong, but only because of Five-Star Xiao Chen—and still far from true Dou Emperor Families. Though the Yao Clan was the weakest among Dou Emperor Families, it still had several Five-Star Dou Saints, a Six-Star Dou Saint in Yao Wanhuo, and a Seven-Star Dou Saint Clan Leader in Yao Dan—far surpassing the Yan Alliance.

Naturally, he looked down on Xiao Yan, thinking the Yan Alliance was merely a branch tied to a Gu Clan Dragon Prince.

Yet at this moment, they realized the Xiao Clan's overall strength was nearly equal to their own!

Xiao Yan was a Six-Star Dou Saint with the Pure Lotus Demon Fire—only Clan Leader Yao Dan could match him; even Supreme Elder Yao Wanhuo paled in comparison. And don't forget—Xiao Yan had Xing Tian.

Xiao Yan wasn't climbing high—he was an equal match!

Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the two Yao Clan disciples whose tongues he had cut off, his voice cold with lethal intent: "You two insulted my master and spoke ill of your own Yao Clan—do you wish to declare war on the Yan Alliance?"

Xiao Yan's chilling voice echoed across the entire Guang Chang; a bone-deep coldness swept from the soles of every Yao Clan disciple's feet to the crown of their heads.

Xiao Yan wasn't joking!

The Yan Alliance's current strength could certainly defeat the Yao Clan; the Lei Yan Yao Three Tribes Alliance's goal was self-preservation. If Xiao Yan truly flew into a rage and declared war, the most likely outcome would be sacrificing Yao Wan Gui to appease his fury.

The Yan Alliance with Xiao Yan in it—this was a clan the Yao Clan dared not offend! Xiao Yan was entangled in too many things!

Yao Wan Gui's face shifted between dark and pale—he'd already been badly wounded by Xiao Yan's casual strike. He had no doubt that in a real fight, Xiao Yan could obliterate him into blood mist with a single Heavenly Rank Advanced Battle Art—no god could save him.

Shiiii! Shiiii!

Xiao Yan's Six-Star Dou Saint aura burst forth, instantly alerting many Yao Clan powerhouses; the sky above the Guang Chang crackled with rushing wind as figures appeared overhead, gazing down at the blood-splattered ground, numerous Yao Clan disciples lying wounded, two of them most severely—tongues severed, even parts of their Spiritual Souls missing, likely never speaking again.

Seeing this tragedy, they were first stunned, then filled with fury—no matter what had happened, these were Yao Clan members, and now they lay beaten at their own doorstep—this was a grave insult to the Yao Clan.

"Elder Wan Gui, what happened?" Amidst shock and rage, their gazes turned to the injured Yao Wan Gui.

"Elders, you've arrived just in time! This Xiao Yan has grown arrogant—he dares attack our clan members within Yao Clan territory! Quickly apprehend him, or before all these guests, we'll lose face!"

"Xiao Yan? The Xiao Clan Clan Leader?"

"Wasn't he only a Three-Star Dou Saint two years ago? How is he Six-Star now?!"

Hearing Yao Wan Gui's shout, the Yao Clan elders above gasped—they were certainly familiar with the name Xiao Yan. Their eyes locked onto him, especially when they sensed the terrifying aura emanating from his body; their astonishment deepened.

"Xiao Yan, your Xiao Clan once had decent relations with our Yao Clan. Today's actions are excessive."

"Those who respect others are respected; those who insult others are insulted. From Elder Yao Wan Gui, I see not a trace of 'decent relations.'"

"Yao Wan Gui, today's fruit comes from yesterday's folly—your stupidity and arrogance will finally bring you bitter consequences."

"Xiao Yan, what do you want?!"

Seeing this, Yao Wan Gui's face turned icy. He was sharp-eyed—Xiao Yan had struck hard but left the disciples alive, so he believed Xiao Yan still feared the Yao Clan. Now that reinforcements had arrived, his courage returned.

"Since I was taught by Yao Chen, today I come to the Yao Clan to build him a grave. Kneel before his tomb and beg forgiveness—then this matter ends."

Though Yao Wan Gui wasn't the one who killed Yao Chen, he was simply detestable.

Yao Wan Gui's pupils shrank, then he sneered coldly—his status dwarfed Yao Chen's by countless degrees. He himself had once ordered Yao Chen's expulsion from the clan. And Yao Chen was dead—how could he kneel before his grave and beg forgiveness? Impossible!

"Xiao Yan, perhaps Elder Wan Gui erred, but you erred too—you injured him. The anger is out. Let us both step back and call it done."

Moreover, Xiao Yan's attack had angered the Yao Clan elders; had they not feared his power and the Yan Alliance behind him, they'd have already spoken no more.

Seeing Yao Wan Gui's smug confidence, Xiao Yan merely smiled faintly—then turned and prepared to leave the Yao Realm, as if he had no intention of attending the Pill Ceremony!

"I, Xiao Yan, value harmony and never force others. I was invited to attend the Yao Clan's Pill Ceremony, but your Supreme Elder Yao Wan Gui insulted me and refused to apologize. I, Xiao Yan, as Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan and one of the Founders of the Yan Alliance—"

"Declare war on the Yao Clan."

Sssssss!!!

Instantly, everyone present was stunned—this is what you call "valuing harmony"??

You're serious?!

The Yao Clan elders who had arrived stood dumbfounded, minds reeling.

Over this? Declare war on the Yao Clan??

Even the Five-Star Dou Saint in the yellow robe who had spoken earlier froze—then a chill ran through his entire body. Only now did he realize: Xiao Yan had the power!

This man in black robes, with a gentle face, who came alone—his status was immense; behind him stood the largest organization on the Dou Qi Continent. His words meant the entire Yan Alliance would turn its blades toward them.

"Y-you… Xiao Yan, Clan Leader Xiao, wait!"

It was no wonder the Yao Clan elders were slow to react—they'd only just learned Xiao Yan's clan had returned to the Dou Emperor Families, and today they discovered he had reached Six-Star Dou Saint and refined the Pure Lotus Demon Fire.

Those who had thought them weak had suddenly become colossal beings they could not offend; the contrast left the Yao Clan's elders stunned.

Who could have imagined that a young man in his thirties had already risen to the level of their Clan Leader!

At thirty-some years old, to these thousand-year-old monster Sages before him, he was no bigger than an infant—longer than thirty years could pass in a single cultivation seclusion!

Xiao Yan acted as if he had heard nothing; he waved his hand and instantly tore open a Space Channel, its exit linked to the Yao Realm's exit—clearly determined to return and declare war on the Yao Clan.

At this moment, Yao Wan Gui's scalp prickled and his body trembled. Only now did he suddenly realize that Yao Chen's successor had grown so powerful that a single word from him could decide Yao Wan Gui's fate—even the Yao Clan could not save him!

"Alas, Xiao Yan, Clan Leader Xiao, please calm down."

Just as Xiao Yan was about to turn and leave, one foot already stepping into the Space Channel, a withered voice suddenly rang out across the sky; then, everyone was astonished to see a vast cloud of fire surging rapidly from the peak of the mountain, and within it, an old man with red hair was hurtling toward them.

He possessed the same strength as Xiao Yan—Six-Star Sage Emperor.

"It's Wanhuo Elder!"

Seeing the red-haired old man, the Guang Chang erupted in murmurs of astonishment—no one had expected even this one to be roused.

Without doubt, the man was the Yao Clan's second-strongest, and also the representative of the Yao Clan at this year's Medicinal Rite: Yao Wanhuo.

Hearing Yao Wanhuo's words, Xiao Yan halted his step, but his front foot remained inside the Space Channel, not withdrawn.

Seeing Xiao Yan unmoved by reason, Yao Wanhuo felt utterly helpless. Now, with the Dou Emperor Families locked in a three-way standoff, every family sought to court the Yan Alliance.

Yao Wan Gui not only failed to court them—he pushed them straight into the Yao Clan's opposition. What madness!

In this current climate of hidden currents, the Yan Alliance—a neutral Faction—was the hardest to offend; once the balance shattered, no one knew what might happen.

Xiao Yan clearly understood this point—he knew the Yao Clan dared not act rashly.

The Yao Clan probably never dreamed that one day they would be declared war upon—and be utterly powerless to stop it.

"Yao Wan Gui! As Elder in charge of punishment within the clan, to treat a distinguished guest this way disgraces the family's honor!" Yao Wanhuo thundered; from his words, it was clear he intended to sacrifice Yao Wan Gui to defuse the crisis.

After all, all he asked was for a bow of apology—no compensation, no battle—too convenient.

But above all, Xiao Yan's current strength had left even Yao Wanhuo deeply alarmed; though both were Six-Star Sage Emperors, Yao Wanhuo knew he could not survive ten strikes against Xiao Yan.

This youth must not be offended under any circumstances!

"I, Wanhuo Elder—" Yao Wan Gui still wished to speak, but seeing Yao Wanhuo's cold, stern gaze, he understood: if forced to choose between defending his dignity or offending Xiao Yan, not a single clan member would choose to protect his dignity over avoiding Xiao Yan's wrath.

Hearing Yao Wanhuo's words, Xiao Yan finally retracted his foot and shut the Void Passage, turning to face Wanhuo Elder, bowing slightly: "Wanhuo Elder, I've long heard your name. Today's meeting confirms the rumors—you are indeed fair and stern. The Yao Clan is truly blessed to have you."