Chapter 660

"Wanhuo, save me! Clan Leader, save—" Before Yao Wan Gui could finish speaking, his eyes were flooded with milky white, becoming hollow and lifeless.

A sharp slap echoed—Yao Wan Gui had struck himself across the face.

"I deserve to die; I once despised Yao Chen because his Dou Di bloodline was weak, and deliberately orchestrated his exclusion."

"I deserve to die; I schemed to have my younger brother Yao Feng win first place at the Pill Gathering, framed Yao Chen, expelled him from the Yao Clan, and pursued him relentlessly."

"I deserve to die."

Repeated slaps rang out; besides the sound of slapping, other buried truths from the past emerged.

Hearing Yao Wan Gui's "confession," even Yao Ling furrowed her brows slightly, gazing at the once-powerful, iron-fisted Disciplinary Elder with clear revulsion.

No one expected this Disciplinary Elder had done such things—not only framing him, but also sending assassins to silence Yao Chen under false charges. Yao Chen, who should have possessed even greater Alchemy talent, was thus expelled from the clan.

Had Yao Chen not been expelled, perhaps the outcome would have been different.

Of course, in a certain sense, Xiao Yan owed Yao Wan Gui thanks; without him, how could Xiao Yan have met Yao Chen?

"The Nightmare Mist will lift automatically in seven days," Xiao Yi flew to Xiao Yan's shoulder, and Xiao Yan said calmly.

As Yao Wan Gui had said, at this point, Xiao Yan starting a war with the Yao Clan would merely be a test of their stance. The Yan Alliance had barely maintained neutrality in the Dou Emperor Family conflicts—how could it possibly declare war on the Yao Clan?

Xiao Yan could not kill Yao Wan Gui; whether Yao Wan Gui lived or died were two entirely different matters.

But since Yao Wan Gui valued his face so much and had confessed his crimes aloud, he would surely be shunned by the Yao Clan—this would hurt him far more than death.

"If only we had paid slightly more attention back then, perhaps things would be different now…" Wanhuo Elder sighed inwardly; had the clan paid more heed to Yao Chen, this Alchemy prodigy with the weak Dou Di bloodline, perhaps…

But there are no "what ifs" in this world—Yao Chen was already dead; no amount of regret could change it.

Then Xiao Yan also went to look at the so-called Yao Clan Ancestral Tablet, but abandoned the idea of engraving Yao Chen's name on it, for even Yao Wan Gui's name was already there.

Moreover, Xiao Yan could not engrave a name now, since Yao Chen was dead and thus ineligible for commemoration.

Of course, Xiao Yan could force it if he wanted—but there was no need.

"Have you finished looking? It's getting late—the opening ceremony of the Yao Scripture is about to begin. If you wish to observe, I can take you." Yao Ling said.

"What's there to see in a bunch of brats refining Pills?" Xiao Yan sneered, then noticed Yao Ling's expression as if she wanted to strangle him—he remembered then that Yao Ling and Yao Tian had yet to refine Ji Pin Dan Yao, so they could only participate in the opening ceremony, which was essentially a performance.

Oh right, right, right—you, Xiao Yan, are a Grandmaster Alchemist; everyone else are brats.

"Our Yao Clan's Yao Scripture has a higher standard than the Pill Gathering; every session gathers the pinnacle Alchemists of the Dou Qi Continent. Talk to me again once you can stand out in this Yao Scripture."

Yao Ling gave Xiao Yan a withering look, then instantly transformed into a streak of light and flew toward a distant mountain range.

Xiao Yan shrugged; having completed his task, he had nothing else to do, so he too flew toward the mountain range hosting the Yao Scripture, to watch the brats' Pill refining performances and wait for the ceremony to begin.

At the peak of Yao Mountain, mist swirled, and an unusual Pill Fragrance spread, filling the air with a refreshing, otherworldly sensation as if one stood in a fairyland.

On the summit of Yao Mountain, vast fields of Medicinal Material gathered like an ocean; above these Medicinal Seas, a colossal floating plaza hovered, with four enormous Alchemy Cauldrons at its corners, each emitting Pill Fragrance in towering smoke columns piercing the sky.

Now, on this floating platform, numerous figures stood scattered; lively chatter echoed constantly, creating a bustling scene. Gazing northward along the Stone Platform, rows of Stone Chairs stood side by side; on either side, beautiful maidens flitted like butterflies, deftly filling every Jade Cup on the stone tables.

"Shiiii!"

As Xiao Yan soared to the summit and scanned the area, about to find a random seat to watch the Pill refining, Wanhuo Elder rose from his Stone Chair and boomed, "Clan Leader Xiao, please take this seat."

"Clan Leader Xiao? Could he be the current Clan Leader of the Dou Emperor Family Xiao Clan—Xiao Yan?"

"Kuang! So young!"

"Heh, you guys arrived late—you didn't see the show! This Xiao Yan didn't just climb onto the Gu Clan's ladder; he's now a Six Star Dou Sheng."

"Puff!!" Upon hearing this, many spat out their wine in shock.

"Six-six stars? You're mistaken—he was only a Three Star!"

"Heh heh heh, he refined the Pure Lotus Demon Fire and beat the Yao Clan's Disciplinary Elder Yao Wan Gui into the dirt—the Yao Clan didn't dare make a sound."

"No way, really? He beat Yao Wan Gui, and the Yao Clan still treats him like this?"

"It's not just beating—he's now kneeling before the tombstone of Xiao Yan's master, Yao Chen, bowing his head in apology."

Wanhuo Elder's laughter immediately drew countless eyes toward Xiao Yan. The Yan Alliance now dominated Zhong Zhou with overwhelming influence, and Xiao Yan, as Clan Leader of a Dou Emperor Family, was widely known—whispers spread quietly among the crowd.

Xiao Yan's entrance naturally sparked another uproar; at his current status, he was unquestionably the center of attention.

Hearing this, Xiao Yan smiled, then flashed forward, appearing near Wanhuo Elder and sitting down directly. Nearby, alert maidens hurried forward to serve him respectfully.

As Xiao Yan chatted with Wanhuo Elder and other Elders, the crowd around the Stone Platform swelled increasingly; eventually, the clamor surged toward the sky, the buzzing waves shaking the clouds apart.

The noise spread, then suddenly a bell's chime rang through the sky; immediately, all Yao Clan members rose, their reverent voices echoing in a vast wave.

"Welcome, Clan Leader."

Amid the grand welcome, clouds above churned and split open; a white-haired elder in white robes stepped forth slowly, each step causing strange ripples in space, as if the intangible void had momentarily solidified.

"Yao Dan, the Yao Clan Clan Leader?"

Gazing at the kind-faced white-haired elder, Xiao Yan's eyes darkened with gravity; from him, Xiao Yan sensed an extraordinarily powerful aura—far beyond Wanhuo Elder's by more than a single tier.

"Seven Star Dou Sheng… and his Alchemy must have reached true Mysterious Grade Alchemist. No wonder the Yao Clan—even in decline—still produces such strength." Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes; this must be the Yao Clan's strongest figure, whose Cultivation Realm surpassed even his own. The depth of ancient clans was truly enviable.

"Hehe, guests are guests…"

In the sky, Yao Dan, the Yao Clan Clan Leader, smiled gently, bowing to the dense crowd; then his gaze suddenly passed over them and settled on Xiao Yan, flickering with complex emotion.

Once, he had the chance to prevent some things. Perhaps the root cause of this tragedy wasn't Yao Wan Gui—Yao Wan Gui was merely the spark; the real cause lay within the Yao Clan's own flaws: their excessive obsession with Dou Di Bloodline, neglecting other things.

"Hehe, Old Man Yao Dan, you've finally come out of seclusion this time?"

As Yao Dan sat down, another aged voice drifted slowly through the sky, accompanied by an overwhelming scent of Medicinal Material. Then, everyone saw a flash of green light far on the horizon; within moments, a pale green Alchemy Cauldron pierced the sky, and atop it sat an old man in plain hemp robes, leaning on a staff woven from Medicinal Material, adorned with numerous Jade Bottles that jingled as they swayed.

"Shennong Elder—unexpectedly even this Senior Brother has appeared!"

Seeing him, even Yao Dan and Yao Wanhuo's eyes flashed with surprise; Xiao Yan first froze, then suddenly recalled something, his gaze growing intensely grave.

This Shennong Elder's name wasn't widely known on the Dou Qi Continent because he had become famous extremely early—even before the Dan Tower existed, he was already an immensely powerful Alchemist!

He was an elder among Alchemists; even Yao Chen and the Dan Tower's Grand Elder bowed to him as juniors. The Alchemist who crafted the Dan Tower's Ancestor was his contemporary.

No one expected this man, missing for so many years, would appear here.

"No wonder it's the Yao Scripture."

Xiao Yan lightly licked his lips, his heart suddenly burning hot—these were the pinnacle powerhouses of the Dou Qi Continent; even now, Xiao Yan dared not claim he could defeat them with certainty.

"Hehe, old man, you're still alive," Yao Dan chuckled lightly, though his expression showed no surprise.

The Old Man of Shennong rose from atop the Alchemy Cauldron, swept his sleeve, and sealed it away. His weathered gaze swept the surroundings, then settled on Xiao Yan, letting out a soft murmur of surprise before smiling: "Huh? I haven't left the mountains in years, yet here in Zhong Zhou another young talent has appeared—so young, and his Soul Force has already reached the half-Imperial realm? Truly astonishing."

Xiao Yan smiled faintly, and before the many watching eyes, he calmly bowed his fists and said with a warm tone: "Greetings, Senior Brother Shennong."

The Old Man of Shennong nodded with a smile, about to sit down, when suddenly his brows knitted. He turned around and looked behind—where black clouds had suddenly surged forth, spreading at an astonishing speed, and in the blink of an eye, reached the mountain peak. The black clouds coalesced into the form of a middle-aged man clad in black robes. With his appearance, the very heavens and earth emitted low, mournful wails, as if the Spiritual Souls themselves were crying out.

"Hun Xu Zi of the Soul Sovereign, uninvited, yet here. I hope Yao Dan, Clan Leader, will not take offense," the black-robed man said calmly, his voice drifting through the air without haste.

"Hun Xu Zi," Xiao Yan stared into the black mist; he was not the least surprised that Hun Xu Zi had appeared at the Alchemist Convention.

To refine the Imperial Grade Embryonic Pill, Xiao Yan and Hun Xu Zi must work together—not only does Xiao Yan need to demonstrate his Pill Alchemy skill, but Hun Xu Zi must also display his own.

Clearly, this Alchemist Convention is also the moment when Xiao Yan and Hun Xu Zi will determine who prevails.

Hun Xu Zi, too, has reached the half-Imperial realm of Soul Force, just one step away from the Imperial realm. When refining together, there must be a primary and secondary role—who leads, who assists—depends entirely on their respective strength.

"How did Hun Xu Zi get here? We didn't invite him."

"Hmph. The Soul Sovereign has long been capturing Spirits, even resorting to ruthless means against Alchemists, stealing their Spiritual Souls—Hun Xu Zi must have ordered much of it."

"We cannot allow this man to participate in our Yao Clan's grand ceremony!"

The moment Hun Xu Zi appeared, he immediately drew fierce reactions from numerous Yao Clan Elders—angry glares pierced him, and furious shouts rang out without end.

Yao Dan, the Clan Leader at the head seat, exchanged a glance with Wanhuo Elder beside him; both frowned deeply. Clearly, Hun Xu Zi's uninvited arrival had caught them off guard. The Yao Clan had always kept a considerable distance from the Soul Sovereign—this ancient clan predates theirs by far, and over tens of thousands of years, while other ancient clans changed, the Soul Sovereign remained mysterious and strange. The terrifying power they occasionally revealed made everyone deeply wary.

Added to this, the mysterious disappearances of the Ling Clan and Stone Clan in recent years had made the Yao Clan, Lei Clan, and Yan Clan—all three ancient clans—grow wary of both the Soul Sovereign and the Gu Clan. So when they saw Hun Xu Zi arrive uninvited, their hearts stirred with unease. Still, they understood the current situation, and at least on their faces, they maintained the smile befitting hosts.

"Hehe, it seems the Yao Clan friends aren't very welcoming," Hun Xu Zi said, hands clasped behind his back, his gaze fixed directly on Yao Dan as he smiled faintly.

"Hun Xu Zi, we did not invite you," Wanhuo Elder said gravely. "Moreover, relations between the Soul Sovereign and the Gu Clan, and the other ancient clans, are no longer what they once were. Your actions may only deepen our suspicions toward the Soul Sovereign."

"Precisely because I am not afraid you will deepen your suspicions, I came today," Hun Xu Zi smiled. "This Alchemist Convention is hailed as the highest-level gathering of Alchemists on the Dou Qi Continent. Hehe—I have a certain interest in the title of Continent's Number One Alchemist. If Wanhuo Elder has the authority to bestow that title upon me, I shall leave right now."