Chapter 696: Xiao Yan, His Majesty

His Fire Lotus surpassed the Henggu Chi.

The Fire Lotus bloomed, burning everything. Though Xiao Yan did not unleash a terrifying aura or stare down the world with a stern expression, at this moment, everyone knew that Xiao Yan was the master of the Dou Qi Continent!

Beneath him, all living beings appeared utterly insignificant, all living beings seemed so trivial.

Even though Tuoshe Ancient Emperor was not his true body, Gu Yuan and others understood that even a typical Dou Emperor's strike could not surpass this—or even match the Henggu Chi—but that legendary Henggu Chi had still been shattered into nothingness by Xiao Yan's single blow.

Those who witnessed this scene could only look up in awe; every single being trembled within, no matter their stature—even Gu Yuan, Zhu Kun, and Hun Tian Di, despite having become Dou Emperors, believed they could not withstand Xiao Yan's Fire Lotus, felt themselves utterly insignificant, felt themselves weak and powerless.

Others, of course, were even more so—now they could only look up, and seeing the massive void crater formed by the collision, they too felt themselves weak and powerless, sinking into profound helplessness.

Among the Gu Clan disciples, Gu Zhen, who had once spoken with Xiao Yan, could not help but smile bitterly and shake his head.

"What if I could prove that Dou Emperor bloodline is nothing special?"

Gu Zhen's mind still echoed with those words Xiao Yan had spoken to him aboard the ship.

"If one does not become a Dou Emperor, then Dou Emperor bloodline and inheritance do indeed hold immense advantages," said Gu Qingyang, gazing upward. "But in the realm of Dou Emperorhood, reliance on Dou Emperor bloodline and inherited legacies becomes a shackle."

"Even if we one day truly become Dou Emperors, it will still be ordinary—walking the path of our Ancestors can never surpass them."

This is why Hun Tian Di and others, even after becoming Dou Emperors, could not defeat Xiao Yan: once becoming a Dou Emperor, Xiao Yan's unique advantage becomes fully apparent—he not only grants Dou Emperor bloodline and special sub-flames, but his self-created Dou Techniques also undergo a leap in power, becoming 【Dou Emperor-Created Dou Techniques】!

Just like the Ancient Emperor Seal—even if you perfect it to its peak, even if you possess Divine Grade bloodline, even if you have become a Dou Emperor—no matter what, the Ancient Emperor Seal you unleash will never rival the original Ancient Emperor's.

Many in the Gu Clan had never understood why Xun Er so strongly supported Xiao Yan, why she had secretly passed the Ancient Emperor Seal to him long ago—now, the Gu Clan disciples truly understood: at this moment, they realized how wise and far-sighted Xun Er's actions had been.

"Do you think, among the ten thousand years of Dou Qi Continent history, among all the Dou Emperors, where would Xiao Yan rank?"

At this moment, someone suddenly blurted out this highly gossipy question.

Instantly, those who had witnessed this "Battle of Two Emperors" looked at each other—formerly, there had been many Dou Emperors, many Dou Emperor families, and even demons and beasts had far outnumbered the Three Great Families.

Moreover, Dou Emperors lived extraordinarily long lives; with their power, cellular aging, birth, old age, sickness, and death were impossible—they could easily reverse their youth.

Thus, in ancient times, Dou Emperor bloodlines never dwindled; Dou Emperors were truly immortal.

The long history of the Dou Qi Continent naturally produced some extraordinary Dou Emperors, such as the former Soul Emperor, who pioneered the Spiritual Cultivation System and established the cultivation tiers: Common Realm, Spirit Realm, Heavenly Realm, and Emperor Realm.

There was also the first Pill Emperor, who achieved Dou Emperorhood through Elixirs, founding the profession of Alchemist and several related systems.

The surviving Dou Emperor families had once been immensely glorious; their continued existence stemmed from their Ancestors' strength—the stronger the Ancestor's inheritance and bloodline, the stronger the clan.

In ancient times, there were certainly those who ranked the Dou Emperors.

But now, five hundred thousand years after the Emperor An Era, the entire Dou Qi Continent has only one Dou Emperor: Xiao Yan. There is no real need to rank them anymore—but in ancient times, how high would Xiao Yan have ranked? Many were naturally curious.

Is Xiao Yan among the top three Dou Emperors? Top ten? Or, compared to ancient Dou Emperors, is he unworthy? Is he only powerful because there are no other Dou Emperors now?

After the Tu She Gu Di Statue was destroyed by Xiao Yan, people gradually recovered from their shock and began to chatter. After all, gossip is human nature.

Hearing some of the murmurs, Cai Lin looked down at the crowd, her gaze lingering especially on Nalan Yanran and Yun Yun, then said to Xiao Yan: "Your sub-flames are quite interesting."

Hearing Cai Lin mention it, Xun Er covered her mouth and laughed softly, yet her eyes remained fixed on Xiao Yan. Even Spiritual Flames can branch out—you're more Emperor than the Yan Emperor himself.

Xiao Yixian opened her palms: in her left palm rose the Nether Poison Flame, in her right palm rose the Life-Spirit Flame. These Heaven Flames were immensely powerful—aside from lacking sentience, their power and special abilities showed no change.

Xiao Yixian also looked curiously at Xiao Yan; the three of them were all Xiao Yan's wives, closely bonded, and all had once possessed these Infernal Flames, so it was not surprising.

Just like Cai Lin, who evolved from Green Lotus Earth Core Fire—Xiao Yan had once used three Infernal Flames to reshape her body; she could even freely control the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame, Green Lotus Earth Core Fire, and Falling Heart Flame, and wield the Heavenly Flame Three Mystical Changes.

Xun Er, of course, needed no explanation—she already possessed the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame, and within the Demon Fire Space, the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame had fused with the Pure Lotus Demon Flame, absorbing part of its origin.

Xiao Yixian's situation was similar to Xun Er's.

Thus, after Xiao Yan became a Dou Emperor, though they had no blood relation to him, it was perfectly natural for them to give birth to mutated sub-flames.

But as for others—

Below, Nalan Yanran turned her head, her beautiful eyes fixed intently on her master. Nalan Yanran developing a special Yin-Yang Dual Flame sub-flame was understandable—when she entered the Life and Death Gate, she passed its trial and received a wisp of Yin-Yang Dual Flame power.

But Yun Yun had no connection whatsoever to Fire Cloud Water Flame! Oh, wait—its name contained "Yun" and "Yan," perhaps that was the only link.

Fire Cloud Water Flame was taken by Xiao Yan from the Yan Clan in the Demon Fire Space—Yun Yun wasn't even there then!

"Master, you—"

Seeing her disciple stare at her, Yun Yun's exquisite face flushed crimson, her entire body burning hot—she was so embarrassed she had no place to hide.

What other reason could there be? Dou Emperor favoritism!

Xiao Yan's heart doesn't grow in the middle—what's wrong with being partial?

"Don't say such nonsense—I haven't done what you think I did," said Yun Yun, her face as red as twilight, daring not to raise her eyes to Xiao Yan. Once composed and elegant, now she was tenderly shy, her beauty intoxicating, her eyes like dewy autumn pools, nearly dripping with emotion.

An unusual feeling lingered in her heart, making her whole body tingle with numbness—she lightly bit her red lips, her gaze carrying a trace of affection.

At this moment, no matter what Yun Yun said, it was hard to conceal—the events in the Mo Shou Shan Mai, the Desert, and the Flower Sect were unforgettable for both of them.

Especially the time in the Mo Shou Shan Mai, when Xiao Yan was still a teenager.

Naturally, someone like Ya Fei, who had waited twenty years for Xiao Yan, laboring silently all along, was now weeping with joy—the long-awaited response had finally come.

Of course, where there is joy, there is sorrow—the most sorrowful was undoubtedly Feng Qing'er, who ruled the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan.

The lofty beauty staggered, her face pale, her legs weak, her pallor making her even more pitiable.

Everyone else had Clan Marks—hers did not!

Feng Qing'er felt the imprint deep within her Spiritual Soul grow firmer than ever; after Xiao Yan became a Dou Emperor, even if she fled the Dou Qi Continent, she could not sever the connection.

As for the Nine Dragon Thunder Flame sub-flame floating before her, Feng Qing'er nearly cried. She had been drained by this Nine Dragon Thunder Flame for two days!

Though it had broken her Wind-Thunder Body's shackles and strengthened her physique, the memory of that agony and humiliation, she did not wish to recall!

Clearly, Xiao Yan had become the undisputed ruler of the Dou Qi Continent—but he had not issued a general amnesty.

"What's this?" Zi Yan stared curiously at the Three Thousand Yan Flame in her hand, rubbing it with her finger.

Seeing her daughter's innocent, puzzled expression, Zhu Kun smiled like a doting father: "Heh, this thing? You'll have to ask Xiao Yan."

"Oh." Hearing Zhu Kun's words, Zi Yan looked at him, then turned her head away—clearly, she still harbored resentment over being abandoned.

Xiao Yan looked around, then raised his eyes to the sky.

"Brother Xiao Yan, are you thinking about what Tuoshe Ancient Emperor said about the Great Thousand World?" Xun Er, too, had stopped smiling, her face filled with concern.

Xiao Yan had become a Dou Emperor—but the matter was not yet finished.

Even though it was known that Tuoshe Ancient Emperor came from the so-called Great Thousand World, the exact reason for the Dao Emperor's disappearance remained unknown, only roughly guessed to be related to events in the Great Thousand World.

Xiao Yan withdrew his gaze and smiled slightly: "Let's talk about this later—there are other matters still unattended."

Xiao Yan and the others slowly descended from midair; as Xiao Yan landed, Jia Xingtian, Hai Bodong, Yao Lao, Star Plucking Old Ghost, and others all knelt down.

"Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty!"

Whoosh—suddenly, every disciple of the Yan Alliance—including the strong ones from the Jia Ma Empire, disciples of the Yun Lan Sect and Hua Sect, members of the Xiao Clan, and various lone cultivators—kneeled and shouted in unison: "Your Majesty!"

Know that Xiao Yan was now the sole Dao Emperor; "Dao Emperor" could refer both to a Rank and to the Emperor of the Dou Qi Continent.

Seeing Hai Bodong and the others kneel, Xiao Yan was startled, waved his hand, and a warm wind lifted everyone to their feet.

Xiao Yan awkwardly rubbed his nose and said with an uneasy expression: "Everyone, I've merely broken through to Dao Emperor—I'm not your emperor. Carry on as before. I have no intention of unifying the Dou Qi Continent."

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, many present wore expressions of astonishment; clearly, in the Dou Qi Continent's world where strength reigned supreme, Xiao Yan—the sole Dao Emperor—refusing to unify the continent was utterly unthinkable.

"Third brother is still the same."

"Haha, he's always been like this—never changed."