Chapter 89: The Soul Sovereign Just Likes to Steal

"Soul Token! You're the one who possesses the Clan Mark!" YaoLi saw the fleeting glimpse of the Soul Token on the black-robed figure; he now had no doubt whatsoever.

The Clan Token—our Yao Clan also has one—it's not only a symbol of identity but also a familial benefit tool, granting not only Soul Communication but also the ability to Summon the Strong.

Our Yao Clan's Token is forged from numerous precious Medicinal Materials, extremely valuable; wearing it not only repels Poison and Evil but also enhances focus during Spirit Refining.

A Clan Token is generally granted only to Disciples eligible to attend the Clan's Adult Ceremony.

Like Xiao Yan and his group, the Adult Ceremony isn't just about reaching adulthood—it requires reaching a certain Cultivation Realm to qualify; those who meet the standard become true Clan Disciples, while those who fail are exiled to remote lands to clear wastelands—in effect, cast out of the Clan.

The Dou Emperor Families are even stricter: only Disciples with a Fourth-Rank Dou Emperor Bloodline or higher may attend; they not only receive the identity-issuing Token but can also activate their Clan Mark.

Although each Token has varying Ranks, it's undeniable that possessing one guarantees at least a Fourth-Rank Bloodline.

YaoLi also possesses a Token, but he's barely Fourth-Rank—just barely met the standard.

For Dou Emperor Families, Cultivation Realm isn't the most important, talent isn't the most important—Dou Emperor Bloodline is paramount.

Even if your Pill Alchemy talent is extraordinary, if your Dou Emperor Bloodline is insufficient, you could still be framed and expelled from the Clan.

This mindset is deeply ingrained in Dou Emperor Family Disciples; thus, when YaoLi saw the Soul Token, he panicked—because the other's Dou Emperor Bloodline was at least equal to his own, possibly far superior.

And the other was a Soul Clan Disciple—the Soul Sovereign is inherently stronger than the Yao Clan.

Beneath his black robe, Xiao Yan's lips curled upward; he knew he'd gambled correctly—on the level of power, the Soul Pavilion—or rather, the Soul Sovereign—was far more dominant than the so-called Yao Clan!

And what Xiao Yan needed to do was leverage that power.

"You mean this?" Xiao Yan pulled out the Soul Token from his waist; the distinctive Token shimmered in his palm.

Xiao Yan casually swung the Soul Token, glanced at YaoLi once, and spoke slowly: "No wonder your Yao Clan has declined—it produces nothing but trash like you."

Upon hearing this, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King and MuLao were left speechless. The Lion King internally screamed: You're faking it! You're pointing right at YaoLi's nose calling him trash—what if he really gets angry and comes after you?

Xiao Yan's tone was utterly arrogant, even contemptuous of YaoLi, stepping forward one slow, deliberate step after another—utterly unyielding, utterly indifferent to kinship or ties.

"Stop right there! Even if you're from the Soul Sovereign, this Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame was first discovered by our Yao Clan!"

Xiao Yan internally sneered—what a weak-willed man. How did he become a Fifth-Rank Alchemist? Is Dou Emperor Bloodline truly this powerful? Even a pig could become an Alchemist?

"First discovered by you?" Xiao Yan laughed coldly. "You overrate your Yao Clan. My Soul Sovereign is deceitful, is shameless—HunYan today is taking the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame by force. What can you do about it?"

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, YaoLi clenched his five fingers tightly, his knuckles turning white with rage; such arrogant, insolent words made him feel like spitting blood—how had he, a Yao Clan Disciple, ever endured such humiliation!

"No matter who you are in the Yao Clan, no matter your Alchemy Rank, I'm taking the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame today. If you follow the rules, I'll let the two of you leave."

"If you refuse to play by the rules, I'll play along. I'm here today—call any Dou Huang or Dou Zong you want, I'll face them all. I wouldn't mind taking both your Spiritual Souls as well. A Four-Star Dou Huang and a Fifth-Rank Alchemist—how many Soul Points are they worth?"

Xiao Yan's tone was calm yet brimming with tyranny, as if such arrogance were innate—as if he truly possessed such power—radiating the cold indifference of a born superior.

"Hehehe, the Soul Body of a Seventh-Rank Alchemist is worth spending a favor or two."

With leisurely steps, Xiao Yan walked straight through the space between YaoLi and MuLao, moving with serene composure, heading directly toward the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame.

Xiao Yan forced himself to suppress his heartbeat, not letting it race too fast.

Watching from the side, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King was nearly driven mad!!!

Because it truly knew—Xiao Yan was faking it!

Not long ago, when MuLao appeared, Xiao Yan had hidden. Just now, the Lion King had sensed Xiao Yan's tension—even had to urge him to stand firm against the Four-Star Dou Huang—proving Xiao Yan was outwardly bold but inwardly hollow, putting on an act!

If this bluff actually scared off these two, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King would crown Xiao Yan the undisputed #1 Impostor of the World!

In truth, neither the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King nor Xiao Yan knew that when the Soul Sovereign first began hunting Spiritual Souls and Dou Qi Continent Alchemists, the Continent's Alchemists had once gone to the Yao Realm seeking aid from the Yao Clan, begging them to protect the Alchemists.

But the result? The Yao Clan refused to go to war with the Soul Sovereign, preferring only to hide within their Yao Realm—hence the Dan Tower was eventually formed.

The Dan Tower was an organization spontaneously formed by Dou Qi Continent Alchemists to protect themselves against the Soul Pavilion.

It had nothing to do with the Yao Clan.

Most Dou Emperor Families live within the Little Worlds created by their Dou Emperors; they rarely emerge unless special resources appear or news of a Spiritual Flame surfaces.

Except the Soul Sovereign.

The Soul Pavilion's influence spans the entire Dou Qi Continent—its agents are everywhere; among all the Dou Emperor Families, the Soul Pavilion has the broadest intelligence network.

Hun Lao Gui warned Xiao Yan because members of the Yan Clan had previously inquired with the Soul Pavilion about the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame.

YaoLi naturally feared—this was the Dou Qi Continent, not the Yao Realm. If Xiao Yan used Soul Resonance to summon a Soul Pavilion Dou Zong or even Dou Zun, he'd be as good as dead.

The Soul Pavilion's branch temple might even be right here in the Mo Shou Shan Mai!

Yao Clan status meant nothing before the Soul Pavilion—it could even backfire!

"Lion King, what are you waiting for? Our agreement: I help you eliminate the enemy's residual Soul and free the Eight-Winged Flame Tiger's Spirit—the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame is mine."

Receiving Xiao Yan's message, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King immediately flapped its wings and flew toward the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame. As expected, YaoLi and MuLao dared not stop it.

Even though YaoLi was fuming, he still dared not act. If things escalated, his life would be in danger.

YaoLi had originally hoped to use the power of the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame to push his Dou Emperor Bloodline further, to elevate it slightly—yet he'd encountered the Soul Pavilion!

The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King stood before the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame and asked dumbly: "Uh… how do I help?"

Xiao Yan shook his head in disbelief. "Since you now know the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame isn't uninheritable—it's merely controlled by a Soul Body—you only need to use your Beast Fire and Soul Force to aid the Eight-Winged Flame Tiger's residual Soul in destroying the opponent."

Upon hearing this, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King finally understood: Xiao Yan's plan was to exploit YaoLi's momentary confusion, join forces with the Eight-Winged Flame Tiger's residual Soul, and annihilate the Seventh-Rank Alchemist's Soul Body—once the Seventh-Rank Alchemist was gone, the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame would be theirs to command!

With a roar, the Purple Beast Fire surged into the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame.

Their Mo Shou Shan Mai's Beast Sovereign had been deceived by a Soul Body for so long!

(End of Chapter)