"Boyuan, to be assigned as a front gate guard of the clan shows that you have worked hard on your cultivation these past years." Zhang Yuan's face carried a smile as warm as a spring breeze.
On the Dou Qi Continent, strength reigned supreme. A clan's gate guard was by no means a lowly position. On the contrary, because they represented the clan's face and had to handle special situations, they were always elites.
Wu Tan City ranked near the bottom among the Jia Ma Empire's cities, but it was still a major city nonetheless. The Xiao Clan, as one of the prominent clans in the city with a Da Dou Shi overseeing it, naturally required their gate guards to possess at least late-stage Dou Zhe cultivation.
Xiao Boyuan was only in his early twenties. With his decent merits and access to resources, reaching Dou Shi was well within reach. With sufficient opportunity, even Da Dou Shi was not an impossible dream.
"This subordinate has never forgotten the Young Master's teachings. Only by constantly breaking through myself can I avoid mediocrity." Xiao Boyuan straightened his chest, clearly inspired.
In his younger days, he had once served as Zhang Yuan's personal guard. Only after Zhang Yuan surpassed him and left to gain experience did he return to the clan's guard ranks, personally requesting to be stationed at the gate.
"Not bad. This is your reward." Zhang Yuan casually took out a porcelain bottle and tossed it to Xiao Boyuan.
"First and second squads, follow me inside. Third squad, stay at the gate and guard the Silver-Horned Black Rhino Horses."
Leaving behind these calm words, Zhang Yuan strode into the Xiao Clan Residence with a commanding presence.
The guards who recognized his identity naturally did not dare to stop him. Instead, they became even more alert.
Only after Zhang Yuan and his entourage disappeared from sight did someone ask Xiao Boyuan, "Brother Boyuan, what pill did Young Master Zhang Yuan give you?"
"Anything given by Young Master Zhang Yuan cannot be ordinary. Even a 1st Tier Blood Healing Pill would already be a great favor." Xiao Boyuan lightly scolded him, yet he still opened the bottle to take a whiff.
In the next instant, his eyes widened as shock filled his heart. 'A 2nd Tier Thunder Pattern Pill!'
On the Dou Qi Continent, pills were divided into nine tiers. 1st Tier pills were mostly used to treat external injuries. 2nd Tier pills corresponded to Dou Zhe and Dou Shi. Only from the 3rd Tier onward were they considered true pills.
Higher-grade pills included the 4th Tier ones, such as Qi Gathering Powder, which allowed a 9th Stage Dou Zhi Qi practitioner to break through to Dou Zhe with absolute certainty, or the Three Lines Green Spirit Pill, which could help a peak Dou Shi break through to Da Dou Shi.
Above these were Dou Ling Pills, Mighty Huang Pills, Zong Breaking Pills, and more.
The Thunder Pattern Pill was hailed as the strongest 2nd Tier pill because it could increase a peak Dou Zhe's breakthrough success rate by thirty percent.
Due to its mediocre effect, extremely high refining difficulty, and rare materials, very few alchemists were willing to refine it. Even so, its price rivaled that of a 3rd Tier pill.
"This… this…"
If he were not on duty, Xiao Boyuan would have wanted to kneel and kowtow right there.
This single pill from Zhang Yuan could very well change his entire fate.
At this moment, waves of discussion erupted on the main street outside.
"That horse is huge. Could it be a Magical Beast?"
"It's a Silver-Horned Black Rhino Horse, a descendant of a 2nd Rank Silver-Horned Rhino and a 1st Rank Black Cloud Horse. Worth a fortune."
"There are dozens of them. Who are these people?"
"You don't even know this? They are the Black Armoured Guards, one of the Empire's Ten Great Legions. Elites among elites. They always number exactly ten thousand and are directly commanded by a Dou Wang from one of the three great southern fortresses. They have countless merits."
"Why would the Black Armoured Guards come to the Xiao Clan in Wu Tan City?"
"You really are slow. The leader's name is Zhang Yuan."
"Zhang Yuan? That sounds familiar."
"One of the twin prides of the Xiao Clan. That collateral young master who became a Dou Zhe at twelve!"
"It's him. I heard he died on the battlefield long ago."
"Obviously just rumors. Not only did he survive, he even joined the Black Armoured Guards, which requires at least a 7-Star Dou Zhe to enter."
"A sixteen-year-old 7-Star Dou Zhe? Tsk!"
Hearing these remarks, both the Black Armoured Guards responsible for the horses and Xiao Boyuan at the gate showed mocking looks.
7-Star Dou Zhe?
Even they themselves surpassed that long ago. How could such a level be compared to Zhang Yuan?
At the same time, inside the Xiao Clan's grand hall, the people from the Yunlan Sect exchanged pleasantries with the Xiao Clan's higher-ups before stating their purpose.
It turned out that back when the Xiao Clan was still a Dou Wang family in the imperial capital, they had been on friendly terms with the Nalan Clan, which was also a Dou Wang family. They had even arranged a childhood engagement, meant for Xiao Yan.
Now, however, the Nalan Clan's young lady engaged to Xiao Yan, Nalan Yanran, had shown considerable talent and was accepted as a disciple by the Yunlan Sect's Sect Master. She had come to annul the engagement.
"Annul the engagement?"
As Xiao Yan's father and the Clan Leader, Xiao Zhan clenched his fist. The jade cup in his hand instantly shattered into dust.
The entire hall fell silent. Everyone looked at Xiao Yan with sympathy, mixed with indignation toward Nalan Yanran and the Yunlan Sect.
Annulment was one thing. But to make such a grand display, summoning the entire clan's higher-ups and elite disciples to witness it, was nothing short of a public humiliation.
The expressions of the three Xiao Clan elders beside Xiao Zhan were equally grim.
Internal conflicts aside, the clan always stood united against outsiders.
"Is this the Nalan Clan's decision, or yours?" Xiao Zhan asked as he looked at Nalan Yanran.
Her heart jolted violently. She dared not raise her head, burying it low. The answer was obvious.
"Clan Leader Xiao, I also know this request is difficult," the Yunlan Sect elder Ge Ye said with a trace of sympathy. "But for the sake of our Sect Master, please dissolve this engagement."
In a world where strength was paramount, how could the personal disciple of the Yunlan Sect's Sect Master be paired with a fallen genius?
"Roar!"
Xiao Zhan said nothing. His clenched fist trembled as pale green Dou Qi enveloped his body, a phantom lion's head gradually forming over his face.
Xiao Clan's top cultivation method, Mid Xuan Class Qi Method, Furious Lion's Rage.
Ge Ye's expression changed slightly. Greenish-purple Dou Qi gathered around his body, while an eagle claw phantom formed around his hand, emitting sharp and subtle sword Qi.
Yunlan Sect's advanced technique, Low Xuan Class Dou Technique, Azure Wood Sword Art.
Two Da Dou Shi confronted each other. The violent pressure caused those with weaker cultivation in the hall to pale, as if a massive stone were pressing against their chests.
"Clan Leader!"
Seeing Xiao Zhan's aura growing more violent, the Xiao Clan's Grand Elder called out.
The matter was indeed infuriating, but the Xiao Clan did not possess the strength to oppose the Yunlan Sect.
Xiao Zhan understood this well. He was not only Xiao Yan's father, but also the Xiao Clan's Clan Leader.
Over the years, he had often used his authority to give Xiao Yan special treatment. At such a moment, he could not ignore the clan.
He withdrew his Dou Qi. In that instant, he seemed to age significantly. Without looking at Nalan Yanran, he said calmly, "Niece Nalan, such courage. Nalan Su truly raised a fine daughter."
Nalan Yanran's delicate body trembled violently. For a brief moment, she felt she had made a mistake.
But when she thought of being bound to a man she had never met, and her desire to control her own life, she felt she was not wrong.
"Thank you for your understanding, Clan Leader Xiao."
Seeing Xiao Zhan tacitly agree, Ge Ye smiled in satisfaction and said, "Our Sect Master also knows that this request was somewhat impolite, so she instructed me to bring something as compensation for Young Friend Xiao Yan."
As he spoke, Ge Ye took out an ancient jade box glowing with green light from his Storage Ring.
When the box was opened, a strange fragrance instantly spread through the hall, drawing countless gazes.
Inside lay a pill the size of a longan, entirely emerald green.
The Xiao Clan's Third Elder's pupils shrank. "Qi Gathering Powder!"
On the Dou Qi Continent, to become a Dou Zhe, one must first condense a Dou Qi vortex within the body. This step alone eliminated half of all cultivators.
Although a 9th Stage Dou Zhi Qi practitioner could condense a vortex, there was still a chance of failure. Failure meant falling back to the 8th Stage. Those with insufficient talent or poor luck might fail more than ten times, missing the prime cultivation period and possibly remaining stagnant for life.
Qi Gathering Powder guaranteed a 100 percent success rate in condensing a Dou Qi vortex for a 9th Stage Dou Zhi Qi practitioner. True aristocratic clans and powerful sects always prepared such pills for their elite disciples.
With the Xiao Clan's foundation, they could afford it, but compared to the number of disciples and elites, it was far from sufficient.
The three elders thought of their own direct descendants and felt tempted by the pill. But the annulment was Xiao Yan's wound. They could not help him, but they would not rub salt into it either.
No one spoke. Xiao Zhan's expression grew increasingly dark.
In the corner, Xiao Yan, who had long been suppressing his anger, could no longer endure it and stood up, on the verge of eruption.
At that very moment, a thunderous explosion suddenly echoed from the entrance.
Purple light flashed, and a figure appeared in the center of the hall.
Aside from Xiao Zhan, Ge Ye, and Xun'er, no one could clearly see his movements.
"On the Dou Qi Continent, any clan or sect with proper conduct always begins with courtesy before force."
"Your Yunlan Sect forces my Xiao Clan to annul an engagement, then produces to compensate afterward. How is that any different from tossing alms to beggars?"
"Yunlan Sect truly wields immense authority."
"For those unaware, one might think this Jia Ma Empire already bears the Yun surname."
The sudden arrival spoke slowly, his voice booming like thunder in everyone's ears.
All Xiao Clan members' expressions darkened. They realized he spoke the truth.
Ge Ye's smile froze. The accusation was far too heavy.
His expression shifted as he said, "Who are you? I am discussing matters with the Xiao Clan's Clan Leader. What right do you have to interrupt?"
Xiao Zhan stared at the newcomer, his hands trembling, tiger eyes moist. "Yuan'er, you… You're back!"
"Uncle, it has been a long time. You seem a bit more weathered," Zhang Yuan said with a gentle smile, clasping his fists.
At this moment, everyone present recognized him.
"Cousin!" Xiao Yan exclaimed in delight, forgetting even his anger.
Xun'er, who had been immersed in her own thoughts, had raised her head at some point. A smile curved her lips, joy filling her eyes.
The Xiao Clan's younger generation was even more excited.
"It's Cousin Zhang Yuan!"
"Cousin Zhang Yuan is back!"
"What Yunlan Sect disciple? In Cousin Zhang Yuan's eyes, they are nothing but dirt and rubble."
"Cousin Zhang Yuan's talent is one of a kind in the entire Jia Ma Empire."
"Cousin Zhang Yuan looks even more handsome now. I wonder how he has lived these past years."
"I wonder how many stars Cousin Zhang Yuan is now. He already broke through to Dou Shi."
The young people were like fervent fans meeting their idol, overflowing with excitement.
At this moment, Nalan Yanran carefully examined Zhang Yuan and said with surprise, "Brother Zhang… Brother Zhang Yuan!"
Ge Ye: "?"
Xiao Zhan and the others: "?"
Zhang Yuan: "..."
(End of Chapter)
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