"A peak Dou Huang's strength is still a bit insufficient…"
"Looks like I'll need to find a way to help you break through to Dou Zong."
Watching Ling Ying dissolve into a shadow and vanish, Zhang Yuan once again formed Heavenly Flame Wings and flew toward Wu Tan City.
The speculation in his heart had now been confirmed; Xun'er had indeed dispatched Ling Ying to his side as a long-term guard.
Given Ling Ying's absolute loyalty to the Gu Clan and the rigid, clearly defined hierarchy within the clan, saying that Xun'er had effectively "given" this peak Dou Huang to him was not an exaggeration.
With such a powerhouse at his side, he could practically walk sideways throughout the Jia Ma Empire, and many of his plans could now be advanced ahead of schedule.
Yun Shan, the former sect master of Yunlan Sect, many believed him long dead, but in truth, with the help of the Hall of Souls, he was already close to breaking through to Dou Zong. As long as Yun Shan became aware of the Hall of Souls' schemes, even if he did not become an ally, at the very least, he would no longer be an enemy.
The Snake-People Clan's leader, Medusa, had likely not yet found the Green Lotus Core Flame. In about a year and a half, she would use the power of a Heavenly Flame to advance to Dou Zong. There were many ways to turn her into one of his own.
One of the Jia Ma Empire's royal guardian beasts, the 6th Rank Magical Beast, the Serene Sea Scaly Beast and one of the empire's guardians, Jia Xingtian, were both only half a step away from Dou Zong, yet they did not manage to cross that threshold until Xiao Yan returned as a Dou Zun. His Nine Dragon Lightning Flame should be able to help the Serene Sea Scaly Beast, while Jia Xingtian simply lacked a Zong Breaking Pill. However, both were die-hard loyalists of the imperial family, so drawing them over would require careful, long-term planning.
And then there was Hai Bodong, among others…
"To truly look down on all heroes, one must still have Dou Zong-level experts."
"With Xun'er's instruction, Old Ling is absolutely trustworthy. Finding a way to help him break through is the most reliable option, and it would also make him a small but meaningful support for me when I eventually head to the Gu Clan."
"Honestly, the simplest path is actually finding Xiao Yixian. Once the Woeful Poison Body awakens, she can go from Dou Zhe to Dou Zong in five years, and still be among the strongest at that level."
"Multiple paths at once, then…"
As the outline of the city appeared ahead, Zhang Yuan reined in his thoughts.
He lowered his altitude, landed on a rooftop, then used movement techniques to rush toward the Xiao Clan.
Being able to fly was a trump card, and naturally, the less it was exposed, the better.
Half a quarter-hour later, he arrived near the Xiao Clan Residence and immediately sensed that the atmosphere in several nearby streets was off.
With his current strength, executing a lightning-attribute movement technique meant no one could detect his presence.
A few breaths later, he deftly flipped over a wall into the Xiao Clan Residence, landing directly in front of a Xiao Clan guard. The two stared at each other, wide-eyed.
The guard was about to raise the alarm, but upon clearly seeing Zhang Yuan's face, he immediately stopped, straightened his chest, and said, "Greetings, Young Master Zhang Yuan."
Zhang Yuan nodded lightly. He was about to speak when he sensed two Da Dou Shi auras rising nearby. He immediately moved behind a rockery and observed the Xiao Clan plaza through the gaps.
There, Xiao Zhan was facing off against a burly middle-aged man. Zhang Yuan recognized him as Jia Lie Bi, the clan leader of the Jia Lie Clan, a 3-Star Da Dou Shi whose strength was slightly inferior to Xiao Zhan's.
Behind Jia Lie Bi stood dozens of men in uniform. Their eyes and bearing clearly marked them as Jia Lie Clan elites, obviously not here with good intentions.
In addition, Zhang Yuan also saw the Ao Ba Clan's leader, Ao Ba Pa, Wu Tan City's Dou Ling-level city lord Lin Zhengqing, as well as Master Gu Ni and Ya Fei from the Miteer Auction House.
Wu Tan City's upper echelons were all gathered here.
"Could this be about last night?" A thought surfaced in Zhang Yuan's mind.
The next moment, his suspicion was confirmed.
"Xiao Zhan, hand over Zhang Yuan! Otherwise, I will not hesitate to initiate a clan war!" Jia Lie Bi roared, his face iron-blue, fury blazing like a mad lion.
On the Dou Qi Continent, aside from the Black Corner Region, any power could engage in conflict, but always within limits. In the Jia Ma Empire, imperial law defined that limit.
A clan war was a life-and-death struggle between clans, similar to individuals ascending a life-and-death platform. Once a contract was signed, life and death were one's own responsibility; no one could pursue responsibility afterwards.
Personal life-and-death duels merely required signing a death agreement at an approved venue, but initiating a clan war required many prerequisites. Clans rarely resorted to it.
If Jia Lie Bi was not blinded by rage, then he was clearly using this stance to pressure the Xiao Clan.
"If you want war, then war it is!" Xiao Zhan stepped forward without fear. "Forcing me to hand over my nephew to beg for peace is absolutely impossible."
"My Xiao Clan does not raise cowards who live on their knees."
The Xiao Clan disciples and elders present all showed resolute expressions.
A mere clan war, what of it? At worst, they would die in battle.
Jia Lie Bi's eyes flickered as he secretly made a hand signal.
Jia Lie Qing, the Jia Lie Clan's Grand Elder, stepped forward and said, "Clan Leader Xiao, our clan leader's beloved son was gravely injured, so his emotions are understandably unstable. However, after committing violence yesterday, your nephew Zhang Yuan personally declared that if our clan leader had any dissatisfaction, he could come find him for an explanation."
"Our clan leader has come as instructed; this can hardly be considered bullying the young."
Jia Lie Ao's injuries were severe but did not damage his foundation. His talent was mediocre, and he was not highly valued by Jia Lie Bi. Ordinarily, Jia Lie Bi would not pursue the matter after all, for a clan leader to interfere in a junior's fight would be disgraceful.
However, Zhang Yuan's displayed strength and talent had made Jia Lie Bi uneasy.
And Zhang Yuan's "momentary sharp tongue" saying Jia Lie Bi could come for an explanation, had given him the perfect excuse to act "reasonably," cripple Zhang Yuan, and conveniently rope in the Ao Ba Clan as well.
With the commotion between the three clans so great, City Lord Lin Zhengqing, along with Gu Ni and Ya Fei of the Miteer Auction House, had also "hurried over" to watch the excitement.
"Old man, don't twist the facts."
Before Xiao Zhan could speak, Xiao Yan, standing not far behind him, opened his mouth. "What do you mean by 'committing violence'? My cousin acted in legitimate self-defense. The cause was Jia Lie Ao attempting to harass a woman of my Xiao Clan. With so many important figures present, don't think you can confuse right and wrong."
Hearing this, Jia Lie Bi and Jia Lie Qing looked toward Xiao Yan, subtly releasing pressure.
Yet Xiao Yan's expression did not change in the slightest as he met their gaze.
'If this child's talent were still intact, he would be terrifying,' several of the strongest present thought inwardly.
Ya Fei and Gu Ni, knowing more, thought even further.
"Enough, Jia Lie Bi." Xiao Zhan stepped in front of Xiao Yan and said calmly, "I have already said it, Yuan'er is not currently in the clan. When he returns, you are welcome to come and bully the young if you wish."
"Heh." Jia Lie Bi sneered. "I'm afraid once I leave, Zhang Yuan will never be found again. His Black Armoured Guards are all here, yet he alone is absent. Do you really think I'd believe that?"
"You think I'm lying to you?" Xiao Zhan countered.
"Isn't that the case?" Jia Lie Bi said darkly. "If you have no guilty conscience, allow my Jia Lie Clan members to search the Xiao Clan. With the city lord present, we will behave properly, only searching for a person."
This was not a matter of behaving properly. If the Xiao Clan allowed the Jia Lie Clan to search freely, they would forever bear the reputation of being weak and easily bullied.
Xiao Zhan pondered his response as the atmosphere grew heavy and silent.
Zhang Yuan, however, had no interest in making a dramatic last-second entrance. He directly leapt in from the main gate direction, landed a short distance in front of Xiao Zhan, then turned around and said calmly, "I just went out to eat some hometown breakfast. Clan Leader Jia Lie, what did you want to talk to me about, medical expenses?"
The moment he appeared, he became the focus of the entire plaza. His presence, whether in bearing or appearance, was impossible to ignore.
"He seems… a little different again," Ya Fei murmured.
"He may have already broken through," Master Gu Ni said.
As a 2nd Tier Alchemist, his Spiritual Perception was keener than that of most Da Dou Shi.
"Broken through!?" Ya Fei subconsciously covered her mouth, her peach-blossom eyes filled with shock.
Did this mean that Zhang Yuan had become a Da Dou Shi at sixteen!?
This level of potential surpassed that of a sixteen-year-old peak Dou Shi by several tiers.
(End of Chapter)
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