Shi Clan Clan Leader, Shi Gandang

"Xiao Yan, on behalf of the Xiao Clan, I accept this challenge!"

Xiao Yan cupped his hands slightly and forced himself to focus as he prepared for battle. This big fellow's aura was several degrees stronger than that of the Eight-star Dou Zun he had defeated earlier. He was likely a genuine Nine-star Dou Zun. This match would indeed be quite a challenge for him.

Before the words had even faded, Yao Dao impatiently charged at Xiao Yan. Within a few breaths, his already burly body swelled several times larger, and his dark skin became covered in a blue-gold sheen. Every step he took left behind a massive footprint on the arena floor. Even the entire arena began to shake beneath Yao Dao's charge.

"I wonder what Dou Technique he used to strengthen his physical body to such an extent..."

Xiao Yan's expression became exceptionally grave. He had fought countless Dou Zun experts, but a Dou Zun like Yao Dao—one who charged in from the start with nothing but a reinforced body, using no other Dou Techniques—was truly something he had never encountered before. He did not dare be careless. Bringing his hands together, brown, white, green, and purple Heavenly Flames surged out from within him. With another change in his hand seals, a Four-colored Fire Lotus rapidly formed in his palm.

"Four Heavenly Flames, and even our clan's Turtle Spirit Earth Fire? Did the Clan Leader actually give him even such a Heavenly Flame?" This caused a wave of astonished cries from below the stage. To receive a Heavenly Flame personally bestowed by the Clan Leader and possess such formidable strength, this guest of the Xiao Clan truly could not be underestimated!

With a push of both hands, Xiao Yan sent the condensed Four-colored Fire Lotus shooting forward, where it collided head-on with the charging Yao Dao. A flame storm immediately swept across the field, turning even the air above the arena into scorching fiery winds. Both men were blown back several hundred steps by those blazing winds, panting heavily with sweat covering their faces.

"Friend Xiao Yan, I truly admire you. Shall we call this match a draw?" There was now a measure of respect in Yao Dao's voice. He had used a low-level Heavenly Grade Dou Technique to reinforce his body, intending to defeat Xiao Yan in one stroke through the purest physical strength. Yet he had unexpectedly been blasted until his blood and qi churned by the Four-colored Fire Lotus. If Xiao Yan made another one, even if he did not die, he would still be severely wounded!

"Fine." Xiao Yan gritted his teeth and uttered those two words with immense difficulty. His Dou Qi had already been depleted to the limit by the consecutive battles. Even speaking required all his strength. He had shown enough of his abilities and taught the troublesome challengers their lessons. There was no need to risk his life just to determine a victor.

"You really do love showing off." Seeing that most of the spectators had dispersed, Yao Ling walked over to Xiao Yan and handed him several pills emitting a faint fragrance. Half worried and half impressed, she said, "Those notorious restless troublemakers of the Yao Clan were all thoroughly taught a lesson by you today. I doubt anyone will come looking for trouble with you again."

"Thank you, Sister, for helping me in my hour of need." Xiao Yan snatched the pills and swallowed them. Though none of them were particularly high-grade, taking them together allowed each pill's effects to be fully unleashed. They could not only greatly replenish the Dou Qi Xiao Yan had expended, but also treat the hidden injuries he had suffered during the consecutive battles. They even possessed the effect of rebuilding after destruction, accelerating Xiao Yan's cultivation. "Sister really knows how to care for people."

"Stop flattering me. I'm sick of hearing it." Yao Ling rolled her eyes at Xiao Yan, though a fleeting blush flashed across her face.

He had fought six of the clan's top Dou Zun experts in succession, including a Nine-star Dou Zun, and somehow achieved five victories and one draw. Xiao Yan's legendary feat spread through the Yao Clan at an explosive pace. Naturally, such news did not escape the ears of the other guests visiting the Yao Clan.

"Old Dan, you really picked up two great treasures on this trip out of the clan. One is a Ninth-grade Treasure Pill Grandmaster, and the other is the Xiao Clan's most stunning genius in a thousand years. I truly admire your sharp eye." In a secret chamber of the Yao Clan, a white-haired old man stared keenly at Yao Dan. The surging aura around this old man was no weaker than Yao Dan's!

"Enough, enough, Old Stone. Stop talking nonsense. You didn't personally come to my Yao Clan just for this trivial matter, did you?" Yao Dan said worriedly. "Let's get straight to the point. The Lower Three Clans share the same breath and branches!"

"There are only the Lower Two Clans now." Seeing Yao Dan get straight to the point, the old man stopped exchanging pleasantries as well. "You and I are both Clan Leaders. Now that the Ling Clan has been destroyed, we both need to consider the survival of our clans."

That was right. The old man before Yao Dan was Shi Gandang, Clan Leader of the Shi Clan, one of the Ancient Eight Clans! Though the Shi Clan had shown signs of declining bloodlines in recent years, its strength was still somewhat greater than the Ling Clan's. As the Shi Clan's Clan Leader, Shi Gandang's strength had reached the middle stage of Seven-star Dou Sheng. Within the Yao Clan, perhaps only Yao Dan could stand on equal footing with him!

"You also believe the Ling Clan suffered the calamity of clan extermination this time?" The moment this matter was mentioned, Yao Dan's tone became heavy.

"Of course they did. If they hadn't been wiped out, how could everyone suddenly lose contact with them without a sound? Gu Dao's third daughter had only been married to Ling Dong for a few days when they became completely unreachable. A few days ago, even the soul imprint Gu Dao left on her shattered. She has probably already met with a violent death. Gu Dao has been unable to eat or sleep these past few days. He took the Gu Clan Three Immortals and Gu Lie to the entrance of the Ling Clan's original realm and wildly unleashed dozens of Heavenly Grade Dou Techniques." Once Shi Gandang brought up the Ling Clan's destruction, he could not stop talking. "At this rate, your Yao Clan will be the next to be wiped out, and then it'll be our Shi Clan..."

"Shi Gandang, what nonsense are you spouting? Even if our two clans share the same breath and branches, you can't speak such rubbish!" An inexplicable fury suddenly rose in Yao Dan's heart. "Even if someone is to be destroyed, it will be your Shi Clan first. Only then will it be my Yao Clan's turn!"

"Bullshit! The mastermind is clearly starting with the softest targets. In terms of absolute strength, my Shi Clan is still a notch stronger than your Yao Clan!" Shi Gandang became agitated as well. Though the Ling Clan, Shi Clan, and Yao Clan were collectively known as the Lower Three Clans among the Ancient Races, their relationship was far from friendly. They were even faintly hostile toward one another. If they had not all been facing the disaster of clan extermination, let alone talk of sharing the same breath and branches, it would have been good enough if they did not attack each other.

"Since you refuse to accept that, then let's have a match between ourselves. Whoever wins, the clan he represents will be considered stronger." Even if the two clans truly shared the same breath and branches, there would still be a distinction between leader and follower. Whoever gained control would gain more benefits from the alliance. In the end, the struggle for that authority still came down to whose fist was bigger. The most crucial factor was the comparison between the two clans' highest-level combat strength—the strength of their Clan Leaders. This battle had to be fought, whether they wanted it or not!

"Shi Gandang, come in and settle this once and for all." With a casual gesture, Yao Dan created a temporary space for battle. At the level of Seven-star Dou Sheng, one could casually construct a space for duels, preventing the aftershocks of battle from becoming too great and harming innocents. However, such temporarily created spaces could not last long and generally disappeared after the battle ended.