Imperial Sword

Fayuan Pavilion, the residence of the Yao Clan's Clan Leader, had always been a heavily guarded forbidden ground seldom visited by anyone within the Yao Clan. Of course, those guards were only there to drive away idle people who wandered in by mistake. Given Yao Dan's lofty status and supreme strength within the Yao Clan, he needed no guards to protect his personal safety.

As evening fell, a man and a woman slipped into Fayuan Pavilion. The nearby guards turned a blind eye, fully aware there was no need to question the identities of these two. Yao Dan, who had been listlessly reviewing various documents at his desk, seemed to sense something as well. He raised his head from the papers and fixed his bright gaze on the two newcomers.

"Little friend Xiao Yan, what did you wish to see me about?"

"First, congratulations to Clan Leader Yao Dan on breaking through to Eight-star Dou Sheng. I did not come this time over anything particularly urgent. During my last journey into the Heavenly Tomb, I was fortunate enough to meet Ancestor Xiao Xuan." Xiao Yan did not evade the matter and laid everything out plainly. "Ancestor's meaning was..."

"Little friend Xiao Yan, do you believe that much of what I said when we first met was untrue?" Yao Dan grinned. "Important people tend to forget things. Your Xiao Clan did indeed stand tall back then, the undisputed number one clan, so perhaps you never took those matters to heart. Those events happened long ago, and my memory of them may have become somewhat distorted."

"Of course, little friend Xiao Yan, rest assured. Whether now or at any point in the future, I guarantee that my Yao Clan will never coerce or tempt you into doing anything. Besides, the Yao Clan's future and fate will not need to rest upon you for quite some time." Seeing that Xiao Yan still seemed uneasy, Yao Dan added this reassurance. At those words, Xiao Yan's expression finally relaxed.

"With Clan Leader's assurance, I am at ease." Xiao Yan laughed heartily. "I have nothing else to trouble you with. Farewell."

"Clan Leader, you really should stop fooling people in the future. Just tell the truth." Once Xiao Yan had gone far away, Yao Ling could not help complaining to Yao Dan. "I happened to be present when Xiao Yan told his ancestor those stories. The more I listened to the tales you had made up, the more ashamed I felt."

"Ling'er, amid such a great upheaval unseen in a thousand years, we always need to tell a few well-intentioned lies to smooth our relationships." Yao Dan smiled. "Leaving everything else aside, just look at the Yao Clan's development over the past year. You should understand that some things simply have to be said."

"Very well. Clan Leader is wise and decisive; I was the one who was short-sighted." Seeing that her words had done no good, Yao Ling said no more. Seeing Yao Dan and Elder Wan Huo regain their youth and their auras surge, she knew that the Yao Clan's two Cross-Sea Purple Gold Beams had become stronger than ever before.

To achieve such results in just one year, even she had to praise the Clan Leader's wisdom in her heart. The year before, the Clan Leader had personally set aside his pride and gone to a barbaric place like the Central Continent to ask an outcast to return to the clan. At the time, that move had turned the Yao Clan into the complete laughingstock of the Ancient Eight Clans. Who could have known that this outcast would bring the Yao Clan so much strength? They had truly thrown away a sesame seed and picked up a watermelon.

"The two guests from the Shi Clan have both been properly settled, correct?" Seeing that Yao Ling was thoroughly convinced, Yao Dan turned serious again. "In these troubled times, we must do our utmost to unite every force we can. One more friend is always a good thing."

"I have arranged accommodations for them strictly according to the proper etiquette. Diplomacy is no small matter. The Shi-Yao Alchemist Alliance Treaty will be concluded in five days. Please rest assured, Clan Leader, I will never neglect proper etiquette at such a critical time," Yao Ling promptly replied.

"Ling'er, you have been troubled with carrying out the Young Clan Leader's duties in her stead during this time, and you have indeed performed exceptionally well, both in cultivation and administration." Yao Dan sighed. "Though I cannot disregard clan law and truly pass the position of Clan Leader to you, I can still give you a small surprise."

"Please tell me, Clan Leader. What small surprise is it?" Yao Ling's curiosity and competitive spirit were both stirred.

Yao Dan smiled faintly, removed the Imperial Sword hanging as an ornament from his body, and handed it to Yao Ling.

"Today, I bestow this Imperial Sword upon you. In the future, you may act as you see fit in all matters unrelated to the clan elders. I trust that, with your character and ability, you will make proper use of this sword."

"Thank you, Clan Leader!" Yao Ling was both shocked and delighted. This Imperial Sword was the highest reward anyone in the Yao Clan could receive. Not only did it carry immense symbolic significance, but as the Clan Leader's personal ornament, it also contained a trace of the Clan Leader's power, which could nourish its wearer's body. For her, merely wearing this sword would increase her cultivation speed severalfold!

"No need for formalities, Ling'er. You may face many more matters in the future. But I will do my best to pave the road ahead for you. Go forward boldly along the path you wish to take." Yao Dan smiled with satisfaction.

Five days later, a plaza spanning a thousand zhang within the Yao Clan buzzed with voices. Dozens of Shi Clan experts arrived through the air, drawing countless gazes. Every one of these Shi Clan experts who had come from afar was at the Dou Zun level, and there were even three genuine Dou Sheng among them. Such a lineup would be considered luxurious even within the Yao Clan.

Yet even such a lineup was not enough to draw much of Yao Dan's attention. He sat with his eyes closed atop the highest viewing platform in the plaza, not even opening them once. A few minutes later, he opened his eyes and saw a white-haired, white-bearded elder approaching through the air. Wherever the elder passed, the surrounding space rippled with strange waves, prompting bursts of astonished cries.

Yao Dan did not delay. With a flash, he appeared before the white-haired elder, warmly extending both hands as he greeted him.

"Clan Leader Shi Gandang, long time no see. I have missed you greatly."

"Hehe, this old man would not dare compare himself to such a great figure as you. My Shi Clan does not possess secret arts like your Yao Clan's. We are about to be cast aside by the tide of history." Shi Gandang spoke with half envy and half mockery.

"Old Shi, there is no need to be so pessimistic." Hearing this, Yao Dan felt a pang in his heart and offered comfort.

"Mm." Shi Gandang did not stand on ceremony. In an instant, he took the seat beside Yao Dan and quietly watched the ceremony begin below. For a time, a thousand furnaces gathered and ten thousand cauldrons rose. Heavenly Flames of every color shone against one another in a magnificent spectacle that held everyone's attention.

Unfortunately, Shi Gandang's mood only worsened as the ceremony continued. In order not to fall behind during this ceremony, the Shi Clan had dispatched every Eighth-grade Alchemist in the clan. The Yao Clan, whether to spare the Shi Clan's pride or to display its strength, had sent only exceptionally young alchemists. Even so, neither clan gained the upper hand in the ceremony.

What a Yao Clan... Shi Gandang muttered inwardly, half shocked and half displeased.

The ceremony continued for several days before finally reaching its final stage. At the sound of a whistle, four figures flashed into the center of the plaza and fully released their auras, drawing cries of astonishment from the entire audience. Three of the four were genuine Dou Sheng alchemists. Though the fourth was only a High-level Half-Saint, her Soul power was formidable, and she had inherited the Yao Clan's secret arts from childhood. In terms of alchemy alone, she might not be inferior to those three Dou Sheng alchemists in the slightest.

"Everything before this was merely an appetizer. What we are seeing now is the main course." Once the four had taken their positions, Yao Dan spoke calmly. "How could such a grand alchemy ceremony possibly be without the birth of a Nine-grade Treasure Pill?"