One Slap, Instant Defeat

The next day, as the warm sunlight streamed into the quiet room through the window, Xiao Yuan, who was meditating cross-legged, slowly opened his eyes as if sensing something.

On the bed beside her, Xiao Yi Xian was fast asleep.

After all, they had been apart for several months. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and Xiao Yi Xian must have been overworked last night.

Xiao Yuan was alright; his physical strength was even stronger than that of magical beasts. After Xiao Yi Xian fell asleep, he began to cultivate his Dou Qi.

The Xiao Yi Xian beside him seemed to sense something as well, and opened her somewhat confused eyes to look at Xiao Yuan.

"Awake?"

Xiao Yuan smiled and reached out to stroke Xiao Yi Xian's smooth and delicate face.

"Hmm, shall we go out and take a look?"

Xiao Yi Xian's hand emerged from under the covers and covered Xiao Yuan's hand, as she spoke in a soft, sweet voice.

"Hmm, this is my first time in a place like this. I'd like to check it out. Why don't you sleep a little longer?"

Xiao Yuan asked with a smile.

"No, let's go together."

Xiao Yi Xian shook her head, then blushed slightly and started to put on her clothes under Xiao Yuan's gaze.

"I didn't get enough last night!"

After getting dressed, Xiao Yi Xian rolled her eyes at Xiao Yuan.

"How can I ever get enough of looking at this? I want to look at it for a lifetime."

Xiao Yuan said with a smile.

"Snort!"

Xiao Yi Xian gave a soft snort, but a smile was clearly on her face.

"Young Master, are you up yet?"

Just then, Qing Lian's voice came from outside the door.

"You've gotten up. Come in."

Xiao Yuan turned to look at the door, waved his arm, and his soul power surged out, opening the door.

Then, Qing Lian changed into a white robe embroidered with a lotus flower.

"Xiao Yi Xian is here too?"

Seeing Xiao Yi Xian still sitting on the bed, Qing Lian seemed to understand something. Her face turned red, and she subconsciously wanted to call her "Young Mistress," but then she remembered that Xiao Yi Xian had told her not to call her that, so she immediately changed her address.

"Let's go."

With a slight smile, Xiao Yuan stood up from the bed, stretched, then took the arm of Xiao Yi Xian beside him, along with Qing Lian, and pushed open the door. After finding Xiao Yan and Heavenly Flame Venerable, the group left the room.

This vast manor is now filled with powerful individuals from all directions. These individuals are either strong in their own right or have considerable backing. When these people come together, it is naturally quite lively.

After strolling around the manor for a while, Xiao Yuan and his group stopped at a rather spacious tavern. The tavern was quite large, and in its center was a huge stone platform. On the platform, Dou Qi qi surged, and two figures clashed with lightning speed. The exciting battle drew cheers from all around.

The two people on the stage were both around the level of Six-Star Dou Zong, and were well-known experts outside. However, they did not attract Xiao Yuan. He and Xiao Yi Xian and his group found a seat by the window in the tavern and sat down. He scanned the tavern and found quite a few people with considerable strength.

"Have you found out anything related to the Black Annihilation Army?"

After the maid respectfully served the tea, Xiao Yuan glanced at the battle on the stage and said softly.

Now that he was going to make contact with this Ancient Clan, Xiao Yuan naturally needed to learn more about them. The so-called Black Annihilation Army was said to be a gathering place for the Ancient Clan's powerful warriors, possessing extremely strong combat power. Xiao Yuan needed to obtain some information about them.

"Um"

Qing Lian nodded, having dispatched a large group of Nine Nether Earth Python experts to gather intelligence, and then said softly:

"The Black Annihilation Army holds a high position among the Ancient Clan because their selection criteria are extremely stringent. Not only must they be absolutely loyal to the Ancient Clan, but they must also reach a specific Dao level within a certain age range. It is said that the Black Annihilation Army conducts assessments every year, and those who do not meet the assessment standards are eliminated. Therefore, this is what makes the quality of the Black Annihilation Army extremely high."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuan and the others nodded slowly. Judging from the group of guards in black armor they saw at the city gate, they could tell that the warriors of the Black Annihilation Army were no ordinary people. If they were in the outside world, they would be considered one in a million talented warriors.

"The Black Annihilation Army has a very strict hierarchy. There are Eight Great Commanders within it, and Ling Quan and the fifth commander I saw yesterday are two of them. However, Ling Quan is only ranked eighth."

Qing Lian continued.

"Ling Quan is only ranked eighth?"

Xiao Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly. Ling Quan was barely considered to be One-Star Dou Zun, while that Fifth Commander was Three-Star Dou Zun. In that case, the Black Annihilation Army's Grand Commander should at least be at the six-star level or even higher.

"Truly worthy of being Ancient Clan."

Xiao Yuan nodded slightly. Among the younger generation, those who could reach the strength of a six- Dou Zun were definitely considered geniuses. Although the Ancient Clan possessed the Dou Emperor Bloodline, this was enough to demonstrate their strength.

"Young Master Xiao Yan is not well-liked by these young geniuses of the Ancient Clan. In fact, many people consider you a rival in love. I think you're going to have a lot of trouble in the Ancient World in the future."

Qing Lian looked at Xiao Yan and chuckled softly, covering her mouth.

"Miss Qing Lian, not many people in the Ancient Clan know about my relationship with Xun'er, right?"

Xiao Yan frowned slightly upon hearing this and said.

"It wasn't common before, but according to what I've gathered, it's practically common knowledge now, because Miss Xun'er personally acknowledged your relationship at a recent Council of Elders."

Qing Lian chuckled to herself.

Xiao Yan was taken aback, then smiled wryly and said, "This girl is quite bold. But let her say it. This matter will be exposed eventually. As for those Ancient Clan geniuses, let them do whatever they want. From the beginning, I knew that I would not have much peace in this Ancient World."

Xiao Yan was already aware of Xun'er's captivating charm. This Ancient Clan was a gathering place for geniuses, and as geniuses, the young people here would certainly not be interested in ordinary women. Therefore, Xun'er, who not only had a stunning appearance but also possessed exceptional talent, naturally became their target.

"Among these Eight Great Commanders, almost half of them consider Young Master Xiao Yan to be the most threatening rival in love. If you were to encounter them, they would definitely find every excuse to fight and spar with you." Qing Lian smiled and said, "Of course, I actually think that the biggest threat to Young Master Xiao Yan is not these people, but the Four Great Commanders."

"The Four Great Commanders?"

"The true high command of the Black Annihilation Army, in general, consists of Eight Great Commanders, Four Great Commanders, and the two true leaders of the Black Annihilation Army, the Black Annihilation King," Qing Lian continued. "These Four Great Commanders are all considered top geniuses even among the ancient Ancient Clan, which are full of geniuses. Each of them is exceptionally talented. Although their Dou Emperor Bloodline is not as good as Miss Xun'er's, there are few in the Ancient Clan who can compare to them. Based on their potential, they will become the true core figures of the Ancient Clan in the future."

Xiao Yan fell silent upon hearing this, a sense of solemnity rising in his heart. At his age, his current achievements would be considered top-tier in the Central State, but now that he was among the Ancient Clan, he realized that such achievements were not enough for him to be proud of.

"Is the Dou Emperor Bloodline truly this powerful?"

Xiao Yan slowly exhaled, truly feeling some pressure. His cultivation speed was already unmatched among his peers, but compared to the top geniuses of these Ancient Clan, he seemed to be somewhat weaker.

Of course, Xiao Yan overlooked one thing: besides his Douqi Realm, he was also a genuine Eighth Grade Alchemist. In fact, he was no worse than the geniuses of the Ancient Clan, and even stronger.

"Although I haven't been able to find out what attitude these four commanders, who are all highly respected in the Ancient Clan, have towards the young master, Miss Xun'er is the pride of the Ancient Clan, and her attraction to geniuses like them is unparalleled. So the young master is probably going to have a lot of trouble ahead."

Qing Lian then reminded her.

Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes, a ruthless glint flashing in them. No matter how strong these so-called commanders were, no one could stop him and Xun'er. Although he was only Five Star Dou Zun at the moment, he was not afraid of even seven-star or eight-star Dou Xiao Yan Dou Zun expert when it came to a fight. So, he hoped that these Four Great Commanders would not really treat him as a pushover!

"Having the Dou Emperor Bloodline) certainly makes cultivation smoother, but this speed only extends to the Dou Sheng) level. Even in ancient races like the Ancient Clan, where there are many Dou Zun expert, very few actually reach the Dou Sheng level. To advance to that level, they can only rely on themselves. In such cases, the Dou Emperor Bloodline can become a burden. Therefore, don't compare your current achievements with these guys. Perhaps when you reach the Dou Sheng in the future, these guys will still only be at the Dou Zun level."

Heavenly Flame Venerable, with his extraordinary insight, smiled and comforted her.

Xiao Yan nodded slightly. Dou Sheng Expert are already top-tier beings in the world. Although the Dou Emperor Bloodline is powerful, it is impossible to mass-produce such experts. Otherwise, it would be too heaven-defying.

However, Third Brother Xiao Yan suddenly remembered that his Third Brother seemed to have the Dou Emperor Bloodline.

"He's different. This kid's Bloodline Restoration. To be honest, maybe I'm just ignorant, but I've never heard of Dou Emperor Bloodline reverting to its ancestral form before."

Heavenly Flame Venerable saw what Xiao Yan was thinking and shook his head.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuan also fell into thought.

Indeed, the phenomenon of Bloodline Restoration is not unusual for magical beasts, but to say that it Dou Emperor Bloodline? I have never heard of it before. Perhaps this trip to the Ancient Clan will provide some answers?

While Xiao Yuan and his group were drinking and talking amongst themselves, upstairs in the tavern, two cold gazes were fixed on Xiao Yan.

"Is he Xiao Yan?"

A handsome man in a blue robe glanced at Xiao Yuan's back, his exceptionally long hand gently tapping on the railing as he spoke softly.

"Third Brother, he is the Xiao Yan that Miss mentioned. He has quite a reputation in Central State now, and his arrogance has not diminished at all when he comes to our Ancient Clan."

A voice replied with a cold laugh from the side. Looking in the direction of the voice, one could see it was Ling Quan, who had been blasted away by Xiao Yan's kick yesterday.

"This is not Central State," the man in blue smiled slightly, a hint of coldness in his smile, and said, "Although Miss may look down on us, at least, people of this caliber should not have this kind of qualification."

"Don't do anything reckless; they are guests after all."

A slightly muscular man frowned; he was none other than the Fifth Commander from yesterday.

"Don't worry. Everything will be done in accordance with the rules."

The man in blue smiled in a sinister tone.

"Clang!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the two figures fighting on the stone platform below also determined the winner and retreated. Immediately, a loud voice drew everyone's attention. A lean figure jumped up and shouted loudly.

"The next pair to spar are Yang Hao, the third commander of the Black Annihilation Army, and Xiao Yan, the champion of the Pill Gathering!"

Not far away, Xiao Yan, who had just raised his teacup, suddenly paused, his expression slowly darkening. He seemed to have been tricked. A loud shout echoed in the pavilion, instantly silencing the noisy environment. These two were both extremely powerful figures; one was the third commander of the Ancient Clan's Black Annihilation Army, and the other was the champion of the Pill Gathering. Both were outstanding individuals among the younger generation. Could they possibly have the chance to witness them spar here today? Thinking of this, many people in the pavilion showed interest in their eyes, scanning their surroundings as if trying to find the two.

"I didn't expect that trouble would come knocking on my door so soon after I said that. But this method is really too despicable."

Xiao Yuan chuckled.

With his shrewdness, he naturally knew at a glance that the other party was afraid that Xiao Yan would back down, so they acted first and informed him later in such a public place. If Xiao Yan lost the competition, it would probably become an excuse for many Ancient Clan to attack Xiao Yan, and even Xun'er would be implicated.

"Sigh, don't waste your time on this kind of trash. Save your battle for when you enter the Ancient World."

Seeing that Xiao Yan seemed to want to step down and fight, Xiao Yuan waved his hand, then turned his head and stared coldly at the man in blue on the upper floor.

"Hehe, it does seem right."

Upon seeing Xiao Yuan look over, the man in blue smiled, but before he could finish speaking, he saw Xiao Yuan slap him from afar.

The next moment, a terrifying force pierced through space and struck his face! Boom! The man in blue was sent flying, crashing through the wall of the pavilion and falling onto the stone platform below.

"Wow, the appearance of this Third Commander is quite unique!"

Xiao Yuan's voice echoed throughout the land.