Friendly Exchanges and Sparring Among the Younger Generation of Each Clan

Such grand ceremonies were jointly agreed upon by the major Emperor Clans and held once every hundred years.

Along with the Heavenly Tomb cultivation held once every twenty years, they were among the few grand gatherings of the ancient clans.

Not long after Xiao Xuan arrived, Xiao Feng came as well, accompanied by quite a few Xiao Clan elders.

Aside from the clan leader who had brought them, the Gu Clan delegation was led by a youth in white. Though he kept his aura restrained, his Dou Emperor presence and Spirit Realm soul could not escape Xiao Xuan's notice. In Xiao Xuan's view, this person had to be Gu Yuan.

Besides him, there were several others with the aura fluctuations of Dou Wangs.

There were only four people from the Hun Clan, all of them at the Dou Wang level.

The younger generations of the other clans generally consisted of only two or three people, while the rest did not have auras beyond the Dou Wang level.

After casually sizing them up, Xiao Xuan stopped paying attention.

Xiao Xuan knew that every clan hid some geniuses to one degree or another. Standing out too much would only be counterproductive.

"Hehe, cousin, what do you think? Are there any strong ones among their younger generation?" Xiao Lan asked with a grin.

"That man in white from the Gu Clan—if you run into him, surrender immediately. Don't go looking for trouble.

"The others are around your level. They're not much weaker, but not much stronger either.

"Be careful during the matches. Just go through the motions."

Xiao Yun said, "Cousin, is that man in white really that exaggerated?

"I heard from the elders that he's Gu Yuan, the Gu Clan's Young Patriarch."

Once nearly everyone had arrived, Xiao Feng nodded to the executive elder in charge of the event.

The next moment, the elder leaped into the air and landed on the arena. Cupping his fists, he said, "I am Xiao Ming. On behalf of my clan, I welcome the elders of every clan and their outstanding younger disciples to this grand ceremony hosted by the Xiao Clan. Now, the ceremony shall begin!"

After the ceremony began, the Xiao Clan put on several impromptu performances.

However, since those were not the main attraction, no one paid them much attention.

A Half-Saint elder from the Gu Clan who had come to protect their prodigies frowned slightly. "Not only is that old man Xiao Ming still alive, he actually broke through as well?"

Gu Yuan asked in confusion, "Elder Gu Feng, do you know him?"

Elder Gu Feng nodded. "A hundred years ago, I represented the Gu Clan at the Stone Clan's grand ceremony. The person who defeated me that time was him!"

After the minor performances ended, Xiao Ming spoke again. "Now begins the Xiao Clan's friendly sparring session.

"A Xiao Clan disciple will defend the arena, and the winner will continue defending it. Any exceptionally talented individual under sixteen from the various clans may step onto the stage to challenge them.

"During the matches, killing is forbidden, taking medicinal pills is forbidden, and the fights shall end at the appropriate point!"

The moment Xiao Ming finished speaking, Xiao Xiong leaped up and landed directly on the arena.

After stepping onto the stage, Xiao Xiong cupped his fists and said, "Xiao Clan, Xiao Xiong. Please enlighten me!"

For this competition, Xiao Feng had sent out the Xiao Clan's finest members of the younger generation.

He understood the principle of concealing one's strength. Sending these youngsters up was merely a gesture.

They only needed to display a bit of their strength. There was no need to fight to the death over victory or defeat.

After Xiao Xiong took the stage, several lesser-known disciples from the various clans came forward to challenge him.

However, they were all still at the Dou Ling level.

How could they possibly be Xiao Xiong's match? He easily won five consecutive bouts!

Below the stage, the elders of the various clans all frowned slightly.

At that moment, a youth from the Gu Clan leaped up and arrived on the arena.

Looking at Xiao Xiong, he cupped his fists in greeting. "Gu Clan, Gu Lie. Please teach me!"

"Hahaha..." Xiao Xiong laughed heartily and returned the gesture with cupped fists. Then he said, "Finally, someone who can fight!"

As soon as he spoke, Xiao Xiong struck first. His Dou Qi formed a spear that shot toward Gu Lie, while Gu Lie formed his Dou Qi into a sword and met the attack head-on.

Bang...

Both were Dou Wangs, and this match was clearly different from the previous ones.

After their first clash, both retreated several steps, appearing evenly matched.

The spear in Xiao Xiong's hand dispersed. "Interesting. Next, I'm going to get serious!"

With that, Xiao Xiong crossed his hands and gathered Dou Qi before blasting it toward Gu Lie from afar.

Boom...

However, Gu Lie easily dodged the attack.

Although it was only a Xuan-rank Dou Skill, after sensing the terror of the incoming attack, Gu Lie also circulated his Dou Qi with full force.

The hand seal he formed suddenly changed, and an equally vast and powerful surge of energy abruptly erupted into the sky!

Mountain Opening Seal!

With Gu Lie's loud shout, an enormous energy hand seal several zhang wide suddenly appeared!

"Mountain Opening Seal" was one of the Gu Clan's high-grade earth-tier Dou Techniques, the "Emperor Seal Art"!

This technique was divided into five seals, and with Gu Lie's current strength, he could only use the first seal.

After the enormous hand seal appeared, it effortlessly nullified Xiao Xiong's attack.

Moreover, the hand seal showed no sign of stopping as it charged toward Xiao Xiong!

Seeing Gu Lie's attack, Xiao Xiong showed no panic at all. He likewise circulated the Dou Qi throughout his body, and flames boiled around him.

"Heaven Burning Strike!"

The next moment, Xiao Xiong shouted, gathering the flames around his body into his palm before striking upward with one hand!

"Boom..."

The two enormous energy palm seals collided, then vanished into nothing in an instant.

A wave of energy immediately spread across the entire arena.

At that moment, most of the younger disciples from the various clans stared at the scene in shock.

However, while the younger generation was astonished, to the elder clan elders, this was merely children's play.

After the energy completely dissipated, neither Xiao Xiong nor Gu Lie made any move to attack again.

It was not that they did not want to; both of them had exhausted their Dou Qi...

Gu Lie frowned slightly and clenched his fists. "I lost!"

Xiao Xiong said, "No, it's a draw!"

"Heh heh, you fought earlier!"

With that, he turned and walked off the arena.

They won openly and lost gracefully. Their conduct made quite a few elders nod inwardly.

Below the arena, Gu Dao looked at Xiao Xiong on the stage and sighed. "This Xiao Xiong is probably one of the top figures among the Xiao Clan's younger generation, isn't he?"

Gu Yuan shook his head. "No. The few people beside him are all Dou Wangs.

"Furthermore, I cannot see through that man in black, nor can I sense the slightest threat from him.

"He must be Xiao Xuan, the one who relinquished his position as Young Patriarch.

"Interesting. Such breadth of mind and bearing make him worth befriending."

"What... then wouldn't he be..."

Seeing this, Xiao Yun did not hesitate. He leaped onto the arena.

"Cousin, go down and rest. I'll take over!"

"Alright. Be careful!"

After Xiao Xiong left, Xiao Yun cupped his fists and said, "Xiao Clan's Xiao Yun. Please enlighten me!"

Unable to restrain himself any longer, Gu Dao leaped onto the arena and said, "Gu Clan's Gu Dao. Please enlighten me!"

After the two exchanged formal greetings, battle was about to erupt at any moment.