All Sides Covet It, the Mysterious Token

"No!"

Faced with Gu Yuan's sarcastic remarks.

And the scrutinizing gazes of the other clan patriarchs.

Yao Dan, who knew full well that Starfall Pavilion was not a force supported by the Yao Clan, felt like crying. "Starfall Pavilion truly isn't a force supported by my Yao Clan. If it were, why wouldn't I have spoken up for Starfall Pavilion when we discussed resource distribution earlier?"

"Although Yao Chen did indeed come from my Yao Clan, he was merely from a collateral branch. The Dou Qi bloodline in his body was thin, and when he was young, he was expelled from the Yao Clan by the law enforcement elder, Yao Wangui."

"Therefore, the Mysterious Background and Special Mission marked on the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking have nothing whatsoever to do with my Yao Clan!"

"Think about it, everyone."

"If my Yao Clan had truly made arrangements across the continent beforehand..."

"Then why would we have remained indifferent even when we knew Yao Chen had been captured by the Hall of Souls?"

"And that Secret Technique of unknown origin—let alone my Yao Clan, among the Several Great Clans present, aside from members with Divine Grade Dou God Bloodline activating their clan marks, I'm afraid none possess a method capable of raising a High-level Half-Saint's combat strength to the Late-stage One-star Dou Saint level, right?"

"If the Yao Clan truly possessed such a powerful Secret Technique, it would have been exposed long ago. How could we have concealed it until now?"

Faced with Yao Dan's explanation.

Gu Yuan considered it carefully and realized that it was indeed true.

After ruling out the Yao Clan.

The patriarchs of the five great Ancient Clans that inherited Dou God bloodlines seemed to have thought of something.

A glint flashed through each of their eyes.

Clearly, even the Ancient Clans found a Secret Technique capable of raising a High-level Half-Saint to the Late-stage One-star Dou Saint level immensely tempting. Since Starfall Pavilion had no connection with the Yao Clan.

Then they...

Might be able to find a way to obtain this Secret Technique from Yao Chen.

Gu Yuan, the Ancient Clan Patriarch, especially thought that, given the relationship between his daughter and Yao Chen's disciple Xiao Yan, it might be easier for him than for the other clans if he spoke up.

And at that moment.

Lei Ying, the Lei Clan Patriarch, suddenly said, "Everyone, put that idea in your hearts aside for now."

"Instead, think first about what Special Mission Yao Chen bears when he has no connection to the Yao Clan."

"Considering the power of the Secret Technique he possesses..."

"I have a bold guess."

"Do you think Yao Chen might be connected to those three forces we still haven't investigated? Perhaps even his capture by the Hall of Souls was part of their plan..."

The moment Lei Ying said this.

Gu Yuan, Yan Jin, and the others immediately came to their senses.

Although everyone knew exactly what the others were thinking.

Lei Ying had laid it out so directly that it made them rather embarrassed.

After giving a few awkward laughs.

Everyone's thoughts returned to Lei Ying's bold guess.

If that was truly the case, then obtaining the Secret Technique would indeed require going through the Mysterious Force behind Yao Chen...

Thinking of this.

Gu Yuan's thoughts raced.

He soon came up with an idea and slowly said, "What Brother Lei said isn't impossible. If Yao Chen obtained this Secret Technique by chance, then perhaps the Several Great Clans may still have an opportunity to trade with him."

"But if it was given to him by the force behind him, then we must weigh things carefully."

"After all, if it is a Secret Technique that the Several Great Ancient Clans cannot produce, yet the other side can casually hand it to Yao Chen, their strength must be far from simple."

"For now, we can only wait until the Sect Power Ranking finishes its assessment and see the exact strength of those three unknown sects before considering what comes next."

Hearing this.

Lei Ying, Yan Jin, and the other patriarchs nodded one after another.

"That is all we can do..."

Central Continent, Tianming Sect.

When the Nether Old Demon saw the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking's description of Starfall Pavilion.

He froze on the spot.

His original unwillingness vanished the instant he saw that Yao Chen, as a High-level Half-Saint, could now battle at the Late-stage One-star Dou Saint level.

It was replaced by endless greed and apprehension.

Although he coveted the Secret Technique Yao Chen possessed.

The Nether Old Demon knew that such a powerful method was not something a mere Tianming Sect could possess.

Although Tianming Sect ranked eighth on the Sect Ranking, in the eyes of forces such as the Ancient Clans that inherited Dou God bloodlines, the Hall of Souls, and the Pill Tower, it was not worth mentioning at all.

Thinking of this.

The Nether Old Demon could not help but gloat.

In his view, even if Starfall Pavilion received the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking's rewards, vastly increasing the defensive power of its grand formation while also allowing it to kill a One-star Dou Saint, Yao Chen would never be able to keep this Secret Technique in the face of those colossal forces in Central Continent.

Flower Sect.

Azure Fairy gazed at the Gold Ranking's display and said softly, "I never expected that old fellow Yao Chen to have hidden himself so deeply. It seems I'll have to find time to visit Starfall Pavilion and catch up with him."

Pill Tower.

Seeing Starfall Pavilion enter the ranking, Xuan Yi's lips curved slightly. "I knew he wasn't as simple as he appeared."

"Still, with such a terrifying Secret Technique in hand, Starfall Pavilion will likely face endless turmoil in the future."

Hall of Souls.

Hun Miesheng gazed at the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking's display.

His lips curled slightly. "A mere Starfall Pavilion is unworthy of such a Secret Technique. Pass down the order: once Yao Chen leaves that Turtle Shell of Starfall Pavilion, report to This Hall Master immediately. At that time, This Hall Master will personally make a move."

"My Soul Clan is determined to obtain this Secret Technique!"

As an enormous uproar swept across the Dou Qi Continent.

Starfall Pavilion, at the Eye of the Storm, was in a state of jubilation.

All because.

The Gold Ranking Blessing had already taken effect.

The cultivation of every Starfall Pavilion disciple, including guest elders such as Xiao Yi Xian, Qing Lin, and Heavenly Fire Venerate, had risen by one star.

Pavilion Master Yao Chen had broken through to the Late-stage One-star Dou Saint level, Vice Sect Leader Feng Xian had broken through to the Peak Five-Star Dou Venerate level, and Young Pavilion Master Xiao Yan had broken through to the Peak Three-Star Dou Venerate level.

After sensing the surging Dou Qi within his body.

Yao Chen looked at the Sect Protecting Grand Formation Token, the two scrolls, and the ten bottles of medicinal pills floating before him. Sweeping them with his spiritual strength and understanding every reward, a long-lost smile instantly appeared on his face.

"As expected of the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking. Its rewards are truly generous."

"With these rewards, the disciples of my Starfall Pavilion will soon rise to another level."

As Yao Chen's words fell.

Feng Xian and Xiao Yan also stepped forward to inspect the rewards bestowed by the Gold Ranking.

[Nine Heavens Star Scripture: Heavenly Tier Low-Grade Cultivation Method. It has no elemental requirements for its practitioner and can absorb all the power of the stars in the world for personal use. Its might is limitless...]

[Star Shattering Finger: Heavenly Tier Low-Grade Dou Technique. Temper the fingers with the power of the stars. Once cultivated to Major Accomplishment, one finger can shatter the stars!]

[The ten Seven-Colored Pill Lightning Eighth-grade Pills each have different effects. Half raise cultivation, while the other half preserve life and heal injuries.]

After examining them.

Xiao Yan could not help but sigh. "I risked my life exploring Ancient Ruins just to obtain one Heaven Tier Dou Technique, yet the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking not only gave us a Dou Technique, but also a cultivation method suitable for the disciples of my Starfall Pavilion."

"Even I'm a little tempted."

Hearing this.

Yao Chen instinctively took the cultivation method scroll from Xiao Yan's hand.

He then tossed the Star Shattering Finger Dou Technique to Xiao Yan and said with a light laugh, "You should honestly cultivate this Heaven Tier Dou Technique, the Star Shattering Finger!"

Seeing this.

Xiao Yan, holding the Star Shattering Finger Dou Technique scroll, chuckled.

He had merely said he was tempted. He would never replace the Flame Mantra, which could evolve.

Just as everyone was celebrating.

A sudden change occurred.

Accompanied by a tearing sound.

A bottomless Spatial Rift suddenly split open above Starfall Pavilion.

In an instant, bone-piercing cold seeped out from the Spatial Rift, making even Xiao Yan, who possessed several Heavenly Flames and had reached the Peak Three-Star Dou Venerate level, shudder.

Over here.

Before anyone could recover their senses.

An ice-blue token suddenly flew out of the Spatial Rift.

It shot straight toward Yao Chen, who was at the Late-stage One-star Dou Saint level.