Late Nine-star Dou Saint, Family Fourth

"Wo Cao, the Lei Clan, with a Late Eight-star Dou Saint patriarch presiding over it, is actually only ranked fifth!"

"I wonder what kind of Terrifying Families occupy the top four of the Family Ranking?"

"If the entire clan rises by one star, wouldn't the Lei Clan Patriarch directly become a Late Nine-star Dou Saint and one of the Supreme Experts on the continent?"

"What is Black Demon Lightning? Why have I never even heard of it?"

"I heard it's a terrifying lightning that only appears when refining Ninth-Grade Pills!"

"Hiss~ Terrifying!"

"..."

While countless experts across the continent were shocked by the Lei Clan's strength and rewards.

Central Continent.

Lei Realm of the Lei Clan.

The Lei Clan Patriarch, Lei Ying, stood before a group of elders.

Looking at the image on the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking above the firmament, he murmured, "I never expected that my Lei Clan would only rank fifth, even falling behind the Yan Clan."

"It should have something to do with Fairy Fire Spirit..."

As Lei Ying murmured.

A Dou Saint elder of the Lei Clan behind him could not help asking, "Patriarch, what is the special reward that only you can see?"

Facing the Lei Clan elder's question, Lei Ying slowly said, "Two strands of 'Nine Profound Golden Lightning' that appear when Ninth-Grade Golden Pills undergo tribulation. Like 'Black Demon Lightning,' they can also acknowledge a master."

"It's actually the 'Nine Profound Golden Lightning' that can acknowledge a master!" Hearing this, the Lei Clan elder's eyes lit up. "The might of this lightning is limitless. It can raise the individual battle prowess of our clan's experts considerably."

"It's just a pity that with only two strands, compared with raising the entire clan's Dou Emperor Bloodline by one grade, we still believe the latter is more suitable for our clan."

"That's true..."

After a round of discussion.

The Lei Clan ultimately made its final choice. Lei Ying directly said to the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking, "This Clan Leader chooses to raise the Dou Emperor Bloodline of the entire clan!"

The instant Lei Ying made his choice.

Countless dazzling golden rays descended from the firmament and flew into the bodies of every member of the Lei Clan.

In an instant.

Lei Ying's cultivation, originally at the Late Eight-star Dou Saint level, rose rapidly like a volcanic eruption. In the blink of an eye, he crossed the threshold of the Nine-star Dou Saint realm and finally stabilized at the Late Nine-star Dou Saint level.

Boom!

Lei Ying clenched his fist.

The surrounding space shattered instantly.

Feeling the vast energy flowing through his body.

He could not help exclaiming, "So Gu Yuan and Hun Tiandi are actually this strong. The gap between a Late Nine-star Dou Saint and a Late Eight-star Dou Saint truly is like a heavenly chasm."

At the same time.

The Dou Emperor Bloodline within every member of the Lei Clan instantly boiled, and the aura around them soared.

Many clan members who should have broken through by one star under the Gold Ranking Blessing even increased their strength by two stars under the dual enhancement of the bloodline upgrade and the Gold Ranking Blessing.

As the strength of the Lei Clan members surged.

The Dou Emperor Bloodline Essence, Heaven Tier Cultivation Method, Secret Technique, and that strand of 'Black Demon Lightning' awarded to the Lei Clan by the Gold Ranking also floated before Lei Ying.

Seeing this.

Lei Ying did not hesitate.

He directly handed the strand of 'Black Demon Lightning' to the Lei Clan's young patriarch, 'Lei Dong,' beside him.

He said softly, "Dong'er, I'm already a Late Nine-star Dou Saint. This thing is of little use to me. You're the number-one genius of my Lei Clan, so I'll leave it to you to absorb!"

Lei Dong excitedly accepted the Black Demon Lightning, his face full of excitement. He said, "Lei Dong will definitely not fail to live up to the Lei Clan's expectations!"

While the Lei Clan was undergoing a tremendous increase.

Soul Clan, Soul Realm.

Hun Tiandi looked at the image on the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking, his brows tightly furrowed. "That old fellow Lei Ying's battle prowess is extraordinary. His breakthrough to the Late Nine-star Dou Saint level is indeed an unexpected variable!"

"I wonder what the Family Ranking will reward a Late Nine-star Dou Saint?"

"And that clan that still hasn't appeared..."

"Could it be... that, like the Seven Star Palace, it will also suppress my Soul Clan on the Family Ranking?"

Ancient Clan, Gu Realm.

After Xiao Yan learned that the Lei Clan had received a strand of Black Demon Lightning.

He could not help clicking his tongue and saying, "Teacher said that Black Demon Lightning is a terrifying lightning that only appears when Ninth-Grade Pills take shape. Given the Lei Clan's attributes, the power Black Demon Lightning displays in their hands probably won't be inferior to the Heavenly Flame ranked around tenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking!"

Amid the commotion from all sides.

The Gold Ranking's image soon updated under the gazes of countless people.

The image of the Lei Realm of the Lei Clan vanished, replaced by a clan situated atop volcanic lava.

[Fourth Place on the Family Ranking: Central Continent—Yan Clan]

[Reason for Ranking: The Yan Clan is one of the 'Eight Ancient Clans' of the Dou Qi Continent. Its members possess the Dou Emperor Bloodline and reside within the 'Yan Realm,' primarily cultivating Fire Attribute methods.

The clan possesses five inherited Heavenly Flames: the Eight Desolations Destruction Flame, ranked sixth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking; the Nine Nether Golden Ancestor Fire, ranked seventh; the Red Lotus Karmic Fire, ranked eighth; the Fire Cloud Water Flame, ranked sixteenth; and the Volcanic Stone Flame, ranked seventeenth.

The clan patriarch, Yan Jin, possesses the cultivation of a Late Eight-star Dou Saint. The Supreme Elder, 'Fairy Fire Spirit,' is a Late Seven-star Dou Saint. The clan also has several Dou Saint elders and numerous experts. Its foundations are profound. In terms of overall strength, it ranks fourth on the Family Ranking.]

[Ranking Reward: One early-stage Emperor-level Cultivation Method and one early-stage Emperor-level Secret Technique]

[All Yan Clan members' levels rise by one star.]

[Seven clusters of Ninth-Grade Dou Emperor Bloodline from the Yan Clan. (Upon merging with the essence, one gains the potential to become a Dou Saint, with no bottlenecks before the Dou Zun level.)]

[Two random Heavenly Flames.]

[Special Reward: The Bloodline Concentration of all Yan Clan members rises by one grade, or (only the patriarch can see this reward) choose one of the following two options.]

!!!

"Wo Cao, the clan possesses five inherited Heavenly Flames."

"Adding the ones awarded by the Gold Ranking, they suddenly have seven Heavenly Flames. This really lives up to being the Yan Clan—they've started wholesaling Heavenly Flames."

"Besides the patriarch, there's also a Late Seven-star Dou Saint Supreme Elder. The Yao Clan Leader is only at this level too... Terrifying!"

"So fourth place already receives an Emperor-level Cultivation Method and Secret Technique as rewards?"

"..."

While the various factions were shocked.

The Yan Clan had already fallen into boundless celebration.

However, while the clan members were excited, the Yan Clan Patriarch, Yan Jin, a Late Eight-star Dou Saint, wore a tightly furrowed brow. "Our clan isn't third!"

Hearing this.

Fairy Fire Spirit, a Late Seven-star Dou Saint beside him.

Could not help teasing him, "Yan Jin, you're being a little ungrateful!"

"Although my Yan Clan didn't enter the top three, the Emperor-level Cultivation Method and Secret Technique, seven clusters of Ninth-Grade Bloodline Essence, and two Heavenly Flames are already quite a lot."

Hearing this.

Yan Jin shook his head and said, "That's not what I mean. I'm wondering who the other clan in the top three of the Family Ranking is, apart from the Ancient Clan and the Soul Clan."

"Of the Eight Ancient Clans, only the Ancient Clan, the Soul Clan, and the long-declined Xiao Clan have yet to appear on the ranking. Could it be that Xiao Xuan is still alive?"

Facing Yan Jin's reply, Fairy Fire Spirit's expression froze.

Then, as if she had thought of something, her gaze unconsciously turned northward. She murmured, "Perhaps that Dou Emperor expert from the Seven Star Palace left behind a Hidden Clan?"

"There's no use guessing any further now. We should just wait for the Gold Ranking to announce it..."

"By the way, what is the other choice for the special reward?"

Facing Fairy Fire Spirit's question as she changed the topic.

Yan Jin murmured, "The Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame, ranked fourth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking."

"???"

Hearing this, Fairy Fire Spirit immediately wore an amused expression. "Isn't that the inherited flame of the Ancient Clan?"

"How do you plan to choose?"