Simply not strong enough

Halfway up Heavenly Mountain Platform Terrace, many figures had already gathered, indicating that the maze was about to close.

When the maze closed, it meant they could proceed. Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran stood aside, conserving their energy. After taking the pill that suppressed his cultivation, Xiao Yan could only muster the strength of Peak Dou Emperor for a while. Among those present, there were also members of the Four Pavilions who were all at the Peak Dou Emperor.

If there are any battles or chaotic fights during this challenge, Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran can look after each other.

Thump!

A bell tolled slowly across the platform, signaling the closing of the maze and the imminent start of the challenge. Two short, elderly figures emerged from the mountain; one of them was Jin Gu, the old man Xiao Yu had encountered at the foot of the mountain.

The old man beside Jin Gu was Jin Shi, the patriarch of the Gold Devouring Rat Clan.

Jin Shi's gaze slowly swept over everyone present, then fell upon Jin Gu. Jin Gu shook his head slightly. Jin Shi frowned and said in a low voice, "Are you sure there isn't that Dou Zun expert you met before among them?"

Jin Gu said, "Indeed, no. That senior said he wanted to come up and take a look. Could it be that he has already gone up?"

Jin Shi sighed slightly and said, "Perhaps. After all, he's Dou Zun expert. Even if he wanted to go up, we couldn't stop him!"

Then Jin Shi said, "Since we haven't seen that person yet, let's start the challenge!"

As soon as he finished speaking, several whooshing sounds rang out. Xiao Yu was seen holding Little Xiao Nian in his Xiao Yu, followed by two beautiful figures and a huge magical beast.

Someone witnessed this and exclaimed, "That's the Sixth-Tier Demonic Beast Purple Crystal Winged Lion King!"

Among the disciples of the Four Pavilions, Mu Qingluan's expression suddenly changed. As a member of the same magical beast family, she could sense the power of the Sixth-Tier Demonic Beast in front of her. However, her attention was still on Xiao Yu at the front, because it seemed that the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King was led by this young man.

The appearance of these people naturally attracted the attention of everyone present. Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran also noticed Xiao Yu's arrival. Xiao Yan chuckled and said, "Fourth brother, what brings you here?"

Xiao Yu smiled and said, "I came out to play with Nian'er."

Little Xiao Nian, nestled in Xiao Yu, called out in a soft voice to Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran, "Third Uncle, Third Aunt!"

The two of them doted on the little one. Nalan Yanran stepped forward and took Little Xiao Nian from Xiao Yu's arms. Then Xiao Yu looked at Jin Shi and Jin Gu on the high platform and said calmly, "Gentlemen, how about I directly allocate the spots for the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool this time?"

Upon hearing Xiao Yu's words, the expressions of those who had emerged from the maze changed, especially the four disciples of the Four Pavilions: Feng Qing'er, Tang Ying, Wang Chen, and Mu Qingluan, who all frowned and looked at Xiao Yu.

Feng Qing'er sneered, "This Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool isn't something you can control alone. Even Senior Jin Shi wouldn't dare to make enemies of so many of us. What makes you think you can?"

Xiao Yu glanced at Feng Qing'er, who exuded an air of nobility, and chuckled, saying, "I don't need any leverage. Making enemies is not my intention, but if that's how you think, there's nothing I can do. Today, aside from the two spots for the Gold Devouring Rat Clan, I decide the remaining eight!"

"Mr. Jin, he's breaking the rules. Doesn't your Gold Devouring Rat Clan care about this?" Feng Qing'er narrowed her eyes slightly and questioned Jin Shi directly.

Jin Shi and Jin Gu exchanged a glance. Jin Gu nodded slightly to Jin Shi, which caused Jin Shi's expression to change. Then, Jin Shi cupped his hands towards Xiao Yu and said, "Senior, if my Gold Devouring Rat Clan still has two spots available, please make your choice!"

"Senior?" Everyone's expression changed immediately. The old man in front of them was Jin Shi, the patriarch of the Gold Devouring Rat Clan. Back then, so many people coveted the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool, which eventually led to a great battle. It was this old man, Jin Shi, who killed many of the invaders, which finally led to the agreement for ten spots.

But now Jin Shi is actually addressing this young man as "senior"—could he be some kind of ancient monster?

However, even ordinary Dou Zun cannot enter the Heavenly Eye Mountain Range, otherwise they would be suppressed by the energy tide. In an instant, Xiao Yu's identity began to be speculated among the crowd.

Xiao Yu looked at Jin Shi and said calmly, "Don't worry, after this is over, I can help you heal the hidden injuries in your body!"

Upon hearing Xiao Yu's words, Jin Shi and Jin Gu's eyes lit up. Jin Shi looked at Xiao Yu excitedly and said, "Senior, is this true?"

"Of course!" Xiao Yu could see that Jin Shi's aura was somewhat weak, which clearly indicated that he had some hidden injuries and stagnation in his body, which should be the fire poison from the top of Tianmu Mountain.

Jin Shi was overjoyed upon hearing this, and then waved his hand, saying, "Thank you, senior!"

Xiao Yu turned to the crowd and said, "Of the remaining eight spots for the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool today, five will be taken by Xiao Yu, Nalan Yanran, Yao Yue, Huo Yue'er, and Little Purple!"

"I refuse to accept this!" a young man shouted angrily, and then an aura of a Seven-Star Dou Huang erupted from his body.

Xiao Yu simply made a handshake towards the young man, and the space around the man suddenly distorted, "Poof!"

The man felt a terrifying pressure squeezing towards him, and the intense feeling of suffocation and pain caused him to spit out a mouthful of blood.

With just a flick of his wrist towards the Seven-Star Dou Huang, the man was severely injured without any ability to resist. The dense spatial power caused everyone's expression to change.

Feng Qing'er asked with a hint of horror in her eyes, "Dou Zun?"

Upon hearing the term "Dou Zun," those who were initially defiant dared not utter a word. The pressure from Dou Zun was simply too immense. Even among the younger generation present, only the Four Pavilions had Dou Zun expert behind it, and they dared not Dou Zun head-on!

Feng Qing'er bit her lip and said coldly, "Senior, don't think that just because you're a Dou Zun expert you can run rampant in Central Plains. My master, Venerable Lei, is also Dou Zun, but he's not as domineering as you are!"

Xiao Yu raised his eyes slightly, and said with some disdain, "Oh? That's because your teacher is too weak!"

Boom!

As he spoke, a terrifying aura rose from Xiao Yu's body, causing everyone present, including the two Dou Zong, Jin Shi Jin Gu, to feel a sense of suffocation. Their Dou Qi stagnated at that moment.

On the other side, Mu Qingluan, Tang Ying, and Wang Chen also had their expressions change drastically. They had never felt such a terrifying aura, even from their teacher, which meant that the strength of the person in front of them was definitely not that of an ordinary Dou Zun!

"When did such a powerful figure arrive in Central Plains? And he seems to have some connection with Xiao Yan?" Mu Qingluan thought to herself. They had encountered him before at the foot of the mountain, and Xiao Yan had even asked about her teacher. Now, they had met such a terrifyingly powerful expert, Mu Qingluan was starting to regret telling Xiao Yan about her teacher.