Breakthrough

"Send a signal to Xiao Zhan's side. Also notify those guarding the perimeter to come in and finish up," the old man continued issuing orders.

"Yes, Clan Elder."

"Mm. Stay here and keep watch. I'll go see how things are going on Xiao Zhan's side."

Without waiting for anyone's response, the old man spread his Dou Qi Wings and shot into the sky.

"Farewell, Clan Elder!"

The Great Elder and the others bowed respectfully.

At the Jialie Clan's grounds, Xiao Zhan was ordering Xiao Zhen to lead men in hunting down the remaining members of the Jialie Clan.

"Xiao Zhan, it seems things have gone smoothly on your side as well."

A figure streaked down from the distant sky and landed beside Xiao Zhan.

"Oh, Lord Shan. It seems you have taken down the Aoba Clan as well," Xiao Zhan said in delight.

"I did not disgrace my mission. Aoba Pa was captured alive," the old man said with a hearty laugh.

The next day, news that shocked the entire city rapidly spread through Wutan City: the Jialie and Aoba Clans had been exterminated by the Xiao Clan overnight!

When Wutan City awoke, its major clans discovered that the residences and businesses of both the Jialie and Aoba Clans throughout the city had been taken over by Xiao Clan personnel. The entire city fell silent, suffused with a strange atmosphere.

Then word suddenly came that Xiao Clan Leader Xiao Zhan had summoned all of Wutan City's clans to the Xiao Clan for a meeting. The Jialie and Aoba Clans had been the only other clans of any real stature in Wutan City. Now that they had been wiped out by the Xiao Clan, the leaders of the remaining minor and mid-sized clans nervously headed to the Xiao Clan upon receiving the news. Before setting out, each clan secretly dispersed their families, wondering whether the Xiao Clan's killing god intended to wipe out insignificant fish like them as well.

The clan leaders stepped down from their carriages before the Xiao Clan grounds. After exchanging bitter smiles, they headed together toward the Xiao Clan's council hall.

Xiao Zhan and the elders sat at the head of the hall, watching the clan leaders take their seats with expressionless faces.

Once he saw that nearly everyone had arrived, Xiao Zhan coughed, drawing the attention of the clan leaders, each harboring their own thoughts.

"Since nearly everyone is here, let us begin. I invited you all here today because I, Xiao Zhan, have some good news to announce."

"The Jialie and Aoba Clans intended to collude with the Demon Thief Mercenary Group, which roams throughout the empire, to launch a surprise attack on Wutan City. Their plot was discovered by the Xiao Clan, and their clans were exterminated. The forces of the Jialie and Aoba Clans have now been taken over by the Xiao Clan. Who agrees? Who objects?"

As he spoke, Xiao Zhan stood and swept his gaze across the room.

The circle of clan leaders below had already been frightened speechless by Xiao Zhan's imposing presence, which still carried the scent of fresh blood.

"Good. It seems everyone agrees. Then that settles it."

Xiao Zhan nodded in satisfaction at the silent crowd below, then strode away.

The Wang Clan Leader, who ran Wutan City's largest weapons store, watched Xiao Zhan leave and said worriedly to the leader of a small clan beside him, "The skies of Wutan City are about to change."

After leaving the hall, Xiao Zhan instructed the Great Elder beside him, "Great Elder, take over the businesses of the Jialie and Aoba Clans as quickly as possible. Replace their people with members of our Xiao Clan. Put more effort into this matter lately."

"Yes, Clan Leader!"

The Great Elder replied.

Xiao Yan and Yao Lao watched the leaders of the various small and mid-sized clans leave the Xiao Clan.

"This battle has secured the Xiao Clan's fortunes for the next hundred years. From now on, the Xiao Clan will be Wutan City's absolute overlord."

Xiao Yan smiled at Yao Lao.

"Your father, Xiao Zhan, has quite the courage," Yao Lao said approvingly.

"All right, now that everything has been settled, you have accumulated enough. It is time to break through and advance to Dou Zhe," Yao Lao said with a faint smile.

"Yes, Teacher," Xiao Yan replied excitedly.

Inside the room, Yao Lao held the Bone Chilling Flame in one hand. A pale blue Dan pill, its surface pitted and uneven, constantly rolled atop the boiling white flame, gradually becoming smooth and round. A moment later, Yao Lao drew a jade bottle from the table with his left hand, placed the Dan pill inside, and tossed the bottle to Xiao Yan.

Yao Lao looked at Xiao Yan, who sat cross-legged obediently and gazed at him eagerly, then laughed. "Since you are advancing to Dou Zhe, you will need this Qi Gathering Powder. What do you think of the Qi Gathering Powder your teacher refined?"

Xiao Yan excitedly took the jade bottle and sniffed it lightly. A familiar strange fragrance drifted out, instantly refreshing his mind.

"Hehe, stop grinning foolishly. While you are in good condition, hurry and advance to Dou Zhe. Condense your Qi Vortex. I will stand guard for you," Yao Lao said with a slight smile.

"One more thing: when you absorb the Qi Gathering Powder and compress the Dou Qi within your body, you must be fast. Otherwise, all your efforts will be wasted," Yao Lao reminded him again.

"Understood, Teacher."

Xiao Yan gripped the jade bottle tightly, took a deep breath, and swallowed the Dan pill inside in one gulp. The instant it entered his mouth, the Dan pill began to dissolve, and a surge of pure medicinal power spread through his body.

Xiao Yan hurriedly circulated the Dou Power within his body, drawing the pure energy formed from the Dan pill into his meridians. As more and more energy accumulated within them, Xiao Yan began to guide it through his meridians in cycles, striking at the blocked pathways that had to be opened in order to advance to Dou Zhe.

Once, twice, three times.

Through Xiao Yan's unrelenting efforts, the blocked pathways were finally broken through, and more and more meridians were opened.

"Xiao Yan, quickly! Compress your Dou Power and condense the Qi Vortex!"

Yao Lao's reminder sounded by his ear.

Xiao Yan calmed his mind and began using his spiritual strength to compress the Dou Power within his body. As he continued compressing and rotating it, the Dou Qi within him seemed to break past a threshold. The highly condensed Dou Power began forming a rotating, belt-like vortex in his lower dantian.

"Hah!"

Xiao Yan opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of pale white turbid air. Looking at the aged figure before him, he said, "Teacher, I succeeded!"

"Mm. Xiao Yan, you have successfully broken through to Dou Zhe. Even in the Central Plains, where geniuses are as common as rain, you would still be considered a little monster."

Yao Lao spoke with a trace of pride.

"Hahaha, Teacher, I didn't disappoint you."

Xiao Yan was brimming with pride.

"Cough, cough. By the way, Teacher, now that I've advanced to Dou Zhe, can I cultivate that mysterious technique you mentioned before, the one with unlimited potential for growth?"

Xiao Yan rubbed his hands secretly, making Yao Lao burst into laughter.

"Hahaha, I wasn't fooling you. Don't regret it later."

As he spoke, Yao Lao took out a black scroll from his Storage Ring.

"Have you thought it through? You won't regret it?" Yao Lao placed the black scroll before Xiao Yan and asked once more.

"Your disciple will not regret it."

Xiao Yan snatched the black scroll from Yao Lao's hand.

Hehe, this is the famous Flame Mantra. Anyone who regrets it is an idiot.

With that, Xiao Yan opened the scroll and immersed his soul within it. A vast amount of information from the scroll began pouring into Xiao Yan's mind.