Ya Fei Was Taken Aback

"Protector?"

"A Peak Dou Emperor isn't quite enough. (-_-) (-_-)"

"Looks like I need to find a way to help you break through to Dou Zong."

Watching Ling Ying turn into a shadow and disappear, Zhang Yuan spread his Exotic Fire Wings again and flew toward Wutan City.

The suspicion in his heart had already been confirmed. Xun Er had indeed assigned Ling Ying to stay by his side as a long-term guard.

Given Ling Ying's loyalty to the Ancient Clan and the strict hierarchy within the clan, it would not be wrong to say that Xun Er had given this Peak Dou Emperor to him.

With such a powerful expert at his side, he could walk unhindered throughout the Jia Ma Empire, and some of his plans could be put into motion ahead of schedule.

Yun Shan, the former sect master of the Misty Cloud Sect, was believed by many to have fallen. In truth, with the help of the Soul Hall, he was already close to breaking through to Dou Zong. As long as Yun Shan learned of the Soul Hall's schemes, even if he did not become an ally, he would at least not become an enemy.

Medusa, the leader of the Snake People tribe, probably had yet to find the Green Lotus Core Flame. About a year and a half later, she would use the power of a Heavenly Flame to advance to Dou Zong. There were many ways to make her one of his own.

The Sixth-Rank Magical Beast, the Nether Sea Flood Dragon Beast, one of the Jia Ma Empire Royal Family's guardian beasts, and Jia Xingtian, one of the royal family's protectors, were both only half a step away from Dou Zong. Yet they had only barely crossed that threshold by the time Xiao Yan returned as a Dou Zun.

His Three Dragon Thunder Gang Fire should be able to help the Nether Sea Flood Dragon Beast. As for Jia Xingtian, what he lacked was really just a Sect Breaking Pill. However, both were utterly loyal to the royal family, so winning them over would require careful planning.

And there was Hai Bodong and the others.

"To truly stand above the masses, I still need Dou Zong experts."

"With Xun Er's order, Elder Ling can be completely trusted. Finding a way to help him break through is the most reliable option, and he can also become a small source of aid when I go to the Ancient Clan in the future."

"The simplest option is actually Xiao Yi Xian. Once her Calamity Poison Body awakens, she'll grow from a Dou Zhe to a Dou Zong in five years, and she'll be one of the strongest among them."

"I'll proceed on multiple fronts."

Seeing the outline of the city ahead, Zhang Yuan reined in his countless thoughts.

He lowered his altitude and landed on the roof of a building, then used his movement technique to head toward the Xiao Clan.

Flying was a trump card. Naturally, he would avoid exposing it if possible.

Half an hour later, he arrived near Xiao Manor and noticed that the atmosphere on several nearby streets was somewhat strange.

With his current strength, no one could detect his movements when he used a lightning-attribute movement Dou Technique.

A few breaths later, he nimbly vaulted over the wall into Xiao Manor, only to land directly in front of a Xiao Clan guard. The two stared wide-eyed at each other.

The guard was about to raise the alarm, but after recognizing Zhang Yuan's face, he immediately stopped and straightened his chest. "Greetings, Young Master Zhang Yuan."

Zhang Yuan nodded. He had intended to say something, but he sensed the auras of two Da Dou Shi rising nearby. He immediately moved behind an ornamental rockery and observed the Xiao Clan square through a gap.

Xiao Zhan was confronting a burly middle-aged man. Zhang Yuan remembered the man's identity: Jia Lie Bi, the patriarch of the Jia Lie family, a Three-star Da Dou Shi whose strength was slightly inferior to Xiao Zhan's.

Behind Jia Lie Bi stood several dozen people dressed in uniform. Their gazes and bearing made it obvious that they were elites of the Jia Lie family. Clearly, they had come with ill intent.

Besides them, Zhang Yuan also saw Ao Ba Pa, the patriarch of the Ao Ba Clan, as well as Wutan City's city lord, Lin Zhengqing, who possessed Dou Ling strength, along with Master Gu Ni and Ya Fei from the Mittel Auction House.

All of Wutan City's upper echelon had gathered here.

"Could Jia Lie Bi be here because of what happened last night?" A guess surfaced in Zhang Yuan's mind.

The next moment, that thought was confirmed.

"Xiao Zhan, hand over Zhang Yuan, or I'll open a Clan War even if I have to!" Jia Lie Bi's face was livid, his fury like that of a mad lion.

On the Dou Qi Continent, aside from the Black Corner Region, any forces could engage in conflict, but it had to remain within certain limits. In the Jia Ma Empire, imperial law was that limit.

A Clan War was a life-and-death battle initiated between clans, similar to individuals dueling on the Life-and-Death Platform. Once a contract was signed, life and death were each party's own responsibility. Death settled all debts, and no one could pursue the matter afterward.

For an individual life-and-death battle, one only needed to sign a Life-and-Death Writ at a place with a Life-and-Death Platform. However, opening a Clan War required many prerequisites, and clans would not resort to it lightly.

Unless Jia Lie Bi had been blinded by rage, he was using this to make his stance clear and pressure the Xiao Clan.

"If you want war, then war it is!" Xiao Zhan stepped forward without the slightest fear. "Making me hand over my nephew in exchange for peace is absolutely impossible."

"There are no cowards in the Xiao Clan who live on their knees."

The eyes of the Xiao Clan disciples and elders present were equally resolute.

What was so frightening about a mere Clan War?

At worst, they would die fighting!

Jia Lie Bi's eyes flashed as he secretly gave a signal.

Jia Lie Qing, the Great Elder of the Jia Lie family, stepped forward and said, "Patriarch Xiao, our patriarch is naturally somewhat agitated because his beloved son was seriously injured. But after your nephew Zhang Yuan attacked yesterday, he personally declared that if our patriarch had any objections, he could come to him for an explanation."

"Our patriarch has come as he said he would. That cannot be considered bullying the young."

Galen's injuries were serious, but they had not damaged his foundation. His talent was also mediocre, and Jia Lie Bi did not think highly of him. Since Galen had been at fault first, Jia Lie Bi normally would not have pursued the matter.

After all, it was a fight between juniors. Was a clan patriarch supposed to step in and lose all face?

But the strength and talent Zhang Yuan had displayed made Jia Lie Bi wary.

Zhang Yuan had also happened to shoot his mouth off in the heat of the moment, saying that Jia Lie Bi could come to him for an explanation if he had any objections.

So Jia Lie Bi had come to trouble Zhang Yuan in a manner that was "reasonable and justified," intending to find an excuse to cripple him. He had even called the Ao Ba Clan patriarch along.

Because the confrontation between the three clans had caused such a stir, City Lord Lin Zhengqing, Master Gu Ni, and Ya Fei from the Mittel Auction House had also "hurried over" to watch the excitement.

"Old man, don't spout nonsense."

Before Xiao Zhan could speak, Xiao Yan, who stood not far behind him, said, "What do you mean by attacking? My cousin acted in self-defense. It started because Galen wanted to molest a woman of the Xiao Clan. With so many important people here, don't even think about twisting the facts."

Jia Lie Bi and Jia Lie Qing looked toward Xiao Yan, quietly releasing their pressure.

Yet Xiao Yan's expression did not change in the slightest as he looked back at them.

If this child still had his talent, he would be terrifying as well. The strongest few present were secretly shocked.

Because Ya Fei and Master Gu Ni knew more, they also thought more deeply.

"Enough, Jia Lie Bi!" Xiao Zhan stood in front of Xiao Yan and said calmly, "I've already told you that Yuan'er isn't in the clan. When he returns, you can come bully the young with your seniority all you want."

"Heh." Jia Lie Bi sneered. "I'm afraid that once I leave, Zhang Yuan will never be found again. The Black Armored Guard soldiers under his command are all here, but he alone is absent. Do you think I would believe that?"

"You think I'm lying to you?" Xiao Zhan asked.

"Am I wrong?" Jia Lie Bi said darkly. "If you have nothing to hide, let my Jia Lie family enter the Xiao Clan and search. With the city lord here, we will naturally follow the rules. We're only looking for someone."

This was not a matter of whether they followed the rules. If the Xiao Clan allowed the Jia Lie family to search it at will, it would surely earn the reputation of being weak and easily bullied.

Xiao Zhan considered his options inwardly, and the atmosphere fell silent for a moment.

Seeing this, Zhang Yuan had no intention of playing the dramatic game of appearing at the final moment. He leaped in from the direction of the main gate and landed a short distance in front of Xiao Zhan. Then he turned around and said casually, "I merely went out to have some hometown breakfast. What does Patriarch Jia Lie want to discuss with me? Medical expenses?"

The moment he appeared, he became the focus of the entire scene. Both his temperament and appearance drew admiration.

"He seems a little different again," Ya Fei murmured.

"He may have already broken through," Master Gu Ni said.

As a Second-grade Alchemist, his soul perception was sharper than that of most Da Dou Shi.

"Broken through!?" Ya Fei covered her mouth instinctively, her peach-blossom eyes filled with shock.

Did that not mean Zhang Yuan had become a Da Dou Shi at the age of sixteen!?

Compared with reaching the peak of Dou Master at sixteen, that potential was several levels higher.