The Ancient Clan's Strongest Dou Huang!

Night fell.

Xiao Yan and Ya Fei went to attend a gathering.

In a dark, silent, and deserted long street.

Shen Shihuang walked slowly.

Then.

He stopped in his tracks.

"Your Excellency, show yourself."

Following Shen Shihuang's words, black shadows surged like water all around him, eventually coalescing in a dark corner into a figure shrouded in a black robe, their face obscured.

"Although this old man does not know who you are."

"However, if you intend to do any harm to Young Master Xiao Yan, you will definitely regret it."

The black figure slowly stepped out from the darkness, came to stand opposite Shen Shihuang, and spoke indifferently.

Shen Shihuang looked at the black-robed person before him.

He chuckled softly.

"If I wanted to harm him, I would have acted long ago."

"Most importantly, do you really think you can stop me?"

Upon hearing this, the black-robed person reacted.

Their body rapidly dissolved into black shadows that surged from all directions, and a cold glint appeared at Shen Shihuang's side: "Shall we test that?"

Whoosh!!

Shen Shihuang tilted his body slightly.

He dodged the cold glint.

Behind him, the black-robed person reappeared, a blade swinging down toward Shen Shihuang in one fluid motion.

The power of the blade's momentum made Shen Shihuang feel a chill against his face.

"Not bad."

Shen Shihuang channeled his Dou Qi into his right hand, moved with lightning speed, and clenched his fist.

"Tyrant's Fury!"

Boom!!

The punch struck the black-robed person's blade. With a loud bang, the black-robed person was sent flying by Shen Shihuang's strike, shattering the stone slabs of the long street upon impact.

"Although you possess the strength of a Dou Huang, you are still quite far from a Dou Zong."

Shen Shihuang had a rough grasp of his own Dou Zong power now.

He spoke to the black-robed person.

The black-robed person sheathed their blade and stood quietly opposite Shen Shihuang: "Then, who exactly are you?"

Shen Shihuang shook his head.

"If you must ask who I am, to be honest, I don't even know who I am myself."

The black-robed person: "...!"

"Are you joking with me?"

Shen Shihuang said earnestly: "I am not."

"I don't know how long I slept, but after I woke up, I was simply who I am."

"If I had to say, I can only say that I am probably just a passerby."

"Perhaps, I am merely passing through this world."

"It is just that, in this world, I have some things I must do."

The black-robed person: "...!"

Damn it!

I just asked who you are, are you seriously spouting philosophy at me right now?

"However, who are you?"

"Why are you following behind Xiao Yan?"

Shen Shihuang asked.

The black-robed person: "Entrusted by another, that is all."

Shen Shihuang turned around, waved his hand, and said: "Rest assured, I will not lay a hand on Xiao Yan. In fact, I have a feeling that Xiao Yan and I might become good friends."

Nonsense.

I still need other Heavenly Flames; if it weren't for Xiao Yan, it would be difficult for me to obtain even one on my own.

One only needs to look at the miserable state Xiao Yan was in when he obtained his Heavenly Flame to understand.

It was practically a trade of his life.

And that was with Yao Lao providing him with every possible preparation. Now look at himself; did he have a powerful alchemist by his side? No. Did he have anyone who understood how to subdue a Heavenly Flame? No.

Therefore.

Wouldn't it be much better to wait until Xiao Yan subdued it, then take some of the origin flame energy for himself?

"What a strange fellow!"

The figure in the black robe slowly merged into the darkness and vanished completely. If not for the shattered floor tiles, it would have been as if no one had ever been there at all.

Shen Shihuang walked down the long street.

A smile slowly spread across his lips.

He could guess who that black-robed man was.

The strongest Dou Huang of the Ancient Clan.

Xun'er's personal guard, Ling Ying.

"With no Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python by Xiao Yan's side this time, I'm afraid leaving the Cloud Mist Sect won't be so easy. Even if Ling Ying intervenes, it will be absolutely impossible."

"When that time comes."

"It will be the perfect opportunity for me to test the power of a Dou Zong."

Shen Shihuang was now brimming with confidence.

With a high-tier Earth-grade Dou Technique in his possession, his peak combat power was complete, and with the Taisui Flame...

"Yun Shan, a one-star Dou Zong."

"What do you have to fight me with?"

"Unless you expose the Soul Hall protector, but surely you wouldn't reveal them for such a trivial matter, would you?"

Having finalized his pre-battle strategy.

Shen Shihuang couldn't help but sigh: "Truly perfect!"

"My brother Xiao Yan, the rest is up to you."

Lost in thought, Shen Shihuang arrived at the place where Xiao Yan and the others were gathering.

Well.

With nothing better to do.

He might as well have a free drink.

As soon as Shen Shihuang reached the entrance, he saw Ya Fei.

Upon seeing Shen Shihuang arrive, Ya Fei immediately trotted over to him: "You're here?"

"Yes."

"This is an alchemist gathering. Can I go in?" Shen Shihuang asked, feeling a bit concerned.

It was his first time.

He wasn't quite familiar with the protocol.

Ya Fei rolled her eyes: "Do you really think anyone here would dare stop you from entering?"

A Dou Zong powerhouse had arrived.

How could he possibly be barred from entry?

What a joke.

Led by Ya Fei, Shen Shihuang had just stepped through the main gate when he saw Teng Shan waiting there: "Young Master Shen."

"Mm."

Shen Shihuang nodded: "Is there any good wine?"

Teng Shan immediately smiled: "Knowing that Young Master Shen was coming, I naturally prepared some for you."

"Young Master Shen, this way."

At the tables.

Almost all the elders of the various clans were seated. Teng Shan led the way to the Mittel Clan's section, gave up his own seat, and stood by Shen Shihuang's side to serve him.

"Young Master Shen, although this wine isn't as good as the fine spirits of my Mittel Clan, it's still quite decent."

Teng Shan personally poured a cup for Shen Shihuang as he spoke.

Shen Shihuang raised his glass and surveyed the banquet.

At this moment.

Nalan Su also noticed this side. It wasn't just him; the other clans naturally noticed as well. With the Great Elder of the Mittel Clan, Teng Shan, personally giving up his seat and pouring wine, and Ya Fei serving by his side, it would have been difficult not to notice.

The gazes of the other juniors in the hall also turned toward Shen Shihuang.

"Who is this guy?"

"That is the Great Elder of the Mittel Clan, yet he is personally pouring wine?"

In a corner of the hall.

Upon seeing Shen Shihuang, Xiao Yan's pupils constricted slightly. It's him?

I cannot perceive his strength, so he must be far more powerful than I am. Furthermore, his soul power makes me feel as if I am facing a vast ocean.

Who on earth is he?

Shen Shihuang said to Ya Fei, "You shouldn't neglect the person you brought, should you?"

Only then did Ya Fei look toward Xiao Yan.

"Ya Fei understands."

Ya Fei walked with graceful, lotus-like steps until she stood before Xiao Yan, saying with a cheerful smile, "Little Brother Xiao Yan, are you curious as well?"

Xiao Yan nodded slightly.

"If I weren't curious, I'm afraid there would be something wrong with me."

Ya Fei leaned in close to Xiao Yan and whispered, "Little Brother Xiao Yan, the only thing I can tell you is that this person is currently staying at the Mittel Clan as a guest."

"I cannot reveal too much else; if I were to incur his displeasure, I would have no way to answer to the clan."

Xiao Yan nodded.

"I understand."

The hushed conversation between Xiao Yan and Ya Fei drew the attention of others.

"That kid, to think he's so close to Ya Fei?"

"Heh heh, there's going to be a good show tonight. That guy from the Mu Clan has returned, after all."