Meanwhile, at the Jialie Clan.
The Jialie Clan was one of the three major clans in Wutan City. Its patriarch, Jialie Bi, was a Three-Star Da Dou Shi, and the clan was locked in constant open and covert conflict with the Xiao Clan. They were the clan least eager to see the Xiao Clan rise.
The atmosphere in the Jialie Clan's council hall was so oppressive it was almost hard to breathe.
The candlelight flickered, casting wavering light over the gloomy faces of those present.
Portraits of their ancestors hung on the walls, as if watching over everything.
Jialie Bi, patriarch of the Jialie Clan, sat at the head of the room with a dark expression. His sharp gaze swept over everyone below him like a hawk's, and he said gravely, "The Xiao Clan has produced a Xiao Fan. This is extremely bad for us. What does everyone think?"
An elder said, "Patriarch, why not send someone to test Xiao Fan's strength?"
A hint of urgency showed on his face, as though he couldn't wait to take action. His hands rubbed together restlessly.
Another elder objected, "That would be unwise. If we provoke the Xiao Clan and spark a war between our clans, we might not come out on top."
He frowned with worry, evidently concerned about starting a clan war, his fingers tapping the tabletop unconsciously.
Jialie Bi frowned and lightly tapped the armrest with his fingers, irritation churning inside him. How did the Xiao Clan suddenly come up with such a formidable character?
After thinking for a moment, he said, "First, send people to keep an eye on the Xiao Clan's movements and see what Xiao Fan is capable of. At the same time, step up the training of our younger generation. We can't let the Xiao Clan outshine us."
His gaze was firm and ruthless. He already had a plan in mind.
Everyone nodded in agreement. A plot against the Xiao Clan was quietly taking shape in the shadows.
After taking Xiao Yu back to the Xiao Clan, Xiao Fan headed straight for the Magical Beast Mountain Range without hesitation, hoping to find an opportunity to break through.
Ancient trees towered into the sky in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, their enormous trunks seeming to pierce the heavens. Their lush branches intertwined overhead, blotting out the sun and plunging the forest into gloom.
A sinister chill spread through the mountains, cold and oppressive. From time to time, the roars of magical beasts rang out, some low and others shrill, rising and falling in a bone-chilling chorus.
Deep in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, Xiao Fan flew on Dou Qi wings, searching everywhere until he finally found a secluded valley.
Cliffs surrounded it like a natural barrier, their sheer walls rising straight into the clouds. The terrain was exceptionally treacherous.
Only a narrow passage connected the valley to the outside world.
"This place will do. I shouldn't be disturbed here..."
Xiao Fan wore a black robe. He stood tall, with sharp brows and bright eyes.
He took a deep breath and slowly sat cross-legged, his expression resolute as he prepared to begin his breakthrough at once.
As he broke through, an immense aura surged from his body, sweeping through the surroundings like a raging storm.
The aura was so powerful and turbulent that the nearby magical beasts grew deeply uneasy. They paced restlessly inside their lairs, terror filling their eyes.
They erupted into a frenzy. In an instant, the entire valley rang with the roars and howls of magical beasts. The earth shook, and dust and stones flew through the air.
After a long while, he finally broke through successfully.
Just then, the system's voice rang out in his mind.
[Beep! The host has finally broken through to Dou Emperor and barely entered the ranks of the Dou Qi Continent's powerful experts. Reward: Innate Sacred Body Dao Fetus!]
Hearing this, Xiao Fan froze slightly, astonishment and disbelief filling his heart. "I can't believe all that bragging I did has come true? That's the Innate Sacred Body Dao Fetus from Shrouding the Heavens!"
In the story of Shrouding the Heavens, the Desolate Ancient Sacred Body possessed exuberant blood and qi and excelled in close combat. Upon reaching great mastery, it could contend with a Great Emperor.
The Innate Dao Body was naturally in harmony with the Great Dao, able to draw upon its power and merge with the world.
The Innate Sacred Body Dao Fetus had to be born from the union of a Desolate Ancient Sacred Body and an Innate Dao Body.
This constitution combined the strengths of the Desolate Ancient Sacred Body and the Innate Dao Body. It possessed both the Sacred Body's powerful physique and close-combat prowess, and the Dao Body's innate affinity with the Dao.
Not only could its owner better comprehend the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth while cultivating, advancing far faster than ordinary people, but in battle they could also call upon more of the world's power to strengthen their offense and defense.
Those with the Innate Sacred Body Dao Fetus possessed extraordinary combat prowess. Great Emperor Beginningless, for instance, had never known defeat in his lifetime, sweeping across the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths with this constitution. Even the ancient sovereigns and emperors of the forbidden zones dared not emerge lightly. On the path to immortality, he held off the Undying Emperor for countless years, leaving him helpless.
"I can't believe I've obtained the Innate Sacred Body Dao Fetus too? Oh no, I really have become Beginningless."
At the thought, Xiao Fan couldn't help laughing wryly. He had often bragged by citing Great Emperor Beginningless as an example, never imagining that he would now possess the Great Emperor's constitution.
He mused to himself, "Now that's an unexpected surprise. From now on, I'll be a true Great Emperor... in his infancy!"
At the same time, the system's voice continued. [The Innate Sacred Body Dao Fetus constitution has been granted.]
In an instant, the energy of heaven and earth across the entire Magical Beast Mountain Range poured into his body like a flood.
The flowers, grass, and trees in the valley withered in an instant, as if their life essence had been drained away. The earth cracked, and enormous fissures spread across it, a shocking sight.
Countless fine cracks appeared on the surrounding cliffs, spreading like a web.
The dense fog that had shrouded the area was swept away by the tremendous force, revealing a clear sky.
The magical beasts fled in terror. Some high-ranking beasts sensed the dreadful power and felt as though the apocalypse had arrived. They raced through the forest in panic, roaring as they went, "What terrifying power is this? Run!"
Xiao Fan's body was like a bottomless pit, devouring the energy of heaven and earth.
His physical strength kept increasing, and his cultivation slowly climbed: One-Star Dou Emperor, Two-Star Dou Emperor, Three-Star Dou Emperor... Nine-Star Dou Emperor!
Then it stopped there. He hadn't stopped because he couldn't break through further, but because the entire Magical Beast Mountain Range no longer had enough energy.
Moreover, only a small portion of the energy went toward breaking through his cultivation. The vast majority had been used to strengthen his physical body.
If he wanted to, he could certainly keep breaking through. But then the foundation of each step would be less solid.
Among the cultivators in Shrouding the Heavens, a rare few—Ye Fan, the Ruthless Emperor, Great Emperor Beginningless, and others—eventually reached the Red Dust Immortal realm. They had taken every step of the Immortal Platform Secret Realm, indeed every step of the entire cultivation path, to its utmost limit.
As a future Great Emperor, he naturally had to make every realm the best it could be.
The benefit of doing so was... invincibility among those of the same rank, and killing opponents above his level as easily as eating or drinking.
Feeling the surging power within him, he thought he could kill a Dou Zong with a single punch.
Xiao Fan slowly opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in them.
Feeling his immense strength, he curled his lips in a satisfied smile, his heart soaring with ambition. "With this constitution, the Dou Qi Continent will be mine!"