Two Trials, Xiao Yan's Certain Victory

At the entrance to the Ancient Clan, "Lin Yang, Xiao Zhan, Xiao Yan, and this soul body—quickly, please come in."

Gu Yuan personally welcomed Lin Yang's group at the entrance. Lin Yang gave a slight nod and led Xiao Yan and the others inside.

The group made their way toward the reception hall. Along the road, lanterns and decorations hung everywhere, creating a festive crimson atmosphere.

Quite a few young members of the Ancient Clan scrutinized Lin Yang's group.

When they saw that Xiao Yan was merely at the seventh stage of Dou Qi, looks of disdain and mockery appeared on their faces as they prepared to comment.

Gu Yuan raised his eyes and swept them over the surrounding youths, a warning flashing through his gaze.

With Gu Yuan watching them, the youths' muttered mockery ultimately remained too quiet for anyone to dare voice aloud.

Gu Yuan gave an awkward laugh and explained to Lin Yang, "Lin Yang, forgive me for being unable to restrain the younger members of my clan. Only a few of us know about the Ancient Emperor Jade, so they have always had some objections to Xiao Yan seeking Xun'er's hand in marriage. To make them shut up, I went to great lengths to arrange two trials. As long as Xiao Yan passes them, he may marry Xun'er. Xiao Yan need not worry. The trials test comprehension and temperament, and with Xiao Yan's abilities, he can easily pass them."

Lin Yang did not say much after hearing this. He looked at Xiao Yan. "Xiao Yan, what do you think?"

Naturally, Xiao Yan had no objections. He nodded. "Uncle, I have no objections. I'll do my best to pass the trials and make them shut up."

Lin Yang smiled faintly. "Good. Your uncle believes in you."

Xiao Zhan and Gu Yuan also smiled slightly.

Soon, they arrived at the reception hall. Gu Yuan invited them to take their seats, and several maids poured tea.

"Please wait a moment and have some tea. Xun'er will be here shortly," Gu Yuan said, inviting them to drink.

Lin Yang calmly took a sip, then spoke with Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan, telling them to relax.

Before long, Gu Xun'er entered the hall with quick, graceful steps.

"Father." Gu Xun'er gave Gu Yuan a slight bow, then turned to Lin Yang's group and bowed again. "Uncle Xiao, Uncle Lin, Brother Xiao Yan, you've come."

Xiao Zhan smiled and nodded in response. Lin Yang gave a slight nod, while Xiao Yan stood up directly, scratching his head somewhat nervously. "Xun'er, long time no see."

Gu Xun'er smiled slightly. "Brother Xiao Yan, sit down. Father has already told me."

"Ahem, all right, Xun'er." Xiao Yan coughed dryly and sat back down with a faint blush on his face.

"All right, Xun'er, you should sit as well. This time, Lin Yang has brought Xiao Yan to propose marriage. The entire Ancient Clan has long known about it, and none of the elders object. It is only the younger generation whose opinions differ. Therefore, I have arranged two trials. If Xiao Yan passes them, Xun'er and Xiao Yan will marry directly on a chosen date. Everyone, once we finish this round of tea, let us move to the plaza," Gu Yuan said.

Lin Yang nodded slightly, calmly lifted his teacup, and took a sip.

The others followed, lifting their cups as they drank and discussed the specifics of Xiao Yan and Gu Xun'er's wedding.

After the time it took to burn an incense stick, they had discussed nearly everything, and the group moved to the plaza.

At this moment, the plaza was already packed with the Ancient Clan's outstanding young talents.

At the center of the plaza, ten identical low-tier Xuan-class Dou Techniques, personally created by Gu Yuan over the past few days, lay quietly atop a stone platform.

No one in the Ancient Clan had known about these ten Dou Techniques in advance. The original intent was to have Xiao Yan compete against the Ancient Clan youths to see who could learn the Dou Technique first.

Within the prescribed time, whoever attained the highest level of proficiency would be the victor.

This tested only comprehension and would not embarrass Xiao Yan because of his low cultivation realm.

And based on what Gu Yuan knew of Xiao Yan, with his comprehension, he would naturally take first place.

Beside the stone platform lay a magical beast's head. However, it was covered by a brocade cloth covered in runes, so only the rough outline of the head could be seen.

Gu Yuan had also prepared this magical beast head beforehand to test one's temperament.

This magical beast was called the Thousand-Illusion Demon-Eyed Beast. Its pupils contained the laws of illusion. As long as an ordinary person met its gaze once, they would fall into an endless illusion, perhaps unable to awaken for the rest of their life.

However, in order to test temperament, Gu Yuan had specially refined the head. An ordinary person who met its gaze would only fall into an illusion for one day and one night.

This was to test who would emerge from the illusion first: Xiao Yan or the Ancient Clan youths. Whoever came out first would win.

Before using this trial, Gu Yuan had asked Ling Ying about Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan's soul power was extraordinary and somewhat stronger than that of the Ancient Clan youths.

When facing an illusion, he would naturally be the first to break free.

It could be said that both rounds were certain victories for Xiao Yan. Gu Yuan had put considerable thought into arranging them.

Lin Yang's group ascended the plaza and took their seats in the places of honor.

"Ahem." Gu Yuan coughed, his voice carrying a trace of soul pressure. The entire plaza instantly fell silent.

"Children of the Ancient Clan, today Mister Lin Yang has brought Young Master Xiao Yan to the Ancient Clan to propose marriage. I know you are unconvinced by Xiao Yan, so I have arranged two trials today. Choose nine people yourselves to compete against Xiao Yan. If Xiao Yan places within the top three, then all of you will shut up for good. If anyone still speaks nonsense afterward, do not force me to deal with you according to clan rules." Gu Yuan spoke slowly, his voice still carrying an oppressive force.

As soon as his words fell, the Ancient Clan youths erupted in excitement, scrambling for the chance to compete with Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan watched it all calmly, without the slightest nervousness in his heart.

Before long, the Ancient Clan youths had chosen their participants.

All nine were fifteen years old, the same age as Xiao Yan, but all of them were already Dou Practitioners.

The nine stepped into the center of the plaza and looked at Xiao Yan with provocative gazes.

Xiao Yan's face remained indifferent as he quietly walked to the center of the plaza.

"Gu Dao, begin," Gu Yuan said.

Upon hearing this, Gu Dao gave a light cough and distributed the ten Dou Techniques to Xiao Yan and the nine Ancient Clan youths.

"You ten have one day. Use your full effort to cultivate this low-tier Xuan-class Dou Technique. After one day, whoever has attained the highest proficiency will take first place."

"All right, you may begin. Gu Kong, start the timer," Gu Dao said to another elder of the Ancient Clan beside him.

Gu Kong lit a one-day incense stick placed nearby.

As the incense smoke rose, the Ancient Clan youths immediately opened their Dou Techniques and began studying them.

Xiao Yan also opened his Dou Technique and focused intently on it.

At that moment, Lin Yang suddenly received another system mission.

Detected that Xiao Yan is competing against the outstanding youths of the Ancient Clan. After Xiao Yan obtains first place in both trials, the host will receive a wood-element talent.

Seeing the system mission, Lin Yang paused slightly. A wood-element talent was not bad.

Previously, he had possessed only Heavenly Flames and an Emperor Realm soul, yet lacked the wood element needed for balance, leaving him unable to refine medicine.

Now, if he gained a wood-element talent, this body would not have been wasted.

As for artifact refining, it differed from medicine refining. Medicine refining required the wood element to regulate medicinal properties, while artifact refining required only the fire element.

Lin Yang pushed those thoughts aside and quietly watched Xiao Yan, a faint sheen of sweat appearing in his palm.

Everything depended on Xiao Yan.

Meanwhile, in the Tagor Desert,

Within the snake-people's holy city, Soul Tian Di had completely controlled Medusa.

He had already obtained the Nine Nether Reincarnation Map.

Unsure when Lin Yang would come to the desert, Soul Tian Di finished arranging Medusa's affairs, then flashed away toward the Thunder Clan.

He planned to use the Nine Nether Reincarnation Map to destroy the Thunder Clan, test its power, and incidentally strengthen the countless evil ghosts within the map.

However, at that moment, Lin Yang received another urgent mission: rescue the Thunder Clan. Reward upon completion: Nine-Dragon Thundersteel Flame.